The Cloverdale Community Association wants you to become a member.
The CCA recently held its AGM and is now focused on growing its membership base.
Stan Leyenhorst, elected as a member-at-large at the AGM, said in order for the association to have a representative voice for area residents, they need more people to join up.
"We're trying to rebuild it at the moment and we want more members,” he explained. "That way we have a pulse of what people want.”
The CCA was bigger in the past, but began to suffer a decline in membership before COVID. During COVID, the group's numbers were dramatically reduced.
Leyenhorst, who’s new himself, said he’s spearheading a membership drive because he thinks there's a lot of value in having a strong voice for area residents.
“I just like to be involved in my town,” he said. “And part of that is related to the new hospital, and Skytrain, and all the potential changes that are going on. So, how do we, as a town, influence what happens and at the same time try to maintain that Cloverdale feel?"
In addition to being a part of the CCA, Leyenhorst is also a director with the BIA and a member of the Cloverdale Chamber.
He noted as change has engulfed other towns and cities, some of those places have had their identities disappear as development has occurred. He doesn't want to see that happen to Cloverdale as it transforms, especially with the new hospital and the changes that will occur related to that.
“If you aren't proactive, then you can see those things will happen here too,” Leyenhorst added.
He said that's why it's important people join the CCA and have their concerns heard. He said the association needs input from residents to find out what they want and the CCA can approach the powers that be with one voice.
"We also want direction on what residents would like us to lobby both municipal and provincial governments for, " explained Leyenhorst. “We are the Cloverdale Community Association, so it's a resident-based organization, as opposed to the BIA or the Chamber, which are business-based and membership-based organizations.”
He feels many decisions, affecting people everywhere, come top down. He said the CCA offers a “bottom up” approach and residents will actually be heard.
"We need to be able to influence government decisions, on behalf of residents,” he explained. “The community association is grassroots, and I like grassroots groups because I learned long ago that the people on the ground know better what their needs are than the people up top.”
Leyenhorst said with the CCA now representing Clayton Heights, the entire neighbourhood of Cloverdale, as defined by the City of Surrey, will have a voice in the association.
"We want to have initiatives to make Cloverdale a better place, a community-minded better place,” he added. “We want to push for things like dog parks and community gardens and push for more beautification, push for more neighbourhood events. And I want the community association to be a part of that or leading that.”
He said the CCA isn't an association that exists just to be an association. He said they plan to be active and make a difference.
“We want people to join because they're interested in having influence and having a voice, but working with everybody as opposed to pushing their one pet peeve. The (CCA) is all about community.”
Formed in 1978, the CCA helps residents of Cloverdale and Clayton navigate local issues. In 2022, the Clayton Community Association was incorporated into the CCA. According to their website, the CCA strives “to make a positive change in the community by ensuring that the residents and businesses play an active role in the consultation and decision-making processes.”
For more info, visit cloverdalecommunity.org, or find them on social media on both Facebook and Instagram.