Surrey: A City Of Stories

This hard cover coffee table book is a great Christmas gift for the history buff on your list. And it’s ONLY $25!

I often refer to the Thomas King quote: “The truth about stories is that’s all we are”. Author K. Jane Watt writes, “The stories we tell about ourselves matter: They carry the certainties of culture, the seeds of action. They spark determination– sometimes for change, sometimes for holding onto what we have” (253).

We moved to Surrey BC a year and a half ago from a small town on Vancouver Island. As a newcomer, I found it so interesting to learn more about our new community beyond its hustle and bustle.

Surrey BC Has Changed SO Much

According to the City of Surrey website, it has a population of 557,310 which is projected to increase by over 262,000 people in the next three decades. It’s hard to believe that Surrey used to be so rural not all that long ago. I also really appreciated how multicultural this book is and how it strives to include representation of the experiences of women and different communities and cultures. History is not always fair or pretty, and this book doesn’t gloss things over.

I readily poured some tea, ran my bath and cracked open my new book.

I Was Surprised To Learn:

• Elvis visited the White Rock Train Station in the 1956
• Surrey hosts the largest Vaisakhi parade outside of India
• The city was originally a suburb of New Westminster
• The historic building that’s now the Surrey Archives in Cloverdale used to be City Hall
• There was a First Nations community called Kikait near the Pattullo Bridge
• The historic oak trees along King George Blvd were brought over from England to celebrate its namesake’s coronation in 1940 (I drive past these every day!)

One of my favourite quotes from this book is:

The past did not simply happen on the single plane of a black-and-white snapshot as old photo albums would have us believe.  The lives of people before us were loud, colourful, and complex.  People of the past lived, loved, mourned, felt joy, faced disappointment, and sometimes let others down, just as we do today. Although we create history from bits and scraps and imperfect things, in its plenitude of stories we feel the weight of humanity.  We honour its fullness (254).

Modern Times + Multiculturalism

About This Book:

Take a trip down memory lane or simply learn about our City’s past.  Written by award-winning author K. Jane Watt, the coffee-table style book was designed so you could flip to any page, take in an amazing old picture, read a quick story and be transported to a different time. For just $25, it’s an ideal keepsake or gift. Winner of the Heritage BC Award and a finalist for a BC Book Prize, Surrey: A City of Stories is approaching sold out.

• Over 500 visuals are featured.
• Stories come alive with quotes, photos and objects.
• Many artifacts from Surrey’s past are featured.
• Spans distant past to modern day.

Get Your Own Copy of Surrey: City of Stories for only $25 (limited quantities left!)

How to Purchase Online

Have the book conveniently shipped to your home or as a gift for $10 shipping within BC.

• • Order online through Web Reg

• Call 604-501-5100 Monday to Friday

Where to Purchase the Book in Person

1. 1. Black Bond Books in Semiahmoo Shopping Centre or Central City

1. 1. Any City of Surrey library

1. A City facility below:

• Bridgeview Community Centre – 11475 – 126A Street
• Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre- 13458 107A Avenue
• Cloverdale Rec Centre – 6188 – 176th Street
• Cloverdale Arena – 6090 – 176 Street
• Don Christian Recreation Centre – 6220 – 184 Street
• Fleetwood Community Centre – 15996 – 84 Avenue
• Fraser Heights – 10588 – 160 Street
• Grandview Heights Aquatic – 16855 – 24 Avenue
• Guildford Recreation Centre – 15105 – 105 Avenue
• Historic Stewart Farm – 13723 Crescent Road
• Kensington Prairie Rec Centre – 16824 – 32 Avenue
• Newton Arena – 7120 – 136B Street
• Newton Recreation Centre – 13730 – 72 Avenue
• Newton Seniors Centre – 13775 – 70 Avenue
• Surrey Archives – 17671 56 Avenue
• Surrey Arts Centre – 13750 88 Avenue
• Surrey City Hall – 13450 104 Avenue
• South Surrey Arena – 2199 – 148 Street
• South Surrey Indoor Pool – 14655 – 17 Avenue
• South Surrey Rec and Arts Centre – 14601 – 20 Avenue

Despite that fact that this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.