There’s much more to the Tsawwassen First Nation’s development plans than just a couple of malls.
Although the TFN is best known for Tsawwassen Mills, a 200-store destination fashion mall that opened almost two years ago, and the adjacent Tsawwassen Commons, it has other landscape-altering changes on the way.
After signing a historic urban treaty almost a decade ago, the first few years saw the writing of laws and development of infrastructure necessary to handle future growth, which has now started to take shape in commercial, residential and industrial sectors.
The shopping centres have become a draw for Lower Mainland consumers, particularly Tsawwassen Mills, an Ivanhoe Cambridge project that is modeled after similar malls in Calgary and Greater Toronto. The two centres will have 300 stores and services when build-out at Tsawwassen Commons is complete.
Housing developments are now underway on both sides of Highway 17. Subdivisions continue to spring up, including the Tsawwassen Shores development by Aquilini Development, which is building in phases and has people already taking up residence. Onni Group plans to build a range of homes as well as Mosaic.
The TFN land use plan approved by members has over 2,800 homes to be built with Tsawwassen Shores comprising 850 of those units. About 8,000 new residents will eventually call the TFN home.
“It will be anywhere from 15 to 20 years to full build-out, depending on the market,” explained Chief Bryce Williams.
The TFN is also seeing its industrial lands developed with a new business park aimed at easing the growing demand for warehousing and logistics centres in the Lower Mainland.
The biggest development, so far, is a 23-hectare (57-acre) parcel leased to Great West Life for a 1.3-million-square-feet of logistics warehousing. The Canada Border Services Agency’s Tsawwassen Container Inspection Facility is to open this fall.
When fully built out, the industrial developments are expected to generate an estimated $245 million in annual income for TFN.
Following a review of the TFN Economic Development Corporation last spring, however, the First Nation temporarily suspended marketing efforts for the remaining section slated for port-related industrial development.
“TFN lands are a limited resource, so it is essential that we carefully consider alternative development models to ensure we make well-informed decisions about the remaining 180 acres of unleased industrial lands,” the TFN declared in a statement issued last summer.
Williams noted they would be consulting the community and various potential partners before moving ahead with further development to determine the highest and best use.
TFN members have clearly been selective when it comes to development on their lands. In 2015, members voted to reject a proposal by FortisBC to build an LNG terminal near the ferry terminal.
And while the TFN took the B.C. Lottery Corporation up on its offer to submit an expression of interest in hosting a new gaming facility south of the Fraser River, that submission was cautious in nature, asking the lottery corporation for more information while stipulating the TFN was not under any obligation to move forward. BCLC ultimately chose the City of Delta as the host local government for a new casino.
Williams said his community, first and foremost, must see the benefits of all that carefully planned growth, something the TFN government is determined to see happen.
Having opened a sports field with a playground and lacrosse box last year, the TFN’s plans include building a cultural centre as well as an administration building.
“There’s a great need for additional facilities here in Tsawwassen and I‘m looking forward to the process that’s going to be taking place. One of the most important ones will be the elders centre as well,” said Williams.
Most important for the young chief is new housing for his members.
“We’re in the early stages of a housing project that will be a new complex of various types and sizes reflecting the different needs of our members. Housing is a pressing need for members, so this project is a big priority for the TFN right now,” he added.
“There’s a lot of people who would like to move home, a lot of young families and young single people looking for a place to call their own, so getting that opportunity will be great for the TFN. We have members around the region and some living in Vernon area and some down in Washington state, so it’s an opportunity to bring people home.”
An elementary school is also in the long-term plan.
The TFN signed a letter of intent to begin treaty negotiations in back in 1993 but it wasn’t until 2009 when a treaty was formally implemented. The TFN has 480 members, half of whom live on Tsawwassen lands.
According to the First Nation, “The Tsawwassen People exist as part of two worlds: traditional and modern-day. We now institute the system where our two worlds can co-exist.”
