What is my favourite part of Surrey? This!

When I'm asked what I like about Surrey and why I choose to  live here, and it is a choice, without dropping a beat I  shout out, the people!  Forever curious, I love to find out all about people, especially those that were not born and raised here. Maybe it's the fact that both my parents have fascinating and in my father's case heartbreaking immigrant stories.

The multi-cultural  Fusion Festival  is probably my favourite weekend in the city. 

A little global village right here at home.

    A few images and moments from yesterday 

                                  at Surrey Fusion Festival.

Hey Ocean! performed. Love this band!

I talked to a few women from Nigeria yesterday.
 So full of life and the colour.... oh my, I want to dress like this! The one on  the right? Sooo beautiful!

Ran into two of Surrey's best community minded citizens.

Happy to see Newton 's
art/craft/ home decor store DeSerres helping kids paint a big mosaic wall.

The sun came out!

More vibrant colour.
Seriously, I think I need a trip to Africa,  for the fabric alone.
Not sure if I could pull off this look but I love it!

This juggler was a crowd pleaser- have seen him several times at Granville Island and he's always a big hit. 

At the end of the show he puts the torches out with his mouth. Ya, okay then...  

Crowd loved the juggler guy

Get out there and take in Day 2 of this fun event.

 Eat, dance, shop,  listen to some cool tunes and talk to people from literally all over the world. 

Enjoy! 

Full event information  here

Time for the Suburbs to Grow Up!

Last Spring I  had the privilege of meeting architect, urban designer and professor  Ellen Dunham-Jones at Simon Fraser University in Surrey. We talked about our city's challenges and she encouraged us to keep  up the 'fight' to Retrofit Newton and the King George corridor.

 This  TED video truly mirrors what ReNewton is all about.  

Do you have 19 minutes? Watch the whole thing. It's worth it!

Love-In for Downtown Newton

  Today's Friends of the Grove  event was a resounding success!

 So many  people showed up despite the cool damp weather. Here are just a few photos from today. Will write more in an upcoming post.

 In the meantime just want to say how very proud  I am of my community. 

 Newton, the centre of this city, has a whole lot of heart and soul and some very cool people.

Playing Chess on the permanent board carved into a tree stump a few weeks ago.



This group of friendly women handed out homemade cookies all day.

Bagpipers Played throughout the morning -Thanks guys!

We all had a chance to learn how to silk screen!

Little girls coming from ballet class stopped by and got creative.  We saw lots of tutus today. Ballet class  appears to be very popular  at the  Newton rec centre. 

Two of the first arriving . They got straight to work creating happy drawings on the trees. And they did it in ballet tutus!

Neighbours and new friends sharing ideas on what they'd like to see happen in this lovely green area. 
Night markets, Summer evening concerts, farmers markets....

Jammin' at the Grove- loved this 

One of my new little friends 

The Poet Tree 

This gentleman treated us to the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the shofar. 

Yes, it's true. Newton is the true heart of Surrey.
 And today, that heart is full of love for our community.

Well Done Friends of the Grove, and all those who volunteered their time, energy and love for our fellow humans. 

This is just the start of a whole new vibe in the neighbourhood.

Watt's the Buzz in Surrey this Weekend

 Major announcement at Saturday's Party for the Planet

 Dianne Watts, Surrey's mayor for the past 9 years  told the crowd she will not seek re-election. A surprise to some, but many saw it coming.

Surrey SFU  campus tower at Central City. When this stunning piece of architecture was opened in the mid 2000s there were high hopes that Surrey would finally be able to shake its backwoods image once and for all. Despite some beautiful iconic developments, some say the city's reputation is worse than ever. And that's a crying shame. 

 Will be writing more on this and who in the crowd of usual suspects might be taking a swing at the mayor's chair. It won't be an easy job. Surrey has challenges, and as I write this, Twitter is buzzing with reports of shots fired near Gateway Skytrain Station in Whalley/City Centre. On a Sunday afternoon....sigh.