December 29 - 2022

Federal Minister visits flood affected locals

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

On Sunday, March 13, the Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, paid a visit to Merritt to meet with City Council and visit some of the individuals who were affected by the November 2021 floods.

“I think the most important reason for coming here into Merritt was to come out into the community and actually meet Canadians who’ve been impacted by these floods,” said Blair.

The Minister arrived at City Hall around 1:30 PM and met up with members of City Council and Mayor Linda Brown.

“One of the things I’ve heard from the Mayor very clearly today is that we have to make sure that we can move some of that money as quickly as possible because of the uncertainty,” said Blair.

After the meeting, the Minister was taken on a tour around some properties to show the damage caused by the flood, one of which was Rochelle Rupert’s

property.

“Being able to come and speak with this young woman, for us, it gives an urgency to the work that we’re doing together,” said Blair. “To give them those answers and provide that reassurance.”

Blair explained that there is relief funding allocated towards the towns affected by the calamities like Merritt in the form of the Provincial Disaster Financial Assistance Program.

“Although we’ve given a very substantial amount of funding to help the people of BC recover from these floods,” Blair remarked. “We also, in listening to these stories, understand the urgency of moving as quickly as we possibly can.”

After the flood, local residents started to question why there was very little warning as many people were alerted about the flood late at night in the form of door to door warnings.

Blair acknowledged this and said he is working with Emergency Management BC to build a more “robust” public alert system.

“One of the things we have learned

was the importance of making sure that there was a good public alerting system. It’s a very important part of the mandate that the Prime Minister has actually given me.”

The Minister’s visit has been something that the local government was calling for as soon as the recovery process of the city began.

After the visit, Mayor Brown was optimistic that it would speed up the process to get the people help.

“It’s an amazing start,” said Brown. “I think one of the biggest things is the willingness to be collaborative in what we do look at and the Minister has come here to determine what is our greatest need which is our people.”

Prior to visiting Merritt, Minister Blair also visited Abbotsford and saw the repairs done to reopen the Coquihalla Highway then headed back to Ottawa the following night.

“I’ve heard her (Brown) very clearly and I’ll take that message back with me to Ottawa and in my conversations with the BC government.”

The Merritt Fire and Rescue Department (MFRD) responded late at night on December 27 to reports of an electrical fire, which has temporarily closed a local fast food restaurant.

‘A&W’ Seniors in the community are benefiting from a snow removal service, operated by Interior Community Services (ICS) through United Way, amidst a cold snap that has seen plenty of snowfall.

Bill Blair, Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness visited Merritt to meet with Mayor Brown and the locals who have been seeking government aid. Izaiah Reyes/ Herald

Izaiah Reyes

Merritt’s 2022 was all about getting back up from the disastrous 2021 flooding event.

Merritt receives $24 million funding

The City of Merritt announced on Thursday, April 14, that it will be receiving a grant worth $24.25 million from the Province of BC.

“We’ve been advocating to senior levels of government for months that we needed resources, and we’re so pleased they have heard our pleas,” said Mayor Linda Brown.

Brown recently went down to Vancouver to meet with the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Response and Climate Resilience to discuss Merritt’s housing budget needs.

“The money is split between housing solutions to directly help our Merritt residents who lost everything, including the roof over their heads, and infrastructure and recovery funding to help the community at large.”

In speaking with Chief Administrative Officer, Sean Smith, it was stated that $11.75 million of the grant will be dedicated to various housing projects. The city has been exploring a number of options, most notably, 3D printed homes.

“We are still working through with B.C. Housing and the Province with what exactly they wanted to see for an allocation for that $11.75 million,” said Smith

“We have a number of different projects that are well advanced and so we

should be releasing some more information on that as soon as we have a mandate on how those dollars are going to flow through.”

After the announcement, the City is now awaiting to enter a contribution agreement for the grant.

“We will be able to begin housing projects that support approximately 200 people, work on plans for our wastewater treatment facilities and the Middlesboro bridge, and completely rebuild Voght Park,” said Brown.

“There’s money for road repair, cleanup and for working on the temporary dykes that we put in place to protect the City, and are still there as we look towards the spring melt.”

The Province has granted $53.6 million in total funding. Here is the list of all the cities receiving the grant and their corresponding amount.

• Abbotsford: $6,850,000

• Chilliwack: $3,355,000

• Cowichan Valley Regional District: $550,000

• Fraser Valley Regional District: $1,625,000

• Hope: $2,500,000

• Kent: $2,355,000

• Merritt: $24,255,000

• Mission: $50,000

• Princeton: $11,900,000

• Thompson-Nicola Regional District: $150,000

The funding will address housing solutions for displaced residents. Photo/Herald File

Izaiah Reyes

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

2023 means community

Being involved in local politics and the affairs of one’s community has been a passion of mine since I was way too young to be into ‘lame’ stuff like that. Ever since my family moved to Canada when I was six years old, we’ve been involved in some way or another with the community’s goings-on. This coming year, 2023 I am encouraging Merrittonians to engage their community and its members.

A community can be a number of things, from a physical location such as the City of Merritt, to a virtual space where people connect with one another in a variety of manners. Being a part of a community can make us feel like a part of something bigger than ourselves, and can bring connections and support to those who may need it most.

I’m not going to tell you exactly what your 2023 resolutions should be, but I am going to urge you to keep the word ‘community’ at the top of your mind. Attend a city council meeting, browse the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council gallery, join a community group (online or in-person) that interests you, and, first and foremost, say ‘hi’ to your neighbour. When we connect with each other as a community, great things are bound to happen.

MARIUS AUER HERALD REPORTER

OPINION

TEGART: ‘Expectations are high for new NDP cabinet.’

tives and some real action to the issues that matter to people in my riding of FraserNicola.

TEGART VIEW FROM LEGISLATURE

Premier David Eby recently announced his new cabinet, and it’s my hope that some new faces can bring fresh perspec-

Of primary concern to many communities is the continued recovery from climate events, and the planning and work needed to prepare for future disasters and reduce their impact.

Here in Merritt, flood repair and recovery efforts are ongoing, and I continue to advocate at the provincial level for additional support for flood mitigation and diking improvements. I look forward to bringing these local concerns to the new Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness,

Bowinn Ma, and hope to see a bit more urgency on the part of government to provide support and certainty to Merritt residents. Other issues of concern include rural economic development and diversification.

The Aspen Planers mill in town is on a temporary shutdown until the

new year, which creates difficult circumstances for workers this holiday season.

B.C. has a new Forests Minister, Bruce Ralston, who I trust is getting up to speed on the many challenges faced by forestrydependent communities right now. Communities including ours expect incoming

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside to make more progress when it comes to helping our most vulnerable. The drug toxicity crisis continues to claim far too many lives, and we need to see housing solutions expedited to get people

the appropriate shelter and supports they deserve.

