Surrey Dyke March
Next march: august 23 at 2pm
Help us plan our next march by donating. We are trying to stick to our values and not aligning with groups that have conflicting values- donating helps us be as independent as needed.
hOME
Surrey Dyke March organizes on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the q̓ic̓əy̓, qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, qiqéyt, SEMYOME, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ First Nations, also known as Surrey BC.This is an event rooted in anti-oppression and community care, and we will not tolerate any hate or discrimination, including but not limited to TERFS/SWERFS, white supremacists, classists, those spreading anti-drug user rhetoric, etc.
Please read our Values Statement and Community Care Agreement in the About section for more information about this.
OUR third MARCH
About
We are a group of folks who saw a need to create the space for dyke representation and community in what is colonially known as Surrey, and felt we could organize to make it happen. We stand with equity seeking groups and will not tolerate oppressive or behaviour that otherwise compromises the safety of anyone at the March.Our first ever March was on August 13, 2022 in the Surrey Central area. We are looking forward to next year!We welcome feedback/input from the community, as well as folks who may wish to get involved with us! Reach out through our social media links at the bottom or email [email protected].
Values
Value StatementThe Surrey Dyke March exists on the basis of, and cannot operate without, certain values as we continually strive to be a safer space for all folks who are marginalized and/or made vulnerable.
We wish to be transparent about these, and should it come to light we have made an error or omission in this statement, our care agreement, or any of our organizing work we will rectify this as soon as possible while being accountable and transparent.We organize on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the q̓ic̓əy̓, qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, qiqéyt, SEMYOME, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ First Nations.
We understand that violence against Indigenous people and their lands across Turtle Island is deliberate and ongoing in many forms, including resource extraction, MMIWG2S, overrepresentation of Indigenous folks in the criminal legal system and as victims of violence, and countless other ways. We support Land Back and the expert Indigenous voices leading this movement.We endeavour to have BIMPOC centered and celebrated in our space.
We stand with the trans community, and recognize trans people are the gender they say they are.
We believe in the right to self determination, including for those who do sex work.As it is a tool of colonialism that deliberately exploits poor and working class folks, in particular those who are Black and Indigenous, we cannot and will not stand with capitalism. We are explicitly anti-corporate pride and anti-capitalist.2.Community Care Agreement
We have established this agreement as a sort of “code of conduct” to create an understanding for all folks attending and involved with the Surrey Dyke March.
We wish to create a space free from any oppressive behaviour, including anti-fat, anti-queer, anti-trans, SWERF beliefs and racism, classism, ableism, or any other behaviour making folks feel unsafe/unwelcome.We also understand folks attending may come to the march having had different access to information/learning, privilege (including class and education), etc. Mistakes may happen. As part of community care, we also hope, when possible, for learning to happen. We encourage folks attending to let organizers know if any of this behaviour happens. We also ask anyone attending be open to receiving feedback and learning, and to changing behaviour if needed.
Get Involved
Please reach out to [email protected] for inquiries about how you can help.
Donate
We are seeking funding to allow us to hold this much-needed space this year. As we are a small team, these funds will allow us to buy supplies for signage and posters and some snacks and water to fuel our organizers and attendees the day of. We are attempting to make our dyke march safer for all marginalized groups and this means including as many folks as we can in the organizing process. For this reason, our funding will also provide honoraria to our 2SQTBIPOC organizers/contributors to compensate for their labour and the additional risk they take on being involved in the march.We will also be using funding to compensate the person(s) providing an Indigenous welcome and land honouring, as well as those providing ASL interpretation and to also fund a van rental to provide mobility from the start to end of the march for those needing it.Thank you so much for considering contributing to us! If you feel comfortable, every share counts to helping us reach our goal - we would so appreciate you sharing with your networks, however feels best for you.
News
We want to recognize that is this is a public event we cannot control if photos are taken of you and who has those photos/ views them. We wish you safety and informed consent in this. If a photo of you has been taken at the march and put up on one of our socials which you dislike please contact us to have it removed.
Access-ibility
(The Surrey Dyke March is a political action, not a parade, and as such takes place without permits or sponsors.)
