Merritt Herald December 26, 2024 by Merritt Herald

First place: Audrey Ward

Second place: Liz Scotton

Third place: Flo Stewart

/PAGE 5

Canada Post workers return, major delays on the way

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com

Canada Post workers returned to work on Dec. 17 after over four weeks of striking.

Despite being back in action, Canada Post said in a statement that due to a high volume of backlog for the Christmas season, the earliest they can accept new commercial parcels is Thursday, Dec. 19.

With the large backlog to sort through as well as a number of employees taking time off for the holidays, Canada Post is expecting mass delays with their deliveries that could last into the beginning of next year.

“Stabilizing operations will take time and the company asks Canadians for their patience,” they said in a statement on Monday, Dec. 16.

In return for being ordered back to work by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board under the current collective agreement conditions until May next year, workers were given a five per cent raise which will be retroactive to the day after the expiration of each collective agreement.

A five per cent increase is far from the 19 per cent raise which Canada Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) were bargaining for.

To those on the picket lines like Aaron Arseneau, Acting President of CUPW Local 758, the concession is a “slap in the face”.

He said the news of the back to work order was “devastating” and he and many other employees were hoping to defy it.

“We keep getting more and more left behind, just like most working Canadians. All the profits rise to the top and we’re left at the bottom fighting for scraps,” he said.

He said during the strike, employees were relying on alternate forms of income. “Picket Pay” gave the picketers $66 dollars a day which “helped take some of the sting off” of unemployment. For others, they had to rely on side jobs or income from others in their household to make it through the strike.

With the strike on pause, Arseneau is hoping the government will use the time between now and May to investigate what he calls “mismanagement” in Canada Post.

“Even though this did not work out in our favor, it was still the right move. I’m hoping that in the coming months more comes out and we are able to continue to bargain this contract in the spring.”

First place: Audrey Ward

Second place: Liz Scotton

How simple changes can help Merritt businesses combat crime

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com

Another batch of businesses and residences have had their safety assessed this year by Merritt’s Community Policing Office (CPO).

The CPO assesses properties through what they call Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This year, the CPO was able to conduct assessments on nine businesses, one residence, and one neighbourhood. They hope to finish a couple more before the end of the year.

“Property owners may be experiencing reoccurring issues and not realize why others see an opportunity for negative behaviours or crime,” CPO stated about CPTED on the City of Merritt website.

The Merritt RCMP also attempted at making safety changes in businesses prone to theft or robbery this year. But those efforts seem to have failed, with most business owners choosing not to enact the suggested changes that included closing earlier or interacting with customers through glass only.

CPO Community coordinator Marlene Jones, who conducted the assessments, said she was at first worried about how the businesses were going to perceive the suggestions.

“I feel a little vulnerable doing it because I’m pointing out their weaknesses. And sometimes to fix those weaknesses, it requires funding. If you were running a challenging business, I kinda felt like the last thing you wanted to have was somebody coming in doing an assessment telling you that you should spend some money,” she said.

Jones said since then her worries have been quelled and businesses have received her advice.

She said an easy step to increase safety that many businesses have partaken in is to install better lighting around their store.

“If you’re hiding in the shadows, often property damage and things like that happen,” she said.

Copper Valley Mechanical Contractors Ltd. is one of the businesses that had their property assessed for safety a couple years ago. The owner of the establishment Brian Whitecross said he was grateful for the assessment and they brought up ideas that he would never have thought of.

Despite this, Whitecross said one of the biggest changes he made, which was installing high-intensity LED lights behind his shop to deter suspicious people, hasn’t made a difference and people still come anyway.

“Unfortunately it hasn’t helped,” he said, referring to the new lights.

Other than that, other changes included fixes to visibility to make sure whoever is running the store can be on the lookout for shoplifters or moving parked cars to increase vision in windows.

To combat a high volume of graffiti in town, Jones said new murals were installed in select areas where that form of vandalism was high.

“I’d do a daytime assessment and take a little break then go back with a police officer at night. The area was tagged awfully between those two assessments, but now they’ve added a very nice mural to that area which really does prevent that graffiti,” Jones said.

On the City of Merritt’s website section on CPTED, they recommend general tips to curb crime around your property.

- Ensure decorative landscaping does not provide an area for someone to hide within your property;

- Install fencing that demonstrates a clear property boundary and can be locked to prevent easy access;

- Install bright security lighting using motion detectors to provide light while conserving energy when you can;

- Secure all shed and outbuildings with locks and put away belongings to deter theft.

As the winter season gets into full gear, check www.merrittherald.com for updates on highway conditions, accidents and more.

