school graduations ceremonies I have been to, I have never felt so connected to the grads and their families. It was a beautiful feeling. On top of that, the grad parade was like no other and the response and community support for the grads and their families was off the hook. Again, a very proud and good time to be a Merritonian. In sum, as much as losing the traditional graduation hurt, our grads and community rose like a phoenix from the ashes and delivered the most personable, touching and community driven graduation I have ever been a part of. Thank you grads and thank you Merritt for stepping up to make this years graduation special for our kids!
It has been a year to remember for so many reasons and within our school community we simply cannot believe what has transpired for our students, and most importantly for the graduating class of 2020. Graduation is a culmination of 13 years of school and is a monumental moment in our lives that has to be celebrated and shared with family and community. Due to COVID, the traditional graduation landscape changed drastically for our students, but I am proud to say our grads and our community stepped up! We come together when it counts the most and this was no different. Every business in town and anyone connected to a grad came forward and made this a graduation to remember. Almost every grad and their families, from our school, was visited and personally presented their diploma by the MSS admin team. In all my years and in all the high
— MSS PRINCIPAL
LEROY SLANZI
Dream Big The sky’s the limit, we know you’ll go far!
STORE HOURS 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM 7 Days a week DRUGStore™ Pharmacy Hours Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Sunday: Closed
2760 Forksdale Ave. 250-378-1841
DANAYA-DAWN BAGNALL-NEIL Danaya Bagnall-Neil
CHLOE SHEARER
APRIL MOREL
MACKENZIE WRAY
B2 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Hunter Ashley
Emily Baek
Casey Baker
Maxwell Bose
Rayanna Bosnich
Bill Brewer
Shelby Brown
Brianna Charters
Neleah Chillihitzia
Justin Collins
Megan Dunsmore
Thameren Dyck
Leif Ellingsen
Truman Gao
Emily Geier
Isabella Aljam-Antoine
Darcy Fraser
20 20
Alissa Barnett
Verna Charlie
Stuart Brown
Dawson Daw
Josh Desmond
Talyn Ferch
Emma Forman
Wade Fountain
Megan Grant
Kayla Gray
Ethan Gregg
Maximus Curtis
Congratulations,
MSS Grads of 2020 we wish you success and happiness in your future.
Class of
Makayla Bales
Congratulations!
Graduating Class of 2020 Go forward in the direction of your dreams.
t-Valu Glas s e B 2663 Granite Ave., s Merritt, BC 250-378-4531
Congratulations Hunter
Congratulations Emma
We can’t believe how the years have flown by. We wish you only the best in the next chapter of your life!
We are so proud of you We love you to the moon and back
Love Mom, Rich Gramma and Papa And all your family & friends.
Hunter Ashley
We love you! Mom and Dad
From all of us at
DENTISTRY @ MERRITT “WHERERELAXATIONMEETS CARE”
www.dentistryatmerritt.ca
2731 Forksdale Avenue
Call: 250-378-4888
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B3
www.merrittherald.com
Valedictorian Speech years we have made memories, lost friends, made new ones and grown into the young adults we are faced to become today, ending a chapter of our life. Though today, we are forced to face the fear of the unknown, it may be alarming, not knowing what’s next or where to begin, terrified of making new friends or failing but as said by J.K Rowling “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.” Looking back on the simpler times of a young grade eight, where our biggest issues were having to WALK to 711 during lunch hours to get our Slurpee’s. How much we have all changed, grown up and worked towards our goals, which at that time seemed impossible. Much like how running the mile run in grade eight PE felt insurmountable. These small fears seem to all be coming back as we leave high school, to join the world without the cushions to always fall back on, though now we have realized that our problems then seem so minor now. Today, we have grown so much from those naive grades eights we once were. It is thanks to our teachers, parents, guardians and friends that we have become the young adults we are today. Not only did our teachers, teach us the mandatory subjects throughout school, they spent time teaching life
skills and guiding us throughout our journey. Although, our parents and guardians were not there to teach us in a classroom, they were the ones supporting us on the field or in the band room, making sure that we were provided with the best high school experience. Our friends for being the people we could fall back on, the people we trusted with our deepest secrets and could go to when we needed a good laugh or a shoulder to cry on. Without them, it would not have been possible for us to become such strong individuals sitting here waiting to virtually throw our caps into the air. Now, on to the moment we’ve been waiting for, the one piece of paper declaring that we are no longer young high school students, but graduates waiting to commence their new chapter, to begin to change the world or perhaps travel it. I couldn’t imagine taking this journey with any other grad class but the one here in this zoom today, although this was not the way we had all planned for our senior year to end, I am happy to say that I had the opportunity to learn from everyone here and am able to say that we all went through a Global Pandemic together, trying to make the best of it and still making memories that will be impossible to forget. Leaving this remarkable chapter of our lives to embark in a new one, I’d like to say, congratulations to the Class of 2020!!!!!!!!