Every year we strive to be as accessible as possible, via providing harm reduction supplies, alternate transportation before, during and after the march, snacks and hydration, safer drug usage kits, safer sex supplies, safer HRT kits, Naloxone kits, Masks, ear plugs, and more.
To be accessible to deaf folks we have ASL interpreters for the speeches as well as a megaphone.
We are a mask mandatory event.
We recommend mask usage and physical distancing, we are still in a pandemic and many in our community are immunocompromised. As we plan for our next march we will uphold these values around accessibility.
We have completed a robust Accessibility Audit of Holland Park.
2025 Surrey Dyke March (SDM) Accessibility
getting there
Accessible Parking/Loading Zone
A loading zone can be used to drop off passengers. This is the most ideal place to park and unload vehicles. The accessible parking/loading zone can be accessed from King George Boulevard. There are 2 accessible parking spots. There is a marked loading area, for unloading from either side or from the back of the vehicle.
This lot is open air, under the cement skytrain track. Clearance won’t be an issue.
Noise might be an issue for people who experience sensory overload because of the sound of the skytrain above.
There doesn’t look to be a cost.
The terrain is cement, mostly flat, with some cracks. There are no hills.
transit
Skytrain
The closest skytrain stations to Holland Park are Surrey Central and King George Stations.
Surrey Central
The walk from Surrey Central Station to the side entrance of Holland Park takes approximately 10-15 minutes. As you walk along 102nd Avenue and turn left onto University Drive, the Central City Mall is beside you. There is seating, washrooms and air-conditioning, for those needing a break from the heat or needing facilities. For people who need to sit down outside, there are benches along the sidewalks.
King George
The walk from King George Station to the main entrance of Holland Park takes approximately 5-7 minutes. There are shops at King George Station (A&W, Chopped Leaf, etc.). If you need to use a washroom at this station, A&W may let you use theirs. There are also benches along King George Boulevard if you need to sit down and rest.Why is this access need important? People with disabilities might need to take a break from walking/rolling. There are also medications that can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate body temperature; so a break from the heat may be necessary.
Bus
The closest bus stop is on Old Yale Road, close to the intersection of University Drive and Old Yale Road.
The bus stop is number 54995 and there are 3 buses that stop there, as seen in this photo. (Photo to be uploaded)If you are coming from Langley, from the Guildford Mall or White Rock, this bus is a good choice, as the bus stop is 5-7 minutes from the event location.
There is a wide cement pathway with minimal cracks/tripping hazards. There are trees for shade and benches and grass patches to sit on.
Why is this access need important? Many people with disabilities use transit to travel. Often bus routes are given, but the terrain and walk from the bus stop to the event is not often described. It is helpful when people with disabilities are given as many details as possible, so they know what to expect.
Bicycle
Bikes can be brought to the event location. During the march, there will be people who will stay at the park; bikes can also be locked to nearby benches, etc.
park accessibility
These sections review the accessibility of Holland Park.
Holland Park
This year our march will start and end in Holland Park, as opposed to starting at one park and ending up at another. We hope that this increases accessibility, as there are washrooms available before and after, and also gives people with disabilities who have mobility issues to choose to stay at the park instead of marching.
We value your participation, however that looks!Park Entrance
The main entrance is located at 100th avenue and King George Boulevard. There are 15 stairs (3 sets of 5). There are no guard rails. There is also a ramp to the right of the stairs, but you have to walk past the stairs quite a bit to access it. (Photo to be uploaded)There are cement planters and stairs to sit on, if needed.
There is a lot of noise and traffic at the main entrance, as King George Boulevard is a busy street. For people who are overwhelmed easily , the side entrance on Old Yale Road and University Drive.
Side Entrance
There is a side entrance where you can enter the park from University Boulevard and Old Yale Road (where the rainbow cross walk is). This is the closest entrance if you are coming from Surrey Central Skytrain station.Wayfinding
Here is where we will be meeting:There is a link to a video - above - that shows the side entrance to the event location; the rainbow marks the entrance and the lesbian flag represents the event location.
washrooms
There is only one washroom open at Holland Park while we are there. It is a single stall, accessible washroom south of where we will meet and it is connected via paved walkway.
