Langley Advance Times, May 11, 2023

Matthew Claxton matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com

The young man responsible for the overdose death of Langley’s Carson Crimeni pleaded guilty to manslaughter in New Westminster Supreme Court Monday morning.

“It’s definitely mixed emotions,” said Aron Crimeni, Carson’s father.

“There was a part of me that wanted to see him found guilty [in a trial],”

But, he said, it was definitely a good thing to see a guilty plea.

“It’s been four years,” Aron noted.

“For me, guilty is guilty,” said Darrel Crimeni, Carson’s grandfather. “It’s a bit of a relief.”

Carson

The youth, who cannot be named because he was under 18 at the time of the incident, is expected to be sentenced in September, Darrel said. continued on page 11…

on Sunday. Full story on page 44. (Dan Ferguson/Langley

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Man, 55, dies in Aldergrove house fire

RCMP and fire officials continue investigating cause of occupant’s death and reason for blaze

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

A 55-year-old man died after a house fire in the 5100-block 264th Street in Aldergrove last week.

Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, Township of Langley firefighters responded to reports of a house fire in Aldergrove – near the highway overpass.

Russ Jenkins, Township deputy fire chief, said the fire started in the basement and there was “extensive damage” to the residence.

“Our crews got there and knocked the fire down relatively quickly,” he said.

The fire was extinguished by 11:30 p.m.

Cpl. Craig van Herk, Langley RCMP spokesperson, said police are still investigating the cause of the man’s death and what started the fire.

One witness, who did not want to be named, estimated as many as 20 emergency vehicles were on the

scene at 8 p.m. Wednesday night. Fire investigators and RCMP have been investigating the scene in the days following, the entrance to the property still believed to be behind police tape.

Occupants of the home received public disaster assistance, Jenkins noted.

House was empty

Just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, Township crews also responded to reports of another fire, this one in an abandoned house in the 7400-block 202A Street of Willoughby.

The house was boarded up and had no utilities, consequently Jenkins said the fire is suspicious.

“This one we knew had been an issue in the past, and we had it boarded up,” he said.

“It’s suspicious in nature since there’s no power to the place.”

Six firefighters were on scene and had the fire extinguished by 9 p.m. RCMP were investigating.

Child sex charges laid against local man

Alleged incidents took place in Langley starting last year, Crown says

Matthew Claxton news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Charges of sexual interference and exploitation involving three victims, all in Langley, have been laid against a Lower Mainland man.

Bhupinder Singh Sonu has been charged with six counts –three counts of sexual interference and three counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Each pair of charges involves a different complainant,

confirmed Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the B.C. Prosecution Service.

Two of the incidents allegedly took place between Sept. 1, 2022 and Feb. 15, 2023, and the third incident allegedly took place on Feb. 14 or 15 of this year.

“All offences are alleged to have occurred at or near Langley,” McLaughlin said. Charges were laid after an investigation by the Langley RCMP, but local Mounties

could not say more as the matter is now before the courts, and involves minors.

Sonu first appeared in Surrey Provincial Court on May 2 and is expected to return on May 30.

He was reportedly a teacher who worked at a Khalsa school in the region.

The Langley Advance Times is attempting to confirm if his licence to teach has been suspended in B.C.

A Khalsa school is a private

religious school for members of the Sikh community, similar to Catholic- and Protestant-run private schools that are found in Langley and the Fraser Valley.

As is the case with all sexual assault charges, including those involving children, the names of the victims are protected by a publication ban.

Persons charged with a criminal offence are considered not guilty until the charges are proven in court.

A man died in a house fire on Wednesday, May 3. The blaze occurred in the area of 264th Street and 51st Avenue in Aldergrove.

(Dan Ferguson/ Langley Advance Times)

Seedless Cucumbers

Lockdown sparked by ‘slaughter’ threat

Incident appeared to be part of online hoax

Amy Jugpal, whose son attends Peter Ewart Middle, got a text message that said “There’s a lockdown, love you.”

“Receiving that message as a parent is pretty scary,” she said Friday morning, May 5, after Peter Ewart Middle and R.E. Mountain Secondary, which are adjacent to one another in the 7700-block of 202A Street, were put into lockdown.

Jugpal spoke to her son by phone, and he was under his desk, with the lights off in his classroom, whispering.

That brief conversation left her shaken up and in tears.

The lockdown was sparked by a threatening electronic communication, according to the Langley RCMP.

At about 9:20 a.m., the RCMP received multiple reports of a threat that was originally thought to have been directed at the high school.

Students at the school received a threatening electronic communication, said Cpl. Craig Van Herk, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.

Multiple students showed the messages to parents, teachers, or school liaison officers, which sparked the police response.

Students at the school told the Langley Advance Times that they first saw the messages

on Snapchat. The messages threatened “mass slaughter” on May 5.

Out of an abundance of caution, both R.E. Mountain and Peter Ewart were put under lockdown.

“All available officers responded to the area,” said Van Herk.

He described it as an “exodus” from the RCMP detachment building, with every available officer from all over Langley heading to the schools, with help from neighbouring police departments being called up as well. According to students, the lockdown lasted for about 20 minutes.

Fortunately, the initial investigation showed that the messages were generic. They didn’t name any particular school or even a particular community, said Van Herk.

There was no apparent connection to the two local schools.

RCMP officers ensured the schools was safe and the lockdown was lifted before 10:20 a.m., when the Langley School District announced it was over.

“All students and staff are safe,” a message from the school district said shortly after the incident.

An RCMP investigation into the origin of the threatening messages is ongoing. Van Herk said he could not yet say if it was a genuine threat or a prank of some kind yet.

After the incident, Jugpal said her son was so shaken up that he asked to go home for the rest of the day.

Similar incidents happened last week in other communities in North America, according to news reports.

Matthew Claxton and Kyler Emerson news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Langley RCMP were at RE Mountain Secondary and Peter Ewart Middle School Friday, May 5, 2023. The schools were temporarily on lockdown. (Kyler Emerson/Langley Advance Times)

Receiving that message as a parent is pretty scary.

AMY JUGPAL

Three injured after plane hits pickup

Light aircraft crashed on landing after low approach to Langley Regional Airport

Matthew Claxton and Dan Ferguson news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Three people were injured when a light plane hit a moving pickup truck and then crashed while attempting to land at the Langley Regional Airport Tuesday, April 2. The crash happened at 3 p.m. when the Cessna 182 crashed just short of the runway, according to Langley Township deputy fire chief Russ Jenkins.

It struck the roof of a Township of Langley truck on 216th Street, which runs east of the airport. The hit crushed much of the cab roof and shattering the windshield. The aircraft tore through a fence and crash-landing on airport property not far from the runway, catching fire.

Some Good Samaritans came to the aid of the pilot and passenger, helping them out of the aircraft.

Kirk Wood was driving south on 216th Street on the sunny Tuesday, when he saw a plane coming in for

a landing.

“They were coming in low across the field,” Wood said.

It became clear the plane was too low. He saw debris spray up as it

smashed into the roof of a pickup truck which was several cars ahead of him.

Wood said the plane then barely cleared the ditch between 216th

and the airport property. It plowed through the fence, and came to rest askew against a grassy berm.

“A fire started pretty quick,” Wood said.

He pulled over to the side of the road and turned on his emergency flashers, crossed the ditch, and headed in to help.

Wood, who was a firefighter when he lived in the United States, said he tried to open the pilot’s door but it was jammed.

The plane’s passenger, a woman, was getting out on her own, but the pilot, an elderly man, couldn’t get out on his own.

“He was clearly injured,” said

Wood.

A plane crashed after hitting a pickup truck on 216th Street Tuesday afternoon at the Langley Regional Airport. (Dan Ferguson/ Langley Advance Times)

Another man arrived then, and he and Wood together pulled him out of the plane.

Along with another passerby and airport workers, they got the two people from the plane away from the burning wreckage.

Wood didn’t get the names of most of the other rescuers, but he said one of them was a nurse, and another man gave up his shirt to act as a bandage for the head of the battered pilot.

He said the rescue wasn’t so much a matter of firefighter training, just being able to help in the moment. continued on page 13…

Moments after a light plane crashed at Langley airport, a passerby shot video of Good Samaritans rescuing the two occupants of the plane. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Early steps include land purchases and design for expanded Willoughby roadway

Matthew Claxton news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Plans to widen 208th Street in Willoughby moved forward at Langley Township council this month.

On Monday, May 1, council approved $1.3 million for portions of the work to widen the Willoughby Connector, and for the widening of 208th Street and the 212th Connector.

The largest portion of the funding, $810,000, will go towards the Willoughby Connector widening. Willoughby Connector links 208th Street south of 68th Street to 64th Avenue.

The money will be used for environmental compensation work, relocating utilities such as electrical wiring, and land purchases along the corridor.

The remaining $500,000 is for engineering design, traffic studies, and other consulting work for the early phases of widening 208th Street between 68th Street north to 76th Avenue, and for the 212th Connector between 208th Street and 77A

Avenue.

The bulk of the money will come from development cost charges (DCCs) which are paid by developers.

When the Willowbrook Connector has been widened, it will include protected bike lanes, new pedestrian crossing and traffic signals, a multi-use path on the west side and a sidewalk on the east side, four new bus stops, and the intersection at 64th Avenue will be expanded to have dual left turn lanes, to meet future traffic demands.

“This is just the first step in the process,” said Roeland Zwaag, director of engineering.

Widening 208th Street has been a longtime problem for the Township.

For years, road-widening in Willoughby has taken place by individual developers. This means that much of the northern portion of 208th Street, between 76th Avenue and the overpass to Walnut Grove, has been widened. But

the widening has taken place haphazardly as each piece of property has been developed.

Some areas, where development has been stalled, narrow to one lane running north or south even as major condo projects are built next door or across the street. The road widens and narrows between two, three, and four lanes at various places.

In 2019, the Township approved a plan to fund road widening and other road improvements dubbed WARCAP, for Willoughby Arterial Road Completion Amenity Program.

That program, after extensive wrangling, was to charge developers $16.09 per square metre of developable land in the area, to fund future road expansions.

However, by 2020, there was no money in the WARCAP accounts.

The funding was set up so that developers only paid once they had moved through the entire development process and had

seen their projects given the final stamp of approval by council and staff. Since that can take months or years, it was taking some time

to build up funds for WARCAP projects.

Mayor Eric Woodward had emphasized completing 208th Street as a campaign promise in last year’s

municipal elections. Once this phase of work is done, Township council is expected to receive an update from engineering staff.

This is just the first step in the process.

ROELAND ZWAAG

Woodward

OPINION

BC Housing mess appalls Published by Black Press Media. Publisher: Lisa Farquharson. Our offices are located at 20258 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC V3A4E6

T

our views

There’s no evidence of personal enrichment. As far as Ernst & Young accountants can tell, no one was skimming funds.

he audit of BC Housing and its relationship with Atira Women’s Resource Society has revealed a peculiar scandal.What happened was a case of blatant favouritism in a provincial agency with a $2 billion annual budget.

Former BC Housing CEO Shayne Ramsay, who resigned in 2022, is married to Atira CEO Janice Abbott.

Over the most recent fiscal year reviewed, Atira received $90 million, a full $35 million more than any other non-profit funded by BC Housing. Rules were ignored, and on at least 27 occasions, Ramsay involved himself in decisions regarding Atira through BC Housing employees.

There are, and should be, questions about whether Atira was spending that money well.

But even if every dollar was well spent – and safeguards around that seem to have been ignored as well – it would still be a case of blatant favouritism.

The entire province is facing a housing crisis. BC Housing was the lead agency tasked with protecting and creating housing for the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

The fact that a good chunk of its budget was siphoned off to a group run by the CEO’s wife, without oversight, means that other groups, which also wanted funding for desperately needed projects, were sent packing without a cheque.

The audit is a good first step. Getting rid of the BC Housing board, a decision Premier David Eby made last year, was also necessary. But a deeper investigation is still required. Were laws broken?

More important, this can’t happen again – not at BC Housing, not at any provincial agency. Stronger conflict of interest controls, and rewards for whistleblowers, might help prevent another incident. – M.C.

THROUGH YOUR LENS:

“It must be spring. The bunnies are making themselves known,” said Jim Orlowski. He and his grandchildren, Jeremy and Brenna, have been watching this little one munching on the early grasses in Orlowski’s front yard in Murrayville for the past week. Send us your photo showing how you view Langley, email to: editor@langleyadvancetimes.com.

Demographics is one of those huge forces over which we have no control, but which directs a huge swathe of our life.

For example, I’m a member of Generation X, which means as I grew up, I was told I was a useless, lazy slacker who would never amount to anything. This assessment usually came from Baby Boom generation folks who had been told growing up that they were a bunch of useless, lazy hippies who would never amount to anything.

Generational stereotypes aren’t worth much, in other words.

Despite the fact that the clichés aren’t a reliable map of reality, demographics can have a profound effect on our lives.

from 233,000 a year earlier. Now, some of that was undoubtedly attributable to pandemic burnout. If you were anywhere near retirement age, and you worked as a nurse, teacher, or other high-pressure job during the last three years, you’d be eager to put your feet up, too. But it’s also simply because the Baby Boom generation is now aged between 60 and 75. They’re in prime retirement age. Add in the fact that many of them reaped a huge financial windfall from simply buying property in the 1970s through the1990s, and if they worked steadily through their lifetimes, they’re financially set.

retire. Sure, immigration can make up part of that shortfall, but not all of it.

Hence, one of the major reasons we’ve seen so much talk about labour shortages in every sector, from health care to truck driving.

And do you know what happens when there’s a shortage of workers? When, instead of many workers competing for few jobs, you get many jobs competing for scarce workers?

Yep, wages go up.

After decades in which the cost of living, especially the cost of housing, has outpaced any increase in wages, things might start to reverse.

Take, for example, the long-term impacts we’re seeing from the Great Retirement.

MATTHEW CLAXTON TRUTH Painful Answer online at www.langleyadvancetimes.com Do you think that the face of King Charles should replace Queen Elizabeth on Canadian currency? ? of the week Question

Last September, Statistics Canada released data showing a huge jump in the rate of retirement across the country. A total of 303,000 Canadians had retired between August 2021 and August 2022. That was up

Generations that followed the Baby Boomers didn’t do as well, money-wise. But now, maybe, it’s time for them to get their piece of the pie.

The thing is, there are just fewer Gen X members and Millennials than there are Boomers. After the baby boom, families got smaller. That means there are fewer workers left to take over jobs as Boomers

MEET OUR TEAM

Reporters – Matthew Claxton, Heather Colpitts, Kyler Emerson, and Dan Ferguson

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The younger generations – which includes Gen Xers who are up to their mid-50s, and Millennials who are in their early 40s, remember – are finally poised to actually start getting ahead.

Nothing is guaranteed, of course. We could have a nasty recession soon. The banking crisis, or high interest rates, or something else could undermine things.

But demographics is a big influence. All other things being equal, this generational shift will last a long time.

Housing needs out of box ideas

Dear Editor, Housing has become a demand, and affordable housing for low-income people is almost non-existing. Waiting lists for low-income housing has become the reality and the reality of that is the streets become home and people either live there or they die there waiting and waiting, and waiting.

