Skip to content

Heritage bus tour explores Surrey's historic landmarks

The 6th annual tour offers passengers a unique way of looking at their city by exploring how waterways and rivers shaped Surrey development.
43761cloverdalewWH.554_resize
A Surrey landmark: the sign welcoming visitors to Crescent Beach.

In honour of B.C. Heritage Week (Feb. 17-23), Surreyites are once again invited to climb on board a heritage bus tour to explore some of their city's historic landmarks.

From churches to pioneer trails, and from long-standing businesses to original road names, the sixth annual tour will offer passengers a unique way of looking at their city.

The 2014 Heritage Bus Tour explores how settlement and the development of today's neighbourhoods were influenced by the rivers and waterways of Surrey.

River travel came before roads and railways in Surrey, and even after the roads were built, the rivers remained a preferred route due to the poor conditions of those early roads.

The tour features also include cemeteries, monuments and cairns honouring the labours of early settlers, and more.

There's even a special stop at Cloverdale Station, home of the restored B.C. Electric Railway cars and the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society.

Representatives of Surrey's Heritage Advisory Commission will be on board to discuss the city's efforts to preserve local history, buildings and natural heritage.

Passengers will also find out more about Surrey's Heritage Register, inventory of heritage sites, and how heritage designation works.

The tour winds up with tea and treats in the cosy kitchen at Historic Stewart Farm, 13723 Crescent Road, in South Surrey.

It's presented by Historic Stewart Farm on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There's a $25 fee (open to ages 16 and up).

Register by calling 604-592-6956.

For more, visit surrey.ca/heritage.

Follow the Cloverdale Reporter on Twitter and Facebook. View our print edition online.