Delta

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

Delta is located east of Highway 91, and north of Highway 10, around 27km or 17 miles 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 area that would be known as Delta was originally sighted by Europeans during 1791. A Spanish explorer, Lieutenant Francisco Eliza, mistook the region to be an island and named it Isla Capeda. During 1879, the existing name of Delta was given to the municipality.

The creation of the Colony of British Columbia together with the 1858 Gold Rush helped to bring settlers to the area. Thomas Ellis and William Henry Ladner were brothers from Cornwall, England who helped settle in the region after traveling on their way to the gold fields. They saw agricultural potential in the rich delta soils of the Fraser River. They determined to some day return to the area. During the year 1868 they came back and obtained the land lying at the head of the Chilukthan Slough. During the year 1859, James Kennedy had pre-empted acreage on the south bank of the Fraser in the northern part of Delta and near New Westminster.

farming and fishing built the economic foundations of Delta. Near Annieville, salmon was first commercially canned on the Pacific coast. James Deas established a cannery at present day Deas Island during the year 1873. By the year 1879, Ellis Ladner opened a cannery at Chilukthan Slough's north end. Afterward, he managed the Wellington Cannery situated near Westham Island.

The flat, fertile land in Delta made it amongst the most vital 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. The Burns Bog is also situated within North Delta. This is 10,000 acres or 40 square kilometers of natural wetlands which are plentiful with wildlife.

Tsawwassen lies south of Delta, along with the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal From this location, ferries travel across the Strait of Georgia and bring people to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Traveling via ferry provides a fabulous journey through beautiful islands and over clear water. On a sunny day it is possible to view seals, bald eagles and likewise killer whales!