02 The story
Surrey’s first town centre
Cloverdale was one of the first farming communities in Surrey. William Shannon bought land here in 1875 and named it after the clover growing in the fields. The area became Surrey’s first town centre, with the first town hall built in 1881 and a municipal hall following in 1912. A railway station linked the village to New Westminster and Bellingham from 1891, and Christ Church, built in 1882, is among the oldest buildings in Surrey.
The heritage core along 176th Street still feels like a small town, with low brick and wooden storefronts, antique shops and local cafés. It has stood in for Smallville in the TV series of the same name, and later in Superman and Lois, so fans often come looking for familiar storefronts.
Rodeo, fairgrounds and museum
The Cloverdale Fairgrounds are home to the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, held every Victoria Day long weekend and one of the largest rodeos in Canada. The grounds also host markets, trade shows and community events through the year, along with a racetrack and casino.
The Museum of Surrey, the city’s official museum, is in Cloverdale and tells the story of Surrey’s people, from Indigenous history to farming and immigration. Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s trades and technology campus is also nearby.
Cloverdale suits families and people who want a heritage atmosphere with space around them. The surrounding area has newer subdivisions and farmland. Visit on a weekend for the shops, and book ahead if you plan to stay during rodeo weekend.
