Langley City, B.C. —This past weekend, Langley City partnered with Waceya Métis Society to host an interactive “Grab & Go Bag” emergency preparedness workshop. The session brought together 30 participants, including Waceya leadership, the Langley City Emergency Program, ESS Volunteer Responders, and members of Mayor and Council.
The partnership with Waceya Métis Society was central to the event, helping ensure the session was practical, culturally respectful, and grounded in trusted community relationships.
Waceya Métis Society serves more than 1,100 Métis citizens and families across Langley, White Rock, and the Lower Fraser Valley. As one of 39 Chartered Communities of Métis Nation British Columbia, Waceya provides local representation, support, and advocacy for Métis people, while offering cultural programming, community events, youth and family activities, Elder engagement, workshops, and food security initiatives.
“Emergency preparedness is strongest when it is built through trusted relationships and shared knowledge,” said Mayor Nathan Pachal. “This partnership with Waceya Métis Society reflects the kind of community-based approach we need to strengthen resilience, advance reconciliation in meaningful ways, and help ensure more people feel informed, connected, and better prepared when emergencies happen.”
“Emergency preparedness is about more than having supplies ready. It is about making sure our families, Elders, youth, and community members feel informed, supported, and confident in knowing what to do when an emergency happens,” said Anthony Wingham, President of Waceya Métis Society. “This workshop is an important example of what can happen when local partners work alongside Métis communities to provide practical tools, culturally respectful learning, and meaningful support. Waceya is grateful for the collaboration and for the opportunity to help bring this knowledge directly to our community.”
Participants learned three essential steps to emergency preparedness:
- Creating a Household Emergency Plan
- Building an Emergency Kit for sheltering in place
- Preparing a Grab-and-Go Bag for quick evacuation
A key focus was building an effective grab-and-go bag with essentials such as identification, medications, water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, clothing, and comfort items. Participants also received tips on personalizing supplies, keeping items current, and storing them in accessible locations.
The workshop also covered the role of insurance in recovery and where to access reliable emergency information and alerts before, during, and after an event.
The session featured strong engagement and open discussion, leaving participants with practical tools, greater confidence, and a deeper understanding of how preparedness and community relationships support resilience.
The strong turnout reflects a shared commitment to preparedness, collaboration, and community support as Langley City continues building a resilient community.
Langley City thanks Waceya Métis Society and all participants for helping make the workshop a success.
Media Contact:
Ram Chungh
Manager of Communications and Public Engagement
604.240.3101
rchungh@langleycity.ca