Tsawwassen, BC: Complete Community Guide

Tsawwassen is a sunny seaside community of about 20,000 people in the southwest corner of Metro Vancouver, on a small peninsula between Boundary Bay and the Strait of Georgia. Known for having the sunniest, driest weather in the region, it has sandy beaches, the warm shallow water of Centennial Beach, a relaxed village centre and the busiest ferry terminal in British Columbia, with sailings to Victoria, Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands. Just south is the US border and the unusual American exclave of Point Roberts. Tsawwassen is part of the City of Delta, and next door is the Tsawwassen First Nation, a self-governing nation with its own lands.

Tsawwassen is on the traditional and unceded territory of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen First Nation). The name comes from the Tsawwassen people's own name, often translated as "land facing the sea."

Tsawwassen at a Glance: Quick Facts

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History of Tsawwassen

The Tsawwassen people

The Tsawwassen people have lived on this peninsula and around Boundary Bay for thousands of years. The Great Midden, an ancient village and shell midden site near today's ferry terminal, is one of the largest archaeological sites in the region, showing thousands of years of continuous life. The Tsawwassen people fished for salmon, harvested shellfish and travelled widely by canoe.

On April 3, 2009, the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement took effect, the first modern urban treaty in British Columbia. It gave the Nation self-government and ownership of about 724 hectares of land, where it has since built new housing, businesses and two large shopping centres.

Settlement and the border

Settlers began farming the area in the late 1800s. When the 1846 Oregon Treaty set the border along the 49th parallel, the southern tip of the peninsula became Point Roberts, part of the United States, cut off from the rest of the country by land. Tsawwassen stayed a quiet rural area with summer cottages for decades, and was incorporated as part of the Corporation of Delta in 1879.

Ferries and suburbs

The BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen opened in 1960, connecting the mainland to Vancouver Island, and the George Massey Tunnel opened the year before, making it easy to commute to Vancouver. Tsawwassen grew into a popular suburb with family homes, beaches and parks. In 2016 the Tsawwassen First Nation opened Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwassen Commons, the largest new retail development in the region.

Key dates in Tsawwassen history

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Geography of Tsawwassen

Tsawwassen sits on the upland part of a small peninsula. Boundary Bay and its huge tidal flats lie to the east, the Strait of Georgia to the west, the farmland of Delta to the north, and Point Roberts, Washington, to the south across the border. The Tsawwassen First Nation's lands stretch west to the ferry terminal causeway, and Roberts Bank and Deltaport lie farther north along the shore. The community has gentle hills, bluffs with views across the water to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, and long sandy beaches.

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Tsawwassen Neighbourhoods

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Tsawwassen Climate and Weather

Tsawwassen is famous for being the sunniest and driest place in Metro Vancouver. It sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, so it gets much less rain than Vancouver and far less than the North Shore. Summers are warm and sunny, and the shallow water at Centennial Beach warms up nicely at low tide.

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Local Government

The community of Tsawwassen is part of the City of Delta, governed by Mayor George Harvie and six councillors elected Delta-wide. The next Delta civic election is Saturday, October 17, 2026.

The Tsawwassen First Nation is a separate, self-governing nation with its own government, laws and lands under its 2009 treaty. Its lands include Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen Commons and new residential neighbourhoods, and it is a member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

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People of Tsawwassen

Tsawwassen is an established, family-friendly community with a large share of retirees and long-time residents, and a growing number of young families moving into new housing on Tsawwassen First Nation lands. Community data is included in the City of Delta's census figures.

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Tsawwassen Economy

Tsawwassen's economy is driven by retail, tourism and transportation. Tsawwassen Mills, a large indoor outlet mall, and Tsawwassen Commons draw shoppers from across the region. The ferry terminal brings millions of travellers each year, and nearby Roberts Bank and Deltaport are among Canada's busiest port terminals. Local shops, cafes, restaurants and services fill the town centre, and many residents commute to Richmond and Vancouver.

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Getting to and Around Tsawwassen

Driving

Highway 17 runs from Highway 99 near the George Massey Tunnel to the ferry terminal, and 56 Street is the main road through the town centre to the border. Traffic can be heavy before ferry sailings on summer weekends.

Cycling and walking

The Boundary Bay dike trail runs from Centennial Beach east for many kilometres along the bay, and is one of the best flat routes for cycling, walking and bird-watching in the region.

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Schools and Library

Tsawwassen is part of the Delta School District (School District 37). South Delta Secondary serves the community, along with several elementary schools, and Southpointe Academy is a well-known independent school. The Tsawwassen Library is part of the Fraser Valley Regional Library system.

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Arts and Culture in Tsawwassen

Filming locations

Tsawwassen's beaches, bluffs and seaside streets, along with the ferry terminal and the Boundary Bay waterfront, are regularly used by film and TV productions.

Media

• Local news: Delta Optimist
• Regional: CBC, CTV, Global BC and CityNews

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Food and Nightlife

Tsawwassen's evenings are relaxed. The town centre has pubs, cafes and restaurants, Tsawwassen Mills has a large food hall and restaurants, and summer evenings are best spent watching the sunset over the strait or at Centennial Beach. For more nightlife, Richmond and Vancouver are 30 to 45 minutes away.

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Parks and Beaches in Tsawwassen

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Natural Attractions In and Near Tsawwassen

Boundary Bay is one of the most important bird habitats on the Pacific coast, with huge flocks of shorebirds, ducks, geese and raptors, including eagles and, in some winters, snowy owls. At low tide, the bay's sand flats stretch for kilometres. The Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ladner, Deas Island Regional Park and Burns Bog are a short drive away, and Point Roberts across the border has beaches and lighthouse views of its own.

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Things to Do in Tsawwassen: Top Attractions

1. Spend a sunny day at Centennial Beach.
2. Walk or cycle the Boundary Bay dike trail.
3. Shop at Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwassen Commons.
4. Catch a ferry to Victoria or the Gulf Islands.
5. Watch the sunset over the Strait of Georgia.
6. Cool off at Splashdown Waterpark in summer.
7. Spot eagles and shorebirds on Boundary Bay.
8. Visit Point Roberts across the border (passport needed).
9. Explore the town centre cafes and shops.
10. Enjoy the Tsawwassen Sun Festival in summer.

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Sports and Recreation

The South Delta Recreation Centre has a pool, gym, fitness centre and programs, and the community has ice rinks, sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts. Golf is popular, with courses including Beach Grove Golf Club and Tsawwassen Springs. Kayaking, kiteboarding, beachcombing and cycling are favourite outdoor activities.

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Annual Events and Festivals

Dates change from year to year, so check with organizers before you go.

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Tsawwassen FAQ

Is Tsawwassen a city?

No. The community of Tsawwassen is part of the City of Delta. The neighbouring Tsawwassen First Nation is a separate, self-governing nation with its own lands and government.

How do you pronounce Tsawwassen?

Most people say "tuh-WAH-sen" or "suh-WAH-sen."

Is Tsawwassen the sunniest place near Vancouver?

Yes. Thanks to the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, Tsawwassen gets more sunshine and less rain than any other part of Metro Vancouver.

How do I get to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal by transit?

Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport Station, then the 620 bus directly to the ferry terminal.

What is Point Roberts?

Point Roberts is a small part of Washington State on the tip of the Tsawwassen peninsula. It is cut off from the rest of the US by land, so you reach it by crossing the border from Tsawwassen.

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Sources

• City of Delta: 2026 election candidate information
• Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population

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