Tsawwassen ( ) is a suburban, mostly residential community on a

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on a ...

in the southwestern corner of the City of Delta in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...

, Canada. It provides the only road access to the American territory on the southern tip of the peninsula, the community of

Point Roberts, Washington Point Roberts is a pene-exclave of Washington on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen peninsula, south of Vancouver, Canada. The area, which had a population of 1,191 at the 2020 census, is reached by land from the rest of the United States ...

, via 56th Street. It is also the location of

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, as part of the BC Ferries system and of Highway 17, is a major transportation facility in Delta, British Columbia, positioned less than from the 49th parallel along the Canada–United States border. It is located a ...

, part of the

BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferr ...

, built in 1959 to provide foot-passenger and

motor vehicle A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of people or cargo. The ...

access from the

Lower Mainland The Lower Mainland is a geographic and cultural region of the mainland coast of British Columbia that generally comprises the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley. Home to approximately 3.05million people as of the 2021 Cana ...

to the southern part of

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...

and the southern

Gulf Islands The Gulf Islands are a group of islands in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia. Etymology The name "Gulf Islands" comes from "Gulf of Georgia," the original term used by George Vancouver in his ...

. Because Tsawwassen touches a shallow bank (

Roberts Bank Roberts Bank is an undersea bank in the Strait of Georgia on the south side of the estuary of the Fraser River approximately south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located between the South Arm of the Fraser River and Tsawwassen, it is si ...

), the ferry terminal is built at the southwestern end of a causeway (part of Highway 17) that juts into the

Strait of Georgia The Strait of Georgia (french: Détroit de Géorgie) or the Georgia Strait is an arm of the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the extreme southwestern mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada and the extreme northwestern mainland coast ...

Boundary Bay Airport Boundary Bay Airport or Vancouver/Boundary Bay Airport is located beside Boundary Bay and east of Ladner in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, south southeast of Vancouver and close to the Point Roberts-Boundary Bay border crossing. The airp ...

, 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 Roberts Bank is home to a twin-terminal port facility located on the mainland coastline of the Strait of Georgia in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1970 with Westshore Terminals as its only tenant, Roberts Bank was expanded in 1983� ...

is also nearby. To the northwest of the community are the lands of

Tsawwassen First Nation The Tsawwassen First Nation ( hur, sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ, ) is a First Nations government whose lands are located in the Greater Vancouver area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, close to the South Arm of the Fraser River ...

("TFN"), a people of

Coast Salish The Coast Salish is a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak one of the Coa ...

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 The Tsawwassen Lands is the sole reserve of land that the Tsawwassen First Nation has authority over in British Columbia, Canada, and is located adjacent to the causeway of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. To the south is the Canada–United States ...

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 Halkomelem (; in the Upriver dialect, in the Island dialect, and in the Downriver dialect) is a language of various First Nations peoples of the British Columbia Coast. It is spoken in what is now British Columbia, ranging from southeastern ...

word ''sc̓əwaθən'', 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 , image = Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen.jpg , image_size = 260px , alt = , caption = Looking east across Boundary Bay from Tsawwassen , image_bathymetry = , alt_bathymetry = ...

to the east. Boundary Bay is an important stopover for migratory birds on the

Pacific Flyway The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in the Americas, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading ...

. 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 The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: ...

, following the

49th parallel north The 49th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 49 ° north of Earth's equator. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Paris is about south of the 49th parallel and is the large ...

. 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 considered the ancestral home, and traditional lands, of the

, 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 José María Narváez (1768 – August 4, 1840) was a Spanish naval officer, explorer, and navigator notable for his work in the Gulf Islands and Lower Mainland of present-day British Columbia. In 1791, as commander of the schooner '' Santa ...

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."

