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Good morning, Langley! First of all, many apologies for missing yesterday's roundup post. I've been struggling with a lingering cold, and yesterday's writing never ended up happening.
With a pleasant mix of sun and cloud reaching 17°C today, Langley residents have plenty to catch up on beyond just enjoying the mild October weather. (Seriously though, go outside and appreciate this beautiful weather!)
Today's roundup brings significant developments from Langley City's budget deliberations, where police costs continue dominating municipal spending, to concerning patterns of violence targeting South Asian businesses, labor action at the legislature, and troubling political maneuvering around pipeline projects that threaten to destabilize national unity while enriching oil giants on the public dime.
Langley City 2026 budget proposes modest 3.58% tax hike, with police costs driving increases
Langley City Council got its first look at the proposed 2026 budget yesterday, revealing that maintaining current service levels will require a 3.58% property tax increase.
The increase translates to just $49 annually for the average strata property or $116 for the average detached home.
Police and labour costs account for 80% of the $2.5 million needed to keep services at status quo levels, with RCMP contract costs and worker wages negotiated through collective bargaining driving the bulk of expenses.
Residents can weigh in at a drop-in session November 26th or a formal feedback opportunity December 1st, though the real question is whether prioritizing ever-increasing police budgets serves working people better than investing in community infrastructure and services that address root causes of social problems.
Fraser Valley Regional Library Features Local Author R.S. Twells
Award-winning spy thriller author R.S. Twells is collaborating with Fraser Valley Regional Library for both podcast interviews and teen writing workshops.
The author of The Agent Bennet Saga will be conducting "Boldly Describing Characters" workshops at multiple FVRL locations throughout October and November. These sessions are designed to help teenage writers develop compelling characters that drive their stories forward and keep readers engaged.
Twells' journey from horse barn worker to published author offers inspiration for aspiring writers, demonstrating that creative success can emerge from unexpected circumstances. Her practical approach to character development and self-publishing provides valuable insights for young writers looking to improve their craft.
The workshops represent FVRL's ongoing commitment to supporting local authors while providing educational opportunities for the next generation of storytellers in the Fraser Valley.
Langley City Apartment Dweller Calls for Stronger Smoking Restrictions
A frustrated Langley City resident has penned a letter calling for comprehensive smoking bans in multi-unit housing developments.
The letter writer is advocating for smoking to be prohibited in all condos and apartments, with no grandfathering provisions for existing smokers. This reflects growing concerns about secondhand smoke infiltrating neighboring units and common areas in multi-residential buildings.
The request highlights ongoing tensions between smokers' rights and non-smokers' health concerns in shared living spaces. Many municipalities across Canada have been grappling with similar issues as more residents seek smoke-free living environments.
The debate touches on property rights, public health considerations, and the practical challenges of enforcing smoking restrictions in private residential units.
Real Estate Market Shows Signs of Recovery in Langley
A notable slump in house prices appears to be enticing buyers back into the Langley real estate market.
According to Fraser Valley Real Estate Board statistics, there's been a promising bump in apartment sales throughout the Langley area. This uptick suggests that more affordable pricing may be creating opportunities for buyers who had been priced out during the recent market peaks.
The data indicates that the correction in housing prices is beginning to restore some balance between buyers and sellers. Real estate professionals are cautiously optimistic that this trend could signal a more sustainable market moving forward.
The apartment sector's improved performance is particularly encouraging for first-time buyers and those looking to downsize or invest in the local market.
Fort Langley Hosts Successful International Ukulele Festival
The inaugural Fort Langley International Ukulele Festival proved to be a resounding success, drawing participants from around the globe.
This charming musical celebration brought together ukulele enthusiasts of all skill levels in the historic community of Fort Langley. The festival featured workshops, performances, and jam sessions that created a vibrant atmosphere of musical collaboration and learning.
International participation demonstrated Fort Langley's growing reputation as a cultural destination, with visitors traveling significant distances to be part of this unique musical gathering. The event showcased both professional musicians and amateur players, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone could share their love of the ukulele.
Organizers are already planning for next year's festival, building on the overwhelming positive response from both participants and the local community.
Conservatives hand out critic roles to Langley MLAs
John Rustad's opposition Conservatives announced their shadow cabinet Wednesday.
Langley-Willowbrook MLA Jody Toor was named caucus chair, while Langley-Walnut Grove's Misty van Popta will scrutinize the province's infrastructure decisions and Langley-Abbotsford's Harman Bhangu takes on jobs and economic development.
Aldergrove Horse Boarding Business Struggles with Economic Pressures
An Aldergrove resident is feeling the financial strain as their once-thriving horse boarding facility now sits largely vacant.
The business, which was previously in high demand, has been hit hard by changing economic conditions and shifting market dynamics in the equestrian community. Rising operating costs, combined with decreased demand for boarding services, have created significant challenges for this rural enterprise.
The situation reflects broader economic pressures facing agricultural and rural businesses throughout the Fraser Valley. Many horse-related businesses have been struggling with increased feed costs, insurance premiums, and property taxes while dealing with a more price-conscious customer base.
