MoneySense magazine has ranked Canada’s largest 179 cities and Surrey came out as #146, down from last year’s spot at 119. The low ranking irked Acting Mayor, Judy Villeneuve, who has spoken out against the survey to both the Surrey Now and the CBC:
“I don’t think they have an accurate understanding of the city of Surrey, whatsoever… I think it’s way off track… People are moving here for a reason. Surrey has leapt forward.”
Among the contributing factors to the low rating were crime and housing affordability, which both scored poorly in Surrey, and in fact most of BC. The survey also included culture, health, and household income. The top ten cities were:
- Ottawa-Gatineau
- Kingston
- Burlington
- Fredericton
- Moncton
- Repentigny
- Brandon
- Victoria
- Winnipeg
- Lévis
The growing controversy over the rankings does bring to a light a very serious debate about the quality of life of Surrey and its status among Canadian cities. While there are certainly those who choose to move to South Surrey or Cloverdale for large, quaint properties, or Newton, to join the growing South Asian community, there is also a significant population who move here not by choice, but due to circumstances. Many families live in Surrey because they cannot afford the housing in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, or the North Shore. Just because they are moving here, doesn’t mean they actually want to be here.
More after the jump!
The comments on the CBC story reflect this reality:
VanDecker: “146th out of 179 ? I don’t believe it either. Seriously, how could there be 33 cities which are worse than Surrey?”
boxcarbilly: “I see no reason to dispute this”
JohnnyMan: “I moved to BC at the start of 2007. I moved from the East Coast because of a job. The job was based in Burnaby. My wife and I started looking for a place to live. All my new colleagues warned me to stay away from Surrey because of the high crime rate. I was told that Surrey was the car-theft capital of North America. I bought a house in Maple Ridge.”
freeman97: “I heard that the narcotics industry was recession proof. Doesn’t that count?”
natureshand: “Whats not to love with all the pan handlers,crackheads,homeless, and big monster houses with no yards.”
grantdude: “Judy Villeneuve is hilarious. Does she REALLY think people live in Surrey because it’s a great place to live? Uh, NO, it’s because people can’t afford to live in Vancouver.”
SUNLOVER: “Surrey came in at 146 out of 179 communities??? I really have to think there is some bias in Moneysense rankings to give such a good ranking to Surrey.”
kobayashee maru: “when you advertise that the city is the cultural capital of canada and everyone on the street knows that the only culture surrey can boast of is the drug culture seen all around……no wonder it ranks low.”
CheekMonk: “Growing population in Surrey is not an indication that people think Surrey is a great place to live. Because if given the chance, people would rather live in downtown, vancouver, burnaby or richmond. Only cause people are price out of those cities, that they have no choice but settle on Surrey. Besides, the only people moving to Surrey are pimps, thieves and drug dealers. Only fair they move close to where their clients are.”
Munchhousen: “I just can’t imagine how bad 33 other cities must be.”
poloboy: “Every single person that I know who moved to Surrey from other parts of the Lower mainland have regretted it. The lucky ones were able to sell their houses and move out again. thumbs up to Moneysense for calling it as it is.”
Ikaris: “Surrey sadly has a generalized atmosphere of crime, drugs and prostitution. It also has ethnic islands of neighborhoods in which more than 90% of the inhabitants come from one culture. It is NOT an integrated society. A few areas would be nice to live in, however driving through the scum zones to get place is depressing. Worrying about your children stepping on junkie needles or getting raped by the animals makes it unlivable by many.”
Terry Marshall: “Judy, Judy, Judy. Of course the city of Surrey is debauched. You live in the affluence of the gated communities of White Rock and Panorama Ridge. Everybody wears the rose-colored glasses of community in those segregated areas. Maybe you should rent a townhouse in Newton or Whalley to receive a fair and balanced look at how the other half do live and then the survey will take on some “reality”.”
robercarter: “Surrey has always been a ‘hole’ since I grew up in Vancouver in the 60′s. Despite all the PR & spin put forward by Surrey Mayor, nothing much has changed. Surrey is still a ‘hole’, just a lot more people live there. Sorry…..”
Eastside Mary: “I am not surprised that Surrey ranks low. I do not know many people who want to live there. I also know some who do and pretend they live elsewhere. I work with someone from South Surrey who always claims she lives in White Rock. I would rather live in a tiny place in Vancouver than one of those “starter castles” or cheapo condo’s in Surrey any day.”
Your thoughts?
I think that every single story on CBC always has 90%+ negative comments, read any real estate, mortgage or finance related story and it's almost exclusively negative comments. Wouldn't put too much stock in those comments.
Surrey is always been downed by people who never come here. Vancouverites tend to push everything and say Surrey is its scum area just so they can ignore whats right in there own back yard (…I dont know about you but when ever i drive through east van i always roll my windows up and make sure my doors are locked. I wouldnt even think about walking there. Surrey has grown better over the year in most place. Yes Newton is pretty horrible these days all around it. As for whalley the only sketchy place these days is near gateway. But seeing how city point is done I dont think it will be much longer till towers start going up all around that area and start cleaning it up.
This is ridiculous! I moved to Surrey in 1980 (from Winnipeg #9 on the current list). I have lived within a 10 minute walk of Surrey Central for the entire time. I have wonderful neighbours,, most of whom have also lived on the street for 30+ years.
I have two children who grew up here and attended Old Yale Road Elementary, West Whalley Junior and Queen Elizabeth High school. They and the majority of their friends are now responsible adults working in all sorts of professions.
Our community is English, Danish, Chinese, Fijian, East Indian, and Canadian and more and we are happy.
I have lived in other countries and traveled to many places, there are many places in the lower mainland I would not live if you paid me! Parts of North Vancouver are awful, parts of Burnaby are awful, parts of Coquitlam, Langley, Vancouver and Maple Ridge etc are awful. PARTS of Surrey are awful. but they are improving.
Many of the homeless people who hang out here are not from Surrey, they are a pain and I will be happy when they move on, don't defame the entire city!
Wow, so many negative comments about Surrey. I have lived in Surrey for most of my life with only living in Victoria for 6 months and Smithers for 2. I enjoy living in Surrey and Surrey has a lot to offer. There is room for improvement and Surrey has been steadily improving the last few years.
Room for improvement includes a continuing of the improvements of livability in the downtown areas, increased recreation, improved walking and cycling.
Aside from a few problem spots Surrey is pretty good. Besides the highways going to other cities traffic in Surrey is quite good. Surrey has plenty of parks, 2 urban forests, 2 manmade lakes with one even for fishing, numerous sports fields, tennis courts, pocket parks and natural areas. Unlike Vancouver Surrey didn't pave or build over ever creek that exists. Some amazing creek and ravine areas exist as parks and protected areas. Accessability in those areas would be room for improvement so people can enjoy them more though.
I have lived here most of my life, and i cannot wait to get out soon. English is a 2nd language at best, and I bump into crackheads everytime I leave my apartment. Yes, some areas are nice, but the bad areas make this a shithole. I have been all over the country, and if you were to give Canada an enema, you wouls stick the hose in Newton.