There is a lot of solutions out there but very few willing to step out past their own mindset to what is immediately needed now. Right now we need quick solutions, out of the box solutions, solutions that can be utilized in many ways and in very many different categories and concepts.

What is the final solution is permanent housing below market prices.

The country is currently drowning from inadequate housing choices, affordable housing choices. Poor as it sounds words are inadequate, performance and action is required not

the stagnant concept of waiting years for these buildings to be built. The real pain is out there now, the real suffering is bundling out there on the streets and in the misery of it all, there is a lineup of people falling, waiting and waiting, and waiting to fall into these cracks of homelessness.

Canada has a history

going back decades of accepting the idea that 400 to 500 sq. ft. apartment suites is permanent housing, it is not a fix, it is monstrously detrimental to one’s wellbeing and socially damaging to a society that is being forced into believing that this is adequate housing.

I call these places coffins with doors. One size does

not fit all. We need solutions, quick thoughtful solutions, out of the box solutions that don’t pile the need of housing into inadequate housing proposals that lumps us all into one category of unsuitable, unaffordable, unbearable choices and into the unthinkable concept we are all the same with the same

needs.

What is needed right now is housing, “right now” not years from now. Connectable, conceptual housing that becomes our homes, our homes, affordable, low-income choices that we deserve. Every Canadian has the right to be housed in adequate housing and if that isn’t addressed by governments and politicians, well the wellbeing of this country will deteriorate just because years ago we built coffins with doors and we continue on with that concept, we need to rethink, readdress what a home is and think out of the box because if we don’t, it’s like the old saying I have, “If living in the past is what we got we ain’t got the future.”

Do you hear the knocking? Everyone of us has a door to open and what we walk into is our home, not a waiting list and not a coffin.

Cran Campbell, Langley City

GUEST COLUMN: Mental health perspective

On Friday (May 5), I had the opportunity to moderate a panel of mental health experts at SFU: Surrey.

The panel was part of a cross-cultural mental health research and practice form.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Farooq Naeem a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH). He spoke on culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

The CAMH describes CBT as a form of therapy that helps clients develop skills for becoming healthy.

“CBT helps people to examine how they make sense of what is

happening around them and how these perceptions affect the way they feel,” CAMH states on its website.

Dr. Naeem’s research focuses on the need for culturally adapted CBT. His study focused specifically on the South Asian community in Canada.

Cultural CBT is about “the process of making adjustments in therapy to improve engagement when working with a person with whom therapists does not share a cultural background,” Dr. Naeem said.

Sarah Ahmed was the research coordinator for the study and saw firsthand the impact culturally

a selection of feedback from our Online Readers

Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of Carson Crimeni.

Elaine Marsen: It’s a shame these things take so long. What torment for families.

Lois Phillips: I have never forgotten this sweet boy.

Heather Hoffmann: Hopefully the guilty one has learned to respect life and stop doing drugs.

Shannon Anger Htan: Kids who took the videos should be charged, too.

adapted CBT had.

“When it comes to mental health care, everyone deserves the right to care that is culturally appropriate for them that is equitable, and that is accessible,” Ahmed said.

I am not an expert in the mental health field, but I do have some

lived experience. I have been on the other side of the chair as a client. Over the years, my therapist has used CBT during some of our sessions. Although my work in therapy has been mainly trauma based, I have benefited from CBT. I think the idea of adapting CBT to someone’s culture is brilliant. Dr. Naeem stressed that the therapist does not need to be from the same culture as their client but should be aware of their own biases through which they view the world.

To learn more and to read the report visit camh.ca/cacbt.

– Anna Burns is a reporter with the Surrey Now Leader

Ads were cute

Dear Editor,

[Re: Design an Ad, Langley Advance Times, April 27]

It was a breath of fresh air to read the children’s ads in the April 27 edition.

I rarely read the same old boring ads, but these made me pay attention. They were cute, sincere, and creative. Perhaps some of these businesses could offer some schools payment to help create an ad or two.

It would help the school and the business with some new and refreshing advertisements.

Sandra Murphy, Langley City

Houses and townhouses are seen in an aerial view in Langley from 2018. A new report says home construction will need to quickly rise to unprecedented levels to offset the impact of record immigration. (Darryl Dyck, Canadian Press/Special to Langley Advance Times)

A cross-cultural mental health forum was at SFU Surrey on May 5. (Anna Burns/Black Press Media)

Design an Ad featured ads drawn by local public school students and published April 27.

Contract strife hits ER

Family GP deal causing headaches for hospital

Dan Ferguson dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

An unexpected side-effect of a new contract for primary care doctors in B.C. has been increased delays in the already busy Langley Memorial Hospital emergency department – the result of fewer available physicians.

That’s according to Dr. Mitra Maharaj, site medical director at Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH), who was responding to reports that doctors at the Langley Division of Family Practice were being advised to direct patients to other hospitals, if at all possible.

Maharaj said it was an unexpected result of the new B.C. physician master agreement, approved in December, that improved pay and working conditions for family doctors, and prompted some hospitalists –doctors who work some or all the time in hospital – to move toward family practice.

It became a noticeable trend in April.

Finding and keeping doctors

“has been a problem for a long time, to a degree,” Maharaj explained, but now, it’s an even bigger challenge.

“We have faced significant human resources shortages,” he told the Langley Advance Times on Monday. While he could not provide an exact estimate of the resulting increased wait times, Maharaj called them “significantly increased,” and “certainly not ideal.”

On Tuesday May 9, for example, he said LMH would normally expect to have eight hospitalists available, but will have to get by with seven.

Other hospitals, not just Langley, are experiencing the same issue, he maintained.

“Stop-gap” measures are being taken to address the issue, he advised.

“A lot of other groups of physicians are stepping in,” he added.

Approved in December, the new contract offers family doctors an alternative to the fee-forservice system, which family doctors have long cited as a primary cause of the province’s doctor shortage.

Maharaj is hoping negotiations on a new contract for hospitalists, currently underway, can resolve the matter.

“I’m optimistic,” he commented. “I’m hopeful that we’re going to see some improvement.” Meanwhile, he acknowledged long waits, even for relatively minor medical issues, can be “extraordinarily frustrating,” but assured visitors to the local emergency department they can be confident that LMH is “fully committed to provide safe and quality care to all our clients,” and serious cases will be seen quickly.

In response to an Advance Times query, the ministry of health issued a statement saying staff from both the ministry and Fraser Health met late last week with LMH hospitalists “who are concerned about their capacity,” and discussions were continuing on “a range of short-term and longterm solutions that we hope we can all agree on.”

Langley Advance Times reached out to the Langley Division of Family Practice for comment but did not hear back before presstime.

Accused admits guilt

…continued from page 1

The guilty plea and expected sentencing will be the end of the police investigation and legal case that began on Aug. 14, 2019, when Carson, 14, was found in serious medical distress in a park near Walnut Grove Secondary.

That same day, videos surfaced on social media showing Carson at the skate park in Walnut Grove, so intoxicated he could barely speak. Others could be heard and seen laughing at him on the videos.

His family has always maintained that others gave Carson a large amount of drugs, leading to his death.

“The sentence was sort of secondary for us,” Darrel said. “The main thing was the word guilty.”

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maximum sentence for manslaughter is three years.

Darrel admitted he was not looking forward to a 30-day trial. A trial had been scheduled to start on June 19 and run for a full month in New Westminster.

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Darrel Crimeni Carson’s grandpa

A spokesperson for the B.C. Prosecution Service confirmed that the accused will be sentenced as a youth offender.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a young person can be sentenced as an adult for serious crimes such as murder or manslaughter.

If they are sentenced as a youth, however, the

“It won’t be easy,” said Aron, who expects he will have to brace himself for the impact of those statements.

The statements are created by loved ones of victims so they can inform the court about the effect the crime has had on them.

The offender will be back in court on Thursday to set an official sentencing date.

Aron said he plans to be at the skate park in Walnut Grove again this year on July 2, Carson’s birthday, to remember his son.

“I’m optimistic… I’m hopeful that we’re going to see some improvements.”

Dr. Mitra Maharaj, LMH medical director

Study will help City flood prevention work

Federal-provincial initiative contributed $120,000 to remapping and other mitigation efforts

Dan Ferguson dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

A just-completed federal-provincial program that remapped Langley City’s flood plain along the Nicomekl River will mean a safer future, said local MLAs Megan Dykeman and Andrew Mercier.

The two MLAs said the study will help flood prevention efforts by the City.

“Reducing the risk of floods is top of mind all across the province, especially after the extreme weather that hit the Fraser Valley in 2021,” said Dykeman, the MLA for Langley-East.

“The City of Langley is undertaking important work to look ahead [at future flooding risks], and the province and federal government are pleased to support them,” Dykeman added.

The City of Langley received $120,000 in funding for its Nicomekl River flood project.

The project involved mapping the flood plain for the Nicomekl River, updating the City’s hydraulic model, and completing a comprehensive survey of the watercourse tributaries and cross sections.

“The Nicomekl River runs right

through the City of Langley, and it’s incredibly important for people that live along the river to know

that their safety and their homes are a priority,” said Mercier, MLA for Langley.

“Having a better understanding of this flood plain will help make sure that flood prevention infra-

structure is as sturdy and efficient as possible,” Mercier went on to say.

It was one of 24 projects funded by an $11 million joint B.C.-Canada program, part of the National Disaster Mitigation Program, which cost-shares expenses between the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

The Township of Langley often experiences flooding, particularly in the northern areas but the City also has flooding issues.

Langley City has a flood plain elevation bylaw, which requires all the new developments to be built to withstand a one-in-200-year flood event.

In January of this year, City council members, responding to a Langley Advance Times political questionnaire “At Your Service” survey, advised staff were preparing a report to council to update the current flood plain elevation bylaw, which sets minimum flood construction levels (FCLs) at Nicomekl River, Murray Creek, Logan Creek, and Jeffries Brook, as part of the work to respond to the increased risk of flood damages due to climate change.

The report was expected this spring.

In 2021, torrential rain caused the Nicomekl to overflow its banks in Langley City. A $120,000 review of the flood plain has been completed, with federal-provincial funding. (Langley Advance Times file)

Speeder caught after clocking 244 km/h

Helicopter and APD help locate motorcyclist

Matthew Claxton news@langleyadvancetimes.com

A Langley motorcyclist caught riding at more than 180 kilometres per hour over the speed limit had their bike impounded, but it took two police forces and an RCMP helicopter to catch them.

RCMP officers with the Langley traffic enforcement section were in Glen Valley, near 88th Avenue and 256th Street, watching for speeders and dangerous drivers when the motorcycle sped towards them at a high rate of speed on the evening of April 21, said Cpl. Craig van Herk, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.

“We clocked him at 244 in a 60 zone,” said van Herk.

He called the speed “ridiculous.”

“There are no roads anywhere around here that would allow for safe operation of any vehicle at 244 km/h,” said van Herk.

The officer turned on his emergency lights, but when the motorcycle did not slow down at all, he quickly turned them off again, as it would have been dangerous to pursue.

He quickly called the incident in and requested Air 1, the RCMP helicopter, try to locate the suspect bike.

The helicopter crew did manage to find a motorcycle matching the suspect’s description nearby, and with the help of Abbotsford Police Department officers, the rider was found and arrested in the Bradner Road area.

The bike was impounded, and the rider has been handed tickets for excessive speed and driving without insurance that will total almost $1,000, on top of the cost of getting the bike out of impound.

In addition, an investigation is continuing into the speeding incident.

Plane crash victims all recovering

…continued from page 6 Wood said he lives by the mantra that “every encounter is an opportunity to be positive or helpful, or not.”

“Several of us just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.

The pilot and passenger were taken to hospital by Air Ambulance, according to Cpl. Craig Van Herk, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.

The driver of the pickup was taken to hospital by ground ambulance.

Township fire crews extinguished the burning plane before 3:30 p.m.

The pilot and passenger have been in touch with him since the incident, Wood said, and they plan to get together once the pilot’s injuries are healed up a little more.

“We’ve talked a

couple times,” Wood said. “They’re both doing well.”

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced it was deploying a team of investigators to “following a collision with a vehicle and collision with terrain involving a privately registered Cessna 182” at the Langley Regional Airport.

“The TSB will gather information

and assess the occurrence,” the TSB said.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences.

“Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability,” it said.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.

A red Honda motorcycle was impounded by the RCMP after the rider was allegedly caught driving at 244 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in rural Langley in April.

(Langley RCMP/ Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Much of the plane burned up after the crash. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Power of the Purse restored

Single mom’s dream of teaching made possible by fundraiser

Long-time Langley Soroptimist and community champion Karen Wandler passed away unexpectedly a few weeks before her favourite event of the year –the Power of the Purse.

So the women in her life – her daughter and many members of the organization, who have volunteered alongside her at this event through the years –stepped things up, determined to make the return of the popular fundraiser more successful than ever, in Wandler’s honour.

The goal was achieved, in spades, said fellow Soroptimist and program chair Linda Pugh.

“We pulled together a little more,” she said, to sell event tickets, to push up the auction bids, to sell all the purses and jewelry, and increase the total raised in memory of Wandler.

“I think we made her proud,” she said.

While the fundraising tally was not yet known as of press time, event organizer Diane Summers was confident this year’s Power of the Purse will go down in the history books as one of the best.

She described the energy in the room that night as “electric,” and was “very pleased with how it turned out,” excited to do it all over again next year.

In keeping with the Soroptimists of the Langleys mandate of improving the lives of women and girls, most of the money raised from this yearly event goes back to the organization’s scholarship initiative, called Live Your Dream education and training awards for women.

And, depending on the amount raised, some money might also be earmarked for the group’s Dream It! Be It! It, too, is an education initiative – specifically a career exploration program –for girls between the ages of 12 and 17.

As for the scholarships, Pugh explained that typically each year three women – who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and are seeking to return to school – are selected to receive a minimum $1,000 education grant.

Brandi Ranger, 40, of Brookswood, was the top recipient in 2023. She attended, along with her mother, Michelle, to receive the award and share her story.

Five years ago, she was living in Alberta in “a very abusive relationship.” She and her two young daughters packed up a few things and fled.

“I was terrified. I had nothing but a backpack full of clothes. I knew that I needed to protect myself and my girls and that if I ever wanted to see change, I had to be the change. I picked up all the pieces and moved to Langley to start a new life,” she shared.

“The road to healing has been long and I have had to overcome many

obstacles, but that never once stopped me from pursuing my dreams,” Ranger told the packed banquet rooms at the George Preston Recreation Centre last Thursday night.

“I always wanted to become a teacher, but living in an abusive relationship my dreams faded,” she recalled.

Four years ago, that all changed. She became an education assistant in an elementary school and started to realize working with children was her true passion. She knew she just had to become a teacher.

For years, she took one course at a time – that’s all she could afford.

In January 2022, she completed a bachelor of integrated studies. And last August, she was accepted into the bachelor of education program at UFV.

