White Rock is a bedroom community well known for its beaches and beautiful natural landscapes. It is bordered by Bergstrom Road (136 Street)on the west, North Bluff Road (16 Avenue) to the north, Stayte Road (160 Street) in the east and 8 Avenue in the south. It was named for the 486 ton granite boulder, a glacial deposit from the Coastal Mountains. It is an easy commute to Vancouver, the US border, airport, ferries, ski hills and world class golf courses. It has long been a popular retirement spot, but it more and more becoming a place for young families and professionals. Many residents are drawn to the natural beauty and housing that is less expensive than Vancouver.

The entire length of the city of White Rock is ocean front with a 2.5km beach promenade. It is the sunniest place in the Greater Vancouver area, receiving less rainfall than any other community. Each of White Rocks three beaches offer a unique atmosphere. West Beach is a favourite summer spot for many people. There is always a lot to do from sandcastle contests, buskers, vintage car parades on summer evenings. The 1,500 foot long White Rock Pier, built in the 1920s, is located at West Beach. East Beach is quieter and more family oriented. During low tide, you can walk half a mile out on the sand. When the tide comes in over the hot sands, the shallow waters are briefly the highest temperature on the west coast. There is a playground, picnic area, tennis courts, volleyball nets and kite flying. Pubs and bistros offer live music, fish and chips, take out and casual and fine dining. Crescent Beach is shared with the Crescent Beach community of South Surrey. It has a marina, dike trails, a promenade and beautiful heritage homes. Beecher Street is the “Marine Drive” of Crescent Beach. There are many bistros, ethnic foods, ice creameries and much entertainment. It is sometimes even possible to spot a seal sunning itself from Crescent Beach.

White Rock has something for everyone, regardless of their interests. Beach combing, strolling along the beach, fishing, crabbing, sunbathing, swimming, kayaking and sailing, hiking, recreation activities, sports, golfing, nightlife, arts and culture and live music can all be found in White Rock. Every year there are many festivals, including a Kite Festival, Tour de White Rock cycling race and Salmon Festival.

North Delta is the largest residential area in the corporation of Delta. It was originally called Annieville and is largely middle class. It is bordered by Scott Road in the east, 96 Avenue and the Fraser River in the north, Clark Drive to the south and Burns Bog and across the river Annacis Island and Richmond in the west. The communities of North Delta are Annieville, Canterbury Heights, Nordel, Panorama Ridge, Scottsdale, Sunbury, Sunshine Hills and Sunshine Woods.

Scott Road or 120 Street divides Surrey and Delta. A large shopping area, there are four major shopping centres – Scottsdale, Scott 72 Centre, Delta Shoppers Mall and Kennedy Heights – and numerous shops, restaurants, pubs along Scott Road. Accessibility to other commuter areas is easy. River Road, Nordel Way and Scott Road are the busiest commuter roads and both Highway 91 and Highway 99 run through North Delta.

For recreational activities you can find many parks and trails in this area. The Sungod Recreation Centre at the base of the Alex Fraser Bridge has a swimming pool andindoor ice rink. The oldest sports complex in the area, the North Delta Recreation Centre, has an ice rink, curling sheets, outdoor pool, kids’ camp, softball park and skateboard park. Burns Bog, the largest urban raised peat bog in North America, and Watershed Park provide lots of opportunity for bird watching and biking and walking trails.

The Hudson’s Bay Company built Fort Langley in 1827 to establish trade in pelts, salmon and cranberries with the local natives. It was from this venture that British Columbia was founded as a British colony. The proximity of Fort Langley to the lucrative Fraser River and the United States, as well as the fertile land and abundant wildlife, made the area surrounding the fort an ideal location for a new community. Hudson’s Bay Company men married local native women and settlers began farming.

Today, Langley is one of BC’s fastest growing towns and is known for its small town atmosphere and city convenience. It remains an agricultural center and is the “horse capital” of BC. It is home to Campbell Valley Regional Park, a park which provides trails for horseback riding, biking and walking, as well as a cross country course. Thunderbird Show Park, an international horse show facility and one of Canada’s premier horse arenas, is also located in Langley.

Fort Langley continues to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to be transported into a time past. The fort itself is open to the public for education and a look into BC’s heritage. With only 2,700 residents and 100 businesses, Fort Langley is a quaint and peaceful town within a town. It offers beautiful vintage buildings, tree-lined roads and walkways, shopping, a tourist centre and a variety of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping and golf.

