The Province 

There may be those among you who laugh, perhaps even sneer, when the City of Surrey is mentioned.

Well, sneer no more. Surrey has been recognized by the federal government for its leadership in arts and culture.

You read right: Arts and culture.

Surrey was named a 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada by the Department of Heritage, beating out three other Canadian cities with a population of more than 125,000.

Surrey joins the ranks of past winners such as Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto.

The annual designations are awarded to municipalities that submit a proposal to celebrate and build a legacy for arts and culture.

The designation includes funding of up to $2 million for a program of activities. The city also plans to kick in $650,000.

Surrey's proposal included eight artistic and cultural projects for 2008.

Projects such as six public art pieces and the Green Timbers Forest Interpretation Centre will remain after 2008.

Events such as the three-day Surrey Fusion Festival, Vaisakhi "Harvest the Fun" international dance competition, a speaker series, a civic award program, a youth and new-media initiative and an aboriginal educational program will be one-time occurrences.

"Through these events, we will be able to bring the entire community together through art," Mayor Dianne Watts said in a news release.