Tsawwassen

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History

Tsawwassen is a suburban, mostly residential community in the southwestern part of Delta, BC. The name means "looking toward the sea" in the local native language (Coast Salish). Tsawwassen provides the only road access to the community of Point Roberts, Washington via 56th Street. It is also the location of BC Ferries' flagship Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, built in 1959 to provide foot-passenger and motor vehicle access from the Lower Mainland to the southern part of Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. Because Tsawwassen touches a shallow bank, the ferry terminal is built at the southwestern end of a 3 klometre-long causeway that juts out into the Strait of Georgia. The ferry dock and causeway are part of Highway 17, and the ferry terminal is the largest in North America. Boundary Bay Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Canada, is located ten minutes away. The Roberts Bank Superport is also located in Tsawwassen.

A large, mostly undeveloped but agricultural part of northwest Tsawwassen is designated as the Tsawwassen First Nation Reserve, where members have a Coast Salish ancestry. This land is bounded by the Strait of Georgia on the west, the 2600 block to the north, the 4800 block to the east, and the 1200 block to the south.

Location

Tsawwassen is situated on the northern end of a peninsula flanked by the Straight of Georgia to the west and Boundary Bay to the east. The southern boundary of Tsawwassen is the border with the United States, following the 49th parallel of north latitude. To the north, Tsawwassen's nearest neighbour is the town of Ladner, which is also part of Delta. Together, Ladner and Tsawwassen make up the area known as South Delta. Ladner is the site of the Delta Municipal Hall. Both the police station and hospital serve Ladner and Tsawwassen.

Places to See

• Tsawwassen Quay Market

This stunning 16,000 sq ft market-style facility is situated at the BC Ferries Tsawwassen Terminal. Located at the entry point for travelers heading from the Lower Mainland to Victoria, Nanaimo, and the Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwassen Quay Market makes the perfect starting point for your journey.

The outdoors are brought inside with full-height windows, exposed wood beams, and a painted nautical chart of the BC coast decorating the floor, making Tsawwassen Quay Market a truly West Coast experience. Enjoy the sweeping views of the North Shore mountains while relaxing by the river rock fireplace. Savour the rich flavours of the one-of-a-kind food merchants or shop for unique gifts.

• Reifel Bird Sanctuary

Located on Westham Island, on the wetlands of the Fraser River, the Reifel Bird Sanctuary is home to over 230 species and is the annual migratory stop for some 1.5 million birds on the Pacific Flyway. Over 20,000 snow geese travelling south from Siberia every November make an especially breathtaking spectacle.

• Ladner Village

Historic Ladner is a charming community of unique boutiques and restaurants. During the summer make sure to visit the Ladner Village Market, a three-block long open-air market of fresh produce, handmade jewelry and had-crated treasures.

• Centennial Beach

Centennial Beach has one the region's warmest and cleanest soft-sand beaches, as well as picnic facilities, beach volleyball, and nature trails.

• Deas Island Regional Park

Walk dykes, marshes, and meadows, and visit a one-room schoolhouse built in 1909, a Queen Anne style home built in 1905, and the historic Delta Agricultural Hall.

Things to Do

• Biking

An impressive stretch of dike trail runs beside Mud and Boundary Bays east of Tsawwassen. The Boundary Bay Regional Trail, which includes the East Delta Dike Trail, winds around both bays, skirting the mudflats that once extended much farther inland. Today's dike is a much sturdier version than the crude ones built at the turn of the century. You can put in a full day cycling 20 kilometres one way between the Surrey-Delta border and Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen. There are always shorebirds to entertain you, and towards evening the sky around Mount Baker lights up in the southeast.

• Eco-Tours

Take an eco-tour along the Fraser River and bask in the amazing scenery.

• Windsurfing

The sun, the wind, and the beautiful waters of Boundary Bay call visitors to experience the sheer exhilaration of windsurfing. In Tsawwassen, on the south side of the BC Ferries causeway is a beach that attracts anglers and windsurfers. The best time to catch the breeze here is after storm blowing from the south.

Events

• Tour de Delta

The Tour de Delta was introduced to the cycling community in 2001, with the inaugural event attracting more than 200 professional cyclists from across Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand. Since that time, with great weather, challenging courses, and enthusiastic spectators, the Tour de Delta has been a continuous success.

• Delta Triathlon

The Delta Triathlon is a one-day annual event occuring in the month of April. It is a short-distance race - a great warm up for the season for those with experience and an easy start for people who have never done a triathlon before. This event is held at the Ladner Leisure Centre, with the running and bicycle courses taking you through beautiful Ladner. Children and youth categories are also offered.

Nearby Communities

Contact Information

Delta Municipal Hall

4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent
Delta, BC V4K 3E2
Canada

Telephone: 604-946-4141
Website: http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca/