Cloverdale BIA working on several 3-year goals

Cloverdale BIA working on several 3-year goals

Published 3:00 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2026

The Cloverdale Business Improvement Association held its AGM Feb. 24 and the policing transition was top of mind.

Along with the usual election/re-election of directors, adopting of past minutes and some financial reports, and approval of a budget for 2026, concerned business owners and guest welcomed several members of the Surrey Police Service to the AGM. Attendees heard from SPS Inspector Darin Sheppard as he gave an update on what will happen once the SPS take over the Cloverdale area come April 1.

Paul Orazietti, the Cloverdale BIA’s executive director, introduced Sheppard and said policing in the city is a “very emotional” topic for him.

“Policing is probably one of the single most important services that occur in our area,” Orazietti explained. “We’ve always had a dynamic relationship with the police service.”

Sheppard’s policing update (read that full story on cloverdalereporter.com) addressed some of the concerns that have been raised in the public sphere.

After the policing update, which included a short Q&A, Orazietti shared the BIA’s goals for the next three years.

He said the organization wants to ensure the Cloverdale town centre business area grows through increased use of mixed zoning and more commercial zoning. He said the group wants to attract more unique retail restaurants, health-care services, and light-industrial businesses, thereby increasing business in the evenings. He said the group wants to improve public safety initiatives and make areas have better access for all people, including those with reduced mobility.

Orazietti added the BIA wants to continue to promote the “historic flavour” of the town centre of Cloverdale. He said they want to increase parking and improve those spaces with EV chargers, new lighting, and new landscaping for area lots.

The BIA’s executive director also noted they are still working on putting up the long-talked about and long-awaited storyboards in different areas around town, such as Hawthorne Square. He said additional heritage tourism signage—that includes both interpretive signs and wayfinding signs—are also being planned.

Orazietti said the BIA is lobbying different levels of government for better transit service and infrastructure repairs. He said they are also trying to work closely with Cloverdale and Surrey based organizations for the betterment of the town. And lastly, they are working hard to help boost security and crime prevention measures.

“We have a lot of retail gaps,” Orazietti explained. He said there is very little retail space available though, so the answer lies in getting buildings constructed that have mixed-use units, that is commercial on the ground floor and residential on top.

Orazietti said the BIA had a successful 2025 and they are continuing to work with Cloverdale-based organizations, such as the Chamber and the Cloverdale Community Association (CCA).

He encouraged everyone to take the new survey that was recently put out by the CCA, a link for which can be found on the CCA’s homepage: cloverdalecommunity.org.

Orazietti said the survey has revealed a lot about what residents are thinking. He said the development around town either makes people “happy or very unhappy” right now.

“Ultimately, our little town has changed,” he said. “The district of Cloverdale, believe it or not, is now at 92,000 people.”

He added it’s no longer a small town.

“It’s almost the size of Chilliwack,” he said. “This town is changing in a very profound way.”

The meeting was held at Crossridge Church (the Clova Theatre) and live-streamed.

For more info, call the BIA office at 604-576-3155, or email cloverdalebia@telus.net.

DIRECTORS

The BIA’s newly elected directors for 2026-2027 are: Steve Bednash (Cloverdale Magazine), Gregory Crane (Royal Canadian Legion, Cloverdale), Tyler Dennis (MacMillan Tucker), Dave Gran (Thrive Greenery & Gifts), Stan Leyenhorst (Universal Access Design), Derek Mason (Mason’s Cloverdale Home Furnishings), Troy Michaud (Harry & Sons Barber), Dean Moore – president (Michaud’s Salon & Spa), Gloria Munro (Big-O Tire, Cloverdale), Anita Parker – treasurer (Delta Intelligent Building Technologies Inc.—formerly Delta Controls Inc.), Rob Paterson – vice-president (Newmac Animal Feeds), Terry Stewart (Express Employment Professionals – Cloverdale/Surrey/Langley), Dave Sundher (Sundher Group), Scott Wheatley (Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce), Coreen Windbiel (Surrey Association for Community Living).