Surrey’s Good Citizen Award was handed to Jim King this past week for his work “…as an executive director since 1997, being a past-president of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce and a founding member and past director of the Surrey Tourism and Convention Association” - [Surrey Leader].

The award is given to an individual each year who has performed outstanding service for the betterment of the community.

Photo credit: Squeaky Marmot on Flickr

Recent recipients also include Volkmar (Wally) Sandvoss in 2007 and Bruno Zappone in 2006.

Surrey’s first ever “Good Citizen” was Len Shepherd.

“Len Shepherd was a Surrey municipal council member from 1932 until 1937. In 1937 he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly serving the Delta riding, covering the area of Richmond, Delta, Surrey and Langley. In his very first term as MLA, Len Shepherd presented a petition to this very House with over 3,100 names from the people of the Fraser Valley, asking that the new Pattullo Bridge be free of tolls. Very quickly, he became an avid advocate for the working people.” [Debates of Legislative Assembly]

This all makes me wonder what ever happened to Vancouver’s Good Citizen Award? Strolling the archives on VancouverHistory.ca I kept coming across recipients of the “Good Citizen Award” like Pearl Steen, Sister Frances, or Arthur William Delamont but it made me wonder if this award still exists today.

The first Good Citizen was fire chief John Howe Carlisle in 1922 and the title was since bestowed upon maybe good souls in the community every year but I haven’t heard of any new recipients since the 1980s. I believe there are awards for volunteers in Vancouver, but I’m still wondering whatever happened to the city’s recognition for its outstanding (and often selfless) members of the community with the “Good Citizen Award”.

Regardless, I’m pleased to see the folks of Surrey doing good in their neighbourhoods, schools and businesses. Congratulations to Mr. King for being Surrey’s 2008 Good Citizen of the Year.

The WTS and a link fest? Combining two of my patented blog features? Yes, daring I know.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Photo credit: Stephen Rees on Flickr

To wrap up on a brighter note, despite the need for more buses at least those doing the daily grind aren’t discouraged. “Of workers commuting to Surrey, 12.2 per cent (up from 9.5 per cent) used a sustainable transit mode.” [Surrey Leader]

A report about crime in Canada’s cities came out a while ago and I’ve been meaning to address it. Getting around to it now I hope that some way, some how, this quashes some fears folks have about traveling out of downtown, Vancouver, and dare I say… over the Fraser River.

Earlier this year Canada’s 10 most dangerous cities were revealed. The Province compiled a graphic (yet pixelated) version of the list but for the record, here are the top ten: Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Prince George, Edmonton, New Westminster, Chilliwack, Victoria, Vancouver, Halifax.

The rankings are based on 2006 per capita crime rates, the most recent available from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Maclean’s created a ranking based on aggregate results of six personal and property crimes: murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault (the most serious kind), robbery, breaking and entering, and auto theft. [Macleans]

You’ll find five BC cities listed in the top ten, and Surrey is not included. I wrote a post last year about how it is also no longer the car theft capital of North America and those incidents are down.

Photo Credit: Jeffery Simpson on Flickr

The break and enter rates in Chilliwack, B.C., Victoria and Regina, for instance, rank within the top 10 per cent of all American cities. The per capita robbery rates in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Regina would put them among the top 10 robbery-plagued metropolitan areas of the U.S. And you are far more likely to have your automobile stolen in Winnipeg or Joliette, Que., than anywhere in the U.S., including metropolitan Detroit and Las Vegas, the auto theft capitals of America. [Macleans]

Don’t get me wrong, Surrey has its ongoing issues as well, along with the growing concern about homelessness etc. However, my goal has always been to portray my hometown in a positive light, as it is so often in the shadows.

In a few weeks the Surrey Environmental Extravaganza will be launching 7 weeks of over 60 FREE activities (from tree planting to shorekeeping) for people of all ages, across the city. With upcoming events like this, the Youth Band Jam and Skate, and the summer Farmers’ Market, I hope those around Metro Vancouver will be more receptive to the idea of visiting Surrey.

This morning I was reminded on Keira’s post about BC150, the celebration around the Province in honor of its 150th birthday. A big part of the festivities includes the dedication of Spirit Squares.

These squares will celebrate our heritage and achievements – past, present and future – and leave a legacy for current and future generations to enjoy.