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 The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is head ...

in the 19th century. Tsawwassen main arterial street is 56th Street, which connects Highway 17 with the exclave of

Point Roberts Point or points may refer to: Places * Point, Lewis, a peninsula in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland * Point, Texas, a city in Rains County, Texas, United States * Point, the NE tip and a ferry terminal of Lismore, Inner Hebrides, Scotland * Point ...

, in

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, 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 Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, Californi ...

: 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 The Ladner Exchange is a major transit exchange in the community of Ladner within the city of Delta, British Columbia. Opened on November 24, 1978, it is the primary transit hub for South Delta, serving as a terminus for all but two routes and ...

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

, part of

. Ferries go to the following destinations:

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 A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chro ...

since 2001; and the

women's A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardle ...

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 The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international non-political service organization established originally in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois, by Melvin Jones. It is now headquartere ...

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 Greater Vancouver, also known as Metro Vancouver, is the metropolitan area with its major urban centre being the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The term "Greater Vancouver" is roughly coterminous with the geographic area governed b ...

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

, 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 pole Totem poles ( hai, gyáaʼaang) are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually ...

s 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 School District No. 37 (Delta) is a school district in British Columbia south of Vancouver. The district serves the Municipality of Delta including the three communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta. Schools References See also ...

. Tsawwassen has only one public

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

South Delta Secondary School South Delta Secondary (SDSS) is a public high school in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada. There are approximately 1,500 students enrolled in each grade 8 through 12 (as of 2019/2020). Graduation rates in the years 2005 to 2010 vary between 9 ...

(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 K–12, from kindergarten to 12th grade, is an American English expression that indicates the range of years of publicly supported primary and secondary education found in the United States, which is similar to publicly supported school grade ...

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 The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 ...

(MVRD). The following parks are maintained by Delta Parks & Recreation, an arm of the municipal government: *Diefenbaker Park - located at the intersection of 56th Street and 1st Avenue, named after former Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker in 1976, prior to the park's completion in 1980. One of the largest parks in the area, it has many features - open spaces and large hills, a waterfall, dock, and pond, a very large forest, playgrounds, restrooms, and many gardens. The steep grade from the surrounding streets into the centre of the park makes it especially popular during Tsawwassen's rare snow falls, for sledding and tobogganing. In Summer 2011, the Rotary WaterWorks Playground was built. This water playground was created with environmentally friendly materials. The WaterWorks project was a collaborative partnership of the Corporation of Delta (now the City of Delta) and the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen. The concept draws on the history of the site, a former gravel mining operation that, at one time, supplied much of the gravel for the development of Tsawwassen. *Pebble Hill Park - located west of 52nd Street between 2A Avenue and Milsom Wynd. This park features large fields used for sports (baseball and soccer), tennis courts built atop a pair of water reservoirs, and many forest trails. *Fred Gingell Park - Tsawwassen's newest park, located on English Bluff Road just south of 3rd Avenue. It is named after the former MLA who represented South Delta in BC's legislative assembly. Built on a

BC Hydro The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, operating as BC Hydro, is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia. It is the main electricity distributor, serving more than 4 million customers in most areas, with the exce ...

right-of-way, this park sits on the top of a high bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia, the ferry terminal, and

. An observation deck is built on this bluff, and a stairway and trail have been built down the bluff to Tsawwassen Beach below. It is the first (and only) public access to the beach, creating controversy as semi-private beach access contributed a great deal to the area's property values. Locals, who hike up and down the steep stairs for fitness (often multiple times), often refer to the stairs leading down to the beach as the "Tsawwassen Grind" in reference to the Grouse Grind. *Winskill Park - located at 56th Street and 9th Avenue, named after the land's donor and one of the first families to live in Tsawwassen. This is Tsawwassen's all-purpose sports park, featuring numerous baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and field hockey fields. A fenced artificial-turf outdoor soccer field was completed in 2007. Also features a walking trail,

disc golf Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. Most disc golf discs are made out of polypropylene plastic, otherwise known as polypropene, which ...

