02 The story
Surrey’s South Asian heart
Newton began as a farming community in the middle of Surrey. Like much of the city, it grew rapidly in the decades after the Second World War, and over the following decades it became home to a large Punjabi community. Today Newton is one of the most important centres of South Asian life in Canada.
The main commercial streets are King George Boulevard, 72nd Avenue and 128th Street, where plazas are packed with restaurants, sweet shops, grocery stores, jewellers and clothing boutiques. It is one of the best places in the region for Punjabi food, from fresh samosas and pakoras to full thali meals and chai.
Vaisakhi, parks and recreation
Each April, Newton hosts one of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside India, drawing huge crowds to celebrate the Sikh new year and harvest festival. Streets fill with floats, music and free food offered by volunteers. Expect road closures and plan to arrive by transit.
The Newton Recreation Centre has a wave pool and fitness facilities, and Newton Athletic Park has sports fields and trails. Just north, Bear Creek Park has gardens, a miniature train and the Surrey Arts Centre, a popular family outing.
Newton suits families and newcomers who want an affordable, well-connected suburb with a strong community feel. The area around the bus exchange can be busy and is still being redeveloped, while quieter residential streets spread out in every direction.
