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Good morning,

The World Cup is in our backyard this summer, and it turns out the Fraser Valley has had more to do with it than most people realize — the grass at B.C. Place was grown by an Abbotsford farm. Meanwhile, a Chilliwack fishing guide just landed an 1,100-pound record-breaking sturgeon on the Fraser River. A good week for local bragging rights.

– 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.

There are giants in the Fraser River, and a Chilliwack fishing guide just found one.

In June, Kevin Estrada of Sturgeon Slayers guided a group to one of the most remarkable catches in recent memory — an 11-foot, 8.2-inch white sturgeon on the Fraser River, estimated to weigh between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds. The fish surpasses the previous record, which was also set by a Sturgeon Slayers outing in 2021.

What makes the catch even more remarkable is that neither fish had ever been caught and tagged before — meaning they were true unknowns, growing quietly in the Fraser for decades without human contact.

"The significance of both these record-setting fish is that conservation works," said Estrada. "These fish are getting bigger, and the fact that both had not been caught and tagged before is incredible."

Keep reading»

Looking for a wonderful summer afternoon outing? The 9th annual Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival kicks off with an extraordinary big band matinee concert on July 23, from 1-3pm. Taking the stage at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley, the Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra promises a powerful, inventive, and deeply expressive two-hour performance.

Experience the magnificent sound of this 17-piece orchestra made up of Vancouver's finest jazz musicians with special guest vocalist Joanna Wallfisch. The afternoon will feature gorgeous renditions of classic jazz standards you know and love like Beautiful Love, I'm Old Fashioned, Jitterbug Waltz, and Spring Can Really Hang You Up, among others.

General admission tickets are $35, and $20 for students.

Tickets and info here.

🍺 Farmhouse Brewing Co. is preparing to open a new location in Abbotsford at 1356 Sumas Way, after hiring 63 staff at a June job fair. A soft opening date will be announced the day before it begins. [Fraser Valley Today]

⚽ Three UFV alumni from Abbotsford's Bos Sod Farms grew and installed the grass pitch at B.C. Place Stadium for the FIFA World Cup, with Canadian players praising it as among the best surfaces they've played on. [UFV]

🚗 A driver clocked at 160 km/h on Highway 1 in Chilliwack was arrested after a traffic stop revealed suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and potential break-in tools. [Fraser Valley Today]

🚌 Four people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a private bus flipped following a collision with a car at Clearbrook Road and Austin Avenue in Abbotsford on June 30. [Abbotsford News]

⚖️ Jagpreet Singh has been convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife Balwinder Kaur in Abbotsford in March 2024, just six days after arriving in Canada from India. A sentencing date has not yet been set. [CTV News]

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

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Patio Party at WINGS Abbotsford: A summer patio party at WINGS Abbotsford on July 4, with beer tastings, music, and sunshine from noon to 4 PM.

Fraser Valley Thrift Market: A day of thrifting, vintage finds, and collectibles at Chilliwack Heritage Park on July 4. Admission is $2, free for kids under 10.

Japanese Star Festival Celebration: A free family-friendly celebration of Tanabata at the International Friendship Garden in Abbotsford on July 7, with a story reading, cultural activities, and wish-making on paper strips. No registration required.

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