Merritt homeless shelter closed as of Saturday, July 27.
In an email correspondence with the Herald, BC Housing attributes the closure to deterioration of the building.
“Due to deteriorating building conditions at the privately owned Desert Inn temporary shelter, BC Housing – in partnership with the operator, Nicola Valley Shelter and Support Society –has made the decision to close the shelter. As BC Housing is not the owner of the property, it is not in a position to invest in required repairs,” reads the email.
“There were seven people staying at the shelter at the time of closure. BC Housing worked with the operator to find temporary accommodations for all seven shelter guests so they weren’t displaced,” the email continues.
BC Transit proposed the idea of
Merrittonians will be able to
OKTOBERFEST /PAGE 19
BC Housing is currently working on finding an alternate shelter location and will share updates once a site is confirmed.
BC Housing has not provided any further comment.
The Herald has reached out to Nicola Valley Shelter & Support Society for further comment, but did not get any response at the time of publication.
According to the Government of Canada’s 2023 Point-in-Time
homeless count, there are 67 people experiencing homelessness in Merritt, an increase of 24 since 2020. The report shows 82 per cent of the respondents utilized homeless shelters, 61 per cent stayed at someone’s home, and 55 per cent reported staying outside.
Sixty four per cent of respondents identified as Indigenous with 76 per cent of that pool reporting have lived or generational experience with residential schools.
According to the report, 10 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Merritt are under the age of 25, 31 per cent above the age of 55 and 59 per cent in between.
Nineteen per cent attributed their reason for housing loss from the flood and fire whilst 17 per cent do not have enough income. Fifteen per cent reported being unfit or unsafe for housing and another 15 per cent have conflict with parents or guardians.
In an email to the Herald, Angela Papou, director of Merritt operations at ASKWellness, said that homelessness is a reality that many across the province are facing.
“Merritt is continuing to face housing shortages and cost-of living crisis and with the closure of the shelter’s current location, it is paramount that we come together to support our most vulnerable community members.”
Teck Highland Valley Copper hosts open house to community members. Page 8. Photo/Teck
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
How to pack a grab-and-go kit this wildfire season
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
It is wildfire season again in Canada and a few communities across B.C. have already experienced evacuation alerts and orders.
A major emergency can happen at any time and knowing what to have at home or take with you during an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Adam Hart, emergency management coordinator at the City of Merritt, sat down with the Herald to talk about emergency preparedness during the wildfire season.
“I feel like our first objective is to avoid being in a situation where we would need to evacuate in the first place,” he said. “With regards specifically to wildfires, our primary program in the City is to enable or prevent us having to evacuate as a result of a wildfire is FireSmart.”
Hart highlighted the importance of always staying alert of your surroundings.
“Even before an evacuation alert or order is issued, just be on the lookout sort of for what’s going in the community, what’s going on around the community,” Hart said. “With wildfires in particular, I think that the BC Wildfire Service map, which you can access online, is a terrific resource.”
The BC Wildfire Service map is a tool that allows users to access all the locations province wide and get details of all active wildfires in B.C., as well as wildfire statistics and additional resources – such as evacuation alerts and orders.
Hart also recommends community members to sign up to the Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA).
“So if you are ever evacuated from a community, you will in all likelihood receive assistance from Emergency Support Services (ESS), that’s in pretty much any community in B.C., and you have to go to a reception centre with ESS in order to receive assistance,” he added.
“If you create a profile in the Evacuee Registration & Assistance tool, it will save you some time at the reception centre and simplify that process. You can do that whenever, it doesn’t have to be an evacuation alert to create that profile.”
As for emergency kits and grab-and-go bags, Hart suggests that people take a look at the basic guidelines.
“Everyone should be sort of personalizing their emergency kits and needs for themselves. Obviously, there’s some basic guidelines that are applicable to just about everyone,” Hart said.
The B.C. government has a page on their website that lists basic supplies that people can follow to build their own emergency and graband-go kits.
For emergency kits, it is recommended that people should stock non-perishable food for a minimum three-day to a one-week supply; four litres of water per person for drinking and sanitation; phone charger; flashlight; extra batteries; personal toiletries.
A copy of the emergency plan as well as copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification is also highly recommended.
As for grab-and-go bags, people should have in mind that it should be an emergency kit that is easy to take with them, in case they need to leave right away. It is recommended to make grab-andgo bags for your home, workplace and vehicle.
“I recognize that everybody has sort of unique circumstances and budgets and stuff that maybe some people can afford really fancy emergency kits and maybe other people can’t do that,” Hart said.
He also reminds people to be flexible with their emergency kits, especially considering that different natural disasters might hit Merritt.
“We do something called hazard risk and vulnerability analysis, which basically looks at what are the biggest or most significant threats to Merritt. Wildfire and flood are absolutely at the top of that list,” Hart added.
“But there’s a wide variety of other emergencies that may potentially happen in Merritt. For that reason, I would recommend keeping your emergency kits very flexible so that you can respond or be prepared for any different type of emergency.”
Hart highlighted the importance of having family discussions on emergency plans, such as where the predesignated meeting spot is, where you would meet the rest of your family if someone is out of reach.
“This could take five minutes out of your life to have that discussion, but it could make a really big difference if a major emergency does happen,” he added.
“Even just taking a moment out of your day, just thinking about what you might do during an emergency, I think it’s really important.”
He also recommends that people go over their bags and emergency kits during an emergency alert.
“Take that moment to go through your grab-and-go bag or your emergency kit and see what you have,” Hart said. “If your family circumstances change, if you suddenly have a kid in your family or a pet that you didn’t have before, consider how that might change your emergency kit.”
In terms of emergency preparedness by the City of Merritt, Hart reassures that the city is taking actions with regards to wildfire preparedness and flood preparedness.
