🌐 Langley City named one of the smartest communities in the world
💰 The Township has $602 million in debt
🚧 SkyTrain construction may affect your commute
🧒 BC Youth Week is coming, and it's free for teens
📅 Activities Calendar: April 25 to May 3

Langley City has been named one of the world's Smart21 Communities of 2026 by the Intelligent Community Forum, recognizing the City's continued focus on innovation, digital tools, and inclusive approaches that support a strong local economy and quality of life.

For 2026, the Smart21 communities include internationally recognized cities such as Reykjavik in Iceland, Tempe in Arizona, and Parramatta in Australia. Langley City was selected from hundreds of applicants worldwide. This is the second year running Langley City has received the designation.

For a city that many people outside the Lower Mainland still think of as a suburb, this is a meaningful signal that Langley City is building something worth paying attention to.

This story has been getting a lot of attention this week and your neighbours are talking about it, so here is what you need to know without the noise.

The Township of Langley has authorized $602 million in debt for various civic projects including fire halls, soccer fields, playgrounds, and city-managed housing. It is the second highest municipal debt load in BC, and gives the Township the highest per capita debt of any major city in the province.

Mayor Eric Woodward says the borrowing is a necessary catch-up on infrastructure for a fast-growing community, describing it as spreading out the cost of significant infrastructure development across time.

Our hope is that the infrastructure being built matches what a growing Langley actually needs. That conversation is worth following closely. We’ll keep you posted.

If you drive along Fraser Highway or through Willowbrook, plan ahead for next week.

On April 28 and 29, access north of Fraser Highway at 188 Street will be blocked from 9am to 5pm. Single-lane traffic at 196 Street and Willowbrook Drive and Fraser Highway will run around the clock from May 12 to 25. The right northbound lane on 200th Street at Industrial Avenue will also close around mid-May for up to a month.

None of this is a surprise given the scale of what is being built, but it does mean Willowbrook and Willoughby commuters should budget extra time starting Tuesday. The SkyTrain extension is coming. The construction chaos is part of the deal.

BC Youth Week runs from Friday May 1 to Thursday May 7, and youth aged 13 to 18 can enjoy fitness and creative activities at Township recreation facilities all week.

Activities include youth cycle classes, an introduction to weight training, a skate jam at Walnut Grove Skate Park, a disco skate, and a dessert cooking class. Most activities are drop-in or low cost, view the full schedule here.

If you have a teenager who has been spending too much time on their phone, here is your excuse to get them out of the house.

Township Transportation Open House | Wednesday April 29, 5pm to 6:30pm, online The Township wants your input on its draft Transportation and Mobility Strategy, covering transit, cycling, walking, and how people and goods move through a growing community. This is your chance to shape how the Township invests in getting you around for the next decade. Click here to register.

BC Youth Week | Friday May 1 to Thursday May 7 Youth aged 13 to 18 can enjoy fitness and creative activities at Township recreation facilities all week. Highlights include a skate jam at Walnut Grove Skate Park, a dessert cooking class, a disco skate, and an intro to weight training. Full schedule here.

Free Comic Book Day at FVRL | Saturday May 2 At your local Fraser Valley Regional Library branch. Free comics for all ages. No registration required. A great excuse to bring the kids.

Langley Child Day | Saturday May 2, 10:30am Langley Secondary, Langley City. A free community celebration for families with younger children.

64th Annual Langley Walk | Sunday May 3, 1pm Bedford Plaza, 23285 Billy Brown Rd, Fort Langley. Free 5km walk along the Brae Island trails. Strollers, wheelchairs, and leashed dogs all welcome. Every finisher gets a commemorative crest. Register free here.

Fort Langley Farmers Market | Every Saturday, 9am to 3pm 9025 Glover Rd, Fort Langley. Local produce, plants, flowers, and artisan goods. Open through December. Free.

Open Mic at the Artful Dodger | Every Sunday from 5pm 2364 200th St, Langley City. All ages until 9pm. Drop in and listen or grab the mic yourself.

Ceilidh at St. Andrew's Hall | Third Thursday of the month, doors 6:30pm 9025 Glover Rd, Fort Langley. Maritime-style music with local performers. $10 at the door, coffee and treats included. Next one: May 21.

📚 The Fraser Valley Regional Library has programs running all week across Langley branches, here is the filtered view for Langley locations.