Times The Langley
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Thousands walk the Walk 50th annual Langley Walk draws 2,100 participants on a sunny Sunday in spring
MIRANDA GATHERCOLE Times Reporter
The streets and pathways of Langley were trod by thousands of walkers on Sunday, as residents celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Langley Walk. Organizers far surpassed their goal of 2,012 walkers with more than 2,100 making either a five or seven km km trek from McLeod Athletic Park, through the Derek Doubleday Arboretum and Nicomekl Park, and back to McLeod Park. “It was awesome. “I’ve been helping out with the walk since 2003 and I’ve never seen so many people out before,” said Barbara Andersen, Langley Walk organizer and community health and fitness programmer at the Township. “We worked with a great volunteer committee who put so much time and energy into getting the word out. “That really made the difference this year.” It would have been a proud moment for Pete Swensson, the parks and recreation director of the Township of Langley in the 1960s, who 50 years ago came up with the idea to host a walk to promote healthy living and family fun. It was the first of its kind in North America, and remains one of the only free walks not attached to a fundraiser. With record number crowds and sponsors this year, Swensson’s vision remains as strong today as it was during the first walk in 1963. “Because this is a community walk the focus is not on time, but on getting involved in the community, getting to know new trails and having fun with family, not on racing. There are plenty of other walks like that, but that’s not what we’re about,” Andersen said. According to Shefali Raja, Community Health Specialist for Fraser Health, walking is one of the easiest ways to maintain good health. The latest Canadian Community Health Survey shows that one in two adults are either overweight or obese and one-third of children are in the same category. continued, PAGE 4
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Two stabbings in two days No suspect in Langley City incident, two arrested in Aldergrove
Miranda GATHERCOLE/Langley Times
More than 2,000 walkers marched under the balloon arch that marked the start of the 50th annual Langley Walk at McLeod Athletic Park on Sunday, May 6.
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A 30-year-old Langley man is in serious condition in hospital, after being stabbed in the stomach in Langley City on Saturday night. Around 10 p.m., the victim, who is known to police, left a social event in the area and got into a person’s vehicle in the 20600 block of Eastleigh Crescent. A confrontation took place inside the vehicle and the man was stabbed once, said police. The driver of the car then took off. The victim was airlifted to hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition. No suspect description is available, so far. Police believe the victim and the suspect are known to each other. This wasn’t a random act, said B.C. RCMP’s Sgt. Peter Thiessen. This is the second stabbing in two days in Langley. A man was stabbed in a fight at the Aldergrove Mobile Home Park early Friday morning. Around 1:40 a.m., Langley RCMP responded to a call from B.C. Ambulance Service regarding a stabbing at a trailer in the 26800 block of Fraser Highway. Police learned the dispute involved two men, one of whom had apparently stabbed the other. The second male was arrested. He was treated for minor wounds and remains in police custody. A female was also arrested and interviewed.All parties involved knew each other, said police. “This assault is not believed to have any gang or drug connections and appears to be a localized dispute between individuals,” said Langley RCMP Cpl. Patrick Davies.
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