The votes are in for the fifth-annual Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizing the best people, places and things in Surrey and North Delta.
More than 20,000 votes were cast in the categories this year, including best car wash, best coffee shop, best cheap drinks and many more.
For 2015, voters welcomed new businesses and supported lots of familiar faces and places as well.
So, when you’re looking to grab some great Thai food, want to make new friends, or you’re hoping to do something fun with the kids, check out what The Leader’s readers recommend.
Our thanks to all those who participated in this year’s awards and congratulations to all the top picks.
Also congratulations to Surrey’s Alicia Welder, who won the 2015 cash prize of $1,000 for taking part in the voting process.
For your chance to win next year, be sure to vote in the Readers’ Choice Awards in 2016. Voting begins in September.
This year's winners are:
PEOPLE
Most wonderful Surreyite
1. Mitra Castano
2. Kabir Bath
3. Dianne Watts
Most wonderful North Deltan
1. Nicole Dhaliwal
2. Carson Jones
3. Eliza Olsen
Best business person
1. Mitra Castano
2. Sukhi Bath
3. Dr. Mahsa Soraya
Most invisible politician
1. Nina Grewal
2. Harry Bains
Most seen around town
1. Jinny Sims
2. Dianne Watts
3. Bruce Hayne
Most trustworthy politician
1. Dianne Watts
2. Jinny Sims
3. Lois Jackson
Best use of taxpayers’ money
1. Road construction
2. Surrey Public Libraries
3. Recreational facilities
Worst use of taxpayers’ money
1. New city hall
2. Transit
3. Spraying pesticides
LIVING
Outdoor activity in good weather
1. Going to Crescent Beach
2. Walking in Burns Bog
3. Movies Under the Stars
Outdoor activity in bad weather
1. Shopping at Guildford Town Centre
2. Walking in Burns Bog
3. Funtopia
Indoor activity
1. Bowling
2. Badminton
3. Swimming
Place to take a tourist
1. White Rock
2. Crescent Beach
3. Guildford Town Centre
Place to take your kids
1. Crescent Beach
2. Surrey Public Libraries
3. Bear Creek Park
Place to take your parents
1. Bear Creek Park
2. Farmers’ markets
3. Crescent Beach
Place to escape stress
1. Pure Scents Massage Therapy
2. Avisio Naturopathic Clinic
3. Healing Movements Yoga Centre
Spot to people watch
1. White Rock
2. Bear Creek Park
3. Guildford Town Centre
Neighbourhood
1. Kennedy Heights
2. Morgan Crossing
3. Panorama/Sullivan
New non-residential building
1. Coast Capital Savings headquarters
2. City Centre Library
Park
1. Bear Creek
2. Unwin
3. Watershed
Movie theatre
1. Strawberry Hill Cinemas
2. Hollywood 3 Cinemas
Bowling Alley
1. Scottsdale Lanes
2. Clover Lanes
3. Dell Lanes
Seniors’ care
1. Amenieda
2. Kennedy House Seniors’ Society
3. Suncreek Village
Local charity
1. Surrey Food Bank
2. Salvation Army
3. Surrey Hospice Society
Festival
1. Fusion Festival
2. Vasaikhi Parade
3. City of Surrey Tree Lighting
HEALTH & FITNESS
Community recreation centre
1. Sungod Recreation Centre
2. Guildford Recreation Centre
3. Newton Recreation Centre
Fitness facility
1. Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed
Martial Arts
2. Steve Nash
3. Sungod Recreation Centre
Dental clinic
1. Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry
2. Angel Care Dental
3. Guildford Orthodontic Centre
Medical clinic
1. Avisio Naturopathic Clinic
2. Care Place Medical (various locations)
3. Fraser Heights Medical Clinic
Massage therapist
1. Bobbi Slawson
2. Shawn Carlsen
3. Suzanne Schmidt
Chiropractor
1. Dr. Sharon Dhaliwal
2. Dr. Sean Maxwell
3. Dr. Sukh Mann
Golf course
1. Guildford Golf and Country Club
2. Sunshine Woods Golf Centre
3. Eaglequest - Coyote Creek
Martial arts
1. Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jistu & Mixed
Martial Arts
2. Triunity Martial Arts Studio
3. Surrey Martial Arts
Yoga
1. Healing Movements Yoga Centre
2. Bikram Yoga Delta
Spa
1. FLUID Day Spa
2. Aru Spa and Salon
3. Kenza Day Spa
STYLE
Hair salon
1. SalonManhattan
2. Vivace Hair Studio
Jeweller
1. Gold Room Jewellers
2. Gold Star Jeweller
3. Pandora
Manicure/pedicure
1. B.B. Nails
2. L.A. Nails
3. Elegant Nails
Women’s clothing
1. Reitmans
2. Winners
3. Aritzia
Men’s clothing
1. Moores Clothing for Men
2. Walmart
3. Costco
Kid’s clothing
1. Walmart
2. Sears
Shoe store
1. Payless ShoeSource
2. The Bay