course, restrooms, youth centre, playground, and the Winskill Aquatic Centre. *Dennison Park - located across from the high school at the corner of 53rd Street and 7A Avenue. This park used to feature an outdoor pool, but is now primarily used as a sports park for the high school football team. Also used for soccer and baseball. A forest grows on the northern half of the park. *Village Park - a very small community park located on Wesley Drive at Skana Drive. Mostly green space, but also features a playground. *Brandrith Park - another sports park, adjacent to Cliff Drive Elementary school, at the corner of 12th Avenue and Winskill Drive. The focus here is primarily on its baseball diamond, but a soccer field and tennis courts are present as well. A forest can be found to the rear of the park; a large playground can be found at the adjacent schoolyard. *Highland Park - mostly open green space with a light forest, located at the corner of 55th Street and 13A Avenue, in the heart of downtown Tsawwassen. *Grauer Park - another heavily used park, located at 56th Street and 18th Avenue. Greenspace here is minimal. The park is best known as home to the South Delta Rec Centre (featuring an ice rink, curling rink, and gymnasium). The Kiwanis Longhouse (once the South Delta library) is in this park, and is now an art gallery. Also featured here is parking for the Tsawwassen Park and Ride, the Tsawwassen Skate Park, and a lacrosse box. *Jackson Way Park - a grassy greenspace, found at the southern end of Jackson Way. *Beach Grove Park - mostly forest, found at the corner of Braid Road and 17A Avenue, adjacent to Beach Grove Elementary school. This park once featured a giant checker board and checker pieces visitors could play with. Also features tennis courts. *Imperial Park - an open field underneath the BC Hydro right-of-way in Imperial Village, at the corner of Spyglass Crescent and Silverado Place. Features a baseball diamond, playground, and a decent hill used for sledding/tobogganing in the winter. *Beach Grove Mini-Park - a very small community park on Beach Grove Court, featuring a small playground. *View Crescent Park - a very small greenspace joining the southeast corner of View Crescent with the north end of Hunter Road, located behind a commercial complex in downtown Tsawwassen. The following parks aren't officially recognized by the municipality, but still exist within Tsawwassen's boundaries: *Wildwood Crescent Mini-Park *Woodland Park *Tsawwassen Nature Reserve

Historic Street Names

*1st Avenue - Summer Avenue *2nd Avenue (English Bluff Road to approx Murphy Drive) - Autumn Avenue *4th Avenue (52 Street to 56 Street) - Rawlins Road *6th Avenue - Allen Road *8th Avenue - Cemetery Road *12th Avenue (English Bluff to 56 Street) - Raitt Road *16th Avenue / Springs Boulevard (west of 52 Street) - Brandrith Road *16th Avenue (east of 53A Street) - Herd Road *English Bluff Road - 48th Street *52nd Street (12 Ave to 28 Ave) - Imperial Road *56th Street (south of 12 Ave) - Point Roberts Road *Arthur Drive / 53rd Street (north of 28 Ave) - Slough Road And then there's historic Boundary Bay Road, which features the following streets: *28th Avenue (53 Street to 56 Street) *56th Street (28 Ave to 12 Ave) *12th Avenue (56 Street to Beach Grove Road) From here, this connects with the segment of road that has always been known as Boundary Bay Road. In the neighbourhood of Boundary Bay, virtually every numbered street here was historically named something else: *1A Avenue (65B Street to Centennial Parkway) - Mable Street *3rd Avenue (Boundary Bay Road to Centennial Parkway) - Gunn Road *4th Avenue - Montgomery Road *65B Street - Jordan Road *66 Street - Mack Avenue *66A Street - Old Cammidge Avenue *67 Street - Major Avenue *67A Street - Alexander Avenue

Telecommunications

Tsawwassen, like the whole of the Municipality of Delta, was initially only serviced by Delta Cable (since sold to Eastlink) for TV and cable internet services, although Shaw and Telus now offer services as well. As in all of British Columbia, incumbent telephone services is provided by

Telus Telus Communications Inc. (TCI) is the wholly owned principal subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a Telecommunications in Canada, Canadian national telecommunications company that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services ...

