Save Our Southlands

 

I will be transcribing, or converting to PDF format, documents related to Southlands development as time permits.

Thanks to Delta Museum and Archives, Arcas Consulting Archeologists Ltd, Professor of Agriculture Art Bomke, The Office of the Municipal Clerk (Delta), The Archives at the New Westminister Library, the Agricultural Land Commission and the Harry Lash Library at Metro Vancouver (formerly GVRD) for research assistance.

"Controversy Expected To Erupt Over School's Rezoning Bid," The Vancouver Sun, Apr 10, 2000

"Century Forced To Farm Southlands," The Delta Optimist, October 27, 1999

"School Backers Bucking History," South Delta Leader, August 20, 1999

"Southlands School Faces Opposition In Tsawwassen," The Vancouver Sun, Aug 16, 1999

"School Now Planned For Southlands," The Delta Optimist, March 17, 1999

"Input Sought On Spetifore Area's Future," The Vancouver Sun, June 8, 1998

"Protecting Their Turf," Supplement to The Delta Optimist, Summer, 1999

"Delta Developer’s Lawsuit Ends in $200,000 Payout," The Vancouver Sun, February 6, 1996

"Hodgins Drops Suit," The Delta Optimist, January 31, 1996

"Spetifore Barns Are Torn Down," The Delta Optimist, May 6, 1995

"$7.5-Million For 220 Acres Amounts To 'Donating' Land," The Vancouver Sun, April 7, 1995

"Zoning Flip Puts Loss At '$2 Million'," The Vancouver Sun, March 9, 1995

"New Planning Concepts : Preservation of Agriculture and Citizen Rivalries in the Suburbs - The Case of Tsawwassen, Delta, B.C.," City Magazine, Summer, 1993

"Delta Sued Over Spetifore Land," The Province, July 8, 1993

"Hodgins Backs Up Threat, Files Suit Against Council," The Delta Optimist, July 7, 1993

"Southlands Under Glass," The Delta Optimist, May 13, 1993

"Indians Calling For Halt to War Games on Burial Grounds," The Delta Optimist, September 18, 1992

Letter From the Musqueam to the B.C. Archeology Branch, September 3, 1992

British Columbia Archeological Site Inventory of the Southlands

"Heritage Plan Panned," The Delta Optimist, September 2, 1992

"Row Brews Over Letter Urging Home Development," The Vancouver Sun, June 22, 1992

"Developer Denies Tenants Coerced," The Province, June 21, 1992

"Oft-fought-over Property Again Subject to Hearings," The Vancouver Sun, June 16, 1992

"Southlands Still An Issue," South Delta Today, June 14, 1992

"Now It's Back to Square One," British Columbia Report, May 20, 1992

Letter from the Agricultural Land Commission to the Municipal Clerk of Delta, May 8, 1992

Letter from the Municipal Clerk of Delta to the Agricultural Land Commission, April 27, 1992

Response to the Delta Council Motion from the Minister of Agriculture, February 10, 1992

Motion passed by Delta Council asking for the re-inclusion of the Southlands in the Agricultural Land Reserve, December 9, 1991

"Southlands Eyed for ALR," The Delta Optimist, December 4, 1991

"Park Site Vanishes," The Delta Optimist, November 20, 1991

"Developer Puts Controversial Land On Block," The Vancouver Sun, October 22, 1991

"Hodgins Has Buyer For Southlands," The Delta Optimist, October 23, 1991

"Spetifore Lands Plan Opposed," The Vancouver Sun, October 22, 1991

"Spetifore Dumping Charges Probed," The Province, September 19, 1991

"Century Halts Tree Clearing," The Delta Optimist, April 3, 1991

"Logging Halted, Compromise Sought," The Delta Optimist, March 27, 1991

"Clearcutting Foes Accused Of 'Grasping At Straws'," The Vancouver Sun, Mar 26, 1991

"Clear-cut To Continue Despite Protests," The Province, March 25, 1991

"Delta Mayor Wants Halt to Clearcut," The Vancouver Sun, March 22, 1991

"Indians Plan To Join Protest Against Clearcutting On Spetifore Property," The Vancouver Sun, March 21, 1991

