Friday, September 25, 2026

Langley City Platform: Parks And Environment

Langley City First is committed to continuously improving parks, natural areas, and trails within Langley City, including creating programs that support the protecting of natural areas, expanding the urban tree canopy, managing waste, and investing even more in our parks and trails.

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Two Former Langley City Mayors with a Combined 20 Years in Office Endorse Nathan Pachal

Peter Fassbender, Marlene Grinnell, and NathanPachal

Marlene Grinnell and Peter Fassbender, both former mayors of Langley City, have endorsed Nathan Pachal and the Langley City First team for the upcoming October 17, 2026, civic election.

“Taxpayers and voters in Langley City deserve a strong, stable city council. These individuals should be honest, trustworthy and good listeners” said Grinnell who is Langley City’s longest-serving mayor, winning four consecutive elections from 1993 to 2005.

“Being the mayor of Langley City is an important and serious responsibility. With the coming of Skytrain, we need strong, honest and transparent leadership” said Fassbender, who was elected as mayor after Grinnell and served from 2005 until 2013.

Grinnell and Fassbender’s terms equal a combined period of 20 years, throughout which they oversaw the growth of Langley City into a regional commercial and industrial hub serving the central Fraser Valley.

Under Grinnell’s leadership, the Fraser Highway One-Way was created, and Langley City was designated a regional centre. Under Fassbender, the City built the Timms Community Centre and created our Downtown vision, which set the stage for SkyTrain’s arrival. Both leaders understand the value of steady leadership and fiscal responsibility.

“I’m extremely honoured to be endorsed by these two leaders,” said Pachal. “Marlene Grinnell’s name is practically synonymous with Langley City.”

The Langley City First team was founded on the values of safety and well-being, collaboration, integrity, resilience, responsible stewardship, and putting the community first.

“That’s why we encourage you to re-elect Nathan Pachal and the Langley City First team as mayor and council” said Grinnell and Fassbender.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Langley City First Platform: Social Infrastructure

We talk a lot about physical community infrastructure such as streets, parks, water and sewer lines. Equally as important for a strong community is its social infrastructure. Langley City’s Citizens’ Assembly noted that strong communities require strong neighbourhoods where neighbours know each other and have the tools to support each other. Langley City First is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly and creating a community where people feel that they belong, have opportunities to connect with others, and have access to the supports they need.

Monday, September 21, 2026

Langley City First Platform: Provincial Health Advocacy

In British Columbia, we have seen the impacts of decades of underinvestment in health care, including mental health care, and affordable housing. This has led to a crisis in homelessness, public drug use, addiction, and a mental health crisis. At the local level, Langley City First remains committed to the City playing an active role in advocating for and coordinating solutions to these challenges, including meeting with policymakers in Ottawa and Victoria to ensure that the needs of our community are not ignored and that we are willing to pilot solutions that help people get back up on their feet.

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Langley City First Platform: Public Safety

Langley City First is committed to investing in public safety, including the basics such as hiring more police and firefighters. Our team is also committed to prevention by implementing the recommendations of Langley City's Citizens' Assembly on Community Safety, a bottom-up approach to safety. This includes expanding the one-stop shop approach, where the City proactively manages safety concerns and provides a single point of access for all residents in our community. It also means growing proactive patrols and increasing positive events and activities in our public spaces.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Langley City First Platform: Transportation

People value Langley City’s walkability. With the SkyTrain expansion on the way, Langley City First will continue to invest in a transportation system that gives people choices. At the same time, Langley City First will continue to prioritize roads and sidewalk upkeep. With e-mobility comes opportunities and challenges; our team is committed to an e-mobility action plan that puts safety front and centre.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Standing Up for Workers: Langley City First Receives Labour Endorsement

Langley City First Team

The Langley City First team is proud to announce that the New Westminster & District Labour Council (NWDLC), which represents the collective voice of union workers from Burnaby and all cities east in Metro Vancouver, has endorsed the whole team.

