Friday - May 2, 2025 - Abbotsford wants ideas for new park

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Good morning!

At my elementary school, we had a variety of questionable pieces of playground equipment. The Rollie Pollie Ollie was one: so named by myself and my friend Rylie, it featured a spinning roller and was essentially practice for if we ever wanted to become log drivers. But no piece of equipment was as dangerous as the innocuously named “Metal Slide.”

As the name suggests, it was solid metal. It scorched through jeans on sunny days. It was alarmingly high, and would send children launching off its end into a heap. And perhaps most dangerously, there was a tiny gap at the base of the slide in one particular spot, and if you went down in bare feet, as a classmate did one day, it would break your pinky toe in a spectacular show of blood and tears. (The slide was removed not long after that incident, if memory serves.)

We all have memories of those fun, but hazardous, playgrounds. And we want to hear about the dangerous parks and attractions from your childhood for our next FVC Perspectives story. Were you ever injured on a playground? What tales of injuries or near-misses can you share with other FVC readers? Let us know using this form! We’ll share the responses in a week or two.

– Tyler

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

Reflections on the 2025 election

The Liberals are in power. The Conservatives are in opposition. The NDP have the balance of power. And Fraser Valley residents are represented by uniformly Conservative members of Parliament.

For an election many touted as the most important in a generation, not much has actually changed on the surface.

But of course, things are different. Monday’s election has taught established parties and politicians hard lessons, given individuals a new look at politics, and handed a new Prime Minister a mandate to change—and a long list of challenges to tackle.

• Today, Tyler talks to a re-elected Conservative MP about how his party went wrong, tags along with a Liberal who comes short of his goal, and asks an NDP candidate who is proud of his community.

Related

Need to Know

🏘 Seabird Island is considering building 34 units of affordable housing and band members can vote on the project in a referendum on June 2 [Sq’éwqel Sqwélqwel Pípé]

👉 An Abbotsford man who had more than 12,000 images of child pornography has been sentenced to a year in jail [Abbotsford News] / An Agassiz man will be in court on child pornography charges next week to enter a plea [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

💧 Metro Vancouver, including Langley, is now on Stage 1 water restrictions [Metro Vancouver] / Water restrictions have also started in Abbotsford and Mission [Abbotsford News]

🌙 The Fort Langley Night Market will not be returning to the community this year [Fort Langley Project/Instagram]

⛵ A new waterfront restaurant is opening in Harrison Hot Springs [Ozarks Boathouse Grill and Marina/Facebook]

⚖ A former Aldergrove sex offender will not have his sentence reduced [Aldergrove Star]

🕯 Chilliwack mourners are hosting a candlelight vigil today in memory of the people who died at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver last weekend [Chilliwack Progress]

🗳 After shunning debates and media interviews during the election, newly elected Abbotsford MP Sukhman Gill issued a statement on his win [Fraser Valley Today]

🎂 Chilliwack’s second-oldest school is turning 150 years old this weekend [Chilliwack Progress]

⚽ Vancouver Rise is back on the pitch at Swangard Stadium May 5! Be there to make history and watch women’s professional soccer rise.*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY FORT LANGLEY JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL

The 2025 Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival line-up has dropped

Get ready— the incredible free lineup and ticketed events for the 2025 Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival are set to light up Fort Langley with unforgettable performances from July 24–27!

Free festival weekend highlights (July 26 and 27):

• 2 days of free performances on three outdoor stages

• Mardi Gras Strolling Parade

• Free music, art, and Indigenous culture workshops

• Vendor art market, Lions Club BBQ

• Strolling street bands

Ticketed events:

• Big Band matinee concert and evening swing dance with Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra (July 24)

• Cool Blues Show featuring six powerhouse acts (July 25)

• Soulful Las Vegas-Style Show and Dance, “Tribute to Aretha Franklin” (July 26)

• Gospel show: Jazz Alternative Worship Experience with The Arias (July 27)

More information and tickets here.

The Agenda

Abbotsford wants ideas for new park

The City of Abbotsford is looking for feedback on what, exactly, to put in the new neighbourhood park in the MacMillan area.

The city has decided to create a 1.3 hectare park next to the old Cooper farm. (You can read more about the farm here.) But, the city wants resident input on what the park should include. Potential options include trails, play areas, and gathering spaces.

Residents can share their thoughts online, or visit the future park space (2899 Blackham Dr.) in-person on Wednesday, May 14 from 4 to 7pm.

The feedback will be used in the creation of a preliminary concept design, which will be brought before council before it becomes final. Construction on the new park is expected to begin in 2026.

Registration extended for dual-credit programs in Chilliwack

Chilliwack high school students who want to become early childhood educators have a few more days to register for a dual-credit program that will give them a head start on their post-secondary courses.

The Chilliwack School District offers a dual-credit program for local high schoolers who want to become early childhood educators or inclusive education assistants. Through a partnership with the University of the Fraser Valley, the program allows the students to earn both high school and post-secondary credits at the same time.

People in the early childhood educator program will be able to begin work as soon as they graduate. Those in the EA program will still need to complete some post-secondary schooling to get an inclusive EA certificate.

The early childhood educator program, which is based on a similar one for people interested in trades, has been available since 2023. The inclusive education program is new this year. Students who are entering Grade 12 next year and want to participate have until Monday, May 5 to apply. Tuition fees are covered by the school district. Courses begin in September.

You can find the application pages for the early childhood educator and inclusive education assistant programs online.

MEMBERS ONLY

This week’s FVC Insiders’ Edition

In tomorrow’s members-only newsletter, Tyler explains why the election where your vote can make the biggest difference is actually the one you are the least likely to vote in.

Get this weekend’s edition in your inbox tomorrow at 7am—and support our daily journalism—by becoming a member here.

🗓 Things to do

Garage sale: Gladwin Heights United Church in Abbotsford hosts a community garage sale from 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Details online.

Ukrainian Festival: The BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival comes to the Clarke Theatre on Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm. Watch Ukrainian dancers, enjoy cultural foods, and shop with a variety of vendors. Details online.

Catch up

That’s it!

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