--- title: "Surrey-Newton: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/races/mla/surrey-newton" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:05:29.320Z" meta: description: "3 candidates in Surrey-Newton for the BC provincial 2026 election. The history of the area, every result since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census profile." "og:description": "3 candidates in Surrey-Newton for the BC provincial 2026 election. The history of the area, every result since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census profile." "og:title": "Surrey-Newton: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026" "twitter:description": "3 candidates in Surrey-Newton for the BC provincial 2026 election. The history of the area, every result since 2005, past MLAs and the 2021 census profile." "twitter:title": "Surrey-Newton: candidates, history and census, BC provincial 2026" --- ** MLA · BC PROVINCIAL 2026 # Surrey-Newton.
3 candidates, one seat. This district elects one MLA. Voters mark one name on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. Surrey-Newton is a provincial electoral district in the west of the City of Surrey, between 120th and 144th Streets. The Electoral Boundaries Commission says it includes Newton town centre, Strawberry Hill, Highland Creek and the main campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The 2021 census counted 61,520 people in its 14 square kilometres, and 49.3% of them are immigrants. ## The candidates In alphabetical order [![Harj Dhaliwal, from the Conservative Party of BC candidate page.](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/images/candidates/harj-dhaliwal-640.webp)MLA · Surrey-Newton**Conservative Party of BC**

Harj Dhaliwal

Researched by voche.meExplore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/harj-dhaliwal) [MLA · Surrey-Newton**Centre BC**

Harman Preet Singh

On the official list. Research to come.Explore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/harman-preet-singh) [![Jessie Sunner, from her BC NDP campaign page.](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/images/candidates/jessie-sunner-640.webp)MLA · Surrey-Newton**BC NDP**

Jessie Sunner

Researched by voche.meExplore the profile ](https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/jessie-sunner)
People, 2021 census
61,520
Area
14 km²
Registered voters, 2024
30,549
Turnout, 2024
50.81%
Median age
35.6
Median household income, 2020
$90,000
THE DISTRICT ## Where Surrey-Newton is 14 km² · 61,520 people Surrey-Newton lies in the west of the City of Surrey. The Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report says it includes Newton town centre, Strawberry Hill, Highland Creek, the main campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the area around King George Boulevard north of 64th Avenue. Its boundaries follow 80th Avenue in the north and 64th and 68th Avenues in the south. In the east it runs along 144th Street and in the west along 120th Street. The commission gives the area as 14 square kilometres and the population as 61,398, which is 14.2% from the average district. Newton reaches beyond this district. The same report says Surrey North includes the northern part of Newton, and that its changes to Surrey-Newton and Surrey-Fleetwood keep the centre of Newton in one district. The City of Surrey's Newton Town Centre Plan covers 61 hectares, bounded by 72 Avenue in the north, 138 Street in the east, 68 Avenue in the south and 135 Street, 70B Avenue and 134 Street in the west. The City says that in 2016 the wider Newton community had over 149,000 residents, the largest population of any community in Surrey. King George Boulevard is the main road the commission names in its description. The City says the crossing of King George Boulevard and 72 Avenue became the main commercial area of Newton after the boulevard was completed in 1940. In March 2013 TransLink announced work at Newton Exchange, a bus station in Newton, to make room for a new B-Line service to Guildford along King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue. At the 2024 election people voted at 14 places in the district. Twelve carry a school's name, and the other two are Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the Newton Recreation Centre. - Newton - Newton town centre - Strawberry Hill - Highland Creek Sources: [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/land-use-planning/newton-land-use-plans/newton-town-centre-plan), [TransLink (opens in a new tab)](https://buzzer.translink.ca/2013/03/construction-starting-at-newton-exchange/), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935) HISTORY ## The history of the area Checked Thursday, October 8, 2026 ### Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo territory The Surrey School District acknowledges the Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo Nations as the peoples on whose traditional and unceded territories its schools stand. It also names the many other Coast Salish peoples who continue to use and care for this land. The City of Surrey makes the same acknowledgement on its page for Newton and says these Nations have ancient and ongoing ties to the place. The Katzie First Nation says on its website that its people have lived in their territory for thousands of years. It lists Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Langley and Delta as places that each have ancient Katzie names, and it says it works to keep those names in use by coming generations. