Surrey, British Columbia

Surrey was incorporated in 1879, and encompasses land formerly home to a number of Halqemeylem-speaking indigenous groups, including the Semiahmoo, Katzie, and the Kwantlen peoples.{{cite web | title=History of Surrey, BC | website=City of Surrey | date=December 11, 2019 | url=https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/history-of-surrey | access-date=August 15, 2023 | archive-date=August 15, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815175029/https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/history-of-surrey | url-status=live }} When Englishman H.J. Brewer looked across the Fraser River from New Westminster and saw it was reminiscent of his native County of Surrey in England, the settlement of Surrey was placed on the map.{{Cite web |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/whats-in-a-name/ |title=What's in a name? |date=November 20, 2013 |website=Surrey Now-Leader |accessdate=December 28, 2021 |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203075721/https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/whats-in-a-name/ |url-status=live }} The area then comprised forests of Douglas fir, fir, red cedar, hemlock, blackberry bushes, and cranberry bogs. A portion of present-day Whalley (named after Harry Whalley, who owned and operated a gas bar at the bend in King George Blvd, (formerly King George Highway) at 108 Avenue, "Whalley's Corner") was used as a burial ground by the Kwantlen (or Qw'ontl'en) Nation.

Settlers arrived first in Cloverdale and parts of South Surrey, mostly to farm, fish, harvest oysters, or set up small stores. Once the Pattullo Bridge was erected in 1937, the way was open for Surrey to expand. In the post-war 1950s, North Surrey's neighbourhoods filled with single-family homes and Surrey (not yet a city) became a bedroom community, absorbing commuters who worked in Burnaby or Vancouver.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the city witnessed unprecedented growth, as people from different parts of Canada and the world, particularly Asia, began to make the municipality their home. In 2013, it was projected to surpass the city of Vancouver as the most populous city in BC within the following 10 to 12 years.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Jill |date=June 18, 2013 |title=Surrey's population projected to surpass Vancouver's |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/653206/surreys-population-projected-to-surpass-vancouvers/ |access-date=September 29, 2015 |website=Global News |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017001357/http://globalnews.ca/news/653206/surreys-population-projected-to-surpass-vancouvers/ |url-status=live }}

File:King George Hub District, Surrey 2018.jpg

The city is characterized by low population density urban sprawl, typical of North American cities, which includes areas of residential housing, light industry and commercial centres and is prone to strip development and malls. Approximately {{convert|6091|acre|ha|order=flip}} or 27 percent of the land area is designated as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve and can only be used for farming.{{Cite web |title=B.C. Fraser Valley Farm Start-up Guide |url=https://investsurrey.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bc_fraser_valley_farm_start-up_guide.pdf |access-date=December 4, 2020 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222184655/https://investsurrey.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bc_fraser_valley_farm_start-up_guide.pdf |url-status=dead }} The city is mostly hills and flatland, with most of the flatland in Tynehead, Hazelmere, the south of Cloverdale, and Colebrook.

{{Clear left}}

Surrey has an oceanic climate (Cfb) typical of the inter-coastal Pacific Northwest: rainy, wet winters, often with heavy rainfall lasting into early spring. Winters are chilly but not frigid, summers are mild and sunny, and autumns are cool and cloudy.

{{Weather box

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Surrey (1981–2010)

| source = Environment Canada{{Cite web |title=Surrey Newton, British Columbia |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=surrey&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=876&dispBack=0 |access-date=February 17, 2015 |website=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629034709/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=surrey&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=876&dispBack=0 |url-status=live }}

| Jan record high C = 15.5

| Feb record high C = 19.4

| Mar record high C = 25.0

| Apr record high C = 29.0

| May record high C = 34.5

| Jun record high C = 33.3

| Jul record high C = 35.0

| Aug record high C = 34.5

| Sep record high C = 34.5

| Oct record high C = 29.0

| Nov record high C = 21.0

| Dec record high C = 16.7

| year record high C = 35.0

| Jan high C = 6.7

| Feb high C = 8.7

| Mar high C = 11.7

| Apr high C = 14.6

| May high C = 17.9

| Jun high C = 20.4

| Jul high C = 23.1

| Aug high C = 23.6

| Sep high C = 20.9

| Oct high C = 14.5

| Nov high C = 8.7

| Dec high C = 6.1

| year high C = 14.7

| Jan mean C = 3.8

| Feb mean C = 5.1

| Mar mean C = 7.5

| Apr mean C = 10.0

| May mean C = 13.0

| Jun mean C = 15.6

| Jul mean C = 17.9

| Aug mean C = 18.2

| Sep mean C = 15.5

| Oct mean C = 10.4

| Nov mean C = 5.9

| Dec mean C = 3.4

| year mean C = 10.5

| Jan low C = 0.9

| Feb low C = 1.4

| Mar low C = 3.3

| Apr low C = 5.3

| May low C = 8.0

| Jun low C = 10.8

| Jul low C = 12.5

| Aug low C = 12.7

| Sep low C = 10.0

| Oct low C = 6.3

| Nov low C = 3.1

| Dec low C = 0.6

| year low C = 6.2

| Jan record low C = -17.2

| Feb record low C = -13.5

| Mar record low C = -8.3

| Apr record low C = -2.8

| May record low C = -1.1

| Jun record low C = 2.2

| Jul record low C = 2.8

| Aug record low C = -1.1

| Sep record low C = -2.2

| Oct record low C = -6.5

| Nov record low C = -15.0

| Dec record low C = -18.9

| year record low C = -18.9

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 186.4

| Feb precipitation mm = 124.8

| Mar precipitation mm = 121.8

| Apr precipitation mm = 109.8

| May precipitation mm = 87.9

| Jun precipitation mm = 72.1

| Jul precipitation mm = 49.0

| Aug precipitation mm = 42.0

| Sep precipitation mm = 59.7

| Oct precipitation mm = 138.5

| Nov precipitation mm = 225.0

| Dec precipitation mm = 182.1

| year precipitation mm = 1399.1

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 172.0

| Feb rain mm = 117.4

| Mar rain mm = 120.0

| Apr rain mm = 109.5

| May rain mm = 87.9

| Jun rain mm = 72.1

| Jul rain mm = 49.0

| Aug rain mm = 42.0

| Sep rain mm = 59.7

| Oct rain mm = 138.1

| Nov rain mm = 223.4

| Dec rain mm = 169.9

| year rain mm = 1360.8

| snow colour =

| Jan snow cm = 14.5

| Feb snow cm = 7.4

| Mar snow cm = 1.8

| Apr snow cm = 0.3

| May snow cm = 0.0

| Jun snow cm = 0.0

| Jul snow cm = 0.0

| Aug snow cm = 0.0

| Sep snow cm = 0.0

| Oct snow cm = 0.4

| Nov snow cm = 1.6

| Dec snow cm = 12.2

| year snow cm = 38.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 19.3

| Feb precipitation days = 16.0

| Mar precipitation days = 17.8

| Apr precipitation days = 16.2

| May precipitation days = 14.3

| Jun precipitation days = 12.7

| Jul precipitation days = 8.4

| Aug precipitation days = 7.4

| Sep precipitation days = 8.3

| Oct precipitation days = 16.3

| Nov precipitation days = 22.2

| Dec precipitation days = 19.4

| year precipitation days = 178.0

| unit rain days = 0.2 mm

| Jan rain days = 18.4

| Feb rain days = 15.1

| Mar rain days = 17.8

| Apr rain days = 16.2

| May rain days = 14.3

| Jun rain days = 12.7

| Jul rain days = 8.4

| Aug rain days = 7.4

| Sep rain days = 8.3

| Oct rain days = 16.2

| Nov rain days = 22.1

| Dec rain days = 18.1

| year rain days = 174.7

| unit snow days = 0.2 cm

| Jan snow days = 2.2

| Feb snow days = 1.6

| Mar snow days = 0.55

| Apr snow days = 0.10

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.11

| Nov snow days = 0.56

| Dec snow days = 2.4

| year snow days = 7.4

| date = August 2010

}}

{{Historical populations

| title = Population history

| type = Canada

| align = right

| footnote = Source: Statistics Canada{{Cite web |title=Population Estimates |url=http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/Demography/PopulationEstimates.aspx |access-date=October 13, 2014 |publisher=Province of British Columbia |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811224942/http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/statisticsbysubject/Demography/PopulationEstimates.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (British Columbia) |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=October 13, 2014 |publisher=Statistics Canada |archive-date=April 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410082306/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2007 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (British Columbia) |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Contains&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |access-date=October 13, 2014 |publisher=Statistics Canada |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017001357/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Contains&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2014 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 |access-date=October 13, 2014 |publisher=Statistics Canada |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722143610/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 |url-status=live }}

| 1921|5814

| 1931|8388

| 1941|14840

| 1951|33670

| 1956|49366

| 1961|70838

| 1966|81826

| 1971|98601

| 1976|116497

| 1981|147138

| 1986|181447

| 1991|245173

| 1996|304477

| 2001|347825

| 2006|394976

| 2011|468251

| 2016|517887

| 2021|568322

}}

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Surrey had a population of 568,322 living in 185,671 of its 195,098 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:568322-517887}}|517887|1}} from its 2016 population of 517,887. With a land area of {{cvt|316.11|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|568322|316.11|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.

Surrey is the 11th largest city in Canada, and is also the fifth-largest city in Western Canada (after Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver). Surrey forms an integral part of Metro Vancouver as it is the largest city in the region by land area, albeit while also serving as the secondary economic core of the metropolitan area. When combined with the City of Vancouver, both cities account for nearly 50 percent of the region's population. In recent years, a rapidly expanding urban core in Downtown Surrey, located in Whalley has transformed the area into the secondary downtown core in Metro Vancouver.{{Cite news |title=British Columbia's Second City |newspaper=Bloomberg |date=February 16, 2012 |url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2012/02/british-columbias-second-city/1250/ |access-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-date=November 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110160114/https://www.citylab.com/life/2012/02/british-columbias-second-city/1250/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=The New Surrey: The city's not-so-secret weapon |url=https://vancouversun.com/technology/surrey+city+secret+weapon/8069958/story.html |accessdate=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909222927/http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/surrey+city+secret+weapon/8069958/story.html |url-status=dead }}

Within the City of Surrey itself feature many neighbourhoods including City Centre, Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, Cloverdale and South Surrey. Each neighbourhood is unique and includes ethnically diverse populations. While Europeans and South Asians can be found in large numbers across the city, areas which house a large proportion of the former include South Surrey (72 percent) and Cloverdale (69 percent), with Newton (58 percent) and Whalley (51 percent) being home to large numbers of the latter.{{Cite web |title=South Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-South-Surrey.pdf |access-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022000348/https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-South-Surrey.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Cloverdale |url=https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Cloverdale.pdf |access-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128083227/https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Cloverdale.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Newton |url=https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Newton.pdf |access-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128083017/https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Newton.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Whalley |url=https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Whalley.pdf |access-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021215423/https://www.surrey.ca/files/Neighbourhood-Profile-Whalley.pdf |url-status=live }}

Immigration to Surrey has drastically increased since the 1980s; this has created a more ethnically and linguistically diverse city. 52 percent do not speak English as their first language, while approximately 38 percent of the city's inhabitants are of South Asian heritage. Beginning in the 1990s, an influx of South Asians began moving to the city from the Punjabi Market neighbourhood of South Vancouver due to rising housing costs and rapidly increasing rent costs for businesses.{{cite web |url=https://vancouversun.com/News/surrey/change-in-the-air-at-the-punjabi-market-as-businesses-depart-for-surrey?r |title=Change in the air at the Punjabi Market as businesses depart for Surrey |date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2021 |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802230604/https://vancouversun.com/News/surrey/change-in-the-air-at-the-punjabi-market-as-businesses-depart-for-surrey?r |url-status=live }} The outflow of these residents combined with increased immigration from the Indian Subcontinent therefore established in Surrey one of the largest concentrations of South Asian residents in North America.{{Cite web |title=Mapping Ethnicity Part One: South Asia In Surrey |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Mapping+ethnicity+Part+South+Asia+Surrey/5547648/story.html |accessdate=January 27, 2021 |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016021700/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Mapping+ethnicity+Part+South+Asia+Surrey/5547648/story.html |url-status=dead }}

Other significant groups which reside in the city include East Asians{{efn|name=EastAsian}} (10.9 percent) and Southeast Asians{{efn|name=SoutheastAsian}} (9.7 percent). Forming nearly 2.3 percent of the total population, the Black community of Surrey is small, though the city is home to the largest Black population in British Columbia;{{Cite web |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810035204 |title=Visible minority by gender and age: Census subdivisions with a population of 5,000 or more by province or territory |first=Statistics Canada |last=Government of Canada |date=June 21, 2023 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |accessdate=May 24, 2025}} roughly 21 percent of the entire Black population of the province resides in Surrey. Similar to most cities across English-speaking Canada, a large majority (64 percent) of Surrey residents of European heritage can trace their roots to the British Isles.{{Cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&SearchText=Vancouver&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Ethnic+origin&TABID=1&type=0 |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census – Surrey, City [Census subdivision], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province] |first=Statistics Canada |last=Government of Canada |date=February 8, 2017 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |accessdate=December 28, 2021 |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229003921/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&SearchText=Vancouver&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Ethnic+origin&TABID=1&type=0 |url-status=live }}

{{More information|Demographics of Metro Vancouver#Historic trends}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Religion in Surrey (2021){{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Surrey, City (CY) British Columbia [Census subdivision] Religion |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00055915004&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=surrey |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027072924/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A00055915004&HEADERlist=32&SearchText=surrey |url-status=live }}

|label1 = Christianity

|value1 = 30.2

|color1 = dodgerblue

|label2 = No religion

|value2 = 28.8

|color2 = honeydew

|label3 = Sikhism

|value3 = 27.4

|color3 = #e9ce1e

|label4 = Islam

|value4 = 5.5

|color4 = green

|label5 = Hinduism

|value5 = 5.4

|color5 = coral

|label6 = Buddhism

|value6 = 1.9

|color6 = yellow

|label7 = Judaism

|value7 = 0.2

|color7 = aqua

|label8 = Indigenous

|value8 = 0.1

|color8 = deeppink

|label9 = Other religions

|value9 = 0.5

|color9 = darkorchid

}}

Proportionally, Surrey has the largest Sikh population percentage (27.4 percent) out of all subdivisions in Canada.

As of 2021, the top five most reported religious affiliations in Surrey were Christianity (170,115 or 30.2 percent), Irreligion (161,860 or 28.6 percent), Sikhism (154,415 or 27.4 percent), Islam (31,095 or 5.5 percent), and Hinduism (30,455 or 5.4 percent).

{{Clear left}}

As of 2010, Surrey had the highest median family income of {{CAD|78,283|link=yes}}, while the BC provincial median was $71,660, and the national median was $74,540. The average family income was $85,765.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=NHS Profile, Surrey, CY, British Columbia, 2011 |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=59&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=Statistics Canada |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609063641/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=5915004&Data=Count&SearchText=Surrey&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=59&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=live }} South Surrey area had the highest average household income of all six town centres in Surrey, with an average of $86,824 as of 2010. Median household income was also high at $62,960.{{Cite web |title=Community Profile 2010 |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/health_profile_south_surrey.pdf |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=Fraser Health |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112055/http://www.surrey.ca/files/health_profile_south_surrey.pdf |url-status=dead }} South Surrey's neighbourhood of Rosemary Heights is the richest in Surrey and throughout the Metro Vancouver area, with a median income more than twice the regional average.{{Cite web |last=Skelton |first=Chad |date=March 1, 2012 |title=Rosemary Heights in Surrey is richest place in Metro Vancouver |url=https://vancouversun.com/Rosemary+Heights+Surrey+richest+place+Metro+Vancouver/6236922/story.html |access-date=February 14, 2015 |website=Vancouver Sun |archive-date=June 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615112905/http://www.vancouversun.com/Rosemary+Heights+Surrey+richest+place+Metro+Vancouver/6236922/story.html |url-status=dead }}

As of 2010, the median household income of Surrey was $67,702 (versus the national median of $76,437), where 29.4 percent of households in Surrey earned a household total income of $100,000 or more, which is above the national average of 25.9 percent.{{Cite web |title=National Survey |date=May 8, 2013 |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Canada&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=StatsCan |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231181021/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Canada&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=live }}

File:Surrey aerial view.JPG

File:Sfusurrey.jpg, the tallest building in Surrey from 2003 to 2017]]

Surrey is one of the largest industrial centres within British Columbia, with a burgeoning high technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health, education, agriculture, and arts sector.{{Cite web |title=Key Sectors |url=http://www.surrey.ca/business-economic-development/4958.aspx |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215065927/http://www.surrey.ca/business-economic-development/4958.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Increase in filming activity in Surrey resulted in 189 productions, including 15 at the city hall plaza, in 2017.{{Cite news |title=Another record-breaking year ensures Surrey is part of Hollywood North |work=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-hollywood-north-1.4473248 |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105012145/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/surrey-hollywood-north-1.4473248 |url-status=live }}

In 2018, Surrey opened a $68 million biofuel facility, the first in North America.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Janet |date=March 9, 2018 |title=North America's first bio-fuel facility opens in Surrey |work=Global News Radio |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4074601/north-americas-first-bio-fuel-facility-opens-in-surrey/ |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321064119/https://globalnews.ca/news/4074601/north-americas-first-bio-fuel-facility-opens-in-surrey/ |url-status=live }}

There were six employers in Surrey in 2017 each with more than 1,000 staff across BC: Fraser Health with 25,000; School District 36 with 10,560; City of Surrey with 3,400; Coast Capital Savings with 1,738; Starline Windows Group with 1,400; Kwantlen Polytechnic University with 1,332.{{Cite book |title=Book of Lists |date=2018 |publisher=Business In Vancouver |page=76}}

Farming has strongly been attached to the economic well-being of Surrey, as the city of Surrey itself fostered and cemented a robust culture of farming. Approximately a third of Surrey's land is preserved and designated as farmland that is utilized for the local production of food to cater the city's growing population as well as increasing employment opportunities via the creation of local jobs. Agriculture continues to invigorate Surrey's economy employing 3300 people or 1.6 percent of Surrey's overall labour force. Manufacturing is also a highly diversified sector where products are produced for developed and emerging industries that range from the cutting of lumber for various BC logging firms to constructing wind turbines as many Surrey-based environmental firms are capitalizing on the city's initiatives for the clean energy sector.{{Cite web |title=Economic Development |url=http://www.surrey.ca/business-economic-development/3506.aspx |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215065730/http://www.surrey.ca/business-economic-development/3506.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Farming |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/Agriculture_Sector_Profile_LORES.pdf |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112038/http://www.surrey.ca/files/Agriculture_Sector_Profile_LORES.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The health sector makes a significant contribution to Surrey's economy. Surrey is home to almost 900 health-related businesses where major focuses in several life science sub-sectors that include infectious diseases, marine bio-science, neuroscience, oncology and regenerative medicine. Surrey Memorial Hospital is the second largest employer in the City of Surrey with an annual operating budget of $149.2{{nbsp}}million while the health care organization, Fraser Health employs more than 4,100 people and an additional 350 active physicians at SMH.{{Cite web |title=City of Surrey Health |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/10618_Health_Sector_Profile_Brochure__LORES.pdf |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112034/http://www.surrey.ca/files/10618_Health_Sector_Profile_Brochure__LORES.pdf |url-status=dead }} Due to population growth in the region, a new hospital in Surrey is planned to be built in Cloverdale; it is projected to be completed in 2026.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fraserhealth.ca/news/2019/Dec/its-official-second-hospital-coming-for-people-in-surrey |title=Its official second hospital coming for people in Surrey |website=www.fraserhealth.ca |accessdate=December 28, 2021 |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228225736/https://www.fraserhealth.ca/news/2019/Dec/its-official-second-hospital-coming-for-people-in-surrey |url-status=live }}

Although not as large as Vancouver's technology sector, Surrey also has an emerging tech sector with a highly anticipated incubator that will potentially act as a base to jump-start ideas into various start-up companies from local innovators, inventors, investors and entrepreneurs.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Surrey is governed by the elected Surrey City Council comprising a mayor and eight councillors. As of the October 15, 2022, election, the mayor is Brenda Locke and city councillors are Linda Annis, Harry Bains,{{efn|No relation to the provincial MLA of the same name from Surrey-Newton{{cite news |last1=Zytaruk |first1=Tom |title=Lawyer Harry Bains, who shares name with long-time MLA, running for Surrey council - Maple Ridge News |url=https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/lawyer-harry-bains-who-shares-name-with-long-time-mla-running-for-surrey-council/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |work=www.mapleridgenews.com |date=September 7, 2022 |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815170808/https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/lawyer-harry-bains-who-shares-name-with-long-time-mla-running-for-surrey-council/ |url-status=live }}}} Mike Bose, Doug Elford, Gordon Hepner, Pardeep Kooner, Mandeep Nagra, and Rob Stutt.{{Cite web |title=City Council |url=https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/2999.aspx |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=www.surrey.ca |date=December 11, 2019 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811094022/https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/2999.aspx |url-status=live }}

In the 2020 provincial election, the BC NDP kept at least their previously six elected MLAs (potentially seven), while the number of MLAs for the BC Liberals will have between two and three.

