Image: Google Maps / Cultus Lake's Village Center is pictured.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Cultus Lake redevelopment

Cultus Lake Park Village redevelopment moves forward as regional builder has been identified

Jan 19, 2026 | 6:36 AM

CULTUS LAKE — Following years of planning and discussion, Cultus Lake Park Board commissioners are set to announce at this week’s meeting the preferred proponent for the proposed Village Center redevelopment project.

According to the text of item 13a. on this Wednesday’s agenda, commissioners and park board staff will officially recognize Abbotsford-based Diverse Properties as the preferred proponent for the redevelopment plan and initiate the start of exclusive negotiations.

At a closed session meeting on December 10, 2025, the park board passed a pair of resolutions that awarded the RFP to Diverse and authorized Chief Administrative Officer Joe Lamb to create an agreement, to be entered into with Diverse Properties, that outlines the intent to begin to schedule negotiations within 90 days from the execution of the agreement.

Diverse Properties has built developments like the Brownstones and Edgemont in Garrison, Iron Horse on Promontory Road, and the Yearling and Acadia near Keith Wilson Road and Vedder Road. With respect to commercial developments, the company constructed Diverse Storage on Keith Wilson Road and the Marketplace at Garrison Campus (pictured below).

Image: Diverse Properties / Marketplace at Garrison Campus.

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Diverse has ongoing regional projects in Abbotsford and Mission similarly.

Image: Cultus Lake Park Board / A proposed rendering features preliminary plans for the Village Center redevelopment.

Moving forward, the park board will now coordinate a town hall meeting for February 11, 2026 at Cultus Lake Swílhcha Community School, and will announce the details for the public to attend.

CLPB chair Kirk Dzaman said a request for proposal (RFP) was issued in 2025 following extensive consideration and public consultation that began in the late 2000s by the Future Planning Advisory Committee, followed by work completed by the Village Centre Planning and Development Committee and board over the past five years.

The past five years have seen additional public consultation and collaboration with Urban Systems, a community planning and development consulting group. All that work led to an RFP being issued.

Image: Cultus Lake Park / Cultus Lake Park Board Chair Kirk Dzaman (left) speaks at an August 2024 presentation to Cultus Lake residents about the proposed Village Center redevelopment.

The RFP was issued on April 29, 2025 via BC Bid and the Cultus Lake Park website. The RFP closed on Sept. 30, 2025. The CLPB board was mandated to make a decision about the RFP by Dec. 15, 2025.

Cultus Lake says a number of guiding principles, as contained in features of the Village Centre Plan, will do the following:

Preserve and Enhance Community Character: All future development will be designed to align with the unique community character that is the heart of Cultus Lake Park. This
includes ensuring future development is of appropriate scale and incorporates design features that complement the existing form and character of the lake community.

Respect the Cultural History and Identity of Cultus Lake: The Indigenous history of Cultus Lake will be acknowledged and reflected in the design of the future Village Centre. Th’ewa’:li (Soowahlie) First Nations have occupied the traditional territory surrounding Cultus Lake Park since time immemorial. Partnership opportunities with Th’ewa’:li (Soowahlie) First Nations will be explored to pay respect to their cultural history and identity throughout the Village Centre as redevelopment occurs. This could be done through built form design, integration of design elements, public displays of art, and natural features such as tree and plant species.

Champion Environmental Protection and Sustainability: The health of the Park’s natural environment, including the lake and green spaces, will be prioritized. Any future
development at the Village Centre should be designed in a manner that minimizes the site’s ecological footprint and mitigates potential negative impacts to the broader Park ecosystem.
Opportunities to integrate sustainable design features into the site to promote climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency will be explored.

Promote Safe and Accessible Connections: The Village Centre will be a safe and accessible site for people of all ages and abilities traveling on foot or by wheel. Opportunities for
improving existing and creating new non-vehicular connections within and to the Village Centre will be explored. Prioritizing safe connections for pedestrians and cyclists will help to
reduce the reliance on vehicles for movement within the Park and support opportunities for social interaction.

Support Small, Local Businesses: The Park Board will prioritize small-scale, local businesses within the Village Centre that generate revenue for the Park’s economy. Existing and new
businesses will be supported through the creation of designated spaces for commercial uses at the site. In attracting new businesses, consideration will be given to the provision of
services that meet community needs.

Foster Social Interactions through Community Gathering Spaces: The Village Centre will offer dedicated spaces for the community to gather year-round. These spaces will serve as
social hubs for all community members and visitors who access the Park to connect, celebrate and engage in various activities. The incorporation of seating areas, landscaping,
and multi-purpose spaces for events and programming will encourage year-round use of the site and help to foster social interactions.

Ensure Long-Term Financial Sustainability: Transparency in the financial management of the Park is critical to maintaining community support and understanding the pursuit of new initiatives. The Park Board is committed to fiscal responsibility and ensuring the long-term financial health of the Park. Critical to this success is balancing community aspirations for the Village Centre with the available resources to avoid unnecessary financial burden on residential and commercial leaseholders.