“I was determined to go. I had no funding, did not qualify for any financial aid, and had zero child support. I got accepted into the program, and I knew that this was my opportunity to change my life, my girls’ lives, and the lives of so many others. I applied to every scholarship and bursary possible.

I made promises with financial aid to pay my tuition fees despite not knowing for sure if funding would come through,” Ranger admitted.

“But I had faith, and I knew in my heart that it was going to happen.”

Among those, she applied for the Live Your Dream scholarship and was absolutely thrilled to learn she was a recipient. As the topplace winner, she received $3,000.

“This scholarship has made such a huge impact on my life and my girls.”

The day before Power of the Purse, where she shared her story, Ranger was able to secure a job with the Langley School District, and said she’s over the moon excited to start there this fall.

In the meantime, she graduates this June. But her educational pursuits don’t end there. She been accepted into the master of educational leadership program for working professionals –

also at UFV, starting part-time in July.

“As a single parent, it has not been easy juggling the responsibilities of parenthood and pursuing my education, and this scholarship has gone a long way in helping me achieve my academic and professional goals,” Ranger said.

“This scholarship has not only alleviated some of the financial burden, but has also given me the motivation to continue working hard towards my future… This scholarship brought me one step closer to achieving my dreams and providing a better life for my family. This truly makes a difference.”

Ranger hopes her story inspires other women to learn about Soroptimists and the funding opportunities available to help them pursue their dreams, too.

Last Thursday’s dinner, as well as the purse sale and auction, was a sold out event with about 150 women and a handful of men present. Summers said the last event in 2019 – pre-COVID –raised about $6,500. They didn’t have final figures for this year, but she was able to confirm it surpassed that.

Story & Photos by Roxanne Hooper editor@langleyadvancetimes.com

Tables full of purses were sold and auctioned off last Thursday by the Soroptimists of the Langleys as part of their yearly fundraiser and scholarship awards night.

Langley’s Brandi Ranger was the top Soroptimists scholarship winner.

Township moves to de-integrate RCMP

Matthew Claxton matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com

Langley Township council has voted to de-integrate from the shared RCMP detachment that has covered both Langleys since the mid-1950s.

The vote, announced officially Wednesday morning, will create

two standalone RCMP detachments. One for the City. One for the Township.

“We are investing in public safety and the City of Langley is not,” Township Mayor Eric Woodward said in a prepared statement. “It is not fair to Township of Langley residents and taxpayers to have to

subsidize policing in another municipality. We need to make a change.”

Officers respond to calls throughout all of Langley, and because of the City’s urban nature, it has tended to draw more calls for service per capita than the Township. The statement from the Town-

ship clarified there is no plan to switch to a municipal force. The plan is to stick with the RCMP for Township policing duties.

The de-integration process is expected to take 24 months, with no interruption in service.

Stay tuned for much more, including reactions to this announcement at: langleyadvancetimes.com

Construction is underway in your area.

As construction of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project progresses, we want you to be informed about potential activity in your neighbourhood so you can plan accordingly. On our website, you can view an interactive map of construction areas, sign up for notifications, track what’s happening along the route and much more.

As always, safety is our number one priority, every metre of the way.

Woodward

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Car linked to shooting

Township fire called to vehicle fire Tuesday

A vehicle fire in South Langley is related to a fatal shooting in Surrey Tuesday night.

Just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, Township of Langley firefighters responded to reports of a vehicle fire in the 20600-block 28th Avenue in the Fernridge neighbourhood.

Crews arrived to find a small fire in or beside a vehicle parked on the side of a rural road.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and RCMP secured the scene.

RCMP could be seen speaking to witnesses who saw the small fire and saw another vehicle leave the area.

Earlier that night, at about 8 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting in a

parking lot in the area of 108th Avenue and 148th Street where they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds.

“Both victims were transported to hospital, one, a 20-year-old male from Surrey, has since succumbed to his injuries while the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries who was transferred to hospital and later released,” Cpl.

Sukhi Dhesi, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), said Thursday, May 4.

Homicide investigators identified the man who was shot dead in a strip mall parking lot in Guildford on Tuesday May 2 as Jayden Prasad, 20, of Surrey.

He is the city’s sixth homicide victim this year.

Dhesi said Prasad was “known to police” and IHIT believes this was a targeted

incident “with ties to the BC Gang Conflict.

“A possible suspect vehicle was located a short time later in Langley, with indications that an attempt was made to light it on fire. We are releasing Mr. Prasad’s identification in an effort to build a time line of his activities leading up to the homicide,” Dhesi said. “Once again, we are seeing a complete disregard for public safety in our communities.”

Police ask anyone with dashcam video or CCTV in the area of 148th Street and 108th Avenue on May 2 between 7:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., and 200th Street and 36th Avenue in Langley between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Dan Ferguson & Tom Zytaruk Black Press Media

A Tuesday night car fire in Langley is believed connected to a fatal Surrey shooting and police are looking for dashcam footage in both areas. (Curtis Kreklau/South Fraser News Services/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Once again, we are seeing a complete disregard for public safety.

CPL. SUKKI DHESI

Love you, Mom

These folks and many others who entered our Mother’s Day contest on Facebook and via email are in the running for the prize of a Joseph Richard Group restaurant gift card. The winner will be announced online.

Rose Atkinson shares

Muriel McGoran.

Sheila Knowles shared a photo of her with her mom, Mary Jane Esau, taken last Mother’s Day.

Amber Olak shared a photo of her mom, Sarbjit Olak.

Joel Smith – We are at the healthy heart bike ride after her recovery and treatment. Her name is Sandi Smith. She is a fantastic grandma and mother to all four of her kids and all nine grandkids. Shahinda

My mom, Dawn Robertson, and my daughter, Remi – Kristi Nand

Four generations: Grandma Amy Bongers is in the rear on the left. Beside her is greatgrandma Wilma Nydam. Michelle Huberts is holding her daughter, Kendra Huberts.

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What seniors still need to know about COVID

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provides answers

Late last week, the World Health Organization declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency.

Following that announcement, Minister of Health Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry commented on the “important milestone” and spoke of the many challenges society has weathered “together” during the past three years.

“We have been transitioning out of the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic for some time now, and have been integrating COVID-19 surveillance, monitoring, processes, and supports into our regular health system operations,” said Henry.

However, she noted: “COVID-19 is still with us, and will be with us for the foreseeable future, so we need to continue to monitor and to take measures we know protect ourselves and others.”

The doctor also took time to answer a few questions about the virus for local seniors.

1. With the fifth booster shot out, should all or most seniors have already received an invitation to get that shot. And if not, what should they do?

• B.C.’s COVID-19 spring booster program started on April 3, 2023. Eligible individuals will receive an invitation through the Get Vaccinated system once they have reached the 6-month interval since their last dose of vaccine. That

means that most people will have received their invitation by the end of May.

• As of April 26, a total of 149,596 booster doses have been given across all high-risk groups since the beginning of the 2023 spring booster campaign. Of these, over 90 per cent have been delivered by pharmacies.

• We’re seeing an average of 8,000-10,000 bookings made per day, with 85 to 90 per cent of these bookings made by individuals aged 60 years and older, which is consistent with the criteria for the spring booster campaign.

• Health authorities started administering spring booster doses in long-term care and assisted living facilities on April 11.

• More information about vaccination eligibility is available here: https://www2.gov. bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/ vaccine/booster

• Members of the public can phone the call centre at 1-833-838-2323 if they have questions booking a COVID19 vaccine.

2. Is the sixth booster going to be coming soon, or is it being reducing to once a year – like the flu shot?

• In B.C., our focus remains on people getting at least one dose of a bivalent booster shot – regardless of what doses they have received in the past.

• The defences we have built through immunization and the

combination of vaccine immunity and infection induced immunity means that we have strong defences as a community.

• We have very good evidence that our vaccines are still providing strong protection – and cross-protection for Omicron subvariants – from serious illness, hospitalization and death, especially if you’ve had the bivalent booster with the omicron antigen.

• As stated in the March 3 NACI statement, there continue to be many uncertainties around the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. Which

means we still do not know if another dose of vaccine will be needed next fall or if it will be a longer period before immunity decreases and another dose is needed. We will continue to monitor and will provide information as we see how things evolve.

• Given that, it is possible that additional booster doses may be recommended by NACI for broader population groups in the fall of 2023 around the same time as influenza vaccines are offered.

3. Is COVID still as dangerous and potentially lethal to seniors as when the pandemic first

started? Can you explain?

• People are still getting sick with COVID-19, and those who are most at risk continue to be older people, people with immunocompromising conditions and people who have not yet been vaccinated.

• However, through combinations of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, we have achieved a very high level of population immunity and the number of people at risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19 has dropped significantly.

• At this stage, even amongst the frailest elderly populations

in long-term care facilities, most vaccinated residents with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms.

• We now have good protection against COVID-19 on a population basis and we are in a much better position than we were earlier in the pandemic.

4. What safeguards should seniors be following, if any, and why? Ie. Are masks still encouraged, are they helpful at this point? Is isolation really necessary any longer? etc.

• Even though the respiratory season has ended and we are taking steps to return to pre-pandemic operations in long-term care, assisted living, and health-care facilities, we continue to encourage everyone, including seniors, to get the spring booster and take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

– Stay at home if you feel unwell and stay away from people at higher risk of serious illness if you have symptoms.

– Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms, or are recovering from a respiratory illness, and you are around others, especially people at higher risk of serious illness.

– Practise good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.

• If you are someone at higher risk consider wearing a well-fitted medical mask when in indoor crowded spaces where ventilation is poor. continued on page 21…

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke about the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 during a press conference in Victoria. (Chad Hipolito/ Canadian Press)

Dr. Henry answers queries

…continued from page 20

• People with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home as much as possible to reduce any potential spread of illness. Stay home until your symptoms have improved, your fever is gone, and you are able to participate in your usual activities. Visit http:// www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/ covid-19/self-isolation for more information.

5. What’s happening in care homes? Can we go visit friends? Are tests still required, if we go?

• Effective Apr. 6, 2023, visitor restrictions in long-term care, assisted living, and health-care facilities were lifted.

• People should check with their local facility about their policies before they visit.

• People who are sick or have symptoms of illness should not visit longterm care and seniors’ assisted living sites until you are feeling better.

6. Are COVID tests still available free of charge from pharmacies, and if so, for how long – indefinitely?

• Currently, rapid antigen testing kits are free for everyone in B.C. People can visit their local pharmacy and ask for their testing kit.

testing kits can be found here: https://www2. gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/testing

7. Is there anything else, as a senior, that I should be aware of now about COVID-19?

• COVID-19 is still with us, and is likely to be around for many years. Thanks to the high level of immunity primarily from vaccination and combinations of boosters and infection the virus is no longer causing severe disease in most people. This means we can safely get back to many of the important things in our lives like gathering with family and friends.

We know seniors have borne the brunt of many of the challenges of this pandemic and it is important to be able to safely get back to activities and connections in our lives. As we have learned, some settings are less risky than others.

Henry

If you are at higher risk enjoying other people’s company outside may be better; especially if someone has been sick or in contact with someone who is ill. As well we can add additional protection by wearing a mask when we have symptoms ourselves and need to go out or if we are in crowded indoor settings.

• There have been no planned changes to the province’s strategy of rapid test distribution, nor is there a plan to end free rapid test distribution in the near term.

• More information about rapid antigen

• People who have not yet been vaccinated are still at a higher risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases and of having more severe illness with COVID-19.

• We strongly encourage everyone to receive their primary series of vaccinations as soon as possible and to consider receiving a bivalent booster if they have not already done so.

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Sale helps feed seniors

Veteran society sells off baked goods, puzzles, and plants

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

An elephant was spotted in downtown Aldergrove Saturday, and it wasn’t the four-legged variety on the lam from the nearby zoo.

Aldergrove Seniors Centre held its annual white elephant and plant sale on Saturday.

ranging from beef stroganoff, lasagna, or roast beef.

The cost is $7 for members or $8 for non-members to sample the great food served, if given advance notice. The cook will also customize the dishes for those who have allergies to certain foods.

Members of the society also drop-off homemade meals to residents at Lions Grove senior housing.

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Items were donated by members and ranged from books, puzzles, paintings, plants, and homemade baked goods.

Aldergrove Veterans and Seniors Society has been serving senior citizens and guests since 1980. The society owns the building and operates with the help of grants from government and organizations such as Langley Township and New Horizons to keep costs down for the seniors who rely on the hall for daily meals and socializing.

Four days a week, Tuesdays to Fridays, the society offers a hot home-cooked style meal, served on those days between 11:30 and 12:30. Every day of the month the menu is different,

Kay Jewell, the president of the society, has been involved as a member and director for more than 10 years. She found out about the society when she moved into Lions Grove, and enjoys the card games and socializing.

Jewell said everyone is welcome to visit or volunteer.

“We play games after meals like card bingo and dominos, and people come in and join for a coffee,” she said.

Many also seek the society for help finding resources for medical issues, taxes, or other resources. Jewell explained they are a social club, but sometimes are able to help people find what they are looking for.

The society’s hall is located at 27247 Fraser Hwy., and the phone number is 604-856-3271.

Meeting on tap

Hub gathers Wednesday

Langley Seniors in Action meets once a month, and the May meeting is on the books for May 17.

This organization holds what it calls “Hub” meetings the third Wednesday of the month at the Langley Senior Resources Society, 20605 51B Ave. They run 10 a.m. to noon.

The meetings – designed to gather and educate one another, collaborate together, and build connections – are open to all older adults and seniors.

To find out more or to participate, visit their website at langleyseniorsinaction.ca, or email: info@langleyseniorsinaction.ca.

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Kay Jewell (top) and Cheryl Clark are members of the Aldergrove Veteran and Seniors Society who participated in Saturday’s fundraising sale. (Kyler Emerson/Langley Advance Times)

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Fantasticquietneighbourhood–stepstoeverything. Impeccablykept1926sqft3bedroom,3bathroom2level withloadsofupdatesona7426sqftlotonanultraquiet nothrustreet/halfcul-de-sacwithhugesunnysouthwest exposedrearyard,massivepartlycoveredwraparound patio,manicuredlawns&beautifulgardens.Doublegarage, lotsofparkingonlongdriveway,roomforRVbesidethe house.Newer&updatedkitchenwithgranitecounters, mainfloorbathroom,highefficiencyfurnace&hotwatertankaprox3yearsold,laminate&granitetileflooring,paint,roof aprox14yearsold&vinyldoublewindows.Familyroomwithcozywoodburningfireplaceadjacenttoasunroomtorelax in.Largemasterbedroomwithshowerensuite,his/hersclosets&FrenchDoorstolargebalcony.Levelentrymainfloor& wheelchairelevatortothetopfloor.Walktoparks,school&everyshop,restaurant&amenityyoucanthinkof.Amustsee! TraceyBosch604-539-7653traceybosch.com

http://www.traceybosch.com

HILLCRESTINUPPERMURRAYVILLE–CUSTOMRANCHERWITHWALK-OUTBASEMENT

OriginalHillcrestshowhomebuiltwithlotsofextrasin upperMurrayville!Bright & spaciousvaultedceiling openplanrancherwithmountainview & bright walkoutlegalbasementsuite.Largefoyerwelcomes

youto15’ceilings,mapleflooring,customMaple

PRIVATEBACKTONATURERETREAT- UNIQUESETTING & ACREAGE – LOVINGLY UPDATED FAMILY HOMEWITHVERY EASYSUITE – SEPARATEAREAPERFECTFOR A WORKSHOP &A 2NDHOME Backtonatureretreat!Beautifullymaintained&updatedhomewith roomforextendedfamily.Richupdatedhardwoodfloorsthroughout themainarea.Spaciousupdatedkitchenwiths/sappliances overlookingthepeace&serenityofyourtreedacreage.Roof7yrs &vinylwindows5yrs.Thebasementhasnewercarpetswitha separateentry,roughed-inforakitchen,averyeasysuite.Property hastheultimateinbackyardprivacyfromyourmultipledecks overlookingtheravine.Twodriveways(onenew)providegreatparkingbythemainhome.Uniqueacreageisseparatedby252ASttoaflat area(approx¼acre)whichwouldbeperfectfora2ndhome&tobuildaworkshop&stillhavetotalprivacyforthemainhome.Potential topark3commercialtrucks,havealegalsuite&builda2ndhome.

