Friday, September 1, 2023 - What's up in September

Friday, September 1, 2023 | ☀️ High 27C

Good morning!

It’s officially September! This month marks the beginning of my favourite season. Last week, I asked you where you stood on pumpkin-spiced drinks and I was surprised to learn that the majority of you, like me, aren’t big fans of the seasonal beverage. Only 27% of you called yourselves “enthusiasts.” But like I said before I am willing to give the drink another go.

Today’s story looks at some of the events happening this month in the Fraser Valley. A more exhaustive list of happenings can be found in our weekly events list that is available to our Insider members. Learn how you can become a member here.

WORTH KNOWING

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / Check the BC Wildfire Dashboard here

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

NEWS

What’s up in September

September is a month of change.

For many families, the month marks the beginning of something like a new year as kids head back to school. It’s also the month where we say goodbye to summer and welcome fall. The temperatures begin to dip and the aroma of pumpkin spice everything fills the air.

A new month also means a new itinerary of events.

• Today, we highlight a selection of September happenings in the Fraser Valley.

Need to know

⚠️ BC extended the provincial state of emergency until Sept. 14 due to wildfire risk [BC Government]

⚖️ A BC Supreme Court judge dismissed former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld’s petition for judicial review of a previous decision made by the BC Human Rights Tribunal [Chilliwack Progress]

🚐 A new mobile overdose prevention site opened at Cheam First Nation in Rosedale; Naloxone kits and training on how to use them are also available [Fraser Health]

🐷 A loose pig near a highway onramp in Chilliwack caused traffic early Thursday morning [Chilliwack Progress]

😢 A migrant farm worker says his Abbotsford employer financially, physically and verbally abused him for years [The Tyee]

🚴‍♀️ Cops for Cancer is raising money ahead of the Tour De Valley ride on Sept. 15 [Canadian Cancer Society]

⚖️ A judge ruled a driver was not responsible for striking a pedestrian on a Langley road in 2018 [Vancouver Sun]

🚔 Abbotsford clocked a novice driver travelling 180 km/h on Highway 1 without a licence [Abbotsford Police/Facebook]

🗳 A Hope councillor resigned to take a new job [Hope Standard]

⚖️ A 25-year-old was sentenced in connection to a hit-and-run in Abbotsford last year that put a pedestrian in a coma for several weeks [Abbotsford News]

🌳 Mission’s Municipal Forest re-opened after being closed for a week due to wildfire risk [City of Mission]

The Agenda

MEI plots expansions

An Abbotsford private school is planning a major expansion, but will need to navigate provincial farmland rules.

Mennonite Educational Institute is plotting a three-storey addition to the secondary school on its north Abbotsford campus. The school is located on a property that was developed in the late 1970s with the permission of the newly formed Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). It has been allowed to expand in the years since, and must get another ALC approval before it can grow even further.

The school’s application has thus far received the support of the City of Abbotsford and its agricultural committee. But in comments to the city, Ministry of Agricultural staff outlined several concerns, including the fact that schools are now not considered permitted non-farm uses by the Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulations.

The ministry also said that a traffic impact study may be useful because current traffic levels associated with the school are already impacting local farms.

Abbotsford council voted Monday to forward the proposal to the Agricultural Land Commission.

Scheduled road closures for annual Sikh parade

Thousands are expected to fill the streets of Abbotsford on Sunday for the Nagar Kirtan, an annual Sikh parade.

The procession will begin at the Kalgidhar gurdwara on Blueridge Drive Sunday morning. The parade will travel east on Blueridge Drive, south on Townline Road, and west on Southern Drive to make its return to the gurdwara.

Rolling road closures will be in effect from 9am to 5pm. Bus service in the area will also be disrupted and re-routed during the event.

Things to do

🎈 Labour Day Celebration: The Fraser Valley Labour Council is hosting a community Labour Day event at Mill Lake Park on Monday, Sept. 4. There will be free food, drinks, giveaways, face-painting and a clown to entertain kids. More online.

🌻 Flower festival: Monday, Sept. 4 is the final day to visit the Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival at Lakeland Flowers. Tickets online.

🍎 Farm fun: The Applebarn at Taves Family Farms opens Friday, Sept. 1. Explore the U-pick apple orchards, visit with fur babies, bounce on a jumping pillow, and more. Details online.

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