{"id":510034,"date":"2026-03-02T19:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T19:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/510034\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T19:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T19:44:08","slug":"update-doug-mccallum-doesnt-want-a-skytrain-station-named-after-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/510034\/","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Doug McCallum doesn\u2019t want a SkyTrain station named after him"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE: Doug McCallum doesn\u2019t want a SkyTrain station named after him<\/p>\n

Published 10:40 am Monday, March 2, 2026<\/p>\n

Thanks, but no thanks.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum\u2019s response to Surrey First councillor and mayoral candidate Linda Annis saying that a SkyTrain station should be named after him.<\/p>\n

McCallum subsequently issued a press release stating that while he appreciates the sentiment, \u201cI do not agree that a SkyTrain station should be named after me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision to move forward with SkyTrain was never about one individual. It was about the long-term interests of Surrey residents,\u201d McCallum explained. \u201cIt was about reducing commute times, supporting economic growth, and ensuring our city had the modern transit infrastructure it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expanding SkyTrain from King George Station east into Langley was a key plank in McCallum\u2019s successful 2018 Safe Surrey Coalition election campaign.<\/p>\n

Ironically, he had campaigned on a promise to cancel Light Rail Transit<\/a> (LRT) \u2013 which was championed by the previous Surrey First-dominated council \u2013 to build SkyTrain to Langley instead.<\/p>\n

The 16-kilometre extension project is on track to be opened <\/a>for service in late 2029.<\/p>\n

McCallum also promised to bring SkyTrain to Newton<\/a> if he was re-elected in 2022 but was defeated by Brenda Locke, of Surrey Connect.<\/p>\n

Despite the provincial government already naming the eight new stations in 2023, Annis said she would bring forward a notice of motion to council, which next meets on March 9, calling on it to support her McCallum tribute.<\/p>\n

Currently the names of the eight stations are designated as Green Timbers Station (140 Street and Fraser Highway), 152 Street Station (152 Street and Fraser Highway), Fleetwood Station (160 Street and Fraser Highway), Bakerview-166 Street Station (166 Street and Fraser Highway), Hillcrest-184 Street Station (184 Street and Fraser Highway), Clayton Station (190 Street and Fraser Highway), Willowbrook Station (196 Street and Fraser Highway), and Langley City Centre Station (203 Street and Fraser Highway).<\/p>\n

\u201cDoug and I did not always agree on some big issues, but when it comes to the SkyTrain extension to Langley, he deserves the credit,\u201d Annis stated Monday in a press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are eight stations and three transit exchanges on the new $6 billion extension, and before TransLink or the provincial government start giving them names, I think we should make sure one has Doug\u2019s name on it when the line opens in 2029.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be a well-deserved 85th birthday present,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

McCallum noted in his subsequent press release that major public infrastructure projects \u201care the result of collaboration between municipal leaders, the Province, TransLink, and many dedicated public servants\u201d and as such \u201cthe focus should always remain on the people these projects serve, not on the politicians who happened to be in office at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf stations are to be named, I believe naming rights should be used strategically to generate revenue,\u201d he continued. \u201cThose funds could help expand transit service, improve affordability, and support housing initiatives near stations so more residents can live close to rapid transit. That would create lasting value for the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything I have done in public life has been for the benefit of the community and the people of Surrey, never for personal recognition.I will continue to advocate for what strengthens our city and improves the lives of residents. In this case, keeping the focus where it belongs, on Surrey families and the future of our city, is the right approach.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Doug McCallum doesn\u2019t want a SkyTrain station named after him Published 10:40 am Monday, March 2, 2026…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":510035,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194299],"tags":[49,48,87674],"class_list":{"0":"post-510034","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-surrey","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-surrey"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=510034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510034\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/510035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=510034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=510034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}