TraceyBosch604-539-7653traceybosch.com

http://www.traceybosch.com

2276WILLOUGHBYCOURT LANGLEY

MOUNTAINVIEW-LEGALSUITE–DOUBLEGARAGE-WALKTOEVERYTHING

JUSTLISTED

ONLY$1,395,000

kitchenwithstainlesssteal appliances,breakfastbar island,sliderstoentertainmentsizedpatio & living room/dinningroomwithgasfireplace.Masterhaswalk-in closet & ensuitewithdoublesinks,oversizedshower & soakertub.Thedownstairsboasts a familyroom & storageroomforupstairsuseplusanincrediblebright & spaciouswalk-out 1 bedroom & den,suitewithcustomkitchenwithgasrange,livingroom/diningroomwithgas fireplace,its ownlaundry&a largecoveredpatiowithgashookup.Doublegarage.Loadsofparking. Fantastic neighbourhoodwalktotheMurrayvilleshopping,banking,restaurants,parks,pool & hospital. A mustsee!

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

LEGALSUITE–UPPERMURRAYVILLE

2232750TH AVELANGLEY

POTENTIALTOSUBDIVIDE – PRIVATE1/4ACRECORNERLOT –2 DRIVEWAYS

LARGEWORKSHOP – MANCAVE – 2018SQFTBASEMENTHOME – LOADSOF PARKING

POTENTIALTOSUBDIVIDE.Private1/4acre87X123corner lotwithtwodrivewaysandpotentialtosubdivideand maybekeepingtheexistinghouseononelot.Loadsof parkingforallyourtoys.Nice40X19workshopwith100 ampsandseparatedrivewayaccessoffof272nd.Separate 14X12mancave/guestcottage/kidsgetaway.Excellent revenuepotential!Spacious2018sqftlevelentrybasement homewitheasyin-lawsuite,attachedextradeepgarage, 200ampserviceandwalkouttothesunnysouthexposedbackyardwithlargepatiofromthemainupperfloor.Newroof in2016,newfurnace2022andotherrecentupdates.Walktoalllevelsofschools,shops,parks,restaurants&wavepool. TraceyBosch604-539-7653traceybosch.com 2718828B AVEALDERGROVE

ONLY$1,450,000 PRIVATE1/4ACRE

POTENTIALTOSUBDIVIDE

THROUGHTHEMAINFLOOR–NEWERGUTTERSANDFACIABOARDS–FABULOUSLOCATION–EASYTOSUITE Superbfamilyhomeonahuge(.21acre)lot.Newvinylplank flooringthroughthemainfloor.Theformallivingroomhasagas fireplaceandisopentoyourformaldiningroomprovidingroomto expandtolargefamilygatherings.Spaciouskitchenisbrightwith stainlessappliances,anislandand2pantries.Afamilyroomwitha gasfireplaceandsliderstoalovelysundeckoverlookingyourfully fencedwestfacingbackyard.Updatedmainfloorbathroomplusa laundryroomwithasink.Hugemasterbedroomwithawalk-inclosetandfullen-suitewithsoakertub.Upstairsarethreeothergenerous bedroomsplusagamesroomwithvaultedceilings.The(suitable)basementhasexcellentstorage,another2bedrooms,largerecroomand backyardaccess.Roofreplacedin2008,newerguttersandfacia.

ONLY$1,999,000 JUSTLISTED

JUSTLISTED

ONLY$2,288,000

ZONINGALLOWS2FULLSIZEDHOMES

RAREFIND–POTENTIALTOBUILD2FULLHOMES–0.45ACRE–CITYSEWER&WATER INCREDIBLELOCATIONACROSSFROMCAMPBELLVALLEYPARK–RANCHERW/BASEMENT RAREFIND!Justunder1/2acreonCITYSEWER &WATER. RU-1zoning -Potentialtobuild 2 fullsizedhomes & sellseparatelybystratification (checkwith ToL).Level120’x165’,0.45aclotwithprivatewestexposed rear yardwithperimeterhedge.Loadsofparking. Wellkeptspacious rancherwithsomeupdating, a partlyfinishedbasement & triplegarage/ workshop.Locatedon a quietersectionof200thStreetacrossfrom IncredibleCampbell Valley Parkwithmilesofnaturetrails & horsetrails at yourdoorstep.Hotwaterondemand,highefficiency furnace,vinyl doublewindows. 3 bedroomhomewith 2 bathrooms, 3 pceensuite,largelivingrm & hugebasement - great forthegamesroom,mediaroom & all yourstorageneeds.Rent & holdasaninvestment,orbuildyourdreamshomes.Zoningallowsparkingforcommercialtruck.ExcellentSouthLangley Location -closetoeverything & quickUSborder & Hwyaccess.

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

https://www.traceybosch.com/

1361200STREETLANGLEY

GORGEOUS PARKLIKE4.48ACRES –INCREDIBLEBARN – LOADSOF PARKING 5642SQFT 2 LEVELWITHBSMT

ALLOWSFOR2NDHOME & LEGALSUITE

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

ONLY$2,799,000 4.48ACRES

SOLD!

INCREDIBLEBARN/WORKSHOP

251224THAVELANGLEY

http://www.traceybosch.com

CUSTOM4395SQFT2STORY+BASEMENT–GORGEOUSPARKLIKE9.42ACRES PROFESSIONALSPORTSCOURTWITHSEATING-AMAZINGKIDSPLAYCENTRE ROSEGARDEN–BACKTONATUREPOND-WALKTOSCHOOLS–QUIETSTREET

INTODAY’SCONSTANTLYCHANGINGREALESTATEMARKETWHETHERYOUAREBUYINGORSELLINGITIS MOREIMPORTANTTHANEVERTOHAVEAREALTOR®WITHTHEEXPERIENCE,KNOWLEDGE&EXPERTISE TOHELPYOUMAXIMIZEYOURGOALS.LETUSKNOWHOWWECANHELPYOU!CALLOREMAILTODAY. http://www.traceybosch.com

https://www.traceybosch.com/

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

4575BENZCRES.LANGLEY

TraceyHashelpedover2900familiesmove.Howcanwehelpyou?

YoumayhavenoticedTraceygrowinghishairoverthelast3years.Hisgoalistohelpprovideachildwithahairpiece duringachallengingtimeintheirlives&raisemoneyforWigsforKids.WigsforKids,inassociationwithBCChildren’s Hospitalalsohelpsfamiliespayformedications&feedingsuppliesthatareessentialfortreatmentbutnotcoveredbytheir medicalplan,aswellastransportation&accommodations.

Traceyhaspledgedtomatchagoalof$10,000indonations,whichmeansthateverydonation madebigorsmallwillhavedoubletheimpactinhopesofraisingatotalof$20,000.

LetshelpTraceyinsupportingthiswonderfulcause andmakeadifferenceinthelivesofthesechildren.

ClicktheQRCodeorvisitwww.traceybosch.comformoredetails!

7.1PARKLIKEANDPRIVATEACRES.2-SPACIOUS“RANCHER”HOMES. HUGE67’X34’2LEVELSHOP.OODLESOFPARKINGANDCOVEREDSTORAGE. JUSTMINUTESTOHISTORICDOWNTOWNFORTLANGLEY. Lookingforprivacy and a parklikesetting? A 1,000ft rollingdrivewayleadsyoutothispicturesque7.1acres. Sittingon a largelevelknoll at thebackoftheproperty areyourTWOresidences.Spaciouswellmaintained 3 bedroomrancherwith a largelivingareapluslotsof storageand a heat pump. A coveredpatiooffthekitchen providesyearroundentertaining. A huge67’ X 34’ 3 bay shopwith10’6”ceilingshas a rough-infor a future washroomand a fullyfinishedopenupperfloorformultipleuses.CoveredRVparking32’ X 12’. A lovely2ndhome,1,512 sq/ftdoublewidemobilehas 2 bedrooms +a denisperfectforfamily.A smallershop(27’ X 25’)pluscoveredparking (27’ X 24”).Anabundanceofparking.Justminutestohistoricdowntown FortLangleyandstepstothegolfcourse.

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

10018MCKINNONCRESLANGLEY

RAREFIND–4.16ACREESTATEONCITYWATER&CITYSEWER–2HOMES AMAZINGLOCATION–WALKTOEVERYTHING–EXCELLENTHOLDINGPROPERTY

Rare Find!Privateparklike4.16acremulti-generationalestate.

Amazinglocation - Minuteswalktoshops & restaurantsof

Murrayvilletowncentre.Oncitywater & citysewer Bonus - fantastic investment - acrossthestreetfromsinglefamilyhomes & Old Yale Park.Loadsofparkingforallyourtoys(zoningallowsfor 3 commercialvehicles). Twoprivatedrivewaysto 2 homes.Mainhome is a custom-built4513sqft 5 bedrm, 5 bathrm 2 level(easyinlaw sidesuite).A grandentrancewithwelcominglivingroom,fireplace & formaldiningroom.Grea roomwithbuilt-inbar, highceilings & tonsofnatural light.Hugegourmetkitchenwithlargeisland,walkinpantry& eatingareawith a viewoftheproperty Spacetoentertain & roomforeveryone! 2 separateofficesorextrabedroomsonmainfloor.4 bedrms &3 bathrmsup –a masterfitfor a queenwithbalcony, deluxeensuite & his/herswalkin closet.Triplegarage.2ndhomeis a doublewide 2 bedroommobilewith ownprivate yard & parking.Level & allusable.Excellentholdingproperty TraceyBosch604-539-7653 4470224THSTREETLANGLEY

https://www.traceybosch.com/

SOUTHLANGLEY-BEAUTIFULPRIVATE PARKLIKE19.49ACREESTATE 47STALLS–INDOORARENA-ONCAMPBELL VALLEYTRAIL-2ROADFRONTAGES

ABBOTSFORD

NORTHSHOREMOUNTAINVIEW-TOPFLOORUNITWITHASPACIOUSFLOORPLAN EXCELLENTINSUITESTORAGE-GREATBUILDINGAMENITIES-RVPARKING-WALKTOSHOPS&RESTAURANTS

NorthShoreMountainView!Beautifullymaintained1,000

Sq/Fttopfloor 2 bedroomcondo!Lovelylaminateflooring throughout.Spaciouskitchenwithaneatingareafeaturing tiledflooring,tonsofcupboard & counterspace. A largeliving anddiningroomtha willaccommodateallyourfurniture.Plus a cozyenclosedsundeckwithstorageroomtoenjoy allyear round.Grea sizebedrooms,theprimary bedroomboasting a superbwalkin closet.Somefreshpaintandupdates.Lotsofinsuitestorageplusanadditionalstorageroomconvenientlylocated acrossthehallway Grea amenitiesinthiscomplexforretiredlivingincluding; a largerecreationroomforfamilyevents,exercise roomandlibrary. BuildinghasallNEWplumbing!Nopets,rentalsallowed,55+. Walktoshopsandrestaurants. TraceyBosch604-539-7653

https://www.traceybosch.com/

#331-2279MCCALLUMRDABBOTSFORD

STUNNING3STOREYWITHAWALKOUTBASEMENT-8BEDROOMS&6BATHROOMS-SPACIOUSFLOORPLANFORALL THEFAMILY-2BEDROOMLEGALSUITE-LANEACCESSPROVIDESEXTRAPARKING-SAFECUL-DE-SACLOCATION

3STOREYVALUE

ONLY$1,575,000

A grandtileentry welcomesyoutothisbeautifulfamilyhome. Formallivinganddiningroomswith11.5ftceilingscomplete withheavymoldingsincludingcrownthroughout. Hugekitchenloadedwithmaplecabinetsandgranite countersincludinganislandwith a situpbar Built-ins/s applianceswithgasstove.Thespaciousfamilyroomwill accommodatelargefurniture.Bonus 4 piecebathroomon themain.Thelargemastersuiteboasts a walk-in closet & en-suitewith a jettedtub. A Jack-n-Jillbathroomfor 2 otherbedroomsplusanotherbathroomadjacentto a 4th bedroomupstairs.Thewalkoutbasementhas a legal 2 bedroomsuitewithlaundry andtheir ownparking.Whilethereisanother bedroom,gamesroomandbathroomforthemainhousebasementenjoyment.Locatedon a quietcul-de-sac A mustsee!

TraceyBosch604-539-7653

27715SIGNALCOURT ABBOTSFORD

WESTCLAYTON ONLY$28,699,611

ATTENTION DEVELOPERS

DEVELOPMENTPOTENTIAL

5ACRES-DEVELOPMENTPOTENTIALINWESTCLAYTONNCP-TWO2.5ACRE PARCELS-CITYINDICATEDSINGLEFAMILYORPOTENTIALFORTOWNHOUSERM-30 -MOUNTAINVIEW–STUNNING4630SQ/FT2LEVELPLUSA2NDHOUSE Twonicelevelsidebyside2.5acreDevelopmentparcelsin West ClaytonNCPfor a totalof 5 acres.Nocreeks.Oncitywater &a quietstreetinprestigiousClaytonHills.LotsoftownhouseRM-30 development applicationsacrossthestreet & inthearea.City indicateddefaultusewouldbesinglefamilyzoningRF-10/RF-13(2831unitsperhector) & tha townhousescouldbefeasiblewith a NCP amendment.NewRegentRoadElementary schoolisnow open & next door 1894574Ave - Highprivacy hedge & gateddrivetoSTUNNING GEORGIANCOLONIALbuiltbyEuropeancraftsman.40x26heatedgaragew/10’doors.59x16buildingw/workshop &2 stallbarn.RVstorage24x20 w/11’ceiling. Tileroof,brickexterior 2x6walls,silentfloors,hotwaterheat,10’ceilings,HRVsystem,gazebo & patios.GOURMETkitchenw/ premium appliances,walk-inpantry& wokkitchen.Overgarage - hugegamesrmplumbedforwetbar(excellentnanny suite).Masterw/balcony & f/ptodeluxeensuite.1861974Avewith 2 roadfrontagesandolder 3 bedrmhome. Fantasticproperties - great location -closetoeverything.! TraceyBosch604-539-7653 1861974 AVENUE & 1864574 AVENUE

https://www.traceybosch.com/

HOPE

Tracey Bosch

“Tracey’sexperienceandknowledgeoftherealestateindustrymadeallthedifferenceforme tomaketherightdecisionsinacrazytimeinthemarket,forbothsellingandbuying.Hehasan answertoeveryproblemthatcomesupandworkedtirelesslyonmybehalftogetthehomeof mydreams.Iamforevergrateful!Traceyisaprofessionalyoucancountontobethereforyou.”