This washroom has grab bars behind and beside the toilet. It does not have lighting inside and could be dark inside. It does not have a change table. Washroom will be stocked with toilet paper and a sharps bin and volunteers will be checking and restocking throughout the event as needed
Alternatively, the mall north of where we will be on King George Blvd. has public, accessible washrooms with change tables
Please approach anyone with a hi vis vest if you'd like someone to accompany you for safety or otherwise
noise pollution
There is heavy traffic flow on King George Boulevard. Noise could pose an issue for people with disabilities who are sensitive to sound. Noise from the skytrain can also be heard.
We encourage people with disabilities to bring their own sound-cancelling headphones if they tend to experience sensory/noise overload; there will also be foam earplugs at the Harm Reduction area.
Why is this access need important? People with disabilities who are neurodivergent, among others, often experience sensory overload and can’t regulate. We make an event more accessible when we are upfront about the noise pollution people may experience, so that people can prepare themselves accordingly.
park terrain
Mobility DevicesThe pathways in Holland Park are wide enough to fit larger mobility devices, up to 36 inches or more.
Quality of the Pavement
The pavement has a few cracks and can be uneven, so take care when using a cane or mobility device. There are a few areas that could pose a tripping hazard, such as near the event location. We will do our best to mark uneven pavement with chalk.
Stairs
There are no stairs needed to access the event location or the march; if there are level changes, there are ramps and curb stops.
At the event location, there is a cement area that is only accessible by stairs (4 steps of a consistent 7 inch height). There are no guardrails and there is no ramp down to this area. To improve visibility, we could add a drastically different colour to the edge (even with gaffing tape or hazard tape), so that the stair’s edge can be seen better.
Why is this access need important? People with physical disabilities, who have chronic pain or chronic fatigue conditions and seniors, among others, struggle to go up and down stairs. Stairs are a barrier for several reasons: mobility devices can’t safely go up and down stairs, stairs can be dangerous for people with disabilities who experience dizziness/vertigo, etc; stairs take a toll on disabled people’s bodies and people with disabilities should not be expected to be able to go up even one step.
It’s helpful to provide as much detail as possible in regards to barriers that people with disabilities might possibly face. Try to look at how the physical environment could be difficult for people; what hazards could there be.
event accessibility
ASL, Lip Reading and/or Live Captioning
ASL interpretation is provided during the speeches that precede the march.
If you are giving a speech, those should be given to ASL interpreters in advance. Please remember to use the microphone, to speak slowly and to say your name before speaking.
As an alternative to ASL, there is Live Captioning run through a free site. If we use this option, there should be a clear line of sight between the Live Captioning device (i.e. laptop or ipad) and the people needing to access this. Multiple people are able to view the live transcript by accessing a shared link. The transcript can also be copied and shared afterwards. Free Live Transcript
Seating in the front should be reserved for people with disabilities who require ASL, lip reading or Live Captioning. Signage or a volunteer can help mark this.Why is this access need important? People who are Deaf, deaf or have hearing differences often only receive part of the information when they attend events and they deserve more access! They also need to be close to the stage so they have an uninterrupted view of the interpreter(s) and/or screen with Live Captioning.
Covid Measures
The Surrey Dyke March prides ourselves on centering accessibility, allowing disabled people to attend events that they might not otherwise be able to attend.
The March is a mask-mandatory space and the event is held outside in a spacious park. Masks will be provided and handed out to people who haven’t brought their own; we will have day of volunteers handing them out as people arrive at the park.
There may be other events held in the park that are not mask mandatory and, as such, we can’t guarantee that shared spaces like the washrooms will not have unmasked people.
SDM organizers and volunteers will take a COVID test the day before and the day of the event. If anyone tests positive or feels unwell, they will be asked to stay home.
There will be food and beverages served. There will be marked area(s) where people can take off their masks to eat and drink.
Hand sanitizer will be provided.
Why is this access need important? People with disabilities who are immunocompromised cannot go to events or spaces that do not have mask mandates, as this poses a serious health risk to them. COVID-19 is still a danger, and people with disabilities are disproportionately at risk of both catching COVID and developing long-term symptoms from it.
Food
There will be free snacks available at Surrey Dyke March. All ingredients will be listed and/or original packaging available. We will have options for people with different dietary restrictions, such as people who are vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, FODMAP, gluten free, etc. We will mark any foods that have peanuts, eggs, dairy or gluten.
