What's Happening: Cultural Services In Delta

January - March 2025

Welcome to 2025! There is no better feeling than a fresh start to a New Year. The air may be cool and crisp, but things are heating up for Cultural Services in 2025. We have plenty of events, programs, and classes to keep you busy.

If you want to learn how to scrapbook or make a bird feeder, enjoy Family Day events, take time for a Valentine’s or Galantine’s Date Night, listen to some incredible chamber music, take an art or dance class, we have something for everyone!

For those needing a quieter experience, visit the Discovery Centre on the last Saturday of each month for our Sensory Friendly Saturdays, featuring guided craft activities that are accessible to a wide range of abilities. Learn more at Delta.ca/CulturalServices.

Community Banner Contest

The City of Delta is extending its deadline for the 10th annual Community Banner Contest—an opportunity for local artists of all ages to design street banners highlighting Delta’s natural beauty, culture, and diversity.

After reviewing the contest rules and guidelines, participants can choose to submit a design for the following categories:

Delta Culture and Heritage (open category)
- Depict Delta's vibrant culture or heritage from your lens.
Discover Delta (open category)
- Depict the uniqueness or hidden gems found throughout Delta.
Diversity in Delta (open category)
- Depict the beauty of diversity in Delta.
Emerging Artists (ages 13 to 17 years old)
Budding Artists (up to 12 years old)

The contest will be open for submissions until February 14, 2025, after which time a winner will be selected for each category by a team of volunteer adjudicators and local artists.

The chosen design from each category will be displayed on City of Delta streets next spring and an honorarium and street banner featuring their design will be awarded to each winner.

To learn more about the contest and submission process, please visit, letstalk.delta.ca/bannercontest.

Upcoming Events & Programs

Delta Ukulele Circle - February 1 and March 1, 2:30 - 5 pm

North Delta Centre for the Arts

Delta Ukulele Circle is back at North Delta Centre for the Arts. Led by Gary Cyr, the Delta Ukulele Circle is an enthusiastic, welcoming and supportive crowd of music lovers with an appreciation for the ukulele. Attendance has really been picking up, so if you’d like to participate, pre-register to reserve your spot.

February 1 Ukulele Circle

March 1 Ukulele Circle

Heritage Week - Pastimes in Past Times

Join us at the Discovery Centre this Heritage Week from February 17-23, for free and fun activities based around this year’s Heritage Week theme: Pastimes in Past Times.

Delta Archives and Gallery Tour - Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4-5pm

Past Times in Delta Presentation - Thursday, February 20, 2025, 5-5:30pm

Quilting Squares with the Boundary Bay Quilters Guild - Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12-5pm

Past Times Family Activities - Sunday, February 23, 2025, 12-5pm

Open Stages

North Delta Centre for the Arts - January 31, February 28, and March 28

Tsawwassen Arts Centre - February 14, March 7

Entertain or be entertained! Open Stage is a welcoming group of performers AND audience members. If you would rather listen to some great local artists instead of perform, Open Stage is for you. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Your $6 admission includes light refreshments.

Learn more

Delta Matinée Series - North Delta Centre for the Arts

The Delta Matinée Series returns to the North Delta Centre for the Arts this winter. Concerts are on Tuesday afternoons beginning at 1pm. Doors open at 12:30pm. Partnering with City of Delta, the Vancouver Chamber Music Society exists to culturally enrich and inspire communities, as well as advance public appreciation for classical music.

Couloir - Tuesday, February 11, 1 pm

Music of Twilight - Tuesday, April 15, 1 pm

Vancouver Cello Quartet - Tuesday, May 6, 1 pm

Spring Break and Professional Day Camps

Spring Break in Delta begins March 17. For those who like to plan early, there are some great weeklong camps.

In Meet the Art Masters, students will use different art mediums each day. You will learn to paint like Monet, draw like Picasso, collage like Henri Matisse, and much more.

We also think you’ve got what it takes to be a star in a play! Join us to learn all about acting, improvising, story-telling, and character creation throughout the week in our Create A Play Spring Break Camp.

The Cultural Services team has also put together some fun programs for your children to do on their Pro-D Day away from school.

View all upcoming Spring Break and Pro-D Day Camps

Pro D Day Camp Mixed Bag of Art – Fridays, January 24 and February 21

A unique blend of skilled instructor guided tutorials and making activities using a mix of art mediums and materials. Students will have a blast exploring and creating a variety of projects using different art mediums. Explore drawing techniques using oil and chalk pastels, mold and sculpt fun key chain characters, followed by painting and much more.

North Delta Centre for the Arts, January 24

Tsawwassen Arts Centre, January 24

North Delta Centre for the Arts, February 21

Tsawwassen Arts Centre, February 21

History of Art – Spring Break Half Day Program

Take a journey through art history this Spring Break. Each day will cover a different period of Western art from Ancient, Renaissance, Abstract, to Pop Art. There is sure to be something to inspire your artsy child.

