🌦️ High 20C

Good morning,

If you're thinking ahead to next week, there's plenty worth putting on the calendar too: wheel throwing classes starting in Abbotsford, Story Time in the Park every Tuesday in Hope, and free concerts at McBurney Plaza in Downtown Langley.

And for the weekend, the corn barns are open across Chilliwack and Abbotsford — always a good sign that summer is properly underway.

– 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.

Several Fraser Valley communities are among 56 local governments across B.C. receiving a share of $9 million to speed up housing development approvals.

The funding, distributed through the Local Government Development Approvals Program administered by the Union of BC Municipalities, is designed to help municipalities streamline their permitting and approvals processes — whether through digitization, adoption of modern construction methods, or standardized housing designs.

Fraser Valley communities receiving grants include Abbotsford ($150,000), Chilliwack ($124,000), Hope ($150,000), and Kent ($72,000).

The program is now in its third intake, with more than 70 applications received for this round. Additional approvals are expected soon.

"With the Local Government Development Approvals Program, local governments can improve their internal processes and development approvals, so that we can speed up the delivery of homes for people living and working in B.C.," said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

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🌽 Chilliwack and Abbotsford corn barns are open for the season, with Sparkes opening yesterday, Joiner's Corn on today, and KBF Farms already available at multiple locations across both cities. [Fraser Valley Today]

🔥 The Brunswick Complex wildfires in the Fraser Canyon have grown significantly, with the Ainslie Creek fire reaching nearly 17,000 hectares. Highway 1 remains closed near Boston Bar and multiple evacuation orders are in effect. [Hope Standard]

🚜 An Abbotsford cattle farmer is facing $7,000 in fines for building an unpermitted dike to protect his property from flooding, after he says the permitting process was taking too long ahead of the rainy season. [CBC News]

🔒 A 33-year-old man has been charged with 16 offences in connection with a surge of break-ins and vehicle thefts in Chilliwack in May, following a crime linkage analysis by police. [CTV News]

⚖️ A judge has denied a media request to release video evidence showing one of the men convicted of the Abbotsford De Jong murders handling the murder weapon, citing the integrity of the court. [Global News]

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Story Time in the Park: A free weekly family literacy program runs every Tuesday in July and the first two Tuesdays in August at Memorial Park in Hope, with stories, songs, crafts, and a free snack. Registration required.

Wheel Throwing Classes at Stable Hands Pottery: A six-session beginner wheel throwing course starts July 14 at Stable Hands Pottery Studio in Abbotsford, running Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings over seven weeks. $350, all materials included.

McBurney Plaza Summer Concert Series: Free Tuesday evening concerts continue at McBurney Plaza in Downtown Langley through July 28.

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