City of Surrey to open its first two community medical clinics this fall

The City of Surrey is taking a big step into the realm of supporting new general public healthcare services — something municipal governments in British Columbia typically do not do, as it is a responsibility of the provincial government.

While some local municipal governments have been known to support overdose prevention sites and other services and programs intended to address addiction and mental health issues, B.C. municipal governments have not previously gone in this direction outside of their core responsibilities.

However, Surrey’s municipal government is taking this approach because healthcare issues are among the top concerns in its rapidly growing community, including a shortage of family doctors.

For this reason, the City has confirmed locations and lease agreements for the first two new community medical clinics, which are expected to open in Fall 2026.

Surrey City Council recently approved five-year leases for clinic spaces in Surrey City Centre and Newton, formalizing plans that have been in development since 2025.

The clinics will be operated by Total Life Care Granville Medical under a partnership model, in which the City provides space and support while the operator manages staffing and day-to-day services. Total Life will oversee clinical operations, including staffing and regulatory compliance. The City will not be involved in medical decision-making. A revenue-sharing agreement is expected to offset some of the municipal government’s costs.

“These first two clinics are a concrete step toward making sure more Surrey residents can see a family doctor when they need one,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.

“Too many people in our city don’t have reliable access to primary care. These clinics will help connect families and individuals with physicians they can rely on for the long term.”

The City Centre location will occupy a 2,000 sq. ft. unit at 10362 King George Blvd., situated alongside a Fraser Health Authority public health unit and other healthcare providers. The Newton clinic will be located in a newly constructed 2,900 sq. ft. commercial space at 12757 76 Ave. Each site is expected to support about 10 doctors once fully operational.

“With the locations secured, we can now move ahead with preparing the clinic spaces and welcoming physicians. “Our goal is to have the clinics ready to begin seeing patients as soon as possible,” said Joey Brar, the general manager of corporate services for the City of Surrey.

The initiative comes as Surrey continues to grow rapidly, increasing pressure on the healthcare system and leaving many residents without consistent access to a family doctor. City officials assert the new clinics will prioritize long-term patients who live in Surrey while also offering walk-in services for urgent or short-term needs.

Beyond patient care, the clinics are also intended to support physician recruitment and training. Plans include partnerships with Simon Fraser University’s new School of Medicine, situated in Surrey City Centre, allowing the sites to function as teaching clinics for future doctors who may ultimately practice in the community.

The project follows a planning process that began with a feasibility study in May 2025. A request for proposals (RFP) was issued later that year, leading to the selection of Total Life as the operator in December 2025. A framework agreement guiding the clinics’ development was completed in early 2026.

The two clinics represent the first phase of a broader effort, with potential expansion to additional sites requiring future City Council approval.

Currently, Total Life has 10 clinic locations in Metro Vancouver, including two existing Surrey sites in Surrey City Centre and Newton.

Canada’s largest municipal government, the City of Toronto, is best known for making healthcare one of its major areas of operations. The City of Toronto’s Public Health offers health programs and services, including clinics, with the municipal government providing the agency with an annual operating budget of over $300 million.

The provincial government is currently in the process of building Surrey’s second hospital — the new Cloverdale hospital — at a cost of $2.9 billion. When it opens in 2030, it will have 168 beds, including medical/surgical beds, high acuity beds and medical oncology beds, and an emergency department with 55 treatment spaces. There will be surgical units, outpatient clinics, and a BC Cancer Centre facility.

Additionally, there are also longer-term plans to build an additional acute care tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital.