Surrey - Community Overview

Englishman H. J. Brewer looked across the Fraser River from New Westminster and the land reminded him of his native home Surrey, England and so the community of Surrey began. Surrey grew slowly in the beginning, with only a double span bridge across the Fraser (1904) providing the only access to New Westminster and Vancouver. With the opening of the Pattullo Bridge, built in 1937 along with railways and roads, steady industrial and commercial growth occurred, which was furthered by an influx of people from the drought-stricken Prairies in the 1930s.

Political unrest led to the recession in 1957 of Ward 7, which broke away and became the municipality of White Rock. In 1960, the opening of the Port Mann Bridge and subsequent freeway development brought further growth and change.

Today, Surrey can boast of its’ major highways, deep sea docks and international airport all of which make Surrey an easy access for local, national and international markets. The Skytrain Rapid Transit System travels to Vancouver, making it a quick 35 minute ride.

The City of Surrey is an amalgamation of the following communities, Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Whalley, Guildford, Newton and South Surrey. Surrey is situated in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, on the Canada/US border, beside the Fraser River.

Highways #1, (Trans-Canada Highway), #99 and #91, all access Surrey.

Surrey has a population of approximately 394,976.

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