"Realtor Closes Land Until Cows Come Home," The Vancouver Sun, February 27, 1991

"Messy Dogs Blamed For Land Closure," The Vancouver Sun, February 26, 1991

"Farms' No-Entry Signs Queried," The Vancouver Sun, February 25, 1991

"Developer Fights Spetifore Decision," The Vancouver Sun, July 10, 1990 

"Tsawwassen Land Conflict Smouldering Like A Peat Fire," The Vancouver Sun, July 17, 1990

"Harcourt Demands Inquiry Into 'Socred Friends' Deals," The Vancouver Sun, February 2, 1990

"Landowners Ordered To Pay," The Vancouver Sun, November 8, 1989

"Look Who Lost Big At Spetifore," Equity Magazine, November 1989

"Fish Waste Dumping on Spetifore Land Causes Controversy," The Delta Optimist, October 17, 1989

"Foreclosure Pending on TDL Lands," South Delta Today, August 31, 1989

"Spetifore Property Foreclosure Launched," The Vancouver Sun, August 23, 1989 

"How They Won The War," The Province, August 13, 1989

"Bucking Authority Is Family Tradition," The Province, Aug 13, 1989

"Realism Sweeps Spetifore Debate," The Province, August 10, 1989

"A Chronology of TDL Events," South Delta Today, August 10, 1989

"Southlands Bylaws Defeated," South Delta Today, August 10, 1989

"Crowd Cheers TDL Defeat," The Delta Optimist, August 9, 1989

"Spetifore Project Rejected," The Vancouver Sun, Aug 9, 1989

"Uproar As Foes Meet On Spetifore," The Province, July 24, 1989

"Public Rejects TDL Development," South Delta Today, July 20, 1989

"Spetifore Secret Out Of Bag?" The Province, July 19, 1989

"Spetifore Developer Hints At Land Sale," The Vancouver Sun, July 19, 1989

"2800 Send Council Submissions," The Delta Optimist, July 18, 1989  

"Spetifore Issue Prompts 2,876 Missives," The Vancouver Sun, July 18, 1989

"Cries Of Socred Patronage," The Province, July 13, 1989

"Wrong Information In ALR Removal," South Delta Today, July 13, 1989

"Pebiscite Opposes Spetifore Plan," The Vancouver Sun, July 13, 1989

"Townspeople And Farmers Oppose Misuse of Delta's Rich Farmland," Country Life in British Columbia, July, 1989

"Spetifore Proposal To Stand," The Vancouver Sun, July 12, 1989

"Zalm's Warned Spetifore Hot," The Vancouver Sun, July 11, 1989

"Plebiscite Notice," Advertisement in the Delta Optimist, July 11, 1989

"TDL? Myths And Realities," Tsawwassen Developments Ltd. Advertising Supplement, The Delta Optimist, Summer 1989

"Is Democracy At Work In Delta?," Western Report, July 10, 1989

"Spetifore Decision Based On Flawed Data, Ex-Minister Says," The Vancouver Sun, July 10, 1989

"Spetifore Poll Attracts 1,500," The Vancouver Sun, July 6, 1989

"TDL Opponents Rally," South Delta Today, June 29, 1989

Letter From MLA Stephen Rogers to Premiere Bill Vander Zalm, June 28, 1989

"Tsawwassen's Fate Tied To Land Battle," The Vancouver Sun, June 24, 1989

"Mayor's Action Reasonable," The Vancouver Sun, June 21, 1989

"Spetifore Debates Hit Abrupt Ending," The Vancouver Sun, June 21, 1989

"Plans For Spetifore Lashed," The Vancouver Sun, May 26, 1989

"TDL Owns 'Prime Farmland' Says Expert," South Delta Today, May 25, 1989

"Spetifore Bid," The Province, May 19, 1989

B.C. Institute of Agrologists' President Professor Wendy Holm - Submission to Council, May 18, 1989