“The fire department right now is producing a new community wildfire resiliency plan, that’s their project for basically wildfire preparedness or mitigation,” he said. “Next month, we’re going to be putting together a more advanced plan for how our public works department could respond to flooding, including exactly where to be laying sandbags.”
“The city is taking this very seriously at this moment, not just when an emergency is taking place.”
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Man wanted Canada-wide
was observed in Merritt later that day on a bus destined for Vancouver,” RCMP Cpl.
Kamloops Mounties are hoping tips from the public will help them track down a parolee wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after failing to return to his halfway house.
Police said David Glenn Thomas Hurst, 65, did not return to his residence on Monday, July 29.
“Although David Hurst was initially reported as last seen near Fifth Avenue and St. Paul Street around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, further investigation indicated he
Crystal Evelyn said in a news release.
Hurst is described as an Indigenous man standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 124 pounds. He has grey hair and brown eyes and uses a red and black wheelchair.
According to Mounties, he was last seen wearing a cowboy hat, brown boots, black pants and a brown jacket.
Anyone with information about Hurst’s whereabouts can call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 or contact their local police.
3 illicit drug deaths through first 6 months
in 2023.
At least 1,158 toxic unregulated drug deaths have been registered in the first half of 2024 across British Columbia.
In a press release published on July 30, BC Coroners Service said the amount of deaths to date this year are lower than at the same mark over the previous years, but approximately six people are still dying each day because of unregulated toxic drugs.
John McNamee, acting chief coroner of the BC Coroners Service, said in the press release that the province continues to experience a significant number of deaths due to the unsafe and unregulated toxic drug supply.
“People are continuing to lose their loved ones in communities across B.C. at a tragic rate,” he said. “Even as the figures reflect a nine per cent decrease in the number of deaths reported to the coroners service during the first six months of this year from 2023, the number of lives lost is still significant.”
According to the press release, four of the province’s five regional health authorities saw record-high numbers and rates of death,
Three people have died from unregulated drugs in Merritt so far in 2024, while six deaths related to toxic drugs were registered
“Every single one of these people was irreplaceable to their loved ones, and our words fall short of bringing comfort to those who are grieving and enduring a heartbreaking loss,” Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions, said in a press release.
“These losses reinforce the urgent need to keep people safe from toxic drugs and to connect them with care and treatment that works for them.”
Whiteside also said that the province is constantly adding more services and removing barriers for people to access the care they need.
“Since 2017, we’ve added more than 659 new substance-use beds, and last year there were 1,000 more people accessing treatment and recovery beds than 2022,” she added.
“Last week, we announced the expansion of Road to Recovery, a made-in-B.C. model of addictions care that brings a team together to give people individualized support every step of the way, from detox to treatment and aftercare.”
Since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016, the lives of at least 14,948 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs.
Tim Petruk CASTANET
Police said David Glenn Thomas Hurst, 65, did not return to his residence on Monday, July 29. Photo/RCMP
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
250-378-4241
Thanumi Thasanga Jayasinghe
DIXON: Natural wellness tools to reduce stress
Stress is inevitable, but managing it effectively can lead to lower blood pressure, more intimacy, a better mood, and an overall sense of well-being. Incorporating natural wellness tools into your daily routine can help you achieve these benefits. Here are some simple yet effective strategies to reduce stress:
Aromatherapy: Essential oils can create a calming atmosphere in your home or workspace. Scents like lavender, neroli, and clary sage are known for their relaxing properties. Aromatherapy can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of tranquility.
Phototherapy: Exposure to natural light or light therapy devices can significantly boost your mood, especially during the darker months. Phototherapy has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder, helping you feel more energetic and positive.
Herbal Teas: Herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint, and lemon balm have calming and soothing effects. Enjoy hot or iced, these teas can help you unwind and
relax after a long day.
Social Time: Spending quality time with friends and family is vital for emotional well-being. Social interactions provide support, increase feelings of belonging, and can be a great way to unwind and de-stress. Let go of the phone and say hi in person to a neighbour.
Exercise: Physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Regular exercise boosts endorphin levels, which improves mood and overall well-being. Even a short daily workout can make a big difference in how you feel. This might be a powerwalk down the block.
Slivers of Time: It’s crucial to take time for yourself, even if it’s just in small increments. These “slivers of time” could be a quick break to enjoy a cup of tea, a few
minutes of deep breathing exercises, or a short walk. These moments add up and help manage stress effectively.
Play: Scheduling time for play is essential. Engaging in fun activities, even for a few minutes, can significantly reduce stress and improve your mood. Play isn’t just for kids; adults need it too!
Managing stress doesn’t require big changes all at once. It’s about integrating small, manageable practices into your daily life. By taking these steps, you can improve your overall well-being, lower your blood pressure, rekindle intimacy, and enhance your mood. Let’s prioritize our mental and physical health by embracing these simple yet powerful natural wellness tools.
BONNIE DIXON HEALTHY CONVERSATIONS
TEGART: BC United to provide real affordability solutions
The provincial government has had eight years to address the rising cost of living, yet they’ve repeatedly failed to take meaningful action.
Under David Eby’s leadership, the
NDP continue to push young families out of the province.
Whether it’s the fact that B.C. has the most unaffordable housing market in North America, with the highest rents in the country, the fact that we have the highest gas prices and gas taxes in North America, or that grocery prices are up nearly 30 per cent, B.C. has become the least affordable place to live in Canada. With 33 new or increased taxes, including a carbon tax that has more than doubled, the NDP’s middle class squeeze is relentless.
Months ago, Kevin Falcon and BC United outlined several key policies to
LETTER to the editor
Local 4-H Club:
Grooming Day a success
Dear
reduce the cost of living in B.C. The NDP had the opportunity to adopt our plan and offer real relief to families, yet they have consistently chosen not to. Our plan includes eliminating the provincial fuel tax, saving drivers up to 15 cents per litre on gasoline and diesel, cancelling Eby’s carbon tax hikes and removing the carbon tax from all home heating fuels and from on-farm fuel use.