Congratulations on your graduation
reese We couldn’t be more proud of you! Love from all of your family!
Congratulations YVONNE on crossing the milestone of high school. Our special girl to whom the world gave a special graduation. There were days of doubts, but your faith and hard work brought you through. We are proud of the woman you have become with your beautiful heart and quick wit. Love, Mom, Dad, Lily, Peter, Susanna, Timothy
Shawn Paterson Tel: 250-378-2929
DC 21 52
S AUTO
3 ys Laud er St., Ba
Geoff Scholtens Mortgage Broker
Direct: 250-936-8250 Toll Free: 1.877.222.2865 geoff.s@mortgagegroup.com www.CallGeoff.com
&
4
G
ood evening friends, family, staff, members of the community and most importantly the Class of 2020. I am honored to be speaking in front of all of you here today, to commemorate the memories and accomplishments we have made in these past four years. We finally made it, the moment we have been working towards for the past 13 years. Four years ago, we were all at the bottom of the totem pole, young grade eights terrified of walking on the wrong side of the hallway or sitting on the wrong bench. Unknowing of the journey we had ahead of us. In these past four
B4 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Maya Gregoire
Will Gregoire
Amy Gunn
Mikayla Hahn
Hailee Harkies
Brandon Hatch
Saige Hepper
Atrayu Johnny
Drew Kanigan
Braeden King
Harmony Kostesky
Blake Lafferty
Carson Lang
Larissa Law
Mariah Lean
Calista Ledoux
Chaeyoung Lee
Maria Lindley-Sheena
Garrett MacDonald
Levi Mack
Jessica Mann
Amy Manuel
Ryan Marklund
Maria McIvor
Starr McIvor-Tighe
Braeden McKinney
Jake McLean
Isaiah McRae
Phillip McRae
“NEW PATIENTS ALWAYS WELCOME” HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
250-378-5877 2088 Quilchena Ave., (beside the Royal Bank) PO Box 3090, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
to this year’s 2020 Grads
with
special mention
to
AMY MANUEL!!!!!!!
Congratulations on all your hard work !!
Johnny’s on the Rez Take Out or Pick Up Pizza: 250-315-0087 Located 7km from Town on Hwy 8 West • 250-378-9557
2020
Stoyoma Dental wishes all the Merritt Graduates a sincere CONGRATULATIONS!
Melissa Hartman
Congratulations
FELIZE
Congratulation Felize on your graduation. Grandpa and Granny are so very proud of you and all you have done in your short 18 years of life. Its a big world out there for your to take.
GO GET IT.
LOVE YOU ALWAYS GRANDPA AND GRANNY.
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B5
www.merrittherald.com
TO ALL OF OUR BP FAMILY GRADUATES
www.bostonpizza.com • (250) 378-4222 3939 Crawford Ave., Merritt, BC
B6 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Gage Meding
Morning Star Meldrum
Chloe Mitchell
April Morel
Anique Morrison-Rainville
Kaleb Moses-Hall
Luke Narcisse
Alyx Narjes
Alberta Ned
Taylor Nicholls
Felize Omori
Mason Ortega Hogan
Reese Paterson
Mikaela Peat
Eric Peterson
Niah Prowal
Amritpal Randhawa
Wyatt Reed
Shelby Reeves
Levi Rigden
Keaton Robinson
Olivia Schmid
Avery Sigurdsson
Coltin Smith
Meeca Paglingayen
Kevin Reed
Yvonne Scholtens
Taylor Shackelly
Chloe Shearer
Proud to serve the Aboriginal Community Levi Shuter
From everyone at From everyone at (250) 378 6808 Located at 1951 Garcia Street
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020. MAY YOUR FUTURE BE FILLED WITH HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY. Your MP available to you
Your new diploma is your ticket to a bright future! Congratulations on your graduation!
1951 Garcia Street
(250) 378.6808
Congratulations to our hardworking grad and the whole class of 2020.