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, which has its main campus in this district, says the Kwantlen First Nation gave the university its name. The university gives the meaning of the word Kwantlen as Tireless Runner. Sources: [Surrey School District (opens in a new tab)](https://surreyschoolsone.ca/indigenous/resources/local-nations/), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton), [Katzie First Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.katzie.ca/), [Kwantlen Polytechnic University (opens in a new tab)](https://www.kpu.ca/about) ### Elias Newton and the interurban station, 1880s to 1914 BC Geographical Names says Newton is named after Elias John Newton. A second account in the same record, taken from a book of British Columbia place names, says the name comes from E.J. Villeneuf, a pioneer settler, saddler and harness maker. According to that account his neighbours found his name hard to say, so he changed it to Newton. The Encyclopedia of British Columbia says Newton settled in the area in the mid-1880s. The Encyclopedia says the community grew up around an interurban station of the BC Electric Railway, built in 1910 at a crossroads. It adds that King and Farris Lumber Company built one of western Canada's first electric-powered sawmills at Newton in 1910. The City of Surrey says the Newton name was recognized more firmly after Newton Station opened on the BC Electric line, and that Newton Elementary opened in 1914 at the northwest corner of today's King George Boulevard and 72 Avenue. BC Geographical Names records that the Newton Station Post Office opened on 1 April 1914 and was renamed the Newton Post Office on 6 June 1960. Sources: [Province of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/14250.html), [Encyclopedia of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/N/Newton), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton) ### Strawberry Hill and the Japanese Canadian berry farms, 1900 to 1942 The Canadian Register of Historic Places places Strawberry Hill east of 120 Street, west of 128 Street, north of 72 Avenue and south of 96 Avenue. The part between 72 and 80 Avenue is in Surrey-Newton. The Encyclopedia of British Columbia says Japanese berry farmers settled the area in the early 1900s and that, by the late twentieth century, it had become mostly residential. The register's statement of significance, written by the Province of British Columbia, says Japanese Canadian families bought land at Strawberry Hill and began berry and poultry farming among the stumps of freshly logged old growth timber. It says strawberry, raspberry and gooseberry growing was a successful industry before 1940. After the First World War, growers faced too much supply, too few markets and no price control. The farmers formed the Surrey Berry Growers' Co-operative Association and the Strawberry Hill Farmers' Institute to set quality and price controls. The statement also describes the forced internment of the farmers during the Second World War and the seizure and sale of their homes and farms. It records that one tract, owned by the farmer Zennosuke Inouye, was returned to him afterwards. The Province recognized Strawberry Hill as a heritage site in 2017. Sources: [Canadian Register of Historic Places (opens in a new tab)](https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=23196), [Encyclopedia of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/S/Strawberry-Hill) ### The Farmers Institute Hall, 1909 to 2024 The Canadian Register of Historic Places says the Strawberry Hill Farmers Institute was founded on September 3, 1909. Donations, grants and volunteer labour paid for the hall, which stood on land given by the institute's first president, George Henry Flux. The register says the institute held lectures on farming practices, hosted social activities and helped new settlers, and that the hall stood at the corner of 75A Avenue and 122 Street. The City of Surrey's heritage register dates the building to circa 1909 and lists it as a utilitarian homestead hall. The City says a fire destroyed the original building in 2021 and that a replica was completed in 2024. The replica stands at 12152 75 Avenue and is now a childcare centre for children aged 3 to 5. Sources: [Canadian Register of Historic Places (opens in a new tab)](https://historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=11420), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/strawberry-hill-farmers-institute), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/strawberry-hill-hall) ### Farms, a boulevard and the first high school, 1920 to 1973 Two houses on the City of Surrey's heritage register show the farms of the district before the suburbs. Burkart House at 13483 72 Avenue was built circa 1920 as a Craftsman bungalow, and the City registered it in 1998. At 6571 King George Boulevard, Adolph and Ruth Swanson bought a property in 1927, cleared it and started building a house in 1932. In 1943 they built a barn, which the City says later served as a community hall for a trailer park. The City's entry says new owners bought the property circa 1960 and turned the farm into a trailer park, and that the wife of one of them, Rita Johnson (the City's spelling), later served on Surrey Council, as an MLA and as the first woman premier of British Columbia. King George Boulevard was completed in 1940. Princess Margaret Secondary School, which opened in 1951, was the first high school in the area. Frank Hurt Secondary School and Newton Arena both opened in 1973. Sources: [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/burkart-house), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/swanson-house), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/swanson-barn), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton) ### A university and a town centre plan, 1981 to 2020 Kwantlen College split from Douglas College in 1981. It became a university college with power to grant degrees by 1995, and in 2008 Premier Gordon Campbell announced its new name, Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The university's address is 12666 72 Avenue. The Newton Wave Pool opened in 1987, and the City of Surrey approved the first Newton Town Centre Plan in 1990. The City says some civic and recreation buildings and some shops followed north of 72 Avenue, and that key parts of the plan area, particularly south of 72 Avenue, were never developed. In 2008 Council endorsed a report that sought an agreement between the City and TransLink to prepare an updated land use and transit plan. In November 2018 Council suspended the Surrey-Newton-Guildford light rail project, and on July 13, 2020 it adopted an updated plan. The Newton branch of Surrey Libraries, a 14,700 square foot building designed by Patkau Architects, stands a short distance from Newton Exchange at 13795 70 Avenue. Sources: [Kwantlen Polytechnic University (opens in a new tab)](https://www.kpu.ca/calendar/2012-13/introduction/history.html), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/land-use-planning/newton-land-use-plans/newton-town-centre-plan), [Surrey Libraries (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surreylibraries.ca/locations/newton-branch) ### The Vaisakhi parade on Newton streets The Surrey Now-Leader reported in April 2012 that Surrey's annual Vaisakhi event was then in its 12th year and was coordinated by the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar in Newton. The temple stands at 12885 85 Avenue, north of this district. Vaisakhi marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, according to the same article. The article gave the 2012 route. The parade went south on 128 Street, west along 82 Avenue, south on 124 Street, along 75 Avenue and 76 Avenue, and north on 128 Street back to the temple. The parts of the route south of 80th Avenue are inside Surrey-Newton. The article said attendance had usually been between 80,000 and 100,000. The City of Surrey now says Newton hosts one of the largest Vaisakhi parades outside India, with more than 400,000 people. In the 2021 census 45% of residents of the district gave Punjabi as their first language. Sources: [Surrey Now-Leader (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/surreys-vaisakhi-event-the-second-largest-in-the-world/), [City of Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton) THE SEAT ## Who has held the seat Legislative Assembly records, 35th Parliament onward Elections BC's volume for 1987 to 2001 says the Constitution Amendment Act (S.B.C. 1985, chapter 3), assented to on 21 February 1985, changed the boundaries of Surrey and created Surrey-Guildford-Whalley, Surrey-Newton and Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale. The first election for Surrey-Newton was held on 22 October 1986. Rita Johnston of Social Credit won it with 13,436 votes (48.81%), ahead of Bob Bose with 12,460 (45.26%), according to the volume for 1871 to 1986. The volume for 1987 to 2001 shows Penny Priddy of the NDP winning in 1991 with 10,193 votes (42.28%), ahead of Johnston with 7,796 (32.33%). The Legislative Assembly says Johnston, the member for Surrey-Newton, became Premier on April 2, 1991, and lost her seat in the election of