🥶 Beat the Heat: Langley's Coolest Places ❄️🏖️

Andy Schildhorn • July 15, 2024

Here are a few ways to stay cool in the Township when temperatures rise.

Many municipal buildings that are open to the public, such as recreation centres, have air conditioning.


Community and Recreation Centres
• Aldergrove Community Centre, 27032 Fraser Hwy.
• George Preston Recreation Centre, 20699 42 Ave.
• W.C. Blair Recreation Centre, 22200 Fraser Hwy.
• Walnut Grove Community Centre, 8889 Walnut Grove D.


Fraser Valley Regional Libraries are available during regular hours for anyone needing to find somewhere cool.
• Aldergrove Library, 26770 29 Ave.
• Brookswood Library, 20045 40 Ave.
• Dean Drysdale Library, 8889 Walnut Grove Dr.
• Fort Langley Library, 9167 Glover Rd.
• Muriel Arnason Library, #130 20338 65 Ave.
• Murrayville Library, #100 22071 48 Ave.


Spray Parks
• Brookswood Park, 40 Avenue and 200 Street
• Fort Langley Community Park, St. Andrew's Avenue and Nash Street
• Goldenview Park, 20300 86 Ave.
• Murrayville Outdoor Activity Park, 48A Avenue and 221 Street
• Phillip Jackman Park, 32 Avenue and 271 Street
• Walnut Grove Community Park, 89 Avenue and Walnut Grove Drive
• Willoughby Community Park, 7700 block of 202A Street


Dates and hours of operation for municipal facilities and amenities vary by location.

For more information, check the Township website.


• Visit your local swimming pool or the the Outdoor Experience at Aldergrove Community Centre.
 
In the morning or early evening, enjoy shaded areas in one of the Township’s many parks. 
• Williams Park, 68 Avenue and 238 Street, offers large shade trees and covered seating areas.
• McClughan Park, 9175 206 St., and the West Munday Creek trail system run through dense forest, offering some coolness and shade.
• Derek Doubleday Arboretum, 21177 Fraser Hwy. has a picnic shelter and large shade trees with picnic tables.


Nearby Metro Vancouver Regional parks with shade include:
• Aldergrove Regional Park
• Brae Island Regional Park
• Derby Reach Regional Park
• Campbell Valley Regional Park
• Glen Valley Regional Park, Two-bit Bar


Tips to keep cool:

• Seek cooler, breezier areas when outdoors, such as large parks near to water with lots of trees.
• Take it slow with outdoor activities – rest and relax often if you feel fatigued.
• Stay out of the sun as much as possible; remember temperatures are typically at their highest between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Stay hydrated – drink water regularly, even more than you think you need.
• Stock up on items like sunscreen, water bottles, sunglasses, sun hats, wading pools, spritz bottles or other items to help you cool down.
• Skip heavy foods, and opt for salads, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables instead. Cook food in an outdoor barbeque or microwave. Avoid using heat-producing appliances like the stove, oven, dishwasher and dryer to avoid generating extra heat. Even smaller appliances, such as laptops and toasters, are best unplugged.
• Never leave children or pets alone in a parked car. Temperatures can rise rapidly in enclosed vehicles, becoming much hotter than the outdoor temperature.


Symptoms of heat exhaustion could include rashes, muscle cramps, dizziness or fainting, and headache. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should move to a cool place and drink water.


Symptoms of heat stroke, which is considered a medical emergency, include a high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, and confusion and lack of coordination. In these cases, call 911.


During heat waves:

* Check in on friends, family and neighbours, particularly if they are elderly and/or living alone.

High temperatures inside your home pose the greatest risk during an Extreme Heat Emergency.


Air quality
Metro Vancouver monitors the latest air quality and weather data from 31 stations in the Lower Fraser Valley and publishes it at Airmap.ca. Metro Van issues air quality advisories when the air gets bad. People can sign up to receive direct notifications.


Author: Heather Colpitts

B.C. Foreclosures Rising as Higher Mortgage Payments Kick In

By Jami Makan | BVI • December 30, 2025
The number of court-ordered sales in Metro Vancouver is jumping, and may continue to grow as a mortgage renewal wave hits Canada five years after the pandemic-era real estate frenzy. Court-ordered inventory, while less than one per cent of the market, totalled 119 properties in the Vancouver region in October 2025, compared with 66 in October 2024 and 28 in October 2023, according to real estate website Zealty.ca (Zealty Online Search Inc.). Foreclosures are becoming more frequent because home prices are correcting, unemployment is rising and people who bought during the pandemic are having to renew their mortgages at higher interest rates, said Adam Major, managing broker with Sechelt-based Holywell Properties. There was a massive increase in home sales from late 2020 through 2022, he said. “This was the height of COVID craziness when [Bank of Canada governor] Tiff Macklem promised rates would stay low forever, the government was sending everyone free money and we all wanted a bigger house to work from home in,” he said. Those homes were financed at rock-bottom interest rates, with the central bank’s policy rate sitting at 0.25 per cent from March 2020 to March 2022. Because Canadian banks generally offer maximum terms of five years, it’s now time for many to pay the piper—at interest rates higher than what some can afford. “It is definitely a bad sign for the market as we are only at the beginning of the big mortgage renewal wave,” Major said. The most sales ever in a month in the region were the 5,715 sales in March 2021, he said. “Those buyers will have to renew this coming March. The number of renewals will stay elevated for a year after that. The average discount mortgage rate in March 2021 was 1.69 per cent versus about 3.79 per cent now, so almost everyone who bought in 2021 and 2022 will be paying significantly more on renewal,” he said. 👉 Read the Article Here

Not a Normal Market: Buyers in Control, Sellers Need a Plan.

By Andy Schildhorn • December 29, 2025
In this episode of Andy Talks Real Estate, I break down the November Fraser Valley real estate market and explain what the numbers actually mean if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home. This market has slowed as we head into the holiday season. Inventory is contracting. Sales are down. Prices have softened after several months of gradual decline. And that shift is creating very different opportunities depending on which side of the market you’re on. For Buyers: Buyers are firmly in control right now. You have more choice, more time, and the ability to negotiate properly. Conditions are back Home inspections matter Financing protection matters Time to make informed decisions Based on what I’m seeing, this buyer-friendly environment is likely to carry into early 2026. For Sellers This is not a market where you can rely on last year’s pricing or momentum. Accurate pricing is critical Professional preparation matters Strong marketing makes the difference Strategy beats waiting Homes that are positioned correctly are selling. Homes that miss the mark are sitting. Market Context The data comes directly from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, including: Sales activity New listings Months of inventory Housing Price Index trends Langley-specific market shifts The market feels more like a buyer’s market than a balanced one when you’re out touring homes. Looking Ahead There are early signs of pent-up demand, particularly among buyers with insured mortgage pre-approvals. January and February may stay quieter Activity is likely to build into late winter and spring Preparation is the advantage Have a plan. Know your options. Move when the timing is right for you.

Sometimes we need to smile

By Andy Schildhorn • December 28, 2025
Some days you’re polished. Some days you’re just… memorable. Check out LAPS for adoptables 😀
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