The challenges in our community are significant — but with a new year approaching, and new ministers on these hugely important files, I hope we will see quicker action to bring relief, recovery and new opportunities for Merritt to thrive.

GOETZ: ‘I’m looking forward to a very productive year.’

Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

After an action packed first few months in office, Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz is reflecting on the start of his term, and looking forward to a new year ahead.

Mike Goetz defeated incumbent Linda Brown, along with challengers Tony Luck and Mike Bhangu, during the contentious 2022 local general elections.

With a record high number of candidates and pressing issues facing the community, Goetz was elected during a time of recovery and elevated frustration with local government for many Merrittonians.

Goetz is one of three elected officials in Merritt with past experience in an elected position, with incumbent

Councillor Adam Etchart being reelected, and Councillor Claire Newman moving from Logan Lake’s council table to the one at Merritt City Hall. The Mayor told the Herald that this City Council is shaping up to be a cohesive team.

“Some people are getting their feet wet for the first time, and some of the people with experience are looking forward to the new

year, because that’s when we’ll start with liaisons, committees, and getting into budget,” said Goetz.

“It’s a good team, I’m looking forward to working with them. They’re very strong and cover the gamut of what needs to be covered, and I’m very excited to be working with them. I’m looking forward to a very productive year.”

Goetz identified flood recovery and communica-

tion out of City Hall as two of his top priorities during the election campaign, and maintains these priorities after his first month and a half in office.

The City is still in need of over $100 million to fund its flood recovery and mitigation efforts.

“Top of the list will always be flood recovery until we actually get the announcement on some sort of compensation for flooding,” said

Goetz.

“That’ll be the main push at this time. Whether we get it all at once, or piecemeal, we don’t really care. We’re going to the Minister and letting him know.”

The federal government recently announced $1.6 billion in funding toward climate change adaptation projects, such as flood mitigation and recovery efforts, as part of an $8 billion climate fund. In addition to exploring the new federal funding, Goetz said the City has been applying to a number of smaller grants to put together this ‘piecemeal’ funding. He added that city staff are working through rejections and strict eligibility criteria to attempt to secure federal or provincial funding.

Goetz also noted he believes the communication

out of City Hall has improved since the beginning of the new council’s term, including the addition of a weekly radio feature on Q101 and additional releases via the City’s online channels and through local media.

“I think the communication has been very good, we try to get the information out to the City as quickly as possible, and try and quell any rumours that we have,” noted Goetz.

The Mayor and City Council both encourage the public to engage with their elected officials, and to attend council meetings. Meetings are held in person at City Hall, and live streamed through the City’s YouTube channel.

For more information on Council’s upcoming meetings and their agendas, visit www.merritt.ca.

From the Herald archives: December 1973

MULTIPLE BREAK INS

A number of businesses have been hit by break ins in the past few weeks, some of them involving senseless but very costly vandalism. On the night of December 19-20, the office of Weyerhaeuser Sawmills was broken into with thieves netting a small amount of petty cash. On the night of December 22, thieves broke into the garage at the Weyerhaeuser B Mill and took several cans of anti-freeze. They apparently went over to Aspen Planers as blue spray paint went missing here and was used in part of extensive vandalism at Aspen Planers.

LETTERS POLICY

The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name and address. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

JACKIE

Marius

Mike Goetz signing his oath of office for his inauguration this past November. Marius Auer/Herald

Recap of the Hell or High Water fundraiser concert

“Now, with the efforts of the Hell or High Water Fundraiser all proceeds collected, including those made online and through the telethon portion of the event, will go directly to Rotary Merritt, who will then work with non-profits who are currently working with affected areas to disperse the funds to communities and individuals affected by the natural disasters,” reads a fundraiser press release.

One of the leading concert organizers, Greg Girard of ehCanada Travel, has made a big commitment to drive the funds up to the $2 million, exclusive to the Hell or High Water fundraiser portion.

“I believe in British Columbians and Canadians,” said Girard.

“I know Canadians care about families, so much so, when we hit $1.5 million, I will shave off my head, eyebrows and soul patch live for all to see, for the last push to $2 million.”

The Hell or High Water concert and telethon fundraiser is hoping to raise $2 million for fire and flood relief for the communities of Lytton, Merritt, Princeton, Abbotsford, Monte Creek

and surrounding First Nations communities.

The concert, which featured such artists and celebrities as Aaron Pritchett, Tom Jackson, Lisa Brokop, Loverboy, Chilliwack, and Amber Marshall of Heartland fame, ran from 10:00AM to 10:00PM on March 13 and, along with the accompanying telethon, raised more

than $100,000.

Prior to the concert and telethon, the Merritt Rotary Club raised approximately $825,000 through their own fundraising efforts. Following this Hell or High Water was able to bring that number up to roughly $927,000 - with $102,000 of that being dispersed to affected communities outside of Merritt.

Girard also noted that the majority of donations came from donations of $10 to $100.

“That’s the people stepping forward, that’s your everyday Jane and Joe Smith putting ten bucks in,” said Girard, who hopes to also solicit corporate donations in the coming weeks.

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

RCMP

Missing woman’s body found

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Search and Rescue teams have located the body of 22 year old Jaqueline McDermott, who was reported missing on October 1 after last being seen on Highway 97C between Merritt and Logan Lake. Her body was found on October 8, according to a post in a Facebook group that was created as part of the search efforts.

“Thank you for the outpouring of support we have received in our search for Jaqui.

We are devastated to report that her body was found yesterday after exhaustive searches by the B.C. Search and Rescue teams,” read the post.

“Our hearts are forever shattered. Please respect our privacy as we learn how to live in a world without her. Please keep her in your hearts.”

The RCMP commented that while a police investigation is underway, investigators do not currently suspect any criminal intent.

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt RCMP arrested two men on Monday, June 20 for bringing a handgun on school premises.

Front line officers reached Merritt Secondary School at 3:08 pm responding to a call from school staff about a handgun being brandished outside of the grounds.

“We received notification near the end of our school day of a reported individual with a weapon near our property,” said Vice Principal Adriane Mouland in an

email sent to all the parents of MSS students.

“The RCMP was immediately called and the school subsequently locked down.”

Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspects and no students or staff were harmed during the event.

“We recognize how terrifying an incident like this is for all involved, including parents” says Sgt. Josh Roda. “Please be assured we put our children’s lives above all else and will do everything we can to keep them safe.”

The suspects are now in custody while further investigation is being conducted.

The RCMP had a busy 2022 with investigations, standoffs, and drug busts.