Murrayville is the oldest subdivision in Langley and was named for Paul Murray. In 1870 the intersection of Fraser Highway and 216^th Street became known as Murray’s Corner. In 1925 the post office officially named the region between 216^th Street and 28 Avenue Murrayville. The Langley RCMP, WC Blair Pool, Langley School Board and the Township of Langley Operations Centre are all located in Murrayville.

Aldergrove is the agricultural centre of Langley with numerous farms and acreages. It was originally settled in the 1870s by loggers, gold miners and farmers and was named for the profusion of Alder trees in the area. It borders Abbotsford and the town of Lynden in Washington. It is home to approximately 12,000 people, as well as the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre.

South Surrey is well known for its picturesque beaches and relaxing atmosphere. It has the largest population of residents over 60 years of age and is accessible via King George Highway, Highway 99 and two United States border crossings.

In 1909 the Great Northern Railway from Blaine, Washington and New Westminster was built, passing through Crescent Beach and White Rock. This opened up the area for residents of the more populous areas to take a day trip or own summer homes at the beach. On clear days, many places have views of the San Juan Islands.

Multi-family buildings are prohibited in South Surrey. The majority of homes are upscale and luxury homes located on above average lots and many have ocean views. Grandview Heights is a recent development offering a modern and convenient shopping experience and there are two golf and country clubs in this area – Hazelmere and Morgan Creek.

Crescent Beach, Blackie Spit and Semiahmoo Trail Park, one of Surrey’s earliest trails, are among the many beaches and parks which provide recreation for residents and visitors. Serpentine Fen Nature Reserve has trails, picnic tables and observation towers amid man-made ponds.

North Surrey, also called Surrey Centre or Whalley, is Surrey’s commercial center and most densely populated area. It is bordered by Newton, Fleetwood and Guildford. The communities of Bolivar Heights, Bridgeview, Cedar Hills and Whalley are in North Surrey. King George Highway runs through North Surrey and offers quick access to Vancouver over the Patullo Bridge. There are four Skytrain stations in Surrey – Surrey Central, Gateway, King George and Scott Road.

Settlers began making their homes in the North Surrey area in the 1880s. In 1908, municipal council requested a grant for a roadway from the Fraser River to 108 Avenue to create a safer path to the river than Old Yale Road. This roadway eventually became part of the King George Highway. The name Whalley was taken from Arthur Whalley, who moved from Cloverdale and built a service centre on land bordered by 108 Avenue, Grosvenor Road and King George Highway. This service centre offerd a general store, soft drink stand and tourist cabins.

North Surrey plays host to many community events, including Winterfest and Fusion Festival, a multicultural event featuring ethnic music, food and culture. Both of these festivals, as well as many other events, are held at Holland Park. Bear Creek Park, Green Timbers Urban Forest, Whalley Athletic Park offer diverse recreational activities. Simon Fraser University has a campus in the Central City Shopping Centre. The Surrey Arts Centre features local arts and culture.

Cloverdale, Surrey’s easternmost district, retains the small town charm and historic roots while also offering city convenience to its residents. Cloverdale is one of the few communities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District that still has a “main street” where pedestrians shop and locals gather in cafes. There are also many heritage sites and antique stores in Cloverdale.

It began as a small farm community established in 1870. The fertile land and temperate climate made it ideal for European settlers and it was named “Clover Valley” by one of its first settlers, William Shannon. It grew rapidly due to the railway from New Westminster to Bellingham along what is now the Pacific Highway. A railway station was built near the town center in 1891 and named Cloverdale. The early 1900s saw a land boom and many of the buildings in downtown Cloverdale are from this era.

There are many recreational opportunities in Cloverdale, including the Cloverdale Recreation Centre, Cloverdale Athletic Park, Cloverdale Ball Park and Cloverdale Youth Park. The Cloverdale Exhibition and Fairgrounds hosts many events and activities throughout the year. In this complex you will find the Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre, Agriplex, Fraser Downs Racetrack, a horse racetrack for Harness Racing, Stetson Bowl Stadium and Cloverdale Arena.

The most famous event held at the fairgrounds is the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair. The fair was first held in 1888 and it moved to the fairgrounds in 1938. The rodeo itself was first held in 1945 and is now Canada’s second largest rodeo after the Calgary Stampede.

Cloverdale’s extremely convenient location makes it perfect for commuters. The Pacific Highway runs through Cloverdale and allows easy access to the United States, the TransCanada Highway and Lougheed Highway via the Golden Ears Bridge.

The Newton area of Surrey has something for everyone, no matter what your lifestyle. It has both the largest and most diverse population of any area of the city. The areas of Sullivan, Strawberry Hill and Panorama are also incorporated in Newton. It has a large industrial center, thriving retail and commercial industries and a strong community of residents.

