There is a lot of bad news in our coverage of the past year in the Langleys.
While we cover good news, from the achievements of young athletes, to charitable efforts, to amazing animals, the items that hit the headlines over and over again can be ugly.
In these pages you’ll read about drug addiction and overdoses, homelessness, violent crime, and seemingly intractable political disputes.
But despite these stories, or even because of them, we remain confident that Langley is and will remain a good place to live.
A story like the battle over the Trans Mountain pipeline shows us that there are many people here who care deeply about the place where they live, and want to protect it from harm. They’re willing to give of their time and energy to lobby their elected leaders, to trudge through slushy, wet streets, to stand in the cold for hours for their beliefs.
We’ve seen the same spirit when people in Langley suffer and need help.
At the edges of our stories on drug addiction and homelessness are tireless workers for social service agencies, health units, the RCMP and fire departments, and a solid backbone of volunteers. They reach out and try to help, though the task remains difficult.
When Paddington Station burned, Langley residents opened their wallets, and in some cases their homes, to help those displaced.
None of these actions diminishes the tragedies or serious problems we face. But Langley is a growing community, whose residents – whether established for millennia or newly arrived – care for it deeply.
If we can keep that spirit of caring alive, we can face whatever 2017 – and all the years to come – have to throw at us.
– M.C.
