Surrey Mayor Clarifies Rotary Clubs’ Status at Fieldhouse

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has addressed concerns regarding the future of the Rotary Clubs at the South Surrey Fieldhouse. In a statement released on August 27, 2023, Locke clarified that the clubs are not being evicted from the facility, despite a letter from the city that raised confusion about their status.

Locke emphasized, “I want to be absolutely clear: the Rotary Clubs are not being evicted from the Rotary Fieldhouse. They continue to have a home for office and meeting space, and that will not change.” This assurance comes as the city prepares to initiate a request for proposals in the fall to determine a new facility operator, following the expiration of a 25-year lease with the South Surrey Field House Society.

The letter from Neal Aven, the director of Surrey Parks, stated that the South Surrey Field House Society must “vacate and surrender the Premises on or before September 30, 2025.” While this was intended as a legal requirement under the current month-to-month arrangement, Locke acknowledged that the wording led to misconceptions about the Rotary Clubs’ future. She stated, “The intent of the notice was not to remove Rotary from the building but to comply with contract requirements while we plan for the next operating agreement.”

Despite these reassurances, the letter was interpreted by the society and the clubs as an eviction notice. They voiced their concerns publicly during the recent White Rock Rotary Charity Book Sale, held from August 22 to August 26, where a petition was circulated urging community members to contact Locke.

City Councillor Linda Annis also expressed her discontent with the situation, arguing that the city’s actions have been unjust to both the Rotarians, who initially helped fund the facility, and the Coastal Football Club, which has been offered an interim lease. Annis called for a “more creative solution” that considers both the storage needs of the Rotary Clubs and the football club.

The concerns from the Rotary Clubs center around the potential disruption of their annual book sale, a significant community fundraiser. Annis highlighted that one of the original purposes of the fieldhouse was to serve as a space for the storage and sorting of books for this event.

In response to the ongoing controversy, Locke expressed disappointment over the political nature of the issue but reiterated her commitment to ensuring that the Rotary Clubs maintain access to the fieldhouse for their operations. She stated, “The only matter under discussion is how best to accommodate bulk book storage.”

Locke asserted that both the needs of the Rotary Clubs and the community of young athletes would be prioritized. “I’m confident we’ll land on a fair, creative outcome that reflects the best of Surrey’s community spirit.”