Harrison Hot Springs — Timeline of Key Events

Pre-Contact / Indigenous History

• Since time immemorial: The hot springs and surrounding lands were known, used and revered by local First Nations, especially the Sts’ailes (Chehalis) Coast Salish people. The springs (Halq’emeylem name Qwólts, “boiling water”) were part of seasonal travel, healing traditions, and cultural practices. Oral histories of the region, including stories tied to landscape features and spirits, go back thousands of years. Harrison Hot Springs

19th Century — Early European Contact and Naming

• 1828: Harrison Lake is named for Benjamin Harrison, then a director (later Deputy Governor 1835-39) of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The river and lake names pre-date the village. BC Government Apps

• 1858: A party of gold prospectors en route to the Fraser River Gold Rush reportedly “discover” the hot springs when their boat capsizes; instead of freezing, they find warm water. Europeans begin spreading word. Indigenous use predates this by centuries. Wikipedia

• 1859: Judge Matthew Baillie Begbie records the springs, naming them “St. Agnes’ Well” and “St. Alice’s Well” on early maps — the latter becomes the early name for the settlement near the springs. BC Government Apps

• 1885–1886: After the Canadian Pacific Railway reaches nearby Harrison Mills/Agassiz, the hot springs become more accessible by short carriage ride from the rail mainline — boosting tourism potential. Wikipedia

• Summer 1886: John Brown starts building the St. Alice Hotel to serve visitors to the springs; it officially opens November 1, 1886. Harrison Hot Springs

Late 19th–Early 20th Century — Settlement and Resort Growth

• 1888–1889: The townsite is registered and residential lots begin selling around the springs and lakeshore. Wikipedia

• 1890s: Additional activity around Harrison Lake grows — logging, mining, camps and sternwheelers ferry visitors and freight. A school opens in 1899 near the southern edge of the developing village. Hot Springs Of British Columbia

1920s–1930s — Resort Expansion

• 1920: The original St. Alice Hotel burns down. Harrison Hot Springs

• Mid-1920s: The hotel is rebuilt as the “Harrison Hot Springs Hotel”, eventually evolving into the present Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa. Hot Springs Of British Columbia

• 1926: Opening of the Lougheed Highway over Mount Woodside improves road access from Vancouver, helping cement Harrison Hot Springs as a major resort destination. Fraser Valley Current

• 1930s: The hotel and resort draw visitors from Vancouver and beyond; facilities expand with golf, horseback riding, boating and social events. Fraser Valley Current

World War II & Immediate Postwar Era

• 1940s: During World War II, the hotel was reportedly used as a sanitarium for servicewomen returning from Europe. Facebook

• 1946–1948: Community leader Colonel Andrew McCormack Naismith arrives (1946), becomes a key organizer for future municipal incorporation, and helps lead local development. Hot Springs Of British Columbia

• 1948–1950: The region sees major Fraser River flooding; dykes and infrastructure improvements follow. Hot Springs Of British Columbia

Municipal Incorporation & Modern Governance

• February 1949: Harrison Hot Springs Property Owners Association forms to pursue incorporation and community improvements. Harrison Hot Springs

• May 27, 1949: The Village of Harrison Hot Springs is officially incorporated — at 2,020 acres, it’s the largest village area in BC at that time. Harrison Hot Springs

• December 2, 2004: The municipal corporate name shifts from “Corporation of the Village of Harrison Hot Springs” to simply Village of Harrison Hot Springs. Harrison Hot Springs

Late 20th – Early 21st Century Developments

• 1950s–Present: Tourism remains the economic core — hot springs, lake activities, arts festivals (like the Harrison Festival of the Arts), marinas, and parks (e.g., Sasquatch Provincial Park) attract visitors year-round. Wikipedia

• 1953 onward: Highway 9 becomes the main direct road link to Harrison Hot Springs, connecting it to major regional routes and boosting accessibility. Wikipedia

Cultural & Natural Legacy

• Sasquatch / Sasq’ets Legends: The region has become known as a hub of Sasquatch lore, rooted in Indigenous oral traditions; the village hosts events celebrating the creature’s place in regional culture. Wikipedia

• Hot Springs Today: Two springs — Potash (~40 °C) and Sulphur (~65 °C) — feed both the public pools and the resort’s baths. The water has among the highest mineral concentrations of any springs in Canada. Harrison Hot Springs

Any and all analysis presented here is based on publicly available records and decisions, several of which were made before current councillors assumed office. The purpose is to document process and sequence, not to attribute intent or motive to individuals.