Surrey
Rooted in nature, growing with you
Surrey, British Columbia, is a vibrant growing city that combines modern living with natural beauty and a strong farming history. Known as the City of Parks, Surrey boasts over 6,000 acres of parkland, offering endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re exploring the trails of Green Timbers, browsing fresh produce at a local farmers’ market or taking in the latest exhibit at the Surrey Art Gallery, the city offers something for everyone. With excellent schools, expanding transit options and a close-knit community, Surrey is not just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive.
Location
Perfectly placed between city and sea
Set against a backdrop of coastal skies and rolling lowlands, Surrey is a city defined by its diversity, energy and evolving identity. Located just south of the Fraser River and minutes from the United States border, Surrey is a gateway between the Pacific Northwest and the heart of British Columbia. Once a patchwork of rural communities, it has grown into a dynamic urban centre where innovation, culture and community intersect. From its vibrant neighbourhoods and multicultural festivals to its growing arts scene and civic spaces, Surrey offers a rich tapestry of experiences. With its welcoming spirit and forward-looking vision, Surrey continues to shape its place as a bold and inclusive city in the Lower Mainland.
Surrey resides on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the qicəy (Katzie) [kut-zee], qʷɑ:nƛən [Kwantlen], kʷikʷəƛəm (Kwikwetlem) [kwee-kwet- lum], Semiahmoo [semi-ah-moo] and scəwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) [tsawah-sen] First Nations, and home to the Surrey-Delta Métis Association.
Places to live
Where every newcomer is welcomed like a neighbour.
Surrey combines the warmth of a close-knit community with the energy of a growing urban centre. Ideally located near the U.S. border and just 40 minutes from Vancouver, it offers easy access to the entire Lower Mainland. Once a rural patchwork, Surrey has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural city with a strong sense of identity. Blending modern development with warm, welcoming neighbourhoods, it offers a truly connected and livable place to call home.
Things to do
Nature, culture and community await.
Take a leisurely walk through the trails of Bear Creek Park or enjoy the vibrant energy of Holland Park in the heart of City Centre. Then spend the afternoon browsing local shops and cafés in Cloverdale or unwind by the ocean breeze at nearby Crescent Beach. Stop by the Surrey Art Gallery to explore contemporary exhibitions or visit the Museum of Surrey to uncover the stories that shaped the region. Cap off your day with a performance at the Bell Performing Arts Centre or a sunset picnic in one of the city’s many green spaces—Surrey offers something special around every corner.
Transportation
Getting around the city
Whether commuting or exploring, Surrey’s well-connected infrastructure is designed for accessibility and ease. Major routes like Highway 1 and Fraser Highway connect Surrey to neighbouring communities and the broader Metro Vancouver region. Surrey is also well-served by the SkyTrain, offering fast and reliable transit to downtown Vancouver and other parts of Metro Vancouver. Plans are underway to expand SkyTrain service further into Surrey, enhancing connectivity and supporting future growth.
Surrey also continues to expand its network of bike lanes, walking paths and greenways. Electric vehicle drivers benefit from a growing number of charging stations across the city.
Schools for your children
As the largest school district in B.C., Surrey School District serves over 120 public elementary and secondary schools, offering a wide range of specialized programs to meet diverse student needs. The city also features a rich mix of independent and private schools—including faith-based and alternative education options—all committed to creating inclusive, supportive learning environments.
For post-secondary education, Surrey is home to Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a campus of Simon Fraser University, both known for innovation and academic excellence. These institutions, along with nearby colleges and training centres, make Surrey a growing hub for higher education and lifelong learning.
Arriving in B.C.
Making your move easy
While you wait for your moving day, there are a few things you can do to ensure your arrival in B.C. is smooth and you can settle in quickly.
WelcomeBC has information to prepare you for your arrival to B.C. and outlines steps you can take in the first few days to help you settle in.
You’ll also find the B.C. Newcomers’ Guide helpful with tips and information on healthcare, finding a place to live, education, money & banking, and much more. It is available in 13 languages.