The body of Jaqueline McDermott was found on October 8 by Search and Rescue crews. Photo/RCMP

RCMP responded quickly to a call about a firearm brandished outside MSS. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

Merritt RCMP continue investigations after week of increased activity

The RCMP confirmed in a press release later in the week that officers attended a scene on the morning of Friday, November 18 for a possible shotsfired complaint in the 2100 block of Priest Avenue. This led to more complaints in the afternoon, and an hours-long standoff on Nicola Avenue, resulting in the arrest of three on charges of hostage taking with a firearm, and entering a dwelling house without lawful excuse.

On Sunday, November 20, Merritt

The Merritt RCMP continue to investigate a series of shootings and police incidents that took place over the span of a week, beginning on November 15 and culminating with the early morning arrest of Merritt fugitive Ronald Karlson on November 23.

While progress has been made on the ensuing investigations, local police tell the Herald that investigations will likely take months to complete.

“There’s been lots of progress, but I think the biggest thing is to understand that these investigations take a lot of time,” said Acting Detachment

Commander Sgt. Josh Roda.

“It could take months, probably, and thousands of man hours. We’re at a stage now where we’re still processing evidence, and that evidence processing takes a long time. We submit stuff to forensic labs, and later we get results, so it’s just going to be a long process now with these investigations.”

A number of shootings took place in the Nicola Valley in the early morning of November 15, with Merritt RCMP responding to numerous calls in the Merritt, Coldwater IR, and Mamette Lake Road areas. Over 100 shots were fired during the incidents, with no injuries reported.

(ERT)

RCMP and members of the Emergency Response Team

executed a search warrant in the 2600 block of Granite

RCMP and Gang Enforcement Unit members closed off Quilchena Avenue on November 21 as a part of ongoing investigations into multiple police incidents the prior week. Marius Auer/Herald Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Avenue in relation to Friday’s kidnapping case. The following day, Merritt RCMP officers and emergency response teams closed down the 2100 block of Quilchena Avenue to execute a number of arrests. No new charges were announced. On November 23, at approximately 1:30 a.m, Merritt frontline officers responded to reports of a suspicious person around the areas of Priest Avenue and Voght Street. After the suspect fled police and barricaded himself in a home in the area for hours, police were able to draw the man, later identified as Ronald Karlson, out of the house and take him into custody.

“There’s very likely a connection between them, I won’t draw that with evidence at this point, but we’re definitely looking at that,” said Roda, speaking to the series of police incidents.

While RCMP are responsible for the investigation and evidence-gathering aspect of law enforcement, hot-button issues such as conditional releases and the laying of charges are out of police’s hands.

“Our job as the police is just to gather evidence, so we gather as much evidence as we can and we present that evidence to the Crown,” explained Roda.

“It’s Crown Counsel’s job after that to decide what charges they’re gonna lay, and whether they chose to try and hold somebody or release them on bail. The courts play a big role, and judges and the law as

well, because the Crown and the courts are bound by the laws that come from our federal government.”

Roda added that local officers are also frustrated with the lack of prosecution of repeat and dangerous offenders, citing the legislation that binds Canada’s legal systems.

The federal government recently passed Bill C-5, eliminating specific mandatory minimum penalties and for greater use of conditional sentences, which can be similar to house arrest. The bill, sponsored by Attorney General David Lametti, became law on November 17, and is targeted at fighting systemic racism in the country’s criminal justice system.

“We want to see these people locked up, and they deserve to be,” said Roda.

“The punishment has to fit the crime, and currently in our justice system, that’s not the case. With the government taking minimum mandatory sentences, that’s really disheartening, especially for a community that just went through five shootings with all known offenders that we believe were involved, and these people just keep getting released.”

Roda told the Herald that members of the Merritt RCMP are burnt out, and grateful for the outside resources they were able to call upon for support during the ongoing police incidents in the community. He remains hopeful that the increased police action is now over.

Kelowna RCMP have confirmed new details following a fatal Christmas Eve passenger bus crash on Highway 97C between Merritt and Kelowna.

Dozens of travellers aboard a westbound ‘EBus,’ an Alberta based bus line, were injured when the vehicle crashed near Loon Lake exit at approximately 6PM, with four confirmed deceased and over 40 sent to hospital.

RCMP say while the incident is under investigation, extremely icy road conditions are believed to be at fault.

Interior Health Authority (IHA) confirmed Saturday that 52 patients were sent to three different area hospitals, including Merritt, Kelowna, and Penticton on Saturday night.

The authority confirmed that a Code Orange response, signalling a disaster or mass-casualty event, had been implemented at the facilities as they deal with the

influx of patients.

On Christmas Day, eight patients remained in hospital, with two in serious condition.

“Although the number of patients remaining in hospital is low, this is a lifealtering incident for all involved, from the initial physical injuries to the emotional and spiritual impacts of an incident such as this,” read a statement by IHA.

“Our thoughts are with the families and patients, as well as the many first responders at the scene, who were impacted by this tragic incident.”

The RCMP confirmed that an investigation is underway, with EBus and the bus driver both cooperating fully. BC

Highway Patrol learned that the bus was traveling west along 97C when it went off road to the left, crossed the median, and flipped onto its passenger side.

Emergency crews responded to the scene, with passing travellers stopping

to lend a hand.

It is believed that injuries may have been exacerbated by passengers not wearing their seatbelts.

“Passers-by and local residents provided assistance by allowing passengers to warm up in their vehicles and providing blankets while emergency services arrived,” an RCMP statement read.

“All passengers were transported by the BC Ambulance Service to local hospitals. There were no other vehicles involved in the collision.

The E-bus was equipped with seat belts, unfortunately it appears the majority of passengers were not wearing them.”

Premier David Eby, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming, and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth released a joint statement immediately following the Christmas Eve crash.

“Our thoughts are with those impacted by the crash, their loved ones, and the first

responders and health-care workers giving their all to treat people and keep them safe,” the statement read.

Passengers who have not yet been contacted by police, those who witnessed the collision, and those with dashcam footage of the bus prior to the collision should contact BC RCMP Corporal Audley via email at: Samantha. audley@rcmp-grc. gc.ca.

Four people died and a number were hospitalized following a fatal Christmas Eve crash, between Merritt and Kelowna, involving a passenger bus. Photo/Herald File

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The race for the office of Mayor in the City of Merritt has come to an end, with former City Councillor Mike Goetz defeating the incumbent Mayor, Linda Brown, and securing a four year mandate in City Hall. Goetz will be the chair of a council that is entirely new, with the exception of Councillor Adam Etchart, who was reelected in a landslide victory.

The City of Merritt will have a new Mayor beginning November 1, when Mayor-Elect Goetz and his new council will be sworn in at City Hall. Goetz earned a convincing win on Saturday night, garnering 859 votes compared to Tony Luck’s 700, Linda Brown at 565, and Mike Bhangu at 267. This result came as a surprise to many in the community, with Councillor Tony Luck being the perceived frontrunner for most of the campaign. Goetz said that he is pleased with the result, and looks forward to leading the newly elected City Council to a successful term.

