02 The story
The town centre on the hill
While visitors head for the beach, White Rock residents do much of their daily life uptown. The town centre runs along Johnston Road, which continues north into Surrey as 152nd Street, from 16th Avenue down the hill toward the waterfront.
The area has changed a lot in recent years, with new condo towers rising above older low-rise plazas. Along Johnston Road you will find groceries, pharmacies, banks, cafés and restaurants within a few blocks.
Community life and views
The White Rock Community Centre and the White Rock library are a short walk from Johnston Road, and Peace Arch Hospital sits nearby on the east side of uptown. Small parks and plazas offer places to sit, and several streets have long views down to Semiahmoo Bay.
Right at the top of the hill, Semiahmoo Shopping Centre sits across 16th Avenue in Surrey, adding a larger mall with more stores. The White Rock Centre bus exchange beside it is the area’s transit link to SkyTrain and the rest of Surrey.
Uptown suits retirees and condo owners who want to walk to shops, health services and buses, with the beach a short ride or a steep walk away. If you are walking down to the waterfront, the hill is easy on the way down but a workout on the way back, so plan to catch a bus up.