; the area codes serving Tsawwassen are 604 and

778 __NOTOC__ Year 778 ( DCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 778 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method ...

- though the latter is primarily used for cell phones. The original CO Code servicing Tsawwassen was 943, but as the population expanded, a new code, 948, was introduced in the early 1990s. New codes have since been added, and local number portability has blurred traditional exchange differences. Phone calls within Tsawwassen or the entire 604/778 region must adhere to the process of

ten-digit dialing Ten-digit dialing is a telephone dialing procedure in the countries and territories that are members of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It is the practice of including the area code of a telephone number when dialing to initiate a telep ...

Businesses

Tsawwassen is home to the largest shopping centre in South Delta (Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall). Other businesses in Tsawwassen are

Save-On-Foods Save-On-Foods is a chain of supermarkets located across Western Canada, owned by the Pattison Food Group. Stores carry both standard brands and private label brands, such as Western Family. Many stores have a pharmacy, and some locations prov ...

Tim Hortons Tim Hortons Inc., commonly nicknamed Tim's, or Timmie's is a Canadian multinational coffeehouse and restaurant chain. Based in Toronto, Tim Hortons serves coffee, doughnuts, and other fast-food items. It is Canada's largest quick-service res ...

McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hambur ...

White Spot White Spot is a Canadian restaurant chain based in Vancouver, British Columbia, best known for its hamburgers, Pirate Pak children's meal, triple-o sauce, and milkshakes. Along with its related Triple-O's Quick Service Restaurant, quick service ...

Thrifty Foods Thrifty Foods (often shortened to Thrifty's) is a chain of supermarkets located in British Columbia, Canada. Background Thrifty Foods was founded by Alex Campbell and Ernie Skinner in 1977 when the first store was opened in Victoria's Fairfie ...

Shoppers Drug Mart Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. (named Pharmaprix in Quebec) is a Canadian retail pharmacy chain based in Toronto, Ontario. It has more than 1,300 stores in nine provinces and two territories. The company was founded by pharmacist Murray Koffler in 1 ...

Dairy Queen Dairy Queen (DQ) is an American chain of soft serve ice cream and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc. (a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 1998) which also owns Orange Julius, and formerly owned Karmelkorn and ...

, two

Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. As of November 2021, the company had 33,833 stores in 80 cou ...

and many more. In 2016 a new commercial business complex, Northgate, was completed, and construction began on the Southlands Market Square project; both developments of Century Group.

Tsawwassen Mills Tsawwassen Mills is a shopping mall on Tsawwassen First Nation land, in Delta, British Columbia. The mall was built by Ivanhoé Cambridge and opened on October 5, 2016. It features of retail space and a 1,100 seat food court. It features 200 r ...

opened in October 2016 in the neighbouring municipality of

, located to the west of Tsawwassen (Delta,) BC.

Climate

Tsawwassen is known for its relatively dry and sunny climate compared with other locations in

Metro Vancouver The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 ...

. For example, it receives nearly 40% less precipitation than

downtown Vancouver Downtown Vancouver is the central business district and the city centre neighbourhood of Vancouver, Canada, on the northwestern shore of the Burrard Peninsula in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. It occupies most of the north shor ...

and less than half of that of North Vancouver. It has a warm-summer

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

(Köppen ''Csb'') with cooler summers and milder winters than other areas on the Canada–U.S. border, and features some of the mildest winters and lowest

diurnal temperature variation In meteorology, diurnal temperature variation is the variation between a high air temperature and a low temperature that occurs during the same day. Temperature lag Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation: peak da ...

in Canada.

