Friday, August 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Westminster & District Labour Council Endorse Imagine Surrey Candidates Mayoral Candidate Mike Starchuk and 5 City Council Candidates Honoured by Union Support
SURREY, BC — New Westminster & District Labour Council (NWDLC) today announced their endorsement of Mike Starchuk for Mayor of Surrey, along with endorsements of 5 of his Imagine Surrey candidates for Surrey City Council.
“Surrey is the largest city in NWDLC’s region, and it is time our city had serious leadership that reflects our position in the region and our country as both an economic and jobs driver, and as an amazing place to live, work and play,” said Janet Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer of NWDLC. “We believe Mike and his team have established the vision, experience and innovative thinking
needed to lead Surrey as a world-class city with an improved reputation for livability, sustainability and safety. With Mike, the city we imagine is the city Surrey will become.”
The New Westminster & District Labour Council is a community-based central labour organization representing more than 71,000 union members at the local level. Their goal is to ensure that communities and elected representatives at all levels of government respond to the needs of working people and families.
“NWDLC is a key partner in our vision to build Surrey into a City of Champions, with safe streets, fast commutes and smart investments, supported by lower home costs and city fees, and strong services,” said Mike Starchuk in response to the news. “Building our workforce — including affordable homes near where people work — while respecting the right to collective bargaining and protecting public service jobs, is fundamental to providing strong city services. We are privileged to receive this endorsement from NWDLC delegates, affiliated unions and the executive; it’s the kind of support we will work hard to continue earning every day.”
Starchuk — a retired Surrey Firefighter and former Chief Fire Prevention Officer who served as a Table Officer for IAFF Local 1271 — joins his Imagine Surrey city council candidates Narima Dela Cruz, Perminder Chohan, Margaret Mubanda, Kevin Wilkie and Yousef Aldabainah as NWDLC endorsed candidates in the upcoming 2026 Surrey municipal election.
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About Imagine Surrey
Imagine Surrey is a non-partisan civic political party running a full slate of candidates in the October 17, 2026, municipal election, lead by mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk. We are committed to making Surrey a City of Champions, by creating safe streets, fast commutes and smart investments, supported by lower home costs and city fees, and strong services.
Council Candidates: Yousef Aldabainah, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Margaret Mubanda and Kevin Wilkie. (full bios on website)
Media Contact: Email: [email protected] / Website: imaginesurrey.ca