Things to Do in Langley

When doctors told Joey and Darryl Simon that their son Jet’s premature birth could result in learning disabilities, the couple immersed him in the world of art as a means of helping him overcome any educational obstacles. Their tutelage and care paid off, resulting in an impressive array of paintings from their child at a very young age. Jet’s talent and creativity inspired his parents to establish 4Cats Arts Studio in hopes of unleashing the inner artists of other children as well as adults. The Simons accomplish this mission through hands-on sessions in mixed media, painting, and Artist Focus classes, which concentrate on the histories and styles of certain artists, such as Picasso’s cubism and Andy Warhol’s self-portraits of soup cans.

King George Aviation Flight School's squadron of instructors use their decades of combined experience to introduce novice pilots to the skies. Official licensing courses range from navigation and mountain flying to radio procedures or instructor ratings, and their Discovery flights give beginners a taste of the skies while proving to nonbelievers that clouds are, in fact, made of marshmallow. The school also rents its planes to pilots for day trips and sells certain models.

Owned and operated by a cohort of passionate paintball players since 2001, Ambush Paintball's three recreational fields, with a fourth opening May 27th, constantly undergo grooming to ensure their safety and to accommodate new, challenging obstacles. A 200-foot-long tire wall, two-storey clock tower, and 50-foot easel for target practice adorn the massive 450'x250' Ambush City Field, whose square shape and symmetrical layout prevent either team from naming their strategies after famous couture dresses. Meanwhile, two mobile homes, nicknamed the Redneck Fortresses, shelter participants on the Grassy Mounds Field when they're not navigating the trenches and maze-like grassy paths on the outside. More paths abound on the 5-acre diamond-shaped Lost Forest Field, whose tree forts and barricades have hosted as many as 200 players at a time. Elsewhere, a celebrated speedball park hosts a range of guests––from first-timers to pros of the sport––for tournaments every Sunday.

At Panther, tall cedars and thick brush help to conceal the tactics of opposing shooters, who dive into the real-dirt trenches and other hiding spots that characterize the facility's 57 acres. Drop-in players as well as party groups can sling their BBs across no fewer than 12 variously configured battlefields strewn with tires, beaver-dam bunkers, dirt mounds, and other obstructions. The fields lend a realistic ambience to Panther's scenario-play events, during which vigilant referees oversee themed play. Panther recently added airsoft to its arsenal, which doesn't weigh down players with big hoppers or bulky air tanks.

The practitioners at Ojus Healthcare all hail from India, where they each earned bachelors' of ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) degrees. Ayurveda's holistic therapies date back more than 5,000 years and are drawn from ancient Indian holy texts, or Vedas.

Using diagnostic techniques developed long before blood tests or x-ray glasses, the specialists at Ojus examine their patients' eyes, tongue, skin, and pulse to determine their overall constitution during an initial consultation. If toxins seem to be weighing a person down, a five-part panchakarma detox may be recommended. This regimen includes internal and external cleansing by way of warm oil massaged into the skin, ingested, dripped up the nose, and applied over the eyes. A steam box draws impurities out through the sweat glands and soft dough is used to form oil reservoirs on especially troubled areas.

On Father's Day weekend, few gifts could be better than letting dad browse motorcycles, whiskys, and golf gear—all at the same location. Enter The Vancouver Men’s Show, which will host 250 exhibitors that appeal to men, ranging from liquor distilleries to fishing adventure companies to snowmobile manufacturers. Three days’ worth of events supplement the exhibitors’ offerings. Visitors can sample an international selection of beers and wines, and those with a bachelor’s degree in grunting can compete in the arm-wrestling and bench-press competitions. Throughout the weekend, House of Q serves its barbecue and leads cooking shows, and Cascades Casino hosts a Texas Hold ‘em poker tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Among the charitable events is Bash a Car for Kids, which gives participants several swings at an automobile with a sledgehammer in exchange for donations to BC Children's Hospital.