Latest news with #HarrisonHotSpringsResort
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘It was vandalism': B.C. orders resort to restore ‘Hobo' Hot Springs after outcry
The pools, known locally as Hobo Hot Springs, are on public land near the shore of Harrison Lake, 200 metres from the Harrison Hot Springs resort. The B.C. government has ordered a popular resort to clean up and reopen a beloved natural hot spring after it was filled in with dirt and boulders and is now blocked off by a fence. The pools, known locally as Hobo Hot Springs, are on public land near the shore of Harrison Lake, 200 metres from the Harrison Hot Springs resort. The resort is being blamed for their destruction. 'I thought it was mean spirited. I thought it was a vandalism, and I thought it was just an attempt to stop people enjoying a little bit of the hot spring resource without having to pay for it at the Harrison hotel or at the pool, which they own a block away from the hotel,' said longtime resident and former town mayor John Allen. The B.C. Ministry of Forests has confirmed the hotel is under investigation related to the damage done to the public pools and an order has been issued under the Water Sustainability Act to restore Hobo Hot Springs to its previous state. 'The resort is going to clean up the springs and return it to its natural state. As part of that, they asked if they could erect a fence around the site,' said Randene Neill, B.C. Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship. Harrison Hot Springs Resort, a local tourist destination for generations, didn't respond to multiple interview requests. The order requires the site to be restored by the end of September. Fred Talen Harrison Hot Springs mayor, Fred Talen, characterizes the damage done to the free hot spring as a mistake. Harrison Hot Springs mayor, Fred Talen, characterizes the damage done to the free hot spring as a mistake. 'I think unilateral action, treating these natural resources like a monopoly, like they own them sends the wrong message, at least to me. I think public resources should be managed by government for the public's use and enjoyment,' said Talen. He believes that despite the damage that has been done, allegedly by the hotel, his community remains indebted to the resort. 'The village owes its reputation nationally, internationally, largely to visitor experiences through the resort over many, many decades,' Talen added, calling the resort a 'good corporate citizen.' That is a characterization not everyone agrees with. 'The hotel has an unfortunate history of arrogance in the village,' Allen told CTV. 'They were the main economic driver for the community after logging died off. And they have occupied a premium position in the community, but haven't done so very responsibly in my opinion.' The resort could face provincial fines if the Ministry of Forests investigation finds it made changes to a stream without authority, or if it does not follow the order to restore Hobo Hot Springs. It is a resource minister Neill says should be available for everyone to enjoy. 'It's a win-win when people use these hot springs in a respectful way, and let others use them. We hope those hot springs will be there for, you know, well after we're gone.'
CBC
27-05-2025
- General
- CBC
B.C. orders Hobo Hot Springs restored, as new fence blocks off public use
Social Sharing The British Columbia government has ordered the restoration of free natural hot spring pools that were mysteriously filled with dirt and boulders last fall. But even as the government says it's working with the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort to repair the stream, the community's mayor says a new fence has been erected around the natural spring, making it unavailable for public use. The government launched an investigation into the damage to the free natural springs and Crown resource, known as the Hobo Hot Springs, last October. The Ministry of Forests says it can't release a copy of the order to restore the springs, because it's related to an active investigation. However, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says it's working to fix the stream with the owner and general manager of the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort, which did not respond to a request for comment. Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Fred Talen says the resort is complying with the order to remove rocks and boulders placed in the public pools, but he's "really disappointed" a new fence was put up around the stream on the weekend. Talen blamed the resort for the fence. "I think it's a mistake, it's a misstep, it's inappropriate at best. At its worst, it could be viewed as disrespectful," said Talen. Photographs provided by Talen show a sign deterring the public from accessing the water on a large brick-and-metal structure. "Do not enter water. Hot mineral water temperatures vary and will cause injury," the sign says. But before the pools were filled in last fall, the spring had been used for free by First Nations people and other locals for many years. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said last year that filling or making changes to the spring would require approval, and none was given. The Ministry of Forests said in a statement last week that a Water Sustainability Act order has been issued to restore the site to its previous state, and the next steps of the investigation would be determined after order compliance was verified. Talen said the village would continue to have conversations with the resort to remove the fencing and enhance the hot springs experience in a way that benefited the resort, the Sts'ailes First Nation and the village, which is located 130 kilometres east of Vancouver. "The unilateral action by the resort makes me question whether the resort's monopoly over the public's use of the hot springs should continue," said Talen. "These hot springs, really, in my view, are a public resource and shouldn't be under the exclusive control of a single business," he added. The resort is owned by Aldesta Hotels & Resorts. The government did not respond to questions about the fence and structure at the stream.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
B.C. orders Hobo Hot Spring restored, as new fence blocks off public use
