PHOTO TOUR

I invite you to take a look at the beautiful communities
of Ladner and Tsawwassen.

WELCOME TO DELTA

Traditionally a rich agricultural and fishing community, Delta spans 336 square kilometers. It is bounded to the North by the Fraser River, South by the U.S. Border and Boundary Bay, east by the city of Surrey and West by the Strait of Georgia. Delta is only a 20 minute drive from the Vancouver International Airport, 5 mins from the Vancouver Island Ferries, 20 mins from Whistler and has a population of approximately 100,000.

Completion of the George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River in 1959 opened up the commercial and residential development of Delta Communities-Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta.

Situated at the estuary of the Frase River, Delta is an ecotourism Mecca, being the Pacific Flyway for wintering shorebirds and waterfowl that enjoy the year-round seasonally mild climate.

Ladner Harbour Park is well known for its cottonwood trees that attract Bald eagles to nest annually. The Reifel Bird Sanctuary on the tip of Westham Island provides an 850 hectare refuge for more than 230 species of migrating birds. Each November, the annual Snow Goose festival marks the return of thousands of Snow Geese from Wrangel Island in the Arctic. Bird watchers will also find the worlds largest rookery of Great Blue Herons in point Roberts, W.A. which borders Tsawwassen to the south.

The Burns Bog covers 10,000 acres east of Ladner. Preserved by the Burns Bog Conservation Society, it is nick named the “lungs of Vancouver”, as the Bog has an uncanny ability to clean the air. The society organizes guided nature tours along the trails of the bog. Additionally in July, the Society celebrates International Bog Day.

Boundary Bay Airport, located east of Ladner, opened in 1941 for operation during World War 11. The airport houses many tenants, including private and light commercial aviation operators, commercial helicopter training and a flight training centre.

Spectacular views of distant mountains over miles of ocean, stretches of sandy Beaches, natural park playgrounds, a peaceful lifestyle combined with a bustling commercial climate are just some of the benefits of living in Delta. Delta also boasts having more sunshine than any other community in the Lower Mainland.

RECREATION

The recreation season in Delta lasts all year round. As rich in history as it is in agriculture and fishing, Delta features a flourishing economy and vast areas of internationally renowned Wildlife habitats.

Deas Island Regional Park, just east of the George Massey Tunnel and separated by the Deas Slough, features 70 acres of meadows, treed dikes, tidal marshes, sand dunes and nature trails. The park hosts the Fraser River Festival every summer. The calm water of the Deas Slough provides a peaceful setting for the Deas Island Rowing Club and Water Ski World.

Ladner Harbour Park has picnic areas, trails and seasonal festivals. On alternate Sundays throughout the summer, you can buy fresh local produce and sample specialty and ethnic foods at the open air market in quaint Ladner Village.

Centennial Beach, part of Boundary Bay Regional Park, features nature and biking trails, sandy beachfronts, water sports and picnic sites.

Water sports abound in this aquatic spot: boating, fishing, sailing, canoeing, rowing, waterskiing, windsurfing and swimming. The indoor facilities of Ladner Leisure Pool and the Winskill Aquatic Centre in Tsawwassen both feature 6-lane indoor swimming p[ools and shallow pools for children Ladner Pool also has an indoor waterslide. Outdoors you can visit Greater Vancouvers’ only waterslide park, Splashdown Park, just 3 minutes from Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Golfers can enjoy three public golf courses: two in North Delta and one in Tsawwassen.

HISTORY

The community of Delta derives its name from the fertile delta of the mighty Fraser River, which played a major role in the early history and development of British Columbia. Rich in natural resources, the delta was the site of one of many summer fishing villages of Coast Salish natives, who for centuries harvested the abundance of the sea and land.

Much of the early interest in the Fraser Valley resulted from the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1858, which brought floods of prospectors across the ocean seeking instant wealth. These prospectors included two brothers, Thomas ands William Ladner. Subject to flooding and not easily accessible, the settlement of Delta did not really begin until 1868, when the Ladner brothers farmed 160 acres near the Chilukhtan Slough. This waterway was used for access, between farm and the steamship dock at Ladner’s Landing, in a time of no roads.

With the establishment of a steamship dock at Ladner’s Landing in 1873, supplies could be shipped to New Westminster and on to Victoria. As a result, Ladner became an important port, not only as a centre for farming, fishing and canning, but also as the administrative centre of Delta, which was incorporated as a municipality in 1879. Since it’s discovery, the dynamic community of Delta has displayed remarkable change and growth. While originally reliant on farming and fishing, the manufacturing, retail and service industries now prosper in the area.