Happy Tuesday, Surrey!

Before you dive in,

We want to bring back one of our favourite community features: Pet Spotlight.

It’s a simple way to celebrate the pets that make Surrey feel like home — the dogs you see on your walks, the cats ruling the couch, and the unexpected turtles, birds, or barnyard celebrities hiding in plain sight.

If you’ve got a pet you’d love to show off, we’d love to feature them. Send a photo and a short blurb about your pet to [email protected] — tell us their name, neighbourhood, and anything that makes them special.

Because let’s be honest — everyone stops scrolling for pets.

Now, In today’s edition:

- Mark

The City of Surrey has lost a court appeal over who should pay to move power lines for the planned 72 Avenue extension. A judge ruled that the city’s appeal had no chance of success, meaning Surrey must cover the full cost of the work.

The dispute was with BC Hydro, which has high-voltage power lines running across the land where Surrey plans to expand the road. To make the road wider and safer, the power lines need to be raised and the towers moved.

Surrey argued it should not have to pay the full cost and questioned whether regulators had the authority to order it to do so. The judge disagreed, saying the decision was clear and that Surrey did not have strong legal grounds to challenge it.

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More Info Here

Surrey city council has approved a rezoning that allows homeowners in Royal Heights Park to build larger single-family homes. The decision follows a neighbourhood survey that showed strong support, with about two-thirds of property owners in favour.

Royal Heights Park is an older neighbourhood, with most homes built between the 1950s and 1970s. Years ago, the area was “downzoned” to limit how big and tall houses could be, in order to protect the look and feel of the neighbourhood. That meant homeowners had fewer options if they wanted to rebuild or expand.

More recently, new provincial housing rules allowed extra options like secondary suites and duplexes, but limits on single-family home size stayed the same. Some residents then asked the city to revisit those limits. After surveying homeowners and reviewing the feedback, city staff recommended rezoning the entire neighbourhood.

This change gives homeowners more flexibility while showing how community feedback can shape local planning decisions. City council members said the clear message from residents helped guide the final vote.

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More Info Here

Surrey residents will see higher utility bills in 2026 after city council approved several rate increases this week. The increases affect water, sewer, drainage, garbage and recycling, and district energy services.

City staff say the hikes are needed because costs from Metro Vancouver and other providers are rising. Council members said paying for basics like clean water, sewer service, and waste collection is a top priority as Surrey continues to grow.

For most households, the increases will show up as small monthly changes, but together they add up. This follows similar utility increases in recent years, which means residents are paying more each year for city services.

Parking fees may also change in the future, as the city continues to review meter rates based on demand and location.

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More Info Here

A new comedy show called Canadian Steam is coming to Surrey this winter, promising laughs, music, and playful Canadian humour. The show makes its Surrey debut on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre.

The show features four performers dressed as lumberjacks who create comedy scenes and songs live on stage. It’s an improv show, which means nothing is planned ahead of time — the jokes, music, and moments all happen in the moment, often with help from the audience.

Canadian Steam was created by Vancouver performers during the pandemic as a fun, over-the-top celebration of Canadian culture. The show is meant to be lighthearted, silly, and full of friendly crowd interaction.

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More info: Tickets and details at bellperformingartscentre.com

More than 1,800 girls and young women came to Surrey this weekend for WickFest, a major girls’ hockey festival. The event includes 85 teams with players aged 8 to 18 from across Canada and around the world.

Games were held at several Surrey arenas, including Fleetwood, North Surrey, and Cloverdale. Organizers say the goal is not just to play hockey, but to help girls build confidence, teamwork, and leadership through sport.

The festival was founded by Hayley Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic gold medallist. Along with games, players took part in skills clinics, workshops, and learning sessions focused on self-esteem, leadership, and healthy living.

The city says hosting large sports events helps grow community pride and youth development.

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More info Here

Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.

Thanks for reading The Surrey Digest! Let’s chat again on Friday!