Marlene Jones, Community Policing Office coordinator, said the CPO has conducted assessments around businesses in town to enhance crime prevention. Photo/Herald file

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Merritt sawmill faces $70K fine

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com

Merritt’s sawmill Aspen Planers has recently been hit with a $70,000 fine after a “high-risk” safety violation was flagged.

During a WorkSafeBC safety inspection, it was noted that a conveyor belt in the sawmill lacked safety features to stop potential workers from coming into contact with the belt.

“WorkSafeBC inspected the worksite and observed an unguarded conveyor belt tensioner with in-running nip point, an unguarded chain and sprocket drive and associated auger, and a chain conveyor that had an open top, which exposed a moving chain conveyor,” the WorkSafeBC penalty stated.

The penalty of $69,935 was issued

Oct. 29.

Since the conveyor belt was located in such a way that it is accessible to workers, WorkSafeBC said the violations were both “repeated and high-risk”.

The Herald has reached out to Aspen Planers for comment on the fine but the company did not comment before the press deadline.

Typically, Merritt firms are usually not flagged for violations. This is the first penalty imposed on a Merritt-based operation by WorkSafeBC this year and the 15th penalty in the last decade.

This is the second time Aspen Planers has been penalized by WorkSafeBC, the first being a fine over $14,000 issued in 2014 for having too much dust accumulated on their worksite.

Hockey game during Coquihalla Highway closure

A group of motorists stranded on the Coquihalla Highway Tuesday night turned an unexpected delay into a fun experience in true Canadian fashion.

The highway was closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt overnight starting at 8 p.m. due to a vehicle incident. As drivers waited for the road to reopen, a bus full of passengers decided to step out onto the snowcovered roadway, armed with hockey sticks and a puck, to play a game of hockey.

Jeanine McFarlen, who was also stuck in traffic with her son, took the opportunity to stretch their legs.

“We came to a stop, and a few minutes later, a whole bunch of fellows jumped out with hockey sticks,” McFarlen said.

“They asked if my son wanted to play. He has never played hockey, and they showed him what to do. They had a great time.”

McFarlen says that the group of men were from a company on a Christmas holiday.

“They also brought out speakers, and it was a whole vibe — like a party on the side of the Coquihalla,” she said.

The Coquihalla was closed for just over 12 hours.

“Grateful we made it home and grateful for all the amazing people in the world,” McFarlen added.

Madison Reeve CASTANET

Reporter

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com 250-378-4241

LETTER to the editor

Prosper - Grade 6

True meaning of Christmas: giving hope to the hungry

Editor,

As the Christmas season approaches, I’m sure many of us are looking forward to taking a break from it all.

Whether it be school, work, family, friends, or relationships, we just want a break! The great news is that we will get a break, but what about those who aren’t as fortunate as us? What about those who won’t be given a break?

While we worry about whether we’ll sleep in tomorrow or wake up early and watch the snow fall in our front yards, they are worrying about whether or not food will be served on their tables.

As we enter into the Christmas season, we need to be made aware that this time is not just about receiving gifts, but it’s the season for giving.

I hope that you can all kindly ask Canada to commit $750 million in nutrition-specific funding over five years, at the Paris Nutrition for Growth Summit in March 2025.

So many children wake up every day feeling hungry and malnourished. This can’t be our future!

We can do something about this, but the time for action is now! This holiday season, I encourage you all to give where you can and urge our country to improve the lives of the many who are struggling.

With sincere gratitude, Bernice Ko Vancouver, B.C.

OPINION

ALBAS: Canada in trouble – it’s time for an election, not half-measures

To say this has been a highly unusual and dramatic week in Ottawa would be putting it mildly.

The week’s expected major news event was the Finance Minister’s long-overdue fall economic statement.

Instead, many in Ottawa awoke Monday morning to news that the Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, had tendered her resignation from cabinet to Prime Minister Trudeau.

This was no ordinary resignation. In her letter, the former finance minister revealed that PM Trudeau had fired her from the portfolio the previous Friday and offered her what many considered a demotion.

Even more alarming, Ms. Freeland expressed her strong disagreement with Prime Minister Trudeau’s fiscal measures, stating that they were “costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.”

This development is widely attributed to Trudeau’s plans for increased borrowing and spending on new initiatives—including the temporary “GST Holiday” and proposed $250 worker rebate program—which have faced strong opposition from economists and other stakeholders.

Ms. Freeland’s sudden resignation triggered chaos within both the Trudeau Liberal government and the Liberal caucus.