“It feels great, I’m very happy, and I’m super excited about the council that has been elected,” said Goetz.

“I think we’ve got an absolutely strong council that covers all the aspects of what we want to do at City Hall. I’m super happy to be Mayor, and I’m very happy we have elected such a dynamic council.”

This was not Goetz’s first foray into municipal politics, with him serving a decade on City Council between 2008 and 2018. Goetz said he took a four year break from politics for personal reasons, but entered the race for Mayor earlier after a year of great personal loss in 2021. Now successful in his bid, the Mayor-Elect looks to start work as soon as possible.

Dana Egan, Paul Petroczi, Wendy

Charney, Adam Etchart, Manuel Olguin, and Claire Newman will make up Merritt’s new City Council, and Goetz said he gets a “positive vibe” from his new team. Eager to get started, the newly elected local officials will now enter a comprehensive five day orientation. Once sworn in, Goetz said his priority will be flood recovery.

“The flooding funding to fix the dikes, I know there’s been some uncertainty this week about the funding and whether it was actually there or not. We need to get on that right away, and if the funding isn’t there, then we need to find out why it’s not, where it is, and how we can get it flowing so we can get this diking fixed. That will be the main thing we start doing,” added Goetz.

Now-outgoing Mayor Linda Brown says while the result was disappointing, it was not unexpected. Brown said she felt there was a lack of unity at the current city council table, citing the November 2021 flood as a main cause of contention. She also recognized the anger of many residents of Merritt with the City of Merritt around the flooding event, and said that her role as Mayor made her a target.

“We saw an implosion of Council around the time of the floods,” said Brown.

“I think council overall was part of the problem. We were not united at that point, we weren’t speaking the same language. This was a problem our staff had to deal with. I’m okay with taking the brunt end, if staff stays out of it, but I would have appreciated less criticism. Not to say that they can’t criticise my moves of things that they didn’t approve of, but I think the campaigning began around that time.”

Moving forward, Brown said that she and her husband now plan to retire, which she had put off to run for Mayor in 2018. Brown said she felt as if she wasn’t finished in public service at that time, but feels okay walking away now after the message from voters. The outgoing Mayor added that she will help facilitate Goetz’s transition into the Mayor’s office.

“I want Merritt to be successful and I want Mayor-Elect Goetz to be successful, so therefore I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get him into his new role. He’s been out of it for four years, so he’s got some catching up to do,” said Brown.

Goetz, along with Merritt’s team of six councillors, will be sworn in at their inaugural council meeting on November 1, 2022 in the Council Chambers at Merritt City Hall.

The 2022 Elections saw faces both familiar and new take office.

Mayor Mike Goetz takes his oath of office alongside his granddaughter. Marius Auer/ Herald

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The race for Council and Chief in the Lower Nicola Indian Band has come to an end, with results being released by Chief Electoral Officer Drew Shaw.

Voters re-elected all incumbents in a crowded field of candidates, including 18 for council and three for Chief. Stuart Jackson won another term as chief, while incumbent Councillors William Bose, Connie Joe, William Sandy, Lucinda Seward, and Robin Humphrey also secured another three year mandate. To complete the full slate of seven councillors, they are joined by Arthur Dick and Lesley Manuel who filled the two seats left by Spence Coutlee and Aaron Sumexheltza. Coutlee was barred from running again after being removed from office for violating LNIB policy, while Sumexheltza chose not to seek reelection.

The full results are as follows, in ballot order:

CHIEF:

• ANTOINE, LEONA MARIE - 94

• JACKSON, STUART - 182

• STERLING, ROBERT JR. 102

COUNCIL:

• BEARSHIRT, WENONA - 94

• JOE, CHARLENE - 86

• BOSE, WILLIAM - 189

• JOE, CONNIE - 172

• CLAYTON, DAVID - 45

• LAFFERTY, JOANNE - 115

• COUTLEE, GEORGE - 58

• MANUEL, LESLEY -179

• COUTLEE, LARA - 80

• PARE, LAINE - 100

• COUTLEE, MARY JUNE - 136

• PINYON, TODD (TJ) - 53

• DAWSON, ASHLEIGH - 77

• SANDY, WILLIAM - 165

• DICK, ARTHUR - 158

• SEWARD, LUCINDA - 181

• HUMPHREY, ROBIN - 201

• SWAKUM, SHAWN - 58

A total of 381 ballots were cast for both Chief and Council. Voter turnout numbers are still being calculated. The newly elected Chief and Council will serve a three year term ending in 2025. Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of the month commencing at 5 PM, at the Lower Nicola Band Office.

City of Merritt releases its election process report

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The City of Merritt has released a report outlining an internal review of its election processes following public

input and concern regarding the 2022 general election, including a legal proceeding by mayoral candidate Tony Luck.

Luck’s acceptance of the newly minted report, which he said his team was mildly satisfied with, means his proceedings won’t progress any further. The City identified a num -

ber of instances where their election processes contravened the Local Government Act. The Local Government Act, a piece of provincial legislation, sets out the

parameters for municipal elections across B.C. Municipalities themselves administer the election process, and Director of Corporate Services Greg Lowis took on the role of Chief Election Officer in the City of Merritt. The election took place on October 15, with advanced voting opportunities prior to that date. Following the election, the City said a number of local residents took to social media and city hall to voice their concerns about the election process. Tony Luck filed his legal proceedings against the City

on November 17, partially prompting the City’s CAO, Sean Smith, to draft the election review. Luck has now begun the process of withdrawing his challenge, which he said was only meant to bring attention to the issue.

“There were three different instances we found where there was non-compliance with the requirements for elections in the Local Government Act, and we take that really seriously,” said Smith, speaking to the media following Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We apologize to electors

for those shortcomings, and acknowledge each one, and we’ve got to find a place to make sure that those are addressed for all future elections. We do specifically know that these didn’t have any material impacts on the results of the election.”

The first contravention found by Smith in his report was that the City did not appoint a Deputy Chief Election Officer until October 11th, 2022, which was well into advanced voting, and just four days before general election day. While there

are no requirements in the LGA stating when a deputy official should be appointed, City staff acknowledged that the intent of the section was not met. Smith said in his report the result of this was less collaboration in the election process, and left election officials with less time to complete their work.

The next shortcoming identified by Smith was a contravention to section 72(4) of the LGA, which requires election workers to record the type of identification they checked for each

Story continues on Page 18

An internal review conducted by City of Merritt staff determined that while some mistakes were made

Photo/Herald File

voter in the ballot book. This led to three instances where an elector received a ballot without providing sufficient documents or solemn declarations to prove their identity and address. While recording the nature of documents wouldn’t have solved this problem, it would have allowed a voter to be satisfied that these instances were the exception, and not the norm.

