Tuesday - Feb. 4, 2025 - Chilliwack plots intersection upgrades

❄ High -2C | Arctic outflow warning

Good morning!

Like many of you, I had hoped to spend the next four years tuning out of American politics. So much for that. American tarrifs have been delayed by 30 days, thanks to a deal yesterday in which Canada basically promised to do things it was already doing. Given how often the American President talks about how we could avoid tariffs if only we became a US state, I don’t think we can rest easy. I also hope this is a wake-up call that we need to take our nation’s sovereignty seriously. It’s easy to take your country’s sovereignty for granted. But it’s one thing to watch our own elected politicians screw things up; it’s another to let some country dictate what we do and how we live.

OK. Screed over. Here’s another observation: Every Monday, I put together our little food-listings section for Insider Members. (Get that content and support us here!) For each restaurant, I post the hours it is open, and I love coming across eateries that are closed for one or two days each week. Nothing says “this place is run entirely by a single person (or family) that pours their lives into their business” like a full-day closure. I’m not quite sure how they do it, but hats off to them.

– Tyler

Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

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

Spuzzum’s resort proposal moves to next stage

Spuzzum First Nation’s proposed mountain resort near the Coquihalla summit has passed its first major hurdle.

The South Anderson Mountain Resort has cleared the expression-of-interest stage that has held up a more-prominent application for a resort near Bridal Falls, and provincial officials have now given Spuzzum the green light to submit a formal proposal.

The resort must still pass several additional reviews, but Spuzzum Chief James Hobart says provincial officials have suggested lifts could be installed within just a few years. Hobart also said officials have told him that Spuzzum should plan to access the resort site by constructing a new tunnel near the Coquihalla’s summit.

• Today, Tyler provides an update on the proposed South Anderson Mountain Resort and hears from Hobart, who thinks people could be skiing at the site before the end of the decade.

Related

Need to Know

⚠ Highway 1 through Langley was repeatedly shut down because of treacherous conditions [Fraser Valley Today]

🚔 Notorious Fraser Valley gangster Jarrod Bacon is charged in connection with a shooting in Northern BC, where he has been living [Vancouver Sun]

👉 A rent increase and an aging volunteer core forced Chilliwack’s hospital auxiliary to close its thrift store [Fraser Valley Today]

🚌 A school bus caught fire in Chilliwack but no kids were on board [Chilliwack Progress]

📺 Schools were closed in many Fraser Valley districts (but not Chilliwack) [City News] / An Aldergrove principal recorded a song (to the tune of Jelly Roll's "I Am Not Okay”) to lament the occasion [Aldergrove Star]

🐻 A January bear sighting in Hope prompted a reminder for residents to keep garbage inside [Hope Standard]

👉 The City of Abbotsford has been invited to join a group of mayors on either side of the border to address the local impact of potential tariffs [Abbotsford News]

🥶 Thirty temporary extreme weather shelter beds have been opened in Chilliwack [Chilliwack Progress]

🍷 Explore 121 wineries, 43 events, and world-class wine experiences at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, February 22-March 2.*

*Sponsored Listing

Enjoying our newsletter? Help us make it even better!

Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Fraser Valley.

SPONSORED BY PINNACLE HOTEL HARBOURFRONT

Local residents save up to 20%!

Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront offers an exclusive opportunity for local residents to enjoy Vancouver’s vibrant entertainment season at a special rate. From thrilling concerts and theatre performances to exciting rugby 7's and Michelin-star dining, there’s something for everyone. Guests can take in breathtaking oceanfront views, indulge in world-class dining, and stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi and parking. This limited-time offer is the perfect way to experience the best of Vancouver’s dynamic event scene. Book your stay today by calling 604-689-9211 or visiting the website to save up to 20% and enjoy an unforgettable escape in the heart of the city!

The Agenda

Chilliwack intersections slated for re-designs

Chilliwack's council has shortlisted three engineering firms to compete over a contract to re-design a half dozen roads and intersections around town.

Three of the seven projects involve pre-designs for junctions that currently feature busy T-shaped intersections. Those include intersections at First Avenue and Prest Road; Chilliwack Mountain Road and Schweyey Road; and Chilliwack River Road and Knight Road.

The other projects are also sizeable. They include a detailed new design for Main Street from Wellington Avenue to Patten Avenue, along with Watson Road between Vedder and Tyson. The other two projects involve a traffic study and pre-design for the Yale Road and Airport Road intersection and planning for a new traffic signal at Lickman Road and Progress Way.

At its meeting last week, Chilliwack council greenlit the request for proposals from the shortlisted firms.

Coun. Nicole Read questioned whether any of the firms had redesigned Keith Wilson and Knight Road, gently alluding to negative public feedback on the result of that work. Staff told council that two of the firms are involved in ongoing work, and that feedback is passed on to the companies.

The city is also planning to install a roundabout at Prest and McGuire roads. Construction could start in the spring.

Share

You can share this newsletter by forwarding it or copy and pasting this link—https://fvcurrent.com/p/february-4-2025/—into a social media post.

🔓️ Become a Current Insider and get full access to this newsletter. Every Tuesday, members get exclusive information on events, food and drink, and local deals.

You’ll also get our weekly behind-the-scenes newsletter and roundup on Saturday. Most of all, your contribution will allow us to keep producing all the great journalism you already know and love.

Catch up

That’s it!

Thanks for reading Fraser Valley Current today ♥️ 

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another local.

Help share The Current

Wouldn’t the Fraser Valley be better if more people had access to local, quality news – and didn’t have to rely on social media? Share The Current with your friends and help us build better communities.