March 21 - 2024

CLetyour creativity hop into action andbring your masterpiecetolifewith vibrantcolours.

Grab your crayons, marker sand coloured pencilstocreatean egg-citing Easter scene. Please drop of fyour colour fulcreations to the RE/MAX Legacy office by March27th!

We can’twaittosee your egg-ceptionalartwork .

Name:__________

Age: Open to kids 10 &under

Community engagement takes centre stage at town hall

On Monday, March 15, Merritt residents and neighbouring communities gathered at the Best Western Plus hotel in Merritt for a highly anticipated town hall meeting, which featured FraserNicola MLA Jackie Tegart alongside other representatives from the BC United party –Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, Peace River North MLA Dan Davies and Delta South MLA Ian Paton.

The event provided a platform for community members to voice their concerns, ask questions and engage in dialogue with their elected representative.

One of the focal points of the meeting was the discussion on the healthcare crisis. Concerns over the repeated ER closures in Merritt and access to essential services were passionately raised by several attendees.

Tegart assured of the ongoing efforts to address these issues.

“Mike (Goetz) and council have been working very hard on making sure that the government is very aware, every time there’s a closure,” she added. “Anytime we know about it, we have lobbied and have

a strong partnership in ensuring that the NDP know every time the ER is closed.”

She added that the repeated closures are a “critical issue in a community.”

“When you look at what a healthy community looks like, health services are very important. Also the fact that Merritt is the hub of so many highways coming together. We’re working hard with the mayor and council to get that message across to the government,” she added.

Another big concern among attendees was natural disasters, such as wildfires, atmospheric rivers and floods.

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz was present in the town hall and raised his concerns regarding flood mitigation and how the party would look into it.

“One of the things that we’re concerned about as we go through the flood mitigation is a provincial diking input, we don’t have that. We’ve asked several times what that would look like for a proper person to inspect the dikes every year, rather than having somebody from the Ministry of Forestry to decide whether the dike is good or not,” said Mayor Goetz.

Lorne Doerkson, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA, commented that BC United doesn’t have a formal policy on that just yet but

understands that dikes and dams need a different mechanism.

“Now, the problem is the way they (NDP) set up as far as having inspections done. They used to be $10,000 to do an inspection on a dam. Today, they’re $145,000 and you can’t find somebody to do it,” MLA Doerkson added.

Other topics such as education, senior care and transportation were also up to debate during the town hall meeting, which allowed residents and representatives to engage in an open dialogue.

Tegart and the other MLA present addressed these concerns, outlining initiatives on the work to address any gaps in the current government.

As the town hall ended, Tegart highlighted the importance of hosting events like this.

“It’s the part of the work that I really love. It’s the getting out in the community and hearing from the community,” she added. “I think that people need to be actively involved in politics. I always say that politics is not a spectator sport, we need to become informed and we need to get out and ask the hard questions and make a good decision about who you want to vote for.”

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart hosted a community town hall to talk to residents about their concerns and questions. Four other MLAs were alongside Tegart at the meeting. Photo/Kenneth Wong

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Family pleads Moran to be found

It wasn’t helping her.”

A B.C. family is trying to find a woman who disappeared nearly two months ago and hopes by sharing their story she’ll come back safely.

Tara Moran was last seen on Jan. 31 in Merritt. The 27-year-old was living at a shelter and has struggled with mental health and substance abuse for nearly five years.

Her older sister Caitlin Moran, 29, fears she could be in danger due to her high-risk lifestyle and health.

“We really want her to come back home and accept help,” she said.

“Give her the life she deserves.”

Caitlin said the two have not been close the last few years due to her to alcohol and methamphetamine addiction.

“We grew apart,” she said. “It’s been a struggle.”

Despite this, Caitlin’s been posting on social media and desperately searching for her sister.

The family has offered Tara options for rehabilitation and mental health resources, but Caitlin said they couldn’t force her to get treatment.

“It’s been very difficult,” she said. “We tried having her here [in the family house], but it was just too volatile.

Her parents spoke to Tara multiple times a month while she was living at the shelter.

“We’ve been trying to convince her to go to rehab for a while now. We were trying to get her to a place on Vancouver Island. We also tried doing an intervention around Christmas,” Caitlin said.

