EDITOR’S NOTE:
All the recent past mayors of Surrey — Bob Bose, Dianne Watts and Linda Hepner — pale into insignificance in comparison with Doug McCallum for his Herculean achievement of delivering on his promises of the Surrey Langley SkyTrain Extension and the Surrey Police Service. McCallum’s legacy will be remembered for decades and decades to come.
THE Safe Surrey Coalition on Wednesday said that this day marks a significant milestone for the City of Surrey as former mayor Doug McCallum and SSC Councillors Doug Elford and Mandeep Nagra expressed their satisfaction with the Province’s decision to direct the City to proceed with the Surrey Police Service (SPS).
“This decision fulfills a key platform promise made by the Safe Surrey Coalition during the 2018 elections, demonstrating their commitment to delivering on the mandate entrusted to them by the citizens of Surrey,” the SSC noted.
“For the past five years, the citizens of Surrey have been eagerly anticipating the establishment of the Surrey Police Service. Today’s decision by the Province reaffirms that this is the best choice for public safety in our city, and it marks a momentous occasion,” said McCallum. “We are delighted to see our vision become a reality, and we are grateful for the support we have received from the Province throughout this process.”
The SSC said: “The journey to establish the Surrey Police Service has not been without its challenges. Both the RCMP and the Surrey Police Service have faced significant pressures during this transition period.”
Elford extended his gratitude to all frontline law enforcement members from both organizations for their dedication and service to the community. He said: “Today, we call upon the residents of Surrey to join us in expressing our gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to ensure public safety in our city. This decision allows us to move forward, heal any divisions, and foster collaboration for the betterment of public safety for all residents and neighborhoods in Surrey.”
Nagra added, “This has been a very divisive process in our city since October, and it is now time to come together, heal wounds, and work collaboratively for the best public safety for all of Surrey’s residents and neighborhoods. Today’s decision is a testament to our dedication to serving the people of Surrey.”
The SSC said that the City of Surrey recognizes that the process leading up to this decision has been challenging for the community. However, McCallum, Elford and Nagra said they believe it is now time for the city to come together, mend wounds, and work collaboratively to achieve the highest standards of public safety for all of Surrey’s residents.
The SSC expressed its sincere appreciation to the Province of British Columbia for their ongoing support. It also acknowledged the citizens of Surrey for their patience and trust in their leadership.
