02 The story
Sun, sand and the ferry to the islands
Tsawwassen is named after the Tsawwassen First Nation, a Coast Salish people whose name is often translated as land facing the sea. The Nation’s lands lie on the northwest side of the community. Under a treaty with British Columbia and Canada that took effect in 2009, the Nation governs its own territory, which includes residential areas and the Tsawwassen Mills and Tsawwassen Commons shopping centres.
Settlers cleared the forests for farms in the late 1800s, but Tsawwassen stayed small until the George Massey Tunnel opened in 1959, with the ferry terminal following soon after. A suburban boom followed, and today most homes are detached houses on quiet, leafy streets.
Beaches and the bay
Centennial Beach, in Boundary Bay Regional Park, is the local favourite. The bay is shallow, so at low tide the water retreats a long way and warms up over the sand flats in summer. A dyke trail runs along the bay, and the park’s meadows and dunes attract migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway.
The Tsawwassen ferry terminal sits at the end of a long causeway west of town, with sailings to Swartz Bay near Victoria, Duke Point near Nanaimo and the Southern Gulf Islands. On a clear day, the causeway has wide views of the strait.
The town centre is around 56th Street and 12th Avenue, where you will find groceries, services and local restaurants. Heading south on 56th Street brings you to the border crossing into Point Roberts, a small piece of Washington State.
Tsawwassen suits families and retirees who want a calm, beach-focused life. Bring your passport if you plan to visit Point Roberts.
