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- Monday - July 22, 2024 - Mission's BC Hydro problem
Monday - July 22, 2024 - Mission's BC Hydro problem
Tyler Olsen
July 22, 2024
☀ High 25C
Good morning!
The Tour de France wrapped up again over the weekend. I started watching the event a decade or so ago, probably during a lazy week off. I knew nothing about bike racing, but I immediately loved it. I enjoyed the strategy, the thrill of a sprint, and the battle between two climbers pushing each other to the edge. But what I loved even more were the long stretches in time when nothing much happened, when the commentators filled time by describing the scenery, explaining hidden elements of cycling, rating art created by spectators, joking between themselves, and talking about the food they ate—all often with a lack of seriousness that made it a perfect way to pass a couple lazy hours amid a busy life. It was all so relaxing and pleasing it almost made me want to get on a bike and pedal it up a mountainside. Almost.
– Tyler
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NEWS
Your tourist attraction ideas
If you build it, they might actually come. It just depends on what you build.
After an Abbotsford councillor suggested his city look to spur the creation of a large indoor attraction that could bring tourists to the valley, we asked you whether a city should try to create tourist attractions and what you would build if you were put in charge.
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Need to Know
🌽 Country star Luke Bryan is the theme of the design for a Chilliwack corn maze [Daily Hive] / Back in 2011, FVC editor wrote about how the corn maze is created; you can find the story here (on page 3) [Chilliwack Times]
🏒 A proposed new professional hockey league is eyeing the Fraser Valley, but the operators of local arenas haven’t been contacted [Abbotsford News]
💰 A Mission bank was hit by a bank robber Thursday [Mission Record]
🚔 A Langley teen killed in Surrey has been identified [CBC]
🔥 A grass fire in the Chilliwack River Valley was brought under control within hours of detection [Chilliwack Progress]
🚫 The large wildfire between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft closed Highway 1 Sunday evening [Castanet]
👉 Liberal MP John Aldag will run for the NDP in the Abbotsford-Langley riding in the upcoming provincial election [Fraser Valley Today]
🥽 Langley Township students will get a half-price discount at local recreation centres on school-free days—starting in September [Langley Advance Times]
😢 A flag at Agassiz’s fire hall was lowered to half-mast after a firefighter in the region died [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]
🚒 A trailer and shed caught fire at a Chilliwack mobile home park [Chilliwack Progress]
🎣 Sportfishing industry leaders are calling for a river bar fishery to make up for a lack of recreational opening on the Fraser [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]
🌳 A Langley man fined more than $100,000 for illegally chopping down trees on his property is asking a judge to reduce the fine [Langley Advance Times]
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SPONSORED BY THE 37TH MISSION FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Mission Folk Music Festival starts Friday
Come Find Your Folk this weekend at the Mission Folk Music Festival, July 26-28 in Fraser River Heritage Park, just east of Mission. Hear global beats, folk songs, blues riffs, Celtic tunes and more, with 30 acts from BC, across North America and beyond!
Groove to Kobo Town’s Trinidadian rhythms, feel the power of Innu singer, Shauit, delight in trend-setting Nordic folk from Sweden’s Fränder, and meet Crys Matthews - hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie” – and so much more! Have a close-up encounter with crankies, join workshops, jams, singalongs, Wee Folks activities, the Festival Choir – and dance! There’s an Artisan Market, great food and a shaded Festival Bistro (Beer Garden). On-site camping and parking is available. Get your weekend, day, or evening tickets today!
The Agenda
BC Hydro operates several recreation sites near its dams on Stave and Hayward lakes 📷 EB Adventure Photography
Mission still looking to persuade BC Hydro to address problems
The City of Mission is going to start collecting data on problems associated with BC Hydro-run recreation sites in the area. The city hopes to use the information to persuade BC Hydro to address long-running issues in the area. But BC Hydro says it already has a series of plans to address parking and boat launch challenges.
The Stave and Hayward Lake areas have long been a playground for Lower Mainland hikers, swimmers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts. The lakes are the result of two BC Hydro dams and, as in many places with dams, BC Hydro also operates a series of recreation sites along the two waterbodies.
Some of the sites—particularly the Hayward Lake Recreation Area—have become incredibly popular in recent years. It's not uncommon for parking to spill out of the Hayward Lake lot onto nearby Dewdney Trunk Road. Around Stave Lake, Mounties and the municipality, which manages a community forest in the area, have been dealing with complaints of lawlessness and bad behaviour for years.
Mission Mayor Paul Horn says the city has repeatedly asked BC Hydro to address the issues "without much success." Last Wednesday, council directed staff to start collecting data that could be used to document the situation and help the city make a better case to BC Hydro that more action is needed. In 2022, BC Hydro told Mission that it didn't have any money to expand the Stave Lake Boat Launch, a frequent recreation choke point that, Horn says, is the source of complaints about inappropriate behaviour. Mission has also asked BC Hydro to consider creating a parking permit system for Hayward to no avail so far.
Two years ago, BC Hydro told The Current that it was studying the issues at Hayward and Stave lakes. On Friday, we asked BC Hydro for an update on what it found, and what its plans are. A BC Hydro spokesperson wrote:
“The studies found that the existing Hayward Lake recreation site is over capacity. There is traffic congestion, especially on busy summer days, and visitors are parking and walking along Dewdney Trunk Road to access Hayward Lake, which can be dangerous and can block emergency access. The Stave Lake Boat Launch is also over-capacity on peak use days. Line-ups for the boat launch cause traffic congestion problems, unsafe driving conditions and road blockages.”
The statement continued: “To manage congestion and public safety, we implemented some temporary safety measures at our Stave Lake Visitor Centre and Hayward Lake overflow parking lots this past weekend and ongoing as needed throughout the summer. These new safety measures include increased safety signage, and may include traffic control, security personnel and tow truck services on site.
“To help fix problems long-term, we’re planning projects at Stave Lake Boat Launch and Hayward Lake to improve access at the entrance road and parking lots, while providing safe pedestrian pathways. Construction for the project at the Stave Lake Boat Launch is targeted to begin as early as October 2024, and the infrastructure project at Hayward is planned for completion in 2028. We’re also exploring offering a parking reservation system.”
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🗓 Things to do
Harrison archeology: Kids can learn about local archeology at the Agassiz Harrison Museum on Thursday, July 25. The one-day event will teach them about archaeology in the Harrison River Valley and how to set up a dig site. Register online.
Yoga at the mall: Langley's Willowbrook Mall hosts Summer in the Courtyard throughout July and August. Attend free yoga sessions, movie nights, live music, and more. Details online.
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