Cathy N

Buyingandsellingahomeisahuge undertakinganddemandsalotofpatience, understandingandforgiveness.Findingthe rightRealtortohelpyouthroughthisprocess iskey.TraceyBoschwasrecommendedto usbyatrustedfriend,andhecertainlydidn’t disappoint.Fromtheverystart,Traceywas abletoquicklydetermineourneedsandwas abletoprovidesuchawealthofknowledgein termsofunderstandingthemarketandwhat wecouldandwouldachieve.Hisexperienced methodsresultedinaquickandseamlesssale. Ourpurchaseofanewhomewassimplydown totheworkTraceyandhisteamdidinseeking andprovidingallthenecessaryinformation forustomakeaninformeddecisionWould highlyrecommendTraceyBoschandhis teamtoanyoneforastressfree,home buying/sellingexperience.

NORTHDELTA

Stacey&MarkW

JUSTLISTED

ONLY$1,398,000

https://www.traceybosch.com/

PARTIALOCEANVIEW–NICE3112SQFT2LEVELONULTRAQUIETSTREETINROYALYORK 4BEDROOMS–3BATHROOMS–FAMILYRM-HUGEPRIVATEYARD–LOADSOFPARKING Welcomehome!Original owner Impeccablykept 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom3112sqft 2 levelloadedwithcharacter &a Spanishflairwith a partialviewofBurnsBog & theocean. Large8159sqftLUClotwith a hugeultraprivatefenced rear yard & outdoorlivingareawith a multi-tieredpatio, built-inBBQ & highperimeterhedgeperfectforentertaining &a growingfamily Largeformalrooms, 3 woodfireplaces, customMaplekitchenwithstainlesssteel appliances,eating area & sliderstopatio. A stair-liftto 4 spaciousbedrooms & twolargestoragerms/kidshideaways/hobbyrmsup.Master bedroomwithfireplace,walkthrough closet &a jettedwalkinsoakertub.Deepdoublegarage,loadsofparkingplusroomfor a RV Great locationon a quietstreet closetoAlex FraserBridge,BurnsviewSecondary (potentialforinternationalstudents) & SungodArena.Milesofnaturetrails closeby TraceyBosch604-539-7653 11011 WARWICKROADNORTHDELTA

SOUTHSURREY

38.7PASTORALACRES-2SEPARATEADDRESSES2LEGALHOUSESACRESAWAYFROMEACHOTHER-MULTIPLELARGEBARNSANATURELOVER’SPARADISE-AONCEINALIFETIMEPROPERTY A trueopportunityforthewholefamilytolivetogether!

ONLY$7,900,000

Thisis a oncein a lifetimepropertythat hasanabundance ofoptionsforyourimaginationanddreams! A gorgeous ESTATEpropertylocatedinthehighlydesirableand sought-afterareaofHazelmereinSouthSurrey.Twosolid mainhomesareacres apartwithseparateaddressesand driveways. A multitudeoflargebarns289’ X 50’,139’ X 49’,110’ X 22’,92’ X 24’,42’ X 34’andworkshops. TheacreagehassomegentlerollswiththesalmonproducingLittleCampbellRivermeanderingthrough“atruenature watchersparadise”. Waterrightsof37,000m3peryear.A blankcanvasforyoutocreateanEquestrianestate, a winery, greenhouseproduction,yourdreamfarm. FabulouslocationjustminutestotheUSborderandforfreewayaccess.WOW! TraceyBosch604-539-7653 1297 - 1381184STSOUTHSURREY

https://www.traceybosch.com/

Traceyalwaysactedveryprofessionallyand alwaysansweredourquestionsandmadesure nodetailswereoverlooked.Ourcallswere alwaysreturnedpromptly.Weappreciated hisknowledgeandnegotiatingskills. Oh,didImentionhiswickedsenseofhumor.

JandM

ThankyousomuchGeoff,Tracey&teamfor thesmoothandquicksaleofmybrother’s townhouse.AbigthankyoutoGeofffor negotiatingagreatfinalsellingprice.Iwould mostcertainlyrecommendthis realestate teamtoothersandengagetheirservices inthefuture.Kind,caring,knowledgeable andexperiencedprofessionalsalltheway.

ShelleyM

AudreyandIveryappreciativeofthehard workyouandGeoffdidforusonthesaleof ourhome,theofficestaffwereverypoliteand informative,wewouldhighlyrecommendyour teamtoanyone.

BernieandAudrey.

604-539-SOLD

(7653)

tracey@traceybosch.com

PARKLIKE38.7ACRES

$1,625,000

NEWLISTING

$539,900

$2,988,000

YorksonParkEast!New3909SqFtluxuryT/Hinoneof Willoughby’sbestlocations.Thisunique4bed,5bath cornerhometicksalltheboxesinclA/C,19ftlongdriveway, achefinspiredkitchenw/whitecustomcabinetry&eating bar,stonecounters,ceramicbacksplash&floors,highend SSgasstove&matchingfridge.127SqFtretractableglass solariumw/gasoutletforBBQcanbeusedinanyseason! OpenconceptlivingareainclengineeredH/Wfloors&cozy gasf/p.Mastersuitefeataspalikeensuitew/seamless glassshowerw/rainhead,heatedfloors&W/Icloset organizers.BsmtoffersaHUGEmediaroomw/concrete ceilingforsoundproofing&gymarea.Elevatortoall5 levels+anamazing718SqFtrooftoppatiow/custom pergola,outdoorgasf/p&areaforhottubandbbq.

5-8567204St

$988,000

CustomloghomewiththreeguestcabinsintheTatlayoko LakeValleyseton40acreswiththebestviewsinthearea. SituatedontheeasternedgeoftheCoastalMountains, thisisaperfectlocationforthenaturelover.Thisincredible propertyisoperatingasaguestranchandEnglishsummer campbutissetuptooperateasanythingyou’dlike.There are30kmofhorseriding,hiking,ATV,snowmobilingor mountainbikingtrailsthatleaverightfromyourown property.Thispropertyissetupforhorsesandhasatack shedandhitchingposts.Zonedforbothresidentialand commercial.Justminutesawayfromtwoincrediblefishing, boatingandswimminglakes.

6775TatlayokoRoad,WilliamsLake

$1,449,000

RenovatedBrookswoodbasementhomeonamanicured1/4acre lot! Thishomehasbeenwellmaintained andupdatedincluding anopenconceptkitchen withislandandsittingbar, granite counters undermountsink, gasstove wallovenandceramictile floors Bathroomupdatesincludenewfixtures, vanitywithstone counter, ceramic tile tub surround, rain head and plank flooring. 3 Bedroomson top floor include fresh paint & new carpets 2 bedroomsdownpluscozyrecroomwithnewflooring, mouldings andfeatureceiling. Slidingbarndooropenstotheupdated laundryareawithplankfloorsandwhiteshakerstylecabinets

Huge2leveldeckwithbuiltinhottub-perfectforentertaining, overlookingtheprivaterearyardoasis.Greatlocationonaquiet street,closetoschools,shoppingandparks.

2010342AAve

of the best locations in Fairfield Lane! This west dengroundfloorhomelookslargebeautifully

Oneof exposed 2bed+dengroundfloorhomelooksoveralargebeautifully maintainedopenareaandhasdirectaccesstotheprivatecovered patioandrearyard.Customupgradesinthekitcheninclude granitecounters,ceramicbacksplash,tilefloorsandmoveable island.Mainlivingareafeatureslotsofwindowsfornaturallight, laminatefloorsandcozygasfireplace.GenerousMasterSuite includesawalk-inclosetwithorganizersand4pcensuitewith alargerwalk-inshower.Amenityroomdownthehallincludes kitchen,gamesroomandpatio,perfectforfamilygatherings. Greatlocationonaquietstreet.ClosetoKwantlenCollege,shops, transitandwalkingtrails. #18-6588195ASt

#112-20750DuncanWay

$2,098,000

SOL D SOLD in Octob er October

Beautifullyrenovated3,045sqfthomesetonagatedparklike 1.4acresonaquietdeadendstreet!Openconceptplanhasbeen nicelyupdatedw/newchefinspiredkitchenw/quartzcounters SSappliances&hugeisland. Greatroomfeaturessoaringvaulted ceilings loadsofwindowsfornaturallight, floortoceilingdouble sidedfireplace&engineeredhardwoodflooring. Bathrooms& ensuitehaveallbeenupdatedw/newfixturesandcabinetry BasementincludesRecroomw/wetbar, 3bedrooms, newfurnace, A/C&separateentrance HUGEwraparounddeck, perfectfor entertainingoverlookingtheamazingprivateyard. Bonus26X26 detachedshopw/10’doors&unfinishedloftarea, isperfectforall

detachedshopw/10’doors&unfinishedloftarea,isperfectforall yourtoys.FantasticSalmonRiverlocation,closetofarmersmarkets, schools&parks.

2427552Ave

Luxurious4bedtownhomeinoneofClayton’s locations! Thisuniqueendunithometicksalltheboxesw/

Zen!Luxurious4bedtownhomeinoneofClayton’sbest locations!Thisuniqueendunithometicksalltheboxesw/extra windowsforloadsofnaturallight,chefinspiredkitchenw/dbl walloven,gasstove,stainlesssteelappliances,winefridge, islandw/eatingbar&quartzcounters.Openconceptlivingarea includesengineeredhardwoodflooring,crownmouldings,custom tvsurround&cozyfireplace.Primarybedroomfeaturesspalike ensuitew/2personshowerw/doublerainheads,designertile,dbl sinks,undercounterlighting,makeupstationandwalk-incloset w/customorganizers.Extrabedroom&fullbathonlowerlevel withaccesstogenerousdoublegarage,extrastorageandhard tofinddblwidedrivewayw/roomtopark2cars.Amazinghome closetoschools,parks&shopping.

$1,149,000

Amazingcustomhomewithnodetailoverlookedon14,741sqft Brookswoodlotwitha2bedroomLEGALsuite, bonusoutbuilding

Amazingcustomhomewithnodetailoverlookedon14,741sqftGATED Brookswoodlotwitha2bedroomLEGALsuite,bonusoutbuildingwith anofficeand1baygarage/shop.Brightandspaciousopenconceptplan withchefinspiredkitchenincludinghighendcommercialstyleappliances, quartzcounters,HUGEwaterfallislandplusaseparatewokkitchen. Soaring20ftceilingsinthevaultedgreatroomallowtonsofnaturallight tofloodin,granddining&livingareaswithbuiltincabinetryincluding custommoldings&millwork.Oneofakindhometheaterwith135inch projectorscreenandwetbarisperfectformovienights.Topfloorfeatures 4bedrooms,allwithensuitesandwalk-inclosets.Luxuriousmastersuite withvaultedceilings&spalikeensuite,seamlessglassshower,rainhead, makeupvanity,freestandingsoakertub,centralA/C&radiantheat.The PRIVATEfencedwestexposedyardfeaturingacoveredoutdoorliving areawithbuiltinBBQ,sink&patioheaterisperfectforentertaining! Luxuryatitsfinestinafantasticquietlocation!

3369199ASt

Location,Location!EagleHeights4bed,3bathsplitlevelhomeinafantasticlocationonaquiet deadendstreet.Manyupgradesincludeshakerstylewhitekitchenwithceramictilebacksplash, freshpaint,highefficientfeaturesnewcarpets,nicely updatedmainbathroomwithsoaktoilet&fixtures.Master suiteincludesa3pcensuitealk-inclosetwithorganizersandslidingdoorouttoprivate balcony.Privatesouthfacingbackyardgiveslotsofsunlight!BrandNEWdeckisperfectfor BBQ’sandoutdoorentertaining.Amazingquietneighbourhood,closetoschools,parksand Nicomekltrailsystem.

EagleHeights4bed, 3bathsplitlevelhomeinafantastic upgradesincludeshakerstylewhitekitchenwithceramic efficient furnace andnew vinyl windows. Upstairs features bathroomwithsoakertub, laminatefloors, newvanity, toilet ensuite, walk-inclosetwithorganizersandsliding facingbackyardgiveslotsofsunlight!BrandNEW entertaining. Amazingquietneighbourhood, closeto

1972051Ave

$514,400

SOL D SOLD

selling, contact us today selling,contactustoday and put our 29 years of andputour29yearsof experience to work for you. experiencetoworkforyou.

WhiteOaksbeautifullymaintained TOPFLOOR 2bedroom, 2bathisinspotlesscondition.

WhiteOaksbeautifullymaintainedOPFLOOR1220 sqft,2bedroom,2bathisinspotlesscondition. Spacioushomefeaturesnewerflooring,cozygas fireplace,insuitelaundry,lotsofstoragespaceand privatebalconywithbeautifulMOUNTAINviews.One storageunit,amenitiesroom,secureunderground parkingspotplusplentyofoutsideguestorowner property,19+agerestrictedandnorentals.Well managedbuildingisideallylocatedonaquietdead endstreet,closetoshopping,parks&restaurants. #313-5710201St

AmazingViews!!

offthekitchen toa south facingprivateyard.Fullyfinishedbasementallowsfor a growing familyorin-laws.Private artiststudio locatedonthesideofthepropertywithviewsandpeacefultranquility.OnlyminutestohistoricFortLangley.

DAVEANDKARENRALPH

“Ourservicewillmoveyou” ONEPERCENTREALTYLTD.

Daveandkarenralph.com•karenralph@telus.net 604.761.0064

Yourrealtorshouldbeworkingforyou,nottheirbackpocket. Wewouldlovetohelpyoufindyournextproperty and/orsellyourcurrentoneandWEPUTYOUFIRST! CallmeandIwillexplainourprogram,noobligation.

Questiontoask–willyoushowusanyhomewewanttosee? Answershouldbeyes

Questiontoask–willyouputourinterestsaboveyourown? Answershouldbeyes

Questiontoask–willyougetthesameserviceorbetter? OuranswerisYES housesale price ourcommission (*officefee) (plusgst)

whatyouget inYOURpocket afterOnePercent commissionis subtracted

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whatyougetin YOURpocketafter otheragencies commissionis subtracted

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History on picnic menu

Dan Ferguson dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

Joanne Plourde’s fascination with history and the days of the voyageurs recently resulted in the discovery of a cousin.

Plourde, who organizes an annual event devoted to the days of the fur trade and the voyageurs who made it possible, had traced her ancestry to one of two brothers in Kamouraska, Que.

One became a voyageur while the other remained in Kamouraska, likely becoming a farmer or fishermen.

