Thursday, June 1, 2023 - June's can't-miss events

Thursday, June 1, 2023 | ☀ High 21C

Good morning!

In late June, days start getting shorter. We all know this. But before yesterday, I didn’t quite appreciate how the length of days change. Once July arrives, days do get shorter, but according to Weatherspark.ca—but they do so relatively slowly. Over the course of the month, we lose 65 minutes of sunlight (or about two minutes a day). Through August, though, we lose 97 minutes of sunlight. Bring on the summer.

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NEWS

Dads, Yarrow Days, and fun by the river

Beaches and parks are filling up with people. The school year is crawling into its final days. Baby geese are growing into their feathers. These hallmarks of early summer and more mark the arrival of June.

• Today, Grace spotlights some of the best upcoming events around the Fraser Valley this coming month.

Need to know

🌤 You can find your weekend weather forecast here: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope

🚗 A Langley driver who drove onto a flooded road won’t get her deductible back, a tribunal ruled [Langley Advance Times]

💰 Mission will spend $2 million to renovate the Clarke Theatre, $1.5 million for a new spray park, and $2 million to improve the lacrosse box at Centennial Park; the city announced more than $10 million in new projects Wednesday; you can see the others here [City of Mission]

🐻 A young bear breaking into garages will be killed if caught; Chilliwack officials say residents must stop leaving garbage outside [Chilliwack Progress]

📚 A Langley elementary school will get $50,000 in library funding to improve literacy [Indigo Love of Reading Foundation]

👍 Advocates are raising money to help a Chilliwack man with disabilities reconnect with family [Chilliwack Progress]

❌ A Langley construction company was fined more than $10,000 for endangering workers; it’s the company’s fourth fine since 2018 [Langley Advance Times]

🚓 Chilliwack residents say Mounties haven’t done enough to check in with neighbours after shots were fired and a home burned down [Chilliwack Progress]

🌱 Efforts are continuing to add hundreds of native plants along an Agassiz road [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🌊 The Fraser River is expected to continue receding; you can check the current forecast here [BC River Forecast Centre]

⚖ An Abbotsford woman has been awarded more than $33,000 after her landlord harassed her, repeatedly, breached a court order, and allegedly threatened to kill her dog [Fraser Valley Today]

👏 A beloved Hope-area volunteer has been posthumously honoured by a major heritage organization [Hope Standard]

🚘 Driving today? You can check the current traffic situation via Google here [Google]

📷 CURRENT CAM: Anton was first to identify St. Andrew’s Plaza in Langley City as the location of yesterday’s Current Cam photo.

🛍️ M&M Food Market is undertaking an aggressive coast-to-coast expansion, wanting you to grow alongside with them. Learn more about opening a franchise in Abbotsford or Mission.*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY DRAGON BOAT BC

The Concord Pacific Dragon Boat festival returns June 24 and 25!

Ready for summer to kick off? This is the festival for you.

The continent’s biggest dragon boat festival is getting set to kick off on False Creek. Enjoy dragon boat races every 11 minutes from 9am onward. Plus, the TD Main Stage’s 100% local lineup, featuring Dear Rouge and Sabai; you won’t want to miss a second.

When you need to refresh and recharge, the festival also features the region’s biggest outdoor patio, an expanded food truck area, and craft market lineup for you to explore! Best of all, it’s all free to attend!

Click here for more event information.

The Agenda

Province to set housing targets Abbotsford

Abbotsford’s housing policies will go under the microscope after the city was chosen as one of the first 10 municipalities to get provincial housing targets. The province’s Housing Supply Act aims to address a shortage of affordable housing across BC.

The act will apply to 10 communities. It includes a carrot and a stick. The province will set housing targets that municipalities will be expected to hit, and cities will get help to speed up permit approval processes that delay building. But the province also says it’s willing to step in and force compliance if cities drag their heels.

Abbotsford’s council has long expressed a desire to spur residential building. But as The Current reported last month, the pace of building in the city has rapidly declined. City officials have pointed to delays approving building permits.

The other municipalities that will be governed by the new act include Delta, Kamloops, Victoria and Vancouver.

Throwback Thursday

In 1938, dozens of speedboat racers took to Harrison Lake.

Photographer James Crookall documented the action—and the spectators. In the photograph above, you can see crowds lining the distant shore as the unidentified man pilots his boat, the “Chiz Briz.”

You can see a photograph of the boats on the Harrison pier here, a massive clock that timed the competitors here, and a photo of nine boats battling for first-place here.

🗓 Things to do

Ongoing, June

🖼 Tiny art: The Big Tiny, an arts show featuring small 4×4 art by pros and community members, opens June 3 and runs until June 24. All the art is available for purchase on site for $75 per piece. Details online, or you can read our story about the show here.

🗣 Language exhibit: The Agassiz-Harrison Museum on Pioneer Avenue in Agassiz hosts Our Living Languages, a travelling free interactive Royal BC Museum exhibit that opens June 4. The exhibit will be available daily from 10am to 4pm until Aug. 29. Details online.

🛶 Slough challenge: Friends of the Camp/Hope Sloughs are hosting their 2023 Paddle the Slough Challenge. Participants are encouraged to travel the sloughs, snap pictures or take video, and enter them for a chance to win prizes. Register online. Maps will be provided.

🥕 Farmers market: The Abbotsford Farm & Country Market happens every Saturday from 9am until noon in Jubilee Park.

Thursday, June 1

📚 Book discussion: Books and Borscht, a weekly lunch and book discussion at the Mennonite Heritage Museum, will feature author and pastor Walter Wiens on June 1. Call 604-758-5667 to register.

🎸 Seger and Fogerty: The Clarke Theatre in Mission hosts a double bill of tribute acts—showcasing the music of Bob Seger and CCR/John Fogerty—on June 1. Tickets online.

🌈 Drag show: Corky’s Irish Pub in Chilliwack hosts a Pride Month drag show Thursday beginning at 7:30pm. Tickets online.

Friday, June 2

🍷 Wine walk: Downtown Mission’s 2nd annual Sip & Stroll Art Walk takes place Friday from 4 to 8pm. Tickets online. 

🎸 Rock show: Rock band Rockson Road performs at Whiskey Richards on Friday beginning at 8pm. $10 cover charge. Details online.

⚽️ Soccer: The Vancouver Football Club is taking on Pacific FC at Willoughby Community Park on Friday. Tickets online. 

Saturday, June 3

🥞 Yarrow Days: The 51st edition of Yarrow Days returns this weekend. Saturday includes a pancake breakfast, fun run, parade, party in park, show and shine, and dine and dance. The festivities continue Sunday Details online.

🎈 Summer fair: The PAC for Mountain Elementary School in Abbotsford is hosting a summer fair and carnival fundraiser Saturday from 11am to 4pm at the school (on Mountain Drive). Kids can get a look into a police car and fire truck. Details online.

🤼 Pro wrestling: All Star Wrestling’s next pro wrestling show takes place June 3 at the Abbotsford Arts Centre starting at 6:45pm. Tickets and details online.

🥕 Farm tour: Glen Valley Organic Farm near Fort Langley hosts an open house and free farm tours Saturday. Picnickers are welcome. Details online.

🐶 Flyball fun: Chilliwack Heritage Hart hosts the Run Free Flyball Tournament Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Free admission; public is welcome.

🎂 Anniversary bash: Lepp Farm Market in Abbotsford celebrates its birthday on June 3 with a barbecue, kids activities, and music from Ryan McAllister. Details online.

🎶 Music and dancing: The Pacific Mennonite Children’s Choir, Rosemary Siemens and Fraser Valley Academy of Dance present Hope for the World, a concert with two performances June 3 at Central Heights Church. Tickets online.

🏀 Basketball opener: The Langley-based Vancouver Bandits host their home opener Saturday. They face the Calgary Surge at the Langley Events Centre. Tickets online.

🚗 Car show: RE Mountain Secondary in Langley hosts the Cruise-in to Summer, a fundraiser car show at the school, all day Saturday. Details online.

Sunday, June 4

🎻 Opera: Fraser Valley Symphony presents "The Magic of Opera" on June 4 featuring Melanie Krueger and Martin Renner Wallace at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford. Tickets online.

Monday, June 5

🎼 Band members sought: The Langley Concert Band is seeking new members. The band rehearses Monday nights at 7pm at Langley Fine Arts School. Details online.

Tuesday, June 6

👉 Friend meetup: Langley Newcomers & Friends meets on the first Tuesday of every month. The group of ladies get together for lunch, walks, outings, and more. Details online.

Wednesday, June 7

🎙 Queen Tribute: The Chilliwack Cultural Centre hosts a Queen tribute act Wednesday. Tickets online.

🎨 Extravagant art: The Chilliwack Society for Community Living presents its Arts Extravaganza at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre from June 7 to 10. Details online.

🟢 Drag bingo: Sidekick Brewing in Chilliwack hosts a drag bingo event Wednesday from 6 to 8pm. Details online.

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