Merritt Herald December 15, 2022

City releases its election process report

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

Opinion --------------------- 6-7 Sports -------------------18-19

The City of Merritt has released a report outlining an internal review of its election processes following public input and concern regarding the 2022 general election, including a legal proceeding by mayoral candidate Tony Luck. Luck’s acceptance of the newly minted report, which he said his team was mildly satisfied with, means his proceedings won’t progress any further. The City identified a number of instances where their election processes contravened the Local Government Act.

The Local Government Act, a piece of provincial legislation, sets out the parameters for municipal elections across B.C. Municipalities themselves administer the election process, and Director of Corporate Services Greg Lowis took on the role of Chief Election Officer in the City of Merritt. The election took place on October 15, with advanced voting opportunities prior to that date. Following the election, the City said a number of local residents took to social media and city hall to voice their concerns about the election process. Tony Luck filed his legal proceedings against the City on November 17, partially prompting the City’s CAO, Sean Smith, to draft the election review. Luck has now begun the process of withdrawing his challenge, which he said was only meant to bring attention to the issue.

“There were three different instances we found where there was non-com-

pliance with the requirements for elections in the Local Government Act, and we take that really seriously,” said Smith, speaking to the media following Tuesday’s council meeting.

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

The first contravention found by Smith in his report was that the City did not appoint a Deputy Chief Election Officer until October 11th, 2022, which was well into advanced voting, and just four days before general election day. While there are no requirements in the LGA stating when a deputy official should be appointed, City staff acknowledged that the intent of the section was not met. Smith said in his report the result of this was less collaboration in the election process, and left election officials with less time to complete their work.

The next shortcoming identified by Smith was a contravention to section 72(4) of the LGA, which requires election workers to record the type of identification they checked for each voter in the ballot book. This led to three instances where an elector received a ballot without providing sufficient documents or solemn declarations to prove their identity and address. While recording the nature of documents wouldn’t have solved this problem, it would have allowed a voter to be satisfied that these instances were the exception, and not

Section 120(4) of the Local Government Act states that candidates must not be present in the voting place during voting proceedings, unless they are there to vote. Smith noted in his report that the final contravention of the LGA was when a number of candidates gathered in the polling place for the last 15 minutes of the election while waiting for the counting rooms to open. While the City official on site did tell candidates to wait the remaining time in the voting place, there was no evidence that the candidates interacted with voters or the ballot box in any way.

“Where we knew and we saw that there were some errors, it’s really good to own your own mistakes, so we wanted the opportunity to do that,” noted Smith.

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

Smith added that while these contraventions reduce voter confidence, they did not have any material impacts on the election’s outcome, and that the election was conducted in good faith. The report also acknowledges that while Luck’s challenge did in part prompt the report, it was offered mainly in the interest of transparency. The report also identifies seven other opportunities for change and improvement in the election process, including serial numbers on ballots, machine versus hand counting, identification of election officials, ballot box and ballot concerns, and other issues relating to best practices.

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

Dec. 15: Partly Cloudy -3°/-11°C

Dec. 16: Partly Cloudy -3°/-11°C

Dec. 17: 70% Snow -4°/-12°C

Dec. 18: 70% Snow -8°/-15°C

Dec. 19: 60% Snow -13°/-18°C

Dec. 20: 60% Snow -15°/-22°C

ACTIVE STORIES

Literacy Merritt & Nicola Valley Society brings back their ‘Active Stories’ program for this school year. The program encourages the development of movement skills, improvisation, creativity, and early literacy skills among young students in the Nicola Valley.

Search ‘LITERACY’

POLICE ENGAGEMENT

The Merritt RCMP and Community Policing Office (CPO) are often seen working hand in hand, and the community engagement sessions held over the past two weeks were no exception.

Search ‘CPO’

Marius

Aspen Planers to be closed

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Aspen Planers has temporarily shut down their Merritt operations, closing two work sites in the Nicola Valley due to a lack of steady log supply. The closure is currently planned to last three weeks, but executives with Aspen Planers say it will ultimately be government approval of cutting permits and market conditions that determine the mill’s reopening date.

Approximately 150 employees of Aspen Planers, owned by locally founded but Surrey-based company AP Group, are affected by the shutdowns. Along with these employees, several contractors and logging truck drivers are out of work due to Aspen’s closure. The issue at hand, according to AP Group: a lack of logs. Despite the number of logs that remain sitting at Aspen Planer’s sawmill, logistical issues around supply and finishing abilities mean the mill can’t operate.

“The issue, in terms of the reason behind the three week closure, is just simply because we have a lack of logs,” said Bruce Rose, executive vice president with AP Group.

“Our log inventory has gone down to

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

A suspect was taken into custody after stealing a running vehicle with children on board.

On December 9, 2022, shortly before 3:00pm, Merritt front line officers were alerted to a stolen motor vehicle from a Merritt elementary school. The vehicle had been left running with two children in the back seat,

while the parent went to pick up another child from the school.

