Credit union hosts skate

When it comes to giving back to the community, our local credit unions definitely lead by example.

And while Envision Financial is most often in the foreground, Coast Capital, Westminster Savings, and the team at Aldergrove Credit Union – and the parent company of Aldergrove Financial Group – are definitely deserving of accolades for their efforts.

We often see the local ACU branch managers and staff members holding fundraisers, and getting behind local charities and organizations that do great work in our community.

To mark ACU’s 60th year in business, they’re hosting their own event and inviting the community out to celebrate with them at free skating.

To help mark the six-decade milestone, and to give back to its members and communities, ACU is holding these skating events in two location in Langley and one in Abbotsford on Saturday.

CEO Gus Hartl is inviting everyone to attend.

“For the past 60 years, we have been providing our members with the best in financial services, including giving back with our patronage and rebate program,” Hartl said. “We look forward to another 60 years of supporting our members and communities.

One session is being held in Langley, at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Brookswood, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. followed by another in Aldergrove, at the 272nd Street arena from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The other, in Abbotsford, is being held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre on McMillan Road.

Real avid skaters might even be able to zoom from one to the other in under 20 minutes and take advantage of some quality ice time.

In addition to providing the free community skating events, volunteers will be on hand accepting non-perishable food donations for the local food bank.

Hope to see you on the ice.

• Sushi fan alert issued  

I know I’ve mentioned this in past, but the former Coza building in the 6200 block of 200th Street is in the midst of a rather significant transformation.

Contractors have been busy with this metamorphosis for months now, making room – in large part – for another Browns Socialhouse, but also made room for Jenny and Dennis Lee’s new restaurant.

While the huge condom-like cover has yet to be stripped back to reveal what Browns is going to look like, the doors have swung open on Sushico Japanese Restaurant right next door.

As a sushi fan – our family jokes that sushi is our version of fast food, just a little more on the healthy side than Mickey Ds and BKing – we’re sure to check out this new restaurant in short order.

The Lees, and their 13-member staff, seem to be bringing a focus on healthy Asian cuisine in a modern style restaurant. It’s the typical Japanese dishes we’ve all come to know and expect from sushi restaurants, with a “delightful mixture of Korean Western food twists,” said Jenny.

But honestly, between this new sushi restaurant – which opened up just two weeks ago – and the new Genji Sushi that opened up in the blossoming village of Murrayville (near 222nd Street and Fraser Highway), plus a few others that have popped up on my radar in recent months – I’m going to be hard pressed to get to each of them quickly.

• Mayors tackle issue of Langley growth

What do our mayors have to say to Langley business operators?

Ahead of the November municipal elections, I’m willing to bet they have a lot they’d like to say. But then, the question is, what do people want to hear?

Attendance at next Tuesday’s monthly chamber dinner at Cascades Casino will undoubtedly tell us how many are interested in what Township Mayor Jack Froese and City Mayor Ted Schaffer have to say.

The topic March 18, interestingly enough, for the Township presentation from Froese is “building our future.”

Given the humungous turnout and rather significant backlash spawned by the redevelopment ideas floated last week for Brookswood and Fernridge, I suspect his presentation alone should pack the chamber dinner.

In his preamble for the meeting, Froese’s presentation will apparently touch on his community’s ability to grow for the future.

“The growth strategy for the region will see the Township of Langley’s population double over the next 30 years. Learn about what is being done to prepare for this exciting growth.”

Each year, election or no, the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce invites the mayors to speak. But the crowds are always bigger and the discussions more heated when it’s an election year and when there’s some hot-button items heating up the masses.

Now, the actions of Schaffer and the City council might not be quite as contentious at the moment, but many will want to hear what he, too, has to say.

His presentation is called Investing in Business, Investing in Our Future. He plans to address how attracting and retaining investment in the City benefits the entire community.

This chamber meeting is being held Tuesday, March 18, in the casino ballroom starting at 5 p.m. The cost is $35 for chamber members, $50 for non-members – which might knock out some of the folks thinking of attending.

To attend this event, people must RSVP with the chamber at 604-530-6656 or info@langleychamber.com.

Also on the chamber agenda next week is the U40 mingle session.

This month it’s being held at The Keg, 9020 202nd St., from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19.

As always, this event is complimentary, thanks to the host or sponsor, with free non-alcoholic beverages and appetizers served up.

But the point is to bring together young entrepreneurs, under the age of 40, who can benefit from networking with other emerging professionals.

Again, RSVP is required by calling the chamber at 604-530-6656 or emailing: info@langleychamber.com