While there is internal and external pressure on the Prime Minister to resign, it remains unclear what he will do next. However, he has already appointed a new Finance Minister—his longtime personal friend and New Brunswick Member of Parliament, Dominic LeBlanc.

The Fall Economic Statement was, in a word, devastating for Canadians. Some speculate that the former Finance Minister’s refusal to endorse this document may have contributed to the tension between her and the Prime Minister.

In their previous fiscal updates, the Liberals had firmly guaranteed that the deficit for the past fiscal year would not exceed $40 billion. The Liberal government referred to this $40 billion deficit limit as a “fiscal guardrail”.

Fast forward to this week: Canadians were shocked to discover that the Liberal

LETTER to the editor

deficit for 2023-24 reached $62 billion—almost $22 billion more than the Liberals promised to spend last year.

Keep in mind that last year’s target deficit of $40 billion—the so-called “fiscal guardrail”—was neither imposed nor suggested by the Conservative official opposition. This “fiscal guardrail” was designed to reassure markets and economists, despite blowing past its own previously designated “fiscal anchor”.

The $40 Billion “fiscal guardrail” deficit was the spending limit imposed by the Trudeau Liberal government on itself. The fact that the Trudeau Liberals massively and completely failed to achieve even their own fiscal targets is evidence of a government completely out of fiscal control.

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the common sense Conservatives, as the official opposition called for an immediate vote on the Fall Economic Statement before Parliament rose for the Winter constituency break. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister and his House Leader did not respond to this request.

While Conservatives have consistently voted non-confidence in this government, the events of this week have changed minds, particularly the leader of the NDP.

Despite Jagmeet Singh and his NDP caucus supported the Trudeau Government as recently as last week- granting the government an additional $26 Billion in new spending, has had a change of heart and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Trudeau, inducing whiplash on the Prime Minister and his cabinet.

So what do I think?

With the government in such turmoil from this ministerial resignation, coupled with worsening economic conditions and impending trade threats from China and the United States, an election would give the winner a fresh mandate and stronger hand in dealing with a multitude of domestic and international challenges.

Simply put, the country is in trouble, and half measures in Parliament would only amount to—as one constituent put it—”shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.” This is why I rose on Tuesday and publicly called on the NDP leader to stop propping up the Trudeau government and vote non-confidence at the earliest opportunity.

My question this week: Would you prefer to see Prime Minister Trudeau resign— triggering an internal Liberal Party leadership process as suggested by Jagmeet Singh—or would you prefer a federal election?

I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711.

Heartfelt thanks to Nicola Valley for supporting Presley Kristan’s family

Editor,

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the communities of the Nicola Valley for their caring support of our dance families this past week as together we all grieved the loss of our dancing friend, Presley Kristan.

Presley’s indomitable spirit, effervescent enthusiasm, strong work ethic, and sense of fun as she danced will always be a part of the fabric of our dance studio. She will be missed by her competitive dance teammates, her recreational dance classmates, and our studio instructors but her super-positive attitude, creative flair, pure heart, and beautiful soul will forever remain within us.

Thank you to the organizers and participants of the December 10 convoy to honour Presley’s memory. Presley’s “dance family” was very moved to watch the procession go past the studio.

Thank you to the teachers and other staff of School District #58 for their assistance in helping our dancers through the bereavement process. Thank you to Nicola Family Therapy for the support they too have provided to families at this difficult time.

Thank you to Kelly Reid and Literacy Merritt for stepping up to support creating our

paint thumbprint hearts commemorative gifts for Presley’s family. The comfort this provided to our dancers, their families, and the community members at large that came to paint a heart is much appreciated.

Thank you to Miss Vicki and Selena for the beautiful flowers that matched Presley’s grace and beauty.

Thank you to the gifted artisans at Etched and Vision Quest Optical for donating their talents and time to support and bring comfort to Presley’s siblings.

Thank you to Presley’s large family for inviting our dance family to share in celebrating Presley’s life. To be able to honour her and share in your memories at her service was a precious gift.

It is heartwarming to be part of a community that cares so deeply for the children that live, play, and learn here. Love To Dance Academy families appreciate each and every one of the community members in this Nicola Valley that came together to support Presley’s family.

With sincere gratitude, Toni Stewart Merritt Dance Society

To keep the community informed, Merritt council was officially notified at the last regular council meeting of upcoming increases natural gas consumers will feel.

BC Gas Interior operations vice president Bruce Newton wrote to mayor Clara Norgaard, stating the first increase of 10 per cent went throught November 1, “with the flow through of higher natural gas producers.” Newton explained that after years of over supply, which kept natural gas prices down, gas supplies have tightened up and B.C. producers have successfully negotiated higher prices.

