MLA Surrey-Guildford Garry Begg (left) at Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers’ Jail & Bail event Friday (Sept. 20) at Central City’s outdoor plaza. (Photo: Julie Lanyon/Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers)
** This story has been updated
Some of Surrey’s business and community leaders were locked in a “County Jail” to raise “bail” from their friends and colleagues.
Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers’ first-ever Jail & Bail event in Surrey, held Friday (Sept. 20) at Central City’s outdoor plaza, raised money for the crime-fighting organization.
Jail & Bail participants included Garry Begg (MLA, Surrey-Guildford), Linda Annis (Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, Surrey City Councillor), Stephanie Cadieux (MLA, Surrey-Panorama), Stephen Dooley (SFU Surrey), Adam Jaffer (KPU), Randy Mann (Randy Mann Real Estate) and Norman Stowe (Pace Group), among others.
Each of the “accused” were brought before “honourable judges,” had “trumped-up charges” read out publicly and “bail” set. They were put behind bars, and couldn’t exit until they raised their “bail.”
“Despite what some people think, we’re not the police,” Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, said in a release prior to the event.
“We’re actually an independent, non-profit charity that operates solely on funds raised. We appreciate any donation, and we’re thankful for the participation of all those who’ve agreed to be our ‘jailbirds’ this year. The ‘bail’ they’ll raise will help keep our 24/7 tips line and other anti-crime programs in operation for the benefit of everyone.”
Similar Jail & Bail events have been held in Vancouver, including one on Sept. 12. With donations still coming in, close to $65,000 has been raised at the pair of events in Vancouver and Surrey, according to event publicist Trevor Pancoust.
In 2018, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers collected close to 5,400 tips resulting in 135 arrests, 577 charges and $1.8 million in drugs and property seized, the organization said in a media release.
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