City of Surrey unveils expanded Bear Creek Pavilion

South Asian seniors living in the City of Surrey have even more access to community recreational programs and services, thanks to a newly expanded Bear Creek Pavilion officially opened Tuesday by Mayor Dianne Watts and Coun. Mary Martin.
The 960-sq.-ft. Pavilion expansion nearly doubles the floor space of the existing centre while also improving safety and access to public washrooms. Located in Bear Creek Park, across from the Surrey Arts Centre, the Pavilion expansion will provide more rental space for the community while allowing further growth within the Bear Creek Seniors Society. The Society currently boasts more than 120 South Asian members, many of them men who visit the Pavilion daily to socialize and play cards. 
“Bear Creek Park is a signature park in Surrey, and with our growing population it was very important to increase the size of the Bear Creek Pavilion so that we can accommodate functions – for not only the City, but also for the more than 120 members of our Indo-Canadian community that meet there on a daily basis,” said Coun. Mary Martin, Chair of the Parks and Community Services Committee. “It was a priority for the City and our staff to make sure that we can accommodate our community organizations, as well as the Bear Creek Seniors Society, and this expanded centre certainly accomplishes that.”
Services will continue to grow and expand, according to city staff, particularly around attracting and encouraging South Asian women to utilize programs such as free social time/chai time, designed to offer them a place to enjoy the company of friends over a cup of tea.