"Speakers Criticize Consultants," South Delta Today, May 18, 1989

"Burial Site Threatened, Hearing Told," The Vancouver Sun, May 3, 1989

"'Spetifurore' Erupts Anew," The Province, May 2, 1989

"Controversial TDL Land Issue Goes To Public Hearing," South Delta Today, April 13, 1989

Report from Professors of Agriculture Art Bomke and Jan de Vries, February 10, 1989

South Delta Area Plan Concepts 1987-1989

Professor Art Bomke - Submission to Council, November 18, 1988

"Developers Pull Plans For Spetifore," The Vancouver Sun, November 16, 1988

"Cheers Amid Anger," The Province, November 10, 1988

"Greed Taints Spetifore Plan, Residents Say," The Vancouver Sun, Nov 9, 1988

"Spetifore Foes Roar," The Province, November 9, 1988

"Delta Introduces Bylaws To Develop Farmland," The Vancouver Sun, Oct 18, 1988

"Delta Set To Fight New 'Town' Invasion," The Province, October 12, 1988

"The Delta Boys," Equity Magazine, October 1988

"Delta Development Fought By Residents," The Vancouver Sun, September 29, 1988

"Density Snag On Spetifore Lands," The Delta Optimist, August 16, 1988

"Boundary Bay Development," The Delta Optimist, February 23, 1988

"Land Use: Two Cans Of Worms," The Vancouver Sun, Nov 20, 1987

"New Span A Traffic Problem Delta Candidates Agree," The Vancouver Sun, November 13, 1987

"New Firm Sticks to Old Housing Plan," The Vancouver Sun, July 11, 1987

"Public Say Wanted In Delta Plan," The Vancouver Sun, Jun 9, 1987

"Spetifore Plan Slowed Up, But Still On Track," The Vancouver Sun, October 17, 1985

"Spetifore Land Clears Major Hurdle," The Vancouver Sun, December 18, 1984

"Opponents Claim Progress in Spetifore Lands Scrap," The Vancouver Sun, November 27, 1984

"Developer Unveils Spetifore Lands Plan," The Vancouver Sun, August 21, 1984

"No Regional Planning = Chaos," Victoria Times-Colonist, July 29, 1983

"Planner Elimination Spetifore-Solver?," Victoria Times-Colonist, July 21, 1983

"Speaker to Clarify Delta Land Link," The Vancouver Sun, July 14, 1983

"Project in Delta Cited as Reason For Planning Move," The Globe and Mail, July 11, 1983

"Dawn On The Farm," The Vancouver Sun, July 4, 1983

"Farmland Policy: What Is It Now?," Victoria Times-Colonist, July 4, 1983

"Land Scheme Scuttled," The Columbian, June 30, 1983

"Big Project Suffers Big Setback," Victoria Times-Colonist, June 30, 1983

"Dawn Development Clears One Hurdle," The Colombian, June 24, 1983

"NDP Fights Land Switch," Victoria Times-Colonist, June 29, 1983

"Delta Residents Oppose New Plan To Develop Land For Park, Housing," The Vancouver Sun, June 2, 1983

"Years of Controversy Surround Spetifore Land," The Province, June 12, 1983

"Delta Trying To Rescue Land Deal," The Vancouver Sun, May 21, 1983

"Farmland Loss Up For Debate In Next Round," The Province, April 4, 1983

"Potato Field is Eye of B.C. Storm," The Globe and Mail, March 30, 1983

"Rezoning Application Rejected," The Delta Optimist, March 23, 1983

"Dawn Abandons Spetifore Housing," The Columbian, March 22, 1983

"Spetifore Plan Gets Big Crowd," The Province, March 17, 1983

Professor Ned Pottinger - Submission to the GVRD, March 16, 1983

"Spetifore Land Proposal Attacked," The Columbian, February 12, 1983

"Residents To Battle Spetifore Development," The Columbian, February 11, 1983

"Delta Residents Organizing To Fight Spetifore Proposal," The Columbian, February 9, 1983

"Council and GVRD Apply," The Delta Optimist, February 2, 1983

"Spetifore Land Proposal Rapped By GVRD Official," The Vancouver Sun, June 3, 1982

