Monday - Oct. 27 - Stay healthy this Fall

Good morning!

This weekeend I carved pumpkins in Chilliwack ahead of Halloween—and now I’m curious: what are you up to? If you’ve got a favourite local event, fall tradition, or community gathering on your calendar, let me know.

We’re already planning what to feature on Wednesday and Friday, so if there’s something we should highlight, hit reply and share it.

– William

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Traffic & Weather

🌤 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.

Feature Story

Abbotsford Regional Hospital to receive $4.95M MRI upgrade

Abbotsford Regional Hospital is getting a $4.95 million MRI upgrade that is meant to cut scan times by up to 50% and produce clearer images using artificial intelligence. The refurbished scanner, expected to be operational in 2026, will help reduce wait times for the approximately 8,000 patients who receive MRI scans at the hospital each year. A mobile MRI will keep services running during the upgrade.

→ Read the full story.

Need to Know

📚 The district added 641 students this academic year for a total of 25,785, representing decelerated expansion compared to previous years when annual increases exceeded 1,000 pupils [Langley Advance Times]

🎵 An all-women and non-binary a cappella group won top honours in their division at a regional Sweet Adelines competition after their director's sudden health crisis forced the assistant to assume leadership [Mission City Record]

🗺️ Municipal officials unveiled an upgraded digital platform allowing residents to monitor construction initiatives through clickable maps showing current, planned, and finished civic improvements [Abbotsford News]

🏥 Vernon Jubilee Hospital lost four mental health physicians from inpatient services, with the health authority stating personal reasons while opposition politicians highlighted systemic workforce pressures [Chilliwack Progress]

🚗 Officers smashed vehicle windows to apprehend a wanted motorist at a South Fraser Way parking lot, uncovering substantial narcotics during the Wednesday afternoon operation [Abbotsford News]

🧙 A hiking club of women over 60 produced their latest Halloween-themed performance to benefit search and rescue volunteers, targeting $2,000 in community donations [Chilliwack Progress]

🦫 Mounties returned an aquatic rodent to its riverside environment after the animal was spotted traveling through the downtown core near postal facilities [Hope Standard]

👤 Authorities seek a manslaughter suspect who disappeared from a residential corrections facility three months ago, expanding arrest warrants nationally after unsuccessful local searches [Abbotsford News]

📞 Police cautioned about fraudulent callers pretending to be relatives requiring emergency bail payments, emphasizing legitimate law enforcement never requests money via telephone [Fraser Valley Today]

⚖️ Prosecutors approved two criminal counts against a former provincial detention centre staff member for alleged misconduct during a two-month period in 2022 [Fraser Valley Today]

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What’s Up

Stay healthy this Fall: UFV Health Fair coming October 29

Mark your calendars for the Fall Health Fair at UFV's Chilliwack campus on Wednesday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event in the campus atrium will be a day dedicated to wellness and community connection. Nursing and Kinesiology students will share valuable health information, while representatives from the Indigenous Student Centre and Campus Recreation host interactive displays.

Attendees can get free flu shots (for adults 18+), learn about seasonal affective disorder, sleep hygiene, and chronic pain management, and participate in health screenings and interactive activities. Pet therapy sessions, free food, and resources will also be available.

"It's an opportunity for people to see the beautiful Chilliwack campus, explore wellness resources, enjoy some pizza, and get their flu shot — all in one stop," says Susan Stoneson, associate professor and program head with UFV's School of Health Studies.

The event offers accessible health education to the community while giving students hands-on experience in public health promotion.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Learn more.

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🗓 Things to do

Terror at Tanglebank: Abbotsford's haunted forest walk-through features live scare actors and eerie effects along dark woodland trails at Tanglebank Estate (29985 Downes Rd) on Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30 PM, with limited tickets available.

Fort Langley Dancing Witches: Locality Brewing hosts the award-winning Fort Langley Dancing Witches on Thursday, October 30 starting at 6:30 PM (dancing begins at 7:00 PM) at 7111 252 St in Langley, with no tickets required.

Light up The Night Fall Fest: Victory Coffee + Kitchen presents a Halloween celebration on Friday, October 31 from 4:30-8:00 PM at 20135 93A Avenue in Langley Township, featuring smash burgers, s'mores station, bouncy castle, free candy for kids, and complimentary coffee for adults.

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

Catch up

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