🌧️ High 6C
Good morning,
Spring break starts this Sunday and runs through March 27, but there are plenty of family-friendly local events to help fill the time. Today's newsletter also has good news for some Fraser Valley folks, with local nominees recognized in both the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards and the YWCA Women of Distinction nominees. And closer to home, search and rescue crews are still looking for a man who went missing in the Chilliwack River Valley on March 5.
– Emily
Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.
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.
News & Features
BC researchers developing climate-resilient carrot and cherry crops for local growers
Genome British Columbia is funding two research projects aimed at helping BC growers—including farmers in the Fraser Valley—adapt to climate change by developing new varieties of carrots and cherries better suited to extreme weather and local growing conditions.
The carrot project, led by UBC professor Loren Rieseberg and SeedChange's Aabir Dey, focuses on increasing seed diversity for BC's organic growers. Researchers are identifying genetic markers in wild and traditional carrot varieties that help plants handle stress like water shortages, heat, and low-nutrient soils. Those markers will be used to improve locally developed varieties.
The project works directly with BC farmers through the Canadian Organic Vegetable Project, a network of farmers and seed growers who will test varieties and provide feedback based on what works on their farms. Dey says the goal is to let farmers lead variety development since they know what works best in their fields and what traits make carrots marketable.
SPONSORED BY MATEINA YERBA MATE
Energy that hits different.
Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.
Need to Know
🔍 Chilliwack RCMP and Search and Rescue have been searching for a man missing since March 5 in the Chilliwack River Valley, approximately 37 kilometres up Chilliwack Lake Road. [Fraser Valley Today]
🔥 A large fire broke out Monday evening at the Chartwell Carrington retirement home in Mission, prompting a full evacuation of residents to the Mission Leisure Centre, with multiple fire departments called in for mutual aid. [Fraser Valley Today]
🏆 Sport BC held its 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on March 5, honouring the province's top amateur athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for their 2025 performances. [Sport BC]
🎨 The Langley Arts Council's Celebration of Culture runs throughout March at the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre, featuring live performances, art exhibitions, and workshops highlighting cultural traditions from around the world. [Langley Arts Council]
🏃 The Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation is hosting three fundraising walk/run events in May across Hope, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack, with proceeds going toward medical equipment at each community's local hospital. [Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation]
⚠️ A Manitoba man previously declared a dangerous offender for sexually abusing a toddler has been charged in Abbotsford with possessing child sex-abuse material, with his next court appearance set for March 16. [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]
🌟 The YWCA has announced nominees for its 2026 Women of Distinction Awards, including several women from Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Langley, with the ceremony taking place May 7. [YWCA]
🎹 Pianomen, an Elton John and Billy Joel tribute show, comes to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on April 17, presented by three local Rotary Clubs with proceeds going back to the clubs. [Chilliwack Cultural Centre]
🚛 BC's Ministry of Transportation began installing an overheight vehicle detection system at Chilliwack's No. 3 Road overpass on March 9, after six truck strikes at the location since 2021. [The Hope Standard]
Enjoying our newsletter? Help us make it even better!
Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Fraser Valley.
🗓 Things to do
Spring Break Camps at Matsqui Recreation Centre: Keep the kids busy all week with spring-themed activities, games, crafts, and daily swimming from 1–3 p.m. at Matsqui Recreation Centre, running March 16–20; visit the City of Abbotsford website to book.
Free Spring Break Drop-In for Teens: The Abbotsford Youth Centre is hosting a free, no-registration-required week of giant and tiny-themed games, sports, art, and snacks for youth ages 12–18 at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, March 16–20 from 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Spring Break STEM Drone Camp: Budding coders can spend their spring break learning to program and fly drones at Abbotsford International Airport, with sessions running March 16–20 from 9 a.m.–noon; visit the Abbotsford Airshow website for details.
Have an event to tell us about? Fill out this form to have it highlighted here.
Community journalism needs the entire community for it to succeed.
As part of a membership, you get our special weekend roundup of all the things you might’ve missed each week!
That’s it!
Thanks for reading Fraser Valley Current today ♥
If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another local.
Help share The Current
Wouldn’t the Fraser Valley be better if more people had access to local, quality news – and didn’t have to rely on social media? Share The Current with your friends and help us build better communities.
