June 24, 2025
RED FM News Desk
SURREY, BC – The City of Surrey is marking a year of significant strides in connecting with its diverse population, reporting strong progress in making City services, programs, and information more accessible through multilingual initiatives. Launched after the approval of its first Multilingual Communications Policy in September 2024, these efforts aim to reduce barriers and strengthen engagement, particularly with multicultural communities.
Key initiatives over the past year include providing multilingual updates for the Official Community Plan, the Healthy Active Aging Guide, and issuing over 100 media releases and statements in Punjabi.
“As a city that celebrates its diversity, this Policy was long overdue,” stated Mayor Brenda Locke. “With nearly one in five Surrey residents speaking Punjabi at home, the Multilingual Communications Policy has made an immediate impact in breaking down language barriers and improving engagement with a large segment of Surrey’s population. As Surrey continues to grow and diversify, investment in multilingual communications remains a key priority to ensure all residents can access and engage with city services.”
A comprehensive update on these initiatives was presented to the City Council at Monday’s Regular Council Meeting, highlighting several achievements since the policy’s implementation.
“Significant progress has been made since Council adopted the policy last September,” said Joey Jatinder Singh Brar, General Manager of Corporate Services. “We expanded our social media, radio, video, and print channels to ensure the translated information would have the broadest reach possible. The improved access to City information and services have helped to better engage and connect with the diverse population in Surrey.”
The policy dictates that translation may occur in languages spoken at home by 5% or more of Surrey residents city-wide, or within a specific town center, based on current Census data. With 18% of Surrey residents speaking Punjabi at home, the expanded communication and outreach initiatives have demonstrably improved access to City services and information, thereby fostering greater inclusion, trust, and a stronger sense of community belonging
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