🌧️ High 17C

Good morning,

The Run for Water trail race takes on Sumas Mountain this Saturday, raising funds for clean water initiatives in the DR Congo and Uganda — a tough but rewarding way to spend a morning. Looking ahead to next week, GoByBike Week kicks off May 31 with a free beginner cycling workshop at UFV Chilliwack, and National AccessAbility Week runs alongside it with free inclusive programs at Langley City facilities.

– Emily

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🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope | Mission

🚘 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.

A bladder scanner is now in use in the maternity department at Chilliwack General Hospital, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation — and it's already making a difference for new mothers and their care teams.

Sandra Schmirler was a three-time Canadian and World Curling Champion and Olympic gold medalist who passed away from cancer in 2000 at age 36, leaving behind two young daughters. The foundation established in her memory raises funds for life-saving equipment for premature and critically ill babies across Canada.

The bladder scanner allows care teams to quickly and non-invasively check bladder volume — particularly important in the postpartum period, when urinary retention is common but difficult to detect without the right tools.

"For new mothers, this means earlier identification of potential complications, reduced discomfort, and more timely interventions — often avoiding the need for invasive procedures such as catheterization," said Vanessa Wice, manager of clinical operations at CGH's maternity department. "This investment strengthens our ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to mothers during a critical time in their lives."

The grant was administered through the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation, which works to fund essential equipment at hospitals across the region.

♿ Langley City is marking National AccessAbility Week (May 31–June 6) with a series of free inclusive programs and new accessibility tools including sensory kits and an on-demand ASL interpreting service at city facilities. [Langley City]

🚵 UFV is launching an active transportation hub on its Abbotsford campus ahead of GoByBike Week, with secure bike storage, showers, and changerooms. Free public events including a bikepacking demonstration and beginner cycling workshop are also planned. [UFV]

🏔️ Hope Search and Rescue rescued three stranded hikers from the summit of Mount Grant on May 23, after one suffered a sprained ankle and all three were running low on battery with temperatures dropping near zero. [Fraser Valley Today]

🔫 Anti-gang police dismantled a drug lab and seized a large cache of illegal weapons at a rural property on Bradner Road in Abbotsford on May 22, following a lengthy search involving multiple specialized teams. [CTV News]

🚁 Hope and Chilliwack search and rescue crews performed a long-line helicopter extraction of a 70-year-old woman who suffered a medical emergency on Serpent's Back Trail on May 23. [Hope Standard]

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Sensory-Friendly Screening of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: A free sensory-friendly screening of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at Cineplex Abbotsford on May 27, with adjusted sound and lighting for an inclusive experience. Registration required.

Summer Market Series at Backyard Vineyards: A summer evening market at Backyard Vineyards in Langley on May 28, with two more dates to follow on June 25 and July 30.

Run for Water Trail Race: A rugged 25k or 50k trail race on Sumas Mountain on May 30, raising funds for clean water initiatives in the DR Congo and Uganda.

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