Tsawwassen Mills opens doors to public

Opening causes massive delays in ferry traffic

By Mercedes Deutscher, News Editor

On October 5, the Tsawwassen Mills outlet mall opened to the public.

Shoppers have been flooding into the mall, which has been a cause for delay for both drivers and for those using public traffic. The mall’s opening has been especially problematic for those heading to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, and particularly stressful for travellers heading to and from Vancouver Island during the Thanksgiving long weekend.

The mall has also been a stress for TransLink. For the time being, there are three bus routes that stop near the mall—the 609 (Tsawwassen First Nation), which operates on limited service; the 601 (South Delta); and the 620 (Tsawwassen Ferry), which are both coming from Bridgeport Station. The buses from Bridgeport have been overwhelmed, with shoppers lining up all around the station for the buses. There has yet to be any announcement on whether TransLink will be either adding additional service to these routes, or creating an entirely new route.

In the meantime, Tsawwassen Mills is offering its own shuttle service from Scott Road station, although it is only to help employees access the mall. The shuttle operates on a $2 fare, or a $40 monthly fare, according to Business Vancouver.

The mall stands on property of the Tsawwassen First Nation, and much of the mall’s design focuses on cultural aspects from the First Nation.

Tsawwassen Mills spans 1.2 million square feet, according to the mall’s website. The mall houses 150 stores. While many stores are ones found in most Lower Mainland malls—such as Forever 21, H&M, etc.—the mall also hosts some harder to find retailers, like Bass Pro Shops and Saks Off 5th.