SURREY Mayor Brenda Locke and the Surrey Connect team on Thursday announced their 2026 election platform: A Safer, Healthier, More Connected Surrey — Building the Surrey We Deserve. The plan proposes approximately $1.496 billion in strategic capital investments to deliver the public safety facilities, recreation centres, parks, streets, libraries, and cultural spaces Surrey residents need.
The announcement followed the endorsement of Surrey Connect by the Surrey Fire Fighters Association and Association President Mike Vincent.
Locke said, “My team and I are so humbled by this endorsement. Mike, you and your membership represent the best of our community. Selfless, courageous and generous. It has been such a joy working with the Surrey Fire Fighters Association over the last four years, and I look forward to working with you for the next four years.”
Locke emphasized that public safety remains a top priority for Surrey Connect.
“Today, we are not just here to accept the endorsement of the incredible Surrey Fire Fighters Association. We are also here to announce our 2026 Surrey Connect Platform. We are announcing this platform with the Surrey Fire Fighters because public safety is front of mind for our Surrey Connect Team. That’s why we hired 80 new firefighters over the last four years. It’s why we funded 140 new police officers last year alone. And it’s why our platform funds new facilities, technology, and more public safety personnel.”
Councillor Rob Stutt, a former police officer, outlined the public safety investments totaling $484.5 million.
“As a former police officer, I care deeply about keeping Surrey safe, and I know our entire team does too. That’s why our council has made significant investments in public safety. From fire to police to bylaws, we are doing the work to grow our public safety infrastructure,” said Stutt. “Surrey Connect will develop a modern Public Safety Campus – a $350-million integrated facility that brings essential emergency services and infrastructure together so our growing city is properly served. We will build a new Green Timbers Firehall for $120 million to strengthen response capacity. We will invest $12 million in additional four-person fire vehicles. And we will expand support for victims of domestic violence with a $2.5-million commitment.”
Stutt noted that Surrey Connect has already committed to hiring 560 additional public safety personnel over the next four years.
Councillor Gordon Hepner, Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Sport Tourism Committee, presented the recreation and culture plank.
“We have made significant investments, including the Cloverdale Sport and Ice Complex, new sports fields across our City, and we broke ground on the $310 million Newton Community Centre,” said Hepner. “We continue these investments with our Recreation, Culture and Community Facilities policy – a proposed $625 million worth of investments. Our Surrey Connect team will build a new City Centre Aquatic Centre and a new Cloverdale / Clayton Aquatic Centre – $120 million each – so growing neighbourhoods finally have modern pools close to home. We will develop three new South Surrey Ice Sheets for $150 million, expanding access to skating, hockey, and community programming. We will build a Surrey Concert Hall, representing a $150-million performing arts and culture venue. Our team will build a new Fleetwood Library for $80 million, plus a Newton Athletic Clubhouse for $5 million to support local sports and recreation.”
Rona Tepper, Surrey Connect candidate for City Council and a member of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue team, introduced the parks plan.
“I am so happy to present Surrey Connect’s Parks and Green Space Strategy, a $211.5 million investment. We will create three significant new major park expansions: Surrey Lake Park, Colebrook Park, and Bridgeview Waterfront Park for $75 million. We will develop 12 new neighbourhood parks for $60 million so more residents have green space close to home. Surrey Connect will upgrade existing parks with better walking paths, washrooms, shelters, accessibility features, and amenities. We will plant trees city-wide with a $15-million initiative. We will improve Crescent Beach with a lifeguard tower and park upgrades. And we will build eight new sports fields across Surrey for $40 million”, said Tepper.
Noemi Victorino, Surrey Connect candidate for City Council and founder of Harvest for Hope, outlined the transportation investments.
“As a resident of Surrey for many years, I have seen the challenges that rapid growth brings. Longer commutes and more demand on our roads and transit,” said Victorino. “In response, Surrey Connect has made significant improvements to over 10 major roads. Fifty percent of Surrey residents now live within a ten-minute walk of frequent transit. That’s up from 29% just four years ago. Surrey Connect is ready to continue that progress with our Streets, Transportation and Active Mobility Plan, a $175 million investment. We will invest $50 million in residential street upgrades and traffic calming. We will advance Vision Zero pedestrian upgrades with $25 million. We will upgrade and expand bike paths with $50 million. And we will invest $50 million in city-wide beautification.”
Councillor Harry Bains closed the policy presentations by underscoring the team’s commitment to responsible budgeting.
“The priorities outlined in Surrey Connect’s plan form a coherent vision: safer communities, better recreation, more parks and green space, safer and more connected streets, and a city whose public spaces reflect the pride of its people,” said Bains. “Importantly, we will pursue these investments while maintaining fiscal discipline. Surrey Connect is committed to keeping property tax increases at or below the rate of inflation. We reject the false choice between progress and responsibility. We have seen what no tax increases often means in practice: service cuts, delayed or cancelled projects, and hidden costs shifted onto residents. Surrey Connect will make the investments our city needs while keeping taxes low and transparent. These new projects sit on top of fully funded commitments already underway, including the Newton Community Centre and the City Centre Arena.”
Locke concluded the announcement by reaffirming the team’s commitment to building the Surrey residents deserve — safer, greener, more connected, and better equipped for future generations.
The platform can be viewed at:
