Surrey Schools honours 221 retirees at annual dinner

Surrey Schools held its annual retirement dinner on Tuesday to honour 221 employees who retired during the 2025–26 school year. The group represented nearly every role in the district, including principals, teachers, clerks, education assistants, custodians and facilities staff. The Surrey Board of Education hosts the event each year to thank people who have spent their careers supporting students and school communities.

Board chair Gary Tymoschuk said the evening was an opportunity to thank retirees personally for their years of hard work and care. Held at the Resource Education Centre, the event opened with a territorial acknowledgement from Deputy Superintendent Andrew Holland. Grade 10 student Diva Manchanda of Enver Creek Secondary spoke for the district’s Student Voice group about the difference each retiree had made in students’ lives.

She was followed by CUPE 728 president Tammy Murphy, Surrey Teachers’ Association president Amrit Sanghe, and Surrey Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association president Zahara Rawji. Each reflected on the retirees’ impact in their schools and workplaces. Guests also heard classical favourites performed by SAXXY D, a jazz combo made up of senior students from Kwantlen Park Secondary.

Each retiree received a thank-you gift: either a bentwood box designed by shishálh First Nation artist Shain Niniwum Selápem Jackson of Spirit Works (https://www.spiritworks.ca/) or a gift card to a local restaurant. The district congratulated this year’s retirees and thanked them for all they had done for Surrey Schools.