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Douglas Day celebrations held every November in the Township of Langley, B.C., commemorate the founding of the mainland colony of British Columbia by Sir James Douglas at Fort Langley, B.C., on November 19, 1858.

The Douglas Day Banquet dinner held on November 19, 1958 was the official conclusion of British Columbia's 1958 Centennial events. Guests at the banquet were entertained by a historic pageant by students of the Langley High School, organized by Miss Ida Vyse.

exhibitions, festivals
Term Source: Sears List of Subject Headings (16th. Ed.)

The Fort Langley Hotel (originally known as just the Langley Hotel) was built by first owner James Taylor in the late 1860s, early 1870s, and appeared to incorporate part of a saloon built by Henry West, the builder of the steam mill. There were three "long term" hotel keepers: James Taylor, from when he built it until about 1889, Peter Stanley Brown, who ran it from 1891-1914, and Warren W. (Spud, or Jack) Webster, who ran it from 1914 - abt. 1938. Alexander Praisley was proprietor of the hotel in the late 1950s and 1960s. After many years and several renovations, the hotel was the oldest in B.C. by the 1970s. On December 29, 1974, the owners burned the hotel to the ground to collect the insurance money. The site is now the home of the Riverside Centre (2007).
See Also: Brown's Hotel, hotels

The Fort Langley Women's Institute was established prior to 1923 and was in existence in 1959, although its official dates of incorporation and termination are not known. The Institute encouraged education, particularly of women, and contributed, through volunteer efforts and donations, to the community. It was part of the South Fraser District Board of Women's Institutes.

Refers to the large, Fraser River flood of 1948. Similar subject term, "floods and flooding" refers more generally to floods and flooding.

Alfred Gabriel was born on April 28, 1892 on the Langley Indian Reserve (now q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen) First Nation lands), McMillan Island, to father Joseph Gabriel and mother Mary Anne Matsqui. He fished the Fraser River in his younger years and had a dairy farm until 1966.

Alfred married Mary Sepass on November 19, 1924 in Langley. Together they had 11 children: daughters Hazel, Beatrice, Winnifred, Dorothy (Leon), Barbara (Stewart), and Helen (Carr), and sons Gary, Milton, Victor, Joe, and Archie. Hazel, Beatrice, Gary, Milton, and Winnifred predeceased their parents. Hazel and Winnifred passed at St. Mary's Residential School in Mission, BC. There is currently no known record of Winnifred's burial location.

Alfred was an active q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ community member and also within the surrounding area. He held a lifetime membership with the Native Sons of B.C., Fort Langley Post.

Alfred died on May 29, 1968 in Murrayville at the age of 76 years.

Term Source: Royal B.C. Museum Genealogy Archives, The Langley Advance, personal communication Beatrice Stewart (2021).

Richard Henry Holding was born and married in Blackpool, Lancashire, England to Isabella (nee Guest). Shortly after their marriage the couple was willed two hotels. They sold them and went to Australia aboard a sailing vessel with their two children in 1859. Their youngest child died enroute and was given a sea burial. After teaching in Oakland, near Sidney, for 13 years, the family of 6 moved to B.C., arriving at the Langley Wharf broke in 1874. When another pioneer spotted Richard's Masonic apron, he gave him credit. Richard Holding became one of Fort Langley's early school teachers.