Friends of Bear Creek Park

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Friends of Bear Creek Park Protecting our City parks and greenspaces. A group of Surrey residents opposed to Mayor McCallum's a

🌿 A WIN FOR BEAR CREEK PARK — NEW WETLAND COMING! 🐟After years of advocacy, planning and collaboration, the City of Surr...
09/24/2026

🌿 A WIN FOR BEAR CREEK PARK — NEW WETLAND COMING! 🐟

After years of advocacy, planning and collaboration, the City of Surrey is moving forward with major environmental improvements in the 'southern' section of Bear Creek Park, south of the controversial 84 Avenue Connector.

--- A QUICK PARK HISTORY ---

In 1932, the Province of British Columbia gifted 160 acres north of what is now the '84th Avenue Connector' to the City of Surrey as parkland. Over time, additional lands to the south became part of the larger Bear Creek Park ecosystem.

In 2023, the 84 Avenue Connector was plowed directly through the northern and southern parklands (essentially severing the north / south wildlife corridor). Since then, the surrounding habitat has faced increasing urban pressures: speeding, engine noise, wildlife strikes, stream pollution, litter, rodent issues and illegal dumping.

Despite today's challenges, Bear Creek Park remains a rare ecological refuge - unlike any park in Surrey. Located in the heart of the city, it's home to two 'red-listed' salmon-bearing streams and is critical habitat for fish, birds and wildlife. Its wetlands also help protect the community from flooding and extreme summer heat.

--- THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS ---

Phase one will see the creation of a large wetland pond. Phase two will add a second wetland pond, along with juvenile salmon-rearing ponds and channels connected to King Creek. Both phases will take place on the south side of the 84th Avenue Connector.

These improvements represent an opportunity to restore habitat, support salmon and protect Bear Creek Park for future generations.

We’d like to recognize Mayor Brenda Locke, who has been a strong advocate of this project, the City of Surrey for involving us in the planning, as well as Tom Zillich of the Surrey Now-Leader for his continued editorial support.

While this project has been on the City's books for some time, our FoBCP team demonstrated relentless dedication, pressuring various civic committees and government bodies to get this project moving forward. Stay posted, there's more to come!

Today, we celebrate the win. Tomorrow, we keep protecting. 🌿

04/04/2026

Thank you Surrey Now-Leader Newspaper and Tom Zillich for your thoughtful tribute to Sebastian. (See the comments section for the link) ❤️🌎🌲

To all our friends and community supporters. It's been brought to our attention that one of our founders, Sebastian Sajd...
04/03/2026

To all our friends and community supporters. It's been brought to our attention that one of our founders, Sebastian Sajda has passed.

This news is shocking and comes with a collective loss. We imagine many of you have questions, but unfortunately we do not have further information. We ask for your patience while his friends and family grieve.

When the City of Surrey's previous leadership began revisiting a decades old idea of bulldozing a road (the 84th Ave Connector) through Bear Creek Park, Sebastian was first on the scene - providing a fury of relentless, yet very tactful opposition! It's with his leadership that our group was founded.

From its inception, the 84th Ave Connector was full of flaws and faced tremendous opposition. In fact, it'd been X'd by City's previous councils in 2007 and 2013 due to its social and environmental impacts.

But.. in 2021, the City Council voted 5 to 4 along party lines to connect 84 Avenue through the south end of Bear Creek Park. The vote came despite a consultation report that found two-thirds of respondents opposed the road expansion.

Over a 4+ year span, Sebastian and our team protested City Hall, presented at numerous City Council meetings, hosted many community forums, garnered over 6800 petitioned signatures and took the City of Surrey to the B.C. Supreme Court (2021) to halt the 84th Avenue Connector project. We argued that the road, designed to connect Newton and Fleetwood, would destroy parkland, damage salmon-bearing streams, and proceeded without proper consultation.. Although the judge saw the legitimacy of our cause, the court unfortunately ruled that the City of Surrey was within its rights to proceed with the construction.

The 84th Ave Connector was completed in 2023, but Sebastian (and the Friends of Bear Creek Park) have continue to monitor environmental impacts and provide safety solutions for our rare / beautiful park.

Sebastian was unselfishly dedicated to the protection of our natural environments. He campaigned countless hours and lead with a calm, strategic presence.

If you have any thoughts or memories, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

Here is the video that captivated many of our hearts and launched the Friends of Bear Creek Park community: https://vimeo.com/541444406?fl=pl&fe=sh

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13750 88 Avenue
Surrey, BC
V3W3L1

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