We are also committed to no new taxes and will cancel the NDP’s “CleanBC” plan, which is expected to kill 200,000 jobs and shrink B.C.’s economy by $28 billion over the next decade – that’s $11,000 per family
every single year.
Over the last several months, we’ve announced our plans to deliver more affordable housing and provide accessible childcare. As the cost of living continues to rise under the NDP, BC United stands ready with commonsense solutions that will provide immediate relief to British Columbians.
Government should take less, not more, from people during a cost-ofliving crisis. By implementing practical measures that put more money in people’s pockets, we can create a better future for all British Columbians. United, we will fix it.
From the Herald archives: August, 1968
MERRITT’S FLOAT AT THE PNE
Merritt’s float travelled with the “big league” over the weekend and in the opinion of the driver, Henry Noorgard, it made a very good showing “we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Henry and his family left Friday afternoon to take the float down to the PNE parade the following day, and arrived there safe and sound, staying overnight in Vancouver. There were over 75 floats and 20 bands in this parade, he reports “and while ours certainly wasn’t the fanciest by any means, we had lots of compliments.”
The Merritt Herald 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.
JACKIE TEGART VIEW FROM LEGISLATURE
Teck Highland Valley Copper opens mine to community members in special event
Crowds descended on Teck Highland Valley Copper Sunday morning and afternoon for an open house event that showcased what the mining giant is all about.
Event organizers said over 1,500 employees and contractors work at the mine site, and the intention of the open house was to create transparency in what day to day operations look like.
“We have tours and also events and community groups to celebrate this day — it’s 38 years of Teck Highland Valley Copper Operation,” said Jacqui Schneider, Teck senior community affairs officer.
“I was told a while ago that we had over 1,300 people, and I’m sure it’s more than that.”
Volunteer groups who attended the event came from surrounding communities including Ashcroft, Pinantan, Merritt and Kamloops.
Representatives from the Invasive Species Council of BC, Logan Lake
FireSmart and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District road show were also present, among others.
“We live in the community, we’re part of the community, and this is a great opportunity to showcase who we are and what we do amongst our communities that we live in,” Schneider said.
She said attendees had the opportunity to explore their interests, including engineering, the mine’s reclamation process or the mechanics of the mill.
“This is also another way for our community to come up and understand about our mining site here,” Schneider said.
The event also offered tours of the mill, pit areas and mine operations to interested attendees.
The Teck Highland Valley Copper mine is currently seeking to extend the life of the mining operation past 2040. The mine is anticipated to run until 2028 without the extension.
Josh Dawson CASTANET
Crowds descended on Teck Highland Valley Copper mine Sunday morning and afternoon for an open house to learn what the mining giant is all about. Photo/Josh Dawson/Castanet
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
LNIB Chief talks future fire safety and mitigation plans
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
Lower Nicola Indian Band Chief Stuart Jackson sat down with the Herald to discuss the future of fire mitigation and firefighting for the Band and the Nicola Valley.
Inlight of LNIB installing sprinklers along the perimeter of Rocky Pines to create a line of control in the case of a fire, kʷúkʷpiʔ (Chief) Stuart Jackson spoke about fire safety, fire mitigation and firefighting.
Prior to becoming a Chief, kʷúkʷpiʔ Jackson served as a firefighter back in the early 1990s. “I worked right here locally, we’re a native crew; we worked under the Ministry of Forest, that’s what they were called back then,” said Chief Jackson.
“Fire has no mercy,” said Jackson. “We spoke about this just a couple of weeks ago, are we fire ready?”
Currently, the LNIB Fire Department’s mandate is to deal with structural fires. The Band also works closely with BC Wildfire Services. “There’s a variance in the type of support and resource that we have at our disposal,” said Jackson. “As we move forward, there’s so much more we can do with fuel management”
The Band’s main priority is to engage the community and assess whether or not homes are fire smart. Chief Jackson notes a hurdle in the way of assessment is cost and manpower.
“How do we go into our band members’ homes and say ‘your home is not fire smart, you need to clean it up,’” said Jackson. “We have elders that can barely walk up and down stairs and we’re going to ask them to rake their pine needles or move their stacks of wood to a certain distance?” asked Jackson rhetorically.
Kʷúkʷpiʔ Jackson highlights the seriousness of the situation. “Now, do we bring the community together and have a firesmart meeting? I would say we should do that,” said Jackson. “Bring the experts in to enlighten our membership, socialize to them that this is serious stuff.”
“We’ve already been exposed to it, we’ve been subjected to it already. Are we going to wait (for) one more big fire, that we lose one of our communities because we decided not to be firesmart?” asks Jackson. “(It’s) an open ended question that we need to ask our membership.”
The LNIB has had a few engagement sessions in the last four years discussing the cultural practice of prescribed burnings. “That’s something that used to be done back in the old days, that’s how berries would replenish, medicines and teas and things like that,” said Jackson highlighting that the field across
from the LNIB band office in Shulus was once traditionally burned during the springtime.
The LNIB has had engagement sessions discussing the cultural practice of prescribed burnings. Despite its benefits, Jackson is uncertain of the optics from the broader B.C. public in light of the large wildfires in recent years.
Despite potential backlash from the public, Jackson argues that if done properly in a controlled system, areas that have been culturally burned would act as a line of control in the situation a wildfire occurs.
“We talked about fire guards and how you got to get into the dirt so that the flames can’t go anywhere, but the fire guards are only so large and then fires will jump,” said Jackson. “If you can do cultural burning, that size difference is huge; if you have a fire at one point, but you burned off 100 metres, where’s that fire gonna go?”
Currently, LNIB has not delved into cultural burnings but kʷúkʷpiʔ Jackson hopes it is a resource that the LNIB community and council can discuss.