FAQs
The Government of British Columbia (Provincial government) health plan is called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). It pays for basic, medically required health services. These include some doctor visits, medical tests, and treatments. Not all health costs are covered by MSP like dental, optometry/vision or physiotherapy to name a few.
MSP is for:
• B.C. residents who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• B.C. residents who are government-assisted refugees
• international students with study permits
• some people with work permits for 6 months or more
Click here to find out if you are eligible for MSP.
Registering for MSP
You should register for MSP as soon as you arrive in B.C.
All residents of B.C. must be registered with MSP. You need to apply to register for MSP. On your application, make sure you write your name exactly as it appears on other official documents.
You may have to wait for up to 3 months for your application to be processed. If you do not have MSP, you should buy private medical insurance. If you need medical care in B.C. and you do not have MSP or private medical insurance, you will have to pay all medical costs yourself. These costs can be very high.
Check out the Newcomers Guide for more details on B.C.’s healthcare system.
You will need a BC Services Card to access health care services.
Follow these steps to get your BC Services Card.
1. Apply for MSP.
- Complete and send the BC MSP enrolment form.
- You can also apply online.
2. Visit an ICBC driver licensing office. After you send your documents and enrolment form, you will receive a letter in
the mail. Take the letter to an ICBC driver licensing office. You will also need to take 2 pieces of identification.
- Find out what kind of identification you will need. icbc.com – Search for “Service card
accepted ID” - Find an ICBC office near you.
Children under 19, people 75 and older, and people with study and work permits do not have to visit an ICBC office. You will receive a BC Services Card without a photo. Click here for more information.
Check out the Newcomers Guide for more details on B.C.’s health care system.
There are many real estate sites that list local rentals and sales of homes in New Westminster. Here are some to choose from:
Buyers:
Renters:
- apartments.com
- realtor.ca
- rentals.ca
- Join a local Facebook group
Tips:
- Check out the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) website for information on mortgages for newcomers to B.C.
- Visit financial institutions like RBC, TD, Scotiabank or a Credit Union for newcomer mortgage programs and book a meeting with a mortgage advisor.
- BC Housing can help you find out about affordable housing and first-time home buyer programs.
Surrey offers the largest and most diverse school district in B.C., with a wide range of public, private, and specialized education options in inclusive learning environments. Learn more on the Surrey School District site.
Tip: Ensure you have all the documentation needed to register your children in school:
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residence (home address)
The child care facilities listed here are licensed by Fraser Health. This list is regulated under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act of B.C. and is updated approximately every four months.
Recreation Facilities & Sport Fields
Surrey offers a wide range of recreation facilities and sports fields, including pools, arenas, fitness centres and over 200 outdoor spaces for everything from soccer to tennis. Whether you’re looking to stay active or enjoy the outdoors, there’s something for everyone. Click here for a complete list.
Parks
With hundreds of parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy—whether you’re exploring nature, staying active or spending quality time with family. Click here for an interactive map and more information about all the parks you can explore.
Golf Courses
Surrey is a year-round golfing destination with the most courses in Metro Vancouver, offering scenic fairways, diverse challenges and top-notch amenities for players of all levels. Click here to discover more.
Live Theatre
Surrey Civic Theatres offers a vibrant cultural experience for visitors, showcasing a wide range of live performances in beautifully designed venues. Located at the Surrey Arts Centre, the theatres host everything from professional plays and concerts to family-friendly shows and community productions. Click here for program information.
More fun activities
For shopping, restaurant, arts, entertainment activities and more, check out Discover Surrey for their recommendations on:
Surrey’s dining scene is a vibrant mix of global flavours, where diverse cultures come together to create unforgettable culinary experiences. Click here to see the wide variety of restaurants, pubs and breweries.
- Vancouver – 40 minutes by car
- Burnaby – 25 minutes by car
- New Westminster – 15 minutes by car
- Richmond – 40 minutes by car
- Langley – 25 minutes by car
- Whistler – 2-hour drive by car
Click here to find information on schedules, routes and pricing.
The only way to get to Vancouver Island from the mainland is by ferry or airplane.
