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This week is National Volunteer Week, and we're marking it by spotlighting some of the nearly 4,000 people who give their time to Fraser Health every year. Maria Carinha has logged more than 3,400 hours at Burnaby Hospital over 12 years. Gurjot Sunner is nine months in and already mentoring others.

On a side note, if you decide to check out one of the Fraser Valley’s many tulip festivals this weekend, keep an eye on your furry friends! I wasn’t aware until today, but tulips are highly toxic to both dogs and cats if ingested.

– Emily

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🚘 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.

Nearly 4,000 people show up across Fraser Health's hospitals, long-term care homes, and community programs every day — not because they're paid to, but because they want to. Last year, those volunteers collectively contributed more than 322,000 hours of service across 20 locations. National Volunteer Week, which runs this week, is a good moment to pay attention to what that actually looks like.

Maria Carinha is 82 years old and has been volunteering at Burnaby Hospital for 12 years, logging more than 3,400 hours in that time. She started after her husband passed away there, wanting to give something back to the place that cared for him.

Her official role is helping people find their way around the hospital, but she describes it more simply than that.

"Here, I talk, I laugh, I joke, I help people — that's what I do," she says. "Here, I feel alive. I get a lot when I give."

Keep reading»

🌍 Mission Environmental Stewardship Society's fifth annual Earth Fest returns to Fraser River Heritage Park on April 25, 11 AM–3 PM, with over 60 vendors and organizations, mainstage performances, a free repair café, and electronics recycling. [Mission City Record]

🐾 Five puppies were found abandoned overnight in a broken crate outside the BC SPCA's Chilliwack location. Staff are asking anyone with information about where they came from to get in touch. [Chilliwack Progress]

🧹 Aldergrove residents turned out on April 18 for Clean Up Langley Day, with families, businesses, and community groups collecting litter along local streets and parks. [Aldergrove Star]

🎨 A new 60-square-foot mosaic mural by artist Jessica Fairweather has been installed at Douglas Recreation Centre in Langley City, created with input from local students and community groups. [Langley City]

♿ Chilliwack City Council approved a new Accessibility and Inclusion Plan on April 21, six years in the making, focusing on removing barriers in the built environment, communications, employment, and community education. [City of Chilliwack]

🚔 A man wanted for second-degree murder on a Canada-wide warrant was arrested in Abbotsford on April 21 by CFSEU-BC after attempting to flee. He has been transferred to the Calgary Police Service. [Fraser Valley Today]

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Party in the Park: Chilliwack's free two-day spring festival returns to Central Community Park on April 25–26, with live music, street food, local artisans, and family activities.

Sweet Spring at Greendale Acres: More than 120,000 hand-planted bulbs come into bloom at Greendale Acres, with u-pick flowers, train rides, and baby animal feedings running weekends through May 3.

Fraser Valley Wine Passport: The Fraser Valley Wine Passport offers tastings at 17 wineries, cideries, and distilleries across Abbotsford, Langley, and Surrey for $30, running through May 31.

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