Bryan Tepper was elected on October 19, 2024 as the Conservative MLA for Surrey Panorama, unseating the NDP's Jinny Sims in a close race. Elections BC figures put him at 8,735 votes to Sims' 8,472, a margin of 263 votes. His working life before the legislature was in policing: he spent his career as an RCMP officer, moving to Surrey two decades ago after a transfer to the Surrey detachment, and serving his final ten years on the force entirely in the city.
Policing gave him one of the more distinctive resumes in the Conservative caucus. As treasurer of the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, he was part of the team that took the federal government to court and won RCMP members the right to associate, a landmark case for police representation across the country that ended a long fight over whether Mounties could organize independently of management.
He and his wife Rona live in Ocean Park, and both are active volunteers in the community. His official biography lists 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 among their commitments; Rona serves as station leader of the local marine search and rescue. The biography also notes that he volunteers at all three levels of government.
His 2026 disclosure lists pension income, including from Veterans Affairs, alongside rental income from Surrey investment properties, where he lives. In the legislature he was named the Official Opposition's critic for Solicitor General and Emergency Response in the June 2026 shadow cabinet, a portfolio that fits his background. His stated priorities include recruiting health care workers and expanding training in the province, and he has spoken about developing natural resources to help pay for it.
Surrey Panorama sits at the heart of the city's growth, where new neighbourhoods, schools and roads are constantly playing catch-up with the population. Two decades in a Surrey police uniform gave him a front row seat to that growth, and to the safety concerns that come with it.
Editor's note: the legislature was dissolved on September 22, 2026 and a provincial election was called for October 24, 2026. Offices above reflect the 43rd Parliament.
This profile is part of Apna News' Candidates series, introducing the people who represent Surrey and its neighbouring communities. Apna News is Surrey's new multilingual news platform. If you spot something to correct or add, reach us at info@apnanews.ca.
Official links: Legislature disclosure