A suspect saw a moment of opportunity and stole the vehicle while it was left running. Within minutes police located the stolen vehicle and took the suspect into custody without incident. The children were unharmed and returned to their parent.

such a low level that it’s difficult to run our sawmill economically, efficiently, and effectively. We’ve got into a situation where we’ve run out of logs because we have not had any cutting permits approved by the government, and we have a large backlog of cutting permits that are not approved.”

British Columbia’s Forest & Range Practices Act, which regulates the cutting of trees on Crown land, sets out the process for obtaining permits and permissions in regards to provincial forestry practices. The provincial government also sets an Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) for areas across the province, which determines the number of metres cubed of timber may be cut in the region per year. The AAC for Merritt’s forestry area is 1,200,000 m³, and those looking to harvest from that set amount must apply for cutting permits before falling trees.

Rose added that AP Group’s main frustration is the “unnecessarily complicated and opaque” process for obtaining a cutting permit, which he said stems from the government addressing outside pressures from environmental organizations and other groups. He believes these processes can be improved while remaining climate friendly and continuing to advance

reconciliation with Indigenous communities. AP Group, along with their United Steelworkers represented employees, are engaged in discussions with the province on this issue.

“The employees are obviously deeply disappointed and frustrated with this situation,” added Rose.

“We can’t get on the timber harvesting land base, therefore we can’t operate and therefore can’t provide jobs. It has a direct

and immediate effect on the community, and people’s livelihoods.”

A small number of Aspen workers accepted the company’s offer to relocate to other nearby operations, but most remain laid off and reliant on Employment Insurance (EI) and other benefits. These workers will return to work when fibre supply, market conditions, and cutting permits allow. Rose is hopeful this will be early in the New Year.

preparing medications,

The suspect involved was known to police and released on an undertaking with strict conditions.

“We recognize this incident has been very traumatic for all involved and our local school where it occurred”, says Sgt. Josh Roda. “We no longer live in a day and age where we can leave our vehicles running and expect them to be there when we come back. We

want to use this as a reminder to encourage parents never leave your vehicles running if you’re not in them. If you are picking up a child from school, please bring all your children with you, shut your vehicle off and lock it.”

administrative tasks, and other duties as deter mined by manager We provide on-the-job training in a friendly and supportive working environment We offer competitive wage rates, an employee discount, and a health and wellness benefit program We want to start training our new teammate a soon as possible This position is available immediately.

PART-TIME SALES CLERK

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who loves providing great customer service Activities include merchandising giftware, monitoring inventory, operating the cash register, cleaning, administrative tasks, and other duties as deter mined by manager. We provide on-the-job training in a friendly and supportive working environment A keen interest in operating and maintaining a computer based inventory system would be an advantage We offer competitive wage rates, an employee discount, and a health and wellness benefit program We want to start training our new teammate as soon as possible.

PLEASE SUBMIT RESUME

in person to Blaine at 2037 Quilchena Ave (preferred) or by email to blacksrx. merritt@gmail com (please follow-up with a phone call to (250) 378-2155 to ensure it was received).

Aspen Planers’ Quilchena Avenue sawmill is now closed until the New Year. Marius Auer/Herald

A different kind of Resolution

The new year is inching closer, and you might be thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe 2023 is the year you’ll finally quit smoking. Or lose those extra 10/20/50 pounds. Or something else you’ll probably regret committing to by January 3rd.

I’d like to propose a different kind of resolution, the kind that won’t make you feel bad about yourself. How about resolving to help make someone else’s life better? Helping someone live a better life does not mean buying them a new car or house, it doesn’t necessarily mean buying anything. It could be reading to someone, or just spending time with them if they’re lonely. It could be running errands for someone or shoveling their driveway, or it could mean holding their hand during a dentist appointment. Maybe someone wants to learn something you know how to do, and you could teach it to them?

A couple of months ago I attended a community meeting and heard about an online group that exists on Vancouver Island where people post what they need and other people post what they can offer, and everyone benefits. A bulletin board of community care, I love that!

If you’d like to see this in Merritt as well and want to be part of it, send me an email to hello@kerstin.ca or give me a call at 250-280-0474. We’ll figure out together which format works best so as many people as possible can get involved. Let’s do this!

OPINION

A lm screening at MSS

On Friday, December 9, Merritt got to experience the screening of a new movie, ‘Bones and Crows’. With two different showings at Merritt Secondary School (MSS), high school students and the viewing public both had opportunities to watch the movie in the school gym.

All MSS students in Grade 10-12 were brought to the gym to view the film, which was an amazing experience. Later on that night, the movie was opened up for the public to watch the movie as well.

Before the film began, local elders came to the school to watch the movie and be available as support to anyone who may be triggered by the topics and scenes displayed. After a beautiful

prayer by a residential school survivor, students enjoyed the film while learning about important historic topics involving residential school trauma and indigenous culture.

The film brought back actor Kindall Charters, who grew up in Merritt but moved to Vancouver to pursue his dream of acting. Charters graduated from MSS and was present at the movie screening in his hometown, even answering questions from the audience. Charters played the character of Charlie Tomkins, a code talker. He spoke the Cree language during his scenes.

‘Bones of Crows’ is the story of Aline Spears, who grew up with three other siblings and loving parents on a reserve filled with friends and culture, who would later endure unimaginable terrors in a residential school. The movie jumped in time, from Aline growing up with a family, to being in a residential school, with her

life before being taken away.

