Surrey Archives to Present new Virtual Talk on Newton Area

Surrey, BC – Through photos, audio recordings, film and more, Surrey Archives will provide snapshots of Newton’s history in a free virtual talk via Microsoft Teams on September 28, 2021 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

Organized by decade, the talk delves into some of the people, businesses and events that shaped one of Surrey’s most populous neighbourhoods. Among the topics covered are Newton Plaza, Princess Margaret Secondary School, the Newton Day Festival and Vaisakhi celebrations.

“This is a unique opportunity for residents of all ages to learn, reminisce and share their memories of Newton together,” said Archivist Chelsea Bailey.

Highlights include recorded audio from the opening ceremonies for the Surrey Drive-In Theatre in 1950, which served as Surrey’s go-to spot for outdoor moviegoers for over 30 years. Participants will also see photos of the Surrey Zoo, which was run by the Galicz family between 1967 and 1977 on 60th Avenue near 132nd Street. The recent past is vividly brought to life through digitized video footage showing the opening ceremonies for the 1989 BC Summer Games held at Bear Creek Park.

“All of our talks incorporate audience participation, so anyone who has registered will be invited to share their own memories of Newton at designated points throughout the session,” said Bailey. “Whether you are a newcomer to Newton or a long-time resident, there’s something new to learn in this talk.”

Registration for Community Histories: Newton is required. To reserve your spot, call 604-501-5100, sign in to your MySurrey account, or email archives@surrey.ca.

Surrey Archives is located at 17671 56 Ave, Surrey. For more information about this talk or to find out what other talks are lined up for fall, call the Surrey Archives at 604-502-6459 or visit surrey.ca/archives. Follow us on Facebook at @HeritageSurreyBC.