“It’s so hard with someone in a dire mental state. It’s so hard to get them committed.”

Caitlin said the journey to get her help has taken a toll on the family.

“It’s been extremely overwhelming,” she said. “I really want to support her.”

The family has reason to believe she might be in Vancouver, specifically the Downtown Eastside. Earlier in March, Caitlin and her father travelled to the area looking for her.

“We went to all the safe [injection] sites, women’s shelters [and] food kitchens. I posted up posters at a lot of high-traffic areas,” she said.

After a few days, they had no new information or sightings. Caitlin hopes if her sister reads this, that she will consider coming back to Merritt.

“Please come back. We can put everything behind us and I

Alanna Kelley Glacier Media

Photo/RCMP

TEGART: Addressing drug diversion and addiction OPINION

JACKIE TEGART VIEW FROM LEGISLATURE

The NDP’s supposedly ‘safe supply’ program has flooded our streets with drugs, leaving vulnerable youth to fall victim to their harms, misled by the false idea of it being ‘safe.’

In the last few months, there have been numerous drug busts uncovering substances intended for the safe

supply program being sold illicitly and redistributed around the province.

This alarming trend compounds the existing concerns surrounding our province’s toxic drug crisis.

With an average of seven deaths a day from toxic drugs in 2023, the spread of taxpayer-funded substances poses another significant threat to our communities.

Despite voicing concerns regarding drug diversion to the NDP for months, BC United has repeatedly seen our concerns disregarded by government.

However, countless constituents have expressed valid concerns about the implications of the toxic drug

supply and the alarming increase in drug diversion.

As I witness constituents grieve over loved ones lost to the toxic drug crisis, I am deeply troubled by the escalating gravity of the situation.

There is a genuine fear that these dangerous substances could find their way into the hands of vulnerable youth and teens.

However, the NDP continues to ignore rampant drug diversion and these growing risks.

Under a Kevin Falcon-led BC United government, our caucus is committed to providing a recoveryoriented system of care through our Better is Possible plan.

Instead of perpetuating the

failures of the current safe supply program, we will prioritize accessible and affordable treatment for individuals battling addiction.

Our plan includes increasing education and awareness campaigns to address the drug crisis and expand mental health services for those in need.

We cannot afford to stand by while our youth, teenagers, and loved ones face these dangers.

Doing more of the same simply isn’t working. BC United will put an end to the NDP’s taxpayer-funded drug crisis and prioritize the wellbeing of all British Columbians.

HO: Engineering by day, artistry by night

Even though I pursued a technical career in engineering, art has always been a part of me.

When I was four, my parents put me in music lessons and I followed my sister’s footsteps in learning the piano. It was tough as a kid, as our family took music very seriously and we were always busy practising piano, performing in recitals or competing in music festivals.

I was eager to put piano behind me, but “not until I finished all my exams for my diploma,” which was the deal with my parents. I was completely convinced I would pursue a very different career.

In high school, my favourite

class was Home Economics which was a sampling of cooking, woodworking and sewing. All three of the subjects allowed me to put my creativity to work, as well as my analytically skills, in completely different ways. I loved how you can construct something useful or fun. I was especially taken with sewing and I’ve continued it as a hobby to today.

Having had time to explore both my analytical and creative side, I have learned that I especially enjoy when I can use both together. I love doing creative crafts, with a challenging twist.

Or appreciate how a complicated piece of artwork was composed. I also realize that even though I thought practising the piano was a tedious chore, music and the arts taught me patience, expressiveness, and personal discipline, which helped shape the person that I am. Having the Nicola Valley Community Arts Centre in Merritt is a wonderful way that I can continue to be inspired and explore art.

Angela Ho

Nicola Valley Arts Council

From the Herald archives: March, 1988

Dogs poisoned by anti-freeze

Someone is using anti-freeze in baited meat to poison dogs in Lower Nicola, and a number of canines have already suffered horrible deaths.

“In the last five to six months, we’ve had about seven dogs that have been poisoned brought into this clinic,” said veterinarian Dr. Robert Purdy.

The

welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

“We just want her to be safe”

From Page 5

want to help you and support you in your sobriety, and getting healthy,” she said.