Tattoos/piercing
1. Westcoast Piercing and Ink
2. Evil By Needle
SERVICES
Auto repair/service
1. OK Tire & Auto Service
2. Newton Auto Repair
3. Canadian Tire (various locations)
New car dealer
1. Surrey Honda
2. Jim Pattison Hyundai
3. Applewood Kia
Used car dealer
1. Sukhi Bath Motors
2. Hare Motors
Car wash
1. Washworld
2. SpeedWash
3. Splashes
Cellular mobility
1. Telus
2. Bell
3. Wind Mobile
Realtor
1. Erica Tucker
2. Aaron Sosa
3. Sara Pickering
Real estate agency
1. Homelife - Titus
2. RE/MAX
3. HomeLife Benchmark
Titus Realty
Insurance Broker
1. Kani Hothi
2. Firth Bateman
Financial institution
1. Coast Capital Savings
2. Royal Bank
3. Scotiabank
Taxi company
1. Surdell Taxi
2. Newton Whalley Hi-Way Taxi
Art Supply Store
1. Chapters
2. Michaels
Photofinishing
1. London Drugs
2. Walmart
Education facility
1. Kwantlen Polytechnic University
2. Simon Fraser University
Banquet hall
1. The Grand Taj
2. Crown Palace Banquet Hall
3. Aria Banquet Hall & Convention Centre
Tire store
1. Kal Tire
2. Costco
3. Canadian Tire
Travel agency
1. Marlin Travel
2. Pitmar Tours
3. Flight Centre
Ubrew
1. Urban Vintner
2. SR Brewing
SHOPPING
Shopping centre
1. Guildford Town
Centre
2. Morgan Crossing
2. Scottsdale Centre
Thrift shop
1. Value Village
2. Talize
3. Salvation Army
Book store
1. Chapters
2. Talize
3. Black Bond Books
Grocery store
1. Fresh St. Market
2. Save-On-Foods
3. Real Canadian Superstore
Ethnic grocer
1. Fruiticana
2. T & T Supermarket
3. Greco’s Specialty Foods
Farm market
1. North Delta Farmers’ Market
2. 2 EE’s Farm
3. Kin’s Farm Market
Organic produce
1. The Organic Grocer
2. Fresh St. Market
Home appliance store
1. Ben’s Maytag
2. Home Depot
3. Trail Appliance
Home furnishings store
1. The Brick
2. Walmart
3. Mason’s Cloverdale
Home Furnishings
Home improvement store
1. Home Depot
2. Southridge Building
Supplies
3. Canadian Tire
Garden centre/florist
1. 99 Nursery & Florist
2. Floral Symphony
3. Port Kells Nurseries
Liquor store
1. Scott 72
2. Liquor Depot
3. Brewsters Pub and Liquor Store
Pet store
1. Bosley’s (various locations)
2. PetSmart (various locations)
Flooring
1. Westcoast Moulding & Millwork
2. King of Floors
3. Home Depot
DINING
Bakery
1. COBS
2. Veneto’s Cake and Pastries
3. Cuatro Coffee
Breakfast and brunch
1. White Spot
2. Denny’s
3. IHOP
Burgers
1. Donegal’s Irish House
2. Vera’s Burger Shack
3. A&W
Chain restaurants
1. Cactus Club
2. Browns Social House
3. White Spot
Chinese
1. Yummy Wonton House
2. Golden Panda
3. Sanhao BBQ Delight
Coffee Shop
1. Cuatro Coffee
2. Starbucks
3. Tim Hortons
Family-friendly restaurant
1. White Spot
2. Yummy Wonton House
Fast food
1. A&W
2. Wendy’s
3. McDonald’s Restaurants
Fine Dining
1. Old Surrey Restaurant
2. The Keg Steakhouse and Bar
3. Elizabeth’s Chalet
Fish ’n chips
1. Salty’s Fish and Chips
2. Donegal’s Irish House
3. White spot
Greek food
1. Vlassis Souvlaki & Greek Taverna
2. Greek Islands
3. Royal Oak Restaurant
Indian
1. Tasty Indian Bistro
2. Viti Curry
3. Mirch Masala
Japanese/sushi
1. Nordel Sushi
2. Akari
3. Guildford Sushi House
Neighbourhood pub
1. Donegal’s Irish House
2. Sundowner
3. ONE20 Public House
Patio
1. Cactus Club
2. Browns Social House
3. Central City Brew Pub +
Restaurant
Pizza
1. Boston Pizza
2. Westin Pizza
3. Pizza Hut
Sandwiches
1. Subway
2. Be’wiched Cafe
3. Donegal’s Irish House
Steak house
1. The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
Thai
1. Sabai Thai Restaurant
2. Thai By Thai
3. Naam Thai Bistro
AFTER DARK
Appies
1. Cactus Club
2. Donegal’s Irish House
3. Sundowner
Cheap drinks
1. Browns Social House
2. Sundowner
3. ONE20 Public House
Late night Eating
1. Donegal’s Irish House
2. White Spot
3. Cactus Club
Place to hang out with friends
1. Brown’s Social House
2. Dublin Crossing Irish Pub
3. Brewsters Pub
Place to hear music
1. Dublin Crossing Irish Pub
2. Sundowner
3. ONE20 Public House
Place to meet new people
1. YMCA
2. Cactus Club
3. Sundowner
▶ LUCKIER THAN A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
Cheers to Donegal’s Irish House, where owner/manager Daniel Cook raises a frosty one for being chosen in six categories: Best neighbourhood pub, Best burgers, Best late night eating, Best appies, Best fish ’n chips, and Best sandwiches. Evan Seal photo.