The movie showcases Aline as she is put through psychological, cultural, and physical abuse that carries on throughout her life. This movie is a spectacular cinematic piece from start to finish. It included amazing actors from all over the country, including Grace Dove who played the leading role of Aline.

‘Bones of Crows’ was initially released in September of 2022, and will hopefully be released on television in the near future.

Joshi: ‘Finding home in a foreign country’

From the Herald archives: Decembeer 1998

INVESTING IN THE SKATEPARK

It has been a month now, since I moved to Canada. Like many Indians, I too have a dream to make it big, seeking opportunities which were not possible back home.

Thanks to the internet, I had a fair idea of what

Merritt looks like. I was aware of its rich musical heritage, various adventure activities that take place here, what the famous Kekuli Cafe boasts, and who the Merritt Centennials and the Merritt Curling Club are. What I wasn’t aware of was the lovely and caring people of Merritt. The people have been warm and friendly, and, as I have come to learn, are willing to go out of their way to help you.

I experienced

a couple of hearttouching moments, which I will remember for life. Both happened during my bus rides.

It was just my first week in the town when I first hopped onto a bus to get home. I later realized that the bus route didn’t go beyond City Hall. My local phone number wasn’t activated, so I was handicapped with no internet as well.

I asked Carren, my bus driver, for directions. She explained it to me in the best possible manner, but I

guess she realized that it would still be a struggle for me to reach my destination. To my surprise, she went beyond her call of duty and specially drove down to drop me at my destination, after getting a green signal from the head office.

This was unthinkable, even in my own country. It was an unreal feeling. I had an inkling of the caring and encouraging nature of Canadians, but this was beyond imagination.

The second incident was again

at the last stop by City Hall. My bus driver, Randy, was kind enough to arrange for a transfer in the next bus so that I don’t have to pay again for my ride.

As I waited for the next bus at my stop, on a freezing evening, a guy stopped and asked me to hop-in into his car. I soon recognized that it was Randy. I hesitantly got into his car. Randy informed me that the next bus would have taken another 30 minutes to arrive and since he was passing by, he

thought of dropping me.

As he asked for my address, I awkwardly responded. Before I could ask him the reason for his sweet gesture, after safely dropping me, he was to head for a car wash in the opposite direction. I was stunned. Who would do this to a stranger?

I was experiencing all of this during the week of horrifying shooting incidents that had gripped the town. Fortunately no one was hurt in those incidents, but it had shaken

the lovely people of Merritt. The Mounties definitely did not take it lying down and their increased vigilance was quite reassuring. Normalcy was soon restored.

I saw no more wrinkles on the forehead of Merrittonians, coming out with gusto to cheer for the Christmas Parade.

When someone asks me if I miss my home?

Certainly, I do. But is Merritt starting to feel like home?

Definitely, I will say.

City council has approved a request from the Skatepark Design Club to allocate $10,000 out of the 1999 budget for finishing the Voght Park facility. The money is to be used to help fund new concrete ramps, quarter pipes, and other facilities for skateboarders to use, and is subject to the Skatepark Design Club receiving a Vancouver Foundation Grant.

LETTERS POLICY

The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name and address.

Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

HARIT JOSHI WARM CUP OF DREAMS

MAYA STARRS

MSS

Kindall Charters answers questions about acting in the film ‘Bones of Crows.’ Maya Starrs/Herald

A

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The BC Human Rights Commissioner is calling for an end to the use of liaison officers in BC schools, recommending the School Liaison Officer (SLO) programs be suspended unless school districts can show a clear evidence-based need for the program that can’t be met through other civilian services.

The Commissioner, Kasari Govender, said in an open letter to the BC School Trustees Association that marginalized students and communities have voiced significant concerns over the harm caused by police presence in schools. She added recent studies in the United States found officers in schools make students feel targeted and criminalized, and often discipline Black students and students with disabilities at disproportionately high rates.

“Out of respect for the rights of our students, I strongly recommend that all school districts end the use of SLOs until the impact of these programs can be established empirically,” wrote Govender.

“For school boards who choose not to take this step, it is incumbent on you to produce independent evidence of a need for SLOs that cannot be met through civilian alternatives and to explain the actions you are taking to address the concerns raised by Indigenous, Black, and other marginalized communities.”

A number of school districts in the province have suspended the use of SLOs in some capacity over the past number of years, including the Vancouver Police Department’s removal from schools in the city. Recently tabled motions made at Vancouver’s city council table call for the reinstatement of a new SLO program by the start of the 2023 school year.

Locally, the program’s future seems safe for the time being. The Merritt RCMP said the program is a way for students to connect with officers in a positive way.

“We’re not changing what we’re doing

here in Merritt at this point,” said Sgt. Josh Roda, acting detachment commander for the Merritt RCMP.

“If the government gives direction or the RCMP gives direction then we’ll have to follow that, but we see a lot of value in the program. I don’t see how having a positive police officer in a school is going to be a detriment to kids. We want the kids to feel comfortable and safe around the police.”

