> SFU thinkers help ponder Surrey’s future
SFU thinkers help ponder Surrey’s future
Contact:
Linda Hepner, City of Surrey, 604.591.4626
Terry Lavender, PAMR, 778.782.2154
Linda Hepner, City of Surrey, 604.591.4626
Terry Lavender, PAMR, 778.782.2154
September 18, 2008
Simon Fraser University professors Sean Markey, Catherine Murray and Gordon Price are among the Lower Mainland thinkers who have pondered the future of Surrey in a series of white papers commissioned for the Surrey Regional Economic Summit to be held Sept. 18 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.
Six white papers produced by academics from SFU, Kwantlen Polytechnical University, and Surrey School District 36 tackle two themes: Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce and Livable Cities.
Surrey city councilor Linda Hepner, the co-chair of the summit, said the papers will stimulate discussion both at the summit and after its conclusion: “Surrey is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, and with that growth comes many challenges. These white papers provide valuable perspectives on those challenges.”
Among the highlights of the papers:
The papers will be available for download from the summit’s website: http://www.sres2008.com/.
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Six white papers produced by academics from SFU, Kwantlen Polytechnical University, and Surrey School District 36 tackle two themes: Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce and Livable Cities.
Surrey city councilor Linda Hepner, the co-chair of the summit, said the papers will stimulate discussion both at the summit and after its conclusion: “Surrey is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, and with that growth comes many challenges. These white papers provide valuable perspectives on those challenges.”
Among the highlights of the papers:
- Surrey is laid out on a 19th century grid plan, which encourages automobile traffic, but the city needs to plan for a more sustainable model.
- Like other British Columbia communities, Surrey has to tackle issues of homelessness, addiction and poverty, says Markey. If it doesn’t address those issues, it will have trouble attracting investment and members of the creative class that is driving the newest sectors of the economy.
- With its cultural diversity and young population, Surrey is poised to achieve recognition as a creative centre of scientific, artistic and technological innovation.
- Over 40 percent of Surrey school children are from households where English is never spoken at home, and more than a million adult British Columbians can’t read a newspaper, understand a bus schedule or fill out a job application. High quality public education in Surrey is fundamental to a strong social and economic fabric.
- Urban communities need to encourage agriculture rather than separate it from other uses.
The papers will be available for download from the summit’s website: http://www.sres2008.com/.
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