Tuesday, July 4, 2023 - Harrison's evacuation flip-flop

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 | ☀️ High 30C

Good morning!

For the first time in, well, I don’t know how long, I visited a mall on the weekend. I was out shopping for a gift. In the last few years, my shopping habits have changed—like many, I’m sure. I often make my purchases online now. My recent visit to the mall reaffirmed my decision. The crowds were big and the selection was not. When I came across an item I liked, they often didn’t have the size in store and it would require ordering it online anyway. But I’m not ruling out malls just yet. I’m sure I didn’t do myself any favours by visiting on a long weekend.

Have your shopping habits changed? Let us know by answering today’s poll below.

And a shout out to our newest members William and John! Learn how you can become an Insider member. 

WORTH KNOWING

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / Check the BC Wildfire Dashboard here

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

NEWS

Harrison has been planning a new evacuation route for 20 years. But now, its mayor isn’t so sure about it.

Aside from a gnarly forest service road to the north, there’s only one way into—and out of—Harrison Hot Springs. That’s a major potential problem for a community of several thousand people that can triple in size during the summer.

For two decades, local officials have talked about creating a back-up evacuation route. And finally, three years ago, Harrison Hot Springs and Kent agreed on a potential emergency exit through Sasquatch Provincial Park.

But the future of that exit took a sudden (and seemingly temporary) twist this month when a local Harrison Hot Springs resident nearly convinced local politicians to pull the plug on the plan.

• Today, Tyler writes about how a half-hour meeting may have saved a plan 20 years in the making.

Need to know

👏 A Langley teen says her experience in cadets and the outdoors helped her survive two nights lost outdoors [CBC]

🛠 Abbotsford’s Lonzo Road encampment is closed as workers prepare for construction of a 50-bed shelter [BC Government]

🏒 The Vancouver Canucks may buy the Chilliwack Chiefs [The Province]

🚓 A man accused of a murder in Winnipeg was arrested in Langley [Global]

🚔 RCMP are looking to identify a suspect involved in the theft of $150,000 of heavy equipment from Langley and elsewhere [Langley Advance Times]

👩‍⚖️ A man sued to have two Chilliwack River Valley mineral claims turned over to him, but a judge described his court filings as ‘largely incomprehensible’ [Chilliwack Progress]

⚖ An Abbotsford man who attacked an Uber driver has been sentenced to probation [Abbotsford News]

🏥 A woman recounts her ‘state of shock’ while she was seeking treatment at Fraser Canyon Hospital during a police-involved shooting [CBC]

🔎 Mission police are asking for help to find a 32-year-old missing woman [RCMP]

🚧 Langley City road crews will be patching asphalt on 198 Street today [Langley City/Twitter]

👉 A Chilliwack man charged with a 2018 sexual assault has finally been found guilty [Chilliwack Progress]

⛳ Abbotsford golfer Adam Hadwin finished second at a PGA event, losing in a playoff [Sportsnet]

💔 Foster care in the Fraser East region is among the least reliable in the entire province of BC [The Tyee]

💙 Get together with family and friends to experience an unforgettable weekend of live blues music at the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival. Grab your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Listing

The Agenda

Nearly $1M approved from Willoughby Community Park improvements: Langley Township council

Langley Township council have approved nearly $1 million in funding for improvements to Willoughby Community Park.

The funds will be allocated to a warm-up synthetic turf ($500,000), seating and sidewalk area ($200,000), concession and building upgrades ($200,000), and a raised crosswalk ($50,000).

The improvements would address issues raised by the Langley United Soccer Association, the largest user group of the park, according to a staff report.

The association endorsed Mayor Eric Woodward's campaign during the October election in a video posted to the Contract with Langley website and social media. Woodward had campaigned on a promise for a “new youth soccer campus with four synthetic turf fields, field house, equipment storage and proper warm-up areas, with guaranteed time for Langley's youth and the Langley United Soccer Association.”

A new youth soccer campus was referred to staff as part of the budget process and is listed as a council priority project. The Township has not yet identified where it will get the $40 million needed to build the facility.

Other Willoughby park field users include the Langley Minor Lacrosse Association, Langley School District rugby teams, and Vancouver FC.

After approving the latest park improvements, staff estimate its capital projects reserve will have a balance of $4.5 million.

Things to do

🐟 Creatures of the Creek: Join the Langley Environmental Partners Society on Wednesday at Williams Park to learn about the fish, bugs, and other creatures that live in the Salmon River.

🦸🏻‍♀️ FanCon Convention: The Mission Library hosts FanCon, a celebration of comics, art, cosplay, and gaming on Saturday from 11am to 4pm, with a Super Smash Bros. tournament, a cosplay contest and more. Details online.

🛶 Kayaking: Learn recreational kayaking over four weekly classes in Fort Langley. Sessions run on Tuesdays or Thursdays in July and again in August. Learn more online.

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