Roda added that his son is in Kindergarten this year, and loves when he sees police officers at school. Cst. Blake Chursinoff, Merritt’s community policing officer, interacts with students and visits local schools on a daily basis, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

“Our first thought is that we appreciate the work that the RCMP alongside us, so we know that’s important,” said Stephen McNiven, superintendent of schools for SD58.

“Secondly, we’re going to take this topic to the board meeting in January to make sure that our trustees are aware of what the human rights concerns are that were brought forward by the commissioner. Right now, our program is fairly limited, but the work that we do with community policing around safety is really important for us in our school district.”

McNiven added that the district values its relationship with RCMP in Merritt and Princeton, and that the next board meeting’s agenda would see trustees address the letter by Govender. Assistant Superintendent Jane Kempston says the district’s relationship with RCMP is positive, and prioritizes children and families.

“It’s all about safety and wellbeing, and the RCMP have been very proactive in discussing trauma informed practices with our team and making sure that their presence makes kids feel safe and welcomed in their schools,” commented Kempston.

To view the letter by Commissioner Govender, visit www.bchumanrights.ca.

Crossroads Community Church Christmas Eve Service

Blake Chursinoff, Merritt’s community policing officer, interacts with students throughout SD58 on a daily basis. Marius Auer/Herald

Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt RCMP is asking residents for their assistance in identifying a four door white pick up truck which was involved in a hit and run.

Frontline officers responded to reports of a hit and run in the parking lot outside

run suspect at Lower Nicola liquor store

of Lower Nicola’s Aberdeen Cold Beer and Wine Store on November 26, 2022, shortly after 4:00pm.

A press release by the RCMP stated that a 72 year old was hit by a truck in the parking lot, with the truck alleged to have struck the individual fleeing the scene. The victim of the hit and run sustained non life threatening injuries, and was taken to the Nicola Valley Hospital for assessment.

“We are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the truck and driver,” said Cst. Nicholas Maciejewski.

“It is possible the driver was unaware they struck the pedestrian, and we are asking them to do the right thing and contact us.”

The truck is described by police as a four door, white pickup truck.

Those with dash camera footage from the area on November 26, 2022, around 4:00pm, or witnesses to the incident that have not yet spoken to police, call the Merritt RCMP at 250-3784262.

Wanted: armed robbery suspect

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in obtaining information regarding an armed robbery that took place late on Monday, December 12. A liquor store in the 1900 block of Quilchena Avenue was robbed of both product and cash by an assailant armed with a stick.

“Shortly after 10PM last night, the Merritt RCMP received a call from the Olde Barley Market on Quilchena that a male had come in and rob the place, stealing cash and liquor,” Sgt. Josh Roda told the Herald.

No injuries were reported. The suspect’s appearance was described to police as the following:

-Approximately 5’5

-Black full zip hoodie

-Grey cable-knit balaclava

-Black cloth reusable bag

-Armed with a stick

The Merritt RCMP is asking for any dashcam footage or security footage from nearby homes and businesses that may have captured the suspects to be submitted.

They also ask witnesses who may

MERRITT & DISTRICT HOSPICE SOCIETY

Celebrate-A-Life Tree

The holiday season is a time for sharing memories of family and friends who are no longer with us. Celebrate-A-Life with us this December by dedicating an ornament in memory of a friend or loved one. Stop by for your ornament and hang it on our Hospice Tree at the ‘Merritt Library’ or hang it on your tree at home or contact our office and one of our volunteers will hang an ornament for you. At the end of the event, the ornaments will be collected and saved until the spring when our Hospice Volunteers can attend a special ceremony to turn these tributes into ashes.

The Celebrate-A-Life Tree will be available most of December at the ‘Merritt Library’ with volunteers present 12:00-5:00 pm on the following days:

Thursday, Dec. 15, Friday, Dec. 16, Saturday, Dec. 17, Thursday, Dec. 22 & Friday, Dec. 23

Contact the Merritt & District Hospice Society www.merritthospice.org Ph: 250-280-1701 or email: merritthospice@shaw.ca

Screen shot from CCTV footage of the armed robbery, Photo/John Allison

have seen the robbery take place, or anyone with information on the robbery, to call the local detachment at 250-378-4262.

Screenshot of the suspects white pick up truck. Photo/RCMP

B.C . Transit Christmas Light Tour

“We actually just started, and it’s been going very well,” said Lori Willson, supervisor for the Merritt Transit System.

“People are phoning in and they’re stopping by to pick up their tickets. It’s $5 a seat on the bus, and the money gets donated to the Nicola Valley & District Food Bank.”

With the promise of Christmas cheer, along with the support to the food bank, seats are sure to fill up fast. Those interested in attending are urged to pick up their tickets soon. The tour will go through a number of neighbourhoods, following a route that will be determined in advance by the number of Christmas lights present. Merrittonians are encouraged to hang their lights and have them on in time for the tour.

Jolly Saint Nick

Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt Transit System’s annual Christmas Light Tour is back this year, rolling through town after a two year hiatus. While pandemic restrictions and flooding have forced the cancellation of a number of community events in recent years, this year the bus will once again tour Merrittonians through the Valley’s own winter wonderland.

