Surrey Dyke March
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 First March
OUR SECOND MARCH
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 AgreementWe 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 fatphobia, transphobia, 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
(2023) (The Surrey Dyke March is a political action, not a parade, and as such takes place without permits or sponsors.)Accessibility:
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 sex supplies, safer HRT kits, Naloxone kits, Masks, ear plugs, and more. To be accessible to deaf folks we have ASL interpreters at the beginning and end of the march, as well as a speaker and mic while marching. 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.2024
2024 Surrey Dyke March (SDM) AccessibilityGETTING THERE
Meet at 6pm at Whalley Athletic Park (corner of 133 St and 105A Ave)
By transit: From Gateway Station it is about a 10 minute walk southwest. If bussing, the 371 to Scott Rd or the 335 to Newton will drop you off at stop # 61658 across the street (transit tickets available)
Driving: free parking lot as well as street parking
South end of the parking lot has a bumpy curb cut, but the center of the parking lot has a smoother driveway that leads from the parking lot to the sidewalk.
There is no sidewalk on 133 St. There are sidewalks down University Boulevard and on 105A AveMEETING SPOT
The meeting spot is a grassy field with a sidewalk behind. We will set up so that those on the sidewalk are able to see and hear our speakers.
Unfortunately there are no public washrooms available at Whalley Athletic Park. Nearest options:
Library at 104 Ave and University Dr (near Surrey Central station)
grassy area at Binnie Lane and 108 Ave has a new single stall accessible public washroom
Waves Coffee by Gateway Station (not public)GETTING STARTEDMultiple speakers will welcome us before we march. We will have a microphone and speaker for sound amplification.
We will ask our community members with mobility aids or with reduced speeds, to join us at the front to help lead the march at an accessible pace.
We will also invite folks who would like someone to walk with them and folks who can volunteer to walk alongside someone to meet at the front of the march as well and find a buddy as necessary.
If you bring animal friends with you, please ensure they are on a leash for the entirety of the event.THE MARCH
The route is about 1.6km in length and we will be marching on the street for the duration of the march
Volunteer marshals will be at the front, back, and sides of the marchers to ensure that marchers stay within the right-hand lane and to control traffic.
The first half of the route has a slight incline and the second half is flat. The pavement is generally flat with the exception of dips in areas where repairs have been done previously.
We have volunteers to drive, as well as funds to arrange an accessible taxi as needed from Whalley Athletic Park to Holland Park. If possible please let us know before the event if you'd like to access either of these options
END OF MARCH
Holland Park has paved walkways throughout the park. We will set up on the grass beside the paved water fountain.
Holland Park has a parking lot with 2 hours of free parking. The entrance is along King George Blvd. just south of Old Yale Rd.
We will have some chairs and a tent available for shade, park benches are also available.
If you need a quiet space or a break from the event, options available include:
quiet spots near the water fountain
quiet spots throughout the garden
folks are welcome to space out from where the event is held, please take care of your needs
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 otherwiseSUPPLIES AVAILABLEThere will be a limited amount set out at the beginning such as earplugs, sunscreen, and water, and everything will be available at the end of the march. Our volunteers will also be carrying backpacks with limited amounts of supplies, please ask for what you need.Food/Drinks (all food peanut free, and gluten free and vegan options will be available. Soft food options available)
Bottled water
Gatorade (with sugar and not)
Juice boxes
Granola bars
Fresh fruit and vegetables
COVID safety supplies
Masks (variety of sizes) - kN95 and N95
Hand sanitizer
COVID test kits
Harm reduction supplies
Safer sex (internal and external condoms, dental dams, lube)
Safer substance use
Safer HRT kits (subcutaneous and intramuscular)
Naloxone kits
Fentanyl and benzodiazepine testing strips
HIV self test kits
Other supplies
Unscented sunscreen
Earplugs
Menstrual products** First Aid Kit and attendant will be on site from start to finishSOUND/COMMUNICATION
2 ASL interpreters will be present for the beginning and end of march (not while marching)
We will be using a megaphone to call out chants while marching, and using a speaker and mic while at Holland Park for brief closing remarks
We will have earplugs available at any time, please connect with a volunteer for these
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING
Photos and videos will be taken at the march
We will have ribbon available to tie on your arm to signal you would not like to be on film
Despite this system, human error does happen. Please connect with us if you would like an image of you removed by September 1, 2024 at 11:59pm
As this is a public outdoor event, we unfortunately cannot control if others take photos or videos
We will have a volunteer filming the march and hope to use this to provide a virtual option following the march for folks who could not attend.
COVID-19
Creating a safer space in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
The entire event from start to finish will be outdoors and allows for physical distancing
Masks will be required for the entire duration of the event. COVID-19 spreads outdoors and we consider masks a small act of community care for our immunocompromised community
kN95 and N95 masks, hand sanitizer, rapid tests available
Please stay home if you are sick or experiencing COVID-like symptoms, even if you are not testing positive for COVID-19
Stay informed regarding COVID-19 and the ongoing risk it poses and actions to support, and share information across your social platforms.
More information on instagram: donoharmbc , masks4eastvan , protectourprovince_bc
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered! Check to see if you’re up to date
The need to mask doesn’t end after the Surrey Dyke March - please continue to mask when around others, especially more crowded and populated areas
If you haven’t already, please consider getting vaccinated for mpoxFinal thoughtsThe Surrey Dyke March is a political action, not a parade, and as such takes place without permits or sponsors.Please contact us by email [email protected] or DM on our socials if you see accessibility needs not being met and we will make every effort to make it work.We will have a volunteer filming the march and hope to provide a virtual option following the march for folks who could not attend.