Moving forward, Chief Jackson hopes for more intercommunity collaboration across the Nicola Valley in regards to fire safety.
“Something that I see that would be very beneficial for every one is the different entities or governance groups working together; we don’t have to get along, but we have to work together,” said Jackson. “We have to find a way to sit down at a table and talk about our losses and maybe talk about our gains, if we have any gains on what fire mitigation looks like to all of us.”
“The way I look at it is we have to have this big red alert button, that (if) one of us hits… we have all of our resourcing responding to it, whether it’s the Merritt fire hall, LNIB fire hall, BC Wildfire (Services); these groups that are here to protect us and to suppress fire, they are notified, and then we know who’s gonna go, why, and how many (personnel and equipment).”
“If we go to one fire but another one strikes, then we’re spread too thin,” said Jackson. “So we have to find a process where it’s almost like we have people on alert, so (if) one group goes to this call but we’ll have another group ready and another group ready. So that’s working together.”
Currently, LNIB has an agreement with Nooaitch First Nation as well the City of Merritt for the Zoht reserve. “There is some momentum and there’s some movement there, but it needs to be solidified, it needs to be a solid program.”
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Logan Lake campground to add new sites and facilities
The City of Merritt has officially launched voting for its new mascot.
Lower Nicola Site Services (LNSS) was awarded to act as prime contractor in the remaining campground expansion project in Logan Lake.
At the latest district council meeting, council members decided to directly award LNSS to act as prime contractor and their subcontractors to complete the remainder of the expansion project to a maximum of $992,300.
LNSS was first awarded the Campground Expansion Phase 1A (loop D), which consists in clearing and road development, back in mid April 2024. Later in May, the district council opted to amend the contract with LNSS to include both road and campsite development for a total price of $340,000.
According to a district council report, Lower Nicola Site Services has completed the roadway construction and the earthworks for 18 sites $110,000 under budget thus far.
Seven of these sites will not have services to them right away, but can be used as non-serviced or camping sites until the district finds the funding necessary to complete the rest of the phase.
Currently, the Logan Lake Municipal Campground features 50 lakeview campsites and amenities –including washrooms, boat launch, fish cleaning station, free internet and TV channels, as well as free fishing rod rentals.
The Campground Masterplan includes upgrades throughout the entire
campground with the grant funding going towards a new expansion – which includes the loop road development, 11 new campsites, a washroom facility, electricity and water to the area.
The long-term plan for the campground will see 45 new sites, one large roundhouse and eight smaller cabins built.
In October 2023, the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport awarded the District of Logan $992,285 through the Destination Development Grant. The grant aims to support tourism businesses by developing and rejuvenating tourism infrastructure across the province.
At the time, Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith said the “expansion of the campground is the first step in the development of a multifaceted yearround outdoor recreation industry in Logan Lake”, potentially benefiting businesses, visitors and the entire community.
“This expansion will help with our recovery after the 2021 Tremont Creek wildfire which impacted many of our surrounding trails by increasing access and building exposure to local attractions.
“Every experience has to start with a strong foundation and the first phase of the campground expansion establishes Logan Lake as a year-round tourist destination of interest,” she added.
The campground expansion project is expected to be completed earlier than the completion date, set for September 2025.
Merrittonians now have the chance to vote for their favourite three mascots that represent Merritt the most.
A few of the options include marmots, bears and the iconic Merritt sun. Voters should have in mind that the artistic concept will be converted to material production, which may alter significantly during production.
The deadline for voting is Aug. 31 and only one vote is allowed per community member.
After voting periond, the mayor, council and city staff will review the selections and identify three winners.
For more information about the contest, visit www.merritt.ca/mascot
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
Photo/District of Logan Lake
your way through downtown Merritt
A PRIZE PACKAGE FROM ALL THESE PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS
Prize package includes: gift cards, gift baskets etc
The Merritt Herald and participating merchants are proud to introduce an exciting new contest designed to boost foot traffic and engagement in downtown Merritt: the “Stamp Your Way Through Downtown Merritt” contest! This fun and interactive initiative invites both residents and visitors to explore and support local businesses. It’s a great way to get to know your community and discover what these local businesses have to offer.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
• This double-sided page is your entry form. Forms will be available in every paper from July 25 until August 22, 2024.
• Visit each participating merchant and have them stamp over their business contact info on the opposite side of this page.
• Once completed, drop off your entry at the Merritt Herald office located at #201-1951 Garcia Street, or at any of the participating merchants.
• The contest runs from July 25 to noon on August 29, 2024.
• The winner will be drawn at 3 pm on August 29, 2024.
OFF THIS DOUBLE SIDED PAGE WITH STAMPS & THE FOLLOWING
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Ranchers and experts voice concerns over cheatgrass along pipeline route
With the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project now coming to a close, and mainly just remediation work along the route remaining, concerns are being raised about the potential impact of invasive plant species where the pipeline passes through the Nicola Valley.
Professional Agrologist and local resident Rachel Riley first noticed something was amiss when she drove past Trans Mountain Right of Way topsoil stockpiles on a camping trip. Even from a distance Riley could identify a concerning amount of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum).
“What makes it so invasive is its rapid seed production, growth and germination,” explained Riley.
“When I was doing my master’s of Science work in Rangeland Weed Control, I took soil samples in mid- November from the Lundbom area where cheatgrass was present. This was frozen soil which I then put in Ziploc bags, stored in my car overnight and drove to Thompson Rivers University the next day. When I examined it the cheatgrass seeds had already germinated and begun to grow, just during the drive from Merritt to Kamloops in a sealed Ziploc bag.”
There are few effective treatment options for cheatgrass and it causes a host of problems once
it is established.
Because it dies off early in the year, typically by late June or early July, Riley notes this displaces forage for both cattle and wildlife.