"'Food Or Shelter' Choice Up To GVRD," The Province, June 3, 1982

"MLA Slams Profit On Land," The Vancouver Sun, May 21, 1982

"Spetifore Developers Will Net $190 Million, Says NDP MLA," The Province, May 20, 1982 

"Socred Paid Spetifore Millions," Victoria Times-Colonist, July 25, 1981

"$48-Million Received for Farm," The Globe and Mail, July 25, 1981

"Anderson Expecting Better Luck With Land," The Province, May 28, 1981 

"New 'Spetifore' Plan in Works," May 27, 1981

"Controversial Farmland Sold," The Vancouver Sun, May 26, 1981

"Tonn Urges Land Probe As Director's Cry Foul," The Province, May 7, 1981

"Spetifore Issue Won't Lie Down," The Province, May 7, 1981

Debates of the Legislative Assembly, April 10, 1981

"GVRD Decision May Cost Delta A Waterfront Park," The Delta Optimist, April 1, 1981

"Contentious Application Narrowly Defeated 33-32," GVRD Newsletter, April, 1981

"Spetifore Issue Hasn't Gone Away," Victoria Times-Colonist, March 27, 1981

"The Spetifore Land Decision," The Province, March 27, 1981

"Is Delta Farm Still In Reserve?," Victoria Times-Colonist, March 27, 1981

"One Vote Erases Farm Millions," Victoria Times-Colonist, March 26, 1981

"Gov't To Leave Spetifore Ban In Place," The Province, March 26, 1981

"Delta Land Decision Reversed," The Vancouver Sun, March 25, 1981

GVRD Board Meeting, March 25, 1981

Submission to the the GVRD from the UBC Department of Soil Science, March 24, 1981

"200 Protest Land Removal," The Vancouver Sun, March 23, 1981

"GVRD Farmland Split Ends Wednesday - Either Way," The Province, March 22, 1981

"Vander Zalm May Order Rezoning Of Spetifore Land," The Province, March 13, 1981

"Law Changes Eyed Over Spetifore Mess," Victoria Times-Colonist, March 13, 1981

"Double Shock For Spetifore on Land Deal," The Province, March 12, 1981

Submission to the GVRD from the B.C. Institute of Agrologists, March 10, 1981

"Delta Farm Inquiry Urged," The Vancouver Sun, March 10, 1981

"Spetifore's Park Offering Was Government 'Gift'," The Province, March 9, 1981

"Spetifore Land Rezoning Labelled Immoral," The Province, March 5, 1981

"NDPers Fight Half Measures For Spetifore," The Province, March 4, 1981

"Spetifore Rezoning Heats Up," The Province, March 3, 1981

"Spetifore's Plans Have Shrunk," The Province, February 10, 1981

"Land Challenge Considered," The Province, February 1, 1981

"Socred Cabinet Hands Friend Instant Millions," The Toronto Star, February 1, 1981 

"Spetifore Rezoning Stalled," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 28, 1981  

"Technicality Puts Land Deal Up In Air," The Vancouver Sun, January 28, 1981

"Spetifore's Land Plan Stalled," The Province, January 28, 1981

"Spetifore's Land Deal Back To Square One," The Vancouver Sun, January 28, 1981

"Issue Explodes In Socreds Faces," The Province, January 25, 1981

"Spetifore Dusting Off '71 Development Plans," The Province, January 25, 1981

"Ex-Land Body Members Flay Exemptions," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 24, 1981

"Delta Land Decision Sets 'Bad Precedent'," The Vancouver Sun, January 23, 1981

"Socred Family's Option Could Bring $80 Million," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 23, 1981

"Formal ELUC Hearings Not Required," The Province, January 22, 1981  

"Cabinet Told Land Viable: Report," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 22, 1981

"Spetifores Tie Up Freed Land," The Vancouver Sun, January 22, 1981

"Delta Farmland Value Increased A Hundred-Fold By Cabinet," The Vancouver Sun, January 22, 1981

 

