Fraser Valley Current

🌤️ High 17C Good morning, Wednesday is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We won’t have a newsletter out that day, but we wanted to make sure you had what you need to mark it. Below you'll find a few more ways to learn, reflect, and take part — on top of the events we shared in Friday's newsletter. However you choose to spend the day, we hope it's a meaningful one. – Emily Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current.

🌧️ High 17C Good morning, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the Valley has several ways to take part. Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve hosts a salmon leather workshop and community gathering on the 27th, Abbotsford's Stetís ímexstowx Gathering returns to Civic Plaza, and Greendale Acres in Chilliwack is holding a full day of cultural sharing and reflection. Take a moment to learn, listen, and take part.

The Chilliwack Cultural Centre's Queer Arts Festival is back for its second year, running from October 3 through Halloween with a lineup of performances, markets, and community events celebrating LGBTQ2S+ voices. The festival opens October 3 with Clay & Coffee, a social night hosted with Health Initiative for Men at Harvest Café, where guests can paint and carve clay tiles over coffee.

🌧️ High 16C Good morning, The District of Hope had to remind residents to behave like well-mannered adults after one too many heated interactions with staff — turns out yelling at the person trying to help you isn't a great strategy. On a lighter note, if anyone's got a spare $45 million lying around, Langley's Newlands Golf & Country Club is back on the market. – Emily Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

🌤️ High 22C Good morning, Big political week in the Valley. Mission has a new mayor — Jag Gill won by acclamation after his opponent dropped out, making him the city's youngest mayor ever. Meanwhile, at the provincial level, B.C. politics took a dramatic turn as Kerry-Lynne Findlay stepped down as Conservative leader amid ongoing caucus chaos. – Emily Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

With multiple projects underway to expand capacity at Langley schools, one high school is ready to welcome an extra 300 students. A new addition at Langley Secondary School, which began construction in January 2025, is now open. The add-on brings 12 new classrooms, a science lab, and special-education spaces to the school. It also boasts new energy-efficient mechanical systems that improve air quality.

☀️ High 24C Good morning, Whatever your idea of a good time is, the Valley's got you covered this week. Strum a ukulele in Fort Langley, work your way through croissants across the region, or grab a team for some backyard cornhole in Abbotsford. Pick your fun. – Emily Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope | Mission 🚘 Driving today?

Jordan texted me at 10:03 PM on a Sunday. He is 27, he works nights stocking a grocery store in Maple Ridge, a long-distance thing had ended with a last voice note that just said “I cannot do the hours anymore.” He wanted to know if an AI girlfriend simulator could feel like a relationship you return to, not a chat you poke when you are bored.

Nate texted me at 9:47 PM on a Thursday. He is 29, he works days at a lumber yard in Abbotsford, his Sunday D&D table collapsed when the dungeon master moved to Calgary and took the campaign binder with him. He wanted to know if any AI chatbots could actually play without turning into a help desk the second he went off script. I was standing at my counter in Chilliwack eating leftover Panago cold, sauce on my thumb, which is not something I am proud of but is something I am being honest about.

🌧️ High 18C Good morning, A new park is opening in Abbotsford next Saturday — and it's more than just a playground. Westridge Park includes a Cultural Contemplative Space and Japanese heritage garden honouring the history of Japanese Canadians in British Columbia, alongside the usual family-friendly amenities. The ribbon cutting is September 19 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. – Emily Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current.