Named for settler, EJ Newton, in 1886, Newton’s growth was largely contributed to by BC Electric Railway and King & Farris Lumber Company, one of the first completely electrically operated mills.

Newton’s community culture is enhanced by the presence of several recreational and artistic hubs. The Bell Centre for Performing Arts, Newton Cultural Centre, Surrey Library provide education and entertainment. If you are looking for leisure activities there is the Newton Recreation Centre, which has a gymnasium, weight room, arena and youth centre; the Newton Wave Pool; Newton Athletic Park, a seniors centre and the newest YMCA in Canada.

There are many parks in Newton which provide a variety of sports, swimming, trails and picnic areas. These include the Newton Reservoir Park, Sullivan Park, Surrey Lake and the Serpentine Dog Off Leash Park. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, City Hall, the courthouse and the headquarters for the Surrey RCMP are also located in Newton.

Half of Newton’s population are visible minority, those being predominately Sikh. Red FM, a popular Indian radio station, has it’s studios in Newton. One of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside of India is held in Newton every year. Each year approximately 80,000 to 200,000 people participate or watch this colourful and fun parade.

Guildford is located in the Northeast section of Surrey. It is bordered by the Fraser River to the north and extends as far as 144 Street to the west,196^th Street and 80^th Avenue to the south. The Trans Canada Highway runs through it, making it an easy commute over the Port Mann Bridge into Vancouver. The neighbourhoods that are part of the Guildford town centre are Guildford proper, Port Kells, Fraser Heights and Royal Heights. Guildford’s roadways were carefully designed with its residents’ needs in mind to allow for the most economical and efficient use.

Surrey’s most well known mall, Guildford Town Centre, is the hub of the retail corridor of Guildford and is located on the corner of 104^th Avenue and 152^nd Street. Across from Guildford Mall is the community centre. It has an indoor track, three gymnasiums, a fitness centre, all purpose rooms and a branch of the Surrey Library.

There are many parks and recreational areas in Guildford. Among them are two regional parks. The Surrey Bend Regional park gives access to the Fraser River for non-motorized boating activity. It also has extensive natural areas which are protected and a network of trails. Tynehead Regional Park also has natural walking trails. It is also home to the Tynehead Fish Hatchery, picnic areas and off leash dog areas.

When the Yale Wagon Road, now Fraser Highway, opened in the late 19^th century, it brought settlers searching for new land for farming and logging. Among the settlers, in 1907, Edith and James Francis settled where present day 160 Street and Fraser Highway intersect. After Edith’s brother, Lance Corporal Arthur Thomas Fleetwood, died during World War I, she applied for a charter to name the growing community after him. A life size bronze of Lance Corporal Fleetwood was erected on September 8, 2008 at the Fleetwood Community Centre.

The 1970s saw a rapid population growth in Fleetwood due to new retail and commercial industry and multi-family residences. Though it is the smallest of Surrey’s town centres, Fleetwood is home to over 50,000 people. The Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex, Surrey’s premier recreation facility, is in Fleetwood. The complex has an Olympic sized pool, two ice arenas, and fitness areas.

Fleetwood is bordered by Guildford, Cloverdale and Newton. Close proximity to the Pattullo, Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges, as well as the city centre and Langley, make it the perfect community for commuters. With quiet neighbourhoods and a variety of high-rises, townhouses and single family homes, anyone wanting a home away from the bustle of the city should start explore Fleetwood.

Surrey is the second largest city in British Columbia and is expected to surpass Vancouver as BC’s largest city in the near future. 475,000 people call Surrey home and 1,000 people move to Surrey each month. In an effort to improve the quality of life for Surrey’s residents many programs have been implemented to attract businesses, build more homes and create and enhance recreation. 

Surrey is the “City of Parks.” It boasts 400 parks with over 3,000 acres of land designated for natural areas, urban forests, youth parks, ocean parks, dog-friendly parks and quiet gardens. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day at the beach, family day at a park, fun with your dog, a game of tennis or baseball, you can find it in Surrey!

Students and families will find many unique and diverse programs for education in Surrey. With over 124 public schools, Surrey’s school district Is the largest in BC and one of the few growing districts. There are several independent schools that offer specific approaches to education based on religion or language. Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University both have campuses in Surrey.

Surrey’s six distinct communities offer many advantages – whether you are wanting a condo right in the heart of the city, a family home in a quiet neighbourhood or a sprawling rural acreage for your agriculture business or recreational horseback riding. Making your home in Surrey will never be a decision you regret!