The City of Langley is a municipality of Metro Vancouver. It started as a settlement area of early settlers from Europe referred to as the "Innes Corner" (named after Adam Innes, the homesteader). The area became known as "Langley Prairie" during the year 1911, and lots of small communities formed and became the "Langley Township." Then again, Langley City decided to separate from this in order to follow its urban expansion It became a city during the year 1955.
Within the city, there are many art galleries including the BC Gallery, which was born here. The BC Gallery is devoted showing lots of exceptional works showing artwork by brilliant local artists. To find various remarkable works by brilliant native artists who are exploring and developing their creativity in art, these could be found at the Fort Gallery. Joy of Dawn shows unique glass art, and offers classes for fused glass and stained glass. Tribal Spirit Gallery features the First Nations' artwork of masks, paddles, totem poles, gold and silver jewelry, Brentwood boxes, prints plus many more. Urban Art and Custom Framing provides services, such as digital giclee printing, canvas transfer, picture framing and office or in-home consultation. Watershed Arts Cafe is an international community art cafe which celebrates art in all designs and forms. Its wall has lots of works from the local musicians, community and LEGO artists. Museums also abound in the place.
There are likewise various Museums within the city of Langley. residents and visitors will certainly enjoy the Canadian Museum of Flight, Aldergrove Telephone Museum, Fort Langley National Historic Site, Fort Langley Heritage CN rail Station, and Langley Centennial Museum and National Exhibit Centre. The Aldergrove Telephone Museum is located within the Aldergrove Telephone Exchange. It showcases telephone switchboards, old telephones, a Strowger step-by-step switch. The Canadian Museum of Flight is a "hands-on" museum which comprises over 25 aircrafts, from the World War II Handley Page Hampden to a T-33 Silverstar. Fort Langley Heritage CN Rail Station was designed and created by the Great Northern Rail Road during the year 1915. The place is home to the Fort Langley Artists Group and several small museums. Fort Langley National Historic Site shows the historic original buildings as well as other interactive activities. Here, people would see the furs traded by the local people, together with several interesting activities, such as observing the art of barrel making, or panning for gold in the river. Langley Centennial Museum and National Exhibit Centre explores the multi-cultural influences that helped shape the city as it is nowadays. There are many collections of the First Peoples' works, like for example baskets, woodcarvings, plus several stone sculptures.
The city of Langley boasts of low business and living expenses. Based on KPMG's Competitive Alternatives Study in the year 2004, Langley (as well as Western Canada) has about 8% to 9% less costs of utilities, labor, transportation, and taxes than the United States. Housing, land and office space expenses within the city are a lot lower. Langley's housing costs are about 60% lower as opposed to Vancouver, with retail leasing costs of roughly ten times less than Downtown Vancouver. The city of Langley is considered the financial hub for the Fraser Valley, and many could pick from amongst the lending institutions situated in the city, like: Vancity, HSBC Canada, Envision, CIBC, Coast Capital Savings, the Bank of Montreal, RCBC Financial and TD Canada Trust.