Smith noted that while this oversight did not have an impact on the elections results, City staff believe it was a major error which greatly affected voters’ confidence in the election process.

Section 120(4) of the Local Government Act

states that candidates must not be present in the voting place during voting proceedings, unless they are there to vote.

Smith noted in his report that the final contravention of the LGA was when a number of candidates gathered in the polling place for the last 15 minutes of the election while waiting for the counting rooms to open. While the City official on site did tell candidates to wait the remaining time in the voting place, there was no evidence that the candidates interacted with voters or the ballot box in any way.

“Where we knew and we saw that there were some errors, it’s really good to

own your own mistakes, so we wanted the opportunity to do that,” noted Smith.

“You can have an external person come in and do a review and tell you that you messed up, but when you know that you’ve made some errors, let’s just own it. I think that’s what people expect their government to do and that’s what we feel we’ve done with this report. The second thing is it does save on costs, and as we come into budget season, I think that’s something taxpayers expect.”

Smith added that while these contraventions reduce voter confidence, they did not have any material impacts on the election’s outcome, and that the election was

conducted in good faith. The report also acknowledges that while Luck’s challenge did in part prompt the report, it was offered mainly in the interest of transparency.

The report also identifies seven other opportunities for change and improvement in the election process, including serial numbers on ballots, machine versus hand counting, identification of election officials, ballot box and ballot concerns, and other issues relating to best practices.

To read the full report, view the agenda for the Tuesday, December 13 regular meeting of council. Agendas and minutes can be found online at www.merritt.ca.

Mask requirements lifted

coverings order.

“If we compare where we are compared to other jurisdictions around the country we see that we have had a lower peak and a slower peak than many other places.” said Provincial Health Officer, Bonnie Henry, in a press conference discussing COVID-19 updates for BC.

Aside from the removing mask requirements, it was also announced that there will no longer be restrictions for both social and faith gatherings, there will no longer be mask requirements as part of workplace safety orders, and COVID-19 safety plans are no longer required for overnight youth camps.

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Starting March 11, B.C. will be repealing their mandate for wearing masks in public indoor areas.

The BC government will be taking progressive steps to remove restrictions starting today with the removal of their face

“With the science and our data top of mind, it clearly shows that our risks now are much lower, they are not zero and we are not fully out of this yet but I feel confident that we can safely make some changes,” said Henry.

More steps to lift restrictions are going to come in the following weeks as the number of visitors in long-term care facili-

Story continues on Page 19

The rescinding of COVID-19 mandates this year brought back numerous events

Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry. Photo/ Herald File

From Page 18

ties will no longer be restricted on March 18 and then on April 8, requirements for the BC vaccine card will be removed.

It is important to note that although requirements for face coverings has been removed, individual businesses and organizations and employers may choose to

require face coverings in their premises.

It is also encouraged but not mandatory to wear masks in public transit and BC ferries.

The Province of BC, BC Centre of Disease Control, and the Provincial Health Officer will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates in the coming weeks.

The return of Rockin’ River

well received by all who came and the acts were fantastic,” Hess exclaimed.

“All I know is I was thrilled to be back performing in front of the music starved fans who braved the heat and the dust to come join us at ‘the River’.”

Hess also mentioned the impact of last year’s November flooding event to the festival grounds. However he showered the landowners, Jukebox Entertainment Group, with praise for “an outstanding job considering all the cleanup repairs that had to be done.”

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Rockin River made its triumphant return after its two-year break due to COVID-19 restrictions. The four-day festival featured 21 talented musical acts which included Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, and the founder himself, Kenny Hess.

“In my opinion, the event was very

Aside from the outstanding music, patrons were able to enjoy food from truck vendors, and had the opportunity to beat the heat by going for a dip in the Coldwater River.

“We hope by next year the festival will have everything and more for the people who have shown their support to us through all these years,” said Hess.

“I can’t wait for next year!”

2022 Rockin’ River Music Festival. Izaiah Reyes/ Herald

Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo 2022

Labour Day has been a weekend circled in many Merritonians’ calendars. It has been a long standing tradition by the community to visit the Rodeo Grounds during this long weekend in September for the fun filled Pro Rodeo the organization hosts. Unfortunately, due to COVID19 restrictions, this tradition was put on hold. Luckily, with restrictions being lifted earlier this year, patrons are invited to saddle back up as the event and festivities are back on.

“We’re excited! It’s going to be a big show this year.,” said Nicola

“Mary MacGregor, who has taken on the chair of the Pro Rodeo Committee, has gone out and secured some of the very best people in the business. We expect, we’re going to get some of the top competitors in the country.”

Story continues on Page 21

Nicola Valley Rodeo Association President Peter Spencer visits the grounds in preparation for the upcoming Pro Rodeo. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

The Nicola Valley Rodeo Association will be hosting its 62nd annual Pro Rodeo on September 3 and 4 at the NVRA grounds.

Valley Rodeo Association President Peter Spencer.

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The rodeo will be jam-packed with activities and entertainment. There will be the main rodeo, which includes both timed and rough stock events.

“The contestants themselves are amazing,” said MacGregor. “We have several World Champions entered, and a number of Canadian Champions, including most of the Canadians vying for a 2022 Canadian Championship at the Canadian Finals Rodeo to be held in Red Deer November 2 through 6.”

MacGregor also noted that Macza Pro Rodeo will be the stock contractor for the rodeo once again.

“Ward Macza continues to bring the best of the best rodeo stock to our rodeo,” she said.

Get Smart, the 20-year-old Macza saddle bronc will also participate in the rodeo event as part of his retirement tour. He’s recognized as the best in Canada and at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and this will serve as his final regular rodeo.

“As the rodeo gods would have it, the contestant who has drawn Get Smart is Lucas Macza, saddle bronc contestant and son of Ward Macza. A matchup for the ages!”

The event will also feature a pancake breakfast, cowboy church, and recognition of heritage honourees. Two entertainment

acts will be included in the event. Roman trick rider, Noemy Coeurjoly, and the Second Shot Drill Production Team from the Lower Mainland will both put on a very entertaining and family friendly show for the viewing public.

The Civic Centre will host the Ty Pozzobon rodeo dance Saturday evening, which will feature Bobby Garcia and the Six More Strings as the musical act.

“I think seeing the community back involved is what I am most excited about,” said Spencer. “If we can get the community involved again and excited for the Labour Day weekend, then we’ll have a smile on our faces.”

During the two year break, Spencer said NVRA hosted different events such as horsemanship clinics and outdoor movie nights in order to meet annual costs for the grounds.

“We squeaked through those two years,” he said. “We need to host events regularly in order to meet our annual costs such as insurance, property taxes, and maintenance costs. We’d bring clinicians in and sell event passes for that. We just made budget but it was touch-and-go.”

The NVRA thanks the people of Merritt who have been very supportive with the Labour Day festivities.