“Mom and Dad, we’re here for you and we just want to know you’re OK at the least.”

She said just because her sister struggles with her mental health and addiction, does not mean she doesn’t deserve to be found and have a chance at getting support.

Tara is described as being friendly and outgoing, 5-foot-11 and about 141 pounds. She has black hair that she wears in pigtails and hazel brown eyes.

She also has a small black tattoo behind her ear in the shape of a heart.

“We love her. I love her. And we just want her to be safe, and be OK,” Caitlin said.

Anyone with information about Tara’s whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Winter tires still required despite Spring weather

on wet roads when temperatures drop below 7 C,” said Acres.

invites you to our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm at the Civic Centre, room 4 NVFB Society members, and people interested in becoming members, are urged to attend. The more members we have signed up – the better our qualifications for grants to help us build our new facility! Membership is not onerous – the fee is just $5 00 and there is just the one meeting a year However, for those who wish to be more involved, we do have openings on our Board of Directors that need to be filled

Refreshments will be served. Our Annual Per for mance Review will be available Lear n about our proposed plans/dreams/wishes for our new facility that we will be building on our recently-acquired property!

Winter tires still required despite a forecasted warmer temperatures.

B.C. law requires winter tires or chains on provincial highways in the Thompson-Nicola region through March 31 with select highways through mountain passes or high snowfall areas extending the requirement until April 30.

Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work, emphasizes that safety is paramount, regardless of the season.

“Rain and cold nights are going to be with us for a while yet. Winter tires give you better traction and braking

Winter tires remain flexible in cold weather due to their softer rubber compound, improving grip and handling.

“Whether you’re driving for pleasure or for work, you want the best traction possible to help reduce the risk of crashing and seriously injuring yourself or your passengers,” Acres said.

According to Road Safety at Work, hundreds of thousands of British Columbians drive as a part of their jobs.

Road Safety at Work describes this as “may be the most dangerous

Kenneth Wong

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Photo/Herald file.

Four candidates for upcoming byelection

run close to Valemount, B.C., on her way to visit her family.

Four people are vying to fill the vacant councillor position at City of Merritt.

Yvette Baxter, Michael ‘MJ’ Phillips, Peter Coghill and Norma Jean Littleton are running for the seat vacated after the passing of Coun. Claire Newman.

Newman tragically passed away on July 5, 2023, in an apparent hit-and-

The byelection winner will serve as city councillor until November 2026.

Merritt residents are expected to head to the polls to elect a new city councillor on Saturday, April 20.

To be eligible to vote, electors must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years or older, a resident of B.C. for at least six months, and a resident of the City of Merritt.

Driving tips for all seasons

From Page 8

things they do during workday, even if it’s only done part time or occasionally,” stated in a press release. “Work-related crashes are the leading cause of traumatic workplace death in B.C.”

“Roads are one of the most dangerous places to work,” said Harry Bains, B.C. minister of labour. “No matter what time of the year it is, for everyone’s sake, please drive safely and always be prepared for poor road conditions.”

Road Safety at Work provides tips for driving regardless of season or reason for driving.

Check DriveBC.ca, municipal websites, and other local reports for up to date road and weather conditions.

Keep at least four seconds of distance between you and the car in front of you.

Be mindful of puddles and slow down when approaching them.

Keep windshield washer fluid filled up to the top and keep an extra jug on hand.

Monitor tire pressure monthly, the tire pressure can fluctuate as temperatures rise or fall which affects braking distance, steering, and handling.

“As we transition into spring, the imperative for safe winter driving remains,” said Todd McDonald, head of prevention services at WorkSafeBC. “Employers should continue to involve workers in understanding the risks of winter driving and adhere to winter tire regulations, even when we start seeing warmer temperatures throughout the province. Together, let’s make winter driving safer for everyone on the road throughout the entirety of the season.”

On March 9, a good samaritan paid for Wally Fischer’s six-pack of beer.

Fisher appreciates and thanks the mystery woman for their generosity.

“This can only happen in Merritt,” said Fischer.

Laísa Condé NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Photo/Herald file.

Council paves the way for affordable housing

City of Merritt passes resolution for Housing Merritt Project.