The British Columbia government has ordered the restoration of free natural hot spring pools that were mysteriously filled with dirt and boulders last fall. But even as the government says it's working with the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort to repair the stream, the community's mayor says a new fence has been erected around the natural spring, making it unavailable for public use. The government launched an investigation into the damage to the free natural spring and Crown resource, known as the Hobo Hot Spring, last October. The Ministry of Forests says it can't release a copy of the order to restore the springs, because it's related to an active investigation. However, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says it's working to fix the stream with the owner and general manager of the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort, which did not respond to a request for comment. Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Fred Talen says the resort is complying with the order to remove rocks and boulders placed in the public pools, but he's 'really disappointed' a new fence was put up around the stream on the weekend. Talen blamed the resort for the fence. 'I think it's a mistake, it's a misstep, it's inappropriate at best. At its worst, it could be viewed as disrespectful,' said Talen. Photographs provided by Talen show a large brick-and-metal structure has also been built across the stream, along with a sign deterring the public from accessing the water. 'Do not enter water. Hot mineral water temperatures vary and will cause injury,' the sign says. But before the pools were filled in last fall, the spring had been used for free by First Nations people and other locals for many years. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said last year that filling or making changes to the spring would require approval, and none was given. The Ministry of Forests said in a statement last week that a Water Sustainability Act order has been issued to restore the site to its previous state, and the next steps of the investigation would be determined after order compliance was verified. Talen said the village would continue to have conversations with the resort to remove the fencing and enhance the hot springs experience in a way that benefitted the resort, the Sts'ailes First Nation and the village, which is 130 kilometres east of Vancouver. 'The unilateral action by the resort makes me question whether the resort's monopoly over the public's use of the hot springs should continue,' said Talen. 'These hot springs, really, in my view, are a public resource and shouldn't be under the exclusive control of a single business,' he added. The resort is owned by Aldesta Hotels & Resorts. The government did not respond to questions about the fence and structure at the stream.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
B.C. orders Hobo Hot Spring restored, as new fence blocks off public use
A fence and structure are seen at the pools known as the Hobo Hot Spring, near the village of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., in this Monday, May 26, 2025, handout photo provided by the community's mayor, Fred Talen. The British Columbia government has ordered that the free and natural spring be repaired after it was filled with dirt and boulders in October 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fred Talen, *MANDATORY CREDIT* The British Columbia government has ordered the restoration of free natural hot spring pools that were mysteriously filled with dirt and boulders last fall. But even as the government says it's working with the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort to repair the stream, the community's mayor says a new fence has been erected around the natural spring, making it unavailable for public use. The government launched an investigation into the damage to the free natural spring and Crown resource, known as the Hobo Hot Spring, last October. The Ministry of Forests says it can't release a copy of the order to restore the springs, because it's related to an active investigation. However, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says it's working to fix the stream with the owner and general manager of the nearby Harrison Hot Springs Resort, which did not respond to a request for comment. Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Fred Talen says the resort is complying with the order to remove rocks and boulders placed in the public pools, but he's 'really disappointed' a new fence was put up around the stream on the weekend. Talen blamed the resort for the fence. 'I think it's a mistake, it's a misstep, it's inappropriate at best. At its worst, it could be viewed as disrespectful,' said Talen. Photographs provided by Talen show a large brick-and-metal structure has also been built across the stream, along with a sign deterring the public from accessing the water. 'Do not enter water. Hot mineral water temperatures vary and will cause injury,' the sign says. But before the pools were filled in last fall, the spring had been used for free by First Nations people and other locals for many years. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said last year that filling or making changes to the spring would require approval, and none was given. The Ministry of Forests said in a statement last week that a Water Sustainability Act order has been issued to restore the site to its previous state, and the next steps of the investigation would be determined after order compliance was verified. Talen said the village would continue to have conversations with the resort to remove the fencing and enhance the hot springs experience in a way that benefitted the resort, the Sts'ailes First Nation and the village, which is 130 kilometres east of Vancouver. 'The unilateral action by the resort makes me question whether the resort's monopoly over the public's use of the hot springs should continue,' said Talen. 'These hot springs, really, in my view, are a public resource and shouldn't be under the exclusive control of a single business,' he added. The resort is owned by Aldesta Hotels & Resorts. The government did not respond to questions about the fence and structure at the stream. This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published May 27, 2025.