October 17, 1991. Priddy won again in 1996 with 13,969 votes (49.54%), ahead of Indra Thind of the Liberals with 9,788 (34.71%). Tony Bhullar of the BC Liberal Party won in 2001 with 6,750 votes (49.45%), ahead of Param Grewal of the NDP with 3,949 (28.93%). Harry Bains of the BC NDP won the district in 2005 with 10,741 votes (57.89%) and was the member until 2024, according to the legislature's record. His later results were 10,709 votes in 2009, 9,788 (56.42%) in 2013, 9,744 (57.31%) in 2017 and 8,893 (62.64%) in 2020. The Electoral Districts Act of 2023 (Bill 25) lists Surrey-Newton among 93 districts. The Legislative Assembly's copy is certified as passed at third reading on April 25, 2023, and the Act comes into force on the day the 42nd Parliament is dissolved. The commission's final report gives the earlier Surrey-Newton 56,327 people, which is 2.0% below the average, and the new district 61,398. The final report also adjusted the boundary between Surrey Central, now Surrey-Serpentine River, and Surrey-Newton to follow Bear Creek. Elections BC's matching of voting areas lists 42 areas in common with the earlier Surrey-Newton, nine with Surrey-Green Timbers and eight with Surrey-Panorama. In 2024 Jessie Sunner of the BC NDP won with 7,924 votes (51.17%), ahead of Tegjot Bal of the Conservative Party with 6,658 (42.99%). Turnout was 50.81% of 30,549 registered voters. Sources: [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1987-2001-ElectionHistory.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1871-1986_ElectoralHistoryofBC.pdf), [Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/node/348), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2002-2013-ElectionHistory.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935), [Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://lims.leg.bc.ca/pdms/ldp/42nd4th/3rd_read/gov25-3.htm), [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf), [Elections BC (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf) Members for Surrey-Newton | Parliament | It sat | Member | Elected as | Party on the legislature’s record | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 43rd | 2025 to 2026 | Jessie Sunner | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 42nd | 2020 to 2024 | Harry Bains | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 41st | 2017 to 2020 | Harry Bains | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 40th | 2013 to 2017 | Harry Bains | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 39th | 2009 to 2013 | Harry Bains | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 38th | 2005 to 2009 | Harry Bains | BC NDP | BC NDP | | 37th | 2001 to 2005 | Tony Bhullar | | BC Liberal Party | | 36th | 1996 to 2001 | Penny Priddy | | BC NDP | | 35th | 1992 to 1996 | Penny Priddy | | BC NDP | “Elected as” is the affiliation Elections BC printed with the winning result. The last column is the party the legislature’s records give for that parliament, which differs when a member changed party while in office. A row with that column empty is a winner Elections BC prints whom the legislature’s records leave out. Source: [Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/members) ### Boundaries since 2024 Surrey-Newton has 56 voting areas. 42 of them overlap the district of the same name used from 2017 to 2024. Others overlap these districts from 2017 to 2024: Surrey-Green Timbers (9), Surrey-Panorama (8). The commission that drew the boundaries counted 61,398 people in the district, 14.2% above the average for a district, over 14 km². Sources: [British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission, Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf), [Elections BC, Voting area conversion table, 2017 to 2024 (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/fb26db04-780c-4229-a147-da4fd5311d36) PAST RESULTS ## Every result since 2005 From Elections BC
**2024 Provincial General Election**Jessie Sunner, BC NDP, 51.17% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Jessie SunnerElected | BC NDP | 7,924 | 51.17% | | Tegjot Bal | Conservative Party | 6,658 | 42.99% | | Amrit Birring | Freedom Party of BC | 371 | 2.40% | | Japreet Lehal | No affiliation | 344 | 2.22% | | Joginder Singh Randhawa | Independent | 189 | 1.22% | 15,486 valid votes · 36 rejected ballots · 30,549 registered voters · 50.81% voted
**2020 General Election**Harry Bains, BC NDP, 62.64% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harry BainsElected | BC NDP | 8,893 | 62.64% | | Paul Boparai | BC Liberal Party | 3,911 | 27.55% | | Asad Syed | BC Green Party | 1,393 | 9.81% | 14,197 valid votes · 111 rejected ballots
**2017 General Election**Harry Bains, BC NDP, 57.31% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harry BainsElected | BC NDP | 9,744 | 57.31% | | Gurminder Singh Parihar | BC Liberal Party | 5,099 | 29.99% | | Richard Krieger | BC Green Party | 1,172 | 6.89% | | Balpreet Singh Bal | No affiliation | 988 | 5.81% | 17,003 valid votes · 114 rejected ballots
**2013 General Election**Harry Bains, BC NDP, 56.42% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harry BainsElected | BC NDP | 9,788 | 56.42% | | Sukhminder S. Virk | BC Liberal Party | 6,604 | 38.07% | | Satinder Singh | Conservative | 674 | 3.89% | | Alan Saldanha | Helping Hand Party | 282 | 1.63% | 17,348 valid votes · 191 rejected ballots
**2009 General Election**Harry Bains, BC NDP, 68.93% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harry BainsElected | BC NDP | 10,709 | 68.93% | | Ajay Caleb | BC Liberal Party | 4,011 | 25.82% | | Trevor Loke | BC Green Party | 759 | 4.89% | | George Gidora | Communist Party of BC | 58 | 0.37% | 15,537 valid votes · 119 rejected ballots
**2005 General Election**Harry Bains, BC NDP, 57.89% | Candidate | Affiliation | Votes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Harry BainsElected | BC NDP | 10,741 | 57.89% | | Daniel Igali | BC Liberal Party | 6,473 | 34.89% | | Dan Deresh | BC Green Party | 876 | 4.72% | | Harry Grewal | DR BC | 268 | 1.44% | | Gordon Scott | Work Less Party | 123 | 0.66% | | Jeff Robert Evans | The Platinum Party | 72 | 0.39% | 18,553 valid votes · 154 rejected ballots
The boundaries changed before the 2009, 2017 and 2024 elections, so a result under the same name can cover a different area. Sources: [Elections BC, Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935), [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf) PEOPLE · 2021 CENSUS ## Who lives in Surrey-Newton 61,520 residents · British Columbia beside each figure ### Age
Median age
35.6BC 42.8
- Under 1516.8%BC 14.3% - 15 to 6468.6%BC 65.3% - 65 and over14.6%BC 20.3% - 85 and over1.6%BC 2.4% ### Households
Households
18,000
People per household
3.4BC 2.4
#### Who lives together - Couples with children29.0%BC 22.7% - Couples without children13.6%BC 26.4% - One-parent families9.0%BC 7.6% - Multigenerational households14.7%BC 3.7% - People living alone17.1%BC 29.4% #### Household size - 1 person17.1%BC 29.4% - 2 persons22.6%BC 35.3% - 3 persons17.3%BC 14.5% - 4 persons17.9%BC 12.6% - 5 or more persons25.2%BC 8.2% ### Homes
Median home value
$900,000BC $785,000
Median monthly rent and utilities
$1,200BC $1,370
Median monthly cost for owners
$1,820BC $1,320
#### Own or rent - Own their home62.9%BC 66.8% - Rent their home37.1%BC 32.8% #### Type of home - Single-detached house19.5%BC 42.4% - Semi-detached house1.6%BC 3.1% - Row house16.6%BC 8.3% - Apartment or flat in a duplex26.3%BC 12.2% - Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys33.3%BC 20.4% - Apartment in a building that has five or more storeys0.7%BC 10.9% - Other single-attached house0.1%BC 0.2% - Movable dwelling1.9%BC 2.5% #### When the home was built - 1960 or earlier3.1%BC 12.5% - 1961 to 198021.2%BC 27.0% - 1981 to 199026.0%BC 14.2% - 1991 to 200025.1%BC 16.5% - 2001 to 20057.7%BC 6.0% - 2006 to 20106.6%BC 8.0% - 2011 to 20155.2%BC 6.6% - 2016 to 20215.1%BC 9.1% ### Housing costs - Renters paying 30% or more of income on housing26.3%BC 37.8% - Owners paying 30% or more of income on housing26.1%BC 19.3% - Renters in core housing need28.0%BC 24.7% - Owners in core housing need12.4%BC 8.0% - Renters in subsidized housing14.7%BC 11.0% - Owners with a mortgage71.5%BC 57.5% ### Income Income is for the year 2020.
Median household income
$90,000BC $85,000
After tax
$83,000BC $76,000
Median income per person
$33,200BC $40,800
#### Living on a low income (after-tax measure) - All ages9.7%BC 10.8% - Under 1812.5%BC 11.3% - 18 to 648.1%BC 9.7% - 65 and over12.8%BC 13.8% ### Languages #### First language learned - Punjabi (Panjabi)45.0%BC 4.9% - English27.8%BC 67.1% - Hindi3.7%BC 0.7% - Urdu2.3%BC 0.2% - Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)2.0%BC 1.7% - Spanish1.3%BC 1.2% - Arabic1.1%BC 0.5% - Somali0.8%BC 0.0% - Gujarati0.7%BC 0.2% - Mandarin0.5%BC 4.1% #### Spoken most often at home - English39.0%BC 78.5% - Punjabi (Panjabi)38.8%BC 3.8% - Hindi2.6%BC 0.3% - Urdu2.1%BC 0.2% - Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)1.0%BC 0.9% - Spanish0.8%BC 0.6% - Arabic0.8%BC 0.3% - Mandarin0.5%BC 3.3% #### English and French - English only86.7%BC 90.1% - English and French2.5%BC 6.6% - Neither English nor French10.8%BC 3.3% ### Immigration
Born outside Canada (immigrants)
49.3%BC 29.0%
Non-permanent residents
11.3%BC 3.5%
#### Where immigrants were born - India63.9%BC 13.8% - Philippines6.5%BC 9.2% - Pakistan5.1%BC 0.9% - Oceania and other places of birth4.9%BC 2.3% - United Kingdom1.4%BC 8.2% - Somalia1.0%BC 0.1% - China1.0%BC 15.3% - Afghanistan1.0%BC 0.4% - Viet Nam0.9%BC 2.3% - El Salvador0.8%BC 0.4% #### When immigrants arrived - Arrived before 19808.4%BC 19.7% - 1980 to 19909.6%BC 11.5% - 1991 to 200021.8%BC 21.0% - 2001 to 201027.8%BC 22.2% - 2011 to 202132.4%BC 25.6% #### Generations in Canada - First generation61.3%BC 33.7% - Second generation26.4%BC 21.7% - Third generation or more12.4%BC 44.5% ### Identity and origins
Indigenous identity