"Delta 'Had No Choice' on Spetifore Land," The Vancouver Sun, January 21, 1981

"NDP Critic Says Error Could Re-Freeze Delta Land," The Province, January 21, 1981

"Spetifore Farmland Freed 'In Secret Hearing' - MLA," The Province, January 21, 1981

"Cabinet Ignored Land Experts," The Vancouver Sun, January 21, 1981

"Land Of Opportunity,"The Province, January 20, 1981

"Delta Land Value Skyrockets," The Globe and Mail, January 19, 1981

"Freed Land May Hold 2,600 Homes," The Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1981

"Farmland Exclusion," The Province, January 18, 1981

"Reserve Land: A Question Lingers," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 18, 1981

"Hewitt Denies Claim Of 'Pork-Barrelling'," Victoria Times-Colonist, January 17, 1981

"Gov't Frees Delta Farm For Housing," The Province, January 16, 1981

Provincial Order-In-Council #33/81, January 15, 1981

Agricultural Land Commission Decision #693/80: Application 91a-0-79-09724, April 29, 1980

"Delta Angered By Richmond Land Stand," The Vancouver Sun, April 9, 1980

Field Agrologist Report, G.A. Mosher, March 10, 1980

"Spetifore Finally Gets Land Out Of Reserve," The Columbian, March 6, 1980

Soil Report, B.R. Carson, December 21, 1979

"Farmers Dig In Or Sell Out As Urban Life Encroaches," The Vancouver Sun, November 10, 1979

"543 Delta Acres Claimed No Good For Farming," The Vancouver Sun, October 31, 1979

"Delta Wants Land Taken Out Of Reserve," The Vancouver Sun, October 30, 1979

"Spetifore Gets Roasted And Throws In His Chips," The Province, November 14, 1977

"Spetifore Housing Project Now Dead," The Columbian, April 1, 1976

"Delta Housing Project Aborted," The Province, March 31, 1976

"Spetifore Bonanza Unlikely In Delta," The Columbian, January 9, 1976

"Delta Will Keep Spetifore Option," The Columbian, November 25, 1975

"Candidate Will Oppose Spetifore Deal," The Columbian, October 29, 1975  

"Spetifore Decision Appeal Set," The Columbian, June 26, 1975

"Delta Takes Up Spetifore Option," The Columbian, March 25, 1975

"Massey Attacks Goode Team On Option Plans," The Columbian, March 18, 1975

"Farmland Option Studied," The Vancouver Sun, March 18, 1975

"Rezoning For Delta Doubted," The Vancouver Sun, March 18, 1975

"Council's Housing Proposal Opposed By Delta Residents," The Province, March 14, 1975

"Delta Residents Jeer Spetifore Plan," The Columbian, March 13, 1975

"Goode Farm Land Plan Opposed At Hearing," The Vancouver Sun, March 12, 1975

"Public Asked To Hearing," The Vancouver Sun, March 4, 1975

"‘Nothing 'Conclusive' On South Delta Land," The Province, February 13, 1975

"Massey, Goode Row Over Spetifore Deal," The Columbian, January 28, 1975  

"Massey Asks Goode to Quit Council," The Vancouver Sun, January 28, 1975

"Delta Profit $30 Million," The Province, January 24, 1975

"Province Eyeing Delta's Spetifore Farm," The Columbian, January 21, 1975  

"Delta Seeks Public Input Into Land Purchase Plan," The Vancouver Sun, January 21, 1975

"Farmer Sets Hot Price To Get Out Of Freeze," The Columbian, January 18, 1975  

"Spetifore's New Spud System," The Optimist, September 11, 1974

"Gov't Control Of Spetifore Feared," The Columbian, February 27, 1974

"Boundary Bay Farm Site Eyed As Mobile Home Park Site," The Vancouver Sun, February 19, 1974

