Surrey, British Columbia

History

Surrey was incorporated in 1879 on the traditional lands of Indigenous nations including the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo. The area was named by Englishman H.J. Brewer, who was reminded of his native County of Surrey in England when looking across the Fraser River from New Westminster. Early settlement was focused on farming, fishing, and small stores in areas like Cloverdale and South Surrey. The construction of the Pattullo Bridge in 1937 opened the way for significant expansion, transforming Surrey into a bedroom community in the post war decades. Unprecedented growth occurred from the 1980s onward, fueled by immigration from across Canada and the world, particularly Asia. In 2013, it was projected that Surrey would surpass Vancouver in population within 10 to 12 years, a trajectory that continues today.

The city's development was shaped by its transportation links. Early trails like the Kennedy Trail and the Semiahmoo Wagon Road facilitated settlement. The arrival of the BC Electric Railway Interurban line in 1910 connected communities, though service ceased in the 1950s. The post war era saw the construction of major highways and bridges, including Highway 1 and the Port Mann Bridge, which cemented Surrey's role within the regional road network. The return of rail transit came in the early 1990s with the SkyTrain Expo Line expansion into Surrey, and in 2026, the new four lane stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge opened to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge.

Geography and Climate

Surrey is characterized by low density urban sprawl typical of North American cities, with areas of residential housing, light industry, and commercial centres. Approximately 27 percent of the city's land, or 2,465 hectares, is designated as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve and is preserved for farming. The terrain is mostly hills and flatland, with significant flat areas found in Tynehead, Hazelmere, south Cloverdale, and Colebrook. Surrey has an oceanic climate common to the Pacific Northwest, featuring rainy, wet winters that often last into early spring. Winters are chilly but not frigid, while summers are mild and sunny, and autumns are cool and cloudy.

Demographics

According to the 2021 Canadian census, Surrey had a population of 568,322, making it the 11th largest city in Canada and the fifth largest in Western Canada. The city's population density was 1,797.9 people per square kilometre. Surrey forms an integral part of Metro Vancouver, being the largest city in the region by land area and serving as its secondary economic core. Combined with Vancouver, the two cities account for nearly 50 percent of the region's population. A rapidly expanding urban core in Downtown Surrey, located in Whalley, has transformed the area into a secondary downtown for Metro Vancouver.

The city is highly ethnically diverse, a transformation that accelerated with increased immigration beginning in the 1980s. In 2021, approximately 38 percent of inhabitants were of South Asian heritage, forming one of the largest concentrations of South Asian residents in North America. Other significant groups included East Asians at 10.9 percent and Southeast Asians at 9.7 percent. Surrey was also home to the largest Black population in British Columbia, with roughly 21 percent of the province's Black residents living there. A majority of residents of European heritage trace their roots to the British Isles. In terms of religion, Surrey has the largest Sikh population percentage of any subdivision in Canada at 27.4 percent. The top religious affiliations in 2021 were Christianity, Irreligion, Sikhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

Economy and Major Employers

Surrey is one of the largest industrial centres in British Columbia, with a burgeoning high technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health, education, agriculture, and arts sector. In 2018, the city opened a $68 million biofuel facility, the first of its kind in North America. The health sector is a significant contributor, with Surrey home to almost 900 health related businesses focused on life sciences. Surrey Memorial Hospital is the city's second largest employer. Due to population growth, a new hospital in Cloverdale is planned, with a projected completion date of 2026. Major employers with over 1,000 staff include Fraser Health, School District 36, the City of Surrey, Coast Capital Savings, Starline Windows Group, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Agriculture remains strongly attached to Surrey's economic wellbeing, with about one third of the land preserved for farming. This sector employed 3,300 people in 2015. Manufacturing is highly diversified, encompassing activities from lumber production for logging firms to the manufacture of wind turbines for the clean energy sector. The city also sees significant filming activity, with 189 productions recorded in 2017 alone. Economic indicators from 2010 showed Surrey had a higher median family income than the provincial average, and areas like South Surrey's Rosemary Heights had median incomes more than twice the regional average.

Government and Politics

Surrey is governed by an elected city council comprising a mayor and eight councillors. As of the October 2022 election, the mayor is Brenda Locke. City councillors are Linda Annis, Harry Bains, Mike Bose, Doug Elford, Gordon Hepner, Pardeep Kooner, Mandeep Nagra, and Rob Stutt. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 17, 2026, when voters will elect one mayor, eight councillors, and six school trustees. Federally, Surrey has been represented by Members of Parliament from various parties. In 2004, Nina Grewal and her husband Gurmant Grewal became the first married couple to serve in the Canadian Parliament concurrently. Following a 2017 by election in South Surrey, White Rock, Liberal candidate Gordie Hogg was elected.