References in popular culture

In film

Due to being part of the

area, which is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America after New York and Los Angeles, Tsawwassen has also appeared in numerous high-profile movies and television shows over the years. These include:

Shooting locations

*'' Shoot to Kill'' (1988) *''

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey ''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'' is a 1991 American science fiction comedy film, and the feature directorial debut of Pete Hewitt. It is the second film in the ''Bill & Ted'' franchise, and a sequel to '' Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'' (1989 ...

'' (1991) - the indoor section of the Town Centre Mall was used for this film. *''

The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation ...

'' (1993–2002) - various episodes had portions filmed in Tsawwassen. *''

Jumanji ''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. Loosely based on Chris Van Allsburg's picture book of the same name, the film is the first ...

'' (1995) - all of the sequences shot at "Sir Save-A-Lot" were filmed at a former SuperValu store at the open-air Delta Fair Mall, which was located at the southwest corner of 56th Street and 12th Avenue. The space has since been demolished and replaced with the new

Safeway Safeway is an American supermarket chain founded by Marion Barton Skaggs in April 1915 in American Falls, Idaho. The chain provides grocery items, food and general merchandise and features a variety of specialty departments, such as bakery, del ...

(since sold to

as of March 2014). An intersection near Diefenbaker Park was used for a scene of an animal stampede. *''

Da Vinci's Inquest ''Da Vinci's Inquest'' is a Canadian dramatic television series which originally aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2005. While never a ratings blockbuster, the critically acclaimed show did attract a loyal following, and ultimately seven seaso ...

'' (CBC, 1998) Various locations *''

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar/G ...

'' (2001–2010) - various episodes were filmed in Tsawwassen, as well as just outside Tsawwassen on Deltaport Way near the Deltaport container port. *''

Insomnia Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which people have trouble sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, ...

'' (2002) - the sequences filmed in the lodge in which

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino (; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he has received numerous accolades: including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy ...

was sleeping were actually filmed in an unused space previously occupied by the restaurants Timothy's, the Manor, and others. It is located at the northeast corner of 12th Avenue and 55th Street; it is now the location of Century Holdings, a real estate agency. *'' X-Men: The Last Stand'' (2006) - the location of Jean Grey's childhood home is located in the subdivision of Imperial Village, on Golf Club Drive. *''

Snakes on a Plane ''Snakes on a Plane'' is a 2006 American action film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006, in North America. The film was written by David Dalessandro, John Heffernan ...

'' (2006) - the location of the illegal snake-dealer's greenhouse/barn is shot on the Tsawwassen/Ladner boundary near Deltaport Way and Arthur Drive. *''

Are We Done Yet? ''Are We Done Yet?'' is a 2007 American family comedy film directed by Steve Carr and starring Ice Cube. The film is a remake of the 1948 Cary Grant comedy film ''Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'', previously remade as the 1986 Tom Hank ...

'' (2007) - a portion was filmed on Pacific Drive near Wesley Drive. *'' The Sandlot: Heading Home'' (2007) - filmed in Dennison Park *''

Kickin' It Old Skool ''Kickin' It Old Skool'' is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Harvey Glazer, written by Trace Slobotkin, and starring Jamie Kennedy (who also serves as a producer), Bobby Lee, Maria Menounos, Michael Rosenbaum and Vivica A. Fox, with a came ...

'' (2007) - an outdoor scene was shot in the Thrifty Foods parking lot (off 12th Avenue), and several indoor scenes were shot at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall (56th Street and 12th Avenue) and the Pacific Rim Performing Arts Studios in Century Square (56th Street and 18th Avenue). *'' Juno'' (2007) - the scenes where Juno pulls over on the side of the road in tears were filmed along Deltaport Way near the 46A Street farm overpass; the "Summer" title screen is filmed at Diefenbaker Park. *''

Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel series (''Galactica 1980''), a line of ...

'' - the final scene of the midseason finale, '' Revelations'' showed the remnants of a seaside city devastated by a

nuclear war Nuclear warfare, also known as atomic warfare, is a theoretical military conflict or prepared political strategy that deploys nuclear weaponry. Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction; in contrast to conventional warfare, nuclear wa ...

