The mayor of Harrison Hot Springs has expressed optimism in talks surrounding the "Hobo Hot Springs" attraction in the village.
In a recent release, Mayor Fred Talen said village officials, the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and representatives from the Sts'ailes First Nation are in the early stages of discussing how to "enhance the hot springs experience."
The conversation centred around the cultural and historical significance of the hot springs source, particularly with respect to the Sts'ailes people.
"The Village of Harrison Hot Springs looks forward to continuing these discussions and working with Sts鈥檃iles and the Harrison Hot Springs Resort to enhance the visitor experience in a way that respects the culture and traditions of Sts'ailes," the statement from Talen reads.
The natural pools of hot springs water were filled in with boulders last October, reportedly the work of resort staff. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship began an investigation into the incident the following month as the pools are considered a crown resource. Making any significant changes to the hot springs would require provincial ministry approval, which was not given. The only permit given was from the village, who requested to fix the boulders surrounding the pools earlier last year 鈥� not to fill them in.
The Sts'ailes people have travelled since time immemorial to bathe in the natural hot springs and partake in its healing properties. The Halq鈥檈meylem name for the village is Qw贸lts, meaning "boiling water" or "medicine water."
There are actually two sources for hot springs water in the area 鈥� Potash, which produces water up to 40C and Sulphur, which can reach temperatures of 65C. The "Hobo Hot Springs" pools were a by-product of a leak in the pipe surrounding the hot springs source. The pools were eventually constructed and became a tourist attraction.
The Observer has reached out to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship for comment on their ongoing investigation. There has been no published update since the investigation was announced in November 2024.
