British Columbia’s fastest-growing municipality, Surrey is coming into its own as Metro Vancouver’s second
downtown. Ambitious developments are boosting the city’s profile, while housing, affordable by Vancouver standards, combines with a commitment to cultivating employment opportunities. Municipal festivals reflect the city’s rich cultural diversity.
Nestled between the Fraser River and the American border between Delta and Langley, Surrey enjoys a strategic location on key highways across Canada and south to the U.S. This has allowed it to attract distribution and manufacturing. Whalley, Surrey’s new civic centre, is emblematic of efforts to transform
the city into an urbane municipality (the next Yaletown, one developer has claimed), while Cloverdale is building on its rural roots to attract residents seeking simpler lives.
Morgan Crossing is an executive address, as is South Surrey, which vies with White Rock in offering upper-middle-class residences.
Countering traffic congestion, SkyTrain service runs to King George station east of the new civic centre: a 45-minute ride to downtown Vancouver.