Surrey Councillor Criticizes City for Evicting Rotary Clubs

Surrey city councillor Linda Annis has expressed strong disapproval of the city’s decision to evict local Rotary Clubs from the Rotary Fieldhouse at South Surrey Athletic Park. This eviction, scheduled for September 30, 2023, comes after the Rotary Clubs contributed nearly $1 million to construct the facility, which has served as a community asset for the past 25 years.

Annis, a member of the Surrey First party, emphasized the unfairness of this decision, particularly given the significant role the Rotarians played in both funding and realizing the fieldhouse project. In her statement released on August 25, 2023, she remarked, “It is incredibly unfair to evict Rotary after 25 years from the building that carries their name as recognition for the good work of local Rotarians across Surrey.”

The city plans to transfer the facility to Coastal Football Club, which requires additional storage space for approximately 4,000 young soccer players. This move follows the expiration of the original lease held by the South Surrey Field House Society, which managed the property on behalf of the Rotary groups. Efforts by the society, which includes members from the White Rock, South Surrey, and Semiahmoo Rotary Clubs, to negotiate a solution with the city and Coastal FC have been ongoing for over a year but have not resulted in any agreement.

Annis elaborated on the importance of the Rotary Fieldhouse, stating that it was intended to serve community needs, including storage for books for the annual Rotary book sale, a major fundraising event. “The fieldhouse has been a critical part of Rotary’s charity work, including renting meeting space to community groups for a nominal fee,” she noted.

The councillor criticized the city for creating unnecessary conflict between two vital community organizations. She stated, “These are two real icons in South Surrey, and both of them need storage space.” Annis argued for a collaborative approach, suggesting that a creative solution should be pursued to accommodate the needs of both the Rotary Clubs and Coastal FC.

She pointed out that the city has not adequately considered a clause in the original lease that grants the Rotary Fieldhouse Society the first right of refusal for a new lease. Annis acknowledged the legitimate storage needs of Coastal FC but proposed alternatives, such as secure storage containers or a partnership to build a new facility, similar to how the Rotary Clubs previously raised funds for the fieldhouse.

As the situation unfolds, Annis hopes that increased public awareness will foster new dialogue and lead to a compromise that allows the Rotary Clubs to maintain their presence at the Fieldhouse. “As elected politicians, we need to hear the people,” she stated, advocating for a focus on community amenities rather than larger projects that may not address immediate local needs.

Calling for collaboration between the city, the Rotary Clubs, and Coastal FC, Annis concluded, “The work of both groups is important to our city, and city hall should be encouraging youth sports, as well as the incredible charitable work of Rotary in our community.”