In 2004, when Gurmant Grewal's wife Nina was elected to parliament, they became the first married couple to serve Canadian parliament concurrently.{{cite web |last1=Winters |first1=Nellie |title=Parliamentary Relatives: Spouses |date=June 14, 2022 |url=http://www.revparlcan.ca/en/parliamentary-relatives-spouses/ |publisher=Canadian Parliamentary Review |access-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310040818/http://www.revparlcan.ca/en/parliamentary-relatives-spouses/ |url-status=live }} Following the 2015 federal election, the Liberal Party of Canada won three of Surrey's four seats in the House of Commons of Canada. Conservative MP Dianne Watts resigned her South Surrey—White Rock seat in 2017 to compete for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party. In the subsequent 2017 by-election, the Liberal candidate Gordie Hogg defeated former Conservative MP and federal cabinet minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

File:City of Surrey Museum 2010a.jpg]]

The Museum of Surrey is affiliated with CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} It reopened as the Museum of Surrey on September 29, 2018, after a renovation which added {{convert|12000|sqft}} to the previous {{convert|24000|sqft|adj=on}} building.{{Cite news |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=April 24, 2018 |title=$16-million expansion of Museum of Surrey to open this fall |work=Daily Hive |url=http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-museum-expansion-opening-2018 |access-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929080424/http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-museum-expansion-opening-2018 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Museum of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2372.aspx |access-date=September 29, 2018 |website=www.surrey.ca |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929080424/https://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2372.aspx |url-status=live }}

Surrey Art Gallery is the second largest public art museum in the Metro Vancouver region.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2018 |title='Interactive Art Museum' Proposed For Surrey City Centre |url=https://604now.com/interactive-art-museum-downtown-surrey/ |access-date=July 6, 2021 |website=604 Now |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190017/https://604now.com/interactive-art-museum-downtown-surrey/ |url-status=live }} It opened on September 13, 1975.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2020 |title=September 13, 1975: Official Opening of the Surrey Art Gallery – Opening Exhibition |publisher=City of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/exhibitions/september-13-1975-official-opening-of-surrey-art |access-date=July 6, 2021 |website=www.surrey.ca |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184811/https://www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/exhibitions/september-13-1975-official-opening-of-surrey-art |url-status=live }}

The historic Surrey Municipal Hall complex includes the Cenotaph in Heritage Square, the Surrey Museum, and Cloverdale Library. The Surrey City Centre Public Library located at Whalley / City Centre is the second largest library in terms of size in Metro Vancouver.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Marelle |date=November 17, 2010 |title=City Centre Library: not just books |url=https://surreycitycentrelibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/nov17leader-focus-on-the-future.pdf |website=The Surrey City Centre Library Blog |access-date=July 17, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014091032/https://surreycitycentrelibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/nov17leader-focus-on-the-future.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Bob Prittie Metrotown – Burnaby Public Library |url=http://www.bpl.bc.ca/locations-hours/bob-prittie-metrotown |access-date=February 27, 2018 |website=www.bpl.bc.ca |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203064218/https://www.bpl.bc.ca/locations-hours/bob-prittie-metrotown |url-status=live }}

"REMEMBRANCE" by André Gauthier in Heritage Square, is an oversized bronze statue depicting a World War I kneeling soldier, helmet in hand, in remembrance of his fallen comrades.{{Cite web |title=Remembrance |url=http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/1661.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215015446/http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/1661.aspx |archivedate=February 15, 2013 |accessdate=January 27, 2021}}

File:2022 Surrey Fusion Festival.jpg]]

Attracting 15,000 people every February since 2004, WinterFest is a day of live music, sporting activities, food, and fireworks, held at the Central City Plaza.

Since 1888, the town centre of Cloverdale has hosted the annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds every May long weekend. The Fair is Canada's second largest rodeo,{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} and it features {{convert|150|acre|km2}} of family-oriented entertainment including agricultural/horticultural exhibits, a western tradeshow, parade, community stages, and the Pacific Northwest Firefighter Combat Challenge.

Every year on April 13, the Sikh community celebrates Vaisakhi, which often includes a nagar kirtan, or parade, and free food is often handed out. It is the largest Vaisakhi parade outside India, growing from 100,000 attendees in 2008{{Cite web |title=100,000 in Vaisakhi parade |url=http://www.canada.com/surreynow/multimedia/story.html?id=80aba4d4-7694-4d56-bc1a-55c5afd54464 |access-date=May 29, 2008 |website=Surrey Now |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108155716/http://www.canada.com/surreynow/multimedia/story.html?id=80aba4d4-7694-4d56-bc1a-55c5afd54464 |url-status=live }} to over 500,000 in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Surrey's Vaisakhi parade sees more than 500,000 people, setting new attendance record |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5187517/surrey-vaisakhi-parade-record/ |access-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517005228/https://globalnews.ca/news/5187517/surrey-vaisakhi-parade-record/ |url-status=live }}

Every October since 1991, Surrey has hosted the Surrey International Writers' Conference. This event brings established writers, agents, editors and publishers from all over the world to the Comfort Inn & Suites Surrey Hotel and Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Guildford Town Centre.

There are presently three live theatre venues in the City of Surrey in British Columbia as of January 2013: the Bell Centre for Performing Arts, the Chandos Pattison Auditorium and the Surrey Arts Centre.Kelly Sinoski, The New Surrey: Developing six cities at once: Surrey must build and link town centres while maintaining their unique traits, Vancouver Sun, January 26, 2013, p.A12

One of the lesser-known events in Surrey is the annual Nicomekl River Race. Every year, in early June, teams of four meet at Nicomekl Park in Langley, British Columbia to begin the race. Unlike most traditional boat races, the Nicomekl River Race requires that all boats be made by the participants. The racecourse extends from Nicomekl Park to Blackie Spit Park at Crescent Beach. The first team to reach the mouth of the river is awarded a prize of $1,000. Additional prizes are awarded to the most creative boat and costume. All proceeds go towards the BC Cancer society.

{{wide image|Cloverdalefairgrounds-pano.jpg|750px|Panorama of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds}}

In addition to news media from Vancouver, the community is served by The Surrey Now-Leader newspaper, and the Peace Arch News newspaper (for South Surrey). The city is also home to South Asian Broadcasting's ethnic radio station ReD-FM and the Asian Journal newspaper.

