Two meaningful initiatives helping to promote community-led reconciliation has reached completion at Peach Park in Chilliwack as part of the Good Neighbours Lhewá:mel Project.
The Gathering Place and the Welcome Portal, two spaces designed to honour Indigenous knowledge, encourage shared stewardship, and create a welcoming environment where all community members can connect with the land and each other, is now open to the public.
The project was led by Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and in partnership with Tourism Ch’illiwack, City of Chilliwack and Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre.
Tourism Chilliwack
“Rooted in the Sí:yá:ya Yóyes (Friends Working Together) Plan by Tourism Ch’illiwack, this initiative is a tangible step toward building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The Gathering Place offers a space for learning, storytelling, and cultural exchange, while the Welcome Portal serves as an invitation to appreciate the land’s history and significance,” commented Brian Minter, Chair of Tourism Ch’illiwack.
Chief David Jimmie spoke about the signifance of these two initiatives.
“This is a shared home, not just a public space,” says Chief David Jimmie, Chief and CEO of Squiala First Nation, President of the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council and President of Ts’elxweyéqw Tribe Management Limited. “By bringing Indigenous values and perspectives into the heart of our community, we are building something long-lasting—an opportunity to learn, reflect, and move forward together in a good way.”
Tourism Chilliwack
The Good Neighbours Lhewá:mel Project is guided by Indigenous ways of knowing, emphasizing the personhood of non-human beings and the responsibility to care for the land as a living entity.
“Reconciliation is about action, not just words. The Welcome Portal and Gathering Place embody this commitment, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are not only acknowledged but embedded into how we care for this land. This is just the beginning of a long-term vision for shared responsibility,” said Chief David Jimmie.
Chilliwack Mayor Popove spoke about the importance of the project.
“The City of Chilliwack was honoured to be part of the Good Neighbours project,” said Mayor Popove. “Relationship building is an integral part of the work we do, and this project was an opportunity to continue to build relationships, while honouring Indigenous knowledge and values.”
Tourism Chilliwack said Partners and Hawes, Urban Arts Architecture, and MacQueen Systems will all vital stakeholders who helped bring this project to life.
“We were honoured to take part in the Good Neighbours Lhewá:mel Project as the general contractor and builder,” said Craig MacQueen, owner of MacQueen Systems Inc.
“Our Indigenous tradespeople and management team, who are an integral part of our company, led the construction andcoordination of this project. It was important to us that Indigenous knowledge, values, and cultural integrity were reflected not only in the vision but in the build itself. This project is a meaningful example of what collaboration and reconciliation in action can look like, and we’re proud to have contributed to a space that will serve the community for generations.”