 In March 1937 Surrey moved to Montreal and, in June, was joined by Varley, by then a close friend.In Montreal Surrey freelanced as a commercial artist and re-established his friendship with Brigden co-worker Fritz Brandtner.He soon established relationships with John Goodwin Lyman, Stanley Cosgrove, Goodridge Roberts, Jean Paul Lemieux, Jean Palardy, Jori Smith, and Jeanne Rhéaume, and became a member of the Eastern Group of Painters.