“There is a lot of local work to be done but with the provincial election coming up in 2017, it’s opportune that Surrey is in a strong position to take full advantage of new provincial funding and to advocate for more funding for schools, transportation/transit and help for our vulnerable. I resolve to do that! On a personal note, I want to carve out more time for my grandkids and spend more time laughing.” – Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner
“To continue bringing awareness of addiction as the devastating illness it is affecting lives everywhere. To continue speaking out for immediate detox intake when asked for, followed by transfer to quality treatment and ongoing support. A delay of one day can be one day too late.” – June Ariano-Jakes, longtime former Surrey Urban Mission volunteer and author of ‘Addiction. A Mother’s Story’
“My New Year’s resolution for 2017 is in dealing with the issues of our homeless citizens and neighbours, impressing on those who make major life-changing decisions the importance of having one’s own bathroom, and a key to a front door that provides you with personal security – and a space – to safely feel the pain and heal.” – Dave Brown, Surrey Community Services Manager at Lookout Emergency Aid Society’s emergency Gateway shelter on 135A Street.
“My New Year’s resolution it to spend more time being with family and less time worrying about the things I can’t change.” – Karen Reid Sidhu, Executive Director of Surrey Crime Prevention Society
“The conservation of biodiversity is an important part of the foundation of a healthy, livable and sustainable City. I resolve to work diligently in 2017 to ensure continued implementation of the council-adopted Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, preserving and restoring habitat through a robust Surrey park system.” – Owen Croy, Manager of Parks, City of Surrey
“‘People may forget what you said…People may forget what you did…but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ My resolution is to make sure I remind myself of this and others in a way that they feel great!” – Marilyn Herrmann, Executive Director of Surrey Food Bank
“I would like to make Newton a political priority in 2017.” – Philip Aguirre, Executive Director of Newton Business Improvement Association
“My New Year’s resolutions are to get in shape, significantly enhance my existing cooking skills, as I have taken it up as a hobby in late 2016, and finally spend much more time with family.” – Tom Gill, Surrey City Councillor
“Lose some weight and cut back on the number of hours I spent looking at electronic devices!!!!” – Dave Woods, Surrey City Councillor
“Work towards greater promotion of local agriculture to include an expanded farm-to-table restaurant program and to find a way to create a central farm market to provide local farm-fresh products. And to become a “louder” voice for our environmental efforts with emphasis on our (first in North America) Bio Fuel plant with the production of renewable natural gas and compost along with the City taking a hard look at solar energy in conjunction with our District Energy system. Finding out if solar has a better return in heating water or producing electricity to be stored for future use is exciting and indicative of what Surrey is doing.” – Mike Starchuk, Surrey City Councillor
“To live in the moment and see more of my good friends. Also determined to see the end of the federal requirement for poor Government Assisted Refugees to repay transportation loans!” – Judy Villeneuve, Surrey City Councillor
“My resolution this year is to try new things and step out of my comfort zone, and also to try and find the silver lining in every situation and to really try to take every opportunity to get outside to refocus, re-energize and PLAY MORE!!!” – Erin Schulte, founder of Surrey’s Pop-Up Soup Kitchen
“Don’t think about making your life better just do it. Or ‘Blame it on the dog!’” – Paul Orazietti, Executive Director of Cloverdale Business Improvement Association
“My New Year’s Resolution for 2017 is to laugh more and to celebrate more. I want to laugh out loud! I don’t think that we celebrate enough; I want to celebrate the small things but also the big stuff. I am so proud of the work that we do everyday at Options Community Services and I want to acknowledge that effort more. From supporting vulnerable expecting mothers, to assisting refugees from war-torn countries, to walking alongside those recovering from mental illness. And if I get around to it, I would like to resolve to get on the treadmill more (here’s where the laughing out loud comes in!).” – Lori Dennis, Deputy Executive Director of Options Community Services Society
“To exercise at least three days a week, for a minimum of one hour each day, in order to improve my cardiovascular fitness and overall wellbeing.” – Sukh Dhaliwal, Surrey-Newton MP
“I want to expand my speech audience to the business sector to further promote inclusion of all people. My message that ‘we,’ people with intellectually diverse abilities, are like everyone else, is important to me. I hope I can share this with more people, even internationally!” – Alexander Magnussen, autism advocate and public speaker
“To have more of a work-life balance.” – Anita Huberman, CEO of Surrey Board of Trade
-compiled by Now staff
