Surrey Council approves First Formal Policy to Guide Multilingual Communications

Surrey, BC – During the Regular Council Meeting on July 22, Surrey City Council approved a Multilingual Communications Practice policy aimed at meeting translation needs and enhancing City communications and engagement with multilingual residents and individuals with limited proficiency in English. This is the City of Surrey’s first formal policy to guide multilingual communication practices and procedures.

"As one of the fastest growing and most diverse cities in Canada, Council and staff are committed to serving our citizens in the most inclusive way possible,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “It is important our practices adapt to reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of our City. By enhancing our translation practices, this much-needed policy will allow for greater access to City services and information for our residents.”

The policy was initiated through a motion from Mayor Brenda Locke in June which directed City staff to conduct a comprehensive review of current translation practices in other municipalities across British Columbia and Canada with similar demographics. The policy framework recommendations follow extensive research to establish clear guidelines to ensure equitable inclusive access to City services and information.

Nearly half of Surrey’s population was born in another country. With 38% of Surrey residents speaking English as a second language according to the most recent Census data, the City is committed to breaking down language barriers to information and fostering greater community engagement by aligning communication practices with the needs and expectations of our diverse population.

Policy Framework Recommendations

• Translation may be triggered in languages that are spoken most often at home by 5% or more of Surrey residents, based on current census data. This would mean language translation in Punjabi would occur;
• Priority translation for topics that include critical information and major community initiatives;
• Consideration of translation for specific community/Town Centre priorities;
• Methods and mediums of communication will be determined by target audience and highest impact; and
• Phased implementation with ongoing evaluation and community feedback.

Funding to support the initial phase of Multilingual Communications Policy development and implementation is available in the 2024 Corporate Services Operating Budget.

Interpretation Services and Newcomer Information

In addition to the Multilingual Communications Practice, City of Surrey offers free in-person and over-the-phone interpretation services in more than 170 languages, including Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese, French and many others. These services are available at City facilities and can be accessed by calling 604-591-4011 for assistance.

Newcomers to Surrey can also benefit from settlement services, which provides support with housing, employment, and integration into community life. For more information on these services, visit surrey.ca/newcomer.