On Tuesday, March 12, council passed a resolution to approve a financial plan and post job description for Housing Merritt Project Director.

The Housing Merritt Project aims to address the recent changes made by the province in regards to housing.

The new legislation affects municipalities with more than 5,000 people, like Merritt, which will allow multi-unit developments on single-family and duplex lots, with the numbers of units determined by size of a lot and its proximity to transportation, ranging from three to six.

The changes in the legislation will also mandate

more frequent updates to zoning bylaws and official community plans (OCP). A deadline of June 30, 2024, has been set for local governments to bring current bylaws into compliance with the province.

“It’s a bit more complicated now because a lot of communities are doing the same kind of initiatives and are facing a lot of the same housing issues as we are,” said City of Merritt’s Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia White. “So there’s a lot more work being done at the municipal level to develop housing programs and so there’s a lot more competition for someone who’s capable of running this type of program.”

The City is looking to liquidate assets from the flood recovery fund such as trailer homes to turn into revenue.

“The goal is to determine

See BC HOUSING Page 12

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@ MERRITTHERALD.COM

Photo/Herald file.

From Page 11

how we can use that revenue to go on and support additional affordable, below market housing in the community, and so the Housing Merritt Project is about determining the best ways for us to approach that,” said White. “Do we start a Housing corporation, do we become an investor in those types of projects, do a grant stream for local developers? We’re not sure yet what’s going to work best in our community and so the first year or so of the project needs to determine our action plan for going forward.”

The City will be working closely with BC Housing and developers said White.

During the first year, the City will spend approximately $975,000 on the Housing Merritt Project. Most notably, the City will be investing $245,520 on pad rentals, $100,000 in housing and homelessness strategy, and $50,000 on housing needs assessment.

Working with BC Housing and developers Get your groove on for spring dance

Laísa Condé NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The much-anticipated Nicola Valley Cruisers Spring Dance is almost here.

Merrittonians are invited to dance all night long at the spring dance, which promises to be a night of retro tunes, classic cars and community camaderie.

On April 6, partygoers, car enthusiasts and

music lovers will be able enjoy a night with live music from local band Coquihalla Coyotes at the Elks Hall. Tickets for the event are already on sale at Home Hardware.

Gerry Kielman, president of the Nicola Valley Cruisers Club, said the event is an opportunity for people to do something fun.

“The goal of the event is just to get

Nicola-Canford to receive walkway for students

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

School District 58 to apply for permit to operate and maintain space for walkway.

If approved, SD 58 will build a three metre wide walkway running from Turner Ave and Aberdeen Road directly into Nicola Canford Elementary.

The space SD 58 hopes to build this walkway currently sits on private property. The school board currently has an agreement with the owner of the property to allow students to walk through the property to get to school.

The school board expects the permit

walkway construction to take up to 18 months and permit approval to be faster than the previous preliminary work invested into this walkway.

Trustee Justin Jepsen extends his gratitude to the school board and key stakeholders for getting the project underway.

“I think the biggest catalyst was that meeting that we had with everyone, all the players got in the same room and just sat together and figured it out, and that was your guys’ doing so just wanted to say thanks for that work and I think the community and the kids in Lower Nicola are quite thankful and they will be thankful for years,” said Jepsen.

Supporting the community

From Page 12

people out of the house and come out for a nice and have some fun,” he said. This year, the local car club known for their passion for vintage cars are celebrating 30 years as a car club.

Aside from the tradition of hosting the dance as a celebration of the season, Kielman said that funds raised at the dance each year are donated to a local group in support.

“So funds that we raise at the dance, we pick a different group to donate the proceeds to. This year it’s going to the Fall Fair, for their bathroom fund,” he added.

Keilman added that the car club is always finding ways to give back to the community that supports them throughout the year.

He hopes that everyone who attends has a great time partying and saying goodbye to the winter blues.

“It’s a fun time,” Keilman said. “A lot of people just like to get out and just have fun after the winter.

Photo/Kenneth Wong

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

From rodeo grounds to community venue

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds to become a venue for local events.

During their annual general meeting on Feb. 29, the Nicola Valley Rodeo Association (NVRA) discussed the last financial year and the future of the Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds.

