After the Centennial Celebrations in 1967, various annual events began to occur in Langley, including a parade and fair. These annual events appeared to garner a public support and interest and became known as Langley Days. The term Langley Days had earlier been used to describe an informal series of events in which Langley citizens were encouraged to shop locally. The Langley Days that emerged after 1967 and prior to the creation of The Langley Days Society, were organized by a committee of the Langley Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with other community organizations. There appeared to be some disagreement as to the role the Chamber of Commerce should play in organizing Langley Days and consequently The Langley Days Society was officially incorporated as a society in 1975. The objectives of the Society were to assist, foster and develop, community spirit in the Municipality of Langley and the City of Langley and to conduct an annual festival to be called Langley Days, and such other promotions, events, and festivals as may be deemed desirable from time to time. Predominantly, The Langley Days Society acted as a coordinating body that worked with other organizations, businesses, and people to host Langley Days which were held during the third week of June each year. Charter members of The Langley Days Society included: Joe Chesney, Kenneth Charles Leaney, Gareth Keyworth, Harold Dunlop Stafford, Tommy Tomlin, Joe Chesney, Margaret Joan Reynard, Bill Blair, Peter McNamara, Vivian Davis, Ted French, Ernie Mowles, Bill Tamm, Mel Pound, Robert Thompson, John Alexander (Jock) MacKinnon, Robert McClelland, Ivy Harris, Dave McClure, Tom Gleig, Cliff Strawson, John Osenton, Bernie Grinstead, Jack Dunham, W. A. Walker, John Kavanaugh, Vern Penner, George Chan, Rotary Club of Langley, Surrey Credit Union, Langley Kinsmen Club, Langley City, Langley Chamber of Commerce, Buttonn Bows Square Dance Club, Trinity Western College, and the Kiwanis Club of Langley. The members who signed the initial constitution of the Society were: Kenneth Charles Leaney, Margaret Joan Reynard, Gordon Harry Berry, John Alexander (Jock) MacKinnon, John Douglas Kavanaugh, and Donalda Jane MacDonald. Events at the Langley Days included the Miss Langley Pageant, races, parades, receptions, refreshments, banquets, and other entertainment opportunities held throughout Langley. By the 1980s, the Society, also known as Langley Days Society, coordinated both Langley Pioneer Days and the Strawberry Festival. Over time, the strawberry trademark became associated with Langley Days and the smiling strawberry became the mascot. Around 1986, the Society was experiencing financial difficulties and winded down its activities.
published
BCAUL control number: LCM-2341
The fonds consists of 11 series: annual reports, 1977-1981, created in order to meet guidelines of the Society Act under which The Langley Days Society was incorporated; programmes which includes both published programmes, 1975-1984, and records created in the course of preparing the programes,1973-1983; newspaper clippings, 1981-1983; ephemeral, 1975-1980, includes certificates prepared for Society members, stationary, tickets from the various Langley Days events, a ribbon, and pins; constitution and by-laws, 1974-1982, which include records related to the creation and adjustment of the constitution and by-laws of the Society; correspondence, 1975-1985, which includes copies of sent and received correspondence from the Society with members of the public regarding the coordination of Langley Days, correspondence with the Langley municipal government regarding grant applications and municipal support, and correspondence regarding the registration of the strawberry mascot under trademark and patent law; minutes of meetings which includes both minutes of meetings from the Langley Chamber of Commerce committee that organized Langley Days prior to the creation of the Society, 1974, minutes of meetings from the Society, 1975-1985, and records created in preparation for a 1986 meeting to discuss the assets of the Society and perhaps dissolution; fiscal records which includes budget and budget preparation records from 1976-1982, financial statements, 1980-1984, grant applications 1981-1984, ledger books, 1975-1982, insurance records, 1982-1983, and records related to legal dispute related to finances between the Society and Edgelow, 1978; membership records, 1983-1985; and scrapbooks, 1975-1982.