🌧️ High 7C

Good morning,

We’ve been hearing from a number of readers who say garbage and recycling pickup in Chilliwack has been inconsistent lately—bins left behind, unclear rules about what will be taken, and waste sitting out all day waiting for collection. Is anyone else experiencing this? If you’ve had issues with missed pickups or confusing recycling rules in your neighbourhood, we’d like to hear about it. Send us a note and tell us what you’re seeing—we’re starting to look into it.

– 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.

Climate change tends to get discussed in terms of melting ice caps and rising seas. A free event at UFV's Chilliwack campus next week brings the conversation closer to home.

The UFV Science Café on March 18 gathers four speakers to explore how climate change affects our physical, mental, social, and spiritual health — the kind of impacts that don't always make headlines but shape daily life. The event runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the UFV Chilliwack campus library at 45190 Caen Ave.

Cultural anthropologist Dr. Kristine Lawson will explore the relationship between people and the land. "When the earth is impacted, whether we acknowledge it or not, we are also impacted," she says.

Dr. Amber Heckelman, who works with Fraser Health supporting municipalities in building more resilient communities, will look at how urban planning and design can respond to climate-related health challenges.

Dr. Leah Douglas, a UFV social work professor, authored a guide last year on mental health and extreme weather for Canadian social workers. She'll focus on building personal and community resilience.

UFV professor emeritus Dr. Tim Cooper, who has given more than 200 presentations on climate change, will tackle melting permafrost and the health implications of gas stoves.

The event is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be available.

🔍 Chilliwack RCMP has identified the man missing near Chilliwack Lake Road as 61-year-old Clifford Caron, last seen March 6 after being dropped off approximately 37 kilometres down the road; police and family say they are very concerned for his well-being. [Chilliwack Progress]

🌞 Skwah First Nation near Chilliwack completed a three-year solar panel project, installing arrays on its community hall, administration building, and preschool to reduce carbon emissions and hydro costs. [CBC News]

🌬️ A fierce overnight windstorm knocked out power to thousands across the eastern Fraser Valley, forcing five Chilliwack schools and all Fraser-Cascade campuses in SD78 to close Thursday, with outages affecting more than 4,000 customers in the District of Kent and over 3,800 in Hope. [Fraser Valley Today]

💰 Peace Hills Insurance and HUB International committed $25,000 over five years to the District of Kent's planned $24-million Lets'emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre in Agassiz. [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🤝 Mission council approved more than $100,000 in community grants for 2026, with the Mission Alano Club receiving the largest share at $15,000, followed by the Starfish Backpack program and Mission Literacy in Motion. [Mission City Record]

⚠️ Chilliwack RCMP's serious crime unit is investigating an assault near downtown that may have contributed to the death of a 49-year-old man, and is seeking witnesses and dash-cam footage from the Railway Avenue area on the night of February 21. [Chilliwack Progress]

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Bokashi Fermenting/Composting Workshop: Learn how to turn food waste into valuable garden compost at a free workshop at Minter Country Garden on March 14; registration required.

Science World on the Road: The Sardis Library hosts this high-energy, all-ages Science World show on March 18, exploring the science behind sports through interactive demonstrations and challenges; free to attend.

2nd Annual Multicultural Banquet Without Borders: Celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, with food, music, entertainment, and a silent auction at the Royal Hotel in downtown Chilliwack on March 20; tickets available on Eventbrite.

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