Sports

Have a sports story tip? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing newsroom@merrittherald.com. MSS track and field athlete falls to injury

Ryland Sheldon competing to get first place at the 100m dash right before the injury. Photo/ Misty Sheldon Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Unfortunate news coming from Kamloops this past weekend. MSS track and field athlete, Ryland Sheldon suffered a season ending injury.

Sheldon, Grade 9, was competing in the 100 metre dash this past Saturday at the Dylan Armstrong track meet held in the TRU Hillside Stadium.

“There was one guy ahead of me but I was gaining on him at about the 60 metre mark,” Sheldon recalled.

Right around the 80 metre mark, Sheldon said he felt a pop on his right leg, below his hip. He then recalled slowing down until eventually falling on the ground.

“I was caught up in the moment and I didn’t really know what was happening,” Sheldon recalled.

“This level of injury has never really happened to me before.”

Sheldon was taken away on a stretcher and immediately taken to Royal Inland Hospital’s emergency room.

“The thing that scared me the most was when I tried to get up, I couldn’t move my right leg,” Sheldon explained.

“Initially I thought it wasn’t a big deal and then I realized I couldn’t move my right leg at the hip joint.”

Sheldon is a multi athlete. Aside from track, he also played for the school’s fastball, ultimate frisbee, and basketball teams. During the meet, Sheldon was also competing in a basketball tournament held inside the stadium. He was going back and forth between the two sports.

“At halftime we were winning 24-0 and then I left to go for the 100m,” Sheldon recalled.

After analyzing his x-ray results, Sheldon’s doctor found that his injury is more significant than initially perceived.

“We got a call from the doctor yesterday after they looked at my x-rays again and the tendon actually pulled a bit of bone off,” said Sheldon.

Sheldon’s injury will cut his season short for all the sports he was playing.

“It’s disappointing especially when it’s the end of the year and playoffs for certain sports are about to take place.”

Trying to be optimistic, Sheldon feels happy he is still able to join the Panthers from the sidelines. “As a team, I probably hate to miss the rest of the ultimate frisbee season the most because we’re going to the provincials,” Sheldon explained.

“As a team, I probably hate to miss the rest of the ultimate frisbee season the most because we’re going to the provincials. As an individual player, I would miss basketball the most, because I was doing pretty well,” said Sheldon, who was the Jr. Boys starting point guard.

“Ryland’s impact on the team is deeper than on the court and the energy he brings on and off the court is hard to match,” said Jay Peralta, Sheldon’s basketball coach.

“He’s a talented player and great athlete, him missing the rest of the season will be a tough season as his contribution to the team is more than he realizes. I hope he has a speedy recovery and will be back stronger than ever”

As of now there is no set timeline on Sheldon’s recovery. He intends to see a specialist in the coming days to get more information.

Panthers win West Zone Championships

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Another win for Merritt Secondary School’s (MSS) athletic community came on May 5 with the Panther’s 12-1 defeat of Kamloops Westsyde Secondary School, crowning them 2022 West Zone Ultimate Frisbee Champions.

The Panthers’ co-ed team of ultimate frisbee players compete in the Okanagan league of BC Ultimate Frisbee, which is divided into four zones. The west zone will be represented at the Okanagan tournament in the second week of May by MSS and Westsyde Secondary, with the Panthers winning for top seed.

“We worked hard for this. It was a nice bonus, especially with sports starting back up again this year. This is the first major win the school’s had in a while now,” said Ryland Sheldon, grade 9 student at MSS and player for the Panthers ultimate frisbee team.

“Half our team right now is made up of seniors, so hopefully next year the sport will be more known and we can get more players. It’s a good experience,” added Sheldon.

MSS Athletics Director and VicePrincipal Gian Cavaliere says that the ultimate frisbee program, a relatively new offering by BC School Sports, has been well received and benefited students and the school alike.

“The kids have grown in so many ways. They’re playing club ultimate frisbee in the summer now. It’s a big deal for us. We do get a lot of success out of our teams, but not usually in newer programs,” said Cavaliere.

“Ultimate frisbee definitely caters to a different clientele of athletes, and it’s one of the few co-ed sports there are. There’s no referee, it’s very much a sportsmanship based game. The kids love it.”

The upcoming Okanagan tournament will see the Panthers go up against schools such as Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Osoyoos, and many others, only three of which will avoid elimination to move on to the provincial tournament in Surrey, May 28 and 29.

Moving forward, Cavaliere says that the school and its students are excited to claim their place at the provincial tournament, and look to continue providing new athletic opportunities to the community.

COMMUNITY

Do you want to nominate a business? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing reporter@merrittherald.com. A successful book drive for Monic Charity

Directors with Vancouver’s Monic Charity Foundation present a donation of close to one thousand books to Central Elementary librarian Leanne Cleavely and her student librarians. Marius Auer/Herald

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

During November’s atmospheric river-caused flooding, Merritt Central Elementary School (CES) sustained major damage throughout the campus, including the loss of an estimated 2000 books and other library resources, the replacement of which have been greatly aided by a charity books drive.

On May 4, Monic Charity Foundation delivered close to 1000 donated books to CES.

The non-profit organization by Vancouver-based financial firm Monic Financial, saw the need for new library materials and the opportunity to encourage future generations.

“Helping children grow is one of the key mandates we have,” said Stanley Ho, Director for Monic Charity. “We hope to give them the thought that giving back is always a positive gesture.”

Monic Charity jumped on the opportunity to assist Merrittonians in flood recovery by supporting their literacy and emotional health, both of which benefit from access to library resources. The organization hosted a book drive in the Greater Vancouver area, soliciting donations from local families. The response was positive, says Ho.

“A lot of the parents that we extended invitations to were very excited to participate and make donations.”

Many students in the Nicola Valley were displaced from their homes and schools for months, and some continue to be. Teachers and staff at CES have gone above and beyond to provide students positive learning experiences throughout what has been a tumultuous school year, and Monic Charity’s donation will improve access to a sense of “normal” for students.

“We had a five week period where the kids weren’t coming to the school and accessing books, so all the more important right now for our library to be able to get those books into Central students’ hands,” said CES Principal Dan Duncan.

Moving forward, the school’s library will sort their newly received donation, as well as continuing towards their goal of returning to the CES campus from their current accommodations at the former Coquihalla Middle School for the beginning of the 2022/23 school year. CES librarian, Leanne Cleavely, was excited about what Monic’s donation means to the Central community.

“We need to provide books to over 200 students,” said Cleavely. “It’s huge to get this donation because it’s going to help us get more books out. I’m just blown away by the amount of help we received. A lot of people recognized there was a need here and it’s really neat to see.”

Cleaveley added that books have been a source of both learning and comfort for Central students during trying times, allowing them to escape reality and find a moment of peace and calm.

“Literacy supports everyone’s learning. The kids get a lot of comfort out of losing themselves in a book. It’s not always just the learning piece, it’s good for the soul.”

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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 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. MMIWG2S walk in Lower Nicola Service Ti St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772 mes: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 Trinity United Church a.m. Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735 Service Time every Sunday - 10 am

Somang Mission Community Church (SMC)

Community 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) members and Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268 local organizations commemorated Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502 the National Day Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m. of Awareness and Action for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit (MMIWG2S) on May 5, with over 100 people walking along Highway 8 from Shulus Community Hall to Shulus Arbor. Participants of the walk included students, local organization, community members, and the families of those affected by or lost to the ongoing MMIWG2S crisis in Canada, which has seen as many as 4000 Indigenous women and girls missing or

Marius Auer murdered. REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM The crowd left Shulus Community Hall just after 10:30am, the rain holding out until participants See RECAP Page 24

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From Page 23

were mostly under cover at Shulus Arbor. Traditional hand-drumming, an opening prayer, and an “honour” song and dance honouring those impacted by the MMIWG2S were in store at the arbor.

The walk was organized by the Lower Nicola Indian Band’s (LNIB) Carole Basil, who says the community banded together to bring awareness to the ongoing MMIWG crisis.

“We want to show support and awareness for the MMIWG2S,” said Basil, who facilitates LNIB’s Cultural Revitalization program. “There’s been numerous MMIWG2S in our community and it’s very heartbreaking.”

Multiple members of Merritt’s RCMP were also in attendance, facilitating the traffic control as walk participants made their way to Shulus Arbor and showing their support for the event.

“I feel it’s important for the police to participate and acknowledge our part in the history of colonization and the trauma. We need to come out and support our Indigenous communities and recognize that MMIWG2S is still going on today,” said Constable Tracy Dunsmore.

“We need to protect our women, girls, and everybody.”

Plans for new NVIT campus move forward

Ken Tourand said that NVIT has been searching for a proper home in Vancouver since 2007. Photo/ Herald File Photo

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Plans are moving forward for a new Indigenous centre that will move the current NVIT Burnaby campus.

The new centre will move forward on the territories of the Coast Salish peoples in Vancouver. Aside from a new NVIT campus, the centre will also include a youth centre, and skills training campus, affordable homes, a child care centre and cultural and support services.

“As BC’s only public post-secondary institution with an indigenous mandate, we have been working on establishing a permanent Vancouver campus since 2007,” said Ken Tourand, president of NVIT.

“Being founded by the five Nicola Bands, NVIT’s roots will always remain in the Nicola Valley, however, with support from our Elders, Chiefs and the NVIT Board of Governors we can’t wait to build a new campus in Vancouver.”

The new campus will address the lack of specialized learning environments needed to expand its programs. Proposal for NVIT’s new permanent home includes purpose-built classrooms, media labs and lecture areas, trades workshop, library and study areas, and a student lounge.

“This centre represents a significant step forward to addressing the legacy of residential schools, intergenerational trauma, and the realization of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Matthew Norris, president, Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA).

“Indigenous youth and their community deserve a community hub they are proud of whose design represents their voices and interests, and where they feel safe and can access the programming and services that support their well-being as Indigenous Peoples.”

The project is located on the territories of the Coast Salish people, which includes the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The building will be located at the corner of East Hastings Street and Commercial Drive in Vancouver, near UNYA’s current building.

The new centre will be a permanent purpose-built home for UNYA and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) Vancouver campus. NVIT currently far from many of the students it serves, leasing the full capacity space in Burnaby.

“Working in partnership with the UNYA, and with support from the Ministry of Advanced Education, this project has the opportunity to ensure that Indigenous youth receive the supports they need to transition seamlessly into post secondary education,” said Tourand.

UNYA envisions a welcoming and centralized space for their youth programming which features classrooms, media labs, art studios, community spaces for Elders, traditional ceremony spaces, health and wellness clinic, and gym and recreation areas.

The centre could also include a community kitchen and café, bookstore, outdoor gathering area and ceremonial spaces.

“This new centre will help meet the need and seize the opportunity, serving as a national example of Indigenous-led, transformational change,” said Premier John Horgan.

“By working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, we are building a stronger province where everyone has access to opportunities today and for generations to come.”

With the approval of the concept plan, government will also provide $2.5 million for the business-case development to finalize the project’s scope, timelines and funding sources.

The centre will be operated by UNYA, with partners NVIT and yet-to-be determined housing and child care operators that will be engaged through the City of Vancouver.

“NVIT can’t wait to get to work over the next year to get the business case completed, so we can get this project approved and move on to construction,” said Tourand.

“We anticipate many more milestones over the next 5 years as we move the project through to completion.”