Raised and educated in the Newton area, Mike Starchuk has spent the past 50 years watching Surrey’s landscape develop from a vast municipality to the dynamic city that it is today. Married in 1982, Mike and his wife Sue brought up their two children in the same area – the brush and trees that Mike played in as a child became the parks and schools their children used while growing up in Surrey.
Mike retired from the position of Chief Fire Prevention Officer with the Surrey Fire Services, on July 31, 2014. Mike’s 32 years of service as a first responder, firefighter and public safety figure have provided him with a first-hand knowledge and a unique perspective of the growth of the city and those who reside here.
During his time with the Surrey Fire Fighters Association, Mike has been active with health and safety initiatives in the city and across the province. He is also one of the founding members of the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society, which is one of the leading charities in Surrey.
Over the past few years, Mike has continued develop his community engagement through fire and life safety initiatives and supporting issues surrounding local businesses. He is now also involved with programs for seniors and senior care, efforts to maintain fire-safe supportive housing, and reducing the criminal aspects of vacant abandoned buildings. Mike continues collaborate with other city departments, City Hall staff, and the RCMP, in order to achieve safer conditions for those who live in the city.
In 2013, because of his work with and dedication to the City of Surrey, Mike was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.