SURREY TOWN HALL UPDATE: DOUG MCCALLUM & SAFE SURREY COALITION PITCH VISION FOR SURREY’S FUTURE

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Michael

October 3, 2026

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CLOVERDALE, BC — Former Mayor Doug McCallum and candidates from the Safe Surrey Coalition gathered at a town hall meeting hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce to layout their platform for the city’s future, focusing on infrastructure, agricultural expansion, local economy, and public safety. Moderated by Chamber Executive Director Scott Wheatley, the casual question-and-answer […]

CLOVERDALE, BC — Former Mayor Doug McCallum and candidates from the Safe Surrey Coalition gathered at a town hall meeting hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce to layout their platform for the city’s future, focusing on infrastructure, agricultural expansion, local economy, and public safety.

Moderated by Chamber Executive Director Scott Wheatley, the casual question-and-answer session allowed McCallum and his team—including incumbent and past city councillors Doug Elford, Mandeep Nagra, Laurie Guerra, Allison Patton, alongside newcomers Suhanna Gill, Beau Simpson, and Janey Lowe—to pitch their vision directly to local residents and business owners.

A “Global City” Vision and Infrastructure Commitments

McCallum framed his platform around turning Surrey into a self-contained “global city,” citing the municipality’s rapid growth and strong multicultural foundation. Key policy proposals raised during the meeting include:

Public Safety Technology: Deploying a dedicated police helicopter within 90 days of taking office and establishing a municipal drone fleet to assist local law enforcement.
Transit Expansion: Expanding SkyTrain infrastructure further, specifically identifying a future line down King George Boulevard connecting City Centre to Newton.
Protecting Established Neighborhoods: Introducing “heritage/bubble zones” around long-standing communities like Ocean Park, Crescent Beach, and Cloverdale to preserve single-family character and impose strict tree-protection bylaws.

Revitalizing Cloverdale & Agricultural Investment

Addressing the host community directly, McCallum outlined plans to restore energy to Cloverdale following the cancellation of horse racing at the local fairgrounds. Proposals include expanding the Cloverdale Rodeo—potentially doubling its duration—and increasing prize purses to attract top-tier competitors.

On the agricultural front, McCallum pledged to position Cloverdale as an agricultural hub for Canada. He announced plans to support six major local farming projects, including a $40-million year-round greenhouse vegetable operation along Highway 10. He also reiterated his commitment to purchasing the Heppell potato farm land to permanently preserve it within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).

Community Concerns: Housing, Schools, and Food Security

During the open Q&A, community leaders pressed the slate on pressing local issues:

Community Resources & Food Insecurity: Marty, Executive Director of the Storehouse Community House Society, highlighted that his non-profit expects over 300,000 human interactions this year, serving more than 1,400 families monthly. He called for stronger municipal collaboration and property support for community hubs and food distribution.
School Capacity: School Board Trustee candidate Paul Jones and Surrey DPAC President Anne Whitmore raised concerns regarding severe school overcrowding and capital funding gaps. McCallum highlighted his past initiative of meeting biannually with the Minister of Education and urged continued joint advocacy to build multi-story facilities alongside new residential developments.
Fairground Development: Paul, representing the Cloverdale Community Association, presented survey findings showing strong local demand for an indoor swimming pool, expanded walking/biking paths, and heritage preservation over large-scale commercial developments on the fairgrounds.

Experience Over Politics

Closing out the meeting, McCallum and his slate emphasized their combined 40 years of municipal council experience, positioning themselves as “doers” capable of navigating provincial and federal funding avenues to deliver results for Surrey.

Surrey residents have several options for casting their ballots in the Surrey Municipal Election:

1. Advance Voting Days

Advance voting takes place on October 7, 10, 14, and 15, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at 10 advance voting locations across the city:

Guildford Recreation Centre
Fraser Heights Recreation Centre
Fleetwood Community Centre
Cloverdale Recreation Centre
Kwantlen Park Secondary
Frank Hurt Secondary
Princess Margaret Secondary
École Panorama Ridge Secondary
Semiahmoo Secondary
Earl Marriott Secondary

2. General Voting Day

General Voting Day is Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Voters can cast their ballot at any of 52 designated voting locations set up across Surrey.

Check wait times and find your nearest polling station using the City of Surrey Interactive Voting Locations Map.

3. Mail-In Voting

Mail-in ballots are available to all eligible Surrey voters. Mail-in requests and returns must be submitted by the designated election deadlines established by the City.

Official Website Links & Resources

City of Surrey Election Portal: surrey.ca/election (Main portal for interactive voting maps, wait times, candidate lists, mail-in ballot requests, and voter eligibility requirements).
Elections BC Online Registration: elections.bc.ca/register (Verify or update your voter registration details on the provincial voter list).
Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade: swrbot.com/events (Event registration and details for local all-candidates forums and debates).

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