@DanAlbas
1701 VOGHT STREET, MERRITT, BC
250-378-4215
Mikaela Peat
3561 Voght St., Merritt BC 250-378-9112
DanAlbas4COSN
Toll Free: 1-800-665-8711 www.danalbas.com
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B7
www.merrittherald.com
Jackson’s Welding would like to congratulate all of the
Grads of 2020! Good luck on all of your future endeavours!
Warm Wishes to Atrayu Johnny
Jackson’s Welding
1750 Hill Street, Merritt 250-378-4332
B8 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Hope Smith
Jorja Thormoset
Ivy Smith
Junseo Song
Letisha Spahan
Jack Stockbruegger
Sandra-Lee Tom
Koral Trodd
Kolby Turmel
Ashley Valois
Amber Webster
Kaelan West
Megan Ward
Liam Warren
Nicolas Willey
Jayden Story
Colton Ward
Mackenzie Wray
Photos not available: Raven Aljam Rebecca Canadien Benjamin Atkinson
Talon Zakall
Caleb Young
Cole Johnston Wyatt Marlow Brock Moffat Nema Shokraee
The future holds no promises, but rather mysteries and surprises. What you’ve learned will prepare you for both.
CLASS OF CLASS OF
CONGRATULATIONS
2020 2018
on achieving your goals. May you always accomplish what you set out to do.
Congratulations Grads of 2020 Thomson’s Truck Parts & Sales Ltd. 250-378-8266 • 2172 Douglas Street
www.millcreekdesign.ca • 250-378-6311
“Success for ALL Learners ~ Today and Tomorrow” Congratulations to the Class of 2020 The Board of Education of School District No. 58 (Nicola-Similkameen)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry D. Threau
Highland Valley Copper Take a moment to honour this important milestone in your life. An abundance of opportunities awaits and it is time to embrace your future. Congratulations to Merritt Secondary School Graduating Class of 2020
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B9
www.merrittherald.com
Mariah! We are all so proud of you. Enjoy your journey! Love from your family.
THE THRIFT SHOP Merritt, BC
Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary
1803 Voght St.
www.nvhealthcareaux.ca Ph: 250-378-9100
Hack Electric would like Start each day believing in your dreams. Know without a doubt that you were made for great things. We’re offering rewarding careers in the construction industry to select graduates. inc.
CALL 250-315-5074
to congratulate all the
Grads of 2020! Good luck on all your future endeavours!
DRIVE SAFE 2865C Pooley Ave.
250-378-5580
Congratulations to all
Grads of 2020 HOURS:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
250-378-9238
1800 Garcia Street, Merritt, BC
B10 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Achievements ABORIGINAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (Two) Cherish Oppenheim Memorial Scholarship $1000 - Starr McIvor-Tighe $1000 - Taylor Shackelly ALBERTA FRASER BURSARY $1000 - Felize Omori $1000 -Truman Gao BETA SIGMA PHI BURSARY $500 - Emi Baek C.M. SUTTIE MEMORIAL BURSARY $1250 - Kevin Reed CUPE - LOCAL #847 SCHOLARSHIP $500 - Felize Omori DISTRICT/AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIPS $1250 - Emi Baek - Makayla Bales - Bill Brewer - Brianna Charters - Neleah Chillihitzia - Josh Desmond - Leif Ellingsen - Truman Gao - Drew Kanigan - Larissa Law - Amy Manuel - Ryan Marklund
2020 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
MERRITT SIKH SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP $500 - Amrit Randhawa - Nicolas Willey MERRITT VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION BURSARY $1000 - Neleah Chillihitzia $500 - Maria McIvor - Megan Dunsmore
NICOLA VALLEY TEACHERS’ UNION -Service Award $500 - Talon Zakall -Tutoring/TA Scholarship $500 - Amy Manuel -Kennedy-Hughes Scholarships $500 - Ryan Marklund -Scholarship $1000 - Nicolas Willey - Drew Kanigan
