About the Township
The Township of Langley acknowledges that we are on the traditional territories of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthkwi (Matsqui) and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) First Nations.
The Township of Langley was incorporated in Fort Langley in 1873 and is known as the "Birthplace of BC." A municipality unlike any other, it is a place where the rich heritage of the past is combined with a vibrant vision for the future.
A “community of communities,” the Township of Langley is home to approximately 145,000 residents (2022) in six urban centres, all with distinct characteristics, abundant amenities and surrounded by natural beauty and rural areas that complement an energetic urban atmosphere.
It is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Metro Vancouver with many people choosing to live here, and it is easy to see why. With a unique mix of rural and urban lifestyles and landscapes, a strong local economy, diverse housing options and numerous community services, great pride is taken to honour the past while creating a modern, thriving, sustainable region for those who call it home today and for future generations to come.
To run a municipality this size, the Township of Langley has a committed Mayor and Council and a skilled workforce who are dedicated in delivering the leadership, services, and supports required for the present and future needs of community members. To provide residents with the best possible quality of life, ideas are put into action to create new facilities, enhance infrastructure, upgrade road networks and utilities and offer a wide variety of services directly from the municipality and through the support of community organizations.
The Township of Langley takes pride in planning for and offering world-class infrastructure, amenities, programs and services that continue to make this municipality an exceptional place to live, work, play, learn, and do business.
Quick facts from the 2021 Annual Report
Location
Located in the southwest corner of the province of British Columbia, Canada, the Township is 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of the City of Vancouver in the beautiful agriculture-rich Fraser Valley. The Trans-Canada Highway runs through it, dissecting the northern part of the municipality from the south.
The northern municipal boundary is the Fraser River; the southern boundary is the United States border. The western boundary is 196 Street bordering the City of Surrey (except where bordered by the City of Langley) and the eastern boundary is 276 Street bordering the City of Abbotsford, for a land mass of 316 square kilometres (122 square miles). Learn more about our communities.
Land of plenty
Agriculture and farming have always played an integral role in our community. With 75 per cent of the Township located within the Agricultural Land Reserve, it continues with this role today. Farmers are finding more creative ways to live off their land by exploring agri-tourism marketing techniques, technology and niche markets.
An abundance of specialty crops and products are produced here, ranging from world-class wines and organic turkey to seasonal favourites like berries and Christmas trees. Many farmers are using science to improve production and create new innovative agricultural land uses.
The Township is home to half of the farms in Metro Vancouver. The need to stay profitable and find new ways to work the land has seen traditional food production morph into an industry where local farm gate receipts total approximately $200 million per year. Learn more about agriculture in the Township of Langley.
Something for everyone
For those who wish to play and learn, there is something for everyone at 13 recreation and community centres, 167 parks and playgrounds, 82 sport fields, a 5,200-seat event centre and sports complex, community events, universities, a museum and libraries.
Go for a swim, shop in one of the Lower Mainland's largest retail centres, enjoy dinner out, see a play in a cozy theatre or take in a hockey game in a 5,200-seat arena. It can all be done here, in the Township.
Movie theatres, restaurants, playhouses, pubs and clubs provide ample entertainment options. Children and families can participate in activities at one of our recreation and community centres, or visit our museums, libraries and other attractions. Shoppers can enjoy our many retail destinations and unique boutiques, while fans of sports and entertainment will find plenty to do and watch at the Langley Events Centre.
So much to do
Each year, a number of festivals and events are held to encourage people to get together and have fun with family, friends and neighbours.
Our heritage, the bounty of the fall harvest, the environment and the promotion of physical fitness are all celebrated. No matter what the season, there are many free, family-oriented events happening in the Township.
Some of our most popular events include the Langley Walk, Municipal Awareness Day, Douglas Day, May Day, Canada Day, Aldergrove Festival Days, BC Day, Langley's International Festival, the Cranberry Festival and Christmas in Williams Park.
Live here, work here
People are choosing to live in the Township of Langley. We pride ourselves on developing vibrant, complete neighbourhoods, which offer flexible, affordable and mixed housing options, and the opportunity to live, work, shop and play in a safe community.
Over the past four decades, the Township has experienced a dramatic increase in population; local businesses and industrial and commercial developments have kept pace. There is a healthy balance between the growing labour force and job opportunities. The Township of Langley has a goal to supply one job for every Langley resident in the employed labour force and the more than 6,600 companies that currently operate within our perimeters make this goal attainable.
The Township of Langley is also a great location for work, offering exceptional job opportunities, unique business advantages and lower commute times and unemployment rates. In 2021, BCBusiness Magazine ranked the Township #3 out of 46 municipalities in their list of Best Cities for Work in BC (#1 in the Lower Mainland), and in 2022, the Township earned the fourth spot out of 50 communities in their list of BC’s Most Resilient Cities.
With access to major transportation routes and the US border crossing, a large industrial floor, and one of the largest retail centres in the Lower Mainland, the Township of Langley has everything required to create successful businesses and maintain a healthy economy.
On the move
Walk, run, swim, play, take a class, join in ... whatever you do, just get moving!
The Township's recreation centres, ice arenas, swimming pools, parks, trails, golf courses and green spaces provide many opportunities for residents to achieve their fitness goals. The Langley Events Centre showcases a number of sports and provides athletic activities and events for participants and spectators.
Hollywood North
It is not unusual to see superheroes and vampires lurking around the Township ... or to spot the community's familiar landmarks on TV or the big screen.
From popular TV series such as A&E's Bates Motel, CBC's Arctic Air and Hub TV's The Haunting Hour, to feature films such as The Twilight Saga and Marley & Me - The Puppy Years, many productions have taken place right in our own community.
The community's diverse locations, landscapes and settings, excellent production capabilities and financial incentives have made the Township one of the most film-friendly municipalities in BC's Lower Mainland today. Each year, more than $40 million is injected into the local economy by movie makers and television producers.
Since 2013, the film and screen-based industry has been contributing to a funding reserve that the Township has created to fund future, small-scale improvements across our community. Improvements such as new playground equipment, park benches and picnic tables are all thanks to the Township's film-friendly environment. We are supported by a welcoming community and we offer simple, straight-forward and timely services at reasonable rates.