When Plourde posted about her discovery online, it drew an unexpected response from historian Nancy Marguerite Anderson, who messaged her with the information that she, too, had an ancestor from Kamouraska.

“Our ancestors were brothers, and one of the two came out west,” Plourde said.

Anderson is related to the brother who became a voyageur, while Plourde’s ancestor stayed in Kamouraska.

“That was a really nice connection,” Plourde remarked.

On Saturday, May 13, the unexpected cousins will both

make presentations at the annual Heritage Picnic, organized by Plourde’s group, Voyageurs & Co., at Langley City’s historic Michaud House.

Plourde, a professional costumer whose credits include Cirque de Soleil and the series Smallville, will be providing era-accurate costumes for interested participants.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the costumes of the past,” Plourde remarked.

Anderson, who has described herself as an “accidental historian,” will be giving a presentation about stories from the west side of the Rocky Mountains.

Other presenters include host Sandra Reams, custodian of Michaud House and an expert on its history, and mu-

Quilt show has ya covered

At the historic picnic at Michaud House in 2022, Réjean Bussières and Joanne Plourde performed. (Advance Times files)

sician Réjean Bussières, Seattle historian Robert Foxcurran, researcher Brodie Douglas, whose interests include the fur trade and Metis culture; Patrick Calihou, a B.C. Métis artist and wood worker; Mark Forsythe, vice-president of the Langley Heritage Society; and lecturer Max Likin.

Finger food, homemade ice cream and live music are on the menu for the event.

It is the most ambitious program yet, with Plourde describing it as laying the groundwork for next year, which will mark the bicentennial of the voyageurs trade.

Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.ca under The Heritage Picnic at Michaud House.

They can also be purchased at the door Saturday morning, depending on availability.

More than 200 quilts will be on display

People will be able to wander through the George Prestion Recreation Centre on Friday and Saturday to see 225 quilts on display, all created by Fraser Valley Quilters Guild members. That will include 27 special quilts created by Val Smith. They are for sale, and the pro-

ceeds will be donated to the BC Cancer Foundation, the charity foundation for the BC Cancer Agency.

“These quilts feature improvisational piecing and most have been created while I have been under the care of BC Cancer,” she said. “Making them has been a form of therapy for me and a welcome distraction during my cancer journey.”

The quilt show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13. There’s a

Val Smith created this quilt and will be selling more than two dozen pieces at the show. (Fraser Valley Quilters Guild)

dozen vendors on site during the show with related merchandise.

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Few sellers as housing market picks up

Realtors see buyers eager to go as interest rates stabilize

Matthew Claxton matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com

The number of condos and townhouses sold in Langley in April was almost back to levels seen a year ago, before a spectacular slowdown in the market sparked by interest rate hikes.

Detached houses, however, were recovering somewhat slower, according to statistics released on Tuesday, May 2, by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB).

Overall across the region, sales were up from March as the spring real estate season continued, although numbers were still considerably lower than at the same time last year.

Local realtor Harman Kaur, with Team 3000 Realty, said things have been a lot busier in April than they were at the start of the year.

She said interest rates have stabilized recently, which has drawn in buyers.

“They just want to hop on the opportunity, before it shoots back up,” she said.

However, that has not drawn in a flood of people selling their homes.

“Sellers are expecting to get the top dollar value for their properties,” Kaur said, based on prices from last year.

In Langley 93 single family homes sold in April, which is 14.7 per cent lower than the same month last year, as well as 13.1 per cent lower than the number of houses that changed hands in March.

Meanwhile, 94 townhouses sold in April, down just 3.1 per cent from the same month a year ago, and down 7.8 per cent from March.

There were 117 condo apartments changing hands in April, a 2.5 per cent decline year-over-year, but 13 per cent lower than in March.

Prices edged up month over month for all types of homes in Langley.

The benchmark price of a detached house – the benchmark is the average price of a “typical” home – was $1.54 million, up from $1.48 million in March. That’s still 17 per cent lower than last year, when

prices peaked in the early spring at about $1.87 million.

The benchmark townhouse was $811,200, up 1.9 per cent

from $796,400 in March, The condo benchmark was down 13.2 per cent from April 2022. The number of homes for

sale continues to be an issue, was the number of detached houses and townhouses on the market has shrunk significant-

ly from last year. There were 201 houses listed for sale in Langley in April, compared to 301 a year earlier. As for townhouses, 93 were listed last month, compared to 176 a year ago. Only condos saw an increase in listings, with 224 up for sale, up slightly from 209 in the same month last year.

Prices and demand for homes have swung wildly since the start of the pandemic.

After a very brief stall in home buying in the first few months after the March 2020 lockdowns, the real estate market exploded over the next two years. The average price of a detached home in the Fraser Valley shot up from just over $1 million to $1.9 million at its peak in early 2022.

Then, as inflation began to bite and central banks, including in Canada, raised interest rates rapidly, prices dropped like a rock, bottoming out at about $1.3 million a few months ago.They’ve crept back up and are above $1.5 million for the region.

Houses, condos and townhomes continue to sell though the market has slowed. (Langley Advance Times files)

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Store hails new King

British trinkets and sweets fly off the shelves

A little bit of England can be found right here in Langley.

Nestled near the corner of 203rd Street and 64th Avenue is Black Pudding Imports, a specialty grocery store that carries English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish products.

For King Charles’s coronation last Saturday, the British shop’s co-owner Richard Smith coordinated a few special promotions and put some of the traditional baked goods on sale to

mark the special occasion.

Smith noted that Black Pudding often holds small events to coincide with special occasions happening in the United Kingdom, and the coronation was no exception.

Any time there’s an event or special occasion in the U.K., Smith said he always tries to bring awareness to it through his store. In this case, the passing of queen in September made way for crowning of her eldest son as king.

“We sell a lot of the memorabilia, a lot of people come for that, as well as the sweets and treats,” he noted, confirming Saturday was busy following televising of the Royal ceremonies. For instance, some of the more popular British sweet treats such as Wagon Wheels, Aunt Bessies apple crumble, and Fox’s cookies were fast to sell this weekend.

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Ticket purchase nets $300K windfall

Dan

Ferguson

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

RoyalChaskaPackfor$99

A spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase a Prestige Scratch & Win ticket is one that David Albrecht is glad he made.

He’s $300,000 richer.

The Aldergrove resident was on his way to work when he checked.

“I thought, ‘This can’t be

“Once I scanned it on my phone [the Lotto! App] it felt more real and I got shaky.”

The first person he told was his father.

“I called him, and he thought I was joking and didn’t believe me. He drove from out of town and once he arrived he realized it was real!”

Albrecht said this win will “kick start” various opportunities for him and he plans to invest the majority.

He bought the winning ticket at the Highway Town Pantry at 232nd Street and 72nd Avenue, next to the Trans-Canada Highway overpass.

Aldergrove’s David Albrecht was on his way to work when he won $300,000 on a scratch and win ticket. (BCLC)

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

Richard Smith is a co-owner of Black Pudding Imports based in Langley. (Kyler Emerson/Langley Advance Times)

Speaker calls on society to do more to stop epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women

Heather Colpitts heather.colpitts@langleyadvancetimes.com

The voice of Kwantlen First Nations member sesmél∂t cracked at times as she spoke to a crowd gathered for the Red Dress Walk Friday about the epidemic of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in North America.

“I will not stop talking about this,” she said.

The crowd of about 200 people included the family of Kristina Ward, who has been missing since 2017. The RCMP puts the number of missing and killed Indigenous women and girls at more than 1,000 (1980 to 2012) but the Native Women’s Association of Canada said the number is closer to 4,000.

Many, including the guest speaker, wore a red painted hand print over their mouths, a symbol of the violence that affects Indigenous women across the country and beyond.

After the speech by sesmél∂t, those in attendance walked from the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society office on Eastleigh Crescent through the downtown and back in the annual walk to raise awareness about murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.

sesmél∂t (Fern Gabriel) spoke of the history of her people, who were a matrilinial society with governance handed down through the women’s lineages.

Since European settlement, the emphasis has been on wealth and prop-

erty through patriarchal governance. She said patriarchy has a vested interest in keeping Indigenous people traumatized so their efforts have to go towards healing and not to stopping the destruction of nature.

“I’m talking about exploitation of

sesmél∂t (left) was the speaker at the start of the walk. (Right) Keysha Kingston, of Langley, and Maple Ridge’s Alicia Hiebert attended the Red Dress Walk on Friday, May 5. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

the resources on the land,” she commented. “Capitalists, industrialists always wanted to make sure there was economic development. We’ve heard that all our life – economic development on the land and get the people working. Get the people working. Get the people working.”

She said that ignores the social and emotional well-being and physical safety. She urged those in power to use that power to make positive change so Indigenous people can be valued members of society.

“Langley needs to step up their game,” sesmél∂t urged.

She is pleased that the Canadian government has finally recognized there is a crisis of a missing and murdered Indigenous women. The roots

of it lie in the devaluation that starts when they are little. She noted that one in three Indigenous girls will be sexually assaulted before they are old enough to start school.

Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to go missing compared to women overall, she told the crowd. She called on people from other cultures wanting to be allies to Indigenous women to be “real friends” by challenging racist behaviour and demanding action from those in power because Indigenous people can’t fight for justice alone.

“My knees aren’t that great anymore. I can’t stay in a fight anymore,” she joked. “I don’t know if you appreciate my sense of humour, but I know it’s dark, but if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.”

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Red Dress Walk participants, such as Morgan Zasada, whose family orginally came from the Tsimshian people of the North Coast, shows a red felt dress lapel pin, made by the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Couple take to stage

Husband-and-wife duo perform at music school

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

Canadian award-winning violin and piano team, Duo Concertante, is performing in Langley on this week.

The husband-and-wife duo, Timothy Steeves and Nancy Dahn, will perform at Langley Community Music School (LCMS)’s Rose Gellert Hall on Saturday, May 13.

“We are so excited to be coming to B.C. to share some of our very favourite pieces, including two written especially for us,” Dahn said.

The couple has built an international career with more than 23 years of live performances and recordings.

Duo Concertante uses music to raise awareness of issues with historical and social importance, often in collaboration with composers, writers, dancers, and actors.

“The bubbling lyricism of Schubert’s Duo and the blues-inspired masterpiece by Ravel are both big audience pleasers,” Dahn added. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Information and tickets are available at langleymusic.com.

Cookie sale supports local youth

Encompass and hospital foundation partner with Tims to aid Foundry

Kyler Emerson news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Seven Langley Tim Hortons locations participated in this year’s Smile Cookie campaign to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital and a local charity.

The chocolate chunk, hand-decorated smile cookies are sold across the country each year – this year’s campaign ran May 1 to 7.

In addition to store proceeds – where funds are directed to BC Children’s Hospital – there was a pop-up store of sorts set up last Thursday outside the front doors of Langley Memorial Hospital.

Staff and volunteers from Encompass Support Services Society, which runs the Foundry Langley, were on hand selling the smile cookies.

Terra Scheer, director of communications at Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation, said all proceeds from the booth went

to Foundry Langley.

“It’s a new resource in Langley for youth aged 12 to 24, where they can get all the support they need to thrive in life, such as physical, mental health, and social service support,” she explained.

The annual cookie campaign supports more than 600 charities and community groups across

Canada.

“We’re really excited for all the support Tim Hortons is showing for the youth here in Langley,” Scheer said.

Rita Thodos, executive vice president of philanthropy at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, said the support from communities is essential in the work they do to help kids.

“We are grateful to everyone who adds a little sweetness to their day, or someone else’s, with the purchase of a smile cookie this week,” she said.

As a fundraiser for Foundry Langley, staff and volunteers from the local hospital foundation and Encompass set up a pop-up booth at Langley Memorial Hospital to sell Tim Hortons Smile Cookies last Thursday. Volunteers included Shirin Patel with Encompass.

research, technology, and programs.

More online

Proceeds raised for the BC Children’s Hospital go directly towards its

Last year, the campaign raised more than $167,000

The cookie campaign started in 1996 originally raising funds for Hamilton Children’s Hospital.

Dahn

(Roxanne Hooper/ Advance Times)

Funds boost Ishtar’s internship numbers

Clients have had to typically wait at least six months for counselling

Heather Colpitts heather.colpitts@langleyadvancetimes.com

Ishtar Women’s Resource Society will be able to cut down on how long clients have to wait for counselling with $150,000 in funding from the provincial government.

The money will go specifically to the clinical internship program which will allow the transition society to have four students do their master’s degrees in counselling psychology, on top of the current four students interning through Ishtar.

Having the student interns will mean more women will be able to receive counselling sooner than in the past, according to Meredith Crough, Ishtar’s Stopping the Violence program co-ordinator and a counsellor.

“And that makes a real difference in the lives of women who have experienced relationship violence, who come to us, all of whom need counseling right now,” Crough said.

The program began last

fall, and the funding will be a huge help provide stability and planning.

“I’m pleased to say that with those additional four supports, we were able to bring the number of women on our wait list at fall which is when they began last year from 100 down to 40 by the end of last year which represents about a six-month reduction in wait times,” Crough said.

When women turn to Ishtar after experiencing violence, they need counselling sooner rather than later, she explained.

“Unfortunately, most of the time we have to say it’s going to be a six-month wait,” Crough said.

“On average we receive between 25 and 40 new referrals for women seeking counselling every month,” Crough said about the need for more counselling. “The majority of those, so about 70 per cent, would be for women who are recently out of or currently in situations of high-risk domestic violence, and then the

rest are either for sexual violence either current or past, and it turns out the many don’t disclose this initially.

The vast majority also come with an extensive history of early childhood trauma as well as inter-generational trauma.”

Langley East MLA Megan

Dykeman made the announcement on behalf of Kelli Paddon, B.C. parliamentary secretary for gender equality, who joined Ishtar staff via computer link.

“This is going to be a major benefit to the community, to the women we serve, and to the counseling profession as

we push them out into the community who are now advocates for what we do,” Crough commented.

Paddon agreed that not only do the women in need of counselling benefit but so does the rest of society because there will be more trained professionals able to

help others.

“The program is also building strong clinicians who will then go on and that will just be magnified over time to the number of people who will benefit from the influence and the programs happening with Ishtar,” she said.

Having the internships helps fill a need, Crough said.

“The truth is in most of our master’s training programs, we don’t have specific courses on dealing with family violence, which is unconscionable given the reality that we know that one in three women in Canada will experience some form of relationship violence across our life span,” she said. “Every counsellor is going to touch, in some way, this issue and the fact that we don’t train for it adequately is unconscionable.”

Paddon is working on a gender-based action plan for the province and will work with the federal government on funding for the “change we need to see in British Columbia.”

Ishtar executive director Maureen Berlin (left) and Meredith Crough, Ishtar’s Stopping the Violence program co-ordinator and a counsellor, spoke about the impact of the funding. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

No rest for ballet beauty

Brookswood dancer was once ‘too wild’ for ballet class

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

A long-time Langley ballerina will dance in Coastal City Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty

Karina Collins, 23, from Brookswood, first tried ballet when she was only two years old, but was “too wild” for the class and enrolled in gymnastics instead. That all changed when she was 12.

She was inspired by The Nutcracker to try ballet again, and her mom encouraged her to find a studio in Langley offering classes.

Most dancers start ballet at age two or three, so the late start posed a challenge for Collins in her pre-teen years.

“Little 12-year-old me called all the studios in Langley asking if I could take some classes. All were full but this one Russian teacher. I’d say she was the best in Langley, took me under her wing,” Collins explained.

For the next five years, Collins learned everything about ballet from her first instructor.

She considered quitting ballet when she finished at Goh Ballet Academy, unsure if it was the right career choice for her. However, with encouragement from her mom, Collins committed to the art and her career took off.

“I was given a lot of opportunities from my former director and she seemed to see something in me that made me realize I shouldn’t stop because I clearly have something to offer.”

While it’s not an easy career, it’s been a rewarding one.

This is the third time Collins has danced in The Sleeping Beauty, previously playing one of the fairies with Coastal City and last year with Oklahoma City Ballet. This year she will play one of the jewels.

“I really like Aurora. It was the first

variation that I ever did for a competition when I was little and it brings back good memories.”

A highlight for Collins was the grand audition in Italy, where multiple directors were scouting, because she was invited by a director of the ballet company with Theatre Koblenz in Germany – a dream come true for her.

Collins has also performed throughout the Lower Mainland and Whistler, as well as Oklahoma, Minnesota, Italy, and, most recently, Germany.

The Sleeping Beauty production takes place at The Vancouver Playhouse on Tuesday, May 23 and Surrey Arts Centre on Friday, June 9. Tickets can be bought at http://www. coastalcityballet.com/tickets.html.

This is the third time Karina Collins has performed in The Sleeping Beauty ballet. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Live the Music, Feel the Moment

Book project takes off

Author and artist bring tale to the page

Kyler Emerson kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com

AT TICKETS/MOREINFORMATIONAVAILABLEAT

A Kwantlen First Nation artist and author collaborated on a new book with inspiration from their teachings.

Entertainment Venue: George Preston Centre 20699 42 Ave, Langley

EntertainmentVenue:GeorgePrestonCentre2069942Ave,Langley

The Girl Who Loved the Birds is the third in a series by award-winning author Joseph Dandurand, author of The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Baskets, and A Magical Sturgeon

Its illustrations are by Kwantlen artist Elinor Atkins, a graduate of Langley Fine Arts School in Fort Langley.

The story is about the life of a women, from girl to elder, and begins with a young girl who spends time helping the birds she encounters in the forest.

“You should always give something back to the world, even if it’s a few sticks for the small birds and their nests,” Dandurand explained. Throughout the girl’s life, she continues to care for the birds in the forest. In in last visit, the birds provide her comfort and guidance as the Creator takes her to the other side.

“We have simple teachings in our culture. This story is one of them,” he said. Atkins said her home and growing up on Kwantlen and being connected with the land and Creator inspired her for the illustrations. She also took inspiration for specific pieces such as the cedar rose pin the girl wears, which was inspired by elder Hazel Gladu-Fillardeau.

“She is a beautiful cedar weaver and a knowledge keeper within Kwantlen,” Atkins said. “I remember making cedar roses with her as a little girl.”

Her cousin, Car Andres, was also inspiration

for a cedar headband, a talented artist from Katzie First Nation.

Working on the book was particularly special for Atkins because her traditional name means “the first bird to sing in the morning.”

“So, when I received the transcript for this book and realized it was about a girl and her connection with the birds, I immediately saw myself within the story,” Atkins shared.

Dandurand is working on a new book of poems, and is up at 5 a.m. every day to write. He’s always thinking of a new project as one finishes.

A highlight for him was to work with Atkins again. She had done cover art of an owl for one of his poetry books, and they have collaborated several times ever since.

“I am very thankful for him providing opportunities for me as a young Indigenous artist,” she said.

” “LivetheMusic,FeeltheMoment”

Elinor Atkins, from Kwantlen First Nation, illustrated Joseph Dandurand’s book The Girl Who Loved The Birds. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

The latest book by Joseph A. Dandurand, Kwantlen First Nation award-winning author, is The Girl Who Loved The Birds and hit the shelves this spring. (Langley Advance Times files)

The Girl Who Loved the Birds follows a woman throughout her life and her special connection to birds. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

61st Langley Walk draws 350 people

Langley City takes its turn hosting the annual event started to encourage fitnes

Dan Ferguson dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

An estimated crowd of more than 350 people turned out for the 61st annual Langley Walk. This year, it was Langley City’s turn to host the event, which began and ended in Douglas Park on Sunday, May 7.

Dorothy Humberstone from Fort Langley explained she has taken part in almost every walk, going back to the first one, except for a couple when she was pregnant.

“We started way back when my parents started,” Humberstone told the Langley Advance Times.

“I’ve just been walking ever since – and my children, and my grandchildren, and my great-grandchildren.”

Loretta Solomon, president of the board of directors at the Langley Senior Resources Society, showed up with one of the largest teams, with 25 people.

“We want to do this, because we want people to know that seniors are active,” Solomon explained.

“We’re not just sitting down watching a TV or something, we’re always in exercise groups or walking, or something. So we love this event, and it gives us that sense of community as well.”

The numbers were down slightly from the previous year, when the fact that pandemic restrictions were

starting to ease gave it a boost, said Tera Edell, recreation supervisor at Langley City.

“We had a little bit of a higher number last year, but we were the first event [of its kind, post-pandemic],” Edell summarized.

Township Mayor Eric Woodward and Langley City Mayor

Nathan Pachal gave the walkers and runners a send-off, with Pachal praising it as as an “opportunity to go out, and enjoy a five or 10K walk and one of the many beautiful walking areas in both our great communities,” and Woodward calling it a “fabulous tradition.”

“I’ve always met somebody new,

and it’s a great community pride event,” Woodward said.

The Langley Walk was started by Pete Swensson, who became the Township recreation director in 1962. His motto was “walk away your ills, instead of taking pills.” This year’s event offered a choice of five- and 10-km routes.

More than 350 people took part in the 61st annual Langley walk, setting out from Langley City’s Douglas Park. Steyn Roux, 9, from Ladner (right), and Bella were among the walkers. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Humberstone

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Email: datebook@langleyadvancetimes.com. Time sensitive events given precedence

Big Band Swing Dance with Dal Richards Orchestra: Dance is in the Fort Langley Community Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. for this fundraiser in support of the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival. Includes a silent auction, cash bar, and more. Tickets: $38. Info: eventbrite.ca (event 574843190457).

Josh & Bex: Folk duo performs at the Bez Arts Hub starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 12. Tickets: $30. Info: bezartshub.com.

Dou Concertante: Award-winning violin and piano duo performs at the Langley Community Music School Rose Gellert Hall, 4899 207th St., at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Tickets: $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, $18 for students, and $10 for LCMS students. Info: eventbrite.ca or 604-534-2848.

Social Media for Social Good: Langley City library branch workshop for ages 12 and up is from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Free. Explore evidence-based well-being approaches, platform growth strategies, and boundary setting for your social media engagement. Learn how to create a safe space for your followers, protect yourself from online bullies, and benefit from social media. Info: fvrl. bc.ca.

Choir fundraiser: D.W. Poppy Secondary choir is hosting a car wash, bottle drive and Krispy Kreme donut sale on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Langley School District head office, 4875 22nd St. Proceeds help the students go to nationals.

Gospel concert: Bez Gospel Choir performs in a Saturday, May 13 show starting at 7 p.m. at the Bez Arts Hub. Tickets: $25. Info: bezartshub.com.

Organic veggie and plant sale: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, people can stop by the fundraiser. Info: Veggiefundraiser@gmail.com.

Old-time dance: Dance or just enjoy the music and company at the OAP Heritage Hall, 3015 273rd St. Coffee, tea and snacks includes in $8 admission. Info: Angie, 778-836-0270, or Mary, 604534-4802. May 13: Hazelmere

Heritage Fiddlers; May 20: no dance.

Mother’s Day Breakfast: Public invited to Jubilee Community Hall, 7989 Bradner Rd., for the breakfast held since 1974. $10 per person with children under six eating free. Full buffet meal between 8 a.m. and noon on Sunday, May 14. Info: jubileecommunityhall1936@gmail.com or 604-856-4375.

Oh Mother: Andrea Superstein brings her multimedia music show to the Bez Arts Hub for a Mother’s Day performance at 3:30 p.m. on May 14. Tickets: $35. Info: bezartshub.com.

Singles Social Walking Club: Singles 55 and older meet for walks 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, brunches, and other get-togethers in Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley and surrounding area. Info: Marianne, 604-790-5206 or marianne.emmerton@gmail.com.

Gamblers Anonymous: Non-profit can help adults with problem gambling. Call 1-855222-5542.

Gamblers Anonymous family groups: Gam-Anon helps people impacted by someone else’s gambling. Welcome whether gambler seeks help or not. Info: vancouvergamanon@shaw.ca or 604-626-9418.

City branches. Limited space. Register in advance through the website. Info: www.fvrl. bc.ca.

Fun with Ozobots: Kids can stop by the Murrayville branch on Friday, May 12, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to play with programmable miniature robots. For ages nine to 12, but younger kids can attend if accompanied by an adult.

Pajama Storytime: Children and caregivers can visit the Aldergrove Library Thursdays at 6 p.m. for a 30-minute session of stories, songs, rhymes and more. Kids can wear PJs and bring a stuffie. Info: www.fvrl. bc.ca. Next one is May 18.

Parrots in the Library: From 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 19, at the Murrayville branch, the Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary will be visiting with some avian friends. Free but must register in advance due to limited space. Info: fvrl.bc.ca.

Groups are welcome to submit information about upcoming local community events. Publication is at the discretion of the newspaper. Host groups are responsible for keeping information up to date.

Knit and crochet: Fraser Valley Regional Library groups open to all skill levels. Tuesday session is 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Murrayville branch. Thursdays: Fort Langley is 10 a.m. to noon and Aldergrove is 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays: Brookswood branch is 2 to 4 p.m. Info: fvrl.ca.

Babytime: Fraser Valley Regional Library 30-minute sessions for babies and caregivers during summer are Mondays at 2 at the City branch; and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Aldergrove branch. Friday sessions: 9:30 a.m. at the Dean Drysdale branch and the Muriel Arnason branch, and 10 a.m. at Brookswood. Limited space. Register in advance through the website. Info: www.fvrl.bc.ca.

Storytime: Fraser Valley Regional Library 30-minute sessions for children and caregivers over summer. Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at the Fort Langley and Muriel Arnason branches. Wednesdays: Aldergrove is 10:30 a.m. and Brookswood is 11 a.m. Thursdays: 10 a.m. at Dean Drysdale branch, and 10:30 a.m. at Murrayville and

Tech help for seniors: Aldergrove library, 26770 29th Ave., has one-on-one help for seniors. Bring the device (cellphone, tables, ereaders, laptops) and receive up to 60 minutes free help. Register in advance at 604-856-6415, in person, or at www.fvrl.ca.

Teen Night: Stop by the Aldergrove Library from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays for board games, puzzle cubes, LEGO, Keva planks, colouring and more. Info: fvrl.bc.ca.

LEGO and KEVA Club: Aldergrove Library provides the playing pieces for anyone who wants to stop by Tuesdays 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Info: fvrl.bc.ca.

Let’s Get Factual: Fraser Valley Regional Library virtual non-fiction book club meets online at 6 p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 25. Register in advance through fvrl.bc.ca.

Sharing Star Wars with new generations

‘Force is with’ a toy store owner

Matthew Claxton news@langleyadvancetimes.com

May the fourth be with you!

The pun-based holiday (may the force be with you, get it?) has made the fourth of May into an unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans around the world, including those in Langley.

There are fewer big Star Wars fans than Matthew Purdy, owner of Toy Traders on the Langley Bypass.

He remembers the first time he saw a Star Wars movie.

“I was six, and I saw Empire Strikes Back,” Purdy said. “It blew my mind.”

Craft brewers unite for party

Local breweries launching new beers between May 12 and 21

Kyler Emerson news@langleyadvancetimes.com

Something exciting is brewing in Langley, starting this week.

A group of local breweries and distilleries are celebrating the emerging artisan beverage scene with the inaugural Langley Craft Beverage Week, which starts Friday, May 12 and runs until May 21.

He was raised in the Yukon Territory, so the scenes of giant robotic AT-AT walkers striding across the frozen planet of Hoth seemed to him like they could happen in his backyard.

Star Wars has been around for 46 years as of this year.

Purdy just saw the 40th anniversary re-release of Return of the

Jedi on the big screen with friends and some of their children.

Watching the kids eyes light up was great, he said.

“Then, when you become a parent, you get to share Star Wars with your children.”

Personally, he’s introducing his own five-year-old to Star Wars a little bit at a time now.

It’s going to be a party with 10 days of fun things to do around town, said Tim LaHay, managing director at The Barley Merchant (which is participating in beverage week),.

When Barley Merchant opened, people gathered regularly as a group to launch initiatives together such as Fraser Valley Cidery’s Summer Social, Brewhalla Beer and Music Festival in Fort Langley, and the WassALE Festival, he explained.

“Over the last few years, the Langley craft community has quickly evolved into

a diverse, supportive, collaborative group of friends eager to work together to elevate each other’s brands and put what we all do into the local spotlight,” he said. Others participants are: Brookswood Brewing, Camp Beer Co., Dead Frog Brewery, Farm Country Brewing, Five Roads Brew-

ing, Fraser Valley Cider Company, Locality Brewing, Trading Post Brewing, Smugglers Trail, and Roots and Wings Distillery. There are events and different unveiling being held throughout the 10 days at the different venues. Details are online at www.tourism-langley.ca.

LaHay said he believes this is the first of many craft beverage weeks to come in Langley’s future. “As a group, we are all looking forward to this inaugural year, and I’m sure each following year will be bigger and better than the last as we fine tune things over time,” LaHay said.

Toy Traders owner Matthew Purdy has a C-3P0 statue signed by actor Anthony Daniels. (Matthew Claxton/ Langley Advance Times)

Tim LaHay, managing director at The Barley Merchant, collaborated with KPU for its new beer Grapefruit Limoncello Cream Ale, launching on Wednesday, May 17, for Langley’s first Craft Beverage Week. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

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Stampede returns this Labour Day weekend

Professional riders are once again competing in a 3-day Langley event

Langley’s new pro rodeo, Valley West Stampede, will be back for its second year this September, confirmed president Sheila Hicks.

Once again it will be held on the Labour Day weekend (Sept. 2 to 4) at the Langley Riders Society grounds on 208th Street in Brookswood.

Hicks described this stampede as the Fraser Valley’s only rodeo event sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA).

She noted that it will attract some of North America’s top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls who will be competing across Canada and the U.S. this summer.

When competing in Langley, riders are vying for $20,000 in prize money that will be up for grabs for each of four scheduled events: bareback, ladies barrel racing, saddle bronc, and bull riding.

There will technically be a fifth category, although it’s a little less about competition and more about introduction to the sport. That’s the mutton busting for local kids, which will round out the event.

