SURREY, B.C. - When voters in Surrey-Panorama head to the polls on October 24, they will decide whether to give a second term to Bryan Tepper, the Conservative Party of BC’s incumbent MLA, a retired RCMP officer who unseated NDP cabinet minister Jinny Sims by just 263 votes in 2024.
Tepper has called Surrey home for two decades, living in Ocean Park with his wife Rona after transferring to the Surrey Detachment of the RCMP. His policing career was spent entirely in uniform, with the last 10 years serving in Surrey – years he says embedded him in the fabric of the community, from witnessing tragic events to sharing in community celebrations.
His record goes beyond routine policing. As treasurer of the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, Tepper played a crucial role in successfully taking the federal government to court, securing the right to associate for RCMP members. The landmark case paved the way for RCMP members to have representation, a significant achievement for the policing community.
Both Tepper and Rona are active volunteers across the community, including the Ocean Park Community Association, the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association, the Crescent Beach Swim Club, Surrey Orcas Water Polo, and the Crescent Beach Yacht Club. Rona serves as the station leader of the local marine search and rescue.
Tepper’s stated priorities start with repairing the medical system, beginning with the recruitment of healthcare workers and expanding training within the province. He acknowledges there is no quick fix, but says steps must be taken to reverse the damage done to the healthcare system. He also envisions the development of natural resources as the most sustainable, cleanest, and most ethical in the world, with the revenue generated contributing to the future of healthcare.
Surrey-Panorama is the definition of a rematch. In 2024, Tepper’s win over Sims came down to a 263-vote margin after the final count – one of the narrowest results in the province. This time it is a four-way race between Tepper, Sims, Green candidate Nolen Scott, and CentreBC’s Manav Manro.
For the Conservatives, holding Panorama means holding a seat won by the slimmest of margins. For the NDP, it means one of their clearest paths to winning a seat back.
Advance voting in Surrey-Panorama runs October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Sunshine Ridge Baptist Church (6230 120 Street). General voting day is Saturday, October 24.
Photo: Conservative Party of BC (conservativebc.ca)
Sources: conservativebc.ca; Elections BC; bcballot.ca
Advertisements
