Thursday - March 27, 2025 - De Jong to run as independent in Abbotsford

🌦 High 13C

Good morning!

Tyler and I have written about how nice our readers are before, but my hairbrush saga really proves it. A while ago, I wrote about breaking my ancient beloved hairbrush. Long-time reader Terri emailed asking for a photo of my deceased brush, suggesting that she could potentially find a replacement for me. I sent a link to what it had looked like before its demise. And Terri, lovely Terri, emailed me back a few days later with a link to what was likely the inspiration for my original brush.

Thank you Terri for your brush-sleuthing efforts! And thank you to the FVC community for being the type of people who will help others in need—even if it is something as small and silly as a broken brush.

– Grace

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Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope 

🚘 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.

NEWS

Advisor concerned flood strategy is being shelved

BC’s new flood strategy is not even a year old, but a prominent advisor to the plan worries the province has already shelved efforts to better protect riverside communities from floods.

Stó:lō Tribal Council Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil recently wrote to Premier David Eby expressing “deep concerns” about a lack of action to implement the various actions that the new strategy says must be done to reduce flood risk in BC.

• Today, Tyler writes about a letter warning that “little to no steps” have been taken towards actions needed to prevent future floods.

Related

Need to Know

⚖ The trial for three Surrey men accused of killing Abbotsford couple Arnold and Joanne De Jong has been delayed until at least January [Abbotsford News]

🌱 The John Volken Society will continue to operate its Langley farm after selling its Surrey recovery centre [Langley Advance Times]

🏗 Construction is moving ahead on a 43-unit seniors housing facility in Chilliwack [Fraser Valley Today]

🗳 A fourth candidate is now running in the Hope council by-election [Hope Standard]

🏠 The first phase of a 31-unit housing project at the Chawathil First Nation has been approved by BC Housing [Hope Standard]

🥚 The Aldergrove Zoo is offering patrons a chance to paint ostrich eggs [Langley Advance Times]

✈ Air travel between the United States and Canada is down 70% [One Mile at a Time]

💸 HBC workers won’t get severance while managers will be receiving up to $3 million in bonuses as the company liquidates its stores [CBC]

👉 BC’s former chief coroner says a new study on decriminalization doesn't provide the full picture [Castanet]

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🗳 Election 2025

The federal election campaign continues until election day on Monday, April 28. Advance voting will take place over the Easter weekend, from Friday April 18 to Monday, April 21. Find everything you need to know—including where to vote—by visiting one of our local election hubs:

Chilliwack & the Eastern Fraser Valley | Abbotsford & Mission | Langley

The latest

👉 The rejection of potential ‘star’ candidates by federal parties has raised questions about how parties choose their candidates [Vancouver Sun]

👉 Indigenous leaders in BC say a full implementation of the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous people is a key priority this election [CBC]

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The Agenda

Former BC Finance Minister to run as independent in Abbotsford

Having been rejected by the Conservatives, former Abbotsford MLA and BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong says he will run as an independent in the upcoming federal election.

In an interview with the Fraser Valley Current, De Jong said he was not running to spite the Conservatives for turning their back on him. He said he still believes the party is the best one to lead Canada and to “stand up to the crazy man occupying the White House right now.”

But although he said he would not take a Liberal cabinet position, if he was asked, he didn’t completely rule out working with the party, if he were elected.

• You can read Tyler’s interview with de Jong about his election bid here. 

Harrison parents call for off-leash dog park

Concerned parents of elementary school kids in Harrison Hot Springs are calling on the municipality to create an off-leash dog park to keep dogs out of schoolyards.

In a letter to Harrison Hot Springs council, Harrison’s PAC asked council to prioritize building a park for dogs to roam freely before summer.

Currently, dog owners are allowed to let their pets loose on school grounds but only at particular times. According to the letter, the current rules (or negligent owners) sometimes result in off-leash dogs on the school grounds at the same time as children playing outside, which can frighten kids and cause an unsafe environment. Dog waste is also left behind.

Investing in additional signage and addressing the issue directly with dog owners on school grounds have not proved successful.

The Harrison Hot Springs PAC hopes a new dog park would keep dogs off school grounds and allow kids and dogs to play safely—and separately.

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Classifieds

• 2019 Black Harley-Davidson Sportglide. 18,000kms. Excellent condition. One owner. $15,999. [EMAIL]

Annual FVC members can find a link to submit their annual classified in the weekly FVC Insiders Edition. Become a FVC member here.

🗓 Things to do

Seed swap: Agassiz's Earthwise Society hosts a seed swap on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. The swap is free, although registration is recommended for attendance at the three workshops: permaculture, container gardening, and garden microbiology. Details online.

Artisan market: The Langley Arts Council hosts a cultural artisan market on Saturday from 11am to 5pm at the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre. The market will include live music and refreshments. Details online.

Have an event to tell us about? Fill out this form to have it highlighted here.

Catch up

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