William Earl Reid

William Earl "Bill" Reid (August 13, 1934 – May 28, 2013) was a Canadian politician. He was a political figure in British Columbia, Canada known locally as "Mr. Surrey". He represented Surrey from 1983 to 1986 and Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale from 1986 to 1991 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a Social Credit member. "That was the best job I ever had in my whole life," said Reid. "I was the Minister of Tourism from '86 to '91, when Expo 86 was on and we had the best place in the world to visit."

Early years Reid was born in Nelson, British Columbia, Reid also served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Tourism, a position that had an especially high-profile during Expo 86. He also served in 1988 and 1989 as the Provincial Secretary of British Columbia.

Final decades and legacy Reid retired from provincial politics in 1991 and devoted the remainder of his life to his community.

In 2012, Reid was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee award, which was given to Canadians who have made significant contributions to their communities.

The City of Surrey named him Good Citizen of the Year in 2013 due to 50 years of community service including work with societies such as Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce, Surrey Spirit of B.C. committee, Surrey Heritage Society and Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association. Bill Reid Place, a transitional shelter was constructed in Cloverdale.

Reid died at the age of 78 on May 28, 2013, from a rare cancer.

In 2014, the city planned three legacy projects: renaming Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre to Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre naming a portion 62nd Avenue as Bill Reid Way a public sculpture (estimated cost $70,000) by artist Paul Slipper.