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Welcome to Whalley
Wednesday, June 29th, 2005 by GetawayBC.com
Think you know Whalley? Wait five minutes.
That may be a slight exaggeration on how quickly one of Surrey’s oldest communities is growing and changing, but there is no denying that plans to revitalize the area are making a huge difference.
“I think everyone has finally understood that Whalley’s time has come,” noted Pete Nichols, president of the Whalley Business Improvement Association.
The area, named after its first gas station and general store, opened in 1925 by Arthur Whalley at the triangle where Grosvenor and Ferguson Roads now meet at King George Highway.
Old Arthur wouldn’t recognize the place now.
“The area is just booming,” Nichols said, pointing out that the commercial Gateway Towers is now 100 per cent occupied, and such prestigious firms as JP Morgan have moved their operations to the award-winning Central City complex.
“A community can’t grow until a community comes together,” he said.
“And that’s what has happened here the last two years. The city, the residents, and the businesses are starting to express their pride in the area. They see the potential.”
The BIA is doing its bit, conforming to the City of Surrey’s $10-million Whalley Enhancement Strategy that will see services and facilities upgraded, the launch of such beautification projects as roadwork, parkland and waterfront acquisitions and the upgrading of recreation centres.
The project with the sexiest buzz was the $70-million satellite campus of Simon Fraser University in Central City.
“The people in the community now have the option to go to university here, rather than travel,” Nichols said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for this community.”
And opportunity is the key word when it comes to Whalley’s future.
“Surrey is here for people to discover; it’s here for people to live,” Nichols said. “Whalley is taking advantage of that. It’s a prime location just waiting for the right push from every player.”
Whalley Highlights:
Central City
13450 102 Avenue
This valuable addition to the Whalley skyline was named the world’s best real estate development at the 2004 Marche International des Professionals de L’Immobiliser Awards. Designed by Bing Thom, the $250-million complex was voted the best Business Centre and the sole recipient of the Special Jury Prize. As the hub of the Whalley city centre, Central City combines the elements of a 23-storey tower, the existing SkyTrain station, Surrey Place Mall and the North Surrey Recreational Centre. The development also includes a five-storey podium, an atrium and a three-story linear galleria.
Surrey Tourism and Convention Association
#175 – 13450 102 Avenue
604-581-1415
www.tourismsurrey.ca
Anyone wondering just how popular Surrey is as a destination need only ask Janet Marwick, the executive director of the Surrey Tourism and Convention Association (STCA). The number of people stopping by the association’s Visitors Info Centre is on the constant upswing.
“The interest in Surrey is certainly up as people become more aware of all the different attractions we have to offer,” said Marwick.
Those attractions are displayed to their full advantage whenever the association hosts a familiarization excursion for tourism industry types. A typical day-long agenda would start with breakfast with a view from the top of Central City, followed by a tour of Northview Golf & Country Club, Fraser Downs Raceway, the Cloverdale Antique Mall, Bear Creek Park, the Surrey Art Gallery and historic Stewart Farm before finishing off with a turn in a sea kayak.
“The point we’re trying to make is that, while Surrey is part of the Lower Mainland, you can do just about anything in the course of one day here,” Marwick said. “We have all these different venues and attractions, so that we can serve everyone’s interest. It’s pretty wonderful.”
The SCTA moved its office to the tower of award-winning Central City late in 2003 and, according to Marwick, the organization is “proud to be part of this location.”
“It’s one of the first steps in the revitalization of Whalley,” Marwick pointed out. “We’re having a lot of people coming out just to see the building. That’s great for us because it gives us the opportunity to introduce them to all sorts of other things that are happening within the city.”
Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre
13629 108 Avenue
604-584-2008
Its name means “Welcome” in Chinook, the ancient coastal trading language, and that attitude of acceptance and invitation is what makes the Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre such an integral element of Whalley, which has a large First Nations population.
“The purpose is to help aboriginal people move forward in their lives,” facility executive director Sue Hammell said.
“To give a hand-up when it’s needed.”
The only aboriginal community centre south of the Fraser River, Kla-how-eya offers a plethora of services to assist families and children. These include an Outreach Department to support at-risk families, a Culinary Arts Program and a Youth Project that provides a vital link to the culture, language and history of First Nations. Among the centre’s many activities is the annual June 21 celebration of Aboriginal Day.