LETTERS POLICY Speak up

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.

DAN ALBAS VIEW FROM THE HILL

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

SPIRIT OF GIVING – Collettville Elementary School grade 6 and 7 students are teaching the true meaning of Christmas, as they organized a schoolwide food drive for the Nicola Valley Food Bank.

Janis Tancowny, grade 6/7 teacher, said her students collected 574 lbs of food from Dec. 3 to 16, which will be distributed to those in need. Photos/Janis Tancowny

Thrift store to close until mid-January for renos

she said.

The Nicola Valley Health Care (NVHC)

Auxiliary Thrift Shop will no longer be taking donations starting Dec. 17 to Jan. 14, and will be closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 14 for renovations.

Donna Vasko, who has worked at the thrift shop for over a decade, said the reason for the closure is to repaint the interior to keep it looking new. They will also be taking the time to undergo a large reorganization effort in the store.

The auxiliary, which has over 70 people operating it, takes donated clothes and household objects to be later sold by them at affordable prices. Proceeds from the sales go towards helping the healthcare industries in both Merritt and Kamloops. Vasko said a large monetary donation was just given to Kamloops’ Royal Inland Hospital.

“All the money that comes in goes there (Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital), as well as to donate to Merritt (Nicola Valley Hospital),”

She said the closure of the store and donations won’t be felt very harshly. According to her, the thrift store is so busy that they have a surplus of donated goods, a lot of which has to be sorted through during the renovations.

“Some days we could get 40 to 50 people bringing big black garbage bags, boxes and a lot of people, seniors, are selling and they have to downsize. So they have to sort stuff out and where does that come? Here,” she said.

The only thing Vasko is worried about is how customers will react to the closure.

“We have a lot of customers that come in here everyday, sometimes twice a day, because stuff comes in and goes out just as fast,” she said. “I know some of our customers are a little bit upset because we are shutting down.

“People think this is the best store in town.”

For now, as the thrift store is approaching its temporary closure, Vasko said people can go to the Rusty Bucket Thrift Shop to donate.

Bass Coast steps up for Merritt

Bass Coast is stepping up to support the local community with a generous $22,000 donation to the Nicola Valley Food Bank, providing much-needed assistance to families during the holiday season.

The donation comes after Bass Coast’s cofounders learned of the Food Bank’s urgent need for sponsorships to support its holiday hamper program.

“These funds will enable us to continue offering nutritious food choices to our clients, meeting an essential need in our community,” Derlanda Hewton, general manager of the Nicola Valley Food Bank, said.

“Over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the use of our community Food Bank, with 10 per cent of our community now relying on our services. Additionally,

we’ve observed a shift in demographics, as many of our clients are now individuals who work full-time but struggle to meet the rising cost of living.”

The donation announcement coincides with the start of Bass Coast’s annual “12 Days” campaign, which will feature exclusive, unreleased music from the festival’s talented artist roster.

As part of the campaign, Bass Coast has pledged to donate all proceeds to the Nicola Valley Food Bank, with a minimum contribution of $2,500.

“Merritt’s warm embrace of Bass Coast has been incredible,” Anna Hilliar, Bass Coast production manager, said. “We’re honoured to give back to a community that has provided us with a true sense of belonging and support.”

The Nicola

See SURGE Page 12

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com

Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com

Signs a person is unsafe to drive

The end of a calendar year is a time of celebration. From Halloween to New Year’s Day, people attend an array of parties, dinners and other gatherings. Although alcohol is not a vital component of these occasions, quite frequently adult beverages are part of the equation. And when everyone is toasting for one reason or another, it can be easy for people to lose track of their alcohol consumption.

When everyone is laughing and reminiscing with drinks in hand, it can be challenging to determine if someone is impaired. However, it’s vital to recognize when someone is adversely affected by alcohol or other substances to the point that driving home would be reckless. That is why it is always important to have someone remain sober to gauge the sobriety of others. Here are some signs that it is best to take away the keys.

• Slurred speech: Words starting to spill together is a classic sign

that a person is intoxicated. While that person may not realize they are slurring, others who haven’t been drinking should be able to hear the difference between slurring and regular speech. This person is too drunk to drive.

• Poor coordination: Spilling drinks while pouring, tripping over one’s own feet or having trouble getting around also are signs a person has had too much to drink. When coordination is compromised, it is definitely harder to control a vehicle, and possibly deadly.