“The community involvement is huge for our success,” said Spencer. “If we had to do it all on our own, we probably couldn’t.”

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

After a three year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Airport Day is taking off once again, welcoming Merrittonians to celebrate aviation and come together as a community after a tough few years.

This year, Merritt’s Community Airport Day will feature all the staples of its first event, plus performances by local artists, food trucks, a classic car show, and a special ceremony to show appreciation for those who assisted the City during the November 2021 flooding event. The first annual airport event in 2019 was held as a celebration of a key moment in Merritt aviation history.

“This started about four years ago when a friend of mine, Ray Robinson, heard from the museum that it was going to be the 100th anniversary of the first plane ever to land in Merritt,” said Geoff Scholtens, organizer and volunteer with Community Airport Day.

“He said we should celebrate that, so I said what we should do is a Community Airport Day, because I’m all about community. I’m also a pilot, so I thought we should bring this whole community together to celebrate.”

The 2019 Community Airport Day drew a crowd of roughly 500 people, gathering to celebrate and watch a fly-in, enjoy a community barbeque, and browse the car show. Sponsored by the City of Merritt and its Tourism Merritt program, the event was organized by Scholtens and volunteers.

This time around, the event is still organized by Scholtens, but this time in collaboration with Tourism Nicola Valley. The local tourism non-profit is promoting and sponsoring the event, and will provide a community barbeque in addition to the planned food trucks. Scholtens says the event will be bigger and better than ever, featuring remote controlled aircraft, antique cars, airplanes, two local bands, food trucks, and speeches by dignitaries.

“I think it’s awesome that we can actually get together face to face, see old friends, meet new friends, and be a community again. One of the things is that Merritt doesn’t have many events where people can just come and be who they are,” said Scholtens, a pilot and certified flight instructor.

One of the focuses of this year’s Community Airport Day is showing appreciation for those in aviation who supported the City of Merritt during November’s flooding event. Pilots flew in over 400,000 pounds of supplies needed for flood response and recovery, many of them volunteering their time and resources. Members of the West Coast Pilot Club and BC Airlift Emergency Response Operations (BC AERO) will attend the event to receive this thanks.

“The Mayor and MLA Jackie Tegart are giving out letters and certificates of appreciation to the pilots who flew in back in November. We’ll be sharing our thanks for the help.”

Leading up to the event, Scholtens says his phone has been ringing off the hook with questions about the event. Scholtens has flown since he was 15 years old, and is currently teaching both his children to fly. He added that aviation truly does ‘fly’ in the family.

Merritt Airport, also known as Saunders Field, is an uncontrolled airport which hosted the second annual Community Airport Day. Marius Auer/Herald

Music was thumping and the night was lit up once again this past weekend as the 2022 Bass Coast Music Festival was celebrated in Merritt.

“This weekend was incredibly successful and very very special so we are beyond happy to be here,” said Bass Coast Co-Founder, Andrea Graham.

‘Everybody that came just seemed so appreciative to be together again, to be here in Merritt, on this land again, and also to be able to experience art and music and community because we’ve all been missing those.”

6500 festival patrons witnessed 130 musical acts, 57 incredibly designed art

installations, and seven live artists create art from murals to hand crafts.

For the past two years, the annual electronic music festival has been shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions. This was the festival’s 14th edition overall and its eighth appearance in Merritt. Graham said the organization always looks to improve from year to year.

“From a producer’s standpoint, we are constantly thinking about how we can improve things for next year,” she explained.

“The music was just incredible all weekend, the art installations were stunning. The goal for next year is to still grow in those areas while maintaining a capped and boutique experience.”

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Merritt Country Christmas Week, the iconic community-wide week of holiday festivities, is back and better than ever after a two year hiatus. Organizers are thrilled to bring back the week of community events and bring joyful tidings after years of pandemic rules and flooding related cancellations.

The week-long event, filled with festivities for the whole family, will kick off once again on November 21, running through to November 27. On Monday, Merrittonians will gather to watch the community Christmas tree be lit up in Spirit Square. Attendees are asked to bring gloves, socks, and toques to be

pinned to the tree. These will later be donated to the cold weather shelter. Along with the tree light-up ceremony, Merrittonians will once again be able to experience the Santa Light Up Parade, Civic Centre craft fair, and a plethora of new and returning events.

“We are absolutely thrilled, fingers crossed that we don’t have a monkey wrench thrown into it this year,” said Carrie Ware, president of the Country Christmas Week Committee.

“Not having to deal with the COVID rules has been fantastic. I would say that 50 percent of the work in 2021 was trying to figure out how to hold a craft fair and how to hold anything else with the restrictions.”

2022 Bass Coast Music Festival. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

2022 Country Christmas Parade. Marius Auer/Herald

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Don’t Dr ink and Dr ive

MADD continues its Project Red Ribbon campaign

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

With the holiday season wrapping up and New Year’s celebrations approaching quickly, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are urging drivers to make a commitment to always driving sober. Many

people have lost loved ones or suffered devastating injuries at the hands of an impaired driver, with over 100 people being killed annually, and many more being injured.

MADD, a non-profit organization

looking to raise awareness about and prevent impaired driving, is currently in the midst of its annual Project Red Ribbon campaign. The campaign looks to promote safe and sober driving during the holiday season, and year round.

MADD Canada executives are

sharing their personal stories of loss to raise awareness.

“Far too many people are missing loved ones and far too many are dealing with injuries, all because of senseless and preventable impaired driving crashes,” said MADD Canada National President

“For my family, Christmas will never be the same because my brother D.J. won’t be with us.”

D.J. Hancock, an 18 year old high school senior, died in a head-on collision with an impaired driver in 2014.

Hancock said the pain of the loss of a loved one is immeasurable, and that she is hopeful D.J’s story will inspire others to make a commitment to driving sober.

Drivers are reminded to do their part in preventing further tragedies by never driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is urging drivers to arrange a ride and arrive alive this holiday season. Photo/MADD

Jaymie-Lyne Hancock

Marius Auer

@YRBNicola

Don’t

and drive

From Page 25

impaired, never getting in a vehicle with an impaired driver, and calling 9-1-1 to report any suspected impaired drivers. Hancock urges drivers to take these steps and avoid further fatal accidents, like the one involving her brother.

“Please don’t

take the risk with your life or anyone else’s life,” Hancock added.

“If you are consuming alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs, put the keys away and arrange a sober ride home. Call an Uber or a cab, take public transit, or arrange a designated driver.”

Those who chose to drive while

impaired face a myriad of possible consequences, including possible criminal charges, license suspensions, vehicle impoundment, fines, interlock ignition installations, and even mandatory rehabilitation. To avoid these consequences, and arrive alive, don’t drink and drive.