“We are proud to be endorsed by the Labour Council,” said Rhianna Reddekopp, who founded Langley City First. “They see that our platform helps workers and supports jobs that deliver on the construction, infrastructure and community improvements needed in our City going forward.”

“The NWDLC is very pleased to endorse Nathan Pachal and the Langley City First Team in the 2026 municipal elections. With proven leadership on living wages, housing, transit and livability from Nathan, Paul, Mike and Rosemary, joined by new energy and progressive ideas from Jeff, Heather and Shawn, we know Langley City will continue to lead the region as a great place to live, work and play,” said Janet Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer of NWDLC.

Key values of the Labour Council, which are embedded into the Langley City First platform, include:

  • Strengthen Democracy, Transparency and Accountability
  • Building Affordable Housing
  • Delivering Strong Public Services with Good Jobs
  • Support Investments in Public Transit

For more information, please visit “Vote for Here.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Langley City First Platform: Economic Development

Langley City has a strong industrial and retail business sector and is home to one of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's major campuses. This has the potential to have a multiplier effect and is part of the Langley Innovation District Plan. Langley City First is committed to this plan, including the development of a business incubation hub for entrepreneurs. Our team is also committed to listening to the perspectives of local business owners to enact changes that will positively impact Langley City's prosperity.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Langley City First Launches Positive, Solutions-Focused Campaign

The Langley City First Team has officially launched its campaign today for the local government election on October 17, 2026.

“We are pleased to be launching our positive and action-oriented plan for Langley City,” said Rhianna Reddekopp, who founded Langley City First.

Our campaign will be focused on continuing the successes of Langley City in:

  • Operating with fiscal responsibility
  • Improving public safety
  • Maintaining balanced growth

With the increase in misinformation and disinformation, the Langley City First team is committed to defending the facts and focusing on what matters to Langley City residents.

Our key focus areas for the next four years to 2030 will include:

  • Continuing to support non-profits and local businesses
  • Investing in parks and greenspace, housing, social infrastructure
  • Preparing for the arrival of SkyTrain

“I’ve heard from the community that they do not want to see partisan and divisive provincial and federal-style politics in Langley City,” said Nathan Pachal, current Mayor and mayoral candidate with Langley City First. “We will be focused on our successes in moving the community forward in a good way, and how we can continue to deliver for all residents and businesses.”

Langley City First is a team of independents who are free to vote their conscience on all matters and will deliver its platform of unified policies by mid-September, and the team looks forward to connecting with folks at the door and around our city.

If you would like to learn more about Langley City First, volunteer, or request a lawn sign, please visit https://www.langleycityfirst.ca/

I am running for re-election as Mayor of Langley City as part of the Langley City First team. I will share their content on this blog throughout the campaign period.

Friday, September 4, 2026

Solution Tracker Update

Solution Tracker

Since I’ve been elected, I’ve been keeping track of the public solutions I’ve put forward in what I call the solutions tracker. When you are in government, many things can pull you in multiple directions, and I’ve used this tool to help me stay focused. It is also a way to provide accountability to the community. If you have a look at the tracker, you’ll see that some items are completed, some are in progress, some haven’t been able to move forward, and some have yet to start.

I recently updated the solutions tracker. For me, one of the items we weren’t able to move the needle on is building more supportive and complex care housing facilities to get people off the street who are in mental health and addiction crisis. While the provincial government has started on this, much more is needed, and we continue to need to advocate for our community.

While there are many things I’ve been happy to see complete, I’m most proud of the work we’ve done to allow people to meaningfully contribute to City decisions, whether through the Citizens’ Assembly on Community Safety and Wellbeing, the new online “Let’s Chat, Langley City” platform, or the upcoming vote around the expansion of Timms Community Centre, building a new performing arts centre, and expanding Al Anderson pool.

I invite you to check out the updated Solutions Tracker!