Surrey First Mayoral candidate Linda Hepner at social event with Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts
Surrey First Mayoral candidate Linda Hepner at social event with Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts

Surrey: Surrey First Mayoral candidate Linda Hepner has announced Surrey First’s Cultural Platform, which includes a new Cultural Corridor to reflect Surrey’s rich cultural diversity, expand opportunities to celebrate the city’s art and heritage, and create employment opportunities for students and others in the field.

Surrey’s Cultural Corridor will extend from Surrey City Centre down through South Surrey along King George Boulevard, and will become an economic engine that combines arts, heritage and business groups. Partnering with the Surrey Board of Trade, investment will transform the arts community from a niche entertainment sector to a vibrant, accessible and growing job-creator. Students from SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Kwantlen’s School of Design will get work experience and launch careers with companies that locate along the Cultural Corridor and Innovation Boulevard.

Surrey First’s platform also include plans to complete construction of a 350-seat Performing Arts Centre in South Surrey, spaces to host exhibits, shows and performances, and construction of Phase 2 of the Surrey Museum expansion among other initiatives.

“All of this is part of our effort to involve all of our residents in Surrey’s arts and culture scene, which is expanding along with our growing city” says Surrey First mayoralty candidate Linda Hepner. “As Surrey continues to grow, we look to cities around the world and note that arts and culture are major drivers in those centres. The Cultural Corridor is aimed at realizing the full potential of the artistic and heritage talents we have here in the community, creating jobs, bolstering tourism and celebrating the cultural diversity found in Surrey.”