• Fatigue or drowsiness: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means that it can make a person feel sluggish and tired over time. Certain prescription medications or marijuana also may cause a person to feel fatigued and move in slow motion. This drowsiness is not good behind the wheel, as it may lead to slowed reaction times or even nodding off on the road.

• Memory and recall issues: Those who are inebriated may struggle to remember things or even lose their train of thought. Again, the act of driving requires careful concentration and knowledge of where one is going and the rules of the road. If memory issues have popped up, it’s time to collect the keys.

• A phone app says so: There are apps for all types of things these days, including ones that can determine if a person is intoxicated. Some apps monitor speech patterns while others may consider eye movements. In addition, driving simulator apps test if someone can handle being behind the wheel in his current state. Of course, even if these signs aren’t present, a person can still be intoxicated past the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle. Rather than take a chance, if someone has had two drinks or more, it is safer to call a cab or grab a ride home from someone who hasn’t been drinking.

Avoid driving under the influence

Celebrations frequently involve entertaining guests or heading out for nights on the town to enjoy the company of others.

Often food and beverages are part of the fun, and that includes alcoholic beverages, which may flow a little more readily during festive occasions.

Niznik Behavioral Health says crash fatality rates involving alcohol increase by about five times during holidays.

Roughly 131 people die in crashes involving alcohol each holiday, compared to 25 deaths during non-holidays, according to data compiled for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System between 2013 and 2017.

The numbers continue to grow. According to MoneyGeek, driving under the influence-related fatalities were 23 percent higher in 2021 than 2016.

Among the holidays with the

highest rates of DUI, Independence Day and other summer holidays top the list, but impaired driving also is prevalent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

It’s perfectly alright to have fun in social situations. However, that fun should involve responsible behavior, particularly when consuming alcohol. Here’s how to enjoy celebrations while also playing it safe.

• Take driving off the table. When planning social occasions, remove the need to drive entirely. Ensure the party location is within walking distance for guests, or at a convenient spot accessible by public transportation. Hosts can encourage guests to utilize taxis or rideshare services so everyone can leave their cars at home.

• Take the emphasis off of alcohol.

Plan events that do not necessarily need to be drinking-heavy. Experiential events, such as escape

rooms, crafting sessions, culinary demonstrations, and others can shift the focus away from drinking.

• Serve alcohol early.

If alcoholic beverages will be served, have a cut-off time when these drinks no longer will be served. This way guests will have a chance to recover and sober up before leaving.

• Provide drink vouchers. Limit how much guests drink by setting a quota. Work with an establishment so that each party-goer only gets a set number of drink tokens or tickets. When they’re used up, then they no longer will be served.

• Make food a priority Shift the focus from drinks to food. Those who have filled up on plenty of snacks or a big meal may be less likely to over-indulge.

• Change your venue.

A gathering at a bar may set the tone that drinking will be prioritized. Look for party venues where drinking may not be allowed, such as church or school party rooms, or not as accessible, such as a BYOB restaurant.

• Always have a sober chaperone.

At each event, one or more people should make the pledge to stay sober so they can ensure the safety of guests. This may mean driving them home themselves or arranging for transportation.

Festivities may include alcohol, but hosts and party planners should take steps to reduce the likelihood that guests will drive while under the influence.

Surge in demand for Christmas hampers

From Page 9

Valley Food Bank has seen a roughly 20 per cent increase in demand over the past year.

In total, 751 unique households and 1,372 individuals—about 9 to 10 per cent of the local population—relied on its services.

Rising costs of living, higher rents, and more expensive groceries have all contributed to this growing need. This year, the Food Bank has also seen a surge in demand for Christmas hampers, with 120 applications

compared to 95 last year.

Bass Coast, now in its 17th year, moved to Merritt in 2013 from its original location in Squamish, B.C.

The festival is known for its commitment to showcasing innovative international talent and providing a platform for Canadian artists. Tickets for the 2025 festival are currently on sale at www.basscoast.ca., with lineups yet to be announced.

Sports scene gets a boost with consignment section

Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com

A new chapter in Merritt’s sports retail scene began this month with the opening of its first-ever consignment section at Nicola Valley Sports.

Josh Halvorson, owner of Nicola Valley Sports, said that his inspiration to open a consignment section came after seeing community members going to other communities for sports equipment.

“I saw that a lot of people were driving to Kamloops to go get hockey equipment, and with the prices and the economy that we’re in right now, people have limited amounts of resources to buy their hockey equipment or used recreational equipment,” he told the Herald.

“I thought that it’d be a perfect opportunity to try and start bringing back that sports/recreational kind of economy to Merritt, giving us an opportunity to buy and sell and get new equipment as well.”

