Sports

Have a sports story tip? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing newsroom@merrittherald.com. Otters find success at Kamloops swim meet

Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Otters were back in the pool in Kamloops on Aug. 8 for the Okanagan Region Celebration meet.

Around 30 Merritt swimmers competed, with a number of gold medal performances.

At the youngest level, Tenley Post finished at the top of the podium in a handful of events, including the Girls Division 1 100-metre Individual Medley, 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, and 100m Freestyle.

Paige Asselstine was the winner of the A final for the Girls Division 6 200m Individual Medley, 100m Breaststroke, 100m Freestyle, and 100m Backstroke, while Isaac Asselstine found the same result in the Boys Division 5 200m Individual Medley, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, and 50m Freestyle.

Evi Slanzi won the Girls Division 4 50m Freestyle and 100m Freestyle.

Collectively, the Otters were the first to the wall in the Girls Division 1 200m Medley Relay and both the Boys Division 6 200m Medley Relay and 200m Freestyle Relay.

Cents roster coming together

Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD. COM

With the Merritt Centennials’ roster in the midst of building for the 2021-22 BCHL season, seasoned hockey fans might recognize a pretty famous last name.

Defenseman Will Bowman is one of the newest Cents, an American who established his game early within the Chicago Mission hockey program.

The 18-year old is the son of Chicago Blackhawks President of Hockey Operations Stan Bowman, and the grandson of the famous ex-NHL Head Coach Scotty Bowman.

Despite his last name, the youngest Bowman has forged his own path: Cents General Manager Dave Chyzowski praised his newest recruit for his defensive style of play.

“Will is one of those players that is defensive minded, he’s a stay at home D that takes a huge amount of pride protecting his net, defensive zone and goalie. That being said, he also has a great first pass out of the zone.”

In a statement, Bowman himself said that he’s excited for the move to Canada.

“Growing up in the States every player wants to play either USHL or NAHL and the really good tier 1 Canadian leagues sometimes get left out of the equation. I am really excited to move to a new environment and experience something new. As for the Centennials, I am looking forward to meeting the community. Other than the past two years when I attended boarding school, I had lived in a big city, so I am looking forward to living in a community where hockey means a lot.”

Another new name that Cents fans may recognize is that of Sam Ward: Ward’s brother Ben spent the last three seasons with Merritt.

Ward joins the team at just 16 years old, after a successful stint in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League’s Under-16 program. Though the 2020-21 season was extremely limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ward managed two post three points in four games last year with Delta Hockey Academy.

Ward, like Bowman, is pumped up to get the season started.

“What has me excited about joining the BCHL and Merritt is the step up to Junior Hockey, the pace of the game, and playing against older, stronger competition. I’m stoked to play in Merritt because I have heard so many good things about the city , fans, coaches, and staff.”

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THURSDAY, August 26, 2021 • 19 BUSINESS FEATURE

Do you want to nominate a business? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing reporter@merrittherald.com.

Vision Quest has been a fixture of the downtown Merritt business community for more than a decade. From the corner storefront at 2001 Quilchena Ave., Jeanine Gustafson provides both the services of an optician and a wide selection of gifts, art and jewelry.

Born and raised in the Lower Mainland as a native of White Rock, Gustafson lived in Kelowna for many years before making the move to Merritt.

“I was an optician in Kelowna when we lived there, and at the two different places I worked, about 30% of our prescriptions came from Merritt,” explained Gustafson.

“Which showed me that they needed somewhere to purchase their glasses. So, I knew that Merritt needed another optical place, and I decided to open one.”

Even now, Vision Quest is the only place open on Saturdays that can repair your glasses after any early weekend ‘oops’ moments.

Gustafson was looking for a fresh start when she left the Okanagan’s largest city for the Nicola Valley, a new home for her children and herself. With her experience as an optician, she was happy to establish herself in the community, but her offerings soon expanded to include more than just eyewear.

“We kind of added a bunch of other things to it,” said Gustafson.

“I make jewelry, so I started selling that in here. And then we brought in a bunch of different native artists. To begin with, they were all native people who made them, and they all still have stuff in here.”

Over the past twelve years, more and more has been added to the shop, making it one of the most unique and varied stores in town.

Now, there are 41 different vendors with wares on display. Most are from Merritt, although some are from Logan Lake and a few come from as far as Lytton, where their homes were thankfully spared after the devastating Lytton Creek fire tore through the Village.

Over the years, Vision Quest has become well known for its legendary Christmas displays, which Gustafson puts up herself every year as the holiday season gets underway.

“Everyone noticed I was a little ridiculous when it came to Christmas and had way too much stuff in here, so Marguerite gave me her Christmas stuff,” said Gustafson.

Marguerite was the former bylaw officer for the City of Merritt, who would set up Christmas displays around town in locations such as City Hall, the Civic Centre, the Aquatic Centre, and various storefronts.

“She decided that she was too old to keep putting it up by herself, it was too much work,” said Gustafson, who spends roughly nine days putting the displays up.

“So, she decided that I was the only one crazy enough to do it, that was what she told me, so she gave it all to me, and it’s fun. When I was a kid we lived in White Rock, and we used to go to Vancouver to see the Woodwards Christmas windows. I have Merritt’s version… I’ve tried to get buildings for all the stores downtown, the real estate offices even gave me little tiny signs to put up.”

Those interested in the paranormal may want to drop in when the holiday decorations are up, as Gustafson said Vision Quest is home to a ghost who is particularly active around Christmastime.

“It’s a woman and she’s really friendly, and she likes pretty things,” said Gustafson.

Sometimes the ghost will pick things up and let them hover, move things or turn on music boxes and snow globes.

Gustafson isn’t sure who the ghost is, or where she came from, but in her estimation her building is more than a century old, leaving plenty of opportunities for a spirit to take up residence.

Originally the site of a hotel which burned down, and at one point in time featuring a shooting range in the basement, the building has also been home to a ladies clothing store, a shoe store, pet store, computer and TV shop, a corner store, as well as a hair salon and tanning booth.

Gustafson’s favourite items available for sale are the indigenous design sunglasses, dreamcatchers, drums, beadwork and the cedar bark bracelets and roses. Of course, there’s also the friendly resident store cat, Rex, who is nearly everybody’s favourite and welcomes customer attention.

Vision Quest

CONTAIN-IT STORAGE

■ Approved mini-storage ■ On-site rentals ■ Secured ■ Sale of New & Used storage containers 1750 Hill Street ■ Phone: 250-315-3000

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME YOU

Crossroads Community Church

2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911• Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m. Merritt Baptist Church

Sunday service (indoors), 10 am. Phone (250)378-2464 for more info and for prayer support. Merritt Lutheran Fellowship

in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899 Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:00 p.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919 Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m. St. Michael’s Anglican Church

1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772 Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m. Trinity United Church

Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735 Service Time 2nd & 4th Sundays 10 am Somang Mission Community Church (SMC)

1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268 Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church

1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502 Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Home Comfort