The Delta Museum and Archives Society recently launched Our Delta Stories, a project that asks community members to share their favourite Delta story in 250 words or less. The stories will be posted to the society’s social media pages and website, while some will also be printed in the Optimist. This story comes from Teresa Cooper, president of the Delta Museum and Archives Society.
In 1990, my husband and I moved to the Lower Mainland. We were from the north and knew nothing about the different areas surrounding Vancouver or where we wanted to live. We spent the first year driving everywhere trying to find the community that would be right for us.
Then one night we accidentally drove through this very strange tunnel and had no idea where we were. Three months later we were living in Ladner!
What made us decide on Ladner? How could this not be the right place? It had all the things we were looking for, including wonderful parks and schools, shopping, restaurants, sports facilities, a sense of heritage — it even had a museum!
But what struck us most of all was the sense of community.
Neighbours watched out for everyone else on the street and friends watched out for your kids. People that have lived here for generations made you feel welcome.
After 27 years, I still can’t imagine a better place to raise a family, form lasting friendships and participate wholeheartedly in building a community that wraps its arms around you and doesn’t let go.