SPORTS

Merritt continues to excel in athletics, whether it be curling, volleyball, softball, or hockey.

new mantra for season 50

another regular season for other teams in the league, this upcoming 2022-2023 campaign is special for the Cents because it marks their 50th year, a milestone achievement for any franchise.

The Herald sat down with Cents head coach, Curtis Toneff to discuss their past season, relationship with the community, and to learn more about their new mantra, “whatever it takes.”

Q: What were your main takeaways from this past season?

great people and they really put their heart and soul into playing. They were up against it, in the best conference in Canada but they never really gave up on or off the ice, we had no quitters. There may be a lot of new faces in the room this coming year but I will always respect that group of 23 players that we had to finish off this past season.”

hard work that’s been put into having this team be here. ‘Whatever it takes,’ that slogan has something to do with the future and keeping a hockey club in Merritt. I think with a successful season, on and off the ice, we could make sure that the Merritt Centennials are here for many years to come.”

The Merritt Centennials recently shared on Twitter their exhibition schedule, stating that there is only two months left until we get to see them on the ice once again. Although it may be just

A: “There were two big devastations in this community, starting with the forest fires and then the floods. I came in around Christmas time and we only had 17 players left with only so many cards to use on players. We added players that were available in the Jr. A world and just got through the season. Talking for the last few weeks with our president, Kelly, we accepted that our record was what it was but the young men in our locker room were all

Q: Can you explain the idea behind the team’s new mantra, ‘whatever it takes’?

A: “That’s a saying that we came up with because this team has been doing that for 49 years, so why not have that slogan come to life for its 50th? There’s been a lot of people behind the scenes that put in a lot of hours into making sure there is a hockey club in Merritt. It’s no secret that this team has been struggling in the last two or three seasons and we’re ready for a fresh approach to next year while keeping in mind the

Q: How could you relate ‘whatever it takes’ to the community of Merritt?

A: “They’ve been doing whatever it takes for months and months now, and the aftermath of these natural disasters is still being dealt with. If the Merritt Centennials can do anything for this community, with COVID-19 restrictions subsiding, we want to make sure we are out in the community, doing whatever it takes to help people in need, to get back on track or just to provide a fun day or to for them through events and through appearances.”

leads Team Canada in Pan-American Championships

Pan-American Championships.

The team notched silver at the tournament after a long two-year layoff and leading the charge, none other than Merrittonian, John Stuart.

Stuart has been the head coach for the men’s national team since 2014, running a program that has collected many medals over the years.

out playing men’s softball at 16 in Squamish, BC. He claims that he would’ve never imagined that he would be in the position he’s in today.

“It’s been a pretty unbelievable experience it just kind of happened by accident,” Stuart recalled.

the strategic part of coaching and managing people.”

Team Canada is once again representing the country for softball at the

Passion for softball has always been there for Stuart, who started

“I never really thought about it but once I got into it, I just loved it. I love the thinking part of it; I love the maneuvering,

One thing led to another for Stuart; from coaching Team BC, then the Vancouver Grey Sox. Afterwards, Stuart became a guest coach for Team Canada, then becoming an assistant coach, and eventually being the head coach after his mentor, Mark Smith, vacated the position.

“He was the one that gave me

the break to get me involved with Team Canada,” said Stuart.

Under the direction of Stuart, Team Canada has seen repeated success; winning gold at the 2015 World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan then winning gold at the PanAmerican Games in Toronto the same year. In 2017 Team Canada won bronze in the World Championships

held in Whitehorse, Yukon.

In 2019, the squad was able to win Bronze at the Pan-American games in Prague, Czech Republic before all sports were shut down.

“The World Championships were every two years but because of COVID our team has not been together since Prague,” Stuart Explained.

Their play in

2019 earned them a spot in Argentina for the 2022 Pan-American Championships.

Ten teams competed and Team Canada has been undefeated leading up to the championship game.

“Our pitching has been phenomenal and our hitting has been getting better every game,” Stuart explained.

“I’d say we’re about 80 percent from where

Merritt

Team Canada Men’s Softball Head Coach

John Stuart Photo/John Stuart

Izaiah Reyes

Izaiah Reyes

we were before COVID. Hopefully we get into the gold medal game and then anything can happen.” Unfortunately the team lost

against Argentina in the gold medal game with a Final score of 4-1. However they are now qualified for the World Championships happening in New Zealand,

November of this year because they finished top four in the rankings.

Outside of his duties with Team Canada, Stuart is also an active member of the community.

The head coach had the pleasure of helping out with the Christmas dinners hosted in Merritt for the past two years.

“I travel a lot for ball but with COVID I’ve been

home a lot so it was a blessing in that respect because I had the chance to help out more in the community,” Stuart explained.

“I come from a small community

and now I’m back in a small community with Merritt and that’s where I want to be.”

Stuart said that he also would like to give back by helping grow the sport of softball

in the Merritt for those interested.

“I’m always willing to help out and build the sport as long as I’m available,” said Stuart. “I would like to help out kids, maybe host a

development camp which I’ve talked about with my assistant coach.”

To get the latest news on Team Canada please visit their website www. softball.ca

Merritt Curling Club competes for charity and poultry

of action-packed fun in one of the valley’s most popular pastimes. After years of scaled down events due to pandemic restrictions, events and leagues are back in full swing this year. On November 26, curlers gathered to play in the annual Turkey Spiel, with turkeys, chickens, and eggs up for grabs for winning teams.

back to the BC Children’s Hospital.”

The BC Children’s Hospital is located in Vancouver, and provides care and research for those ages 0-16 from all over the province. Despite being a non-profit organization themselves, the Merritt Curling Club often gives back to the community in a number of ways.

Recently, the Curling Club hosted a dinner fundraiser at the Grand Pub, raising funds for much-needed upgrades to their facility. With the money raised from this event, in addition to grants and a recent $6000 donation from Canadian insurer Wawanesa, the club looks to lose the leaks and spruce up the siding.

The Merritt Curling Club’s annual Turkey Spiel attracted dozens of Merrittonians for its return on November 26. Marius Auer/Herald

Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt Curling Club’s season is well underway, marking another year

In addition to the prospect of poultry, regular curling matches were played, and lunch was served. Proceeds from the “closest to the button” game, which had a $2 entry fee, were designated for charity. The event’s title sponsor facilitates the donation of funds raised from the Turkey Spiel to a cause known province-wide.

“Save On Foods sponsors our Turkey Spiel and donates to us the turkeys, chickens, and the eggs,” said Bob Taylor, director with the curling club.

“We collected money from entry fees, and we also did a ‘closest to the button’ game for a toonie, with all proceeds going

The club also looks to engage the community in a number of ways, and invites those of all ages to try curling. Working with Merritt Secondary School and several of elementary schools in the valley, the club promotes curling and physical activity throughout all walks of life. Eight junior teams currently play out of the Merritt Curling Centre on Mamette Avenue, in addition to a plethora of other teams.