Ages 6-8, March 17-21

Ages 9-11, March 17-21

Young Curator – March 24-28, 2025, 9am-3pm (Ages 10-12)

Join us at the Discovery Centre this Spring Break and learn the art of exhibit curation. Each day will involve participants learning a new part of what it takes to make their own mini museum exhibition. From research, design, marketing, text panel writing, artefact collection, and layout, the week is sure to be filled with lots of exciting learning for the future museum professional.

Seasonal Events

Family Day at the Discovery Centre - February 17

Drop-in to the Discovery Centre this Family Day Monday, February 17 from 12-3pm for an interactive story time, family tree activity, gallery activity, and more. Take this time to learn not only about Delta's history but your own.

Valentine’s Day Events

Classes for all ages, singles and couples this Valentine’s Day. For families and children, visit the Discovery Centre for a family filled Vintage Valentine’s Day or make your own mixed media Valentine’s card at the Arts Centres.

Vintage Valentine's - February 9, Discovery Centre

Mixed Media Card Making (Ages 9-14) - February 7, Tsawwassen Arts Centre

Mixed Media Card Making (Ages 5-8) - February 8, Tsawwassen Arts Centre

Mixed Media Card Making (Ages 5-8) - February 9, North Delta Centre for the Arts

There are also plenty of Valentine's Day opportunities for adults, including a Paint Date Night to Remember at Tsawwassen Arts Centre and North Delta Arts Centre, and Galentine's Day activities for ladies celebrating ladies with their bestie.

A Paint Date Night to Remember (Ages 19+) - February 14, Tsawwassen Arts Centre

A Paint Date Night to Remember (Ages 19+) - February 14, North Delta Centre for the Arts

Galentine's Day: Card Making & "A Return to Memory" Documentary - February 13, Discovery Centre

Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre Updates

The Discovery Centre is a hands-on and accessible space for dialogue and discovery about our community’s past, present, and future. Featuring authentic objects, digital experiences, and fascinating stories, all are welcome to engage with Delta’s storied history. Discover Delta today!

Sensory Friendly Saturdays – Free

Sensory Friendly Saturdays are offered on the last Saturday of each month from 12-5pm. They offer neurodivergent individuals, their families and caregivers the ability to visit the Discovery Centre and enjoy a calm, relaxed and safe atmosphere. You can expect adapted exhibits, sensory friendly kits and a new activity each month. Trained staff will be on site to facilitate your experience.

Learn more

Free Movie Series

Grab your popcorn and come down to the Discovery Centre for our first ever Winter Movie Series. During the cold months of the year, we will be showing captivating documentary films to keep our brains active.

The Whale and the Raven - Thursday, January 16, 6:30-8pm

The Road Taken - Thursday, February 27, 6:30-8pm

Under the Willow Tree - Thursday, March 13, 6:30-8pm

Heritage Presentations

Lights, Camera, Action! A Presentation on Hollywood North - Thursday, January 23, 6-7pm

Archives Update

Delta Archives, 2023-023-004. Courtesy of Delta Heritage Society, Farming scene at Wright Farm, 191-?

2024 was a very good year for the Archives. We received notable new additions to the collection, including the Les Starheim Fonds and the Stokkeland Family Fonds, both from North Delta, which will be accessible in 2025. As mentioned in our previous newsletters, many important collections became accessible to the public through our online database in 2024.

We are hoping over the summer we will be able to complete the bulk of the work on the Hawthorne Elementary School Fonds. This large photo collection was acquired a couple years ago and includes class and staff photos from the Ladner school over the years. Many collections like this are at risk of being destroyed by their respective school administrations. We are always happy when we can secure photos documenting a school’s history so they can be preserved for future generations.

This January, our work is focused on photo scanning and writing descriptions for the Wright Family Fonds and in February will be focused on the Mitchell Family Fonds. Both collections document longtime farming families of Delta, outlining their experience living and working on their Tsawwassen and Crescent Island farms.

Curator's Corner

Have you come by the Discovery Centre to check out our City of Delta Artists Exhibit yet? If not, head down and explore the works of some creative Delta Staff in our Creative Corner Community Gallery. A reception for the artists was held on December 11, 2024. Festive fun was had by all attendees. Exhibit run dates are November 15, 2024 to April 15, 2025.

Big changes are coming to the exhibits at the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre in 2025. If you haven’t come by for a visit yet now is your chance to see the current exhibit before it’s refreshed. Did you know this innovative gallery space is designed to change periodically? We are due for some fresh topics, historical characters, and updated interactives. We hope to see you soon!