Tsawwassen (; ) is a suburban, mostly residential community on a peninsula in the southwestern corner of the City of Delta in British Columbia, Canada. It provides the only road access to the American territory on the southern tip of the peninsula of the same name, the community of Point Roberts, Washington, via 56th Street. It is also the location of Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, part of the BC Ferries, 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 (Roberts Bank), the ferry terminal is built at the southwestern end of a causeway (part of Highway 17) that juts into the Strait of Georgia. Boundary Bay Airport, a major training hub for local and international pilots which also provides local airplane and helicopter service, is ten minutes away. The Roberts Bank Superport is also nearby.
To the northwest of the community are the lands of Tsawwassen First Nation ("TFN"), a people of Coast Salish ancestry who have used this land since at least 200 B.C. Having been stripped of their lands, rights and resources by European colonizers throughout the 19th century, and in accordance with a 2009 treaty with British Columbia, their territory now consists of approximately of treaty settlement land, 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. While also part of TFN lands, the 92-lot residential subdivision of Stahaken was leased for use by the (then) Tsawwassen Indian Reserve to Staheken Developments Ltd. in 1989 for a 99-year term. It was then developed in a partnership between Stahaken Development Ltd. and the Municipality of Delta. As such it is commonly thought of and serviced in the same manner as other subdivisions in the community of Tsawwassen. Stahaken residents are represented by the Stahaken Homeowners Association.
Etymology Tsawwassen is derived from the Halkomelem word , meaning 'land facing the sea'.
Location Tsawwassen is on the northern end of a peninsula flanked by the Strait of Georgia to the west and Boundary Bay to the east. Boundary Bay is an important stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. Tsawwassen has recreational access to Boundary Bay at Centennial Park, and there is an extensive bike/foot path along the edge of the bay, known as the Dyke.
Tsawwassen's southern boundary is the Canada–United States border, following the 49th parallel north. To the north, its nearest neighbour is the town of Ladner, which is also part of the City 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.
Tsawwassen's lowest elevation is just below sea level, and its highest is at at the Point Roberts border near 56th Street.
History Tsawwassen and surrounding lands are the ancestral home, and traditional lands, of the Tsawwassen First Nation, a Coast Salish people, who may have lived in the area for over 4,200 years, the age of the oldest archeological site found on English Bluff. Eight prehistoric villages have been unearthed there.
The first group of Europeans to see Tsawwassen was the expedition of Spanish explorer José María Narváez in 1791. Narvaez named the Point Roberts peninsula Isla de Zepeda and wrote that "there is an incredible quantity of rich salmon and numerous Indians... They speak an entirely different language."
European settlers cleared Tsawwassen's forests for agriculture in the late 19th century. Tsawwassen remained largely rural until the opening of the Massey Tunnel in 1959, which connected Delta to Richmond, and significantly shortened travel times to Vancouver. This caused a real estate boom in the area, and the rapid transformation of Tsawwassen into a suburban bedroom community within Metro Vancouver.
Transportation Tsawwassen is arranged in a grid, with streets running north–south and east–west. Running east–west are the avenues, with 1st Avenue closest to the Canada–US border. Running north–south, the streets follow the grid laid out for the municipality of Delta, part of the greater street grid set out by the British Royal Engineers in the 19th century.
Tsawwassen main arterial street is 56th Street, which connects Highway 17 with the exclave of Point Roberts, in Washington, U.S. (where it becomes Tyee Drive). It runs through the main commercial area, centred at the intersection of 12th Avenue with 56th Street. This border crossing is the westernmost on the 49th parallel between Canada and the USA.
Tsawwassen is served by buses from TransLink. Four primary bus routes serve the main bus loop at the South Delta Exchange next to the South Delta Recreation Centre, where many terminate at Bridgeport Station in Richmond: Routes 602, 603, and 604 operate during rush hour and connect directly to Bridgeport Station, whereas Route 601 operates all day/all week, and is routed past Tsawwassen Mills and through Ladner.
Route 620 connects the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to the Ladner Exchange and, ultimately, Bridgeport Station.
Local community routes in Tsawwassen are handled by Route 609 (Tsawwassen First Nation), Route 614 (English Bluff and Beach Grove during non-peak periods), and Route 619 (Boundary Bay).
Tsawwassen is also home to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, part of BC Ferries. Ferries go to the following destinations:
Route Destination Route 1 Swartz Bay,Victoria Route 9 Southern Gulf Islands Route 30 Duke Point,Nanaimo
Holidays and events
Since 2001, Tsawwassen has played an integral part of the Tour de Delta, one-day bicycle races that take place over a July weekend (The White Spot / Delta Road Race for men since 2001; and the women's since 2011). The weekend culminates in a race from North Delta through Ladner to Tsawwassen, where men and women do various laps around Tsawwassen's perimeter until finishing in either Diefenbaker or Winskill Park. The race grows in popularity and coverage each year.
