The City of Surrey has laid off 1,900 part-time and auxiliary staff and 140 regular employees following the closure of recreation centres, libraries, pools, and other civic facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other municipalities are making similar cuts. The City of Vancouver has laid off about 1,500 workers, mostly from community centres, libraries, and theatres. In Delta, 500 auxiliary and part-time workers – 90 per cent tied to community centres – are also off the job.

Residents say the closures have left families struggling without access to community spaces. Baljit Kaur, a mother of two in Surrey, told Connect News Team she relied on the recreation centre for her children’s swimming lessons. “It’s not just about sports – it’s where kids learn, where parents meet, where the community connects. It feels like we’ve lost our second home,” she said.

Surrey Councillor Jack Hundial said the layoffs are temporary and the city hopes to bring staff back as soon as possible. “It will be a layoff with full intention of bringing everyone back that we can. These are great staff members that we have here and really the residents of Surrey are very lucky and fortunate to be able to have the staff that we do.”

City councils across the region are expected to debate emergency budget measures in the coming weeks, with some warning that property tax deferrals and falling revenues could widen shortfalls.