The empty facility serves as a stark reminder of how quickly market conditions can change for specialized rural businesses that once seemed secure.
B.C. Government Introduces Legislation to Combat Sexual Violence
The British Columbia government has introduced two important bills aimed at addressing sexual violence and misconduct across the province.
One piece of legislation focuses specifically on preventing sexual violence through enhanced legal frameworks and support systems. The second bill targets the growing problem of non-consensual sharing of intimate images by significantly increasing financial penalties for perpetrators.
These legislative initiatives represent a comprehensive approach to tackling different forms of gender-based violence and digital abuse. The increased fines for sharing intimate images without consent address a particularly harmful form of online harassment that has become increasingly prevalent with social media proliferation.
The bills demonstrate the provincial government's commitment to creating safer spaces for all residents while adapting legal frameworks to address modern forms of abuse and harassment.
Public Service Workers Rally at B.C. Legislature
Striking public service workers brought their labor dispute directly to the B.C. legislature grounds as the fall session commenced.
The large rally on the legislature lawn created a dramatic backdrop for the opening of the provincial government's fall legislative session on Monday. The timing was clearly strategic, ensuring maximum visibility for the workers' demands as MLAs returned to conduct the province's business.
The demonstration underscores the significant tensions between the provincial government and its public sector employees over wages, working conditions, and service delivery issues. Public service strikes can have wide-ranging impacts on government services that British Columbians rely on daily.
The highly visible protest highlights the challenges facing the NDP government as it attempts to balance fiscal responsibility with fair compensation for public sector workers during a period of economic uncertainty.
Surrey Restaurant Chain Targeted in Second Shooting
A Surrey Indian restaurant has been targeted in a shooting incident, marking the second attack on locations of this particular chain.
The restaurant's Maple Ridge location was previously shot at on September 27th, establishing a concerning pattern of violence targeting this business. These incidents appear to be part of the ongoing violence that has plagued certain sectors of the South Asian business community in recent years.
The repeated targeting of the same restaurant chain suggests this may be connected to organized criminal activity or extortion attempts rather than random violence. Such attacks create fear not only among business owners but throughout entire communities.
Law enforcement agencies are treating these incidents as serious threats to public safety while investigating potential connections to broader criminal networks operating in the Lower Mainland.
Danielle Smith's pipeline dreams mask separatist agenda and corporate grift
Former NDP MP Charlie Angus warns that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's latest pipeline proposal through British Columbia is less about infrastructure and more about manufacturing a national unity crisis to advance her separatist referendum.
While Alberta separatists met twice with Trump administration officials to discuss breaking up Canada with support from a reported $500 million slush fund, Smith announced a new pipeline scheme despite no company willing to invest and Alberta offering only $14 million to "study" possible routes.
The reality is stark: Canadians are still paying for the $34 billion Trans Mountain pipeline disaster, where taxpayers subsidize 52 cents of every dollar in shipping costs while Suncor and Imperial pocket the profits, because no business case exists for these projects without massive public subsidies.
Smith's strategy is transparent: force a debate over BC's tanker ban to stoke western alienation, rally her base for a separation referendum, and hand Trump ammunition to destabilize Canada, all while profitable oil giants refuse to put their own money into ventures that only work when working people foot the bill.
Trucker Convoy Leaders Face Sentencing for 2022 Protest Actions
"Freedom Convoy" leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are expected to receive their sentences today, nearly four years after the controversial protest movement.
The two key organizers were convicted of mischief charges related to the 2022 trucker protest that paralyzed downtown Ottawa for weeks. The protest, which began as opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, evolved into a broader anti-government demonstration that tested Canadian democratic institutions.
The sentencing represents a significant moment in Canadian legal history, as courts grapple with balancing the right to peaceful protest against public safety and order concerns. The case has drawn national attention and divided public opinion about the appropriate limits of civil disobedience.
The outcome may influence how similar protest movements are organized and prosecuted in the future, setting important precedents for the relationship between civil liberties and public order in Canada.
Blue Jays Seek to Complete Yankees Sweep in Crucial ALDS Game
The Toronto Blue Jays head to New York tonight with an opportunity to advance closer to the World Series by completing a sweep of the Yankees in their best-of-five ALDS series.
The Blue Jays enter this pivotal game with momentum on their side, having dominated the first two games of the series at home. A victory tonight would represent a stunning upset over their division rivals and longtime nemesis, the New York Yankees, in their own ballpark.
The Yankees, facing elimination, will be desperate to extend the series and leverage their home field advantage at Yankee Stadium. The pressure-packed atmosphere promises to create one of the season's most compelling playoff moments.
For Toronto fans, this represents the best postseason opportunity in years, with the team showing the kind of clutch performance that championship teams require during October baseball.
Please consider supporting the journalists risking their lives to document genocide by donating to the Gaza Journalist Fund. Every dollar helps cover evacuation costs, shelter, and basic survival needs for those bearing witness to history.
When we fund their survival, we preserve the truth and ensure these critical voices aren't silenced by displacement and deprivation.
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