Delta
Delta is part of Greater Vancouver and is the largest district in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GRVD) with a population of 111,281 as of 2020. Delta’s total area is 364 square kilometres located about 14 miles north of the Canada-US border at Surrey, and about 17 miles south of Vancouver. The Fraser River, Georgia Strait, and Boundary Bay encircle the city on all three sides.
Delta’s History
Delta’s plains and coastline were occupied by the Coast Salish Tsawwassen First Nation before the European exploration in 1761. In February 1860, James Kennedy pre-empted 135 acres in what is now Annieville, becoming Delta’s first European settler.
In 1868, Thomas and William Ladner started agriculture in the area that bears their names. Agriculture aided the community’s rapid growth during the next few decades. In 1879, the area was integrated as a municipality known as “the Corporation of Delta,” with Ladner serving as its administrative center.
Delta was an isolated community because of its location. But because of the operation of the George Massey Tunnel in 1959, the opening of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in 1960, the rerouting of Highway 99 from Surrey to Delta in 1962, and the Alex Fraser Bridge’s completion in 1986, Delta’s population have grown significantly. The population increased by 400 percent in just 20 years.
On September 22, 2017, as requested by the Delta City Council, the British Columbia government reclassified Delta’s Corporation into Delta City.
Parks and Trails
Delta city is a nature paradise with a lot of parks and amenities perfect for all visitors and locals. For people going in for an adventure, both professionals and newbies will find a wide variety of trails and paths in the city.- 81A Avenue Park (81a Avenue) Amenities Playgrounds
- 89A Avenue Park (89a Avenue) Amenities Playgrounds
- Annieville Lions Park (112 Street) Amenities: Sports field, kids’ playgrounds, hiking trails and a water park.
- Association Park (60b Street) Amenities: Sports field.
- Beach Grove Mini Park (Beach Grove Ct) Amenities: Sports field and a kids’ playground.
- Beach Grove Park (17A Avenue) Amenities: An off-leash area, sports field, hiking trails and a playground.
- Bell Park (49a Avenue) Amenities: Sports field and a kids’ playground.
- Cougar Canyon Environmental Reserve (72 Avenue)Amenities: A pet off-leash area.
- Cromie Park (42b Avenue) Amenities: Sports field.
- Davie Way Park (Davie Way) Amenities: Kids’ playground
- Deas Island Regional Park (Deas Island Road) Amenities: A nature park with hiking trails and water activities such as fishing and boating.
- Delview Park (116 Street) Amenities: Sports field, a kids’ playground and a pet off-leash area.
- Dennison Park (7a Avenue) Amenities: Sports field, a kids’ playground and a pet off-leash area.
- Devon Gardens Park (McAdam Road) Amenities: A pet off-leash area.
- Diefenbaker Park (1 Avenue) Amenities: A water park, trails, and a kids’ playground.
- Eastpoint Park Reserve (5454 Admiral Blvd) Amenities: Picnic areas and hiking trails.
- Ernie Burnett Park (Brigantine Road) Amenities: Hiking trails and green spaces.
- Fred Gingell Park (253 English Bluff Road) Amenities: Picnic tables and hiking trails.
- Grauer Park (56 Street) Amenities: Sports fields and a kids’ playground.
- Gunderson Park (117 Street) Amenities: Sports fields and a kids’ playground.
- Hawthorne Grove Park (4140 Arthur Drive) Amenities: Picnic areas and a garden.
- Hawthorne Park (56 Street) Amenities: Sports field and picnic areas.
- Hellings Park (86a Avenue) Amenities: Sports field and hiking trails.
- North 40 Park Reserve (Churchill Street) Amenities: Trails and an off-leash pet area.
- North Delta Community Park (84 Avenue) Amenities: Playgrounds, sports fields, and trails.
- Paterson Park (Clarence Taylor Crescent) Amenities: Walking trails and off-leash areas.
- Pebble Hill Park (Milsom Wynd) Amenities: Sports fields and trails.
- Rotary Park (Clarence Taylor Crescent) Amenities: Picnic tables, with trails and a waterpark.
- Stevens Mini Park (River Road) Amenities: Picnic areas and a playground.
- Sunbury Park (Dunlop Road) Amenities: Trails, a playground, sports fields and picnic areas.
- Bentley Drive Kiwanis Park (Bentley Drive) Amenities: Sports field and a kids’ playground.
- Boundary Bay Regional Park (Boundary Bay Road) Amenities: Hiking trails, a sports field, picnic tables and off-leash areas.
- Boundary Beach Park Reserve (66 Street) Amenities: Pet off-leash areas.
- Brandrith Park (12 Avenue) Amenities: Picnic tables and sports field.
- Candlewyck Park (18 Avenue) Amenities: Sports field.
- Chalmers Park (76a Avenue) Amenities: Sports fields and hiking trails.
- Cory Drive Park (Cory Drive)Amenities: Kids’ playground.
- Holly Park (62 Street) Amenities: Sports field and hiking trails.
- Huff Boulevard Park (Upper Canyon)
- Amenities: Playgrounds.
- Huff Hydro Park Reserve (Huff Blvd) Amenities: Trails and a pet off-leash area.
