November 24, 2018
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).
Surrey- A City of Stories
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.
Early European Settlers
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.
Central City
Artefacts
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
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.
First Nations Artifacts
Blasting for the Railroad
Have the book conveniently shipped to your home or as a gift for $10 shipping within BC.
Museum of Surrey
Despite that fact that this is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW