Election Update: I need your help. Would you like to put up a lawn sign or go door-to-door with postcards?

It is hard to believe that it is only about two months until the October 15th general election for Langley City Mayor and Council.

I enjoyed chatting with the folks who attended my mayoral launch event a few weeks ago at Farm Country Brewing. People were interested in how we need to work together as a City Council with provincial and federal levels of government, and our community’s vibrant non-profit sector, to move forward with meaningful, positive change for our community. I continue to be interested in hearing your ideas and working together to find the best ways forward.

It is only by working together with others that we can address community safety concerns, create more affordable housing, get people experiencing homelessness into housing with wrap-around support and treatment, and continue to expand public transit options for people.

We must also work together on getting the basics right, like fixing potholes, keeping park washrooms clean, and fixing uneven sidewalks.

The election campaign starts in earnest after Labour Day.

Are you able to help out?
Would you like a lawn sign?
Are you able to hand out postcards in your neighbourhood?
Would you like to go door-to-door with me to get to know people in our community, the challenges they face, and solutions for our community?

If so, I invite you to sign-up to volunteer at https://forms.gle/m9ePWMeR7hHtFvQh8

Just as a mayor needs to work with others to get things done, I need your help for my mayoral campaign to be successful.

If you’d like to donate to the campaign, you can do so with your credit card at:

You can also write a cheque to:
Nathan Pachal Election Fund
16 – 19631 55A Ave
Langley, BC. V3A 0L5

SkyTrain is coming to Langley City. Why it matters for affordability.

My good friend Patrick Johnstone, a New Westminster City Councillor who is running for Mayor of New Westminster, and I talk about SkyTrian coming to Langley City.

We talk about the importance of building affordable rental housing near SkyTrain and the lessons Langley City can learn from New Westminster's effort to build affordable rental housing near SkyTrain. We also talk about how SkyTrian opens up more access to jobs for both Langley City and New Westminster residents.

Finally, we chat about how we can work together on the Mayors' Council and other regional boards if elected to Mayor in our respective communities to further the building of affordable transportation and housing in our region.

Overdose Awareness Month - Upcoming Community Event

August is Overdose Awareness Month. Because of the toxic unregulated drug supply in our province, people are still overdosing and dying in BC at record rates.

Unfortunately, more and more people know a friend or family member who has died or overdosed in our province.

There is a stigma associated with using unregulated drugs. This stigma means that people may not reach out to family, friends, and medicinal professionals out of fear of being judged as “one of those people.”

Many people use unregulated drugs recreationally, and there are ways to be safer. For example, you can get your drugs tested, including through the mail.

If you want to learn more about how to stop overdoses, please visit the BC government’s Stop Overdoses website, where you can also learn about reducing the stigma around unregulated drug use.

The Langley Overdose Response Community Action Team is hosting a community event at Douglas Park on Wednesday, August 31st starting at 6 pm. There will be a free BBQ, vigil, memorial walk, naloxone training, and other community resources. For more information, please visit the event’s Facebook page.

TransLink invests $973,258 to improve walking and cycling access in Langley City

Yesterday, TransLink announced new funding to improve walking and cycling access in Langley City.

The 203rd Street bike lane end near Michaud Crescent, dumping people into traffic. Select image to enlarge.

The 203rd Street and Glover Road cycling lanes end abruptly in Downtown Langley, dumping people into traffic. TransLink is investing $350,000 to connect the gap between these two protected and safer cycling lanes. Protect, safer cycling lanes will continue along 203rd Street to Douglas Crescent, along Douglas Crescent from 203rd Street to 204th Street, and on 204th St from Douglas Crescent, connecting to the Glover Road cycling lanes. When completed, there will be a continuous north/south cycling corridor through the community.

TransLink will invest $283,500 to widen and pave the gravel trail between 200th Street at Michaud Crescent to 53rd Avenue along the BC Hydro Right of Way. The trail will be 5 meters wide.

Proposed Fraser Highway One-Way design. Angled parking on north side, parallel parking on south side, with continuous street tree corridor. Select image to enlarge.

In 2018-19, Langley City, in consultation with the business community and residents, proposed a new design concept to renew the Fraser Highway One-Way and Douglas Crescent, between 204th Street and 206th Street. Currently, Council has budgeted $8.5 million for this project to start in 2023. TransLink is funding $339,758 of this project to support the new proposed wider sidewalks along the Fraser Highway One-Way.