MOHINDER BASI MEMORIAL BURSARY $250 - Drew Kanigan
OLD TIME FIDDLERS SCHOLARSHIP $500 - Megan Grant PATRICIA REBEKAH LODGE #33 BURSARY $500 - Jorja Thormoset - Kevin Reed
HARRIS & CO BURSARY $200 - Amy Gunn
MERRITT FIREFIGHTERS/ MONTE MACLEAN MEMORIAL BURSARY $300 - Emi Baek
NICOLA MASON LODGE BURSARY $750 - Emi Baek * NICOLA VALLEY HEALTH CARE AUXILIARY BURSARY $2000 - Megan Grant - Jorja Thormoset - Truman Gao - Emi Baek - Leif Ellingsen
INFRACON CONSTRUCTION SCHOLARSHIP $500 - Amy Manuel - Felize Omori
MERRITT SENIOR CENTRE BURSARY $500 - Emi Baek - Larissa Law
NICOLA VALLEY PRINCIPALS & VICE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION BURSARY $500 - Alyx Narjes
JAMIE GILLESPIE BURSARY $200 - Kayla Gray
- Maria McIvor - Felize Omori - Mikaela Peat - Niah Prowal - Ani Rainville - Olivia Schmid - Avery Sigurdsson - Liam Warren - Nicolas Willey
JANIS POST, PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION RE/MAX LEGACY BURSARY $1000 - Megan Dunsmore
DOUGLAS LAKE CATTLE CO. SCHOLARSHIP $1500 - Amy Gunn
JENNIFER BOWDEN BURSARY $500 - Felize Omori - Olivia Schmid
ELKS LODGE #441 BURSARY $500 - Megan Grant - Alyx Narjes
JEREMY BAIN MEMORIAL BURSARY $500 - Nicolas Willey MAKAYLA MCRAE MEMORIAL BURSARY $500 - Emily Geier
EVES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP $200 - Larissa Law - Ivy Smith - Felize Omori
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!
Lower Nicola Indian Band
Kaleb Moses-Hall
Amy Manuel
Kayla Gray
Lower Nicola Indian Band
Anastasia Camastro
Lenny Isaac
Emma Rettenbacher
Levi Shuter
Phone: 250-378-5157
Maxwell Bose
Isabella Aljam-Antoine
Miya Coutlee
ROTARY CLUB OF MERRITT SCHOLARSHIP $2000 - Olivia Schmid - Mikayla Hahn - Felize Omori SAVE-ON-FOODS BURSARY $500 - Niah Prowal “SMITTY” THE BAKER MEMORIAL BURSARY $500 - Saige Hepper SPECTRA ENERGY (TWO) BURSARIES $500 - Kevin Reed - Truman Gao SUKI RANDHAWA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP $300 - Liam Warren TECK HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER BURSARY $750 - Felize Omori
PLAYBOOK LOGISTICS INC. BURSARY $250 - Nelaeh Chillihitzia
TNRD BURSARY $1000 - Leif Ellingsen TY POZZOBON MEMORIAL AWARD $1000 - Bill Brewer WILDWYND RANCH AWARD $1000 - Saige Hepper - Junseo Song
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!
May your future be bright and prosperous
Aisha Cisco
PHARMASAVE BURSARY $1000 - Nelaeh Chillihitzia
ROCK SOLID INDUSTRIES SCHOLARSHIP $1000 - Taylor Shackelly - Bill Brewer
JAMARA JOYAL MASSAGE THERAPY BURSARY $500 - Olivia Schmid Lower Nicola Indian Band
Lower Nicola Indian Band
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B11
www.merrittherald.com
May your future be bright and prosperous
Isaiah McRae
Spencer Vaughan
181 Nawishaskin Lane, Merritt, BC, VIK 0A7
ANASTASIA BASIL-DAN
MONICA PETTINGER
Office Administration
Office Administration
MISSING POST SECONDARY PHOTOGRAPHS
LILY SHUTER
HUNTER KRAUS
MARSHAL KRAUS
Administration Studies
Residential Construction
Bachelor of Tourism
Certificate
Foundations Certificate
Management
SHAELAN WILLSON Health Care Assistant Certificate
Lower Nicola Indian Band
TRAVIS STERLING Environmental Resources Technology Certificate
AYANA BROWN Associates Degree
Phone: 250-378-5157
ERICA JOE
KAYLA MCBEE
JERROD PETERSON
Bachelor of Science/
Master of Social Work
Environmental Resources
Nursing WYATT STERLING Dramatic Arts Diploma
Technology Certificate WILLIAM SHUTER Residential Construction Foundations
KAY SWAKUM Master of Social Work
181 Nawishaskin Lane, Merritt, BC, VIK 0A7
B12 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
To the class of GOOD FOOD, GOOD SERVICE, GRAND TIMES!
