Editor,

I’m writing today about the South Surrey Rotary Field House and the recent decision by the City of Surrey to reallocate the space currently being used by Rotary for their book warehousing to a local sports organization. Please know that I am a product of, and a proponent of youth sports so my argument for why this is a shortsighted and problematic decision has nothing to do with who the space might go to but is focused on the disproportionate and reckless impact this will have on the Rotary group and their primary fundraising endeavour.

My father-in-law, Herman Stoelers (Stoelers Contracting) provided the site preparation and excavation services for the construction of this facility as a donation-in-kind in the late 1990s. The Rotary Fieldhouse was a 3P project between the city, Rotary, and various other donors. His donation of these services was in support of the foundational goals and principles of both the local sports organizations and of Rotary which was the spirit this facility was built in. This decision represents a betrayal of that spirit. 

Removal of the Rotary warehouse space will result in the elimination of the logistical backbone of the semi-annual book sale, necessitating the rental of commensurate space at a cost to the Rotary Club. This will directly impact their ability to conduct the book sale resulting in the loss of funding for many other projects in the South Surrey Community that has included SOURCES, Alex House, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, REACH Child and Youth Development Society, White Rock Pride Society, and more, in the past.

The city has indicated that more space is needed by sports groups in the park, yet within this park itself organizations such as SORCE use shipping containers for storage of equipment. This also occurs at Cloverdale, Sunnyside, Fleetwood and other city parks for sports organizations. What is unique about the organizations in South Surrey Athletic Park that somehow prioritizes their need for heated, indoor, storage at the expense of an organization that is supporting numerous community projects? This is yet another lack of transparency and authenticity from the Locke administration.

Kyle Baillie, Surrey