The stampede attracted about 6,000 rodeo

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fans in its inaugural year, and a large stable of competitors.

“Now that fans have had a taste of professional rodeo in an intimate setting where everyone has a front-row seat, word’s getting out and we are expecting an even bigger response to this year’s rodeo,” said Hicks.

“That’s why we’ve started offering advance ticket sales, so people can lock in their plans for the Labour Day weekend. We’re bringing back the popular beer garden along with more onsite entertainment this year, food trucks, displays, concessions, and 4-H during the day, and dancing and entertainment again Saturday and Sunday evening,” the president noted.

The Valley West Stampede is held in partnership with the Langley Riders Society, an organization that is no stranger to staging rodeo events, having organized Little Britches Rodeos here for young riders for more than 50 years.

The rodeo events in the Brookswood arena will start at 2 p.m. each day.

Tickets are now available online at ValleyWestStampede.ca with the prices set at $25 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and younger.

The first stampede was held, but not without some opposition. The BC SPCA and Vancouver Humane Society spoke out against the new rodeo. Demonstrators did appear outside last year’s event.

Valley West Stampede is back this Labour Day weekend. (Langley Advance Times files)

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Thousands attended Langley’s first professional rodeo at Langley Riders Society’s rodeo ground last year. Valley West Stampede will be back this Labour Day weekend. (Langley Advance Times files)

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Swimmers win Deglau

Langley Olympian Swim Club athletes made multiple podium appearances at the Jessica Deglau Invitational Swim Meet at UBC.

LOSC sent a team of 15 to the event at the end of April, which drew more than 300 competitors. Top finishers included Alexia Morgans, 14, who won the 400-metre and 200m individual medley and 200m butterfly events.

briefsLeila Fack, 16, placed first in the 200m individual medley, 200m butterfly and in the 100m freestyle.

Katelyn Schroeder, 17, won the 200m and 100m backstroke events.

Julia Strojnowska, 16, won the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle, and Macey Larson, 15, placed first in the 100m breaststroke and in the 200m breaststroke. Aidan Erickson, 18, won the 200m freestyle.

Bandits sign Jankovic

Vancouver Bandits have signed 6’ 11” centre Stefan Jankovic ahead of the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre.

Jankovic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, has played in several of the world’s first division professional leagues and tournaments in Europe and North America.

“Through playing college ball at Hawaii and having that proximity to British Columbia, I have heard nothing but good things about the basketball culture in the Vancouver area,” Jankovic said.

“I am ready to get to work with our roster, staff and to be part of a special season alongside an awesome Bandits fanbase.”

New Thunder coach

Curt Malawsky is the new head coach of the Langley Thunder.

Malawsky takes the reigns of the Senior A Western Lacrosse Association squad, replacing Rod Jensen who stepped down in the beginning of May.

“We are excited to add a coach of Curt’s calibre. His resume speaks for itself: Curt has won at every level, either as a player or coach, and we look forward to seeing him put his stamp on this year’s Thunder squad,” said Langley general manager Rob Buchan.

While this is Malawsky’s first time coaching in the WLA, he is no stranger to being behind the bench.

Malawsky is currently the head coach and assistant general manager of the National Lacrosse League’s Calgary Roughnecks.

He won an NLL championship with Calgary in his final season as a player in 2009, and joined the organization following his retirement that summer, as associate coach, offensive co-ordinator, and assistant general manager.

Vancouver FC forward Gabriel

and teammates fought Calgary Cavalry to a 1-1 draw at the very first home game held at the team’s just-completed new stadium in Langley on Sunday, May 7. Langley country star Karen Lee

Fans fill stands for VFC opener

Pro soccer team’s first home game in just-completed Langley stadium

Dan Ferguson dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

Shaan Hundal scored his third goal of the season for Vancouver FC in front of a capacity crowd for the team’s very first home game at its just-completed stadium in Langley’s Willoughby Park, a 1-1 tie against Calgary Cavalry.

Vancouver managed the draw despite an early red card penalty, to Rocco Romeo, that forced the team to play short one player, and led to Calgary scoring first to take the lead 1-0, courtesy of Mikael Cantave.

the stadium is very intimate, every fan feels like they can see the sweat of every player. Then as a coach, I can feel all the fans behind us, and I think they really inspired our players to dig deep today when they were tired just to make that extra run.”

Vancouver FC’s Ibrahim Bakare was named player of the match.

More online

But just six minutes later, Hundal scored for Vancouver.

He currently leads the team in goals, with three in as many games. The tie came after three league matches on the road, and extended Vancouver FC’s undefeated streak to three games, the most recent a 1-1 draw against the Halifax Wanderers FC, while the Cavalry remain winless.

“It was special,” head coach Afshin Ghotbi said after the game. “I feel like

Offensively, Bakare had a shot, and completed four dribbles, and made eight passes into the final third, while defensively, he had six tackles, two blocks, eight clearances, and four recoveries, and won 16 of 21 of his duels.

Another bit of history was made Sunday when Taryck “TJ” Tahid took the field to become the youngest player in Canadian Premier League history at 16 years and 17 days old.

Substituting for Gabriel Bitarm, Tahid became the youngest CPL player to register professional minutes.

Vancouver FC supporter

Chris Canziani, who lives a few blocks away from the stadium, said it was nice to have a pro soccer team “sort of, out in the valley.”

“I was out at the first inaugural game, on the island against Pacific FC, and I was blown away by the support,” Canziai said. “It’s really cool to see that for a team that had never existed, and never played before so I’m really curious to see how it goes here. I’m excited to see what we do with the new team in the city here.”

Calgary Cavalry fan Logan Krupa flew out with some friends to cheer on their team.

“We’re all ‘Cavs’ season ticket holders,” Krupa told the Langley Advance Times. “And for most of us, this is our first ever Cavalry FC away day, so we’re excited to be out here. We’re excited to be supporting a new club for the league and experiencing their first ever home game.”

Vancouver FC returns to the Langley field on Saturday, May 13, when they host Atlético Ottawa. Game gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

Jankovic

Bitar (lower left photo)

Batten (below left) sang to open the event.

(Dan Ferguson/ Langley Advance Times)

Canziani

Krupa

Junior A Thunder bounce back for win

Following loss in Victoria, a home field victory over Nanaimo Timbermen

Declan Fitzpatrick scored four times in the first period as the Langley Thunder bounced back from an opening day loss to defeat the Nanaimo Timbermen 8-5.

Langley was coming off a 19-6 loss the day before in Victoria to the Shamrocks to kick off the BC Junior A Lacrosse League season on Saturday, May 6.

But back on their home floor at Langley Events Centre less than 24 hours later, the team was able to clean up its game and give a much better effort.

“Today was nice because we stayed calm and composed and did bounce back. It was nice to see the maturity of some of the older guys helping the younger guys to understand that it is just one game and we have a whole season ahead of us,” said Thunder coach Adam Smith.

“We slowed our brains down a little bit and saw what was happening out there. Yesterday it was the first game in Junior A for a lot of our players and it was a little bit of fran-

tic and panic(ked) play. Today that wasn’t there.”

The Thunder were up 5-1 after a period and 7-3 through 40 minutes in the Sunday, May 7 match.

Fitzpatrick (4+1) and Bailey Vanichuk (1+4) delivered matching five-point games to lead the Thunder while Temeke Gottfriedsen (1+1), Jake Newby and Gunner Farstad potted a goal apiece. Brayden Wandler finished with 51 saves as Langley was outshot 56-47.

Keegan Okino was between the pipes for the Timbermen, making 39 saves while Dylan Manson, Tory Bains, Luke Ory, Logan Schmidt and James Hall scored a goal apiece.

In Victoria the day before, Langley fell behind 6-3 before the Shamrocks blew the game wide-open with an 8-1 second period in the 19-6 victory.

Fitzpatrick again led the Thunder with a hat trick while Chase Sciavon, Grayson Balatti and Connyr Welch each had two assists. Jack Margetson, Hudson Zazelenchuk and Ben

Gagnon each scored.

“He is putting the team on his back right now. He is a big guy who is playing well. He is playing physical and getting in the right spots. As long as he keeps doing that, he will

have a good year,” Smith said about Fitzpatrick.

Wandler played 40 minutes in the loss, stopping 19 of 33 shots while Deklan Morrison played the final period, with nine saves on 14 shots.

Ryan Lowe (5+5) led the Victoria offence and Daniel Ramage made 26 saves as the final shots were 47- 32 Shamrocks.

Last season, the Junior A squad was 10-4 and advanced to the BC Junior A Lacrosse League championship series, falling in six games. The team’s .714 winning percentage and berth in the league finals were first for the Thunder.

And 14 of those players are back.

“Fans can expect a team similar to 2022 – a very fast and energetic team which makes smart decisions in transition,” said Ryan Williams, Langley’s assistant general manager and director of scouting.

Offensively, Stuart Phillips and Cody Malawsky are expected to lead the way as both were skilled playmakers, each finishing top five in the league in assists with 36 for Malawsky and 35 for Phillips.

On the other side of the floor, Liam Taillefer – the captain of the Tier 1 team in 2022 – will play a big role on defence while Ethan Quinn and Jaiden Terry both have another year of experience under their belts. Thunder is scheduled to be back in action tonight, Thursday, May 11, hosting the Port Coquitlam Saints at Langley Events Centre at 7 p.m.

Declan Fitzpatrick scored four times in the first period as the Langley Thunder bounced back from an opening day loss to defeat the Nanaimo Timbermen 8-5 on Sunday, May 7. (Ryan Molag/Langley Events Centre/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

We stayed calm and composed and did bounce back.

ADAM SMITH

Matthew Claxton matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com

Thieves made off with a good chunk of a Langley man’s extensive collection of sports memorabilia in a heist a year ago, and he’s still trying to find the rare pieces.

Solon Bucholtz and his family were building a new home in the 25000block of 80th Avenue in Glen Valley last May, and had packed a lot of their possessions into a shipping container on the property during construction.

“It had everything you just can’t replace,” Bucholtz said.

Thieves managed to break into the container one night and emptied it of just about everything of value. Video surveillance showed a vehicle pulling up in the early morning hours and a couple of people passing the cameras, but their faces were covered in the images.

That includes the typical items taken during a burglary, such as power tools, jewelery, and video games, but the thieves also took a lot of one-of-a-kind items Bucholtz has been collecting for years.

One item he’s really upset about is New Zealand Black Ferns women’s game-worn jersey, signed by the

country’s full Olympic rugby team. Bucholtz’s list of items stolen also includes a Canadian flag signed by 2010 Olympians, Canucks playoff

towels dating back to 1994, multiple signed jerseys, framed and signed photos by various NHL players including Trevor Linden and the

Sedins.

He also lost 3,000 hockey cards ranging from the 1950s to the present, including rare Wayne Gretzky

cards, Scotty Bowman, and Bobby Orr cards.

Collectibles of another kind were the Magic: the Gathering cards Bucholtz has been collecting since the early 1990s. He valued that loss at about $5,000, as it included numerous rare and high-value cards.

Despite the fact that it’s been a year, very little taken in the theft has turned up anywhere, Bucholtz said.

“I’ve been checking all the pawn shops.”

Police have recovered a few items, but most of it hasn’t shown up anywhere, despite there being some distinctive items, like the Kiwi sports jersey, that were swiped.

Bucholtz is hoping going public will alert people to some of the items, and maybe help locate them.

Anyone with information on any of the stolen items can call the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.

Langley’s Solon Bucholtz with members of the New Zealand women’s rugby team. A signed jersey given to him by the team was one of dozens of items taken by thieves and still missing after a year. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

In loving memory of Kelly Neil Leaney

April 4, 1964 – March 26, 2023

It is with many tears and broken hearts we mourn the passing of Kelly, known for his smile, twinkle in his eyes and big warm hugs. Kelly leaves behind his mom, Ruth McLean, his Dad Doug Leaney (Helga), brother Corey (Charmaine), Sisters Cindy (Gerald)andPatty. Hewasaloving uncle to Jordan, Hayley, Jaymie, and Willow. A nephew to Inga, Marlene, and Karen. A cousin to many and a friend to many more.

Kelly was born in Calgary and began his life in Langley at the age of three. He started his schooling at Simonds Elementary where he formed many lifelong friendships. He loved fishing with Corey at Nicomekl, surprising Cindy with a tiny snake placed in a house plant and Patty’s forever protector. He loved hot sunny Osoyoos summers at Granny’s, the lake the orchards and of course the tractors. Kelly loved driving his 4 x 4’s in the mud, corvettes, and Mission Raceway, soaring jets and the Abbotsford Air show & road trips and friends to share them with. Kelly loved his buddy “Belle” the cat who always rushed out to meet him after a busy day at work. Kelly never shied away from hard work. Loved being outdoors from dawn to dark. He found nature to be wondrous and amazing. Kelly was fearless as he climbed up into the treetops with spikes on his boots and a chain saw dangling by his side. Kelly loved the sun on his face, dirt on his hands and mud on his boots. The more dirt on his work clothes at the end of a workday – the bigger the smile.

That smile lit up our lives. A smile that will be profoundly missed but never forgotten.

We will love Kelly for always and miss him forever and a day.

“Those we love don’t go away

They walk beside us everyday

Unseen, unheard, but always near

Still loved, still missed and forever dear”

(anonymous)

Our deepest gratitude to neighbours, friends and emergency responders for their much-needed help and support at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

The Rose Beyond The Wall

In loving memory of Ken Hopson

April30,2023Kenpassedawaywith Fran, his wife of almost 50 years, and family at his side. He will be fondly remembered by his sons Rob (Erin), Steve (Alex). Ken was a proud Poppa to his grandchildren Abby, Cole, Andrew, and Oliver. He will be missed by his sisters-in-law, Mary (Henri), Kathy (Larry), Gabriella, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Ken and Fran moved to BC from Ontario in 1975 when his job brought him out West. Here they built a family full of memories and friendships.

His greatest pastimes and loves throughout his life were, to travel the world, sit by a campfire at Black Mountain Ranch or at Sheridan Lake (rain or shine), and ski the hills of Big White with his family.

Thanks to all the caring and loving people who helped Ken at Langley Lodge; you all helped make his stay very comfortable.

In lieu of a service, a celebration of life will take place at a later date. If desired, donations to the Langley Lodge would be appreciated instead of flowers.

In loving memory of Enes Berta Mary Staples

July 8, 1937 - April 23, 2023

Our fierce and unforgettable mother loved bonfires, coffee, and the beach. Her love for her family ran deep and she spent the majority of her life practicing random acts of kindness and providing gifts of service to others.

As per Mom’s request, there will be no service. We will each honour her in our own personal way, reflecting on the impact she had on our lives and the love she gave to us.

Rest in love, Mama xo

A rose once grew where all could see, sheltered beside a garden wall, And as the days passed swiftly by, it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light shone through a crevice that had opened wide The rose bent gently toward its warmth then passed beyond to the other side

Now, you who deeply feel its loss, be comforted - the rose blooms thereits beauty even greater now, nurtured by God’s own loving care.

Where a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories

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