The first Surrey-based English-language radio station, My Surrey FM 107.7 FM, was licensed by the CRTC in 2014{{Cite news |last=Cahute |first=Larissa |date=August 25, 2014 |title=A first for Surrey radio fans: English-language station will try to fill the good-news gap |work=Vancouver Desi |url=http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/a-first-for-surrey-radio-fans-english-language-station-will-try-to-fill-the-good-news-gap/784293/ |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109054638/http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/a-first-for-surrey-radio-fans-english-language-station-will-try-to-fill-the-good-news-gap/784293/ |url-status=dead }} and is now Pulse FM 107.7 reporting about South of the Fraser news. Radio India, another Indo-Canadian radio station, has its offices in Surrey."[http://radioindia.ca/mgmt.htm Management]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150219041451/http://radioindia.ca/mgmt.htm Archive]). Radio India. Retrieved on April 14, 2015. "Address: #201, 12830-80 Ave, Surrey, B.C. V3S3M6, Canada"

Every summer, Surrey hosts the Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament. It began in 1993 as an international women's fastpitch developmental softball tournament to help teams prepare for the Olympics by facing top-calibre competition. The event continues to be a fan favourite with gate attendance reaching 93,000 for the nine-day tournament in 2004.

The BCHL Surrey Eagles hockey team plays at the South Surrey Arena in Surrey. The Eagles won the BCHL championship, the Fred Page Cup, in 1997, 1998, 2005, 2013 and 2024; the western championship, the Doyle Cup, in 1997 and 1998; and the national championship, the Royal Bank Cup, in 1998.

Surrey hosted the Canadian national qualifying tournament in 2006, and sends a local team to compete for a spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Surrey is also home to Canada's first kabaddi-specific stadium.{{Cite press release |title=Premier Officially Opens Surrey Kabaddi Stadium |date=September 9, 2006 |publisher=Government of British Columbia |url=http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/media_gallery/events/2006/sept/premier_officially_opens_surrey_kabaddi_stadium_2006_09_09_35643_o.html |access-date=January 12, 2008 |archive-date=June 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603002933/http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/media_gallery/events/2006/sept/premier_officially_opens_surrey_kabaddi_stadium_2006_09_09_35643_o.html |url-status=live }}

Although not considered a sport, the globally acclaimed dance company known as "Brotherhood" won gold trophies at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in 2013 and 2014 for the varsity and adult divisions. The affiliated dance production team known as "PraiseTEAM" had taken home the silver trophy at the world finals in 2013 as well. Both dance companies are from Surrey.{{Cite web |title=Canada & New Zealand win big at the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championship. – HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL |url=http://www.hiphopinternational.com/2013/10/10/canada-new-zealand-win-big-at-the-2013-world-hip-hop-dance-championship/ |access-date=February 27, 2018 |website=www.hiphopinternational.com |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115230546/http://www.hiphopinternational.com/2013/10/10/canada-new-zealand-win-big-at-the-2013-world-hip-hop-dance-championship/ |url-status=live }}

Cricket is also played in Surrey. There are more than 85 teams registered with British Columbia Mainland Cricket League. There are more than 20 cricket pitches across Surrey,{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} though the only turf pitch is in West Newton.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Other notable sporting events held by Surrey include:

• 2016 Women's Softball World Championship

The first non-Indigenous settlement of Surrey was founded near Crescent Beach, located in South Surrey; another was founded near Bridgeview/Brownsville, located in North Surrey. Early trails and roads helped to encourage the settlement of Surrey. The first trail built by a settler was the 1861 the Kennedy Trail. James Kennedy built the trail to provide a route between New Westminster and the natural pasture land on the Mud Bay Flats next to the Serpentine River.Early Trails and Roads in the Lower Fraser Valley, W. N. Draper, British Columbia Historical Quarterly, January 1943, Vol. 7, p. 49-56. The Semiahmoo Wagon Road was built in 1873 between Brownsville (opposite New Westminster) and Semiahmoo (Blaine).The Semiahmoo Trail: Myths Makers Memories by Ron Dowle, Surrey Historical Society, 1998. The first regular ferry service across the Fraser River started in 1882 on the steam ferry K de K, with the point of departure at Brownsville.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 1993 |title=Surrey History |url=http://members.shaw.ca/jack_brown/surrey.html |access-date=March 9, 2011 |website=Members.shaw.ca |archive-date=June 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090613034316/http://members.shaw.ca/jack_brown/surrey.html |url-status=live }} The ferry landed on the Surrey side at the start of Old Yale Road, which connected directly inland to Yale and was a major gold rush trail.

The New Westminster Rail Bridge was opened in 1904, allowing personal vehicles to cross the Fraser River on the upper deck. The lower deck, for rail, enabled BC Electric Railway to finally construct the Interurban line, an electric suburb commuter rail route connecting Chilliwack to Vancouver. It opened for service in 1910, and ran through Kennedy, Newton, Sullivan, and Cloverdale. Two of the BCER cars (1225 & 1304) are restored and are operated by the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society on the mainline between Cloverdale and Sullivan.{{Cite web |title=Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society |url=http://www.fvhrs.org/ |access-date=August 1, 2012 |website=Fvhrs.org |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720053612/http://www.fvhrs.org/ |url-status=live }}

In 1937, the then two-lane Pattullo Bridge linking New Westminster and Surrey was opened.

In the early 1950s, BC Electric Railways ceased operating its interurban line, thus increasing the number of vehicles on Surrey roads. Highway 10 was built in 1953, and Highway 15 in 1957. In 1964, the provincial government completed Highway 401 and the Port Mann Bridge; that section of roadway would later be renamed Highway 1. In 1959, the George Massey Tunnel was opened, along with what is known as Highway 99. With the completion of the new Highways 1 and 99, the Fraser Highway and King George Boulevard became major arteries.

In the early 1990s, Surrey saw the return of rail transit with the SkyTrain Expo Line expansion into Surrey. The four stations added were Scott Road, Gateway, Surrey Central and King George.

File:CMBC-B18032.jpg provides frequent bus service between Newton, Guildford and Surrey City Centre.]]

File:King George platform level, March 2019.jpg train at King George station; service to Downtown Vancouver begins at this station.]]

Public transit in Surrey, as with the rest of Metro Vancouver, is operated by TransLink, which provides frequent bus service throughout Surrey, and to other Metro Vancouver municipalities. Metro Vancouver's metropolitan rail system, SkyTrain, provides Surrey with an Expo Line service to Downtown Vancouver via four stations: Scott Road, Gateway, Surrey Central, and King George.

The Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway, and Southern Railway of British Columbia have trackage running through Surrey.{{Cite web |title=COSMOS |url=http://cosmos.surrey.ca/external/ |access-date=August 2, 2018 |website=cosmos.surrey.ca |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804073521/http://cosmos.surrey.ca/external/ |url-status=live }}

Vancouver International Airport is located {{convert|28|km|mi}} west of Surrey. Vancouver International Airport offers direct daily service to destinations in Canada, North America, Europe, and Asia.

Bellingham International Airport is located {{convert|32|km|mi}} south of Surrey, and offers connections to Seattle, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.

Abbotsford International Airport is located {{convert|24|km|mi}} east of Surrey, and offers daily flights to Calgary and Edmonton.