Congratulations! 2601 NICOLA AVENUE,
MERRITT, B.C. 250-378-5141 KalTire.com
Congratulations to all 2020 Grads, may your futures be accomplishing and successful Located in the Royal Lepage building 3499 Voght St. Ph: 250-378-9446 • Fax: 250-378-5257 Check out our website: www.cjrbookkeeping.com
When you think about the last four years, you’ll probably remember that your greatest lessons came from outside the classroom. It’s a good reminder that learning doesn’t stop just because you received a diploma. 2001 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC
250-378-2022
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES OF 2020 You’re on your way to seek new vistas, dream new dreams, embark on who you are. Remember to embrace life with passion and keep reaching for the stars 250-378-4618 2099 Garcia Street
Sun-Wed: 11AM to 11PM Thurs-Sat: 11AM to Midnight
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B13
www.merrittherald.com
C
ongratulations
Hope Smith
to the Upper Nicola Band Graduates for 2020
Best wishes on your future, Grads!
Alberta Ned
Sandra Lee Tom
Neleah Chillihitzia
Maria Lindley-Sheena
Phillip McRae
Isiah McRae
Avery Chillihitzia
From the Upper Nicola Band - We are so proud of all that you’ve accomplished.
B14 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
Your Neighbourhood Drug Store Since 1952
We are more than just a Pharmacy Work hard to make your dreams come true.
www.blackspharmacy.com 2037 Quilchena Ave., Merritt 250-378-2155
To the Grads of 2020, Congratulations on your well-deserved success!
From Merritt City Council and Staff
www.merritt.ca
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B15
www.merrittherald.com
Nicola Valley & District Metis Society 250-378-5015 or 250-378-0076
email: mcdomic@shaw.ca • Facebook: Nicola Valley Metis The Nicola Valley & District Metis Society would like to congratulate the 2020 Metis grads and all grads that received their graduating diploma’s. Your Metis community shares your families’ pride in your hard work and accomplishment. We know you will make your dreams come true. Kolby Turmel• Gage Meding • Anique Morrison-Rainville Mackenzie Wray • Dawson Daw Amber Webster
B16 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
CONGRATULATIONS to the class of 2020! NVIT IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL, APPLY TODAY! Immediate Entry Bursaries available to all SD 58 and all eligible Indigenous grade 12 graduates from across the Province of British Columbia. Please contact us to find out more! WEBSITE: nvit.ca TOLL FREE: 1.877.682.3300
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B17
www.merrittherald.com
Now you are standing on the edge of a whole new life! You have a bright future and the only way is up from here! Best wishes for success in your brand new life!
NICOLA VALLEY RADIATOR 2775 Marian Avenue 250-378-1366
B18 • THURSDAY,
www.merrittherald.com
June 25, 2020
THANK YOU The 2020 Graduating Committee would like to thank the foollowing A Heartfult
for all their help and support
• • • • • • • • • • •
Grade 11 Parent Volunteers Elaine Gill Crystal Ward McGowan Q101 Radio Station Russ Willey Rob Wray Kuipers Doug Bell RCMP Merritt Herald Elizabeth Laird
• • • • • • • • • •
Roger White Harold and Cody Cartie Emily Weston Simon Rizzardo Ska Lu La Firefighters Conyat Friendship Society School District # 58 Norgaard Ready Mix MSS administration, teachers and support staff
• • • • • • • • •
2019 Grad Committee DCS Auto City of Merritt staff and recreational department Tim Bennett (Ministry of Forestry) Beth Nadeau YRB Hub Barton Insurance Darlene Story Extra Foods
• • • • • • • •
Trinity United Church Liquor Store Return It Bottle Depot Nicole Johnny Whitney Shackely Merritt Printing All the businesses that put the Grad photos up Grad Parents, Families and Volunteers
THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 • B19
www.merrittherald.com
The journey of life brings both challenges and chances. May you carry your spirit to grab the chances and beat the challenges.
Congratulations on your graduation.
May you live a proud life. Nothing can stop you now! Serving the Nicola Valley since 1960.
1301 Nicola Ave., 250-378-5121
Save On Foods would like to congratulate our employees and team members children on a job well done.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Mariah Lean
Jack Stockbruegger
Liam Warren
Carson Lang
Jorja Thormoset
Max Curtis
Coltin Smith
Congratulations Class of 2020 B20 • THURSDAY, June 25, 2020 www.merrittherald.com