The Municipality of Delta, as has often been mentioned, is, geographically speaking, an odd duck. It has three urban areas - Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta - on its extremities and a large unpopulated bog (with adjacent garbage dump) in the middle.
Given the distance between the two South Delta communities and North Delta, there is not much interchange between our local two solitudes. Us denizens of South Delta know very little about North Delta - unless, of course, you happen to work there.
North Delta is, after all, a strange land snuggled up there next to Surrey. We have a mayor and some councillors who hail from there and they seem like reasonable people. However, North Delta is represented provincially by a New Democrat - something unimaginable in South Delta where the New Democrats couldn't capitalize on a strong disgust locally for the ruling Liberals in the last provincial election. Instead, Vicki Huntington became the first independent elected in B.C. in over 50 years. Now, Guy Gentner, who represents Delta North, is a fine fellow, but a New Democrat?
I've lived in Tsawwassen for almost 35 years, but have not ventured into North Delta proper more than a dozen times in all those years other than to pass through.
It's not that I had a fear of socialists, there was just no reason to go there.
I've travelled River Road many times to get elsewhere and traversed the south side of North Delta along Highway 10 on numerous trips out to the valley. But what lies between these two thoroughfares is a mystery to me.
Although the Delta Optimist is a Delta-based paper, North Delta is covered by our sister paper, the Surrey/North Delta Now. In my previous time as publisher of the Optimist, there was never much reason to venture east of Burns Bog.
Therefore, when I headed out to the first meeting of a new group in North Delta called Collaborate Delta, my wife asked if I shouldn't take the GPS or a map. I, in typical male fashion, pooh-poohed the need. The meeting was at Deltassist on Scott Road. I thought, "no problem." Well, I got there easily enough going down Highway 10 and hanging a left at Scott Road.
On the way back to Tsawwassen, I thought using River Road would be quicker. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to get there and got myself lost in a series of dead-ends and construction sites. Perhaps when the South Fraser Perimeter Road is done, things will be easier.
In the meantime, I wish Collaborate Delta well in their endeavours. Their mission is "to bring together individuals and organizations to foster communication, share knowledge and encourage collaboration that will enhance the quality of life in Delta." Certainly anything that gets citizens working together will enhance quality of life. For me, better road connections (or a map) will definitely enhance collaboration.
You can check out Collaborate Delta at www.collaboratedelta.org.
