Delta

Delta is located south of Richmond, British Columbia. It is a municipality that forms part of Metro Vancouver that comprises 3 distinct communities: Tsawwassen, North Delta and Ladner. Delta is surrounded to the north by the Fraser River, to the east by Surrey City, and finally to the south, by Point Roberts, Washington, USA.

Delta is located north of Highway 10 and east of Highway 91, approximately 17 miles or 27 km southeast of Vancouver. Delta is 22 km or 14 miles north of White Rock and the Canada and USA border at the Peach Arch crossing.

The region which will be known as Delta was originally sighted by Europeans in 1791. A Spanish explorer, Lieutenant Francisco Eliza, mistook the region to be an island and named it Isla Capeda. During 1879, the present name of Delta was given to the municipality.

It was the 1858 Gold Rush, together with the creation of the Colony of British Columbia that initially attracted settlers to the area. The Ladner brothers, Thomas Ellis and William Henry of Cornwall, England were traveling through on their way to the gold fields when they saw the possibility for agriculture within the rich soils from the delta of the Fraser River. They resolved to some day return to the region. During 1868 they returned and acquired the land lying at the head of the Chilukthan Slough. In the year 1859, James Kennedy had pre-empted acreage on the south bank of the Fraser beside New Westminster and in the northern portion of Delta.

The economic base of the Delta communities have conventionally been farming and fishing. Salmon was first commercially canned on the Pacific Coast near Annieville. The first cannery was established by James Deas during 1873 on present day Deas Island. By 1879, Ellis Ladner opened a cannery at Chilukthan Slough's north end. Afterward, he managed the Wellington Cannery situated near Westham Island.

The fertile, flat land in Delta made it amongst the most essential agricultural regions in Metro Vancouver. Most of this land is preserved by the Agricultural Land Reserve regulations in order to prevent its conversion to suburban development or housing. Also located in North Delta is the Burns Bog. This is 40 square kilometers or 10,000 acres of natural wetlands which are abundant with wildlife.

South of Delta, is Tsawwassen City and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Ferries from this location bring travelers across the Strait of Georgia, bringing tourists to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. Ferry traveling offers a spectacular voyage through clear water past the many beautiful islands. On a sunny day it is possible to view bald eagles, seals and likewise killer whales!