File:CMBC-H18051.jpg provides frequent bus service between Scott Road Skytrain Station and Newton Exchange.]]

Seaport facilities are available at the Fraser River Docks.{{Cite web |title=DP World Fraser Surrey | Pacific Rim Stevedoring |url=http://www.fsd.bc.ca/,%20http://www.fsd.bc.ca/ |accessdate=January 27, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Funding a light rail transit (LRT) line linking both Newton and Guildford with Surrey City Centre was agreed to by both BC's provincial government and the federal government. The project was unpopular, and after electing a new mayor and council in October 2018, who had run on a platform to cancel the LRT line in favour of extending the existing SkyTrain line to Langley, made it their first order of business.{{Cite web |title=Surrey council passes motions to scrap LRT, start municipal police force – CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mccallum-first-day-as-mayor-1.4893538 |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107042135/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mccallum-first-day-as-mayor-1.4893538 |url-status=live }} TransLink's Mayors' Council, who has the ultimate authority over the project, responded to this decision by indefinitely suspending work on the light rail project.{{Cite web |title=Metro Vancouver mayors agree to suspend Surrey LRT, start process for SkyTrain to Langley – CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/metro-vancouver-mayors-council-first-meeting-mccallum-1.4907048 |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204173558/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/metro-vancouver-mayors-council-first-meeting-mccallum-1.4907048 |url-status=live }} In July 2019, a {{convert|7|km|adj=on}} Expo Line extension from King George station to 166 Street and Fraser Highway in Fleetwood was approved and is estimated to be completed by 2025.{{Cite news |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=December 9, 2018 |title=TransLink could open new 16-km SkyTrain in Surrey by 2025 |work=Daily Hive |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-skytrain-surrey-potential-timeline-december-2018 |url-status=live |access-date=March 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209224310/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-skytrain-surrey-potential-timeline-december-2018 |archive-date=December 9, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=July 25, 2019 |title=Mayors' Council approves first phase of new Surrey-Langley SkyTrain up to Fleetwood |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-langley-fraser-highway-skytrain-fleetwood-july-25-2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728040900/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-langley-fraser-highway-skytrain-fleetwood-july-25-2019 |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |access-date=July 28, 2019 |website=Daily Hive}} However, the plan is now to take the SkyTrain the entire way to Langley in one phase by 2028.{{Cite web |title=Surrey-to-Langley SkyTrain won't be up and running until 2028 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8205897/surrey-to-langley-skytrain-2028-finish-date/ |access-date=July 10, 2022 |website=Global News |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922052446/https://globalnews.ca/news/8205897/surrey-to-langley-skytrain-2028-finish-date/ |url-status=live }}

In 2008, Surrey city council created and adopted the Surrey Sustainability Charter:{{Cite web |title=Sustainability Charter: a commitment to sustainability |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/Sustainability_Charter.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=August 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818092829/http://www.surrey.ca/files/Sustainability_Charter.pdf |url-status=dead }} a comprehensive document spanning 72 pages that takes a comprehensive look at all facets of society and creates an overarching document to guide the urban development of the city for the next 50 years. In 2011, the city council released the second update to the 2008 document indicating the progress made in the three years since the inception of the report.{{Cite web |title=Sustainability Charter update 2011 |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/2011FinalSustainabilityReport_web.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513120432/http://surrey.ca/files/2011FinalSustainabilityReport_web.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Anchor|Hurdles}}Being an all-inclusive plan requires an interplay of many complex and sometimes wicked problems. Trying to account for all problems is ambitious, and as the report admits, being at the municipal level reduces the funding, power and resources to implement the vision. The report acknowledges the political hurdle and notes that the city needs to influence players with more power such as the provincial or federal government in order for the vision to be successful.

Some other hurdles that have arisen since the inception of the charter include the following:

File:Holland Park, Surrey BC2.jpg

{{See also|Urban sprawl|Gateway Program}}

Surrey currently faces the problem of urban sprawl, the phenomenon that is characterized by the low density residential, with almost no commercial or industrial zoning. This results in a heavy outflow of traffic in the morning, and inflow in the evening.

The announcement of the Gateway Program in 2005 by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation meant a large expenditure in transportation infrastructure. Despite the oppositions by the Metro Vancouver and several mayoral councils,{{Cite web |title=Burnaby Public Consultation on Provincial Gateway Program |url=http://www.burnaby.ca/Assets/city+services/roads+and+traffic/Transportation+-+Gateway+-+January+15+2007+Council+Report.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=City of Burnaby |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101816/http://www.burnaby.ca/Assets/city+services/roads+and+traffic/Transportation+-+Gateway+-+January+15+2007+Council+Report.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Standing Committee Minutes |url=http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20060606/documents/ttmin.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=City of Vancouver}} the project went ahead to create the South Fraser Perimeter Road and the Port Mann Bridge, both which pass through major portions of Surrey. It has been criticized to be contradictory to not only Metro Vancouver's Sustainable Region Initiative,{{Cite web |title=Proposed twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion |url=http://www.livableregion.ca/pdf/PortMannBriefingJune06.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=David Suzuki Foundation |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626210338/http://www.livableregion.ca/pdf/PortMannBriefingJune06.pdf |url-status=dead }} but also Surrey's Sustainability Charter. Studies have shown that with an increase in road capacity, generated traffic increases, that is traffic that is diverted (shifted in time and route) and induced travel (increased total motor vehicle travel).{{Cite web |last=Litman |first=Todd |date=September 10, 2012 |title=Generated Traffic and Induced Travel Implications for Transport Planning |url=http://www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf |access-date=February 11, 2013 |publisher=Victoria Transport Policy Institute |archive-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310045906/http://www.vtpi.org/gentraf.pdf |url-status=live }} With the construction of the 10 lane Port Mann Bridge, the problem of suburban sprawl is exacerbated not only with the additional capacity, but RapidBus service was also cancelled despite expectations of a stop in Surrey.{{Cite news |date=November 23, 2012 |title=Dianne Watts angry Surrey dropped from RapidBus plans |work=News 1130 |url=http://www.news1130.com/2012/11/23/dianne-watts-angry-surrey-dropped-from-rapidbus-plans/ |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522004406/http://www.news1130.com/2012/11/23/dianne-watts-angry-surrey-dropped-from-rapidbus-plans/ |url-status=live }}

The Sustainability Charter hinges on a large reduction on automobile dependency requiring a well established transit infrastructure to the multiple districts of Surrey. In 2008, Gordon Campbell announced the extension of the Expo Line beyond the current terminus to as far as Langley.{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2008 |title=More Skytrains for Surrey |work=Surrey Leader |id={{ProQuest|373127516}}}} However, financial shortfall came upon Translink shortly after, and many of the announced plans came to a halt. Plans to expand northward via the Evergreen extension came to fruition prior to the vision of extending light rail out to Guildford, Newton and Langley. Mayor Watts attempted impose equal tolling across the region to assist with funding transit to reduce car reliance.{{Cite news |date=June 15, 2012 |title=A better Surrey hinges on halted transit plans |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/a-better-surrey-hinges-on-halted-transit-plans/article4279109/ |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520082048/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/a-better-surrey-hinges-on-halted-transit-plans/article4279109/ |url-status=live }}

