Sunday, December 8, 2013

Angels In Tsawwassen

A LUNCH DATE recently with my niece brought me to Tsawwassen, a residential community that is sometimes overlooked as people from around the Lower Mainland drive through on their way to catching a BC Ferry. Surrounded by the Strait of Georgia to the west and Boundary Bay to the east, the area provides a busy ferry terminal for travelers to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Tsawwassen is also home to the Boundary Bay Cemetery where my niece and I went for a walk before lunch. We found interesting sights to explore there.

Mementos and bits of inspiration were placed by various markers. Although angel ornaments were an obvious favorite, I think the real angels are friends and relatives who visit year after year.

There was an angel carved on a coin and tucked into the wings of this statue.

I saw a stone angel kneeling in quiet prayer.

A dangling butterfly fluttered with the slightest breeze to remind us that someone precious named Lilly once lived in the community.

Among treasures and headstones we found a name inscribed that was familiar to my niece. Although I do not know if this person was related to the pioneering farming family, the Spetifore name is well known in Tsawwassen.

I since read that the family owned over 500 acres of land on Boundary Bay Road. The future of these Southlands has been in dispute for decades. The age-old struggles between housing needs and the need for agriculture and refuge for wildlife has long challenged people seeking balanced solutions.

Angels are people with a social conscious who put their pennies where it counts. I saw hints of that by the local mall where people threw coins in a pool of water to be scooped up later and donated to a worthy cause.

It was easy to see that a nautical theme anchors the coastal community that is part of the broader municipality of Delta in BC. Consequently ...

I was not surprised a starfish topped this Christmas tree made of twigs.

The word Tsawwassen means "facing the sea" and is most commonly pronounced with a silent "s". It can be a tongue twister to say today but not so for the Coast Salish people who likely lived in the area for thousands of years prior to modern day development.

Whether helping out in small ways or making a big donation splash, I saw angels everywhere in Tsawwassen the day I spent time with my niece.

Visit Postcards From Penelope Puddle to view more BC scenes.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

17 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful area, and if I hadn't live in White Rock, that would be my second choice.

    Jen

    PS, you mentioned the boy in the movie, and the tongue on the frozen pole...bad memories for my little sister...she lost part of her's after doing that.

    Jen

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  2. Great post. I enjoyed all the shots and narrative. I love the idea of angels as people with a social conscience.

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  3. Really nice place to explore with a camera if you have eyes to find something special. The Christmas tree made of twigs with a starfish on top is simply lovely. Due to developing housing area, many species lost their habitat in my part of the world. The residential area where I live used to be a forest. Angels are around us though not outstanding and I like your idea of social conscious people as angels.

    I have enjoyed sharing your thoughts described by association with things and phenomena around you. Indeed world and nature is the reflection of our thoughts and feelings. I’ve been glad you understood my thoughts or emotion contained in my nature photos and besides you gave me deeper insights into it. Though I posted my last one of this year, I might visit you till the year-end when I have time. Have a nice week, Penelope.

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  4. Tsawwassen, what a lovely sounding word. Seems like it would be a shame to cover this area with what would likely be expensive homes built by greedy developers - the opposite of angels in my mind.

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  5. What a wonderful post for the day!! I love your photos and the variety and your narrative!! Really fascinating! Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a lovely week!!

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  6. You have a good eye for detail. Some really interesting shots. I like the unusual Christmas tree.

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  7. my favourite image is that with the small angel feet. Love it. :)

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  8. I think the angel is you ... what a wonderful learning day you shared with your niece. I must have tried ten times to pronounce Tsawwassen. I think I need to hear it or at least see it written phonically. However it is pronounced, it speaks of a beautiful place. Enjoyed this post ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  9. Delightful photography ~ love the angel and the leaves on the ground for OWT ~ thanks, carol, xxx

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  10. Beautiful place to look for angels. My favorite photo is the twig Christmas tree with the starfish on top, keeping to the nautical theme

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  11. What lovely shots of angels !

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  12. Your photos are lovely! I enjoyed your post very much. I also looked at your other blog and had a great visit. Two wonderful blogs :)

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  13. Love the fish mural. I visited your blog the other day, and now coming back to post. I have been rather busy of late. Really series of shots!

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  14. How wonderful, the carvings.
    Cheers from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  15. Tsawwassen is such an unusual name, and it looks like a charming and interesting place with lots of fascinating corners. I adore the nautical idea of putting a starfish on the tree !

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  16. Hi Maria, What a beautiful post. It's nice to see where we went that day. I love the pictures especially the Angel ones. Our visit will forever be etched in stone. Love Sherry

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  17. for those who would like to know pronounced- "Ta Wah Sun"

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