Seed heads, known as awns, can cause severe injury to wildlife, pets, and livestock by becoming embedded in eyes or mouths. Additionally, particularly in dogs, the awns can potentially burrow into the skin and cause painful abscesses and infections.
And because it dies off when summer’s heat is reaching its peak it also increases an area’s fire hazard, drying out and becoming extremely combustible.
While the Trans Mountain Expansion Project is federally regulated by the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER), the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER) does have clear guidelines regarding invasive plant management via an amendment in 2023 to the Oil and Gas Activities Act, now the Energy Resource Activities Act (ERAA), “... to strengthen invasive plants management through the introduction of a requirement that permit holders prepare and maintain an invasive plant compliance record.”
According to the Regulator’s Environmental Protection and Management Guideline chapter 2.7 Section 15 - Invasive Plants: “When planning or undertaking energy resource activities, the applicant or permit holder must minimize
the establishment of invasives in their operating area and the spread of invasives to or from their operations. Controlling invasives is a requirement during all phases of operations - transport, construction, cleanup, operations, abandonment, and restoration.”
A spokesperson for Trans Mountain detailed the company’s policies for dealing with invasive plant species, maintaining that they follow all federal and provincial regulations.
“To ensure the continued safe operations of our pipeline system, Trans Mountain conducts routine vegetation management on the right-ofway and our facilities,” the spokesperson said.
“A clear and safe right-of-way with visible marking signage, free of tall-growing vegetation and obstructions is both a federal and provincial regulatory requirement. It provides access for our crews to conduct pipeline maintenance, inspections and emergency response.”
However, Riley questions whether these policies were indeed adequately followed in the case of soil stockpiles that now appear to be covered in cheatgrass.
“The Pipeline should have kept the piles seeded to prevent undesirable species from cov-
ering them,” said Riley.
“The pipeline didn’t follow industry standards for cover cropping their stock piles and the provincial government did not do their due diligence in holding the company to the best practices.”
Those practices include those laid out under the BCER’s Operational Measures for Mitigation and Restoration Techniques:
- Stored topsoil and subsoil that will not be rolled back within 12 months should be vegetated with an appropriate seed mix to prevent invasive encroachment
- Revegetate disturbed areas as soon as practicable after disturbance, including temporary use areas such as campsites, decking sites and workspaces.
- Operators must adhere to their invasive plant monitoring and treatment program
Morgan Hampton Contributor
Photo/S. Dewer/Invasive Species Council of BC
Piles of cheatgrass
From Page 13
and maintain their invasive plant compliance record.
- Remove any invasive plants before they set seed. Dispose of plants at a designated disposal site.
“Why is this such a problem?” Riley queried. “Well the cheatgrass isn’t going to stay where it is. It’s going to spread across the entire range and outcompete the native spcies that are important forage for our native wildlife. There are also multiple range tenures and a large herd of feral horses in the area competing for the limited forage.”
Wayne Schindler, a longtime rancher in the Nicola Valley and the holder of one of those range tenures, echoed Riley’s concerns after observing stockpiles on the Coutlee Plateau that are infested with cheatgrass.
“It takes over when you don’t do anything, when you don’t plant any seeds,” said Schindler.
“They should have done something. They did all the digging and they didn’t seed it right away because they didn’t finish it right away. If they’d finished the job in a timely fashion they would have seeded it with domestic grasses and wild grasses and things like that, and the cheatgrass wouldn’t have come in. But now the cheatgrass is there and the seeds are there, I don’t know what they’ll do.”
Schindler described himself as “pro-pipeline” with no objections to the TMX project on the whole, but his livelihood will be negatively impacted if the entirety of the Trans Mountain right of way within his grazing area is allowed to be taken over by invasive plant species.
“I don’t know how it could be worse, but it will be all over the line rather than just in the piles like it is now,” explained Schindler, who expects that Trans Mountain will soon be using those stockpiles.
He also noted that in years past spraying had taken place in nearby locations in order to control weed issues but that the stockpiles in question don’t appear to have been treated at all, despite Trans Mountain’s assurances that stockpiles are a focus area.
“For our current calendar year, vegetation management began in early spring and is ongoing until the end of the growing season,” said the Trans Mountain spokesperson.
“Spray crews focus on noxious and invasives on topsoil stockpiles and in reclaimed areas where topsoil has been replaced and seeded. Mechanical vegetation management via mowing and weed whacking is also ongoing for reclaimed areas to manage desirable species competition as native and landowner-requested seed mixes establish.”
Now that the cheatgrass has gone to seed, eradication could be an uphill battle.
@FaceBook ColdwaterSchool 709-170th St |Merritt, BC|V1K1B8
Benefits of ourClasses
strong focusonlocal culture
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loving andcaringenvironment
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dedicatedteachersand staff
Aboriginal Headstart
Planters,big rocks, sand,Sheeshtkin, andmore!
As always,the ColdwaterSchool will be followingall provincial guidelines to ensure theongoing health and well-being of ourchildren.
Registration formscan be picked up from theschool or we canemail/fax them directly to you.
Merritt and surrounding areas may see transit regionalization
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
BC Transit proposed the idea of regionalization for Merritt, Kamloops, Ashcroft, Clinton, Cache Creek and Clearwater.
Currently, BC Transit works with three operating firms: TransDev in Kamloops, Nicola Valley Transportation Society in Merritt, and Yellowhead Community Services in the remaining aforementioned communities.
If implemented, regionalization would centralize operational services such as fleet maintenance and leadership from Kamloops.
On July 23, BC Transit was supposed to present the idea of regionalization to Merritt city council, however, BC Transit did not end up attending the meeting.
According to a powerpoint presentation that was supposed to be presented at city council, regionalization would improve management oversight, reduce maintenance costs and provide “centralized and consistent customer service at a higher standard.”
Regionalization will not affect existing service levels, route coverage, fare structure, or accessibility; only the background operations which ridership does not see.