Culture and Attractions

Surrey offers a variety of cultural attractions and institutions. The Museum of Surrey, which reopened after a renovation in 2018, is affiliated with national museum organizations. The Surrey Art Gallery, opened in 1975, is the second largest public art museum in Metro Vancouver. The historic Surrey Municipal Hall complex in Cloverdale includes the Cenotaph in Heritage Square, which features the bronze statue "REMEMBRANCE" by André Gauthier. The Surrey City Centre Public Library in Whalley is the second largest library in Metro Vancouver by size.

The city hosts numerous annual events that draw large crowds. WinterFest in February attracts 15,000 people for a day of music, sports, food, and fireworks. The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, held every May long weekend since 1888, is Canada's second largest rodeo. The Sikh community's Vaisakhi parade in April is the largest outside India, with attendance exceeding 500,000 in 2019. Other events include the Surrey International Writers' Conference every October and the charitable Nicomekl River Race in early June. The city is also served by local news media including The Surrey Now Leader newspaper and ethnic radio stations like ReD FM and Pulse FM.

Sports and Recreation

Surrey has an active sports scene with facilities and teams for various activities. The Green Timbers Urban Forest is a large park within the city. The Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament has been hosted every summer since 1993. In hockey, the BCHL Surrey Eagles play at the South Surrey Arena and have won multiple championships, including the Fred Page Cup in 2024. The PJHL expanded to two Surrey teams in 2025 with the creation of the Cloverdale Hockey Club, which plays at the Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex. Whalley Park is a hub for baseball, hosting the Whalley Chiefs and Little League teams, with Surrey having hosted national qualifying tournaments.

The city is home to Canada's first kabaddi specific stadium. Cricket is popular, with over 85 teams registered in the local league and more than 20 pitches across the city. Surrey based dance companies have won gold at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships. Other sports include field hockey with the Surrey Sharks, and rugby union with the Surrey Beavers and Bayside Sharks. The 2026 BC Rugby Union Finals were held at Bayside's facility in South Surrey Athletic Park. Surrey also hosted the 2016 Women's Softball World Championship.

Transportation

Public transit in Surrey is operated by TransLink, which provides extensive bus service throughout the city and to other Metro Vancouver municipalities. The SkyTrain Expo Line connects Surrey to Downtown Vancouver via four stations: Scott Road, Gateway, Surrey Central, and King George. The city's transportation history is marked by key infrastructure developments. The Pattullo Bridge, opened in 1937, was a vital link until its replacement, the four lane stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, opened in 2026. Major highways like Highway 1, Highway 99, Fraser Highway, and King George Boulevard serve as critical arteries for regional travel. The early BC Electric Railway Interurban line, which operated from 1910 to the 1950s, has preserved cars that are now operated by the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society on a heritage line between Cloverdale and Sullivan.

Questions about Surrey, British Columbia

What is the population of Surrey?

According to the 2021 Canadian census, Surrey had a population of 568,322. The city is experiencing rapid growth, with a 9.7 percent increase from its 2016 population of 517,887. Surrey is the second most populous city in British Columbia after Vancouver. In 2013, it was projected to surpass the city of Vancouver as the most populous city in BC within 10 to 12 years.

What are the main ethnic groups in Surrey?

Surrey is an ethnically diverse city. The largest group is people of South Asian heritage, who comprised approximately 38 percent of the population in 2021. Other significant groups include East Asians at 10.9 percent, Southeast Asians at 9.7 percent, and people of European descent. Surrey is also home to the largest Black population in British Columbia.

What is Surrey known for?

Surrey is known as a major suburban city and a growing economic hub within Metro Vancouver. It is recognized for its large South Asian community and hosts the largest Vaisakhi parade outside India. The city has a significant agricultural sector, with about one third of its land preserved for farming. Surrey is also a centre for film production, clean energy technology, and hosts major events like the Cloverdale Rodeo.

How do you get around Surrey?

Getting around Surrey involves a mix of public transit and road travel. TransLink operates frequent bus services throughout the city. The SkyTrain Expo Line provides rail service to Vancouver from four stations in Surrey. Major highways like Highway 1 and Highway 99, along with arteries like Fraser Highway and King George Boulevard, facilitate road travel. The new stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, opened in 2026, connects Surrey to New Westminster.

What are the major employers in Surrey?

Major employers in Surrey include Fraser Health, which employs 25,000 people across British Columbia. School District 36 employs 10,560 people. The City of Surrey employs 3,400 people. Other major employers are Coast Capital Savings with 1,738 staff, Starline Windows Group with 1,400 staff, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University with 1,332 staff. Surrey Memorial Hospital is also a significant employer.

When is the next Surrey municipal election?

The most recent Surrey municipal election was held on October 15, 2022. As of that election, the mayor is Brenda Locke. The city councillors are Linda Annis, Harry Bains, Mike Bose, Doug Elford, Gordon Hepner, Pardeep Kooner, Mandeep Nagra, and Rob Stutt. Surrey is governed by this elected Surrey City Council comprising a mayor and eight councillors.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.