The City of Surrey is a rapidly growing city in British Columbia that presents many opportunities for developers, businesses, and residents. Anita Huberman, President of The Surrey Board of Trade, has played an active role in supporting businesses and developments through careful planning and decisive action. The Surrey Board of Trade's goal is to ensure that Surrey is a city where residents can comfortably live, work, and play.

Surrey has experienced a 21% increase in population over the past decade, and projections state that Surrey will be home to approximately 884,000 residents by 2051. While the population of Surrey has undoubtedly grown at a rapid pace, supporting infrastructure has had difficulty keeping up. Surrey is an international docking location and international grain terminal, increasing its appeal for developers and businesses. Surrey is also working to become more self-sustaining by becoming a terminal for cement, reducing reliance on third parties while mitigating challenges associated with supply and rising interest rates.

To support this growing population, Huberman created an action plan to address various challenges ranging from housing and poverty reduction to education and child care. The Surrey Board of Trade has been advocating for the concept of affordable housing for the past decade, with the goal of providing quality housing for middle-class working families that they can realistically afford, allowing them to live and work within the same city. The Surrey Board of Trade has been working with businesses and developers to help them navigate processes at City Hall and speak to the right people in an effort to make things move faster and smoother.

While supporting business and bringing business into the city is one of the core purposes of the Surrey Board of Trade, Huberman states that they "believe in giving back to the community to enhance the livability of the city." This forward-thinking view is clearly reflected in the Surrey Board of Trade's decision to open a second location in partnership with Western Community College. This second space, named the Surrey Technology and Skills Centre, is expected to open in early 2023 and will be the premier centre for research, business, and innovation.

The new Surrey Technology and Skills Centre will feature health and technology training programs, international partnerships, and Surrey International Trade Centre expansion, an Indigenous Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, Cyber Crime Centre of Excellence, Blockchain Centre of Excellence, Immigration Innovation Lab, and entrepreneurship hubs for women and youth. The Surrey Board of Trade believes that education is vital for promoting sustainable growth and driving the economy in Surrey while addressing labor shortages.

Overall, the City of Surrey presents many opportunities for developers, businesses, and residents, and the Surrey Board of Trade is committed to supporting existing businesses and bringing new businesses into the city. They are equally focused on ensuring that Surrey is able to support an ever-growing population and workforce, and their action plan addresses various challenges ranging from housing and poverty reduction to education and child care. The Surrey Board of Trade's decision to open a second location in partnership with Western Community College is a reflection of their forward-thinking view and commitment to education and specialized training.