Plan Surrey 2013: Official Community Plan

PLANSURREY 2013 | OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

THEME F: Introduction

As Surrey continues to grow and evolve, it faces new challenges and opportunities for building a safe, healthy, inclusive and culturally vibrant city. Population growth places pressure on Surrey’s existing social services, protection services, affordable housing stock, recreation facilities, childcare and education centres, libraries and cultural facilities. Growth, however, can also contribute to sustainability and increased liveability by enhanc- ing the City’s social and cultural infrastructure and by increasing the range and quality of services available to Surrey residents. Surrey’s demographics are changing and social-cultural services need to anticipate and adapt to these changes. Surrey’s population is becoming more culturally and linguistically diverse, with a growing proportion of seniors and a continuous growth in the numbers of children, youth and young families. In response, this Official Community Plan places in- creased emphasis on partnerships to address affordable housing, skills training and edu- cation, healthy communities and childcare issues. This Official Community Plan also rec- ognizes the increasing importance of cultural services (arts and heritage) in attracting in- vestment and economic growth. The nine objectives within Theme F aim to leverage growth in order to improve the quali- ty of life for all of Surrey’s current and future residents and visitors and to build a safe, healthy and inclusive city. THEME F: Objectives 1. Provide inclusive citizen engagement opportunities. 2. Support a comprehensive and innovative life-long learning system in Surrey. 3. Strive to provide appropriate and affordable housing for everyone. 4. Provide healthy and accessible active living opportunities. 5. Improve access to healthy, local food. 6. Ensure accessible and inclusive civic facilities, programs and community services. 7. Support a vibrant arts sector. 8. Protect and celebrate community heritage. 9. Ensure a safe community through effective crime prevention and emergency re- sponse.

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POLICIES—THEME F: SOCIETY AND CULTURE