In this end of the year edition of The Observer, we are taking a look back at some of the top stories of 2023. The stories are in chronological order and are based on the most-read stories online and editorial choice.
January 6, 2023
Smart car-sized ice blocks build up at Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge after severe winter storms
Huge swaths of ice still rest along the shores of the mighty Fraser River that flows through Agassiz-Harrison. Uncharacteristically freezing temperatures not only shattered weather records that stood for 30 years or more but froze large patches of the Fraser River.
Valerie Pentz captured a particularly breathtaking shot of a field of huge ice blocks stretching across the horizon near the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge. She stood by just one of the mammoth ice blocks that was at least 7 feet wide and height-wise came up to her forehead. The photo so captivated Facebookers that it was shared nearly 250 times within 24 hours of her posting it.
Temperatures dipped down to nearly -14 C during a particularly bitter cold snap toward the end of December; with the wind chill, the mercury dipped below -30 C in some areas. Inclement weather not only threw a blanket of snow over Agassiz-Harrison, but that blanket was covered by a shell of solid ice as a result of a salvo of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain all in a single day.
January 13, 2023
Harrison Hot Springs welcomes new fire engine with push-in ceremony
A gathering of villagers, officials and of course firefighters ushered in the newest addition to the Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department on Friday (Jan. 6).
Harrison hosted a traditional push-in ceremony to welcome the brand new fire engine to the village.
Fire Chief Trevor Todd has been with the HHSFD for 11 years, and this is the second engine he has welcomed to the fire hall.
“It’s a big deal for us,” he said. “A lot of work went into getting this truck set up for us. It’s taken us two year to build it. We’re quite proud of this unit. This is a village piece of equipment, and without the village staff and the two councils, we would have never gotten to where we are.”
Todd added the public was invited to share in this moment of glory for the village and the fire department.
The new fire engine is a 2022 Spartan Metro Star Pumper Truck and costed $677,000. Fort Garry Fire Trucks designed the engine with an upgraded water monitoring system, improved maneuverability, expanded equipment storage and reduced emissions. Now that it’s completed its 2,100-kilometre journey from Winnipeg to Harrison Hot Springs, the new engine will take the place of the former 1992 model and is expected to serve the community for the next 20 years.
January 27, 2023
‘Where are people going to go?’ Agassiz-Harrison bemoans changes to Chilliwack’s Cottonwood Mall
Ire about upcoming changes to Chilliwack’s Cottonwood Mall has crossed the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge.
Agassiz-Harrison residents have made their disappointment clear on social media following the announcement that a government-run B.C. Liquor Store would replace the food court at Cottonwood Mall.
“We know it’s difficult for the public. We get it,” said Cottonwood Centre marketing manager Teresa Laynes. “We do have empathy.”
Several residents wondered where they would be able to go to take a break during shopping or simply gather with friends.
“Redesigning malls so everything is accessed via the parking area is a bad idea,” said Janne Perrin, referring to the outdoor-access design of the nearby Chilliwack Mall. “People go to the mall to shop and relax. That includes staying warm and dry (or cool in summer) and enjoying a coffee or a lunch out. New age malls are not people friendly!”
“It’s a gathering place for people to take a break during shopping,” Ina James-Point said. “Tell me where are people going to go for a quick meal, especially the staff that work in the mall? They aren’t going to have time to eat in a restaurant.”
March 10, 2023
‘This beautiful work’: Sts’ailes First Nation welcomes 29 baskets home
The 29 hand-woven baskets on display at the Sts’ailes Lhawathet Lalem (Healing House), were empty. Yet, the memories and wisdom they contained filled the hearts of the people who welcomed them home.
The joyous repatriation ceremony on Friday, March 3, was an “answer to prayers” as the Sts’ailes community celebrated the return of the 29 sá:letel (baskets in Halq’eméylem) that were once on display at the Kilby Historic Site in Harrison Mills. Some of the baskets dated back at least 100 years.
According to Kilby curator Chelsea Brown, the work to repatriate the baskets began as early as 2018. This repatriation marks the first carried out by a Provincial Hertiage Property in the province.
“The history that’s here with us belongs to the Sts’ailes people,” said Sts’ailes Chief Ralph Leon. “Whatever’s embedded into the ground, surrounding our territory, belongs to the Sts’ailes people. I really want to thank those who are really involved in this beautiful work.”
April 28, 2023
Kent mayor brings in at least $1,000 per kilometre in 26K walking fundraiser
All smiles and after five hours of walking, Mayor Pranger has arrived at Chilliwack Coliseum, a few minutes after 1 p.m. on April 22.
Pranger told The Observer while she could probably do another 10 kilometres, she would really rather not.