Halvorson also highlighted the importance of bringing back the sports economy back to Merritt.

“I think it’s a good stepping stone to get kids back into sports,” he added.

“I know that it is expensive to play sports and to be active in that way, but I think it’s a good entry level way for people to get into a sport that maybe they didn’t know if they’d like, or they didn’t know they wanted to try,

Competing in the Piano Stars section alongside his brother Tristan, Joshua earned an impressive 89 per cent mark, receiving Honours with Distinction. In the second part of the competition, which focused on composing, Joshua’s original piece stood out, earning him top honours.

As the winner, he was awarded a trophy and will be featured on the Richmond

Canada websites.

without breaking the bank.”

A few of the sporting needs that the consignment section is looking to fill are items for hockey, lacrosse, soccer, skiing, among others.

“We’re taking pretty much everything,” Halvorson said. “The only thing we don’t take are helmets.”

Merrittonians who wish to join the cause can stop by with their old gear and get them assessed.

“We’ll go and assess the gear, take a good look at it and make sure that it’s in good quality,” he added. “From there we’ll figure out a price point together for what you want to sell it at and we would take care of the rest.

“We split the consignment 50/50. So anything that you sell here, we take half, you take half.”

Halvorson said that the response in the community for the new consignment program has been very positive.

“People are constantly coming in,” he said. “I’m selling pretty much a pair of used skates a day, so as fast as it’s coming in, it’s going out.”

As for the future, Halvorson hopes to grow the program even more.

“I would like to expand it and make it larger inside the store,” he said. “I think it’d be a good opportunity for people to keep our sporting equipment here in Merritt and continue to help grow the recreational side of

YOUNG PIANIST SHINES – Joshua Kronhardt (left), a talented young musician from Merritt, was named the junior winner of the inaugural Kawai Music Educators Songwriting Challenge, held online in November.

Lowen Piano House and Kawai

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Waste reduction tips during holidays

Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com

The holiday season is a special time of the year that fills the air with joy, festive cheer as families and friends reunite, but it is also often a time when waste can pile up quickly.

In a press release, The ThompsonNicola Regional District (TNRD) is reminding residents to be mindful of their waste and make environmentally conscious choices during the busy holiday season.

With festivities often leading to an increase in household waste, TNRD is promoting waste reduction and recycling efforts to help curb unnecessary landfill waste.

“Many common holiday items do not need to go in the garbage and are free to recycle,” the release reads.

Items such as wrapping paper, cardboard, tissue paper and paper gift bags can all be recycled in the curbside recycling bin or at the local solid waste site.

Other common items such as plastic cutlery, tinfoil and foil dishes, paper cups, paper plates, plastic cups and party supplies can also be recycled in curbside bins or at local sites.

Residents are reminded to only recycle clean plates and rinse other recyclable items.

Between Jan. 2 and 31, all TNRD solid waste sites will accept real trees for recycling free of charge. Residents are reminded to ensure that all lights and decorations are removed.

“As a reminder, artificial trees cannot be recycled,” the release reads. “If your artificial tree is intact, consider how it can be reused instead of throwing it away!”

Holiday items that cannot be recycled include broken glass, candles, ornaments, ribbon, tape and tinsel.

A few other ways for residents to reduce their holiday waste include:

Gifting experiences, homemade decorations, or homemade baking or cooking;

Making a grocery list and stick to it, compost food waste instead of throwing it in the garbage;

Wrapping gifts in newspapers or scarves;

Shopping local – ordering gifts online can lead to significant amounts of waste from packaging;

For more information and tips on how and what to recycle this holiday season, access tnrd.ca/holidayrecycling.

Transit schedule during holidays

Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com

Merritt Regional Transit System reminds transit users that their bus schedule will suffer changes due to the holiday season.

According to an alert sent by the transit authority, buses will run on it’s regular schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

On Wednesday, Dec. 25, buses will not be operating around town.

As for Dec. 26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, regular bus services will be available for the community.

Merritt Transit also reminds users that their office will be closed from Dec. 24 to Dec. 27 and from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.

HAPPY NEWYEAR

Toourincredibledonors, valuedcustomers,anddedicatedvolunteers attheThriftShop:

Thankyouforyourgeneroussupport andcontributions.Together,we’remaking adifferencebyraisingfundstoassistlocal healthcarefacilitiesandorganizations inourcommunity.

Wishingyoualla HappyandHealthy NewYearﬁlledwithjoyandblessings!

NicolaValleyHealthCareAuxiliary

We will be closed Dec. 21 -Jan.13/25for renovations.

