Check out the best of Surrey-North Delta Readers’ Choice award winners inside
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Tuesday November 19, 2013
Serving Surrey and d North Delta www.surreyleader.com by Kevin Diakiw
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LEADER FILE PHOTO
or what feels like an eternity, Surrey, British Columbia has been the butt of endless jokes. (What do you say to a Surrey man in a suit and tie? Will the defendant please rise). Long seen as the rough-and-tumble second cousin to Vancouver’s posher persona, Surrey – now home to more than half-a-million people – is beginning to gain some of the respect it has so sorely fought for. A downtown core – the region’s second city centre – is developing along a rapid transit SkyTrain route, which can shuttle people to or from Vancouver in just 30 minutes. Anchor buildings include Simon Fraser University, a major shopping centre, a new architecturally stunning library, Marriott International hotel, a public plaza for gathering, and a new city hall and performing arts centre Kevin Diakiw (under construction). Numerous residential highrises are also on the way. Ironically, the city’s shiny new downtown core is situated in its northernmost community, Whalley, which has long struggled with the social ills of poverty, homelessness and substance abuse. See SURREY, CANADA / Page 16
The view over Surrey, B.C.’s growing Central City area in 2012.
A tale of two Surreys
Two reporters – one from The Surrey-North Delta Leader and the other from The Surrey Advertiser in England – give a glimpse into their communities within easy reach of the capital. Some of the key figures and household names from British eet Surrey, U.K. history can be linked to SurAcross the Atlantic, rey – actor Laurence Olivier was in southern England, born there, author H. G. Wells lies another was a long-term resident, Surrey, and it also and John Lennon lived in struggles with a reputathe county for four years tion some of its citizens from 1964. are not happy about. In the last decade SurThe county of Surrey rey, and in particular an is situated southwest of area called Elmbridge in London, and has been the north of the county, labelled England’s answer has gained ever-increasto Beverly Hills. ing renown as a milGuy Martin “Leafy Surrey” has lionaire’s playground – to always been a favourite the growing irritation of place for rich Londoners to buy some of its residents. a home outside the city, but still
by Guy Martin
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See SURREY, ENGLAND / Page 16
PHOTO COURTESY GARY SAVAGE / HELI AIR
Aerial views of Woking town centre in Surrey, England taken in March 2012.
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