A crowd of about 30 people were there to greet the mayor when she finished, including a group of local dignitaries from the District of Kent. Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove also crossed the finish line with Pranger.
Her advice for anyone who wants to take on the 26-kilometre walk?
“Be sure to change your shoes at least once,” the mayor said.
The community still needs to raise about $3.5 million, the estimated cost for construction of the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre. About $16.5 million has been raised so far, meaning fundraising is a bit more than 80 per cent complete.
May 26, 2023
Kent staff report sets record straight on diving board removal
Since the beginning of the swim season, Agassiz-Harrison residents were left wondering why the diving board at Agassiz’s outdoor pool was taken down.
District of Kent staff filed a report to council providing more information on the removal of the diving board at Ferny Coombe Pool.
During the previous council meeting on April 24, district staff reported to council that upon a pre-opening inspection of the pool, there were two major flaws with the diving board: a crack in the diving board bracket and damage to the structure of the board itself. Staff deemed the board to be unusable due to safety concerns.
Council was presented with three options: retaining a structural engineer and repairing the diving board, replacing the diving board and bracket and installing a concrete pad and finally, opting out of replacing the diving board at all.
In light of the upcoming Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre (LRAC), staff recommended that the district forego replacing the diving board.
June 9, 2023
‘Beyond proud’: Valedictorian Kylie Gerard delivers stirring speech during grad
Class of 2023 valedictorian Kylie Gerard spoke with emotions both joyous and sad, from a place of love, in her speech at graduation on Friday, June 2.
She described the class of 2023 as, in a word, strong, facing everything from arduous academic challenges to a worldwide pandemic.
“When I use the word strong, I’m not talking about physical power or sheer force, rather perseverance and resilience,” she said. “It is our ability to overcome challenges and face adversity, and we’re stronger on the other side of it. Despite all we have lost, we’ve continued to find joy in our lives and showing incredible strength through our perseverance. For that reason, each and every one of you is an inspiration to me.”
June 9, 2023
Harrison Hot Springs councillor John Buckley resigns
After seven months with the newest village administration, Harrison Hot Springs Coun. John Buckley has resigned on Monday, June 5, effective immediately.
In a letter obtained by The Observer, Buckley thanked the villagers for the “immense honour and privilege” to serve as councillor.
“I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to work alongside my colleagues and community members during my time thus far on council,” the letter reads. “I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer work with (Mayor Ed Wood) and therefore cannot effectively fulfill my role as councillor. With a heavy heart, I am submitting my resignation, effective immediately.”
Buckley told The Observer this was not a decision he came to lightly. He could not recall a time in his time living in Harrison where something like this has happened.
Buckley went on to express his gratitude to the community for placing their trust in him to serve the village.
“I am proud of the contributions that I have been able to make to the betterment of Harrison Hot Springs and its residents,” he wrote. “I hope that the council and the community will continue to try to work together to address the needs and concerns of the people of Harrison Hot Springs.”
June 16, 2023
Agassiz, Rosedale bachelors hoping to settle down on upcoming ‘Farming for Love’ season
Three farmers from the Agassiz-Rosedale area are looking for love in a big way.
The second season of CTV’s unscripted dating show “Farming For Love” may feature two farmers from Rosedale as well as Agassiz’s own Alex Schwichtenberg.
Schwichtenberg, 23, is one of six prospective farmers for the upcoming “Farming For Love” season. Similar to the hit dating show “The Farmer Wants A Wife,” ”Farming For Love” will follow four of the six prospective farmers as they select from a group of “daters” with the goal of finding the special someone to join them for the good life on the farm.
Schwichtenberg is a third-generation dairy farmer who spent his early 20s travelling abroad and working on farms around the world. As such, he hadn’t had much time for his love life. He’s hoping to settle down on the family farm with a special someone.
“This fun-loving farmer will do anything that will make a good story – and how great would it be to tell his future kids he met their mom through this once-in-a-lifetime experience?” reads a release from Bell Media.
August 4, 2023
First Nations art organization sues Harrison business for art theft
A Harrison Hot Springs souvenir shop is facing major backlash in the wake of a lawsuit alleging the theft of original Indigenous art.
Vancouver-based Indigenous art wholesaler Native Northwest has filed a lawsuit against Sasquatch Gifts and Souvenirs and Bruce and Fiona Fearon for allegedly copying, using and selling t-shirts featuring a design strikingly close to the work of Coast Salish artist Francis Horne, Sr.
During a trip to Harrison last year, Horne was “mortified” to find a t-shirt design nearly identical to his own featuring Sasquatch, sold at the store without his permission.
“As soon as we stepped in the door, lo and behold, there’s my design,” Horne said in a video posted on social media by Native Northwest. “I couldn’t eat after that. It literally made me sick to my stomach. You think ‘Why would they steal this? Why would they steal my design?’”
