Google Translate
Translation – Explanation and Caution

The electronic translation service on the City of Surrey’s web site is hosted by Google Translate. The quality of the translation may vary in some of the languages offered by Google. The goal of the basic translation is to capture the general intention of the original English material.

Google Translate is a free service and currently offers translation in over 50 languages. Unfortunately, not all the languages spoken in the City of Surrey are translated. Punjabi is one of the languages not currently offered, and to remedy the situation, the City has been in contact with Google and they have committed to making Punjabi available in the future.

The City of Surrey cannot guarantee the quality, accuracy, or completeness of any translated information. Before you act on translated information, the City encourages you to confirm any facts that are important to you and the decisions you make.

The City of Surrey offers interpretation services at all its facilities. If you have a question about the material you read on our web site, we encourage you to stop by a City facilities to discuss it. You can also contact the City at (604) 591-4011 to receive interpretation support.

The City is committed to enhancing the accessibility of its web site to all its citizens, and appreciates any feedback that it receives.

Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Tagalog, Hindi

Recognizing Volunteer Achievements

Cultural Celebrations

As part of the City’s commitment to its cultural mandate, volunteers have played an integral role in contributing to special events. To these cultural celebrations they bring a sense of community, a sense of enthusiasm and vibrancy. They add to a place in which diverse experiences are valued and lauded. Volunteers work hand -in-hand with the City to fuel the spirit and community of Surrey.

English Conversation Program

Our volunteer facilitators welcome new immigrants to Canada and encourage them to practice their English in a comfortable environment. Here’s a few comments from their program participants: 

  • "The programs prepared by the teacher were useful and exciting." 
  • "I enjoyed sharing experiences with people from other cultures, learning about Canadian culture and the English language.It is a good life experience and helped me to make friends." 
  • "The program helped me communicate with other people. I’m not as afraid to speak with someone. I can explain things in more detail now."

Future Leaders - Youth Leadership Program

"If there is one thing I have learned as a future leader it is that leadership is more than directing a group of people; it is adapting to the needs of each individual. Through the Future Leader's Program I grew more confident than I could have ever imagined. Upon entering the Future Leader's Program I had a strong array of skills. The Future Leader's Program allowed me to not only use these skills, but enhance them. The Future Leader's program is most definitely a worthwhile experience."  Lexi C, Future Leader Volunteer

Partners in Parks Program

Based on the success of the Partners in Parks’ volunteer Bin Keeper program, the Recycling Bin Keeper initiative was implemented in December 2009. The many volunteer hours contributed are helping keep Surrey parks clean, safe, healthy, and beautiful; catapulting Surrey into an even higher sustainability-conscious city!

Special Events

Over 700 volunteers have contributed 19,000+ hours to city-wide special events in Surrey throughout 2010! Events include Surrey’s 2010 Celebration Site, Surrey Children’s Festival, Canada Day, Fusion Festival and other community-based events. Volunteers assisted in many different event roles including activity booths, cultural pavilions, information booths, volunteer headquarters, and ambassadors. While each role is unique, all special event volunteers have had the opportunity to interact with new people, make new friends, and learn new skills, while giving back to the community.

SPIRIT Volunteer Program

SPIRIT Volunteers citywide have given their time to provide support for children with special needs in summer day camps who would otherwise be unable to attend on their own. Because of the volunteers’ encouragement and support, several children this summer have had the opportunity to build on their social skills and confidence in order to be included and create friendships at camp.

Surrey Nature Centre

This summer, the Surrey Nature Centre hosted 8 weeks of day camps for campers aged 6-12. Our camps were so popular that one week had over 50 participants! If you are familiar with the Surrey Nature Centre, we are a pretty small staff and would not have been able to run such fantastic programs without the hard work of our volunteers. We had up to three volunteers with us every day of the day camps; that works out to 48 volunteer shifts! Thank you volunteers and happy camping!

Surrey Youth Stewardship Squad

Youth from the Surrey Youth Stewardship Squad (SYSS) have tirelessly restored streamside habitat in British Manor Park over the Spring and Summer of 2010. They cleaned out piles of garbage and debris, and removed invasive Himalayan blackberry and reed canary grass from the area. SYSS members completed the restoration project by planting native trees and shrubs that will offer homes and food for our furry and feathered friends, and will provide shade and stable banks for the aquatic critters that call the creek home. The youth volunteers in SYSS are active stewards of Surrey’s natural spaces, completing restoration projects and park clean-ups year-round in Surrey’s parks and greenbelts.