Harrison Hot Springs has a milestone birthday coming up.
Village officials are turning to residents for feedback to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the incorporation of Harrison Hot Springs. Officials say they are looking to celebrate with a public event in May, and they have put together a short online survey for residents to provide input.
The 30-second survey can be accessed through the village’s Facebook page at facebook.com/VillageofHarrisonHotSprings. It asks what activities residents might like to see at the event, commemorative ceremonies and the best day for the celebration. Stay connected to The Observer for further updates on the 75th anniversary celebrations.
Before the village was incorporated on May 27, 1949, it was and continues to be known as the site of the ancient Sts’ailes village of Qwó:íls. It’s an important nexus to the area’s First Nations as it’s a crossroads for Harrison Lake, the Harrison River and the Fraser River. The hot springs for which Harrison is named have healing properties and cultural significance to the Sts’ailes people.
When the village’s incorporation became official, it had the largest area of any village in B.C. at the time, spanning 2,020 acres. In 2004, the municipality officially changed its name from the Corproation of the Village of Harrison Hot Springs to the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. It was named after Benjamin Harrison, a former deputy governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.