2.0%BC 5.9%
Visible minority
82.7%BC 34.4%
#### Visible minority groups - South Asian66.9%BC 9.6% - Filipino4.2%BC 3.5% - Black2.7%BC 1.3% - Latin American1.6%BC 1.3% - Chinese1.5%BC 11.2% - Arab1.4%BC 0.6% - Visible minority (other)1.1%BC 0.4% - Southeast Asian1.1%BC 1.5% - West Asian1.0%BC 1.4% - Multiple visible minorities0.9%BC 1.2% - Japanese0.3%BC 0.9% - Korean0.0%BC 1.5% #### Ethnic or cultural origins reported most often - Indian (India)35.5%BC 5.6% - Punjabi16.5%BC 1.9% - Sikh12.2%BC 1.4% - English5.5%BC 20.7% - Canadian5.0%BC 9.3% - Scottish4.0%BC 15.8% - Filipino3.8%BC 3.5% - Pakistani3.6%BC 0.4% - Irish3.2%BC 12.8% - German2.8%BC 11.0% ### Religion - Sikh51.4%BC 5.9% - Christian16.1%BC 34.3% - No religion13.1%BC 52.1% - Muslim10.3%BC 2.6% - Hindu7.8%BC 1.7% - Buddhist0.7%BC 1.7% - Other religions0.5%BC 1.0% - Jewish0.1%BC 0.5% - Traditional Indigenous spirituality0.0%BC 0.2% ### Education Highest level completed, ages 25 to 64. - No certificate, diploma or degree15.6%BC 8.0% - High school diploma32.8%BC 25.8% - College, trades or other certificate below a bachelor’s degree23.8%BC 31.2% - Bachelor’s degree or higher27.7%BC 35.0% ### Work
In the labour force
65.3%BC 63.3%
Employed
59.2%BC 57.9%
Unemployment rate at the census
9.3%BC 8.4%
#### Industries with the most workers - Transportation and warehousing15.0%BC 5.5% - Retail trade12.9%BC 11.6% - Construction11.7%BC 9.0% - Health care and social assistance10.5%BC 12.3% - Manufacturing8.3%BC 5.9% - Accommodation and food services7.3%BC 7.0% - Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services7.0%BC 4.2% - Professional, scientific and technical services4.5%BC 9.2% #### Kinds of work - Sales and service occupations30.1%BC 25.6% - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations30.0%BC 18.0% - Business, finance and administration occupations12.6%BC 17.1% - Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services7.4%BC 11.9% - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities6.3%BC 3.4% - Health occupations6.2%BC 7.7% - Natural and applied sciences and related occupations3.6%BC 8.0% - Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations2.3%BC 2.8% - Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport1.3%BC 4.2% - Legislative and senior management occupations0.2%BC 1.2% ### Getting to work #### Where people worked - Worked at home9.1%BC 22.6% - Worked outside Canada0.3%BC 0.4% - No fixed workplace address25.8%BC 15.3% - Worked at a usual workplace64.8%BC 61.6% #### How commuters travelled - Car, truck or van79.1%BC 79.9% - Public transit16.2%BC 9.3% - On foot2.7%BC 6.5% - Bicycle0.2%BC 2.0% - Other method1.8%BC 2.3% #### Length of the trip - Less than 15 minutes16.3%BC 31.8% - 15 to 29 minutes31.5%BC 34.0% - 30 to 44 minutes28.6%BC 19.7% - 45 to 59 minutes10.1%BC 7.3% - 60 minutes and over13.5%BC 7.2% ### Moving Where residents lived five years before the census. - Lived at the same address55.8%BC 56.2% - Moved within the same municipality22.4%BC 16.1% - Moved from elsewhere in BC5.4%BC 17.0% - Moved from another province1.4%BC 4.6% - Moved from another country15.0%BC 6.1% Counts in the census are rounded to the nearest 5, and shares are worked out from those counts. Source: [BC Stats, from Statistics Canada tabulations, 2021 Census Profile for BC Provincial Electoral Districts (2023 Redistribution) (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/census-profiles-for-bc-provincial-electoral-districts) QUESTIONS ## Questions about Surrey-Newton 10 answers ### Where is Surrey-Newton? Surrey-Newton is a provincial electoral district in the west of the City of Surrey, British Columbia. The Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report says its boundaries follow 80th Avenue in the north, 64th and 68th Avenues in the south, 144th Street in the east and 120th Street in the west. The commission gives its area as 14 square kilometres. ### Which communities are in Surrey-Newton? Surrey-Newton includes Newton town centre, Strawberry Hill and Highland Creek, according to the Electoral Boundaries Commission's 2023 final report. The report also places the main campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the area around King George Boulevard north of 64th Avenue in the district. The northern part of Newton is in the neighbouring district, Surrey North. ### Who won Surrey-Newton in the 2024 provincial election? Jessie Sunner of the BC NDP won Surrey-Newton in 2024 with 7,924 votes, which is 51.17% of the valid vote. Tegjot Bal of the Conservative Party received 6,658 votes. Amrit Birring of the Freedom Party of BC received 371. Turnout was 50.81% of 30,549 registered voters, according to Elections BC. ### Who has been the MLA for Surrey-Newton? Jessie Sunner of the BC NDP won Surrey-Newton in 2024. Harry Bains of the BC NDP held the seat in five parliaments from 2005 to 2024, according to the legislature's record. Tony Bhullar of the BC Liberal Party held it from 2001 to 2005, and Penny Priddy of the BC NDP held it from 1992 to 2001. ### Which premier was the MLA for Surrey-Newton? Rita Johnston was the member for Surrey-Newton when she became Premier of British Columbia on April 2, 1991, according to the Legislative Assembly. She is described there as the first woman Premier in Canadian history. She lost her seat in the election of October 17, 1991, when Penny Priddy of the NDP won Surrey-Newton with 10,193 votes. ### When was the Surrey-Newton electoral district created? Surrey-Newton was created by the Constitution Amendment Act (S.B.C. 1985, chapter 3), assented to on 21 February 1985, which altered the boundaries of Surrey. Elections BC's volume for 1871 to 1986 prints its first result, from the general election held on 22 October 1986, when Rita Johnston of Social Credit won with 13,436 votes. ### How did the boundaries of Surrey-Newton change in 2023? The Electoral Boundaries Commission changed Surrey-Newton in 2023 to reduce population differences with neighbouring districts and to keep the centre of Newton in one district. It counts 61,398 people in the new district, compared with 56,327 in the earlier one. Elections BC matches 42 of the district's 56 voting areas to the earlier Surrey-Newton. ### How many people live in Surrey-Newton and what languages do they speak? The 2021 census counted 61,520 people in Surrey-Newton, with a median age of 35.6 compared with 42.8 across British Columbia. Punjabi was the first language of 45% of residents and English of 27.8%, followed by Hindi at 3.7%, Urdu at 2.3% and Tagalog at 2%. Immigrants made up 49.3% of the population. ### Who is Newton in Surrey-Newton named after? Newton is named after Elias John Newton, according to BC Geographical Names, which also records a second account that the name comes from E.J. Villeneuf, a settler who changed his surname to Newton. The Encyclopedia of British Columbia says Newton grew up around a BC Electric Railway interurban station built in 1910. ### Whose traditional territory is Surrey-Newton on? The Surrey School District acknowledges the Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo Nations on whose traditional and unceded territories its schools stand, including those in Surrey-Newton. The City of Surrey's Newton page says the same of the Newton area. Kwantlen Polytechnic University, whose main campus is in the district, was named by the Kwantlen First Nation. SOURCES ## Where this page comes from Figures read Thursday, October 8, 2026 1. [2021 Census Profile for BC Provincial Electoral Districts (2023 Redistribution) (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/census-profiles-for-bc-provincial-electoral-districts)BC Stats, from Statistics Canada tabulations · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 2. [Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 3. [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 4. [Voting area conversion table, 2017 to 2024 (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/fb26db04-780c-4229-a147-da4fd5311d36)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 5. [Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf)British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 6. [Members of the Legislative Assembly, 35th to 43rd Parliament (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/members)Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 7. [Final report, April 3, 2023 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/BCEBC-Final-Report-April-3-2023.pdf)British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 8. [Bill 25, 2023: Electoral Districts Act, third reading (opens in a new tab)](https://lims.leg.bc.ca/pdms/ldp/42nd4th/3rd_read/gov25-3.htm)Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 9. [Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871 to 1986 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1871-1986_ElectoralHistoryofBC.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 10. [Electoral History of British Columbia, Supplement, 1987 to 2001 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1987-2001-ElectionHistory.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 11. [Electoral History of British Columbia, Supplement, 2002 to 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2002-2013-ElectionHistory.