02 The story
Surrey’s green southern edge
South Surrey covers a wide area between the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers and the border with Washington State. It is the traditional territory of the Semiahmoo First Nation, whose reserve lies along Semiahmoo Bay. Settlers farmed the river flats from the late 1800s, and the Great Northern Railway brought summer visitors to the beaches in the early 1900s.
Today the area wraps around the separate City of White Rock. The commercial heart is around 152nd Street and 16th Avenue, where Semiahmoo Shopping Centre and the White Rock Centre bus exchange sit on the border between the two cities. Newer shopping areas have grown around Highway 99 and 24th Avenue in Grandview Heights.
Forests, farms and history
South Surrey is known for its parks. Redwood Park has towering redwoods and other trees planted by two brothers in the 20th century, along with trails and a treehouse. Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest is a large patch of second-growth forest with quiet walking trails. On the Nicomekl River, Elgin Heritage Park is home to the Historic Stewart Farm, a restored farmhouse from the 1890s.
At the border, Peace Arch Park surrounds the Peace Arch, a monument to friendship between Canada and the United States, with gardens and lawns that are popular for picnics.
South Surrey suits families and retirees who want space, good schools and quick access to the beaches at Crescent Beach and White Rock. Highway 99 makes it easy to reach the airport, Richmond and the US border, though traffic can back up at rush hour and at the crossings.
