Columnists

Langley school superintendent Gord Stewart. (Special to Black Press Media)

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT: To the Aldergrove graduates…

In a message to the Class of 2020, Gord Stewart encourages grads to create a positive legacy

  • Jun 11, 2020
Langley school superintendent Gord Stewart. (Special to Black Press Media)
Twilight Drive-In in Aldergrove. (Langley Advance Times files)

Ryan’s Regards: Farewell to Langley landmarks

Gabby’s Country Cabaret and Mary’s British Store will be missed

Twilight Drive-In in Aldergrove. (Langley Advance Times files)
A sign on a shop window indicates the store is closed in Ottawa, Monday March 23, 2020. Monday marks the beginning of the first full week that the Canada Emergency Business Account will be available to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

COLUMN: B.C.’s labour minister should look at COVID-19 financial carnage amid minimum wage increase

The timing couldn’t be worse for any government decision that drives up costs for business, writes Jock Finlayson

  • May 28, 2020
A sign on a shop window indicates the store is closed in Ottawa, Monday March 23, 2020. Monday marks the beginning of the first full week that the Canada Emergency Business Account will be available to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry work on their daily report on the COVID-19 pandemic at the B.C. legislature, April 2, 2020. (B.C. government)

GUEST COLUMN: B.C. COVID-19 survey brings answers closer

275,000 responses so far, broader health information helps

  • May 22, 2020
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry work on their daily report on the COVID-19 pandemic at the B.C. legislature, April 2, 2020. (B.C. government)
Everyone is forgoing store-bought bread to bake their own at home. (Langley Advance Times files)

Ryan’s Regards: Bread baking bonanza!

Anyone else making an exorbitant amount of sourdough during self isolation measures?

Everyone is forgoing store-bought bread to bake their own at home. (Langley Advance Times files)
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)

COLUMN: Residents should explore B.C. to help tourism industry amid COVID-19

Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC

  • May 11, 2020
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)
Columnist Ryan Uytdewilligen and his mother Kim sometime in the early 1990s. (Ryan Uytdewilligen/Langley Advance Times)

Ryan’s Regards: Happy Mother’s Day

What will COVID-19 mean when it comes to celebrating the moms in our life?

Columnist Ryan Uytdewilligen and his mother Kim sometime in the early 1990s. (Ryan Uytdewilligen/Langley Advance Times)
It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness. Photo: Metro Creative

Earth Day: A new relationship to wildlife is needed for nature and people

Dan Kraus is senior conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

  • Apr 22, 2020
It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness. Photo: Metro Creative
Dave Clements is the author of a Green Beat column. (Langley Advance Times files)

GREEN BEAT: Earth Day turns 50, quietly

As the pope says: ‘This is the time… to move from using and misusing nature to contemplating it’

  • Apr 21, 2020
Dave Clements is the author of a Green Beat column. (Langley Advance Times files)
Langley retiree Len Hall was staying at home, using the time to get caught up on his ‘honey do’ list. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Ryan’s Regards: Cut yourself some slack

The pressure of using our free time to the fullest extent is adding to the stress of COVID-19

Langley retiree Len Hall was staying at home, using the time to get caught up on his ‘honey do’ list. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, works on a daily summary at her office in Victoria, April 18, 2020. (B.C. government)

COMMENTARY: COVID-19 modelling useful, but not a crystal ball

B.C.’s chief health officer explains risk of relaxing too soon

  • Apr 19, 2020
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, works on a daily summary at her office in Victoria, April 18, 2020. (B.C. government)
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

COLUMN: Helping those who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy talks about both public health emergencies

  • Apr 18, 2020
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
VALLEY MOM: Kids with questions, cancelled vacations and adjusting to a new reality

VALLEY MOM: Kids with questions, cancelled vacations and adjusting to a new reality

There have been a lot of changes to keep up with during the past few weeks with arrival of COVID-19

  • Apr 11, 2020
VALLEY MOM: Kids with questions, cancelled vacations and adjusting to a new reality
Home-sewn masks help people contain their own droplets, but before going out, ensure a secure fit and don’t fiddle with it or touch your face until you return and remove it. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

GUEST COLUMN: Take care with non-medical cloth masks during COVID-19

If you wear one, don’t touch your face, Dr. Bonnie Henry advises

  • Apr 11, 2020
Home-sewn masks help people contain their own droplets, but before going out, ensure a secure fit and don’t fiddle with it or touch your face until you return and remove it. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)

COLUMN: Economic impact of COVID-19 will be enormous and difficult to estimate

Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC

  • Apr 9, 2020
Jock Finlayson is executive vice president and chief policy officer of the Business Council of BC. (Submitted)
Shaughnessy Otsuji (L) and Chaylene Lidell (with baby Poppy) in front of their just-opened Pink Avo cafe. Winners of the Downtown Langley Business Association new business contest, the two had to overcome several setbacks that delayed opening by more than a year. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

Ryan’s Regards: Ordering food? Eat local!

Just as Langley City was picking up speed, COVID-19 shut down the new found bustle it had going

Shaughnessy Otsuji (L) and Chaylene Lidell (with baby Poppy) in front of their just-opened Pink Avo cafe. Winners of the Downtown Langley Business Association new business contest, the two had to overcome several setbacks that delayed opening by more than a year. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents B.C. Centre for Disease Control modelling on spread of COVID-19, March 27, 2020. (B.C. government)

COMMENTARY: Knowing where COVID-19 cases are does not protect you

Dr. Bonnie Henry explains why B.C. withholds community names

  • Apr 7, 2020
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presents B.C. Centre for Disease Control modelling on spread of COVID-19, March 27, 2020. (B.C. government)
A worker is seen closing the curtains at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Wednesday that the province’s latest death is connected to the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where a majority of deaths in B.C. have taken place. Another 42 residents along with 21 staff members from this care faculty have also been infected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. VIEWS: Pandemic shows need for adequate care home staffing

Seniors in B.C. care homes face challenging times

A worker is seen closing the curtains at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Wednesday that the province’s latest death is connected to the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where a majority of deaths in B.C. have taken place. Another 42 residents along with 21 staff members from this care faculty have also been infected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Image West Gallery co-owner Courtney Johnson lends a smile beside her melodious door collage of hearts. As of March 20, the Ucluelet gift shop that has been in business for 30 years closed indefinitely. (Nora O’Malley photo)

B.C. VIEWS: Small businesses need our help

Just as integral in neighbourhoods in Vancouver and Surrey as they are in Prince George or Kelowna

Image West Gallery co-owner Courtney Johnson lends a smile beside her melodious door collage of hearts. As of March 20, the Ucluelet gift shop that has been in business for 30 years closed indefinitely. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Bob Groeneveld has been sharing his Odd Thoughts with Langley readers for more than four decades.

Odd Thoughts: White matter in a grey area

Young brains appear to have difficulty processing the dangers of COVID-19

  • Mar 27, 2020
Bob Groeneveld has been sharing his Odd Thoughts with Langley readers for more than four decades.