IN response to Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum’s call for businesses to get involved in Surrey’s Love Where You Live campaign, which launched earlier this month, the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) coordinated a clean-up of Surrey City Centre on May 30, resulting in 80 pounds of litter being removed from city streets.

“[The] clean-up effort coordinated by the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association is a great example of business leadership and civic pride,” said McCallum. “I want to thank all of the volunteers who stepped up to help keep our City Centre clean and welcoming for both residents and visitors. When we all pitch in, the campaign not only benefits the city, but everyone who calls Surrey home.”

Six local organizations participated in the DSBIA clean-up, including Lookout Society, Phoenix Society, Simon Fraser University, Douglas College, Surrey Urban Mission Society and the City of Surrey.  Although Surrey’s Love Where You Live initiative has just begun, McCallum noted it has already been a huge success.

“Since launching earlier this month, community-led clean-up efforts like these, paired with city staff initiatives, have resulted in over 1100 bags of litter being removed from city streets and 530 illegal dumping sites have been identified and diverted to recycling or waste facilities,” added McCallum.

“I want to thank and commend the DSBIA for their valued contribution. I encourage other organizations to follow suit in showing their business and civic pride. Every large or small effort has a big impact.”

Litter removal is just one component of Surrey’s Love Where You Live clean-up and beautification initiative. Since launching, the City has installed over 250 decorative street banners in various communities, and tree lights now deliver brighter pedestrian areas throughout City Centre.

For more information about Love Where You Live, or to learn about how you can coordinate a clean-up initiative in your neighborhood, visit surrey.ca/lovewhereyoulive