- Imperial Village Park (Silverado Place) Amenities: Kids’ playgrounds, sports fields and trails.
- John Oliver Park (Ladner Trunk Road) Amenities: Picnic tables, trails and a sports field.
- Kendal Place Mini Park (92a Avenue)
- Kennedy Park (88 Avenue) Amenities: A training and boarding facility, an indoor arena, a Grand Prix field and a hunter field.
- Kensington Park (Holly Park Drive) Amenities: Picnic tables and a kids’ playground.
- Kirkland Mini Park (Whitworth Crescent) Amenities: Kids’ playgrounds.
- Ladner Harbour Park (Mcneelys Way) Amenities: Picnic tables, trails and a playground.
- Ladner Lions Park (Westminster Avenue) Amenities: Picnic tables, trails and a playground.
- Leslie Park (50 Avenue) Amenities: Picnic tables and a playground.
- Lions Wellness Park (9 Avenue) Amenities: A community garden and outdoor exercise equipment intended for seniors.
- Mackie Park (82 Avenue) Amenities: Trails and sports fields.
- Magee Park (Arthur Drive.) Amenities: Walking trails.
- Maple Crescent Park (Maple Crescent) Amenities: Sports field.
- McKitrick Park (112 Street) Amenities: Walking trails.
- Memorial Park (47 Avenue) Amenities: Picnic areas, sports fields, playgrounds, and a waterpark.
- Mountain View Park (Brodie Road) Amenities: Picnic areas, sports fields, and playgrounds.
- Sunshine Hills Park (Bond Blvd)
Amenities: Trails, a playground, sports fields and picnic areas.
- Sunstone Park (Delsom Crescent)
Amenities: Trails, sports fields, and a kids’ playground.
- Wade Road Park (Wade Road)
Amenities: Trails, sports fields, and a kids’ playground.
- Watershed Park (Kittson Pkwy) Amenities: Picnic areas and trails.
- Westham Island Park (Westham Island Road)
Amenities: Picnic areas and a playground. - Westview Park (Westview Drive)
Amenities: Trails, sports fields, and a kids’ playground. - Winskill Park (9 Avenue) Amenities: Picnic areas and trails.
Events
The city hosts lots of events yearly from festivals celebrated across Canada to community events, from pure fun to fundraising and awareness events.- Tsawwassen Sun Festival – live music, a drive-in movie, family-friendly activities and a parade.
- Ladner Village Market – a marketplace featuring locally grown fresh produce and crafts made by locals.
- Delta Triathlon – an annual event featuring running, biking and swimming marathon.
- South Delta Family Dog Show – a fun and exciting dog show.
- Terry Fox Run – a fundraising event in remembrance of Terry Fox and to help with cancer awareness and research.
- Culture Days – Delta’s celebration of culture, history and arts that’s happening across Canada.
- North Delta Fright Fest – the city’s Halloween event with many activities for families.
- Halloween Skate and Costume Party – a Halloween event held in the arena of Delta’s Recreation Centres encouraging participants to wear their best Halloween costume.
- Fluterrific – a music event (mainly flutes) by the local flute ensemble.
- Youth Week – an event perfect for families featuring stages plays, kids’ activities and games.
- Delta Idol – a singing competition that offers a grand prize, a recording opportunity, and the title of being Delta’s Idol.
- Watershed Fish Release – an annual event that features family-friendly activities and programs about the environment. Kids are given buckets of tiny fish and let the kids release them into a watershed creek.
- Ladner Band Fest –two-day live music featuring local bands.
- Family Day and Festival – an event featuring a parade, family activities and entertainment.
- North Delta Show and Shine – an event of music, food trucks and car show.
- Luminary Festival – a community event of illuminated lantern parade and lantern-making with music, family-friendly activities and entertainment.
- Christmas Events – from November to January, Christmas is everywhere in Delta; Tree Lighting Festival in Tsawwassen Springs, Deck the Halls in Delta’s Recreation Centre featuring holiday market, North Delta’s Tree Lighting Festival, Children Tree Decoration at the city hall, A Morning with Santa, Christmas Concert and Winter Wonderland of the Recreation Centre’s Arena decorated.
Other Interesting Places
Along with the places already mentioned, listed below are a few places of interest.
- Ferry Road Boat Launch
- Floathouse Park Reserve
- Harris Barn
- Jackson Way Parkette
- KinVillage Community Centre
- Ladner Community Centre
- Ladner Leisure Centre
- McKee Seniors Recreation Centre
- North Delta Centre for the Arts
- North Delta Social Heart Plaza
- Pinewood Leisure Centre
- Scott 72 Park Reserve
- Tsawwassen Arts Centre
- Wellington Point Park
- Winskill Aquatic & Fitness Centre
Many parks and nature reserves dot the area. It’s a nature’s paradise making it a naturalist’s dream. The city’s beaches are popular destinations for families with young children, and the dyke system offers a scenic view of the magnificent mountains as well as a glimpse into a bay. Waterparks and golf courses are available for those who prefer a more structured setting. Locals and visitors alike flock to Delta city to take advantage of the many attractions and activities on offer.