(Rob/Flickr)

Here’s a question: what do Langley and North Vancouver have in common? Well, besides both being in Metro Vancouver, there’s one contentious issue that plagues both areas: There’s 2 of each. The District of North Vancouver and the City are separate entities, as are the Langley Township and City of Langley. Do we really need duplicate municipalities?  Well, the Township of Langley says no. 

Township Mayor Eric Woodward is looking to have his people run in the City of Langley’s next election. Recently, he announced his new political party, Progress For Langley, which aims to democratically unite the 2 municipalities under one roof. But wait, why are there 2 Langleys in the first place?

In 1955, residents living in the urban center of the Langley Prairie wanted new city infrastructure that was necessary if the town was to grow, namely streetlights. The rest of the Township, which remains Metro Vancouver’s most rural municipality to this day, didn’t much care for modern amenities, so unable to find a compromise, the two split. A similar situation unfolded on the Northshore in 1907, as the more developed Lonsdale area separated from the suburban community up the hill.  

Above: H.A. Macdonald’s General Store, Langley Prairie (now Murrayville), 1910. (Rob/Flickr)

So, what does a Langley resident say about all of this? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m mostly in favor of the idea. Most of us have always seen the two Langleys as one place. I live in Langley Township, but every job I’ve ever had has been in the City. Now more than ever, the two are becoming decreasingly distinguishable, with many of the once “rural” areas seeing modern development, which includes the installation of sidewalks and streetlights, the very things that caused the spilt. The demographics just aren’t as different as they were in the 50’s, so the divide between what residents of each area want to see happen has shrunk. There’s still a bit of division lingering in the air though, as some residents of the Township view the City as a crime-ridden lost cause, with the joint RCMP force the two cities shared even being disbanded in recent years. The City also employs it’s own workers and politicians, who might be out of work if the it’s absorbed.

Being honest, I don’t think the City of Langley has a future as a separate city, and I’d welcome them to the Township if they join us. This situation isn’t about a hostile takeover, it’s about creating a better Langley for all of us. However, there are still some major detractors to the idea, so until the kinks are ironed out, we have to unite the Langleys by building a strong community, not out of lines and borders, but one made of people who care about each other and our home.

Written by Noah Schmidt

Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca