July 20 2026 - Council Highlights
From the meeting held on July 20, 2026
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Pranger thanked those who attended, asked thoughtful questions, and provided valuable feedback during the Public Information Sessions on July 8 and 9 for the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre and provided the following comments:
Thank you to everyone who attended the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre Public Information Meetings on July 8, 2026 at the Friendship House and on July 9, 2026 at the Harrison Lake Hotel. We were very pleased with the high turnout and level of engagement participants showed. We appreciated the opportunity to share information directly with residents and patrons.
The purpose of those meetings was simple: to be transparent with the public about the rationale behind the two-tier residential and non-residential user fee system and to explain why it is important to ensure fairness for District of Kent taxpayers.
As elected officials, we have a responsibility to be open about how public funds are spent on capital projects, and to ensure that those who have invested significantly in a community facility receive appropriate recognition for that investment. We also have a duty to be fiscally responsible to ensure inequities are addressed in a transparent public process.
The District of Kent has been committed to working collaboratively with the Village of Harrison Hot Springs on the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre for many years.
Our partnership efforts began well before the District received provincial and federal grant funding for the project, starting in 2008 when the District undertook the Leisure Needs Assessment, inviting all users of the existing facility to participate in the assessment to determine the priority leisure needs of our area. Then in 2020, we worked jointly with Harrison Hot Springs on the vision for the facility including sharing preliminary designs of the aquatic facility and actively sought their support and participation in the project as illustrated in our numerous meeting presentations. Former Mayor Leo Facio provided us with a letter of support on October 6, 2020.
Throughout this process, the District consistently requested a financial commitment from the Village toward both capital and operating costs for well over five years.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed to learn through the June 10, 2026 letter from Mayor Talen that the Village would not be proceeding with an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) due to staff capacity and time constraints. The letter closed by stating “If this matter remains a priority for the District of Kent later this year, I would suggest that the District of Kent engage the Village at that time”.
We find that statement concerning. The Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre is a major regional asset that will be used by many Harrison residents as 53% of their residents use our current facility. When the Village indicated it could not move forward with an AAP and suggested the District revisit the matter at a later date, it signaled to us that participating in the project was not currently a priority for the Village, despite all the meetings we had over six years, and the commitment to go through the public process for borrowing money with an AAP or public referendum.
The District's position is that an AAP or referendum can be undertaken whenever a local government chooses to proceed. We have always supported the Village pursuing an AAP and, when the Village previously indicated an interest in doing so, we encouraged that approach and offered District staff support including attendance at a public information session, and assistance with community engagement. The letter dated June 10 from Mayor Fred Talen confirms no AAP will be conducted after more than 6 years of meetings to negotiate a financial dollar commitment approval.
A key point that has been discussed publicly is whether Harrison Hot Springs ever committed to participate in the project. We believe if Harrison Hot Springs want to ask the electorate if they support the project or not, six years is plenty of time to have done so if they had planned to borrow $1.85 million.
On February 13, 2025, Harrison Hot Springs Council passed a resolution directing staff to form a regional partnership with the District of Kent using population-based financial contributions toward both the capital and operating costs of the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre. The resolution specifically stated that contributions would be made toward the capital and operating costs through an annual requisition from the Fraser Valley Regional District. In good faith after receiving the AAP commitment from the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, the District of Kent continued to open registration opportunities for Village of Harrison Hot Springs residents for recreation and aquatic programming to be at the same rates and times as District residents, whereas all other patrons of the facility residing in electoral areas or other communities had to wait a week longer to be able to register. We extended the regular discounted rates to Harrison Hot Springs for all these years during our negotiations with the Village.
It is also important to note that, regardless of the fact that no financial commitments were ultimately secured from Electoral Area D or any other Electoral Areas, the District of Kent honoured its commitment to pursue a partnership with Harrison Hot Springs and did not increase its financial request. The District's position remained consistent throughout the process, seeking only the population-based contribution that had originally been contemplated under a regional partnership model of 1.85 million for capital.
Despite the resolution made by Harrison on February 13, 2025, the District has not received any financial approval for the proposed amount of $1.85 million capital contribution and the annual operating contribution of approximately $100,000 that would support a regional partnership for the pool.
The District has always maintained that users who do not contribute toward the capital cost of the facility through their property taxes should pay a slightly higher rate as those who do. As a small, rural community, District taxpayers are making a financial investment to the facility through taxation.
The District's responsibility is to act in the best interests of its taxpayers. Ensuring fairness for those taxpayers is not only reasonable, it is our obligation.
Information presented during public meetings showed that approximately 53% of Harrison Hot Springs residents use current recreation services (gym, weightroom, programming, seasonal pool) and would be expected to use the new aquatic centre. If Harrison residents have not contributed to the capital and operating costs through taxation, it would be unfair for them to pay the same rate as District residents who are funding the facility through both taxes and user fees.
Comments were made suggesting that information regarding the two-tier fee system was released without notice to the Village. The District informed Harrison Hot Springs representatives through joint Council discussions and delegations that a two-tier fee structure was being contemplated. This topic was discussed at the October 29, 2024 Joint Council Meeting, presented to the Village of Harrison Hot Springs at their public Council meeting of February 3, 2025, and again at the May 5, 2026 Joint Council Meeting. In fact, our recent public information meetings were specifically intended to ensure transparency and provide our patrons and residents with information before implementation.