“The season is going great, we have 11 mens teams, 8 ladies teams, and we have a doubles league and a triples league,” noted Taylor.

“We’ve managed to get a grant from the BC Gaming Commission for the roof. It’s been a much needed thing for our club. The club is 50 years old now, and the roof is 50 years old, and we struggle with leaks in the wet season,” added Taylor.

“We just had a fundraiser because we’re going to try and spruce up the front of the building with some new siding.”

For more information on the Merritt Curling Club, including upcoming events and membership applications, visit www. merrittcurling.ca.

Highlights from the 2022 Sr. Girls Volleyball Provincials

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Merritt Secondary School (MSS) has finally concluded its highly anticipated hosting of the Sr. Girls AA Provincial Championship Tournament this past weekend. The successful outing featured many storylines between the different teams. The event also proves that Merritt is a very viable host for such a high level tournament.

“This truly was a special event,” said MSS Athletic Director, Gian Cavaliere. “From the parents who traveled to support their kids, to the coaches, and to the athletes themselves, they were all so pleasant and their feedback on how appreciative they were of our tournament, and the work we’ve put in was pretty cool to see.”

The tournament began with a welcome banquet Wednesday night, November 30, at the Merritt Civic Centre. All 16 teams gathered for a celebratory dinner, catered by Kekuli Cafe, before putting their game faces on the following day.

An opening ceremony was held at the MSS gym, on Thursday, December 1.

Teams all arrived in a ceremonial grand march and heard speeches from different individuals, saw an Indigenous dance performance, as well as a number from the Merritt Performance Company.

The games then proceeded, lasting until Saturday night. The medal games were very competitive and saw Kalamalka Lakers coming out on top. The Lakers defeated the Mulgrave Titans who ended in second place while the Langley Fundamental Titans defeated Notre Dame to secure bronze.

Prior to the provincials, MSS had already hosted two 16 team tournaments which gave the committee a good sense of what to expect with logistics of running the games. However, the provincials is more than just the games, and reflecting back on how the event turned out, the MSS Athletic Director realized a few things.

“I think the one thing that really surprised me was the sheer number of volunteers needed to run an event like this. We’re talking about score keepers, lines people, people at the ticket tables, people making and delivering food, and people taking products to the different venues. We were very fortunate that MSS and the

community of Merritt came out in huge numbers to help support this tournament through volunteer roles.”

A number of people throughout the tournament had reached out to Cavaliere in person or via email, to send him a message of appreciation with the amazing event that everybody involved with the tournament has put out.

“This raises our profile and raises our brand,” he said. “It gives teams another option to come and play sports. Merritt is a great location, you wouldn’t have to travel very far to get here. Going to a tournament here you will be guaranteed that it is well ran, and you know you will be cared for because of the work that is being put in.”

As of now there are no immediate plans to host another high profile tournament like this. Cavaliere notes that there are already hosts for the following provincial tournaments and that the school has no plans to bid for a provincial tournament of a different sport.

“Depending on how much we can do, there might be plans down the road to put a bid for hosting this again,” he said.

“I want to thank all the sponsors, the officials, community of Merritt, MSS

and student volunteers, the host moms who looked after each team, my committee who’ve put in multiple hours of work to ensure that this tournament ran as well as it did.”

staff

2022 AA Sr. Girls Volleyball Provincial Champions Kalamalka Lakers. Izaiah Reyes/ Herald

Marius

Izaiah Reyes

Youth Collaboration Table feeds the young people of the valley

to participate.The scavenger hunt will last until April 1.

The lunch today was held at Spirit Square which has had a reputation for not being youth friendly. Using the space in a way similar to this free lunch could help change the Square’s bad rap.

Nlaka’pamux Health Services.

“But coming here as a group and making it more of a safe space to hang out makes it an option.”

The lunch will be taking place on the third Friday of each month and will take place at a different location each time.

The Nicola Valley Youth Collaboration Table held its youth and young people outreach lunch on Friday, March 18, at the Spirit Square.

Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society, Merritt Community Policing, Scw’exmx

Community Health Services, Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly, Nlaka’pamux Health Services, Lower Nicola Indian Band, and Merritt Secondary School have come together to form the collaboration table with youth in mind.

“It’s just really

important to stay connected with the youth,” said Marlene Jones, Community Policing Office Coordinator. “If they’re having problems or issues we want them to know where they can come for support.”

Kids were able to eat hotdogs and chips and have either water or a juice box

provided by the Table. School supplies, wellness and grooming supplies, were also handed out at the lunch.

The table setups by the different organizations provided pamphlets and explanations to the services they provide that the youth and the community might not be aware of.

“It feels good when we have

opportunities like this to open up our services to others,” said Virginia Aspinall, programs coordinator for the CNA.

Along with the lunch, the Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society launched its first ever spring scavenger hunt. A challenge thrown out into the Valley open for anyone

“I wouldn’t come with my packed lunch and eat here on a normal day,” says Lepika Saddleman, member of the

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WEL COME YOU

Crossroads Community Church 2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Omre) Sunday ser vice 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464

Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899

Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:00 p.m.

Sacred Hear t 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 ever y Sunday - 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.

Do you have a community story idea? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing reporter@merrittherald.com.

Nicola Valley Youth Collaboration Table’s ‘Youth Outreach Lunch’. Izaiah Reyes/Herald Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

SOCIETY

Erma Elaine LINES

March 22, 1923 - December 14, 2022

Erma passed into the presence of her Lord on December 14, 2022, at the age of 99.

She was born in Ladner, B.C. on March 22, 1923, the eldest of four children, to Hugh and Emma Burr She was raised on the family farm and loved the farm life, especially her horses.

Erma worked as a switchboard operator and met her husband, Frank, when he was stationed at the Boundary Bay Canadian Armed Forces Station during W.W ll.

After their marriage, Erma stayed at home to faithfully care for her 4 children. Everyone was welcome in her home and treated with warmth, kindness and a ready smile. Many found joy from being in her presence.

She was active in Ladner and Merritt Baptist Churches and enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Palm Springs, and a mission to Mexico.

Erma was predeceased by her parents Hugh and Emma Burr, Frank, her husband of 65 years, brother Stanley Burr, and beloved grandsons Jeremy and Matthew Lines. She will be greatly missed by her children, Karen (Bob) LaRoy, Debbie (John) Pearson, Sandra (Doug) Pearson, Hugh (Renee) Lines, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Erma is also survived by her brother Joseph Burr and sister Betty Lunasco.

We would like to thank the staff at Mountain View Manor in Ladner and also Dr Makarenko for their loving care given to Erma over the past 14 months and previous to that, the caring staff at the Florentine and Dr Ross in Merritt, B.C.

A memorial will be held at a later date.