Those who snap up a seat on one of the tours happening across three days and multiple festively decorated neighbourhoods will be bussed throughout Merritt, taking in the holiday decorations as they light up the night sky. The tours will be roughly 1.5 to 2 hours in length, leaving at 6PM from the parking lot of Merritt City Hall on December 16, 17, and 19. Transit employees told the Herald that response for tickets so far has been higher than expected.

In addition to the three public tours, the Merritt Transit System will host a private tour for residents of long term care facilities on Sunday, December 18. The event is sure to be welcomed warmly by the community, after years of events facing cancellations and being postponed.

“This is the first time back after two years of not having it at all,” explained Willson.

“I think everybody likes to get out and see the lights, and they’re doing it for a good cause. This is the time of the year that they [food bank] need the help. When I grew up, it was a big deal to go for a Sunday drive and see the lights.”

Tickets must be paid for by noon the day of the tour. Children ages 5 and under ride for free on a parent or guardian’s lap. For more information on the Merritt Transit System, which is operated by BC Transit and the City of Merritt, visit www. facebook.com/merrittbus. The Merritt Transit Office is located in City Hall, and can be reached via phone at 250-3784080.

Marius

BC Transit will once again offer its community light tour, showcasing Holiday cheer throughout the Merritt Transit System and beyond. Photo/Herald File

Surerus Murphy Joint Ventures donated $4500 to Tumbleweed Playschool Society, and sent Santa Claus to the school on Tuesday, December 13, to hand out gifts to the children. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

The collaboration between Coyote Brotherhood and Gathering Our Warriors hosted a Christmas breakfast on Saturday, December 10. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Holiday cheer and lights aplenty were present at the Nicola Valley Hospital last week, as volunteers with the Merritt & District Hospice Society decked the halls for nurses, doctors, and patients alike. Looking to encourage referrals and build relationships with hospital staff, hospice

volunteers gathered to bring the spirit of Christmas into the hospital.

The Merritt & District Hospice Society, a non-profit which supports those dying, grieving, or living with a life-altering illness, has been in operation since 1986. Currently the hospice society has twenty active volunteers. It is the firm belief of the society that no one should die alone, and their philosophy of care focuses on helping people “live until they die.” Hospice services are nondiscriminatory, and always free-of-charge. Those looking to access the services of hospice can self-refer, but hospice volunteers told the Herald that hospital referrals are also common.

“We’ve talked quite often about how we can get to know the nurses here and for them to get to know us,” said Jill Sanford, chair of the hospice society.

“That’s really the whole idea of this event tonight. We want to get to know each other and feel more comfortable, they’ll make more referrals to us and we can come up here and all the volunteers will know where to go.”

This initiative looked to increase familiarity with the hospice program for hospital staff, and vice versa. The main focus of the hospice society is to con-

nect with those requiring their services, and decorating the hospital was just one attempt to do so. Volunteers and their decorations were well received, with some hospital staff even joining in on the holiday fun. Decorations, snacks, and hot cider were all provided by the hospice, made available by funding through United Way.

A number of patients in the Nicola Valley Hospital will likely stay in the facility over the holidays, recovering from sickness or awaiting placement in a longterm facility more suited to their needs. Sanford added the decorations will not only build relationships, but also bring the holidays to the hospital.

“There are a lot of clients in the hospital right now who are waiting for long term care placement, so this is their home,” added Sanford.

“We thought we’d like to bring a little bit of Christmas. The housekeeping does the main area, so we’re just doing some in the hallways and the patient areas, with permission, and following Interior Health’s rules for COVID.”

The Merritt & District Hospice Society is currently searching for new digs following the news of their building being purchased by another organiza-

for

tion. Its current location on Granite Avenue is home to a resource library, support groups, and the organization’s office space. Hospice hopes to secure a new location in the near future.

In addition to the search for their new home, the hospice society is currently working to develop a number of education programs and resources.

Merrittonians can expect advanced care planning workshops, volunteer training opportunities, and a grief support group. Details on these new initiatives are still being worked out, but Sanford is hopeful they will make an impact and shed light on an important issue.

“I’ve been involved with hospice since about 1975, and I find I do it because I really enjoy it,” added Sanford.

“There are hard times because death is never easy to talk about, but I believe the more we make it part of our life and talk about it, the better we’re able to actually work through it in the end.”

Those interested in getting involved with the society or receiving support from it, should contact 250-280-1701, or go online at merritthospice.org. Resources are available in person at 12-2025 Granite Avenue, Thursday from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

ICBC’s Counterattack Campaign

Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and police are urging drivers to plan ahead and get home responsibly after consuming alcohol. Drivers

across the province, including in Merritt, will see an increased number of roadchecks in an attempt to detect impaired drivers. Impaired driving takes the lives of 64 people in B.C. on an annual basis.

December’s ‘Counterattack’ campaign is one of two safe driving initiatives that ICBC and police take on annually. Those found to be driving under the influence could face steep fines, license suspensions, vehicle impoundment, or even criminal prosecution.

On the other hand, designated drivers identified during Counterattack stops will be rewarded with vouchers for free coffee. Police said the campaign is an important opportunity to spread awareness and build positive partnerships.