The District sought opportunities to provide information directly to Harrison Hot Springs residents. We attempted to host a public information session at Memorial Hall in Harrison Hot Springs so that residents could easily attend and hear information firsthand. That facility rental request was denied by the Village, and as a result the meeting was held at the Harrison Lake Hotel. Nevertheless, the District proceeded because we believed it was important that all patrons and residents understand how the facility is funded and how user fees would be structured regardless of where they lived. It is very unfortunate that Harrison Hot Springs Council does not value recreation and the health benefits that comes with having facilities to be able to exercise within the District of Kent.
The suggestion that the District does not value collaborative relationships is inconsistent with our longstanding history of regional cooperation.
The District and Harrison Hot Springs currently share and support numerous services and community functions, including:
- Fraser Valley Regional Library – Agassiz Branch
- Public Works services through street sweeping and vacuum truck support
- Agassiz Wastewater Treatment Plant biosolids management
- Joint Emergency Program
- Fire Department Mutual Aid Agreement
- Community Recreation and Cultural Centre access and benefits
- Agassiz Recycling and Bottle Depot
- Agassiz-Harrison Museum
- Kent Harrison Search and Rescue
- Agassiz-Harrison Community Services
- Seasonal policing
The District provides significant capital, operational, and facility funding for many of these shared services enjoyed by residents of the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to regional partnerships and collaboration.
The District of Kent remains proud of the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre and proud of the provincial, federal, and First Nation partnerships that helped make the project possible.
We remain open to a fair and equitable regional partnership arrangement with Harrison Hot Springs; however, until such a financial approval is established, it is our responsibility to ensure that District taxpayers are treated fairly. The two-tier fee system reflects that principle of fairness, transparency, and accountability to the taxpayers we serve. There is absolutely no reason why Harrison Hot Springs should deny public input through the AAP or public referendum if they wanted public consent and input.
Lets’emot means “One Heart, One Mind”. That name was selected to demonstrate a tangible asset that reflected the District’s commitment of cooperation, collaboration, and reconciliation. The District of Kent has embraced that spirit from the beginning. We have worked in good faith with our regional partners, honoured our commitments, and remained open to a fair partnership that benefits everyone. While we must continue to protect the interests of our taxpayers, our hope remains that we can move forward together in the true spirit of Lets'emot, working with one heart and one mind to provide exceptional recreation opportunities for the residents of our region.
For further information on our meetings with the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, please check our website at www.kentbc.ca/LRRACPresentation*. All In Camera meetings on the pool with Harrison Hot Springs have been publicly released on July 6, 2026. Mayor and Council are proud to answer any questions you may have.
*Note - available online from Public Information Sessions:
- Meeting Notes
- Survey Summary
Council’s Report
Council celebrated Canada Day at Pioneer Park, helping hand out cupcakes and taking part in another successful community celebration despite the rainy weather. Thank you to Chiefs Victor, Pettis, and Paul for participating in the welcoming ceremonies and thank you to District staff and volunteers who helped make the event possible.
Along with Councillor Spaeti, Mayor Pranger attended the last Kristy Hatt Memorial Swim Meet at the Ferny Coombe Pool on July 11 and 12. There was a record breaking 90 children from the Agassiz-Harrison Aquanauts Swim Club registered to participate in the swim meet. This event marks the end of an era for the Ferny Coombe Pool which has served generations of swimmers.
Councillor Spaeti highlighted the Enbridge Water Pilot Test Site Tour on July 15, where participants learned firsthand the requirements for removing groundwater from below the natural gas pipeline tunnel before installing new pipes.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Proclamation
Mayor and Council have officially declared October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day in the District of Kent. In addition, on this day Municipal Hall will be illuminated in Pink and Blue to help raise awareness of the stigma surrounding grief many face due to pregnancy loss, infant loss, stillbirth, and child loss.
Oak’s Tree of Love provides memory boxes, remembrance projects, awareness initiatives, hospital partnerships, and support resources for families affected by the loss of a baby or child. More information on this initiative can be found on the Oak’s Tree of Love Facebook page.
Tree Master Plan Proposal Award
Mayor and Council have awarded the Tree Master Plan to Diamond Head Consulting Ltd. The Tree Master Plan will include a inventory of existing trees, identify and prioritize suitable planting locations for future trees as well as recommending appropriate specifies and approaches to monitoring success.
This plan was identified in the District’s Corporate and Community Climate Action Plan which was adopted by Council in February 2026. To support this practical, implementation-focused roadmap for tree planting, protection, and long-term urban forest management on District-owned lands, $50,000 from the District’s Local Government Climate Action Program funds was allocated to a Tree Master Plan. Staff leveraged the District’s allocation by securing an additional $100,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund.
Upcoming Events:
1) Ultimate Pool Party & Barn Dance – Friday, August 7 starting at 7:00 PM
A fundraising barn dance is taking place at the Agassiz Pavilion (6790 Pioneer Avenue) to help raise funds for the Lets’emot Regional Recreation and Aquatic Centre. Dust off your dancing boots to join in on this night of fun. There will be food, entertainment, dancing, and door prizes!
2) Mayor Pranger will attend as the Master of Ceremonies for the 122nd Agassiz Fall Fair & 78th Corn Festival, taking place on Saturday September 19, 2026. For more information, visit their website: https://www.agassizfallfair.com/
