In just a few years, the City of Surrey has transformed itself from a sleepy suburb to a buzzing city, from a political bit player to Metro Vancouver's second core centre. It was arguably three-time mayor Dianne Watts who brought the elements together to make it happen. She is now satisfied that she has accomplished what she set out to do in her three terms. She won't be running for another term in November, so now is a good time to look at her legacy of building.
Mayor Watts still remembers clearly when she moved to Surrey in the early 1990s. In her recollection, other than some commercial spots, supermarkets, and residential areas that lined the highway, the city lacked any style in planning and construction. Compared with Richmond, where she had worked before, Surrey was a ghost town.
Build Surrey Program
When Watts was elected mayor in 2005, after nine years as a city councillor, she seized the opportunity to make over both the city's landscape and its reputation. Her Build Surrey Program began in 2007 with the aim of creating a dynamic city centre where none had been before and making it an attention grabber.
Iconic buildings went up around a new civic plaza: the city library designed by Bing Thom, and city hall with its towering atrium. A performing arts centre with large and small theatres is still to come.
The city partnered with institutions to attract more amenities and jobs. Simon Fraser University expanded its Surrey campus, adding a lively young vibe to City Centre. Meanwhile, down the road, the RCMP moved its E Division headquarters from Vancouver to a purpose-built complex in Surrey.
With a background as a construction consultant, Watts knows her way around buildings, which has been a tremendous advantage. Under her municipal leadership, many major construction and investment companies flocked to Surrey, marking the beginning of a new era in the city. The municipality's $1.16 billion-dollar investment attracted private-sector investment of $3 billion. One example was Coast Capital Savings moving its headquarters to a new $100 million building near Surrey's King George SkyTrain station.
According to Watts, construction is not just the sign of economic strength, it is also a long-term plan. She believes that this development isn't just for this generation and the next, but that 50 to even 100 years later, these buildings can still be used. As in European cities, which renew themselves over and over, these historical buildings become more and more precious over time.
She also points out that a city's growth cannot simply rely on residential real estate. For people to live comfortably, there must be many well-established employment opportunities. A young and booming city like Surrey has to build up its economy.
Another city initiative is a big step toward guaranteeing : Innovation Boulevard.
Surrey BC Bing Thom designed library and Kaisan-Moriyame designed city hall
Innovation Boulevard
Innovation Boulevard is one square mile that is fast becoming a focal point of medical technology and medical research and development. Mayor Watts believes that not only will Innovation Boulevard attract the cream of the medical field and raise the bar on health care, it will also help increase employment and draw in more investing and commerce.
SFU Neurology professor Ryan D'Arcy, who's driving the development, has had similar success in Halifax. When asked, "Why Surrey?" he said, "Surrey met all the conditions; it can be assisted by both SFU and the Fraser Health Institute, which itself serves 1.6 million people. As BC's number one in emergency facilities, Surrey Memorial Hospital is currently undergoing an expansion which will cost 512 million dollars."
In just over a year, Innovation Boulevard has already attracted many major institutions, from the provincial and municipal governments to the four major schools (SFU, UBC, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and BCIT); from the Fraser Health Institute to Surrey Memorial Hospital, to many private technology and property development companies. Within the health industry itself there are already 180 companies in the city.
At the moment, Innovation Boulevard already has three major parts running: the NeuroTech Lab at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the Digital Health Hub at SFU, and the new conceptual City Centre 1 healthcare administrative building.
As an example of the kind of work going on at Innovation Boulevard, Surrey NeuroTech Lab, also known as SNL, analyses nervous system damage to chiropractic patients. SNL already has a worldwide reputation of the collection and analysis of brain wave activities and chiropractic testing. It also provides highly advanced prosthetic equipment and develops simulation software that aids doctors in learning surgery.
Dr. D'Arcy says, "Through the advancement of medical technology, we will put Surrey on the map as a leading pioneer of the medical field, and truly bring assistance to the patients."
Mockup of Innovation Boulevard, medical high-tech sector of Surrey BC
Looking Forward
Surrey had a population of approximately 470,000 in 2013, an increase of more than 100,000 since 2003. Currently an average of 1,000 people move to Surrey and call it home every month. It is estimated that in 2046, almost one in four people in the Lower Mainland will live there, and Surrey may eclipse Vancouver as the most populated city in the Metro Vancouver region. Surrey is also a very "young" city; its ratio of residents 19 or under will be the highest in the region. A youthful Surrey makes mayor Watts very proud, and it also makes her remember her duty as the mayor.
She believes that the ultimate goal of development is to allow residents to live well, especially giving young people a chance to have a good education and a chance at employment, so that they will feel blessed living in this city.
From 1996 to 2014, new businesses almost doubled, from 8000 to 15000; residential, commercial, and industrial construction grew from 600 million dollars to 1.3 billion. In the last ten years, 5745 new homes were raised to house the growing population.
Dianne Watts, once nominated for the title of world's best mayor, has lived up to her plans. "We are fearless and we persevere in achieving our goal. The most important thing is to break out of our mold," she says of the team that has transformed Surrey. Although the mayor will leave her position in a few months, the city's course has been charted.