Merritt

Merritt Centennials defeat KIJHL leaders Princeton in overtime win

Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com

Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Merritt Centennials 7, Princeton Posse 6 (OT)

In one of the most exciting games of the season, the Merritt Centennials pulled off a jaw-dropping 7-6 overtime win over the league-leading Princeton Posse.

Despite entering the game as the underdogs, the Cents showed incredible grit and determination to knock off the top team in the league, a feat that no one expected.

The first period saw plenty of back and forth, with Merritt getting on the scoreboard first just over seven minutes in when Troy Horn found the back of the net.

In the first 20 seconds of the second period, Princeton added a goal of their own during a power play.

Later in the period, the Posse would take the lead with Carson Hebert’s shorthanded goal.

A few minutes later, Jacob Bishop put it past the goalie to score his first goal of the season, tying the game 2-2.

Merritt’s Taye Shukin (3) managed to break out shorthanded and take the lead for the Cents.

In less than a minute, Dylan Ruff added another goal for the Centennials, making it 4-2.

The two-goal lead would carry until the last two minutes of the second frame, when Princeton added another goal of their own.

In the final frame, Princeton set its dominance through the first eight minutes as the team scored three goals, making it 6-4.

Merritt did not let the pressure dictate their game. Rune Carlson found the back

of the net, scoring his first goal of the season for the Cents.

The one-goal lead would carry until the final 15 seconds of the final frame, when Rhett Serfas scored his second goal of the season, tying the game 6-6 and leading both teams to some extra time on the ice.

One minute and fifty eight seconds was all it took for a winner to be decided in overtime, as Sam Giangualano scored to seal a 7-6 win for the Centennials.

Head coach Wes McLeod analyzed the team’s performance against Princeton.

“It was obviously a bit of a slow start in terms of just how we were playing … but definitely felt like they were pressuring us when we were pressuring them,” he said.

“It’s one of those games that the last team that scores is going to win.”

At the midway point of the 2024/25 season, the Merritt Centennials find itself in a good position, sitting third in the Bill Ohlhausen Division and seventh overall in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

McLeod said the win against the KIJHL leaders doesn’t say anything that the team doesn’t already know about themselves.

“We believe in our group and we believe in the players and the staff that we have and in our program, and you know, we beat other good teams in the league too,” he said.

“I think for us, it’s just a good way to finish our first half and give us some momentum into the Christmas break.”

The Merritt Centennials are back on the ice on Saturday, Dec. 28, against the Osoyoos Coyotes at the Sun Bowl Arena.

Photo/Laísa Condé KIJHL

BILL OHLHAUSEN DIVISION

SPORTS

Women-only snowmobile ride coming to Merritt this January

Morgan Hampton CONTRIBUTOR

The snow has fallen, winter is here, and members of the Merritt Snowmobile Club (MSC) are looking forward to a new season.

This year the MSC is hosting its first “Ladies Ride”, thanks to a partnership with Haley Dekkers of She Braps, a women’s motorsports brand.

“The concept had been on my mind for some time, but it truly came to life when Haley Dekkers from She Braps reached out with the idea of organizing a ride exclusively for women,” explained Simon Rizzardo, Vice President of MSC.

The MSC maintains six warming huts and 300 kms of trail across four riding zones, with the Ladies Ride taking place in the Mt. Thynne area south of Merritt near Brookmere. It will be open to riders of all skill levels.

“Our goal is to create a welcoming, family-friendly experience that draws riders from far and wide to discover Merritt’s unique charm,” said Rizzardo.

“Unlike some of the busier riding zones, we pride ourselves on offering stunning trails without the crowds, ensuring a memorable adventure for everyone.”

This goal is in alignment with all that Dekkers promotes through her She Braps brand, which launched

earlier this year as a line of high-performance apparel, accessories, and gear designed specifically for women.

“She Braps is a women dominated motorsports brand dedicated to empowering women in the world of sledding along with other Motorsports,” explained Dekkers.

“With a focus on inclusivity, She Braps aims to break barriers by encouraging women of all backgrounds and skill levels to get involved in motorsports. I started designing as a hobby and then it grew into a business.

I’ve been snowmobiling a couple years now but it only took that first ride on the snow and I knew I was hooked. I wanted to meet new ladies and share our experiences with no judgement or competition, but only support for one another.”

As of press time 14 women had already signed up for the ride, which takes place on Jan. 18, 2025. The $50 entry fee covers the ride, a lunch from Valley Graze, and a chance at prizes provided by event sponsors.