According to the powerpoint, unionized staff will be guaranteed positions if regionalization is implemented and non-unionized staff will be given first priority in open positions. “Leadership positions are excluded from this,” reads the powerpoint.
Despite BC Transit’s absence, mayor and council spent approximately seven minutes discussing the powerpoint which was in the July 23 agenda. According to Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia White, this is the second cancellation from BC Transit.
“Our transit, all the smaller communities’ transit (would be) satellited out of Kamloops,” said Mayor Mike Goetz. “We already know that centralization doesn’t work at all; we’ve seen it with forestry, it doesn’t work; we’ve seen it with health, it doesn’t work.”
Mayor Mike Goetz mentioned the same powerpoint was presented at a Thompson-Nicola Regional District meeting on July 18 and was not received positively. “They were absolutely mauled,” said Goetz. “I’m not too sure they’re excited to be presenting anymore because this is something that has stuck up on a lot of communities that people are very upset about.”
“It’s like they don’t know what goes on up here,” said City of Kamloops City Councillor Dale Bass during the July 18 TNRD regular board of directors meeting. “Invite them to come to the TNRD, tour the relevant communities affected by this regionalization transit plan… so they can see exactly what we’re talking about because I had the feeling that they just didn’t care.”
“I think they need to see that we’re not Abbotsford (or) Mission,” continued Bass.
“It’s almost like they didn’t know what was happening in our community, they didn’t supply us with any financial savings of how they were going to improve our transit system,” said Electoral Area M Director David Laird during the TNRD meeting. “I was so disappointed, we’re so familiar with all this regionalization and it hasn’t worked for us anywhere in the
regional district.”
The board of directors meeting on the subject of regionalization concluded with carried motion to invite BC Transit to the TNRD to tour smaller communities’ transit networks.
Despite BC Transit projecting reduced costs on maintenance, Goetz questions the logistics of transporting a broken bus in Merritt to be repaired in Kamloops. “You’re going to have to put it on a trailer and haul it all the way there,” said Goetz.
Fort St. John and Dawson Creek have also gone through regionalization. Milo MacDonald, the CAO of Fort St. John, has described regionalization for his municipality and region as a good thing for his community.
“The main value in all of this is that there is management in place to create consistency and reduce administrative costs and duplication. To me this is a good model that has some parallels in other public services like policing for example,” said MacDonald. “I think regionalization has been an effective thing for Fort St. John, we have excellent quality service, and benefit from the efficiencies of scale on purchasing, training, regulatory compliance, policy and service consistency.”
According to Mayor Goetz, Merritt’s transit network receives 85,000 rides annually. “That’s amazing for a town that has 7,500 to 8,000 people,” said Goetz.
Coun. Adam Etchart expressed concerns that if regionial-
ization is implemented, BC Transit may cut back any progress made to the City’s ambitions to expand bus services to the Coldwater Indian Band or eliminate Bus 4 to the Lower Nicola Indian Band.
“(It’s) a Victoria group that doesn’t live and breathe in communities this size making a decision thinking it’s okay,” said Goetz.
Goetz speculates from BC Transit’s absence from the meeting and negative response during the aforementioned TNRD meeting that BC Transit is pulling back from the idea and assessing a better way to regionalize.
“I think they’re rethinking, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something in the near future with a different tone and maybe an idea of how they’re going to press forward, and then we can see what that looks like,” said Goetz.
If no changes are made, according to the powerpoint, the request for proposal process begins September 2024 and new operating contract and service implementation begins on August 1, 2025.
In an email correspondence with the Herald, BC Transit declined request for interview but stated regionalization “would better align transit services in the region;” union employees will be offered comparable roles, non-union employees will be given first consideration; and the RFP process will be carried out in late 2025 and implemented in 2026.
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New Cents coach outlines vision for the team
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
New Merritt Centennials coach Wes McLeod shares his vision for the Cents’ roster.
Hailing from Mission, B.C., and living in Chilliwack, McLeod spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in the B.C. Elite Hockey League, guiding the Thunderbirds to first place with a record 30-5-1 and advancing to the BCEHL semifinal round.
Despite growing up in the Fraser Valley, McLeod is no stranger to Merritt. “I spent a lot of time in Merritt in the summers, we had a lake house on Glympse Lake so I’d spend some time there growing up,” said McLeod. “I’ve spent a lot of time here but never lived here full time.”
McLeod now faces the challenge of starting a team from scratch.
“We didn’t really start recruiting until middle to end of April, we’re probably two to four months behind the rest of the league,” said McLeod. “But it’s gotten pretty well for the most part, I think we’re in a good spot, we’ve got some talent coming in, we’ve got a lot of really good kids coming in so we’re excited about that.”
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which platforms every league in Canada and the United States which allows professionals to search a player’s name and pull up film and statistics from players’ past seasons.
“The on ice side, hockey’s in such a techie place right now, when we can pull up a video on a player in seconds and see the on ice component of that player how they, play what type of player they are,” said McLeod. “But we don’t see what happens behind closed doors, and that’s where doing your homework and calling the contacts that have been with these players in the past is so important to get a real feel for what type of player you’re actually getting.”
“There’s nothing like evaluating a player than being in the same rink as that player,” said McLeod.
“A lot of times like when I go to watch a player live, I’m watching them when they get back to the bench, maybe they had a bad shift, or maybe they’re on for a goal against, I want to see how they react,” said McLeod, analyzing players’ body language.
‘Growing a team from scratch takes time,’
WES MCLEOD
MERRITT CENTENNIALS COACH
“There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes right now in the recruiting side of things and then also just preparing and planning for what the season plan will look like, what our community involvement will look like, just really trying to get in touch with Merritt and what some of the things the community are looking for,” said McLeod “For us, we’re prioritizing character, we want to make sure that we’re building from the dressing room out, and getting the right people involved in our organization,” said McLeod “and then we want to be competitive, so we want to build the most competitive team as we can.”
