Surrey’s Newton BIA partners with Mission Possible to employ people facing barriers, boosting community pride and creating lasting change.
Mission Possible Launches Newton Clean Team in Surrey
A revitalizing initiative rooted in transformation
A new “Clean Team” has started operating in the Newton Town Centre, Surrey, thanks to a partnership between the Newton Business Improvement Association (BIA) and Mission Possible. The program hires individuals who have faced barriers such as homelessness, poverty, substance use, and mental illness—offering them meaningful employment and a path toward lasting change.
Local Clean-Up, Broader Impact
Since launching in July, the Clean Team has been stewarding cleanliness in Newton Town Centre—home to nearly 530 businesses. Team member Abhishek reflects, “Some places are really clean and others have some garbage and stuff, but I’m doing my best to clean it up every week, getting it done.” The project fills the void left by the retirement of Kenneth Green, a long-time trash collector in the BIA district.
A Partnership That Opens Doors
Mission Possible, a Vancouver-based community economic development agency, brings its social enterprise model to this initiative. According to Executive Director Matthew Smedley, “We run a social enterprise that does property maintenance work… the people hired… are really on a journey back to permanent employment.” Hires receive both workshops and on-the-job training to support their transition.
Organizational Growth and Scope
Founded in 1992 as a faith-based humanitarian effort, Mission Possible has grown into a full-scope community economic development charity focused on sustainable impact. Currently, their workforce comprises about 30 permanent social-enterprise staff and around 90 transitional part-time employees. Last year, over 1,200 individuals sought employment through the organization, 148 were hired—and the Newton program aims to expand these opportunities further.
Personal Journeys, Visible Pride
Among the new hires are Abhishek and Conslata, who moved to Surrey recently. Dressed in MP Maintenance gear, they patrol the streets in branded trucks, visibly enhancing the neighbourhood. “I just moved to Surrey about two weeks ago. I like it,” Conslata shares. Their work not only beautifies the community but also fosters personal confidence and meaning. Smedley notes that clients gain pride in tangible accomplishments, moving from excluded to contributing members of society.
Breaking Misconceptions, Building Futures
Smedley challenges the misconception that people experiencing poverty don’t want to work. “People want an opportunity but… they just aren’t able to get their foot in the door.” By offering that start—a supportive environment for growth—Mission Possible helps individuals build confidence, skillsets, and the potential to transition into permanent employment beyond its social enterprises.
Why It Matters
This initiative is more than street cleaning—it’s a social innovation that addresses local economic and social challenges through dignified employment. For Surrey—and Canada more broadly—it exemplifies how community partnerships can forge pathways toward inclusion, civic pride, and sustainable transformation.