August 11, 2023
Customer throws gelato at Harrison shop employees, storms out
The Harrison Hot Springs community is coming to the defense of their local gelato shop after an angry customer hurled the gelato toward two employees during the B.C. Day long weekend.
Surveillance footage from the Chantilly Gelato and Cafe (234 Esplanade Avenue) was recently posted to local social media groups. The 21-second clip shows a woman at the front of a crowded line getting into an argument with two employees. The woman is seen tossing the gelato at them and leaves. One employee brushes something off the other, and the clip ends.
According to one of the employees, the customer sampled the flavour and ordered it, only to realize she did not like the flavour of the free scoop of gelato she was given. They explained to the customer they could not take the cone back after it had been licked. A co-worker stepped in to defend them when the customer and her son started yelling at them. The customers were asked to leave the store, which is when the gelato was thrown.
August 25, 2023
Popkum fire chief becomes citizen on the front line of Kelowna fires
From behind the front lines of the devastating Grouse Complex wildfire around Kelowna, one man exemplified everything that it means to be a Canadian citizen.
When the Popkum Fire Department was called on to help defend homes from the raging wildfire in the Central Okanagan, Fire Chief Walter Roos jumped into action to mobilize his team. He left his home in the Lower Mainland behind to help fight the fire encroaching on West Kelowna, despite knowing that it would cost him the opportunity to attend his long-awaited citizenship ceremony.
On Monday August 21, Roos took a moment away from the chaos of the front lines to sit in the Popkum Fire Department to officially become a new Canadian citizen, over Zoom.
Prior to the quiet virtual ceremony,West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund shared his appreciation and admiration for the act of selflessness that Roos displayed.
“People are asking me where he is from, and I don’t know. But I do know that he is going to be from Canada…What a massive sacrifice to make,” said Brolund at a press conference.
Roos has been the Chief of the Popkum Fire Department since 2019, and has been fighting fires as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department since 2008 after moving to Canada from the Netherlands.
September 22, 2023
John Allen officially declared Harrison’s new councillor-elect
The village has officially publised the declaration of official election results, certifying councillor-elect John Allen as the winner of the 2023 by-election.
Allen defeated his next closest opponent – political newcomer Teresa Omelus – by 10 votes, 205 to 195. Fellow newcomer Stewart Pritchard earned 136 votes, followed by Andrew Baziuk with 27 and Leslie Ghezesan with 16.
The estimated voter turnout totalled 579, which by last year’s statistics from Civic Info B.C. would put voter turnout at about 36 per cent. The 2022 election saw nearly 50 per cent of eligible voters in the village cast their ballots.
“I would like to thank all those who helped strengthen democracy in Harrison by voting in this by-election. In particular, those who voted for me,” Allen said in a statement on Sunday. “There is lots of work ahead.”
October 20, 2023
Anonymous candy box a not-so-sweet surprise for Agassiz residents
A candy-filled treasure chest placed at the marker of a popular trail has left locals scratching their heads.
The chest – marked “Open: free candie” was found along the Mountain View Community Trail in Agassiz; it’s not clear who left the chest, and it does not immediately appear that tampering with the candy had taken place.
Andra Hachey posted pictures on social media after her son returned from a walk to tell her about the chest.
“It goes against every thing people teach their kids about personal safety,” Hachey wrote. “I get that some people enjoy this type of thing. But, to me, this goes a bit too far. There are bears and raccoons that could get into something like this and it could potentially make the trail unsafe for others.”
November 24, 2023
The Village Mole: Anonymous letters continue to plague Harrison leadership
As tensions continue to boil among members of Harrison Hot Springs council, Mayor Ed Wood has set his sights on an inflammatory anonymous letter writer dubbed locally as “the village mole.”
During the council’s most recent meeting on Monday (Nov. 20), council voted to remove two items from the agenda concerning the anonymous writer or writers who are believed to be behind three different letters that have circulated physically around town, including appearing in the Agassiz-Harrison Observer paper box.
Wood’s proposal to authorize the CAO to hire an independent lawyer to identify and prosecute the mole was voted off the agenda 3-2 (Wood and John Allen opposed).
Allen further moved that the village condemn the most recent letter and demand that they cease and desist from further “poison-pen” letters. This, too, was taken off the agenda by a 3-2 vote.
With the failure of Wood’s and Allen’s motions , Wood said he will be offering a $5,000 reward to get to the bottom of who is behind the series of public declarations.
Each letter obtained by The Observer criticizes the village government, particularly Wood. The writer claims to be a 30-year resident of Harrison Hot Springs, but they have revealed little else about themselves.