Another City Centre 2 Groundbreaking event was held today following a prior similar session held on Feb 5th signaling the latest Innovation Boulevard’s contribution to BC's healthcare and economic growth, bringing investment, companies, jobs and healthcare advances. According to Lark President Larry Fisher, long time Surrey land developer, the entire development once finished will contribute more than $1.1-billion annually to the local economy, with a one-time infusion of $625-million in construction costs. The Health & Technology District will attract more than 500 companies and create up to 5,300 direct high tech jobs with over 8,000 indirect jobs to come, which is welcome news for advancing education and growing BC’s talent pool.
BC Premier Christy Clark attended the event and said, "In one square mile health organizations, businesses, post secondary institutions, multiple levels of government will be partnering together in research in pursuit of new health technologies that will create jobs and that will save lives all around the world. This is going to have additional space for academia, for health, for tech, offices and accommodation for over 90 health professionals where people can really collaborate and create new ideas. It is going to attract the best clinicians and researchers from all over the globe and it is going to build on British Columbia's reputation as not just an international hub for innovative health care solutions but as the home of a thriving tech and life sciences industry.”
Surrey Mayor, Linda Hepner, also present at the event said, "We are developing an economic diversification strategy like no other and this is forming a very significant part of it within the health technology sector. Here real life solutions are being created to improve the quality of life for real people including simulated environment for medical training, cancer diagnostic tools, technologies that will support aging adults and persons with disabilities. City Centre 2 is going to contribute $625 million simply in construction cost along with $1.1 billion annually when these projects are finished to our economy right here in Surrey."
Lark President Larry Fisher, “We have taken the risk to make this happen with our partner Dayhu and are prepared to take further risks to make this area a hub for health and technology in the heat of Innovation Boulevard.”
Purposely modelled after some of the world’s most successful technology centres like Silicon Valley, Lark Group and partners Dayhu Group launched City Centre 1 through City Centre 8 to accommodate the Health & Technology District expansion.
Located immediately adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital, a rapidly growing health campus in one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and busiest hospitals, this setting for healthcare innovations could not be better situated. In two years, City Centre 1 has been quickly filled and is catapulting the Health and Technology District's growing momentum. With a multitude of clinics, care homes, technology companies, innovation hubs, and rapid growth in advanced and innovative new-age healthcare businesses, there is limitless potential as this ambitious and timely vision takes shape. With City Centre 2 now underway, the direct and tangible health and business impacts take the next quantum leap forward.
