FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
SURREY, BC — On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Mike Starchuk committed that an Imagine Surrey council will put City-owned land on the table for a rental community owned and led by First Nations. City Hall would bring the land, approvals, and the financing partners. The Nations would decide whether, where, and how.
Sen̓áḵw, one such similar partnership in Vancouver, is an example of what reconciliation looks like when it comes with land and a yes from multiple levels of government. On 10 acres returned to the Squamish Nation in 2003, at the south end of the Burrard Bridge, the Nation is building about 6,000 rental homes with the largest investment in CMHC’s history, and it owns half of the first two phases and all of the last two. The first families moved home this June, 113 years after the province burned their village and forced them out. Surrey has more land, with growing demand. What it has been missing is a City Hall willing to bring land to the table and ask.
Surrey sits on the lands of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, and Kwantlen peoples. Imagine Surrey wants to work with each Nation in the spirit of reconciliation. If any Nation is interested in bringing forward a proposal to City Hall under an Imagine Surrey administration, it will find a willing partner.
“I’ve worked with our local First Nations as a councillor and as an MLA,” said Starchuk. “As Mayor, I want to build a stronger relationship and work in partnership, in the spirit of reconciliation.”
“Reconciliation is a relationship,” said Dr. Margaret Mubanda, Imagine Surrey council candidate and recipient of BC’s Medal of Good Citizenship. “It’s time for Surrey to be the best partner for our local First Nations.”
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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-Barakat, 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]