Another large Canadian city is proposing to remove its prohibition on legal cannabis stores.

Surrey, the second-largest municipality in British Columbia by population, is surveying residents and entrepreneurs over a draft proposal to allow up to 12 cannabis stores to open.

Proponents say the move would allow legal merchants to help displace the illicit market.

“Our members … are pleased to see the city of Surrey moving to close the access gap to legal cannabis in their community,” Jaclynn Pehota, executive director of the Licensed Retail Cannabis Council of BC (LRCCBC), told MJBizDaily.

Pehota said a lack of reasonable access to legal cannabis has propped up the unregulated market.

“We applaud mayor and (City) Council choosing to provide residents with the option to choose the legal market,” she said. “This is important progress in the project of eliminating illicit operators.”

Additionally, Pehota said the LRCCBC hopes Surrey leadership considers expanding the number of shops allowed in the community beyond the proposed 12 in the near future because “proximity and convenience are important to consumers when they are making buying decisions.”

The move comes almost a year after Mississauga – Ontario’s third-largest municipality – overturned its ban on legal marijuana stores last year.

Surrey’s draft framework comes with four location requirements, including allowing a maximum of two stores in each of its six communities, according to the survey.

The three other proposed requirements include:

The six communities are:

According to the survey, the city will use a selection process to score and select potential licensees.

The proposed selection and scoring criteria include:

Separately, applicants would be required to obtain approval and licensing from the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, the provincial marijuana store regulator.

The 12 stores, if implemented as outlined in the survey, would give Surrey approximately one store per 47,000 residents, according to the city’s own estimate.

That would mean Surrey would have the lowest store-to-population ratio in the lower mainland.

Three ratios for the three other other jurisdictions are:

After the city completes its community engagement on the framework, the proposed policy is expected to be brought to the City Council.

It is not known when a vote could take place, but the process has been slow.

In 2018, Surrey established restrictions to stop new stores from opening to allow time to assess how to proceed.

In 2023, the city developed a draft framework to permit the sale of cannabis in storefronts after consulting with the industry.

And almost one year ago, Mayor Brenda Locke said the city staff was working on a report for the Council’s consideration.

Local residents and prospective entrepreneurs have until Feb. 5, 2024, to complete the survey.

Surrey is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, with an estimated population of 568,322 in 2021, according to Statistics Canada figures.

British Columbia had 493 cannabis stores marked as “open” as of last week.

More than half a million people attended a Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, B.C., on Saturday, which organizers say is the biggest celebration of the Sikh festival in the world.

The Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade began at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple on 85 Avenue Saturday morning, and the parade wound its way through several city streets over the next few hours.

Surrey RCMP estimated more than 550,000 people attended the parade, according to an emailed statement sent around 3:30 p.m. PT on Saturday afternoon.

Vaisakhi celebrates the creation of the order of the Khalsa in 1699, a defining moment in Sikh history that gave the Sikh faith its final form. It is a holy day that marks the New Year, according to festival organizers.

The festival is marked by colourful processions, as well as the practice of serving free meals to the community in acts of seva and langar, two significant aspects of the Sikh religion.

Festivities, including floats, food and music, are open to people of all cultures and drew Sikhs from all over the world to Surrey.

Amandeep Kaur says she travelled from the Sikh-majority Punjab region of India to attend the parade on Saturday.

Kaur said, amid crowds of people, that "joy and togetherness" made it feel like home.

Imran Hayre says she missed last year's parade — the first to take place after three years of COVID-19 restrictions — and wanted to make sure she was there this year.

"Surrey is such a multicultural place and it's amazing to see people coming together," she told CBC.

Hayre was helping serve thousands of pakoras (fritters) at the festival, and says family in Victoria and Bellingham, Wash., came to town as well.

"It's a beautiful thing that so much of our community has immigrated to this country and we can make such a loving thing happen in our new country," she told CBC.

The importance of Vaisakhi as a day for religious reflection and expression was a central theme for many in attendance.

Several Sikh organizations in B.C. expressed concern earlier this month when Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said "700,000 people partying for a day is a lot of fun" when referring to the celebrations.

"Khalsa Revelation Day is a faith celebration, not a party," the Sikh Community of B.C. wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on April 10.

"Her misrepresentation of the event is disappointing and irresponsible," the post read.

Aptly named Boundary Bay hugs the curious corner of our region where Washington and British Columbia meet and mingle. There are border crossings on both ends of this saltwater haven, where shallow depths and vast tidal swings generate warm waters that attract beachcombers and birders alike. Here are six points of interest to explore on foot, bike, car or kayak.

White Rock, B.C. is the best beach town on the Salish Sea

Once you’ve dealt with border-crossing rigmarole, pull over instead of speeding off. This unique binational park allows visitors to freely cross the border as they admire the monuments and plaques commemorating U.S.-Canada relations — as long as they return to whichever side they started in. The Peace Arch itself missed out on its centennial celebration in 2021 due to pandemic border closures, but the stately structure in Blaine, which is surrounded by formal gardens, is worth pondering anytime.

