Former Surrey Councilor Judy Higginbotham Is Ready For A Comeback

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SURREY – She’s back!

Elected in 1983 as a city councillor, Judy Higginbotham served for 25 years before retiring. Before that she worked as a teacher and in broadcasting. She is now an active volunteer for organizations like the Surrey City Orchestra, the Rotary Club of Semiahmoo, the Federal Senior Liberals’ Commission of BC and more.

While she was on council, Higginbotham worked on crime prevention and collaborated with Options Community Services, helping them set up a daycare in North Surrey High School. Judy received Business Woman of the Year from the Surrey Business Professional Women’s Association, as well as the Solicitor General’s Crime Prevention award for her work in crime prevention.

Always willing to help where needed, whether it’s serving on committees and boards, or helping set up foundations and assisting with organization and fundraising, Higginbotham is involved with many activities, working towards making Surrey a better place.

Judy says the growth and success of any city depends on providing appropriate and supportive housing for everyone. And with the rate of growth in Surrey, the need for affordable housing increases. She looks forward to raising funds needed for the Options’ affordable housing project and seeing it bloom.

Higginbotham retired quietly from politics in 2008 and then travelled extensively, volunteered in the community and for the past few years cared for her husband of 50 years, Pat, until he passed away in January 2020.

She has been charting her future this past year while enduring the pandemic. One day she picked up the phone and was asked if she would work with the “50 Women of Options” and help raise funds for a much needed hundred room affordable housing project in Surrey. She said yes and is now asking for your support to help this worthy project move forward.

Judy Has worked for Surrey and the residents in Surrey for 25 solid years. She has met with you, visited your homes and events, and has supported you when you faced complicated and challenging issues in the city. She is now ready to return to a more public role.. She looks forward to connecting with the many friends and supporters she has worked with over the last 45 years she has lived in Surrey.

Highlights From Judy Higgenbotham’s Career:

*Born in Winnipegosos, Manitoba. Moved across Canada to Vancouver when I was 5.

*Grew up in greater Vancouver, and moved around the province when very young. Lived in Prince George, Quesnel, Bulkley Valley, Topley and Decker Lake.

*Graduated from UBC with a degree in Education and taught for 10 years in Richmond and Sooke. Taught Physical Education and English to elementary children for 5 years and junior high for 5 more years. Coached all sports and also coached and tutored students in Public Speaking and debate.

*Married Pat in 1970. Travelled, lived in Texas for a short time. WhenBritain and Karen came along we settled in South Surrey in 1976 as a family of four.  I immediately got involved in community affairs. I was active in school fundraisers, skating clubs, ballet and soccer, and of course advocating for safer signage for children in school, social issues and new developments and politics in Surrey.

*I volunteered with Shaw Cable as a talk show host and roving reporter. Wrote and edited lifestyle content for a magazine “BC Women” and a tourist publication called “Hey Taxi”.

*I was asked by Don Ross to run for Surry Council in 1983, was elected and served for 25 consecutive years on council until I retired in 2008. Served with four Mayors, Don Ross, Bob Bose, Doug McCallum and Dianne Watts.

*Council Highlights: Chaired Police Committee; served on the Metro Vancouver Board of directors; Chaired Metro Parks and Vice chaired Sewage and Drainage committees. I also served on the Federation of Canadian Municipalitiesas a board member for 8 years as Co-Chair of the National Crime Prevention Society. Worked as a team member to organize, and speak at Three International Crime prevention Conferences, in Paris, Washington DC, and Montreal. I was awarded a National Crime Prevention Award from the Solicitor- Generals office of Canada.

*Legacies include initiating and assisting the Surrey Tourism board and also the Surrey Foundation which is now Surrey Cares. I was a founding member of the Fraser Valley Urban Rail Society and awarded an Honorary Membership. I was also was a founding member of the Surrey Heritage Society and the Vintage Truck Museum  came to Surrey.

*Since I retired in 2008, I have served on many local Boards including the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. The Royal Canadian Theatre Company, the Surrey Historical Society, The Surrey Heritage Society and the friends of the Surrey Museum. I am a member of the Semiahmoo Rotary, and an active Toastmaster. I chair the Seniors Liberal commission of BC and volunteer at Operation Aftershock, a small Thrift Shop on East Beach in White Rock. My latest fundraising commitment is to raise $25,000 with the 50 Women of Options to support a 100 unit Affordable Housing Society in Surrey.

*With all this knowledge, experience and wisdom, I made up my mind to continue to give back to the community. My husband of 50 years, Pat passed away a year ago and I hope to continue “our legacy” working for a safer and kinder community as long as I am able.