Ferry
The main ferry services are run by BC Ferries, which operates vessels between these ferry terminals:
- Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (for Victoria)
- Tsawwassen and Duke Point (Nanaimo)
- Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Seaplane
You can take a seaplane between the downtown Vancouver and Victoria harbours through Harbour Air.
Airplane
You can take a commercial airline and fly between Vancouver International Airport and Victoria International Airport.
Photo credits: Discover Surrey
A flourishing city: abundant parkland, premier golf courses, and a charming rural atmosphere
Surrey is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and its land mass makes it one of the largest cities in the province, equal to the size of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby combined.
Known as the City of Parks, Surrey has over 6,000 acres of parkland and 15 golf courses and driving ranges. Also, despite rapid growth, Surrey has held onto the rural flavour of its past, with about 35 per cent of its land designated as agricultural and still actively farmed.
Area Facts
Enveloping the majority of Metro Vancouver’s area south of the Fraser River, Surrey is Metro Vancouver’s gateway to Washington State to the south with bordering cities of Langley, Township of Langley and Delta on each side. Surrey is centrally located in the region with major access to communities north of the Fraser River and about 40 minutes (46 km) from Vancouver’s city centre.
Surrey is home to over 600,000 residents with a population projected to increase by more than 267,000 over the next 26 years.
Surrey has the largest public-school district in British Columbia, including schools from kindergarten through grade 12, with a number of private schools in the area.
Home to a third Simon Fraser University campus and the main Kwantlen Polytechnic University campus, Surrey also has a number of private post-secondary intuitions offering vocational training.
Surrey is one of the largest industrial centres within British Columbia, with a growing high technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health care, education, agriculture, film/television and arts sector.
There are several large employers based in Surrey with more than 1,000 staff across the province (Fraser Health being one of them).
Things To Do
With a few waterfront areas in the city, Surrey provides access to some of the areas most stunning beaches. Visit Crescent Beach for a variety of recreational activities from swimming to volleyball, or take the dogs for a swim at Blackie Spit Park. Stroll through the hundreds of city parks and trails, or explore the regular events and festivals at the Cloverdale Rodeo Grounds. With several retail shopping hubs, Surrey is home to multiple big-box stores and the some of the most well-known brand-names.
Explore Our Region
Surrey is centrally located in the region with major access to communities north of the Fraser River and about 40 minutes (46 km) from Vancouver’s city centre.
Surrey Memorial Hospital
Surrey Memorial Hospital is the largest of three regional hospitals in Fraser Health’s integrated network of care, providing primary, secondary, and tertiary services, including 24/7 emergency (including a dedicated pediatrics emergency area), cardiac and critical care, levels one, two and three obstetrics and neonatal intensive care, adolescent and adult inpatient psychiatry, surgical sub-specialties (e.g., plastics, thoracic, vascular, orthopedic), inpatient rehabilitation and ambulatory care. Consistent with the integrated network approach to delivering care, community programs such as home health, public health, community mental health are part of the care and service continuum.
With 624 acute care beds, and 36 neonatal intensive care (NICU) bassinettes, in one of BC’s fastest growing communities, Surrey Memorial Hospital delivers more newborns every year than any other hospital in Fraser Health’s integrated network of care.
In 2016/17 Surrey Memorial Hospital saw 157,711 emergency room visits, provided care to 30,075 inpatient and 12,020 surgical day care cases, delivered 4,461 newborns, and had 165,331 visits to ambulatory care.
As a regional hospital for Fraser Health, as well as the home hospital for one of BC’s fastest growing communities, Surrey Memorial Hospital is the second largest hospital in the province with the province’s busiest Emergency Department. Surrey Memorial Hospital provides specialized care to people from across Fraser Health, not only to residents of Surrey.
Surrey Memorial Hospital is a regional referral centre for adolescent psychiatry pediatrics and maternity infant care.
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Fraser Health is generously supported by a network of health care foundations. Donations to our health care foundations build upon government health care funding to help support priority equipment, education, research, facility enhancements and/or other projects in our hospitals and surrounding communities.
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