FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 12, 2026

SURREY, BC — Imagine Surrey and mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk say Mayor Brenda Locke’s sidewalk claim is ludicrous. The City confirmed in yesterday’s Vancouver Sun that its sidewalk program builds seven to 10 kilometres a year, and that the mayor’s larger figure counts sidewalks that came with road widening.

A repaved sidewalk is not a new sidewalk. It doesn’t close the gap or get sidewalks into underserved communities. By the City’s own 2025 plan, Surrey is 558 kilometres of sidewalk short, and at the current pace it takes nearly 50 years to catch up.

Starchuk’s pledge is 50 kilometres of new sidewalk in four years on roads that have none today, starting outside schools. That’s 12.5 kilometres a year of new sidewalk, against the current seven to 10 confirmed by the City.

“I’m a firefighter. I count what’s actually there,” said Starchuk. “Paving a sidewalk that already exists is not building a new sidewalk.”

Imagine Surrey reconfirmed its commitment to 50 kilometres of new sidewalks.

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About Imagine Surrey

Imagine Surrey is a civic party running a full slate of candidates in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Led by mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk – a former firefighter and Chief Fire Prevention Officer, former City Councillor, and former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale – Imagine Surrey is committed to making Surrey the City of Champions by delivering: safe streets, fast commutes, smart investments, lower costs, and strong services.

Council candidates: Yousef Aldabainah, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Dr. Margaret Mubanda, and Kevin Wilkie.

Contact

Trevor Loke, Campaign Manager
604-838-5178
[email protected] / [email protected]

Trevor Loke, Campaign Manager
604-838-5178
[email protected] / [email protected]