Spirit Squares will reflect the unique character, diversity, cultural and First Nations heritage and history of our communities, sharing that richness with residents and visitors alike. [Spirit Squares]

Through Paul’s new CivicSurrey blog, I also found out that the latest Spirit Square will be built in Surrey’s Holland Park.

Photo Credit: Paul Hillsdon on Flickr

Surrey applied last year for Spirit Squares at Holland Park in Whalley, in Newton near the Wave Pool, and in Downtown Cloverdale. Apparently, the City has received the approval of a square in Holland Park. No word on whether the other two will proceed.

Holland Park is currently undergoing a painstakingly slow upgrade to become Surrey’s first “urban park”. It is one of the few “major projects” that the City has actually funded in an effort to revive the City Centre area. [CivicSurrey]

Other Spirit Squares around BC include (but are not limited to): Revelstoke, Maple Ridge, Merritt, Williams Lake, West Vancouver, Langley (Township), Lytton, Quesnel, Castlegar, Coquitlam, Village of Cumberland, Sechelt, Campbell River, and Victoria.

I’m glad Holland Park is getting the rejuvenation it needs after being clearcut over the last few years and I must admit I love going to community events back in Surrey.

Photo Credit: Paul Hillsdon on Flickr

Speaking of such, there will be a Grand Opening celebration for Holland Park taking place May 24th from 11:00am to 4:00pm that will mark the completion of the entire project. This is a free event with activities for the entire family.

Our local green-powered, transit, political, and Metro Vancouver whiz kid Paul Hillsdon has just launched a new fully Surrey-centric website.

For a while I felt as though my blog was steering too far into posts on Surrey. I mean, obviously it’s something I feel is important to write about as it is my home city. However, I know not everyone is interested in such posts.

On that front, I’ve launched a Surrey specific blog: civicSurrey. It will cover important future developments and major news stories in the city. I may crosspost a few interesting articles, but generally from now on, most Surrey posts will be on civicSurrey. [Paul Hillsdon]

Paul’s entries are entertaining, factual, occasionally hard-hitting, and valid in their opinions as a true Surreyite. I’m always pleased to promote anything form my hometown and it’s great to see such a nicely executed source for Surrey talk and content now online.

As previously announced, Winterfest is happening this Saturday from 12:00pm to 10:00pm at Central City plaza in Surrey (just across from the Surrey Central Skytrain). Outdoor skating rink, live concerts, food vendors, hockey challenge, and Guitar Hero are just some of the activities. A schedule and event map have been released so here are a few more details:

click to download PDF

… and much much more. I think John and I will actually make an entire “Surrey Day” out of it, so it should be pretty fun - Ya Whalley!

All events take place at Central City and are conveniently in close proximity to Central City Brewing where I would assume you’d be able to catch the Canucks in action that evening as well. See the Winterfest site for more details.

Canada’s Cultural Capital for 2008 will be kicking off an entire week of winter-related festivities starting tomorrow. As previously noted, Winterfest will be taking place on Saturday but there are many events throughout the week that the entire family can enjoy, either for free or at low-cost.

Here are just a few of the many events taking place this week in Surrey.

For more information about these events and others, visit Surrey’s Spirit Week website.

With all the talk about outdoor skating rinks lately I was pretty pleased to hear that they will be constructing one (temporarily) in Surrey for Winterfest 2008.

On Saturday, February 9th from 12:00pm to 10:00pm Canada’s Cultural Capital City for 2008 will be the place to be, giving all you Surreyites, New Westers, Burnabyians, Vancouverites, Richmonders, Langleyites, Port Moodies, PoCo’ers, and yes even you Delta folks a chance to check out some live demos, sports, and concerts all for FREE at Central City. Here’s what you’ll be able to see and do:

Featuring performances by:

I’ve seen a free outdoor concert at Central City before (Holly McNarland & 54-40) and it’s a pretty good time. The Skytrain lets you off at Surrey Central so you just have to walk across the street to take part in all the festivities. Since it’s a Saturday you won’t even have to pay $10 for your roundtrip back to zone one!

They’re currently looking for sponsors and volunteers for the day’s events, for more info check out Winterfest.Surrey.ca and be sure to mark this on your calendar.