Treasurer Gert Leslie announced during the meeting that it was the NVRA’s best financial year ever, highlighting that this year saw the most rentals, largest pro-rodeo crowd in over four years. NVRA president Peter Spencer noted “old timers said they haven’t seen a crowd like that at the rodeo for 20 to 30 years.”

Spencer also noted that the budget for the pro-rodeo has more than doubled since 2018 from approximately $82,000 to $170,000 in 2024, attributing the year’s financial success to an effective marketing campaign, placing advertisements in horse magazines, local radio stations, and newspaper.

The rodeo grounds have been booked by B.C. Cutting Horse Association, two weddings, and a reception with international guests. “One of the major industries in town booked us last fall for a reception for international guests that were visiting the city,” said Spencer.

“They asked us if we could put on a mini rodeo, but what we did was put on a demonstration of summer rodeo events.”

Spencer also noted that the

rodeo grounds were used as shelter during the floods and wildfires.

“There were many ranches and residents who had to vacate their properties, and we opened up the grounds for people with livestocks or if people didn’t have a place to go,” recounted Spencer.

and stating in a press release the site has “great potential beyond simply rodeo and equine events, as a community facility.”

“(We’ve had) three separate instances where we opened the grounds up free for the public, to be used for emergency purposes and I think that’s quite something for a volunteer group to be able to do that.”

Moving forward, the NVRA has a long term plan to make the 22 acre rodeo grounds adaptable to a wider variety of events, investing $500,000 into various upgrades for the facility

The NVRA is currently waiting for weather conditions to improve to begin converting a metal shed at the entrance into an entry plaza. The shed currently holds the NVRA’s tractors and various equipment but will be converted to look like a building out of the wild west with the conversion costing approximately $65,000.

During the annual general meeting, Spencer was reelected president for the third consecutive year. Under Spencer’s leadership, he hopes to lead the organization forward to complete the transition into an event venue.

“It’s really not me at all,” said Spencer. “It’s all of the board of directors and the volunteers who help out because there’s a lot of people that are involved with the organization that aren’t on the board but have been enthusiasts of the Association for years and continue to help us on a regular basis.”

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 58 (NICOLA-SIMILKAMEEN) BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS – 2023/2024 ANNUAL BUDGET

Tuesday, April 3, 2024:

Wednesday, May 8, 2024:

PLEASE NOTE:

A public budget presentation will be made to interested stakeholders at the Merritt School Board Office and live streamed (instructions to be provided on the school district website news feed). Representatives from our rights holders, schools’ Parent Advisory Council (PAC), District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), teacher and support staff unions, principals, and members of the public are invited to attend this meeting to review provincial funding, district projections for enrolment, as well as provide more specific infor mation regarding the district’s annual budget Stakeholder groups and members of the public are welcome to outline their priorities and provide input into the budget planning process The meeting will commence at 5:00 PM

First reading for the new Budget bylaw will be presented at the Open Board Meeting, May 8, 2024, 6:00 PM with second and third readings scheduled for the Open Board Meeting, June 12, 2024, 6:00 PM.

Representatives from stakeholder groups or members of the public will also make a presentation to Finance Representatives in private if they so desire Individuals or groups interested in making such a presentation must contact the Secretary Treasurer at drichardson@365. sd58 bc ca by April 12, 2024, to arrange a meeting, supported by a written submission.

SPORTS

Misfits ace the game for girls’ sport in town

Photos/Gian Cavaliere

Merritt Misfits is the new volleyball sensation in town.

The U13 Girls volleyball team is hitting the volleyball courts during their first year of club volleyball and marking their presence.

Gian Cavaliere, coach of the Merritt Misfits, said that he decided to create a U13 girls volleyball team in Merritt after noticing a steady decline in how many girls are playing sports in the province.

“We (the provincial board for B.C. high school sports) were slowly noticing once the girls hit about Grade 9, the number of girls that play sports really drops,” he said.

He saw it as a golden opportunity to keep advocating for kids to have more access to sport and keep playing sports, especially volleyball.

“One of the sports that’s really standing out, that’s getting a lot of momentum is volleyball,” Cavaliere added. “We have, for the first time this year in many years, a full set of girls’ team and a full set of boys’ team, which is great. So I really wanted to tap into that momentum.”

