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Housing is a national obsession in Canada, and for good reason: Canada has one of the least affordable housing markets in the world. On Monday, several B.C. real estate groups came together for a press conference calling on the province to create a provincial round table to discuss housing policies. The entire press conference is available here if you’re curious about what they discussed.

I thought they said nothing new or unusual, and I was skeptical of whether the proposed round table would create real change. Some of the speakers’ suggestions revolved around reducing costs by reducing standards, which sounds like a slippery slope. First, they’ll reduce accessibility standards for wheelchair users, then do away with other safety and accessibility features, only to be left with low-quality housing that is still too expensive for the average person.

Others expressed frustration with provincial legislation around housing targets for municipalities, such as the mayor of Port Coquitlam, who said it caused a lot of chaos.

What do you think? Do you believe B.C.’s housing crisis will ever be solved? Are any of the proposed solutions going to work? Reply to this email or post a reply in the comments.

– Lubna

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News

The language keeper: the last fluent Halq’eméylem speaker teaches a new generation

It started in the cradle.

From her infancy, Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips was enveloped in the sounds of Halq’eméylem. And despite hardships that forced many Indigenous children to lose their language, she never forgot it.

Today, Siyamiyateliyot is the last fully fluent speaker of Halq’eméylem—the upriver dialect of Halkomelem, which was heard from Yale to Vancouver Island.

As a child, she listened to her family translate conversations they had with an Indian Agent. As a youth, she stood alone at St. Mary’s Residential School, thinking in Halq’eméylem. As a young adult, she became an honourary elder. And as a senior, she was awarded an honourary doctorate and an Indigenous achievement award for her efforts to preserve the language for the next generation.

​But Siyamiyateliyot isn’t done yet. Today, she continues to help young speakers learn their language, and is even working to update the vocabulary for the modern age.

Read more here

Related

Need to Know

🏢 Developer Mark Chandler, recently released from U.S. prison for fraud, was absent from proceedings investigating whether he orchestrated duplicate sales of condominium units at his Langley project [Langley Advance Times]

⚖️ Ralph Leon faces an October 31 sentencing hearing after admitting to public mischief charges stemming from a 2022 incident, more than a year after being ousted as Sts'ailes Chief for financial misconduct [Agassiz Harrison Observer]

🧡 A September 30 gathering at Mission Friendship Centre will provide survivors of residential schools an opportunity to share personal testimonies during Truth and Reconciliation observances [Mission City Record]

🚔 Border enforcement resulted in five arrests across two days in Abbotsford, with most individuals handed to federal immigration authorities and one held on prior warrants [Abbotsford News]

🚌 Survey results reveal considerable interest in establishing transit service between Mission and Agassiz communities, with implementation potentially beginning in early 2027 subject to government funding [Mission City Record]

🚛 Provincial authorities have launched both criminal and civil actions against Sran Trucking after investigators documented massive quantities of construction debris deposited on protected farmland and wetlands [Mission City Record]

💜 Law enforcement facilities in Chilliwack and Hope will display purple lighting October 1 as part of an awareness initiative addressing intimate partner violence statistics and community impacts [Fraser Valley Today]

🚗 A multi-detachment police operation culminated in five arrests at Manning Park after tracking a stolen pickup through multiple communities during a dangerous highway pursuit [Fraser Valley Today]

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The Agenda

Major upgrades for Abbotsford Hospital’s interventional radiology suite

Fraser Health announced on Sept. 24 that the interventional radiology suite at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre is undergoing major renovations and upgrades. 

The upgrades will cost an estimated $7.5 million with $3.9 million coming from the provincial government, $2.6 million funded by the Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District, and up to $1 million contributed by the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.

The new and improved interventional radiology suite is scheduled to open in early 2026. 

According to Fraser Health’s announcement, the hospital will receive brand-new ceiling-mounted interventional radiology equipment to replace aging machinery. The upgrades will also include renovations to the surrounding rooms and workspaces.

In interventional radiology, healthcare professionals use medical imaging technology to perform minimally invasive procedures by guiding needles, wires and catheters into small incisions or body orifices. It is used to treat a wide range of conditions including vascular, urologic, gynecologic and other conditions. It is also used in emergency settings to treat life-threatening blood clots and internal bleeding. 

“This significant investment will allow more patients from Abbotsford and surroundingcommunities to undergo minimally invasive procedures to treat health conditions such as cancers, vascular disease, dialysis and various abdominal and thoracic illnesses as an alternative to high-risk surgical procedures,” Fraser Health said in a statement. “Compared to open surgery, interventional radiology provides less discomfort and pain, cuts down on recovery times and reduces risks for patients.”

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🗓 Things to do

WaterWeeks Film Screening: LEPS and Township of Langley present "Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story" on October 2 at 7:00 PM at Salishan Place by the River with filmmakers attending for a post-screening Q&A.

Fraser Valley Comedy Fundraiser: The Yo Show brings Canadian stand-up comedians to HUB International Theatre on October 2 at 7:00 PM, with all proceeds supporting the children of late comedy champion Yo Trieu in this 18+ event.

DreadWorlds REALM OF HORROR Haunted House: A 14,000-square-foot professional haunted attraction with film-industry sets and effects runs October 3 through November 1 from 7:00-11:00 PM at 3987 232 Street in Langley.

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Catch up

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