Because of the Cent’s prioritization of character, McLeod also wishes to understand the potential players’ backgrounds, reaching out to past coaches to get a better understanding of their character.
“We want to know how they respond to adversity, we want to know how they interact with their teammates, we want to know how they react when things go bad,” said McLeod.
Due to advancements in technology, McLeod is able to use programs such as InStat, a program
In terms of playstyle, McLeod follows a similar doctrine as the Centennials’ previous coach, Brian Passmore. “I think Brian had the guys playing a forward checking style in your face, taking away time and space, very similar to how I like my teams to play,” said McLeod. “We want to put pressure on the opposition, we want to be a hard checking team hard to play against, good in our own zone.”
Due to the smaller size of the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, McLeod wants the Cents to be physical. “It’s a small rink, and when I say physical, it’s not running around, trying to take guys heads off with body checks, but just winning your puck battles, being good along the walls, winning in front of the nets, just being hard in the right areas of the ice where opposing teams won’t like to come to play us here,” said McLeod.
McLeod’s long term vision for the Cents is to have the program sell itself to players. “When I took the position, I definitely had a longer term perspective on things,” said McLeod. “Growing a team from scratch takes time, you don’t just you don’t step in and you become the Penticton Vees overnight.”
“I don’t view success as like the outcome of the season, I view it more as the journey to where we get to from start to finish, and that’s kind of my message to the players as well,” said McLeod. “For me, it’s more about embracing the journey and lov-
ing coming to the rink every day, enjoying being a community and to be a part of Merritt, and to just embrace the challenge to try to make yourself a better person and a better hockey player, day after day after day.”
For McLeod, passion is the route to success “at the end of the day, if you’re a young player and you want to go somewhere in hockey or in any aspect of life, you got to have passion for it,” said McLeod. “That passion has got to stem from you, it can’t stem from mom or dad or uncle or brother, it’s got to be driven internally.”
Outside of hockey, McLeod enjoys fishing, golf, and taking his ATV out to the mountains.
“Especially in season sometimes, if I can find you a couple hours here or there, because it gets stressful in season obviously as you can imagine,” said McLeod. “It’s kind of like meditation for me, just to get up into the mountains away from people, it’s quiet, a lot of times you have a nice view and stuff, so I really enjoy taking my ATV and I just burning up the mountain and killing a couple hours up there.”
Merritt Centennials coach Wes McLeod talked to the Herald about his vision for the team’s roster. Photo/KIJHL
SPORTS
New blood for the Merritt Centennials
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
The Merritt Centennials have signed two promising players eager to make an impact this upcoming season.n
The latest two additions of the Merritt Centennials, AJ Frigon and Tristan Visser, talked to the Herald about their hockey journey and some of their expectations of this new chapter.
AJ Frigon started playing hockey when he was only three years old.
“My parents just got me on the ice,” Frigon said. “Then I just kind of grew to like it and just started playing probably when I knew that I was allowed to play, I just played. Then just kind of went from there and just kept going and obviously, I kept loving it. I grew to love the game more.”
During the 2023-24 season, Frigon played for the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA, a minor hockey team from Alberta.
Throughout his time with the team, the defenceman played 31 games, five goals and had 27 assists. He also played for the Leduc Riggers for five games and had two assists.
But now, Frigon is ready to take the next step on his hockey journey as he commits to the Cents in the 2024/2025 season.
“I just have so much pride and I’m just so happy to be able to wear their logo and just call myself a Centennial,” he added. “Even though they are a new team to KIJHL, I know they still have a lot of history and just great fans. I’m really excited to get in front of them and hopefully make them proud.”
Frigon also shared how playing for the Cents will differ from his previous hockey experiences.
“I think it will be a little bit different. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of different guys, I think there’s a couple of guys on Merritt and on other teams that I’ve played with or played against,” he said. “But I think it’ll be pretty different just because everyone’s older now. It’ll be more physical, but I think I’ll be able to handle it.”
He describes himself as a player that always tries to be at his best game.
“I always bring my top effort and I always try the hardest I can,” Frigon said. “I always try to be really positive and just try to play a mistake-free game and try to be consistent with shutting down the other team as well as making plays to get us out of the zone and makes offense.”
As his excitement grows to move to Merritt, Frigon sends a message to all the Centennials fans.
“I’m just gonna go out there every game and really try my best and try to play my
best,” Frigon said. “I’m not going to promise them no mistakes, but I’m always going to try to learn from them and try to do as much as I can to help the team.”
Like his teammate, Tristan Visser also has a long history with hockey.
“I was the first kid in my family to start playing hockey. My dad never played hockey and I started playing when I was four years old,” Visser said. “I grew up in Didsbury and then later I moved to Olds and played Peewee throughout Olds.”
During the 2023-24 season, Visser played for the Olds Grizzlys U18 AA. Throughout his time with the team, the forward scored 14 goals and had 14 assists. Later during the season, he joined the Mountainview Colts.
Visser also shares his excitement when he heard that he made it into the Centennials.
“I’m super excited to be a part of the Centennials and obviously show Merritt what I have to offer. It’s obviously a big responsibility, but again, a big honour,” he said.
He also shared a few of his personal goals for the upcoming season.
“I obviously want to help the team win games and showcase all that I have to offer,” he said.
As for fans in Merritt, they can expect that Visser will give back to the community.
“ I definitely think a lot of energy and community support. I’ve grown up in a small town, so I’m definitely a community guy and I love the community and the people where I live. They can expect a lot from me.”
Join the tradition of BC Junior Hockey’s longest-continuously operating franchise in the Merritt Centennials as we provide a “DUS T THE RUST” youth hockey school for youth born in the year s of 2007 - 2017.
