Anyone who is at least 70 years of age and has lived in Langley at least 60 years qualifies for an invitation to the annual Douglas Day Banquet Nov. 19.
It’s a high benchmark to meet yet each year many people attend the banquet to honour the people who have been a longtime part of this community’s history. It is held on Nov. 19, the day B.C. was proclaimed a Crown colony back in 1858.
The Township and City jointly host the annual banquet which is at the Langley Events Centre on Sunday.
“This is a wonderful community, a place many people want to live and work in,” said Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese. “Many of the things we value today were established by residents who put down roots in Langley decades ago. Their hard work, ideals, and vision helped shape the way of life we enjoy now. It truly is a pleasure to honour our pioneers on Douglas Day and thank them for their contributions.”
The seniors are treated to lunch, entertainment, special presentations, and tributes.
The doors open at 11:30 a.m. with the reception at noon and lunch served at 12:30 p.m.
A formal invitation is required to attend the event.
Any seniors who qualify but have not received their invitations yet are asked to contact 604-533-6148 or smorris@tol.ca.
The Township of Langley has been recognizing Douglas Day since the 1920s, and the annual banquet has been held for more than 60 years.
In 1946, the celebration of Douglas Day was established by the Township as a municipal bylaw. The province’s shortest piece of legislation, the Douglas Day Act states, “November 19 of each year is Douglas Day throughout British Columbia.” While many municipalities in the Lower Mainland celebrated Douglas Day in the past, Langley is one of the few to continue the tradition.
The annual Douglas Day banquet is organized with the assistance of a dedicated committee and volunteers and each year features a different theme. The 2017 event, which celebrated the 159th anniversary of the founding of the colony of BC, recognized the community’s transportation pioneers.
Douglas Day marks the creation of British Columbia and recognizes James Douglas, the first governor of B.C. He was born in Guyana of Caribbean and Scottish roots, and came to this area while working for the Hudson’s Day Company.
• Douglas Day at the Fort Langley National Historic Site