About Delta
Delta is a spacious city that makes a perfect location for new and existing families to call home. The city has an abundance of parks, trails and outdoor activities for all to enjoy. According to the2021 Census, the population of Delta is 110,721. In addition, the city is home to a ferry terminal that links the lower mainland to Vancouver Island. By the way, Delta has a beach and an amazing shopping centre, there’s plenty to do in this beautiful city.
History of the city
Delta was incorporated in 1879 and is home to the Tsawwassen First Nation Tribe. The land was first discovered by Europeans in 1791. The first European settlers did not inhabit the land until 1860 in what is now known as Annieville.
By 1868 the area had grown rapidly thanks to farming and fishing. In 1879 the area was incorporated as a municipality and was named the corporation of Delta making the village of Ladner its administrative centre.
The city of Delta is made up of 3 communities, North Delta, Ladner and Tsawwassen.
Appeal
Young Graduate
Rent in Delta for a 1-bedroom unit starts at $1,338 and can go over $2,048 for a 3+ bedroom unit according to CMHC 2021. The average price for a home is $1,270,300 according to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. According to Maclean’s magazine, Delta is the 48th best place to live in Canada. The city of Delta is a great option for a young graduate as it offers affordability and is full of scenic trails, adventures, a beach and a gorgeous shopping centre.
Families
The city of Delta is a great option for new and existing families to call home. Delta is full of fun and adventure and caters to nature enthusiasts, cyclists and shopaholics. The city has many recreational centres and offers a variety of sports for parents to enlist their children. From hockey to football there are plenty of ways to keep the children occupied.
Top Places to See
North Delta
North Delta is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial and is a middle-class town. According to the BC Community Health Data, North Delta has a population of 56,020 residents and is the most populous community out of the three. North Delta has a large amount of green space and is home to Burns Bog, the largest urban peat bog in North America. The community of North Delta is also home to many parks, making it friendly for families and those that like a bit more space compared to other cities.
Ladner
Originally created as a fishing village Ladner was named after William Ladner who was one of the first European settlers. The area was heavily cultivated and developed for farming and fishing purposes. Nowadays Ladner offers several holidays and attractions such as the Ladner Pioneer May Days, the Ladner Village Market and the Delta Rivermania.
Tsawwassen
Tsawwassen means “land facing the sea” and was named by the Tsawwassen First Nations Tribe.
The community is primarily residential and is located in the southwestern point of Delta. Tsawwassen offers access into the community of Point Roberts Washington.
The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is also located in the community and offers ferry rides to Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands.
Things to do in Delta + Local tips
Local Tip: Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Construction began in 1959 and was opened for operation in 1960. The terminal connects the lower mainland to Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands. Over the years there have been extensions added to help reach more parts of Vancouver Island. The terminal has five ferries and is primarily used to serve routes travelling to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. The approximate size of the terminal is 23-hectares (57-acre) and is the largest ferry terminal in North America.
The ferry offers 90-minute sailings between both terminals and is packed with arcades, restaurants, coffee shops, lounges and contains a gift store. If you’ve never been on a ferry or you’re feeling adventurous, we highly recommend jumping on the ferry and visiting the City of Victoria located on Vancouver Island.
Tsawwassen Mills Outlet
Tsawwassen Mills is a shopping centre located on First Nations land. The mall opened in 2016 and hosts 192 retailers with 11 being anchor tenants. The mall is modelled after the CrossIron Mills Outlet located outside of Calgary Alberta and Vaugh Mills located in Ontario. The shopping centre was built by Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. The shopping centre caused a major traffic jam when it first opened as it saw 50,000 visitors and is known for causing traffic jams on boxing day.
Burns Bog
Burns Bog is the largest peat in North America and is home to more than 300 plant and animal species and 175 bird species. The bog is also a major migratory stopover for various birds on the Pacific Flyway.
For bird watchers, the bog is an amazing spot to watch and record migrations as well as see endangered species. For nature enthusiasts, the bog offers a 1.5-hour trails with a round-trip of 3 km that is open year-round. The trail is dog friendly so bring your furry little friends with you.
Watershed Park
Watershed Park offers 8 different gravel hiking trails that range from 2.6 km to 9.2 km. The park is perfect for cyclists, joggers and walkers. The trails are easy and family-friendly and has over 11 km of wilderness trails.
The park has hiking-only trails and shared trails with cyclists and offers horseback riding. In addition, the park sits on top of an artesian water supply and measures over 153 hectares (375 acres). Located off Highway 10 and 64th avenue, the park is open year-round and makes the perfect place for a Sunday morning walk.
Boundary Bay Park
Boundary Bay Park is a regional park located in the city of Delta. The park has a 3.7 km trafficked loop trail. By the way, the park is dog-friendly as long as dogs are kept on a leash as well as kid-friendly with playgrounds and snack shacks. The trails are great for all skill levels and the park offers a variety of activities on the trail such as hiking, biking, wildlife sights and birdwatching.
After a nice long venture, you can always head to the park’s beach and cool off. If you like the beach but don’t like crowds, Centennial Beach is the best spot. Go swimming, have walks in the low tides or grab a bite at the snack shack. It’s always a good time at Boundary Bay Park.
Education
The city of Delta has 24 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, and 1 adult learning centre. All schools are accessible by transit via bus.
Unfortunately, there are no colleges or universities in the city of Delta. The closest post-secondary institutions are located in the cities of Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby. These include Kwantlen Polytechnic, Douglas College and Simon Fraser University.
Leisure and Hobbies
Go Shopping
Located in the city of Delta on First Nation Land, Tsawwassen Mills Outlet offers an exceptional mix of premium fashion brands and a variety of amenities such as food and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
You can get a haircut, take the family out for a nice meal and spoil the entire family by taking them shopping.
Hop on a Ferry
If you’ve never been on a ferry or visited Vancouver Island, we recommend you catch a ferry from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and enjoy the many amenities the ferry has to offer.
Make sure to walk on the outside ferry decks and take pictures of the scenery and beautiful west coast islands and oceans.
If you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of an orca whale. Visit Victoria, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island, Sturdies Bay and Village Bay. It’s always an adventure and never a dull moment.
Take a Hike and go to the beach
If you like hikes and the water, then we recommend you head over to Boundary Bay Park. The park is full of a variety of hiking and biking trails.
After a nice hike take a dip at the beach and cool off. With playgrounds and snack shacks to keep the kids busy you’ll be able to keep the kids busy while you sunbathe.
Future of the area
In a recent discussion, the council has agreed to develop a new water connection to support Townline Node development plans.
The city of Delta is currently underserved for future residential developments and a new bigger water main will lead to an easier infrastructure for future construction.
Currently, there are 9 new home developments in Delta, 3 are condos, 2 are townhouses, and 4 are single family homes.