August 26 - August 30, 2024
AJ Frigon (left) and Tristan Visser (right) are the newest addition to the Merritt Centennials. Photos/Merritt Centennials
COMMUNITY
Oktoberfest returns to Merritt with authentic German vibes
Merritt is getting a splash of German cheer this year as the local Oktoberfest is set to return in the fall after a 4-year hiatus.
Promising to bring a taste of Bavarian culture to Merritt, those who wish to participate in the Oktoberfest are invited to the Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, Sept. 21, to enjoy some beer, authentic German food. The event starts at 4 p.m. and tickets can be purchased through Sandra Wagenblast at 250-378-4259.
A few activities at the Oktoberfest include an axe throwing competition, a contest for the best German outfits, and a concert from Vancouverfounded band S-Bahn – which is specialized in Oktoberfests.
“Merritt is the only place in Canada that they are playing for the Oktoberfest, otherwise they are all booked up,” Sandra Wagenblast, one of the organizers, said.
She said their wish to bring the event back was to bring people together after the pandemic was over.
“There’s a group of us who used to have the Oktoberfest before COVID. It was on a smaller
Photo/S-Bahn
scale and held in the civic centre. Then after COVID, everything seemed to be dying in Merritt, for opportunities for people to get out and meet others and have fun,” Wagenblast said.
“So we were thinking of bringing the Oktoberfest back. That’s what we decided and then we got the band, which was almost impossible in the previous years to book. We managed to book them and we said ‘let’s do it’.”
Wagenblast said that the idea behind hosting an Oktoberfest is to raise funds for the community, where it’s most needed.
“We have seen, since COVID, how things have changed, how things have become expensive, how people are suffering, and calamities that Merritt has gone through with a fire and then the flood,” she said. “People are struggling. So we’d like to help in any way that we can. So putting back into the community is most important.”
Wagenblast sees the future of the Oktoberfest in Merritt a huge success.
“We’ve been talking to people and people are really, really excited about it. Not only people in Merritt, but out of Merritt, they’re excited to come and be a part of it,” she said.
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
Band S-Bahn is set to perform at the Merritt Oktoberfest.
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
CLASSIFIEDS
In Loving Memory
Kell y I. Carmichael
June 6, 1969 - July 23, 2024
It is with broken hear ts and intense sorrow that we share our beloved Kelly died the morning of July 23 Af ter a shor t stay in hospice and a brave lengthy fight with cancer, Kelly passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Our profound love for, and plentiful memories of Kell are enduring and we shall forever miss him.
A Celebration of Life will occur on August 17th at 1:00 pm at 1426 Coldwater Ave., Merr itt.
You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
You belong with your love on your arm
You belong somewhere you feel free
GeoffScholtens
On Sunday, July 28, 2024, GeoffScholtens took of from Merritt airportand landedinthe arms of Jesu hissavior. TheLordhad suddenlycalledhim home.
From averyyoung age, Geoffhad apassion foraviationwhich ledhim to become Canada’s youngest privatepilotand flight instructor.InTaiwan, while teachingEnglish, hislove foraviationwas surpassedbyhis love forChrist. Geoff picked up hiscross everyday andchosetofollowGod wherever He ledevenif that meanttothe very ends of theearth.In1998, Geoffmarried Elyseand soon after movedtothe Tibetanhills of Chinaafter aquick stop in theNetherlands Geofflived in Chinafor 16 years, raisinga familyof5 children, shepherdingand bringing peopletothe good news of JesusChrist.
In 2016, theLordled himback to Canada wherehewould continue in internationalmissions andworkonlaunching hischildrenwell. He lovedhis family andtaught everything he hadlearnedtohis children, whetheritwas teachinghis girlshow to roof ahouseand fix amotor,orteachinghis boys how to change brakes andrenoa house. He wasalsoveryinvolvedinthe community of Merritt, volunteeringatSearch andRescue, coachinghighschool soccer,curling, chairing theairportcommittee, teachinghis daughtersand otherstudentstofly andmakingnew friends wherever he went.Whether at homeorabroad, Geoff’s irresistible wide smile andanopenBibledrewmanytoJesus Geoffhas gone to hiseternal homeleavingbehindhis wife Elyse, children Lily,Peter,Yvonne (Lucas), Susanna,and Timothy; parentsJohn andFannie, siblings Hilary (Sprout), Mike (Mirjam),Leslie (Paul),Susan (Justin), Tessa (Harry). He also leaves behind Elyse’sfamily in Holland; parentsChaosheng andXiaofen,Xiaoqing (Sander), Xiaodan(Alex), Olivia (Bart) as well as alarge family of 26 nieces andnephews,numerous aunts, uncles, andcousins Geoff’scelebrationoflifeinMerritt will be held at Crossroads Church at 2:00pm, Saturday,August10with live-stream at www.crossroadsmerritt.com
Hisbody will be laid to rest in Murrayville Cemeteryat11:00am, Saturday, August17and acelebrationofhis life in Langley will be held at Langley Canadian Reformed Church at 2:00pm,Saturday, August17with live-stream at https://langleycanrc.org/live-video
Geofflived hislifetothe fullest,knowingthatitwas not his, but Christ living in him.
“However,I consider my lifeworth nothingtome, if only Imay finishthe raceand complete thetaskthe Lord Jesushas given me –the task of testifying tothe gospelofGod’sgrace.”Acts20:24
In lieuofflowers, pleaseconsider donatingtoVOAR-FM96.7 the Christianradio stationrebroadcastedinMerritt that Geofflovedtolistento: https://lighthousefm.org/ways-to-give/
JOBPOSTING
COMMUNITY HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE
Interim-Full Time
Under the direc tion of Xwisten’sHealth Manager,the Communit yHealth Representative(CHR) is responsible forproviding health promotionand preventionprogramsfor Xwistencommunity members.
Only those shor tlisted will be contac ted andtoapply submit resumes and coverletter: Gary Forsyth, Administrator
