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Good morning,

Worth keeping an eye on air quality this weekend — conditions have been variable across the Fraser Valley due to wildfire smoke, so check the Air Quality Health Index before heading out.

Wine lovers will be hoping things clear up well before the Fraser Valley Wine Collective's Summer Sampler at Chapter Estates on August 22. We sat down with Bobbi-Rhea Mackie from the Collective to talk about why she thinks the Fraser Valley deserves a bigger seat at the BC wine table.

– Emily

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🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope | Mission

🚘 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.

The Okanagan gets most of the attention when people talk about BC wine. Bobbi-Rhea Mackie thinks the Fraser Valley deserves a closer look — and she's working to make the case.

Mackie is the director of business development at the Fraser Valley Wine Collective, an organization bringing together local wineries, producers, and hospitality businesses to build a more cohesive wine culture in the region. On August 22, the Collective is hosting its second Summer Sampler at Chapter Estates Winery in Langley Township, with a mix of local and BC wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries, and non-alcoholic beverage producers gathered for an afternoon of tastings on the winery's lawn.

The first Summer Sampler confirmed something Mackie had suspected: people aren't just looking to taste wine, they want to meet the people behind it.

"To us, wine culture isn't just about what's in the glass," Mackie says. "It's about the people, the land, the stories, the hospitality, and the relationships that bring a region to life."

Keep reading»

The Summer Sound Off is an all-ages live music event taking place from 5:30 to 11 pm at Thunderbird Show Park (6975 248 St., Langley). Enjoy an unforgettable lineup of country music featuring Brett Kissel and Chad Brownlee, along with special guests Karen Lee Batten and Morgan Griffiths. Tickets at tbird.ca/summer-sound-off.

😷 An air quality warning is in effect across the Fraser Valley due to wildfire smoke and elevated smog. An orange warning — very high health risk — covers Chilliwack, Agassiz, and Hope, while a yellow warning covers Abbotsford and Mission. [Fraser Valley Today]

⚖️ An Aldergrove man has been charged with dangerous and impaired driving causing death in connection with a 2025 collision on Highway 97 near Quesnel that killed a motorcyclist. [Langley Advance Times]

🔥 Around 70 firefighters responded to a second-alarm blaze at a Chilliwack apartment building on August 5, displacing dozens of residents. One resident and one firefighter were injured, and a cat was rescued from the building. [CityNews]

💔 Two people are dead after a collision between a commercial truck and an SUV at 256 Street and 16 Avenue in Langley on August 4. [CTV News]

🏊 The Cheam Leisure Centre pool in Chilliwack will be closed for scheduled maintenance until August 30, following an earlier closure in July due to glass in the pool and a boiler failure. [Fraser Valley Today]

🎨 Get hands-on at the Chilliwack Mural Festival, paint the Graffiti Jam Wall, explore the Mural Cube and visit the interactive AR installation.*

🏡 Seniors and their families are thinking ahead about a home’s long-term fit for aging in place. This free screening guide helps with the process.*

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Market at the Coliseum: A community farmers' market outside the Chilliwack Coliseum every Tuesday from 3–7 PM, with fresh local produce, artisan goods, and small businesses.

Wheel Throwing Classes at Stable Hands Pottery: A new six-session beginner wheel throwing course starts at Stable Hands Pottery Studio in Abbotsford, running Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings over seven weeks. $350, all materials included.

The Golden Archies in Sunshine Valley: A 50s-themed community day in Sunshine Valley on August 8, with diner fun at Holiday Trails Resort starting at 11 AM and The Golden Archies taking the stage at Sunshine Valley Community Centre at 5:30 PM.

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