Protecting agricultural land reserves also play an important part in the charter of sustainability. The idea behind the agricultural land reserves is to encourage and increase the role of urban agriculture, thus reducing the reliance of food transport and increasing the quality and availability of food to local people. The Charter takes the idea one step further by encouraging food processing agribusiness to complete the supply chain circle.{{Cite web |title=Sustainability Charter: a commitment to sustainability |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/Sustainability_Charter.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |publisher=City of Surrey |pages=20 |archive-date=August 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818092829/http://www.surrey.ca/files/Sustainability_Charter.pdf |url-status=dead }}

In a case study of Toronto completed by Pierre Filion, he claims that while transit and natural area conservation are successful at achieving their respective immediate objectives, they "do not modify metropolitan-wide relations between transportation and land use...in a fashion that is consistent with smart growth". Filion identifies that the largest obstacles are NIMBY reactions from the public and the limited finances from the public sector.{{Cite book |editor-last=Vojnovic |editor-first=Igor |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9781609173470/ |title=Urban sustainability : a global perspective |publisher=Michigan State University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9781611860559 |location=East Lansing |pages=509–523 |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017001357/http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9781609173470/ |url-status=live }}

File:Surrey center library.jpg

Of the city's population over the age of 25, 23.7 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher, slightly below the national average of 25.8 percent. 47.2 percent work in professional and managerial jobs, compared with the national average of 52.7 percent.

School District 36 Surrey oversees 100 public elementary and 21 public secondary schools in Surrey, making it the largest public school district in British Columbia, as well as the largest employer in Surrey.{{Cite web |title=Surrey Schools Fact Sheet |url=https://media.surreyschools.ca/media/Default/medialib/surrey-schools-fact-sheet.100fca69428.pdf |access-date=28 June 2024 |website=SurreySchools.ca}} The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique operates one Francophone school in the city: École Gabrielle-Roy, which includes primary and secondary levels."[http://www.csf.bc.ca/ecoles/en-colombie-britannique/carte-des-ecoles/ Carte des écoles] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817050550/http://www.csf.bc.ca/ecoles/en-colombie-britannique/carte-des-ecoles/ |date=August 17, 2015 }}." Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britanique. Retrieved on January 22, 2015.

The Old Anniedale School, built in 1891,{{Cite web |title=Old Anniedale School |url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=1917 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=HistoricPlaces.ca |publisher=Canadian Register of Historic Places}} is one of the earliest schools in Surrey. It was designed by the British Columbia Department of Lands and Works and constructed by Samuel Edge.

The school is associated with the development of the Tynehead and Anniedale neighbourhoods, first settled in the 1860s along the Coast Meridian Road (168th Street). Now located on the grounds of the modern Anniedale Elementary School, it hosts re-enactments of 19th-century lessons. It was saved from demolition in 1975 by the Anniedale Parent Teacher Association and renovated with government grants and community support. The building was restored again in 2019 by Gibraltar Construction.{{Cite web |title=Heritage buildings moved across Surrey last year to receive $729K in restorations |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/heritage-buildings-moved-across-surrey-last-year-to-receive-729k-in-restorations-2952620 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Surrey Now-Leader}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-05 |title=Old Anniedale School & Surrey Town Hall Restoration - Gibraltar Construction |url=https://gibraltar.ca/portfolio/old-anniedale-school-surrey-town-hall-restoration/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |language=en-US}}

Surrey's local higher education needs are met by the two major research universities in the neighboring municipalities of the Vancouver Metropolitan Area, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. In addition to several career, community, and junior colleges that offer vocational and polytechnic education throughout the city, trades and technical career education is mainly provided by colleges such as Kwantlen Polytechnic University in the Cloverdale and Newton area and by the British Columbia Institute of Technology in the neighboring municipality of Burnaby.

Surrey is home to the third satellite campus of Simon Fraser University, the SFU Surrey Campus, which opened its doors in 2002, acting as a satellite campus operating as a public research university as well as providing further impetus for shaping the city. SFU took over the space and programming that was initially built for TechBC, a technical university proposed for south of the Fraser River by the NDP provincial government of the 1990s. SFU Surrey offers a number of programs, including TechOne and Explorations; first-year cohort options; and studies in Health Science, Applied Sciences, Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Interactive Arts and Technology.

On November 28, 2022, Premier David Eby announced plans to launch a new medical school at Simon Fraser University's Surrey campus by September 2026.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=New medical school at SFU's Surrey campus to train next generation of doctors: Premier |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-bc-medical-school-simon-fraser-university |website=Vancouver Sun}} Eby announced a provincial earmark of $4.9{{Nbsp}}million in start-up financing to support the potential opening.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=New medical school at SFU's Surrey campus to train next generation of doctors: Premier |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-bc-medical-school-simon-fraser-university |website=Vancouver Sun |access-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129012715/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-bc-medical-school-simon-fraser-university |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Beau |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Promised new SFU Surrey medical school to be ready by 2026, B.C. announces |url=https://www.terracestandard.com/news/promised-new-sfu-surrey-medical-school-to-be-ready-by-2026-b-c-announces/ |website=Terrace Standard |access-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423214544/https://www.terracestandard.com/news/promised-new-sfu-surrey-medical-school-to-be-ready-by-2026-b-c-announces/ |url-status=live }} The inauguration of the school in 2026 will mark the planned opening of Western Canada's first new medical school in 55 years.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=New medical school at SFU's Surrey campus to train next generation of doctors: Premier |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-bc-medical-school-simon-fraser-university |website=Vancouver Sun |access-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129012715/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/new-bc-medical-school-simon-fraser-university |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Beau |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Promised new SFU Surrey medical school to be ready by 2026, B.C. announces |url=https://www.terracestandard.com/news/promised-new-sfu-surrey-medical-school-to-be-ready-by-2026-b-c-announces/ |website=Terrace Standard |access-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423214544/https://www.terracestandard.com/news/promised-new-sfu-surrey-medical-school-to-be-ready-by-2026-b-c-announces/ |url-status=live }}

Surrey is also the home of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, an undergraduate polytechnic university that opened its doors in the Newton Town Centre of Surrey in 1981 as a response to the growing need for expanded vocational training across the Fraser Valley. In 2008, Kwantlen Polytechnic University was conferred a university designation from the BC provincial government, upgrading itself from a community college to an official academic teaching institution that has become renowned in applied research.{{Cite web |title=City of Surrey education |url=http://www.surrey.ca/files/Education_Sector_Profile_Brochure__LORES.pdf |access-date=February 14, 2015 |publisher=City of Surrey |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112044/http://www.surrey.ca/files/Education_Sector_Profile_Brochure__LORES.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=April 22, 2008 |title=Kwantlen granted full university status |work=Surrey Now |publisher=CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. |url=http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=a327a555-2a5f-409b-98f0-0cb675c2b8a9&k=80441 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101151135/http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=a327a555-2a5f-409b-98f0-0cb675c2b8a9&k=80441 |archive-date=January 1, 2011}}Queen's Printer, Victoria. [http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/votes/progress-of-bills.htm Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305120024/http://www.leg.bc.ca/38th4th/votes/progress-of-bills.htm |date=March 5, 2012 }} 4th Session, 38th Parliament, May 29, 2008. Retrieved on: September 6, 2008{{Cite web |title=An Overview of B.C.'s Public Post-secondary Institutions |url=http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/institutions/welcome.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925032807/http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/institutions/welcome.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2009 |access-date=August 17, 2017}} Since then, Kwantlen has expanded to various satellite campuses in Richmond, Langley, and as well as a trades and technology centre in the Cloverdale Town Centre. The Kwantlen Surrey campus offers university transfer, career-training and academic-upgrading programs with focuses on science, business, arts, and health, including a publicly accessible wellness center, while the Cloverdale campus offers vocational training through apprenticeships, citations, certificates, and diplomas for skilled trades and technical careers.

