Imagine Surrey is a municipal political party in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, founded in December 2025 to contest the 2026 Surrey municipal election. The party is led by mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk, a former BC New Democratic Party MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, former City Councillor with Surrey First, and retired Chief Fire Prevention Officer with Surrey Fire Services.[1] The party is fielding a slate of eight candidates for City Council in 2026.[2][3]
Imagine Surrey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mayoral Candidate | Mike Starchuk |
| Founder | Mike Starchuk |
| Founded | December 2025 |
| Headquarters | Surrey, British Columbia |
| Slogan | Change that works for you. |
| Seats on the City Council | 0 / 9
|
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
editFormation and 2026 election
editImagine Surrey was publicly launched on 8 December 2025 at an event in Surrey, where Starchuk announced his candidacy for mayor and the party's initial council candidates.[1] The party's name was drawn from the John Lennon song "Imagine".[1]
The party announced its candidates in stages between December 2025 and April 2026. The full slate of eight candidates for Surrey City Council was confirmed at a campaign launch in April 2026, alongside Starchuk as the mayoral candidate.[2] The slate consists of Yousef Aldabainah, Chandan Chahal, Perminder Chohan, Narima Dela Cruz, Ashiyana Hanif, William Li, Margaret Mubanda, and Kevin Wilkie.[2][4][5]
Platform and pledges
editIn March 2026, Starchuk pledged to replace Surrey's municipal motto, "The Future Lives Here," with "City of Champions" to recognize residents contributing in fields such as sport, education, public service, and humanitarian work.[6] The party's 2026 platform is organized around five pillars: Safe Streets, Fast Commutes, Smart Investments, Lower Costs, and Strong Services.[7] The party has also stated that "crushing extortion" is its top priority. [8]
Political positioning
editImagine Surrey positions itself as a non-incumbent alternative in the 2026 race, stating that it seeks to "challenge the status quo under the same old players and parties at Surrey City Hall."[9] At the party's April campaign launch, Starchuk drew contrasts with the three other major candidates expected to contest the mayoralty.[9]
Of incumbent Mayor Brenda Locke, Starchuk cited the cost of legal actions related to the Surrey Police Service transition.[9] Of former Mayor Doug McCallum, who announced his own mayoral bid in April 2026 under the Safe Surrey Coalition banner, Starchuk cited a record of service reductions and land sales during the city's population growth.[9] Of Surrey First Councillor Linda Annis, Starchuk criticized her past support for light-rail transit and her proposed "core review" of city services.[9]
Electoral results
edit| Election year | Candidate | Votes | % | Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mike Starchuk | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Election year | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 Zytaruk, Tom (8 December 2025). "Mike Starchuk enters 2026 mayoral race under new Imagine Surrey banner". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Campbell, Chris (April 2026). "Imagine Surrey fills out slate of candidates, pledges fee cut". Surrey Citizen. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ "Former MLA Mike Starchuk enters 2026 mayoral race in Surrey". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ↑ Zytaruk, Tom (8 April 2026). "Imagine Surrey has full civic slate". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Margaret K. Mubanda joins Imagine Surrey in bid for council seat". Surrey Now-Leader. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- ↑ "Surrey mayoral candidate to axe 'Future Lives Here' motto for 'City of Champions'". Urbanized (Daily Hive). 5 March 2026. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ "Home". Imagine Surrey. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ "Imagine Surrey's mayoral candidate Mike Starchuck lays out plan to crush extortion". The Indo-Canadian Voice. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Campbell, Chris (April 2026). "Imagine Surrey fills out slate of candidates, pledges fee cut". Surrey Citizen. Retrieved 16 April 2026.