About Surrey Trekkers Walking Club
Surrey Trekkers Volkssport Club is proud to be a member of the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV) which began in Germany in 1968, the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) which began in Canada in 1987, and the Volkssport Association of BC (VABC). Through these international, national, and provincial connections, we are part of a much larger walking community that shares our love of friendship, health, and the outdoors. We follow the motto of Volkssporting - Fun, Fitness & Friendship.
At Surrey Trekkers, our goal is simple: to encourage good health, physical activity, and enjoyment of the outdoors in welcoming, stress-free settings. We offer walkers of all ages and abilities the chance to explore new places and share enjoyable walking experiences on Wednesdays, weekends, and holidays throughout the year.
Our adventures take us across the Lower Mainland and beyond — as far east as the Othello Tunnels in Hope, north to Whistler, and west to the Gulf Islands. Wherever we go, the spirit of Surrey Trekkers goes with us: friendly people, shared experiences, and a love of walking together.
Our History
Surrey Trekkers Volkssport Club was established on April 12, 1991, as a non-profit organization dedicated to giving members and guests opportunities to enjoy volkssporting activities.
Volkssporting means “people’s sport” and began in Europe more than 50 years ago. Over time, local volkssport clubs were formed around the world, creating a global community built around safe, healthy, non-competitive activity. As a member of Surrey Trekkers, you are welcome to walk with any volkssport club and simply pay that club’s walk fee.
Volkssporting is all about enjoying exercise at your own pace while discovering new places and meeting new people. Clubs may offer walking, cycling, swimming, or cross-country skiing events, but walking has always been at the heart of Surrey Trekkers.
In Canada, we are members of the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) and the Volkssport Association of BC (VABC), both of which belong to the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV), the parent body of volkssporting.
While Surrey Trekkers Volkssport Club remains the legal name used for banking and financial matters, the Constitution and Bylaws passed on October 25, 2025, established that our club is now marketed as Surrey Trekkers Walking Club — a name that reflects who we are and what brings us together.
Our Logo: Past and Present
The Original Logo
The original Surrey Trekkers logo was created shortly after the club began in 1991. Members Reg Beebe and Marnie Turnell worked together on a design that would reflect the heart of the club.
They chose the boot to represent walking, the mountain to reflect British Columbia and the beautiful places we explore, and the maple leaf to celebrate Canada. The triangular shape of the logo also echoed the mountains around us.
Reg Beebe, who had been deeply involved in volkssporting in Germany, was proud that Surrey Trekkers was part of an international movement. He had already chosen the club’s name, and the logo became an important part of that identity.
At the time, Marnie Turnell was working with a publishing company and had access to a graphics department. She was able to bring the design to life, and over the following years the logo was adapted for patches and pins that members could wear with pride.
The Updated Logo
Over the years, members began to talk about whether a new logo might better suit clothing, promotional materials, and the club’s future. In 2023 and 2024, these conversations continued, and at a Surrey Trekkers picnic in the summer of 2024, members were invited to share their ideas about whether to keep the existing logo or explore a new one.
At the 2025 AGM of Surrey Trekkers, members approved a motion to form an ad hoc committee to create a new logo for clothing and marketing purposes. An invitation was then sent to all current members, and those interested were welcomed to take part.
Five Surrey Trekkers members joined the Ad Hoc Logo and Design Committee and met several times over a number of months, both in person and through email. Their work resulted in a final design that was submitted to the Surrey Trekkers Executive and approved. The new logo features a walker and a red maple leaf, reflecting both our love of walking and our Canadian identity.
It was important to the club that the original logo remain part of our story. For that reason, it was agreed that the original logo would continue to “live” on the Surrey Trekkers website alongside the new logo.
Together, they reflect both our history and our future — honouring where we began and celebrating where we are going.