While building the team, Cavaliere was caught off guard during the tryouts.

“We had 49 girls come to try out, which is fantastic for a small community,” he said. “We now have a travelling team where we travelled to spots like Vernon, Burnaby, Abbotsford and Kamloops to play games.”

The Merritt Misfits was recently nominated Team of the Week by Volleyball BC. Cavaliere describes them

as a “great group of girls who work hard, have lots of energy and bring a lot of personality to our team.”

“It’s a lot of fun to be with them,” he said. “What’s exciting is that other club teams who have been in B.C. for a long time, they’re loving the energy we bring to our games, they love our logo and they love our name,” he added.

Cavaliere recognizes the impact of sports on people’s social skills development and network and hopes that kids are impacted the same way.

“The networks you develop and the community development is so special and so impactful. For me, without that community of people, I feel like there’d be an empty void in my life,” he added.

While most of the volleyball teams have nicknames inspired by animals such as the Cougars Volleyball Club based in Maple Ridge, or weather patterns such as the Vancouver Thunder Volleyball Club, Cavaliere wanted to break the pattern for his team and decided to call it Merritt Misfits.

“I just wanted to do something different, like something that would symbolize who we are,” said Cavaliere. “Growing up I was a bit of a misfit myself, in a fun way. So, I just felt it was a good representation of our team. We have girls that are kind of sassy and fun.”

Despite having a cost attached to it, just like any other community sport, Cavaliere said that the program tries to support parents and “make it as easy as pie”, giving the option for parents to pay their fee monthly.

“I just try to help to break that barrier of cost because I don’t want cost to be a hurdle or a limitation for our kids. I want our kids to play as much as possible,” he added.

Cavaliere added that the not-for-profit club is also looking for possible volunteers to coach, as his goal is to keep the program running and growing.

“My hope is that now that the brand is developing some momentum now that people are coming and hearing about us, my hope is that others will say ‘you know what, I want to be a misfit’,” he said.

“Our community has a lot of members who grew up in Merritt, played volleyball in Merritt, and they’ve chosen to come back and live in Merritt. And I like to tap into that community and see if some of these members would like to come out and coach a team and take over a team.”

As Cavaliere continues to expand the ‘Misfits’ brand, he shares on what he is planning up ahead to offer a community house league for those who didn’t make into the travelling team.

“Anyone that tries out can play in a house league and the cost would be lower. We’d have referees, it’d be a fun kind of like jamboree style kind of league,” he added. “So my hope is that even if you don’t make into that travelling team, there’s still an opportunity to play volleyball in the community and play against other kids in your age and just have some fun.”

He also partnered up with a Kelowna-based company to host a volleyball clinic in Merritt on Saturday, May 4.

Merritt will be hosting the U13 Girls Regionals on April 13-14, and volleyball enthusiasts will be able to check the Merritt Misfits in action. The Misfits will also be attending the provincials on April 27-28 in Abbotsford.

Laísa Condé

SPORTS

Merritt soccer seeking coaches and referees

teers to coach and referee.

Soccer season at risk in Merritt this year due to lack of coaches and referees.

As the soccer season is set to begin on April 8, the Merritt Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) is seeking volun -

“We’re a nonprofit volunteer based youth association so we’re only as strong as our volunteer base,” said U11 Division Director Paul Sutton. “And the sad fact of that is if we don’t have volunteers, it puts the league or at least the teams or divisions at threat of not playing.”

The MYSA needs approximately 20 more coaches spread across U5, U7, U9, U11, and U13 Divisions.

“Two coaches per team would roughly be the minimum,” said Sutton. “It gives the team and the coaches flexibility for us to have a day off here and there or if they’ve got a commitment doing something else, ideally you’d have a minimum of two but it can be three or four coaches.”

MYSA is looking for community members who are good communicators, teambuilders, and passionate in sports, community building and supporting the development of children. A criminal background check will be mandatory.

Despite a shortage of volunteer coaches and referees, Sutton believes the association will get where it needs to.

“I’m of the belief that when people really need to rally around the community, we will get there,” said Sutton.

For those that are interested in volunteering, the MYSA will be hosting an information session on Thursday, April 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Merritt Secondary School library. “I was a new coach last year myself,” said Sutton. “I went to that and I got a lot out of it.”

