Langley City’s 40th Inaugural Council Meeting

The inaugural meeting of Langley City’s 40th Council occurred last night. The meeting started with the new Council being marched in with an honour guard and piper. We were honoured with songs from Kevin Kelly representing Kwantlen First Nation.

Councillors White (not seen), Albrecht, Wallace, Mayor Pachal, Councillors Mack, James, Solyom (Left to Right). Photo by Rob Bittner. Select image to enlarge.

One of the traditions in Langley City and many other cities in Canada is to have a Mayor’s Chain of Office. The chain has the City’s coast of arms, maple leaf, and wheat and sickle adornments. It is engraved with the names of every Mayor in the history of the City. After 40 Councils, my name is the last that will fit on the chain as it is. For future mayors, they will get a new or modified chain of office. The chain is only worn on the most formal of occasions, such as the inaugural Council meeting.

Mayor’s Chain of Office. Photo by Lois Dawson. Select image to enlarge.

Members of Council took oaths of office and gave their inaugural addresses. The common theme was coming together with our diverse experiences and backgrounds as a Council to address the challenges in our community and move Langley City forward to improve the quality of life and prosperity of residents and businesses.

You can watch the addresses from Mayor and Council on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0t0zSine-tA?t=1203

During this meeting Council appointed Councillor Albrecht to the Metro Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors for 2022/23, with Councillor Wallace as the alternate. Council appointed Councillor Wallace to the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board for 2022/23, with Councillor Albrecht as the alternate.

Council also approved the Deputy Mayor’s schedule as follows:

November 5 - December 31, 2022: Councillor Mack
Jan.1 - February 28, 2023: Councillor Wallace
Mar.1 - April 30, 2023: Councillor White
May 1 - June 30, 2023: Councillor James
July 1 - August 31, 2023: Councillor Solyom
September 1 - October 31, 2023: Councillor Albrecht

The Deputy Mayor acts as the Mayor if the Mayor becomes unavailable for any reason.

Finally, Council approved returning to in-person Council meetings starting January 1, 2023. The reason for this delay is that the Langley Christmas Bureau will use the Council Chamber over the next month and a half.