“The annual

December impaired driving campaign is an important initiative bringing public awareness to the dangers of impaired driving,” said Chief Constable Neil Dubord, chair of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee.

“This collaboration between the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police members, the Province and ICBC emphasizes how effective partnerships are working to keep our highways and communities safe.” Individuals whose holiday

Marius

Increased police checks will once again become more frequent throughout the holiday season, thanks to the return of ICBC and the RCMP’s Counterattack program. Photo/ICBC

Don’t

From Page 16

festivities involve alcohol should plan ahead to get home safely, added Dubord.

Those who consume alcohol should leave their vehicle home, and opt instead for a designated driver, taxi rideshare, or public transportation.

On average, 25 people are

killed and 360 injured in 600 impaired driving related crashes in the Southern Interior region of B.C. every year.

“If you have consumed alcohol – stay off our roads. If you instead choose to put yourself and others at risk, consider

yourself warned: the police are out there with stepped-up enforcement,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety. For more information on Counterattack, including possible repercussions of impaired driving, visit www.icbc.com.

While identified drunk drivers during the Counterattack stops may face severe penalties, designated drivers identified will be rewarded with free coffee vouchers. Photo/Herald File

Teddy bears flew as Cents took on the Capitals

Cobetto-Roy opened up Trail’s scoring with a power play goal before the end of the first. The second period continued similar to the first, with a time game and a number of penalties. Despite the man advantages following calls for high-sticking, roughing, and hooking, no goals were scored during the second period.

The third period saw two penalties, and the Cents tie the game with 5 minutes left, when Jacob Smith deflected a puck to score the first goal of his BCHL career. The game went to overtime with a 1-1 score. Despite the 5 minutes of 3 on 3 overtime added, the score was still level. This sent the game to a shootout. Despite a valiant effort by the Cents, Trail was able to capitalize after the Cents’ eight shooter missed a shot. Merritt goalie Johnny Hicks made 33/34 saves during the game.

Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt Centennials brought the heat this weekend, taking home three out of four possible points in their first two games of their home stand. While the Cents ultimately lost to Trail in a shootout, the team dominated Cowichan Valley in a 6-0 shutout.

The action followed two Centennials players, Diego Johnson and Jackson Krill,

being named to the roster of the BCHL’s Top Prospects game, a hotspot for NHL scouts.

The action started on Friday’s Holiday Sweater Night, when the Cents faced the 11–11–1 Trail Smoke Eaters at the NVMA. The first period was back and forth, with penalties being called on both sides. At the 13:10 mark, the Cents were caught with too many men on the ice, leading to a power play for the Smoke Eaters.

With the man advantage, Mathieu

The second night of hockey action in Merritt, Saturday’s Teddy Bear Toss night, saw a shift in momentum for the Merritt Centennials. Taking on the 6–17–1 Cowichan Valley Capitals, the Cents turned up the heat and produced a 6-0 shutout win. The scoring opened early for Merritt, with Carter Schmidt finding the back of the net just five minutes into the game, sending teddy bears flying onto the ice.

The rest of the first period saw no scoring but a few penalties, including one major. Anton Yatsyshin of the Capitals hit the Cents’ Tyler Bates hard from behind into the boards which led to a game misconduct for Yatsyshin. Bates headed back to the dressing room after the hit and would not return for the remainder of the game.

The second period started off with an interference call against the Cents’ Michael Shara, giving the Capitals a man advantage. Despite this, Cents captain David Patella scored a short handed goal, assisted by Mark Thurston.

With five minutes left in the period, Jaxson Murray scored his eighth goal of the season to make the score 3-0. In the third period, any hopes of a Capitals’

comeback was derailed completely as the Cents went on to score three more goals. Tristan Allen opened up scoring at the halfway mark of the period, followed by new acquisition Jackson Murphy-Johnson scoring his first as a Merritt Centennial. Brayden Sinclair, an affiliate player for the Cents, then scored his first career goal in his second career game to produce the final score of 6-0.

The game saw another misconduct call, sending Capitals Pier Olivier Allard out of the game following a hit to Davide Patella’s shoulder. Connor Sullivan saved 27/27 for his first win as a Centennial, his first career BCHL win, and his first career BCHL shutout.

The Cents next take on the 24–2–0 Penticton Vees at the NVMA in a rare Wednesday game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Bears hit the ice as the Centennials scored their teddy bear goal Saturday night, a goal that would be followed by 5 more unanswered. Marius Auer/Herald

Donations were collected for the Nicola Valley and District Food Bank. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

Murphy-Johnson picks up teddy bears at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. Marius Auer/ Herald

The Nicola Valley Skate Club (NVSC) went to Kelowna on the weekend of November 25 to compete at the Okanagan Interclub Competition. For some of the skaters, this competition served as their first one of the season, while it serves as the first competition overall for others.

From November 25 to 27, eight

NVSC

“Our club is very proud of all our skaters,” said Coach Diana Lorenz. “Some personal bests, some first competitions and a great learning experience for them all.”

