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In today’s newsletter: Langley Memorial Hospital was built for a city of 20,000 people. Today it regularly runs at 30 per cent over capacity, and a local foundation has launched a $25-million campaign last week to start closing the gap.

– Emily

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🛣 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.

Langley Memorial Hospital was built in 1965 for a community of 20,000 people. The Langley of today looks nothing like that, and the hospital, according to the Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation, is feeling it.

The foundation launched a $25-million fundraising campaign last week, targeting equipment upgrades across diagnostics, surgery, emergency care, maternity, and long-term care at Langley Memorial. Breast health is the first focus, timed to launch ahead of Mother's Day.

The foundation says the hospital regularly operates at 30 per cent over capacity, with admissions, inpatient days, and births all rising in recent years. Diagnostic and surgical equipment, it says, has aged past its expected lifespan, leading to delays, cancellations, and patients travelling outside the community for care. Fraser Health represents 40 per cent of B.C.'s population but receives 22 per cent of provincial health care funding, according to the foundation, and Langley Memorial has 1.1 hospital beds per 1,000 residents — well below the Canadian average of 2.5.

The campaign’s goals»

The Mission Folk Music Festival has just announced its weekend schedule of evening Main Stage and daytime performances and activities for the 39th festival, July 24-26 at Fraser River Heritage Park in Mission.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday Main Stage artists include Scotland’s Michael McGovern, soul powerhouse Tanika Charles, Sauljaljui from Taiwan, Nastasia Y’s “Ukrainian soul”, guitar great Alpha Ya Ya Diallo, and Chicago’s LowDown Brass Band among others (various nights).

On the 25th & 26th, festival-goers can feast on an array of 32+ collaborative performances, concerts, participatory sessions and more on 4 daytime stages. Check the website for details.

NEW! Single day, Evening, Weekend and Weekend+Camping tickets are all on sale now at Early Bird discounts! Come Find Your Folk - get your tickets today!

🏠 A new 101-unit affordable seniors housing building called The Maple has opened in downtown Langley City, replacing a building destroyed by fire in 2017 and adding 35 net-new homes for adults 55 and older with low to moderate incomes. [Government of British Columbia]

🏫 Sardis Secondary principal Lynnet Schramm was awarded the BC School Sports Citation of Excellence — Administrator award on May 8, recognizing her leadership and advocacy for student athletics. [Sardis Secondary]

🐱 Abbotsford's Abby Cat Daddy rescue is over capacity with 110 cats including 55 kittens under 10 weeks old, and is urgently seeking foster homes, volunteers, adopters, and donations. Petsecure is matching donations throughout May. [Abby Cat Daddy]

🏥 In other healthcare news, the Chilliwack Foundation funded a crash cart for Chilliwack General Hospital's emergency room through the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. [FVHCF]

💪 A Chilliwack convenience store cashier refused to hand over cash during an attempted armed robbery on May 4, telling the masked suspect no and calling his bluff. No arrests have been made. [Global News]

🚨 IHIT is investigating the suspicious death of a 24-year-old woman found at a Langley home on May 10. A 29-year-old man was arrested but has since been released without charges. [CityNews]

🏦 Prospera, Coast Capital, and Sunshine Coast credit unions have finalized their merger into a single federal entity with $40 billion in assets and 730,000 members, including branches in Chilliwack and Abbotsford. [Fraser Valley Today]

🌸 A family-friendly celebration of Spring, Spring into the Season , featuring children’s activities, community booths, farm experiences, and more at EcoFarm.*

_{*Sponsored listing}

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Hope Farmers Market: The Hope Farmers Market runs every Sunday at Memorial Park in Hope, with local growers, makers, bakers, artists, and live music. 10 AM–2 PM.

Flow State Run Club: A free weekly 5k run club leaves from Land Studio & Café every Friday morning at 6 AM along the Vedder River trail. All levels welcome, no sign-up required.

Looking ahead — Bard in the Valley: Tickets are already on sale for Bard in the Valley, a Fraser Valley-based charitable theatre company that brings Shakespeare to life through annual productions featuring local performing artists.

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