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Good morning!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of work these days. I’m in my mid-40s, and I’ve been working since I was 20 years old. I’ve worked in various roles at companies, small and large, on four continents. I’ve done a lot of what we now call “hybrid” work. As an introvert, I don’t mind my own company most of the time.

But now that I’m 100% remote and have no colleagues to talk to daily, I miss working in an office at least a couple of days a week with colleagues who can become friends. Most days, I don’t talk to anyone except my husband, and I don’t see another human being. The isolation is really getting to me. I don’t miss commuting every day, though.

Before COVID changed how we work, I wasted hours of my life in traffic commuting to and from work; I could have spent hours on hobbies, exercise, and socializing with loved ones. I also find that I’m far more productive working from home because I have fewer interruptions. I’m sure a lot of people share the same experience. I don’t understand why some companies are trying to force employees back to the office full-time.

What do you think? Remote work? Hybrid? Or back to the office full-time?

– Lubna

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Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope 

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

🛣 Click here for links to road cameras across the Fraser Valley, including those for the Coquihalla, Highway 7, Hope-Princeton, Fraser Canyon, and Highway 1 in Langley and Abbotsford.

News

Death on the tracks: Chilliwack's rail fatality rate is among the worst in Canada

At 10:15pm on Tuesday, August 19, Langley RCMP responded to a call about a pedestrian and train collision near Crush Crescent and Glover Road in Langley. The collision, tragically, resulted in the death of one person.

Langley RCMP released a statement the following morning saying that officers were investigating the incident, but did not share any additional details about the person’s name, age, or why they were on the tracks.

“Despite immediate life-saving efforts, the individual succumbed to their injuries at the scene,” said Sergeant Zynal Sharoom of the Langley RCMP in a statement.

Rail fatalities are nothing new in the Fraser Valley. According to a November 2024 story by Grace Kennedy, 120 people have been killed by trains in the Fraser Valley since the early 1980s. Almost half of them happened in Chilliwack alone.

Grace delved into the elevated number of fatalities in Chilliwack, where they occur and how.

Read that story here.

Related

Need to Know

🚐 A mobile veterinary clinic housed in an 18-foot shipping container will begin serving Fraser Valley communities from its base at Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, focusing on low-cost spay and neuter procedures for pet owners facing financial or transportation barriers. [Chilliwack Progress]

🏎️ Thirteen-year-old Arjun Gill from Mission currently holds the top position in junior karting championships and aspires to eventually compete in Formula 1 racing. [Mission City Record]

🚴‍♀️ Mireille Larosa will complete her two-week bicycle journey across British Columbia in Abbotsford on September 14, honouring her late son Charles while fundraising for Canuck Place children's hospice. [Abbotsford News]

🏛️ Village officials will gather public input on municipal planning updates and a contentious seniors housing proposal at a September 3 meeting in Harrison Hot Springs. [Agassiz Harrison Observer]

🚴‍♂️ Two young cyclists from Hope are pedalling toward fundraising goals exceeding $10,000 for pediatric cancer research through their participation in August's Great Cycle Challenge. [Hope Standard]

🚐 Highway patrol officers discovered multiple safety violations when they stopped an overcrowded minivan travelling at excessive speed near Merritt, resulting in substantial fines. [Fraser Valley Today]

🥐 A new French pastry shop has begun operations in Chilliwack's Promontory neighbourhood, specializing in traditional baked goods four days per week. [Fraser Valley Today]

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The Agenda

Abbotsford technicians shine “bat light” on Rogers Arena during concert

Abbotsford technicians shone a “bat light” projection outside Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Thursday night, August 21, casting the message “Fair Contract Now.” The projection took place during a Cyndi Lauper concert.

According to a press release by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1944, the purpose of the light was to increase awareness of the ongoing strike by the Abbotsford-based technicians for a new contract from Rogers. The Abbotsford technicians have been on strike since June 19, 2025, demanding pay parity with other technicians elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

“The bat light shines a spotlight on the disrespect our members feel and the unfair offers they’ve received,” said Michael Phillips, USW Local 1944 president. “We love serving the Abbotsford community, but we’re against being undervalued. These strikers just wanna have a fair contract.” 

In a statement from June 19, USW Local 1944, 25 technicians left the job on June 19 after negotiations failed to deliver a contract paying the Abbotsford technicians as much as their peers in other parts of the Lower Mainland. The statement added that Abbotsford technicians are paid 9% less than their counterparts in Vancouver and Surrey, despite performing identical work.

“Our members do critical work every day to support Rogers customers, yet the company believes these workers deserve less simply because of their postal code,” Phillips said. “The last time I checked, the service that customers buy in Abbotsford costs the same as in Vancouver, so why are the workers paid less? That’s not just disrespectful, it’s shameful.”

Negotiations between the technicians and Rogers are set to resume on Monday, August 25.

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🗓 Things to do

Weekly farmers market: Visit the Chilliwack Coliseum every Tuesday from 3-7pm through October 7 at 45323 Hodgins Ave. for local artisan food, handmade goods, and fresh produce.

Trivia night: Join Old Yale Chilliwack every Tuesday with registration starting at 5pm and trivia beginning at 6pm, featuring themed nights like Pop Culture on August 26.

Hot August Nights open house: Attend this special event at Well Seasoned on Wednesday, August 28 from 6-8pm at 20353 64 Ave #117, Langley, featuring local product sampling, networking with food enthusiasts, and late-summer sales deals.

Have an event to tell us about? Fill out this form to have it highlighted here.

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