Understandably, skaters have pre performance jitters that they try to overcome. Lorenz said that she helps them through this phase by doing, what she calls,

TRIPLE BALL

‘visioning’, where skaters map out what their steps are going to be on the ice for their routine.

“A lot of them were nervous for sure,” she said. “I get them to go through a checklist of each element of their performance, this helps them back to focusing. I get them to mentally prepare prior to their skate. I think that helps pull a bit of the jitters away.”

With a focused approach, the skaters were able to showcase their skills, with some recording their personal bests.

Here are the results from the Interclub

Competition:

• Avery Starrs - STAR 2 FreeSkate SoloSilver

• Meera Dutt - STAR 2 FreeSkate Solo Silver

• Aziza Earle - STAR 2 FreeSkate Solo Bronze

• Everley Russell - STAR 2 FreeSkate Solo Silver

• Brooke Gustafson - STAR 2 Freeskate Solo Bronze

• Meera-Bella Lalli - STAR 1 Elements Event Bronze

• Everley Russell - STAR 2 Elements Silver

• Meera Dutt - STAR 2 Elements Silver

• Abby Thoms - STAR 5 FreeSkate solo 9th place

• Jayda Starrs - STAR 4 Solo 13 & O 6th place

“Moving forward, now we know what we need to work on, what we need to build on, and what we need to put our focus towards,” said Lorenz.

NVSC now looks ahead to their next competition at Kal Tire Place in Vernon on January 27-29. In the meantime, the club will also get ready for a CanSkate, Jr. Academy, and Jr. STAR elements competition next Wednesday at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lorenz said that a panel of judges consisting of herself, the adult program assistant and a junior assistant will be set to judge the event.

“This is a early opportunity to expose skaters to a competition style event,” said Lorenz.

“Skaters are assessed to Skate Canada Standards and will receive a gold, silver or bronze ribbon for their overall performance and skills.”

Registration for the club’s winter season is currently open. For more information, please visit, https://nicolavalleysc. uplifterinc.com/.

Elementary schools from across the valley, and in Princeton, played in their last volleyball tournament of the season on Friday, December 9, at the old Coquihalla Middle School gym. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

skaters participated in 10 events at the Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna.

Okanagan

Christmas luncheon at St. Michael’s Anglican Church

“This gives a place for people to sit and talk,” said Furman. “There were people who would come in at 11 a.m., sit, and chat for two hours.”

Furman noted that Friendship Fridays “foster a safe space for people to enjoy good company.” With Merritt having more of a senior population, he noted that the luncheon gave the older locals a break from the monotony of daily life.

“When we used to do it weekly, we’d get seniors to come down and be social,” he recalled. “It gave them a reason to get out of the house, and have some fun.”

Furman gives credit to the 20 volunteers that are dedicating their time to make this possible and notes that they need more to bring back the program on a regular basis.

said Furman. “We also did requests when people ask us to offer up a prayer for a loved one. This was usually done quietly at the table of the person and is up to their discretion.”

The church is excited to bring back Friendship Fridays and will look at the turnout of this coming Friday’s events as a reference moving forward to the new year. People are invited to join the luncheon on Friday, December 16, at 11:30 a.m. St. Michael’s Anglican Church is located in 1990 Chapman St.

Friendship Fridays was a weekly luncheon hosted by the St. Michael’s Anglican Church. The program gave the people of Merritt a safe space to meet, surrounding themselves with good food, and better company. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this tradition had been put on hold for three years.

As Christmas Day approaches, the church looks to bring this tradition back, starting with a turkey lunch on Friday, December 16. People are invited once

Smile Cookies

On, Tuesday, December 6, Tim Hortons Merritt presented a cheque to the Nicola Valley Food Bank for the proceeds of their Smile Cookie sales this past September.

Food Bank Manager Derlanda Hewton was highly impressed with the donation amount, with $5052 dou-

bling last year’s $2107 cheque. “We are so grateful for Tim Hortons doing this,” said Hewton. “This will help us with our operating costs and our nutritional support for seniors.”

Hewton said that the Food Bank isn’t getting as much support

again to come through St. Michael’s doors and enjoy a meal with friends, family, and fellow Merrittonians.

“It’s a turkey dinner but served at lunch time,” said organizer Michael Furman. “We open up at 11 a.m. for coffee and tea, we serve the lunch at about 11:30 a.m. and it runs for about two hours.”

Friendship Fridays was an initiative that began in 2017. The program is funded primarily by the church and through some private donations. On average, the lunch feeds 60 people. For this upcoming return, Friendship Friday is prepared to serve roughly 120 people a ‘turkey dinner’ during lunchtime.

“We do get volunteers, but its a lot harder when it’s a regular commitment,” he said. “Some of the volunteers in the past are not comfortable with large groups of people anymore.”

Furman also said that although religion is not at the forefront of this program, Friendship Fridays still begin with a prayer before the meal, and the church also has their services available for guests who are in need of it.

“We always give thanks before serving the meals,”

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WEL COME YOU

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

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Omre)

Sunday ser vice 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464

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

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

Sacred Hear t Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919

Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772

Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.

Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735

Service Time ever y Sunday - 10 am

Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall)

Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268

compared to previous years, so they are very appreciative with the sup-

port that they do receive.

