For history buffs – or simply those interested in learning a little more about the city they call home – a heritage bus tour of Surrey is planned for two days later this month.
In conjunction with B.C. Heritage Week, Historic Stewart Farm will host a bus tour on Thursday, Feb. 19, and again on Saturday, Feb. 21.
This year’s tour will focus on some of Surrey’s oldest neighbourhoods, and those taking part will learn little-known details about areas such as Crescent Beach, Cloverdale, Hall’s Prairie, Semiahmoo Trail and more.
Cloverdale, in particular, is rife with history, from the Clova Theatre – which served as a movie hall for nearly 70 years – to the Cloverdale Interurban Station.
The outing ends with a stop at Historic Stewart Farmhouse for tea and treats.
“The focus this year is on neighbourhoods, and some of Surrey’s original city centres,” said Jerrilin Spence, curator of exhibits and programs at Stewart Farm.
“There are a lot of things about Surrey that people may not even realize as they drive through a particular neighbourhood. At the very least, it’ll make your commute a lot more interesting (after the tour).”
The heritage tours – which run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day – are a way for people, whether they are longtime residents, new arrivals, or visitors, to learn more about the areas around them, Spence said.
“What we see is it gives people a much better sense of their community, a sense of place,” she said.
“A lot of time, living in the here and now, you don’t realize all the history around you, or you don’t know how something came to be.”
Cost for the tour is $25 per person, and pre-registration is required. To register, call 604-592-6956.