SURREY, B.C. – The City of Surrey will unveil a heritage feature at Inouye Park on November 7 recognizing early Japanese Canadian residents, the first of a three-part project honouring the community’s history in the city.
The installation includes “Konjou” artwork by Kellen Hatanaka, a mailbox form honouring Zennosuke Inouye, a Japanese rock garden and interpretive features telling the story of early Japanese Canadian settlement in Surrey.
A heritage feature of this kind uses public art and landscape design to mark the historical presence of a community in a specific place. The Inouye Park installation focuses on the families who farmed and lived in the area in the early 20th century.
The project is a partnership with the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. Two more features are planned, at RA Nicholson Park and Strawberry Hill Hall, completing the three-part series.
The unveiling is open to the public and takes place on November 7. The city has not announced a rain plan, so attendees should check the city’s event listing closer to the date.
This is the first of the three planned installations. The Legacies Society partnership reflects a provincewide effort to recognize Japanese Canadian history in communities where families settled before the Second World War internment.
What happens next: the November 7 unveiling launches the series, with the remaining two features to follow. Apna News will cover the unveiling and update readers when dates for the other two sites are announced.
Apna News covers Surrey’s heritage and community stories. If your organization is marking a local milestone, send us the details.
(Source: City of Surrey, October 2026)
