Students spend their homestays in British Columbia's scenic Fraser-Cascade District, which includes the friendly communities of Hope, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Yale, Bridal Falls and Boston Bar. Framed by the Coastal and Cascade Mountains, and partly nestled along the picturesque banks of the Fraser and Coquihalla Rivers, these communities are safe, clean places that embrace nature, the arts, sports and learning.
The Fraser-Cascade District is located 200 kilometres northeast of the vibrant city of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean. It features temperate summers and mild winters that occasionally bring the fun and magic of snow.
As the hub of the District, Hope offers a wide range of recreation opportunities; scenic trails for all levels of hikers and bikers; pristine lakes, streams and creeks for fishers and water sport enthusiasts. The Hope recreation complex offers a library, indoor swimming and leisure pool, curling rink, baseball diamonds and a skateboard park. Nearby is Manning Park Ski Hill, which offers some of British Columbia’s finest skiing, snow boarding and snow play!
Harrison Hot Springs is located along the banks of Harrison Lake. At 60 kilometers long, the lake is southwestern BC’s largest body of fresh water and is ideal for swimming and water sports. Every year, Harrison Hot Springs hosts the World Championship Sand Sculpture Competition, which draws locals and tourists alike for a look at the truly amazing sand sculptures.
The picturesque small town of Agassiz is for its dairy farms, vegetable production, including miles of corn fields and its welcoming people. Every year, visitors flock to Agassiz for its famous Fall Fair and Corn Festival.
The town of Bridal Falls is named for Bridal Veil Falls, a magnificent waterfall that cascades down 7,000 foot Mount Cheam. Nearby, Bridal Falls Provincial Park takes visitors into the heart of BC’s lush rainforest. Other Bridal Falls attractions include Dinotown, a dinosaur theme park, water slides and bumper boats.
The former goldrush town of Yale is located at the south entrance to the scenic Fraser Canyon. Founded as a Hudson’s Bay fort in 1848, Yale is one of British Columbia's oldest communities. Nearby are two provincial parks and Hell's Gate Airtram, which takes visitors on a magnificent ride across the historic Fraser Canyon. At peak spring levels, an amazing 200 million gallons of water rush through this narrow gorge.
Farther down the Fraser Canyon is the friendly town of Boston Bar, another former goldrush town. Today, Boston Bar is known for its magnificent river rafting, gold panning, fishing, and hiking. When the snow comes, there are opportunities for snowmobiling and snow shoeing!
For more information about the Fraser-Cascade District, please visit our Helpful Links page.
