Dear Editor,
As we approach May Day and look forward to the celebration which is the longest continuing May Day in our province, we look back on all the other great contributions volunteers have made to Fort Langley over the years.
The village atmosphere has been preserved for our families and visitors, while new additions have added to the ambience.
We have a statue of Sir James Douglas, the first one in B.C. of our first Governor. We are on the Trans Canada Trail and have other trails and parks. We have the popular CN Station, the Kwantlen-preserved Church of the
Redeemer, and other historic sites to remind us of the past.
The crowning glory of the town is the grand old community hall founded by the Women’s Institute and run by volunteers, where we have the May Queen’s breakfast before the Lions’ parade.
So many of these assets have been organized and donated by members of the community, none for profit or glory, but for the betterment of the community itself.
Then came a chance to develop the business area and enhance the buildings and shops to improve the economy. An OCP with Heritage Guidelines was implemented by the Township and experts, to keep the development within the frame of reference of a small, representative village.
Economically it was more sensible to retain the historic qualities, as tourism was becoming the number one money-maker for the country, and Fort Langley could benefit from the small town “Birthplace of B.C.†theme.
As we approach the March 31 meeting of the Township council, we look forward to a decision from the mayor and councillors to uphold the Official Community Plan and Heritage Guidelines, and insist that all buildings conform, including the Coulter Berry building in Fort Langley, especially in Heritage Conservation areas.
Bays Blackhall, Langley