"Mayor Fears Gov't Land Ownership," The Vancouver Sun, February 5, 1974

"New Spetifore Land Scheme Eyed," The Columbian, February 5, 1974

"Obligation To Developers Brings Clash," The Columbian, November 28, 1972  

GVRD Board Meeting, October 25, 1972

"Delta's Mayor Charged of Spetifore Lobbying," The Columbian, October 24, 1972

"$80-Million Proposal Opposed by Committee," The Province, October 21, 1972

"Quadrant Executive Says Project Canadian," The Columbian, June 1, 1972

"Can't Stop Developing, Bay Promoter Warns," The Province, June 1, 1972

"Council Approves Quadrant Scheme For Submission to Regional District," The Delta Optimist, May 31, 1972

"Doubts On Feasibility Turn Quadrant Back To GVRD," The Columbian, May 30, 1972

"Yankee Dollars Invade Drowsy Delta," The Vancouver Sun, February 24, 1972

"Delta Reverses Ruling On $80 Million Scheme," The Province, January 11, 1972

"Roadblock Erected In Delta For $80 Million Subdivision," The Columbian, January 11, 1972

"Big Delta Plan Passes Hurdle," The Province, December 29, 1971

"Quadrant Plan Sent To GVRD," The Columbian, December 29, 1971

"Spetifore Submission Stalled," The Columbian, Dec 21, 1971  

"Firm Meddling, Says Candidate," The Province, December 4, 1971

"Facts You Should Know About The Proposed Spetifore Land Development," Quadrant Developments Ltd. Advertisement, The Optimist, December 1, 1971

"Planner Quits in Delta Row," The Province, November 9, 1971

"Spetifore Subdivision Protested," The Columbian, November 2, 1971

"New Urban Community For Boundary Bay Proposed," The Optimist, October 27, 1971

"Spetifore Farm Heading For $80 Million Subdivision," The Columbian, October 26, 1971  

"Estate Taxes Force Sale of Delta Farm," The Vancouver Sun, October 15, 1971

"$450,000 Death Tax Forces Farmers Off Land," The Province, October 15, 1971

"Plans for Complex Revealed," The Columbian, October 13, 1971

"Residential Plan Proposed For Farm," The Vancouver Sun, October 13, 1971

"Feasibility Study on the S. Spetifore & Sons Ltd. Boundary Bay Farm," Prepared for Quadrant Development Ltd., October, 1971

Letter From Ray Cunliffe to Mayor of Delta Dugald Morrison, August 5, 1971

"No Future For Farming In Delta, Spetifore Says," The Optimist, July 21, 1971

 "Loading Corn," The Optimist, August 20, 1969

"Strawberry Picker," The Optimist, June 25, 1969

"The Then And Now Of The Spetifore Family In The Municipality," October 31, 1968

"Strawberry Harvest," The Optimist, June 26, 1968

"Pea Harvesting," The Optimist, July 13, 1966

"Fruit Stand," The Optimist, May 4, 1966

"Early Potatoes Planted In Sunny South Delta," The Optimist, March 16, 1966

"High Prices Paid At Spetifore Jersey Sale," The Optimist, November 10, 1965

"Spetifore Jersey Bull Gets Medal," The Optimist, July 10, 1963

"Floodgates On Spetifore Spit To Be Closed In Effort To Reduce Beach Grove Stench," The Optimist, April 24, 1963

"Delta Tackles Smelly Problem By Closing Dike Flood Gates," The Vancouver Sun, April 23, 1963  

"Beach Grove Residents Ask Spetifore Pump Stopped," The Optimist, January 21, 1963

"Beach Grove Stench Caused By Rotting Weed," The Optimist, November 14, 1962

"Delta To Study Stench Proposals," The Vancouver Sun, November 9, 1962  

"Report On Beach Grove Not Official, Says Reeve," The Optimist, November 7, 1962

"Delta's Big Smell Caused By Uncovering Acid Soil," The Province, November 5, 1962

"Triple S Farms Bring Home Awards From PNE, Oregon," The Optimist, October 24, 1962

"Angry Beach Grove People Protest Stench And Pollution," The Optimist, October 24, 1962

"Farm And Ranch," The Province, June 5, 1953

"Early Seeding Record Set For Boundary Bay," The Ladner Optimist, March, 1953