File away these tidbits for your next Cascadia trivia night:

123 Second St., Blaine; parks.wa.gov/562/Peace-Arch or bcparks.ca/peace-arch-park

Escape the crowds in White Rock as you duck through a residential neighborhood of pricey waterfront real estate and down the exaggeratedly-named 1001 Steps. I lost the exact count but the zigzagging staircase is more like 200-and-some steps. A trail parallels the railroad tracks, then a tunnel takes you under them and out onto a quieter stretch of beach along Boundary Bay.

12500 Block of 15A Ave., Surrey, B.C.; surrey.ca/parks-recreation/parks/1001-steps

A smaller seaside resort flourished at Crescent Beach, just north of the White Rock beach resort town, with its own cluster of cottages, eateries and sandy respites. Reach the beach at Blackie Spit Park, a birding destination in fall and spring where you can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (CA$40-$50 for one hour).

3136 McBride Ave., Surrey, B.C.; crescentbeachpaddleshack.com

The northern reaches of Boundary Bay are a wildlife refuge home to Canada’s most cherished bird sanctuary where annually more than 1.5 million bird species hailing from 20 countries take advantage of this stop along the Pacific Flyway. Conveniently, the dyke that keeps the bay from inundating farmers’ fields doubles as a multiuse gravel trail so you can ride parallel to this pristine stretch of coastline. The trail runs about 12 miles each way, with trailheads at Mud Bay Park and Centennial Beach. Watch out for tractors — farm equipment has right of way on the trail in this active agricultural zone.

13030 48 Ave., Surrey, B.C.; surrey.ca/parks-recreation/parks/mud-bay-park

Of all the places to dip your toes in the water along Boundary Bay, Centennial Beach in Boundary Bay Regional Park took my top prize. Only Tacoma’s Owen Beach can match the sharp architecture and clean, well-maintained facilities at this Metro Vancouver park.

The playground, built with funds raised by the local Lions Club chapter, already wins the family-friendly award. The enormous tangle of slides, rope climbs, swings and a zip line includes features like wheelchair-friendly ramps and a Braille learning area, making it the region’s first accessible design playground. It’s just steps from a generous expanse of sandy beach at high tide — and more shoreline than you can conceivably explore during low tide — as well as a cafe, bathrooms and changing facilities.

The park has a few miles of trail for some leg stretching, and a 10-minute walk out of the park will lead you to the Secret Garden of Boundary Bay, an easement between two housing developments that a retired roofer has lovingly turned into a horticultural gem of colorful flowers, quirky sculptures and an impressive monkey puzzle tree.

300 Boundary Bay Rd, Delta, B.C.; delta.ca/parks-recreation/parks-trails/park-and-amenity-search/boundary-bay-regional-park399 67A St., Delta, B.C.; sunnytsawwassen.ca/secret-garden

Geography nerds should jump at a chance to visit this Washington exclave, a tiny peninsula cut off from the rest of the Evergreen State by a surveying error. It turns out, there was land south of the 49th parallel (the agreed-upon boundary between the U.S. and Canada) that didn’t connect to the rest of the continental U.S. There is a full-fledged border crossing here, and once you’re through it, the landscape shifts from suburban Vancouver — Tim Horton’s and all — to rural Whatcom County.

On a holiday weekend, I saw a trio of locals riding around the sleepy streets of this 4.9-square-mile headland on a motorized couch. Among Point Roberts’ other quirks, gas is sold in U.S. dollars per liter and businesses follow Canadian holiday schedules.

Bring your binoculars to Lighthouse Marine Park for land-based whale-watching, then retreat to local watering hole Kiniski’s Reef Tavern, a family-friendly dive bar that is owned by a former professional wrestler and has views out to the Georgia Strait.

811 Marine Drive, Point Roberts, Whatcom County; whatcomcounty.us/3539/Lighthouse-Marine-Park 1334 Gulf Road, Point Roberts, Whatcom County; kiniskisreef.com

A previous version of this story misspelled the name of Kiniski’s Reef Tavern.

Gregory Scruggs: gscruggs@seattletimes.com; Gregory Scruggs is the outdoors reporter at The Seattle Times.

SURREY, British Columbia, November 20, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gaba Travel, a distinguished leader in the travel industry since 1976, is thrilled to announce the soft opening of its latest branch located at Unit 105 – 9288 120 Street, Surrey, BC. This expansion not only signifies Gaba Travel's growth but also reestablishes its presence in Surrey, demonstrating a commitment to bringing top-notch travel services closer to the community.

"Our new Surrey branch represents our enduring dedication to exceptional travel services," stated Ravinder Gaba, President of Gaba Travel. "This launch marks a significant step in our journey, bringing personalized and unforgettable travel experiences closer to our clients."

More Than Just Bookings: Crafting Memorable Journeys

At Gaba Travel, the focus goes beyond mere travel bookings. The new Surrey branch is dedicated to creating unforgettable travel experiences, offering a wide range of services from peaceful vacation packages to essential business trips and adventurous global escapades.

The expert team in Surrey is equipped to provide personalized travel solutions. Gaba Travel is known for its emphasis on building lasting relationships with clients, ensuring each journey is tailored to individual preferences and needs.

Experience Our Personal Touch at Our Surrey Location

Gaba Travel warmly invites customers to visit the new Surrey branch, the only Gaba Travel location in the area. The Gaba Travel team of friendly travel consultants is eager to assist clients in exploring a comprehensive range of travel services and planning their next adventure.

It's important to note that the new location at 9288 120 Street is the sole Gaba Travel branch in Surrey. Gaba Travel has been connecting clients to the world since 1976 and is excited to continue this journey from its new Surrey location. For more information or to start planning your travel, contact Gaba Travel at 604 954 3336 or visit our Surrey location page. The company looks forward to welcoming clients to its new Surrey home.

About Gaba Travel

Gaba Travel, a family-owned business, has been a symbol of trust and quality in travel services since 1976. Specializing in personalized travel experiences, the company prides itself on its expert team and commitment to customer satisfaction. With over 45 years of experience, Gaba Travel has become a trusted name in travel, not just for trips to India but for a wide array of destinations and experiences worldwide.

From special destination weddings to family vacations on sun-kissed beaches, Gaba Travel offers unique travel experiences. Catering to diverse needs, our services include Alaskan, Bahamas, Mediterranean and global cruises, vibrant bachelor or bachelorette parties, and tranquil honeymoons. We provide a range of options from bustling cities to serene beach retreats.

Farmers and a civil engineer are raising concerns over a proposal for a major road extension in Surrey, B.C.

The project to extend 72 Avenue eastbound to connect with Highway 15 has an estimated construction cost of $138 million, with officials saying it's the city's largest transportation investment in its history after it was approved last month.

Currently, 72 Avenue becomes a dead end just east of 152 Street — around four kilometres from Highway 15, which runs from Highway 1 south to the U.S. border.

The proposed extension route would cut through farmland, part of the province's agricultural land reserve (ALR).

Coun. Linda Annis says the extension is desperately needed as Surrey continues to grow, and that building the extension would allow commuters to connect more easily with neighbouring communities.

"We've got between 1,200 and 1,500 people moving to Surrey each and every month, so we need to be building road systems," she said. "People in Surrey are commuting far, far too long."

WATCH | Concerns over proposed 72 Avenue extension:

29 days ago

Duration 2:26

Surrey is moving ahead with a proposal that would see eastbound 72 Avenue extended from 152nd Street to Highway 15. The city says it's bracing for significant population growth and increased traffic in the coming years. But as Janella Hamilton reports, the project is stirring up concern among the local farming community and some business owners in the area.

Farmer worried over livelihood

Brian Livingston, one of the farmers who would be affected by the 72 Avenue extension, says the road would be detrimental to his dairy farming business.

Livingston, whose grandfather bought the farm property more than a century ago, says he's worried about the loss of land and also the security of his land, with the new road giving easy access.

The farmer says he is also concerned about how to irrigate his land, which was added to the ALR around 50 years ago, once the large road project goes through.

"It's very rich soil, but it's very soft," he said. "Any road that's in this area has to be raised and packed up with the gravel, which essentially makes a dike, and therefore has ponding issues.

"You either have no access points, one access point, or ditches and pumps to to dry it, which takes up even more precious land," said Livingston, who added that he hasn't been approached to give input on the road expansion proposal.

Surrey Coun. Mike Bose says he understands the concerns being raised by farmers in the 72 Avenue area.

"It's going to be a loss of about 40 acres of productive land," said Bose, himself a farmer.

He said the city would consider the issue of drainage and irrigation when they build the road, as well as working with farmers on security and access in the months to come.

"Without mistake, we will create challenges for these farms if this road is built," he said. "But it's necessary for the congestion ... and we know that that congestion will grow."

Induced demand

A statement from the City of Surrey says the new road is based on traffic modelling, and that with the city's population projected to reach one million by 2042, the 72 Avenue extension will ensure "adequate traffic capacity well into the future."

But a traffic engineer says the premise that building more roads will lead to less congestion has been disproven countless times.

Amir Hassanpour, a UBC PhD candidate in civil engineering, says a basic traffic concept called induced demand describes how congestion initially improves when more roads are built.

This, he said, makes getting around by car faster — which then leads more people to use cars. Over time, the number of vehicles on the road increases, leading to more congestion.

Hassanpour says traffic modelling can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"If you are predicting that there will be a lot of driving in the future — and you have a grand project to accommodate that driving — yeah, you are going to have a lot of driving into the future," he said, adding that officials have to look at alternative transportation.

"You have to have better buses. You have to have better public transportation system for people to be able to get around, or active transportation."

Annis said the city would conduct extensive consultations before construction of the road begins.

"It's absolutely critical the road goes through, but let's do it in a way that is beneficial to the farming community and beneficial to the residents of Surrey," she said.

The city will soon apply to the agricultural land commission, the provincial body responsible for administering the ALR, as it moves forward with the project.

An exact timeline, as well as the exact design of the road, has not yet been provided.

With files from Janella Hamilton and Tessa Vikander