Kenneth Wong

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Photo/Merritt Youth Soccer Association

From ice to trophy: champions crowned at curling

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Merritt Curling Centre hosts curling finals and celebration dinner.

On March 15, eight teams played each other in the clubs’ Curling Finals.

Following four intense games, teams were awarded trophies, most notably the Men’s A team winning a trophy from 1914.

Trophy winners include:

- Mixed A: Vern Latremouille, Lorna Latrmouille, Rene Thomsen, Leslie Thomsen;

- Mixed Doubles A: Monika Tenish & Curt Thoms;

- Mixed Doubles B: Gareth

Tilt & Liana Tilt; Ladies A: Minika Tenisch, Jane Wowchuk, Deb Phillips, Tami Finnigan, Wendy Stone;

Ladies B: Christina Miller, Jenny Roda, Heather Yastremsky, Jessie Strang, Krystyna Vertsteeg;

Men’s A: Vern Latremouille, Rene Thomsen, Don Wilson, Chris Walder, Rob Dunsmore

Men’s B: Lee Woods, Cory Woods, Stuart Milne, John Noel, Tony Broman;

For more pictures of the Curling finals, visit the Herald’s website. Photos/Kenneth Wong

Men’s

Mixed A winners

The Merritt Otters Swim Club

is looking for coaches to join our team for summer 2024. Flexible opportunities from full time to part time!

Seeking energetic & motivated coaches for the Merritt Otters Swim Club

Details: Our club is looking for enthusiastic, organized, experienced leaders who can coach and help swimmers with stroke technique and general swimmer development. We have approximately 40 - 50 swimmers each summer of all ages, experience, and skill level. Our club is a mixture of social and competitive swimmers We compete regionally and provincially, have a dedicated executive, and an indoor pool for training There are also various opportunities and facilities available for dryland training in the community.

Location: Merritt BC is a small community of 10 000 in the Southern Interior, 45 minutes from Kamloops and an hour from Kelowna. There are hundreds of kilometers of trails for hiking, biking, and ATVs and beautiful lakes in every direction for paddleboarding, fishing and swimming Summers are sunny and typically warm

Term: Summer 2024 Season (beginning of May to August 23, 2024) Spend weekends visiting various cities and towns in the region for swim meets which begin around the beginning of June Full-time commitment is preferred, but we are willing to work with successful candidates to determine a schedule that meets the needs of the coaching staff and swimmers

Responsibilities & Expectations: Our coaches will have the willingness and ability to lead a diverse group of swimmers Coaches will be responsible for planning and executing swim practices for swimmers with a variety of abilities and mentoring junior coaches. FLEXIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULL TIME OR PART TIME!

Salary: The Merritt Otters Swim Club offers a competitive salary, dependent upon experience and certification. Other incentives may apply.

Experience: Previous coaching experience preferred. As we are dependent on ‘Summer Jobs Grants’ to partially fund coaches, preference may be given to post-secondary students continuing with education.

Requirements: Coaches must consent to a Criminal Record Check.

Head Coach: Level 1 NCCP or Equivalent, Water Safety Instructor / Swim BC/s I CAN SWIM Coach Designation preferred. Previous Coach training and experience is preferred. Training available for the right candidate!

How to Apply/Questions? Email: infomerrittotters@gmail.com

Split weekend as Cents faced Prince George back-to-back

Laísa Condé NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Another busy weekend on the road for the Merritt Centennials as the team faced Prince George Spruce Kings backto-back.

Friday, March 15 – Prince George Spruce Kings 3, Merritt Centennials 6

The Merritt Centennials hit the ice on March 15 for their first game against the Prince George Spruce Kings at the Kopar Memorial Arena in Prince George.

Merritt found the back of the net early in the game with a goal by Luke Pfoh, who scored his twelfth goal this season just six minutes in.

Prince George rebounded with a goal of their own to tie the game with Scott Cousins right at the end of the first

period.

During the second period, the Cents opened up a lead once again with Dylan Wegner (8). The one-goal difference was soon gone after Linden Makow (15) tied the game during a power play.

