Hemlock Valley’s future put to property owners with Resort Association vote

HEMLOCK VALLEY — Local property owners in the Hemlock Valley, west of Harrison Lake, could take more control of the area’s future following a key decision by the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) at its December meeting earlier this month.

At the meeting, the FVRD Board of Directors approved a set of draft bylaws and a proposed resort promotion area for the Hemlock Valley Resort Association. The approvals pave the way for a formal property-owner petition to determine whether to create the Association.

The idea has been more than a year in the making and follows information exchanges with homeowners, the resort operator, the Sts’ailes Nation, and regional and provincial staff. Advocates of the Association say it would provide a community-led governance structure to lead to sustainable development and long-term protection for the area while improving the quality of life for residents.

“For decades, people who care deeply about Hemlock Valley have talked about the same challenges, but had no real mechanism to act on them together,” said Jason Vance, a Director of the Hemlock Valley Homeowners Association and member of the Hemlock Valley Resort Association Steering Committee. “This decision moves the power into the hands of property owners. The petition will decide whether we finally have the tools to shape the future of this community ourselves.”