Home / Health / B.C. Resort Flouts Health Orders for Years
B.C. Resort Flouts Health Orders for Years
6 Dec
Summary
- Resort operated for four years with ongoing non-compliance.
- Expired permits led to immediate closure of food, pool, hot tubs.
- Guests were not warned of potential E. coli contamination in water.
Spruce Hill Resort & Spa in 108 Mile Ranch, B.C., has been ordered by Interior Health to immediately close its restaurant, pool, and hot tubs due to expired operating permits and significant water safety concerns. This action follows years of non-compliance, with health officials noting over 200 enforcement actions and repeated disregard for shutdown orders from the property's operators.
Interior Health reports that the resort has been operating without valid permits for food service, pool, and hot tubs since March 31. Inspectors recently discovered that guests were not being informed of an active boil-water notice, potentially exposing them to contaminants like E. coli. Furthermore, unauthorized equipment modifications to the pool and hot tubs raise serious concerns about entrapment hazards.
The health authority has acknowledged challenges in enforcing the closure orders, stating that the resort appears to reopen immediately after enforcement officers leave. Legal action is now being pursued with Crown prosecutors to address the ongoing non-compliance and protect public health. Residents who have recently used the resort's services and are feeling unwell are urged to seek medical attention.
