Cultus Lake is located in Stó:lō Territory. It has always been an important place for spirit quests of the Sto:lo people. “Originally known as Swee-ehl-chad or Tso-wallie, ‘Cultus’ is a Chinook Jargon word derived from the Salish word “kul” meaning bad or worthless, making reference to a time when it was an empty basin that later filled with water.
Today, the area has many jurisdictional bodies that include: BC Parks, Defense Canada, Fraser Valley Regional District, BC Ministry of Tourism, City of Chilliwack via the Cultus Lake Park Board, and resource extraction. Under the Municipal Government Act, it is known as Electoral Area H of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
CULTUS LAKE: Established in 1948, Cultus Lake Provincial Park spans 2,561-hectares of land and has since been enjoyed for many generations by visitors and residents alike. The original land was given to the City of Chilliwack, in trust, by the Crown in the early 1900s. As its recreational potential gained in popularity, the Cultus Lake Parks Board was formed to govern the area, and shortly thereafter leased residential development at the north end of the lake began to emerge.
In the last decade, this area has evolved with many of the older homes being substantially renovated or re-built.
LINDELL BEACH: Although not included within the Parks borders, freehold recreational development at the south end of the lake accelerated in the 1950s to include a number of smaller, holiday/seasonal inspired communities.
In the last decade, this area has transformed considerably with intensive community-based developments and re-developments of dated recreational sites being built.
COLUMBIA VALLEY: Southbound, beyond the Lake is the Columbia Valley community that reaches to the USA border. The Columbia Valley has many farms including livestock production, berry production, a winery and specialty crops like garlic or lavender.
Today, the lake has many diverse communities that live on or near it; Soowahlie First Nation; Cultus Lake Community; Lindell Beach which includes Lindell Beach Community Association, Spring Creek, The Cottages, Aquadel Crossing, Creekside Mills; Columbia Valley; and others.
A special thanks to CultusStewards.ca for their historical research and data.