. It was shot on the Boundary Bay side of Tsawwassen, at Centennial Beach. *''

Hellcats ''Hellcats'' is an American cheerleading comedy-drama television series that originally aired on The CW in the United States from September 8, 2010, to May 17, 2011. Based on the book ''Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders'' ...

'' (2011) - Pharmacy scene took place at Wellspring Health. *''Child Bride'' (2019) - filmed primarily in Tsawwassen.

Setting for films

*''Scorn'' (2000) - a Canadian made-for-TV movie that aired on CBC, was a movie that prominently focused on Darren Huenemann, and his actions that would eventually lead to what would become a very high-profile murder that happened in Tsawwassen in the early 1990s.

In music

* North Vancouver punk band

d.b.s. d.b.s. were a punk rock band from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in 1992 to their eventual breakup in 2001, they gained popularity in the Canadian punk rock scene, and to a lesser extent, the U.S. punk rock ...

named a song "Tsawwassen" on their 1999 album '' If Life Were a Result, We'd All Be Dead''.

Notable people

* Dylan Ainsworth, former lineman of the

Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in ...

of the CFL *

Mike Dopud Mike Dopud ( sr, Majk Dopuđ, ''Мајк Допуђ'') is a Canadian actor, stuntman, and former football player known for his supporting roles on television. His best-known roles include Vic Hadfield in the miniseries ''Canada Russia '72'', Ja ...

, actor, stuntman, and former running back of the

of the CFL *

Irving K. Barber Irving Kearl "Ike" Barber OC OBC (February 14, 1923 April 13, 2012) was a Canadian forest industrialist and philanthropist. Though originally from Alberta, Barber spent most of his life in British Columbia, where he founded Slocan Forest Produc ...

, industrialist and philanthropist * Jason DaSilva, filmmaker *

Jerry Doucette Jerry Victor Doucette (9 September 1951 – 18 April 2022) was a Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was noted for his hit single "Mama Let Him Play", which made the ''Billboard'' Top 100. His band, Doucette, won the Juno Award for ...

, musician *

Brendan Gallagher Brendan Gallagher (born May 6, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger and alternate captain for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round, 147th overall, of the ...

, forward of the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

of the NHL * Harald Hasselbach, former lineman for the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...

of the NFL *

Brandon McMillan Brandon McMillan (born March 22, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (85th overall) of ...

, forward of the

KHL Medveščak Zagreb KHL Medveščak Zagreb ( hr, Klub hokeja na ledu Medveščak Zagreb), also known as KHL Medveščak Mladi, is a Croatian ice hockey club based in Zagreb, established in 1961. The team's name derives from the location of its original arena in the ...

of the KHL *

Lochlyn Munro Lochlyn Munro (born February 12, 1966) is a Canadian actor. His most notable film roles include ''A Night at the Roxbury'' (1998), ''Scary Movie'' (2000), ''Freddy vs. Jason'' (2003), ''White Chicks'' (2004), '' The Predator'' (2018) and ''Cosm ...

, actor, ''Riverdale'' (2017) *

Neil Osborne 54-40 (often stylized 54•40) is a Canadian alternative rock group from Tsawwassen, British Columbia. The band take their name from the slogan "54-40 or Fight!", coined to express the unsuccessful expansionist agenda of James K. Polk's presiden ...

, vocalist in 54-40 *

Brent Seabrook Brent Seabrook (born April 20, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman under contract for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played fifteen seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected him ...

, defenceman of the

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Divisio ...

of the NHL * Ashley Spires, children's book author and illustrator

References

External links

Film footage of Centennial Beach in 1958

Provincial Riding

Federal Riding
{{DeltaBCNeighbourhoods Populated places on the British Columbia Coast Neighbourhoods in Delta, British Columbia