Home > City Government > Media Room > 2010 News Releases > City Unveils Made-in-Surrey Strategy to Support Children & Youth
City Unveils Strategy to Support Children & Youth
November 15, 2010
Surrey – Mayor Dianne Watts and Council unveiled a new comprehensive Child and Youth Friendly City Strategy today, which is designed to promote the healthy development of Surrey’s children and youth.
“We want to engage young people, give them the opportunity to contribute meaningfully in our community, and provide them with the tools they need to succeed,” says Mayor Dianne Watts. ”They are the future leaders of our community, and this made-in-Surrey strategy will help ensure our youngest residents thrive.”
The strategy is designed for three age groups: early childhood (0-5 years), middle childhood (6-12 years) and youth (13+ years). It focuses on three key areas: engaging children and youth, developing a safe and creative physical environment, and providing enriching programs and services. Each area contains specific recommendations that will be implemented to ensure the City is acting in the best interest of young people.
There are 10 goals of the strategy:
1. Increase opportunities for children and youth to meaningfully engage in civic issues and contribute to the community.
2. Create vibrant public spaces that promote social connections and play.
3. Increase young people’s interaction with and access to nature.
4. Encourage the development of neighbourhoods that are compact and walkable, and that enable young people to safely navigate their community on their own.
5. Ensure that affordable and appropriate housing is available for families with children and vulnerable youth who are living independently.
6. Provide services and programs that promote the developmental needs of early years children, middle years children and youth.
7. Make City of Surrey programs and services inclusive and accessible to the diversity of children and youth in Surrey.
8. Increase access to affordable and quality child care.
9. Promote social cohesion by animating community spaces through events, arts and culture.
10. Work with other government agencies and community agencies to ensure that children and youth have access to the range of opportunities, services and programs that they need.
“We want Surrey to be an even better place for children and youth to live, learn and play,” says Watts. “What young people experience in their community has a profound impact on their future. So it’s important to connect with them, and give them the best start possible so they continue to lead healthy, active, productive lives.”
The City consulted with over 1,000 children and youth from neighbourhoods across the city, and reviewed child-friendly policies and practices from other cities around the world to develop the strategy, which is designed to fit with the unique circumstances and needs of Surrey’s residents.
Currently, approximately 1/3 of Surrey’s population is under the age of 19, and the Surrey School District is the largest district in B.C. and one of the fastest growing education systems in Canada.
The Mayor unveiled the strategy with students at École Panorama Ridge Secondary in Surrey.
More information on the Child and Youth Friendly City Strategy.
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Media Contact:
Tara Foslien
Senior Communications Specialist
Office of the Mayor
604.375.4584