FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
SURREY, BC — Mayor Locke has entered her fifth full day of hiding from the media and questions about her involvement in the termination of former Police Chief Norm Lipinski. As more facts come out, Mayor Locke needs to come clean on exactly what she knew and who told her.
The chair of the Surrey Police Board was told the May 29 meeting would make no decisions. The mayor, who says she has no say over the board, told CKNW she knew it was “an important meeting.” On the first day of advance voting, Mike Starchuk is asking Brenda Locke how she knew more than the chair.
In his sworn affidavit, former chair Harley Chappell, elected chief of Semiahmoo First Nation, says board member Larry Thomas requested the meeting. According to the filing, Thomas spent more than 30 years with the City of Surrey and worked closely with the mayor. Chappell says Thomas assured him, in front of the board’s executive director, that no decisions would be made. Founding board member James Carwana says he was told the meeting concerned collective bargaining.
Chappell wasn’t at the meeting. He learned what had happened the following Monday and resigned the next day.
The board has never published its reasons for firing the chief. On CKNW, the mayor said she didn’t know what was in the meeting, then offered her own guesses at what the board wanted to ask him.
“The chair of the police board was kept in the dark. The mayor wasn’t. That’s the whole problem in two sentences,” said Starchuk. “She says she didn’t know what was in the meeting, then guesses at the reasons on live radio. Surrey deserves the real reasons, and an answer to who told her what.”
“Advance voting is open today and tomorrow. This October, put out the fire at City Hall,” said Starchuk.
Mayor Locke’s exchange with Mike Starchuk has been making news since last Friday with significant coverage on Global News and the Vancouver Sun. Brenda Locke has refused to answer the media’s questions. What is clear is that if Brenda Locke is re-elected, she is compromised on the public safety file. After eight years of chaos, Surrey can’t afford four more years of police interference by Mayor Locke.
The allegations in Lipinski v. Surrey Police Board, No. S-267236, have not been tested in court.
-30-
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]