“We are just truly thankful for

everybody coming together to support us this Christmas season.”

Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

The last Christmas Luncheon hosted by St. Michael’s Church was in 2019, prior to the lockdowns and restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo/Herald File

The Merritt Tim Hortons Staff presented Derlanda Hewton of the Nicola Valley & District Food Bank a cheque worth $5052.20. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

Izaiah Reyes

NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Janina (Jeannie) Clark

May 5, 1950 - Aug 22, 2022

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jeannie Clark. She made the decision to stop dialysis as she was tired of the 3 days a week trips to Kamloops. She moved to Gillis House in Merritt and there she spent her last 7 days being visited by family and friends, until she passed away of kidney failure Jeannie was born in Germany and at the age of two, moved to Ontario. In 1968 she moved to Merritt where she met her husband Bill Clark. They recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary They had 2 children, Sherry and Glen (passed 1999), 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Bill and Jean lived a life full of adventures, like camping, snowmobiling, dirt biking, and quading. They enjoyed many travels, even a special trip to Hamburg to visit her brother and to Poland to see other family She belonged to many clubs such as Good Sam’s where she enjoyed a ton of laughs, she was always up for fun! She really enjoyed her position as a Walmart greeter where she always had a smile and perhaps a costume. Jeannie was very creative and she had a passion for crafts, especially woodwork that she shared and gifted.

It was Jeannies desire not to have a service but to have her ashes scattered at Andys Lake at Thyne Mnt.

Wherever a beautiful soul has been There is a trail of beautiful Memories

Wayne Jasper was a loving husband father and grandfather he enjoyed fishing hunting and spending time with family

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• The Receptionist reports d rectly to the Band Administrator

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Public Inquiries

• General Office Duties

• Booking band hall usage

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Per formance of al respons bi it es and dut es in accordance with Nooaitch Indian Band Administrat on policies and procedures

• Organizing and maintaining the reception and mail service of the band adm nistration office

• Photocopyng and distribut ng documents and not ces to on-reserve band members

• Organizing the distribut on of a community newsletter and/or posting informar on on a Nooaitch webs te as/when needed

• Photocopying and mailing out Nooaitch Indian Band documents to off-reserve Nooaitch members

• Scanning incom ng ma l for distribution to staff

PUBLIC INQUIRIES:

•Receives and transfers incoming cal s and takes accurate and precise messages

• Greets and welcomes the public and Band members and deals with inquiries regarding faci ity usage serv ces, etc

GENERAL OFFICE DUTIES:

• Facil tates communication by keeping track of which Administrat on staff members are in or out of the office and when they are expected to return

• Purchases postage for postage machine

• Assists the Band Adm nistrator in assessing the need for office supp ies and in ordering supplies

• Signs for supplies, mail and packages delivered to the office by courier

• Maintains the photocopier and facsimile by ensuring paper is stocked and that copier and facsim le are serviced as needed Types various reports and correspondence as assigned by the Band Administrator

• Sends, receives and records facsimiles and photocop es of requested materia for departments managers

• Separates and dates incoming mai for all departments and Band Members, as well as ensuring that all outgo ng mail is prepared and forwarded to the post office on a weekly basis

• Records incoming invoices and cheques and prov des this nformation to the Finance Department

• Maintains the filing system by ensuring paperwork is filed on a weekly basis and that al fi es removed from the area are recorded and al closed fi es are archived in the appropriate manner

• Publishes community notices as directed by Band Administrator

• Receives not ces from all departments for commun ty not ce publication

• Carries out general office duties such as filing word processing Excel spread sheets and related duties

• Assists the Band Adm nistrator as required

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge and understanding of First Nations communities, culture and issues are essential

• Must have good computer skil s and be fam liar with MS Office software

• Must have a working knowledge of office equipment including telephone, photocopier, typewr ter, computer, postage mach ne, parce scale facs mile and two-way radio

• Ability to maintain confident ality

• Must have excellent organization skills

• Must have excellent ora commun cat on and public relations skil s for the purpose of dealing with inquiries by the public and staff

• Must have excellent written communication sk lls for the purpose of preparing various letters of commun cat on

NECESSARY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Grade Twelve education desirable, preferably supplemented with either formal train ng or on-the-job training in office procedures

• In the absence of a secretar al des gnation previous secretarial experience s required

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Mainta ns confidentiality in respect to all information and is aware that he/she holds a position of trust w th respect to confidentia information as required in the discharge of his/ her duties

• Takes training as requ red by job needs on an annual basis

Reliable Towing Merritt Ltd.

2900 Pooley Ave

the following vehicle will be auctioned on December 22, 2022 for non payment

Phone the office for inquiries @ 250-378-5000

2005 Pontiac Grand Am

VIN# 1G2NW12E85M163566

Debtor: Aaron T izya-Fenton

Amount owing: $1,586 55

2002 Buick Century

VIN# 2G4WS52J821168205

Debtor: Ahmed A

Amount owing: $1,278 61

2005 Toyota Yaris

VIN# JTDJT123850068689

Debtor: Bobbi Aitchison

Amount owing: $4,723 19