If you would like to bring food, all of the ingredients should be listed clearly or the original packaging should be made available. This includes oils that foods are cooked in and any potential cross-contaminations.
Why is this access need important? Providing a list of ingredients lets people self-determine what they can eat instead of requiring them to reach out and ask (this can be a barrier). When food is provided for people who have different dietary restrictions, people with food sensitivities or allergies can enjoy food just like everyone else. Food allergies can be severe, especially nut allergies; exposure can require hospitalization.
Water
We will have lots of free water bottles and you are welcome to bring your own and fill this up at the water fountains, located by the washrooms.
There is one at the standard height of 40 inches and one lowered to 33 inches The lowered fountain has an accessible knee space of 27 inches from the floor to the bottom of the accessible fountain basin; enough space for most mobility devices to slide underneath. The buttons to get water are located at the front of the fountain and are relatively easy to press.
The accessible fountain overshoots the basin, so be careful!
Why is this access need important? People with disabilities who are seated in mobility devices deserve access to water same as anyone else. When there are water bottle fill stations, it is better for the environment because there is a lessened need to buy disposable, plastic water bottles. Also, no one should have to pay for water; it should be freely available.
Harm Reduction
There will be a harm reduction set up at the park. This will include, among other supplies, safer sex supplies and info brochures, drug testing strips, safer drug usage kits and info brochures, naloxone kits, first aid supplies, safer sex supplies like condoms (external and internal), lube and gloves, HIV self-test kits, info brochures, etc. There will also be free menstrual supplies, COVID tests, etc.
Demos for naloxone can be done.
Why is this access need important? Harm reduction measures save lives.
Hybrid Option
SDM will try to make each event hybrid, as we understand that some people with disabilities are not able to leave their home.
The Surrey Dyke March speeches will be live streamed on SDM’s Instagram.
Why is this access need important? Events that are live-streamed provide a way for people with disabilities who cannot leave their homes to be a part of the event. People with disabilities can become incredibly lonely and feel cut off from the world; when we give them options to connect, we help them feel a part of the community.
Low Sensory Area
There won’t be a designated low sensory area, but there is enough room for people to spread out. There will be chairs and picnic blanket areas available or feel free to bring your own.
There are also 4 built-in park benches within close proximity and cement steps that people can sit on (not super comfortable).
There are several nearby trees that provide shade.
Harm reduction will provide ear plugs and encourage people to bring stim toys and tools, colouring, crafting (knitting, etc), stuffed animals and any other comfort items they may need, asking them to be mindful of any noise level their comfort items make.
Why is this access need important? Low sensory spaces provide an area people can go into if they are overwhelmed, dysregulated or otherwise struggling; items like stim toys and tools, colouring materials, comfort items like a soft or a weighted blanket, stuffed animals, a place to lie down or sit and rest, books to read, among other offerings. Hosts can also help co-regulate and help people who are feeling dysregulated, disabled or not.
Mental Health Support
As this event is a pride event, we understand that people can have complicated feelings in regards to their queerness and/or transness (especially with news of anti-trans legislation coming out in the US and Canada). We encourage you to do what you need to to take care of your mental health. If you need help regulating, please see Harmony or Alex at the Harm Reduction table.
Why is this access need important? We aim to make Surrey Dyke March a safer space for people who need that the most.
photos
We will have an event photographer who will be clearly identified and an organizer live streaming the speeches.
If you don’t want to be photographed or filmed, there are neon wrist bands available at the Harm Reduction table. If a photo of you has been taken at the march and put up on one of our socials, please contact us if you would like to have it removed.
Please do all you can to respect the privacy of the participants. If you would like to take pictures, please obtain consent from people before doing so. If you see people taking pictures without obtaining consent, please tell an event organizer (we are wearing Surrey Dyke March logo shirts). If people are wearing neon wristbands, please try to avoid filming their face or blur their face in post.
Why is this access need important? Everyone deserves privacy and should not feel forced into being in event photos and videos, for any reason. There may be people who are not out as 2SLGBTQIA+ and exposing them can be dangerous.
Pricing
Surrey Dyke March is free to attend. We offer free water and snacks and free harm reduction supplies.
Why is this access need important? Free or sliding scale, pay what you can