Deas Island facts for kids
Deas Island is an island located in the south arm of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It sits between the cities of Delta and Richmond. The island is home to a large area called Deas Island Regional Park, which is about 300 acres (121 hectares) in size.
You can find three important historic buildings on the island. These are Burrvilla, a grand Victorian-style house, Inverholme, which was once a one-room schoolhouse, and the Delta Agricultural Hall. Deas Island is also a popular place for bird watching because many different types of birds live there.
The island is well-known as the southern end of the George Massey Tunnel. This tunnel was originally called the Deas Island Tunnel. It is part of Highway 99 and connects Delta to Richmond. The tunnel goes from Deas Island north to Lulu Island (which is part of Richmond). A small bridge also connects Deas Island to the main part of Delta.
Why is it Called Deas Island?
Deas Island is named after a man named John Sullivan Deas. He was an African-Canadian tinsmith. In 1873, John Deas started a cannery on the island. A cannery is a factory where food is preserved in cans.
His cannery was the most important one on the Fraser River for several years. However, by 1878, there was a lot more competition. Because of this, John Deas decided to sell his business.
