Thursday marks the grand opening of a new Vancouver-style business accelerator and co-working space in Langley.
And WestEast Y, located in Brookswood, is launching its new operation with a bit of a shindig.
They’re hosting the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly Business After Hours mixer late this afternoon.
From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. the new company will be hosting the chamber networking session.
While attendance is free, people must register ahead through the chamber at 604-371-3770, email info@langleychamber.com, or sign up online at www.langleychamber.com.
WestEastY will be providing small- and medium-sized businesses with access to professional connections, early stage capital, and business coaching. They also will also be offering a professional place to meet with clients and work in a private or co-working setting.
In addition to offering tours, wine, and nibblies, there will be door prizes, goodie bags, a photo booth, and a 50/50 draw to benefit the Salvation Army’s Gateway of Hope.
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Grand opening
There’s another grand opening in the works Thursday, as well.
Langley City’s newest second-hand store is opening.
Talize opens its doors to bargain hunters on Thursday, Sept. 28, with a celebration of sorts running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The store is opening up at 20450 Logan Ave., in the old Rob’s Furniture location.
This is a for-profit chain that focuses primarily on second-hand clothing, as well as household items.
Langley will be the 10th Talize location to open in Canada, the second in the Lower Mainland.
• Stay tuned to the Langley Advance online for more about today’s opening
from reporter Heather Colpitts, and addicted bargain hunter.
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Food drive returns
And speaking of the Gateway of Hope, here’s another way that a local company is stepping up to help feed Langley’s homeless and hungry.
Craftsman Collision Make a Dent food drive is happening again this Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Save-On-Foods store, 20151 Fraser Hwy. The drive runs from 1 to 5 p.m.
In 2016, Craftsman Collision’s Make a Dent program raised more than $30,000.
According to one community ministry coordinator with Salvation Army, their faith-based organization has witnessed a surge in demand for food items this year throughout British Columbia.
To meet that demand, it’s important for the agency to keep an adequate supply of food on hand at all times. They’re hoping that by the end of Saturday’s food drives, that each community will have donated at least enough food to fill a Craftsman Collision courtesy car.
Items that are needed included canned fruit, canned meat (ham, tuna, salmon), macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, canned vegetables, rice, cereal, diapers, pasta, toilet paper, instant noodles, canned baked beans, and pasta in tomato sauce.
Donations are going to the Gateway of Hope.
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Indigo
Sharing a love of reading
Indigo’s Love of Reading Foundation has launched its ninth annual adopt-a-school program, and verified that two Langley schools are going to be among almost 600 across Canada to receive books for their libraries.
Always have to love a program that fosters reading, at least I do.
In this case, Blacklock Fine Arts and West Langley Elementaries will be recipients.
This means that the local Chapters and Coles stores in Langley are fundraising on their behalf during this annual campaign, which runs until Oct. 8.
It’s a chance for these designated “high-needs” schools to purchase new books and educational resources, said Ariel Siller, executive director of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
“There is an urgent need to improve funding in elementary school libraries,” she said.
“We know that 30 per cent of Canadian Grade 3 students lack basic literacy skills,1 and many educators face a shortage of resources needed to address this challenge. Through Adopt a School, Indigo employees, customers and communities join together to help raise funds for local high-needs schools. By giving books to schools that need them the most, our goal is to give every child the chance to build a lifelong love of reading.”
I was moved by that statement. I can’t imagine if I didn’t have books to read when I was growing up.
Don’t know about you, but I always read on car rides, between chores and homework, and often late at night – with the aid of a flashlight under my covers – when I was really supposed to be sleeping.
Books and the written word are an important part of who I am, and I want to ensure that continues for future generations – hence why I’m sharing this tidbit of news with you.
If you want to get more involved, and learn more about Indigo’s efforts, click here.
Although Indigo has a vested interest in getting people to read – as, I guess, I do – they have a valid point when saying reading at school plays a major role in children’s academic and future success by boosting their drive to learn.
I imagine that’s even more necessary in low-income areas where kids may not have access to books at home.
Every child should have access to books. Books should never be seen as a luxury, they’re a necessity.
– What’s in Store is a weekly business column by Langley Advance editor Roxanne Hooper. If you have business tidbits you think are worthy of sharing, please contact her at editor@langleyadvance.com.
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