Fraser Valley – The Village of Harrison Hot Springs has launched Building Belonging, a five-month, community-driven project to co-create an I.D.E.A.
(Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Accessibility) Framework and a Council-ready Action Plan
that will help make Village services clearer, fairer, and more accessible for everyone who
lives in, works in, or visits Harrison Hot Springs. The project follows Council’s direction
earlier this year to proceed with DEI/anti-discrimination policy work and develop clear
guidelines for inclusion.
The Village is partnering with Equiiti Strategic, a Fraser Valley–based consultancy, to
facilitate conversations and draft the plan alongside Village staff (Kelli Paddon, former MLA is the Executive Director Equiiti).
Background:
On April 22, 2025, Council directed staff to develop a DEI framework and plan for
the Village; subsequent policy discussions continued through the spring, and in September
2025, the Village was awarded a PlanH Healthy Communities Grant – Healthy Public Policy
stream to support the development of this project – setting the stage for today’s launch of
Building Belonging.
“Building Belonging is about practical steps that make everyday interactions with the
Village easier, from finding information and filling out forms to attending meetings and
using public spaces,” said Mayor Fred Talen, “We’re inviting staff, residents, Sts’ailes, local
businesses, and community partners to help shape a plan that fits our Village and reflects
our local context.”
Clear timeline and how to participate
Phase 1 of Building Belonging runs from December 2025 to mid-April 2026, focused on co-
creating a practical I.D.E.A. plan; implementation will be determined in future phase.
Beginning today, the Early Input Survey is live on the project webpage on Get Into It
Harrison (www.getintoitharrison.ca). In-person public consultation will occur in late
February, when two public sessions will invite residents and businesses to contribute to
themes and test solutions ahead of the draft. In March, the Draft Action Plan will be posted
for public review and comment prior to Council consideration.
