Delta engineering staff installed the fence at the end of English Bluff Road on Jan. 16 following a recommendation by police.
A newly erected 60-metre chain link fence along the U.S.-Canada border in Delta is causing outcry from one councillor who says the structure is more than just a safety measure — it’s a symbol of division.
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Delta Coun. Daniel Boisvert lives just a six-minute drive from Monument Park in Point Roberts, where Canadians and Americans have historically met on the grass without going through border patrol. He said the fence severs a connection that’s been central to the community.
“We in this neighbourhood have a really good relationship with our neighbours to the south,” Boisvert said.
But that connection is now in jeopardy after City of Delta engineering staff installed the fence at the end of English Bluff Road on Jan. 16. The installation was prompted by an incident in November 2023 when a Tsawwassen senior with dementia crossed into Point Roberts and was found dead days later.
After reviewing the incident, Delta police recommended installing a barrier to prevent accidental crossings. The city’s engineering team worked on the project to improve safety and raise awareness of the international border, said Boisvert.
“While the incident was tragic,” Boisvert argues, “You don’t erect a fence for a one-off event that happens once every 175 years.”
He believes the response and fails to consider long-term consequences for the community.
“We share one of the world’s longest undefended borders. It’s a symbol of over a century of peaceful relations between Canada and the U.S.,” Boisvert said.
He is planning to introduce a motion at the city’s Feb. 3 council meeting, calling for the fence’s removal.
“I am extraordinarily optimistic that it will pass and staff will take it down the next day,” said Boisvert, who was not included in the city’s decision to erect the border fence.
Along this stretch of the border sections are marked by a mix of fences on private property or low barriers designed to prevent cars from crossing. However, the shared beaches remain open with no fences in sight.
Boisvert also expressed discomfort with the timing of the fence’s installation, which coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration and his calls for heightened border surveillance.
“The biggest issue for me with the fence is the symbolism of it,” Boisvert said. “I don’t like it.”
No one from Delta police was available for comment Saturday.