The Tsawwassen / Boundary Bay chapter of Lions Clubs International runs a Sunday car lot in the east parking lot of Town Centre Mall, which donates the space. People selling their cars park them in the lot, where they can be seen by locals and people passing through on the way to Point Roberts. Dozens of cars and hundreds of shoppers now come from all over the Lower Mainland each Sunday.
In keeping with its reputation as the sunniest spot in the Greater Vancouver Region, every year on the August long weekend (for B.C. Day) Tsawwassen hosts the Sun Festival, which usually includes a parade, a live music, and a variety of activities such as children's games, food tents, and sporting events. There is usually a theme for each year's event, and attendees are encouraged to dress accordingly.
Neighbourhoods
Boundary Bay, a quiet beach-side neighbourhood situated on Boundary Bay between Boundary Bay Regional Park and the Canada–U.S. border. It originated in the 1890s as a seaside summer community for wealthy Vancouverites. Some of the original cottages still stand, many as renovated and updated homes, as well as modern contemporary single family homes and waterfront architectural residences. To the south, "The Bay" as it is referred to by residents, borders on the residential neighbourhood of Maple Beach in Point Roberts, WA. A Canada/U.S. customs checkpoint joined the two communities (at the foot of 67th Street) until it was closed in the 1970s. Currently, Boundary Bay Road as well as the newly opened Southlands boulevard provide the only two access routes to this area. The Southlands, which is a new neighbourhood centred around original barns, historic farm house, grange, and small shops extends from the Boundary Bay Rd and 3rd Ave roundabout ultimately to the USA border. It is bounded on the east by Boundary Bay community and to the west and north by protected farmland. Beach Grove, which is situated on the edge of Boundary Bay, further north from the community of Boundary Bay. It is located on the east side of 56th Street, between 12th and 17A Avenue. The Highlands, which is the area just to the northwest of Downtown Tsawwassen, behind the Town Centre Mall and situated around Highland Park. Pebble Hill, which is the area surrounding Diefenbaker Park and Pebble Hill Park. Tsawwassen Heights, a small area located on English Bluff Road, south of 1st Ave. Two totem poles stand on either side of the road here as its official gateway. The Terrace, a terraced subdivision located between 56th Street, the Tsawwassen Nature Reserve, and the Canada–U.S. border. English Bluff, which refers to the area along English Bluff Road, where many of the most expensive homes in the community enjoy commanding ocean views. Stahaken, which refers to a large area of houses built on land belonging to the Tsawwassen First Nations. This land is leased on a 99-year term to Stahaken Development Ltd., and supported and serviced by the Municipality of Delta. The current lease expires in 2089. The Village; adjacent to Stahaken, it is a wealthy subdivision built on the west side of English Bluff Road, overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Another totem pole stands at its entrance at Wesley Drive. Tsatsu Shores, a large apartment complex beneath English Bluff, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. This is also built on land leased from the Tsawwassen First Nation. Imperial Village, a large subdivision located east of 52nd Street at 16th Avenue. Forest-by-the-Bay, which refers to a housing development off 56th Street and 6th Avenue beside Tsawwassen's only cemetery. Tsawwassen Springs, a small subdivision within the centre of the Tsawwassen Golf & Country Club.
Schools Public schools in Tsawwassen are part of School District 37 Delta. Tsawwassen has only one public high school, South Delta Secondary School (SDSS), formerly South Delta Senior Secondary.
There are five public elementary schools in Tsawwassen. These are Cliff Drive, Pebble Hill, South Park, English Bluff, and Beach Grove. A sixth school, Boundary Beach (Grades K-3), closed in June 2009. There is also a small French programme cadre school, Ecole Du Bois-Joli, for students with French language spoken at home.
Boundary Bay Elementary School, formerly located on 56th Street south of 12th Avenue, served grades K-7. With usually one class per grade, it was a small school, and shared a principal with Boundary Beach Elementary School. Grades 3–7 students from Boundary Beach were bussed daily to attend the school. The school was closed in the early 1990s, and the land sold. It is now a residential development. There was also a middle school called Tsawwassen Junior Secondary (TJS), but low enrolment led to its closure in 1994. This land was also sold by the school district and re-developed into a housing subdivision.
Private schools in the Tsawwassen area include Southpointe Academy, a private K–12 school; Delta Christian School in Ladner, a Christian private school offering grades K-8; and Sacred Heart Elementary in Ladner, a Catholic school offering grades K-7.
Parks Tsawwassen contains many community and regional parks; Boundary Bay Regional Park (home to Centennial Beach) is run by the Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD). The following parks are maintained by Delta Parks & Recreation, an arm of the municipal government: