Surrey Schools fashion students recognized at city hall

A group of current and former Surrey Schools students each received a certificate of recognition from former mayor Brenda Locke and an invitation to meet her in person at city hall. The students took part in the Wraparound (WRAP) program and created their own designer apparel last school year, according to a story on the district’s website.

During the 2025-26 school year, WRAP partnered with Solid State Community Industries to create a fashion cohort focused on sustainable, local production of limited-edition apparel. Students developed their own brands and designs and learned about the industry and themselves. Peace Arch News previously reported on the cohort in January 2026.

The students’ connection with Locke began with an unexpected recognition shortly after the program wrapped up last year, Surrey Schools said. Michael Sosnowsky, the district’s Safe Schools department WRAP family co-ordinator, said the certificates were unprompted. Sosnowsky had them framed, gathered the students for a group photo and sent it to Locke as a thank-you. He thought that would be the end of it, he told the district.

A few weeks later, an invitation arrived for the students to meet Locke, who was then mayor, at city hall. Sosnowsky recalled that she was excited to meet them and said the experience had a major impact on the youth, who were thrilled.

When the meeting took place, Locke sat with the students for 45 minutes. They spoke about how difficult it is for young people to find work and how few opportunities they have to gain hands-on experience in a field they care about, as they had through fashion. Sosnowsky said every student had something to contribute, everyone listened and spoke well, and they were smiling throughout.

At the end of the meeting, Locke told the students they could list their certificates on their résumés as character references and said the city hall would back that up, Surrey Schools reported. She also said she was interested in inviting them back to share their perspectives as part of a youth council. Sosnowsky told the district that invitation mattered as much as the recognition.

Two young men from the cohort have already graduated. Sosnowsky sees the opportunity as a way for them to imagine themselves as community leaders. They might have input into where a future park or playground goes, or which youth groups could reach young people, he said. That could help them see that their work was not for nothing and that their voices matter. He added that a moment like this can shape what comes next for many students, calling them Surrey’s future and saying any kind of leg up is meaningful.

Surrey Schools said Sosnowsky and the program’s two facilitators, Pam Gutierrez and Jshandeep Jassal, hope to launch a girls’ cohort next spring. It is expected to follow the same model, pairing hands-on skills such as nail art, lash applications and perfume blending with lessons on sustainability and how to set up a small business safely. Like the first cohort, it would end with an exhibition for families and school staff.

Gutierrez said that when people believe in someone, support them and give them room to grow, they can go the distance. Jassal said the cohort shows what can happen when young people who are typically stereotyped or underestimated get the chance to find an alternative path and claim their power.

Learn more about the Surrey Schools WRAP program at surreyschools.ca/safeschools/wraparound.