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 12. [Provincial Voting Results (opens in a new tab)](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/44914a35-de9a-4830-ac48-870001ef8935)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 13. [Statement of Votes, 2024 Provincial General Election (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/statement-of-votes-2024-provincial-election.pdf)Elections BC · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 14. [Rita Johnston, Premier in 1991 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.leg.bc.ca/node/348)Legislative Assembly of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 15. [Newton (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/our-communities/newton)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 16. [Newton Town Centre Plan (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/land-use-planning/newton-land-use-plans/newton-town-centre-plan)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 17. [Strawberry Hill Hall (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/strawberry-hill-hall)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 18. [Strawberry Hill Farmers Institute, heritage register entry (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/strawberry-hill-farmers-institute)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 19. [Burkart House, heritage register entry (opens in a new tab)](https://surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/burkart-house)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 20. [Swanson House, heritage register entry (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/swanson-house)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 21. [Swanson Barn, heritage register entry (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/land-planning-development/heritage-conservation/heritage-sites/newtown/swanson-barn)City of Surrey · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 22. [Newton Branch (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surreylibraries.ca/locations/newton-branch)Surrey Libraries · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 23. [Strawberry Hill, Surrey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=23196)Canadian Register of Historic Places · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 24. [Strawberry Hill Farmers Institute Hall (opens in a new tab)](https://historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=11420)Canadian Register of Historic Places · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 25. [Newton, BC Geographical Names (opens in a new tab)](https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/14250.html)Province of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 26. [Newton (opens in a new tab)](https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/N/Newton)Encyclopedia of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 27. [Strawberry Hill (opens in a new tab)](https://www.knowbc.com/limited/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/S/Strawberry-Hill)Encyclopedia of British Columbia · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 28. [Katzie First Nation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.katzie.ca/)Katzie First Nation · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 29. [Local Nations (opens in a new tab)](https://surreyschoolsone.ca/indigenous/resources/local-nations/)Surrey School District · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 30. [About Kwantlen Polytechnic University (opens in a new tab)](https://www.kpu.ca/about)Kwantlen Polytechnic University · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 31. [Our History, 2012-13 calendar (opens in a new tab)](https://www.kpu.ca/calendar/2012-13/introduction/history.html)Kwantlen Polytechnic University · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 32. [Construction starting at Newton Exchange, March 20, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://buzzer.translink.ca/2013/03/construction-starting-at-newton-exchange/)TransLink · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 33. [Surrey's Vaisakhi event the second largest in the world (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/surreys-vaisakhi-event-the-second-largest-in-the-world/)Surrey Now-Leader · read Thursday, October 8, 2026 ## Official information From Elections BC Your district ### [Check which district an address is in](https://elections.bc.ca/resources/maps/find-your-district/) Look up your address to be sure this district is yours. [Look it up (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/resources/maps/find-your-district/) Candidates ### [The official candidate list](https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/GE-2026-10-24-Candidate-Website-Report.PDF) The list this page is built from, published by Elections BC. [Open the list (opens in a new tab)](https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/GE-2026-10-24-Candidate-Website-Report.PDF) Voting ### [Where and when to vote](https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/where-to-vote/) Voting places and hours for general voting day and advance voting. [Find your voting place (opens in a new tab)](https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/where-to-vote/) ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.