The Centennials ruled the end of the second period by adding two unanswered goals by Dylan Lariviere – who scored his twelfth goal this season – and Jack Ziliotto (4).

Third period showcased a very balanced game until Kiernan Poulin found the back of the net, adding a fifth goal to the score for the Cents. Within 42 seconds, Scott Cousins scored the third goal for Prince George.

During the last minutes of the game, Easton Ryan (11) crowned the Cents’ victory by scoring an empty-net goal on the

6-3 win.

Saturday, March 16 – Prince George Spruce Kings 4, Merritt Centennials 3

There was little time to rest and celebrate Friday’s victory as the Cents faced Prince George once again on Saturday.

In the second away game of the weekend, the Merritt Centennials fell during overtime against the Spruce Kings in a 4-3 loss.

A balanced first period between Prince George and Merritt left the score tied in 0-0.

During the second period, the Spruce Kings showed what they came for as Owen Goodbrand scored the first goal of the game.

Shortly after, JR Perdion added another one to the score for Prince George, making the score 2-0.

The Cents took the lead with three unanswered goals by the end of the second period by Charles-Thomas Larochelle (11), Jack Ziliotto (5) and Luke Pfoh (13).

The final period was marked by a goal from the Spruce Kings, as Scott Cousins scored his ninth goal of the season, tying the game.

As the match needed overtime to decide a winner, fans in Prince George got to watch some free hockey.

Before the Centennials could get a shot on the net in the extra frame, Kai Greaves scored the winning goal for the Spruce Kinds as the Cents fell 4-3.

The next time the Merritt Centennials hit the ice is on Friday, March 22 as they face the Penticton Vees at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Gracie Graham meets Merritt Minor Hockey players

Defenceman Gracie Graham returns to where she first laced up her skates.

On March 14, Merritt Minor Hockey hosted a meet and greet with Gracie Graham at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. The meet and greet in the locker room was followed by some ice time with the players.

Her visit to Merritt reflects her deep-rooted commitment to giving back to the community that nurtured her passion for hockey.

“It’s really cool for me just to come back here,” she added. “I grew up playing hockey here, it’s where my hockey career started. So just being able to come back and give back to the community that gave me a beginning it’s pretty cool.”

Graham said it feels surreal to be a role model for the younger generation of women’s hockey.

“I remember when I was younger, just looking at the

girls was my favourite part of being in the hockey community,” Graham said. “So, just having the opportunity to be the girl that they look up to, it’s just a really amazing opportunity.”

Graham’s gesture of returning to her roots serves as a touching reminder of the influence athletes can have beyond the realm of competition. By sharing her story with the younger generation, she helps to keep empowering young girls to pursue their dreams in the sport.

“I know that the female hockey is really starting to grow right now, so just being able to have that small part in helping female players to see that anything is possible and I think it’s just really fun to do.”

Graham has won a gold medal at the U18 Women’s World Championship during the 2022-23 season and another gold medal with Hockey Canada at the U18 World Hockey Championships in January, 2023. She is committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers starting next fall.

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

2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme)

Sunday service 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 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 every 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 Times: Sunday 10 am

with us and kept smiling through it all.Hewill always be missed and never forgotten..

Scw’exmx Community Health Services Society Employment Opportunity

COQUIHALLA PRIMARY CARE CLINIC

LPN/MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION

As an LPN/Medica office assistant you will be responsible for providing administrative support to ensure the efficient operation of the medical office. You will support the doctors and patients through a variety of tasks related to patient care management, organization, and communication

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medical Office Assistant Duties:

• Organize and schedule appointments

• Update and file medica records and insurance reports.

• Assist during medical examinations and minor procedures

• Produce and distribute correspondence memos, letters, faxes, and forms.

• Prepare and clean treatment rooms and medical instruments.

LPN Duties:

• INR Lab result follow up as per doctor orders

• Intramuscular injections: B12, Depo, Methotrexate

• Minor procedure assistance

QUALIFICATIONS:

• LPN designation. Experience as a Medical Office Assistant would be an asset.

• Knowledge of Office & Medical procedures

• Excellent time management skills and ability to Mult-task and prioritize work.

• Social perceptiveness and service oriented

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Competitive salary and full benefits

E-mail Resume and References to: smith.b@schss.com

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