Mon - Sept. 22 - City of Mission installs leading pedestrian intervals at five intersections

☀️ High 20C

Good morning!

A couple of readers sent me a link to an interesting story published by the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) about the Township of Langley’s mayor. According to the IJF article, Township of Langley mayor Eric Woodward had promised to transfer $55 million in property to a charity. Woodward made this announcement before he officially entered politics.

However, according to the IJF article, Woodward admitted his non-profit has not filed any financial reports in six years. It’s an interesting piece, and I found it very engaging.

What do you think of Eric Woodward’s non-profit, his businesses, politics, and the information in the IJF report? And what do you think of transparency in politics and finances in general? I would love to read your thoughts on that.

– Lubna

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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

A new Francophone school announced for Abbotsford 

Earlier this month, the B.C. government announced that it had acquired land to build a new Francophone school in Abbotsford for $26 million. 

“Francophone students in British Columbia deserve opportunities to learn and thrive in a school environment that reflects their language and culture,” said Adrian Dix, minister of energy and climate solutions and minister responsible for Francophone affairs, in the announcement. “These investments show our government’s continued commitment to supporting the vitality of the Francophone community and ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education close to home.”

Despite the apparent commitment to offering French language studies, the province’s press release glossed over the fact that it has been a long and challenging road for Francophone parents in B.C., made even more difficult by the government’s reluctance to build more Francophone schools. 

In 2013, the Fédération des parents francophones de C.-B., the Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF)—B.C’s French-language school board—and parents of Francophone students filed a lawsuit against the B.C. government, alleging that it was violating the Charter rights of Francophone residents by failing to provide a sufficient number of French-language schools that offer the same quality of education as English-speaking schools. 

Read more here

Need to Know

📺 United Steelworkers Local 1944 has produced a viral video highlighting wage disparities faced by Abbotsford Rogers workers compared to their counterparts in larger nearby cities, with contract talks resuming next week [Fraser Valley Today]

🏕️ First Nations leaders are challenging a permit application from the National Outdoor Leadership School that would allow the American organization expanded access to 77 coastal camping sites without proper Indigenous consultation [The Canadian Press]

🏛️ Construction plans for a new housing development on Chawathil First Nation territory have been modified after archaeologists uncovered evidence of an ancient dwelling structure dating back over a millennium [Hope Standard]

🚔 A domestic violence suspect who fled into a residence's basement was eventually taken into custody at a seniors' facility after a two-hour standoff with Mission police officers [Mission City Record]

🎵 Award-winning Saskatchewan musician Jeffrey Straker will launch Harrison Festival Society's new performance season with an October 3 concert featuring songs that have earned royal recognition [Agassiz Harrison Observer]

🚴‍♂️ First responders participating in the annual Cops for Cancer cycling tour made educational stops at Abbotsford schools, sharing stories about their multi-day fundraising journey for childhood cancer research [Abbotsford News]

⚖️ Provincial investigators have concluded that officers acted appropriately when they fatally shot a hospital patient who had taken a nurse hostage and was fleeing with scissors during a psychotic episode [Abbotsford News]

🏅 Chilliwack's Steven Point was formally inducted into the Order of Canada at Ottawa ceremonies, honoring his pioneering role as the province's first Indigenous lieutenant governor and university chancellor [Chilliwack Progress]

🌉 Transportation officials have initiated replacement planning for the historic Red Bridge connecting Kamloops and Tk'emlúps lands, nearly a year after arsonists destroyed the 88-year-old wooden structure [Fraser Valley Today]

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The Agenda

City of Mission installs leading pedestrian intervals at five intersections

The City of Mission announced that it has installed leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) at five city intersections close to schools and playgrounds. The five intersections are:

• Cedar St & Egglestone Ave 

• Cedar St & Cherry Ave 

• Cedar St & Best Ave 

• 7th Ave & Murray St 

• 7th Ave & Stave Lake St 

The city also announced that it is planning a sixth LPI at the intersection of 7th Ave and Grand St. later this fall.

Leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) allow pedestrians a head start of a few seconds before the light turns green for turning cars. Usually, pedestrians get a 7-second head start before cars are allowed to enter the intersection. They are considered a relatively low-cost measure to improve pedestrian safety and are part of the City of Mission’s transportation plan.

“These safety measures are in recognition of our growing urban community and comments received from residents. Enhanced awareness through these steps will reduce injury on our roads,” said Mission city councillor, Danny Plecas. 

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🗓 Things to do

Music Mondays at Farmhouse Brewing: Local musicians perform live every Monday from 5:30-8:30 PM at 6385 Lickman Road, with Desiree Owens scheduled for September 22nd and Joel Willoughby for September 29th.

Beyond Board Games (55+): The Abbotsford Youth Commission joins seniors for intergenerational board game sessions on Monday from 3:30-4:30 PM at Abbotsford Recreation Centre (2499 McMillan Road), featuring games, conversation, and refreshments.

Sourdough Masterclass with Chef Deniz: Learn to create artisan breads including French boule, winemaker's flatbread, "Van Dough" bread, and cinnamon buns during this hands-on class on September 22nd from 6:00-9:00 PM at 20353 64 Ave in Langley, with fresh creations served alongside a charcuterie board.

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Catch up

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