What is this Project?

Many First Nations pursue economic development without market research. Chawathil First Nation is addressing this by conducting a Highest and Best Use Study to assess land parcels, evaluate regional economic opportunities, and recommend optimal uses for long-term economic success.

In the summer of 2024, Urban Systems was engaged by Chawathil First Nation to undertake a Highest and Best Use study for two important properties offering significant development potential for the Nation:

• Old Hope Station House Site (adjacent to the Shell gas station)
• Telte-Yet Campground Site

The Highest and Best Use Study, completed in September 2024, indicated that there is significant opportunity for Chawathil First Nation to play a driving role in shaping and supporting growth in the Hope and Fraser Valley tourism markets through the addition of a range of market-supportable tourism-commercial and cultural uses on these sites.

The Old Hope Station House site was identified as an optimal location for a new travel hotel featuring Chawathil-inspired cultural design elements, as well as tourism-oriented gift shop and full-service restaurant uses. This location also offers strong potential for integration of a convenience store and smaller scale office spaces.

The Telte-Yet Campground site, given its beautiful waterfront location, presents an opportunity for Chawathil to build on its leading role in shaping tourism in the Hope are, by enhancing the range and quality of overnight tourist accommodation over the short term, while exploring the potential for new multi-purpose cultural uses over the medium term. As the northern half of the Telte-Yet property is fully serviced for camping and related amenities, that use can and should continue in the interim. The southern portion of the site offers significant potential for a Chawathil First Nation cultural centre building, with modestly-scaled on-site gallery, meeting and event space. Field work and site assessments were conducted on this site back in 2020 when the community wanted to diversify economic development on this site. Site assessments conducted included Archaeological Impact Assessment, Geotechnical Assessment, and Environmental Assessment.

How Has the Community Been Engaged?

• Chief and Council Meeting (October 29, 2024)
• Open House (November 05, 2024) Over 80 attendees
• Survey received 163 responses (November to December 2024)
• Open House (February 04, 2025) Over 110 attendees
• Chief and Council Economic Development Planning Workshop (February 20, 2025)