In November 2021, the University of British Columbia announced plans to establish a location in Surrey just north of Surrey Memorial Hospital.{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2021 |title=UBC expanding presence in Surrey with $70M land acquisition |work=UBC News |url=https://news.ubc.ca/2021/11/02/ubc-expanding-presence-in-surrey-with-70m-land-acquisition/ |access-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702011259/https://news.ubc.ca/2021/11/02/ubc-expanding-presence-in-surrey-with-70m-land-acquisition/ |url-status=live }}

Besides Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey is also home to numerous community and junior colleges providing vocational education, including Brighton College, Sprott Shaw College, PACE Canada College, Pacific Link College, CDI College, Western Community College, Sterling College, Stenberg College, Academy of Learning, Surrey Community College, Discovery Community College and Vancouver Career College.

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Carolyn Arends, singer-songwriter and author
• Karan Aujla, singer, songwriter and rapper
• Arshdeep Bains, professional hockey player
• Harry Bains, politician
• Nuvraj Bassi, professional football player
• Jagrup Brar, politician
• Jean-Luc Bilodeau, actor
• Margaret Bridgman, politician
• Lisa Brokop, singer
• Laurent Brossoit, professional hockey goaltender
• Chuck Cadman, politician
• Dona Cadman, Member of Parliament and widow of Chuck Cadman
• Gulzar Singh Cheema, physician and politician
• Eleanor Collins, jazz singer, TV host and civic leader
• Ryan D'Arcy, neuroscientist researcher
• Narima dela Cruz, politician
• Baltej Singh Dhillon, first Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer allowed to wear a turban
• Ranj Dhaliwal, author
• Sukh Dhaliwal, politician
• Brenden Dillon, professional hockey player
• Emmalyn Estrada, singer, songwriter, actress and sister of Elise Estrada
• Elise Estrada, singer, songwriter, actress and sister of Emmalyn Estrada
• Kevin Falcon, politician
• Peter Fassbender, politician
• Colin Fraser, professional ice hockey player
• Curtis Fraser, professional ice hockey player
• Gurmant Grewal, politician
• Nina Grewal, politician
• Scott Hannan, professional hockey player
• Dave Hayer, politician
• Kamal Heer, Punjabi singer
• Russ Hiebert, politician
• Jacob Hoggard, lead singer of Hedley
• Britt Irvin, actress, singer, voice-over artist
• Daniel Igali, 2000 Olympic gold medalist for freestyle wrestling
• Mark Janssens, professional hockey player
• Tristan Jarry, professional hockey goaltender
• Jujhar Khaira, professional hockey player
• Sydney Leroux, professional soccer player{{Cite web |title=Sydney Leroux Biography |url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=207924914 |access-date=March 25, 2016 |website=uclabruins.com |archive-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530025429/http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=207924914 |url-status=live }}
• Adam Loewen, former professional baseball player
• Harbhajan Mann, Punjabi singer
• Alen Marcina, Professional soccer player and coach
• Laura Mennell, actress
• Merkules, rapper Cole Stevenson
• Tyler Joe Miller, country singer, songwriter, and humanitarian
• Victoria Moors, Canadian gymnast at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Gary Nylund, professional hockey player
• Shallon Olsen, Olympic artistic gymnast
• Missy Peregrym, actress and former fashion model
• Penny Priddy, politician
• Michael Rasmussen, NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings
• Paul Rodgers, vocalist with Free and Bad Company
• Gordon Rice, artist
• Jasbir Sandhu, politician
• Linus Sebastian, videographer, founder and chief vision officer of Linus Media Group
• Geroy Simon, professional football player
• Jinny Sims, politician
• Lauren Southern, internet personality, writer, and political activist
• Tony Stevens, country singer and songwriter
• Kalib Starnes, professional mixed martial artist
• Heather Stilwell, politician and activist
• John Tenta, professional wrestler nicknamed "Earthquake"
• Aaron Voros, professional hockey player
• Chris and Patrick Vörös, professional wrestlers and social media personalities{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/da-vinki-tik-tok-meme-twins-are-in-on-the-joke |title=The TikTok Twins Who Went Viral For Saying "Da Vinki?!" Fully Understand You Think They're Dumb — And That's What They Wanted |last=Chen |first=Tanya |date=September 23, 2020 |website=BuzzFeed News |access-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-date=August 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813000942/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/da-vinki-tik-tok-meme-twins-are-in-on-the-joke |url-status=live}}
• Manmohan Waris, Punjabi singer
• Nolan Watson, businessman, philanthropist, and humanitarian
• Dianne Watts, politician; first female Mayor of Surrey
• Parker Wotherspoon, professional ice hockey player
• Jessie Sunner, politician{{Div col end}}

Surrey has two sister cities:

Surrey also has six "friendship cities":{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Sister & Friendship Cities: The City of Surrey, British Columbia |url=http://surrey.ca/12562.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806001232/http://surrey.ca/12562.aspx |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=February 27, 2018}}

• {{portal-inline|Pacific Northwest}}
• List of tallest buildings in Surrey

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Sinoski, Kelly. "[https://vancouversun.com/technology/Surrey+secret+weapon/8069958/story.html The New Surrey: The city's not-so-secret weapon]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151017001357/http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Surrey+secret+weapon/8069958/story.html Archive]). Vancouver Sun. March 9, 2013.

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Surrey (British Columbia)|Surrey}}

{{Geographic location

| NW = New Westminster

| North = Coquitlam / Port Coquitlam / Pitt Meadows

| NE = Electoral Area A (Barnston Island)

| W = Delta

| Centre = Surrey

| E = Langley District
Langley City
Langley District

| SW = Boundary Bay

| South = White Rock / Semiahmoo IR / Blaine, Washington {{Flagicon|US}}

}}

{{Subdivisions of British Columbia|city=yes}}

{{Greater Vancouver}}

{{SurreyBCNeighbourhoods}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in British Columbia

Category:Ethnic enclaves in Canada

Category:Populated places established in 1879

Category:Populated places in Greater Vancouver

Category:Populated places on the Fraser River

Category:Sikh enclaves