“We want to support our local Merritt Snowmobile Club and celebrate female riders, providing a supportive community where women can build confidence, learn new skills, and share their passion for sledding,” said Dekkers.

“Through these initiatives, She Braps highlights the thrill and freedom of riding among women, helping them feel more represented and inspired in the motors-

ports world... She Braps isn’t just about participating in motorsports - it’s about owning your space, pushing limits, and creating a legacy where women lead the charge in a traditionally male-dominated world. Together, we are redefining what it means to be a woman in motorsports.”

For more information and to register for the MSC Inaugural Ladies Ride, visit https://sledmerritt.ca/.

Merritt Youth Soccer wraps up successful inaugural indoor camp

Ty Lim reporter@merrittherald.com

December marks the end of the Merritt Youth Soccer Association’s (MYSA) inaugural indoor soccer camp.

The $80-to-register program, which ran once a week from Oct. 21 to Dec. 16, had 26 kids enrolled for the sessions. It was open to kids born from 2012 to 2015 according to MYSA’s website.

The program aimed to further the on-ball ability of the kids and provided both technical training from several different coaches all working on a volunteer basis, as well as inter-squad scrimmages at the end of sessions.

“We try to keep it as fun as possible and just make sure that every kid has a ball at their feet basically the entire time,” said Paul Sutton, vice president of MYSA.

He said the organization wants to expand the soccer infrastructure in Merritt, and was inspired with how soccer was run year-long in other communities, noting Kamloops and Kelowna and their indoorfacilities.

“I moved from the coast (Nanaimo) where soccer is well built-out. It’s just not in Merritt, it’s very much grassroots,” Sutton said.

After their last spring season, the group received a flurry of requests from parents to have more training than just a few months in spring.

“We decided that the next step and the way for-

ward to build out the program and to provide more programming for the community was to have an indoor session,” he said.

Sutton called the program “wildly successful” with the program reaching the registration limit in 12 hours from when it was first announced.

The program was made possible with help from their community partners Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and Boston Pizza, the former of which lent the soccer organization their gym.

The next step for the MYSA is more expansion as they aim to get the kids ready for their road tournaments in the spring.

“The reason why we want to build out the skill development is for the experience of the kids, but also so that we can go to different tournaments,” Sutton said. “We want to go and compete and take traveling teams and have our children represent themselves in Merritt the best way they can.”

To do this they have decided to run another indoor session for the winter. Registration for this is set to begin in early-January and is looking to start in earlyFebruary.

MYSA invites anyone interested to go to their annual meeting on Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m. at Interior Savings. They will be looking for new coaches to work on a volunteer basis to expand the program.

MYSA thanks their coaches Eric Park, Kyle Engdahl, Ryann Larson, Gary Dixon, Bakari Battuta and Robert Hack for making the sessions possible.

Caitlin Rizzardo at Andy’s Lake on Thynne Mt. Photo/Contributed

Photo/Merritt Youth Soccer Association

COMMUNITY

Breathe Bikes gives new life to old bikes for Merritt kids

Downtown Merritt’s Breathe Bikes is once again promoting their donations of refurbished children’s bicycles.

The donations are a yearly tradition for owner Travis Fehr through an event he calls the Bike Re-use Program.

Fehr takes in used-bikes from families getting rid of their rides for a variety of reasons. Whether that may be a missing tire or seat, or sometimes the kid has simply outgrown the bicycle, Fehr believes he can revive these old vehicles and give it away to another kid who may not have the means to buy a new bike.

“Oftentimes they’re single parents who just don’t have the means (of buying a new bike), but their kid wants a bike,” he said.

The idea came to him long before he started Breathe Bikes in 2013. He noticed while working in other bike shops he noticed it usually costs more to repair a used kid’s bike than its original cost. A lot of the time these semi-broken bikes would end up in the dump, he said.

Fehr said the cost of completely refurbishing a kid’s bike costs around $100. The costs include new tires, tubes and grips.

He pays for this by taking in adult bikes as well, refurbishing those, and then selling them at a discounted rate where all the proceeds go towards rebuilding the kid’s bikes.

Over the years he estimates that he’s given away a few dozen kid’s bikes. Even this year he has eight ready to go.

“A lot of the time they are pretty close to new, we’ve got some bikes that have been taken really good care of,” he said.

Fehr says that even though the program is mostly promoted during the holidays, you can pick-up or donate a bike anytime during the year.

One thing he always remembers is how grateful families are when they get a new bike for their kid, “there’s been a few hugs from little kids, things like that are pretty heartwarming when they see their new bike.”

“It’s such a great gift for a kid too, instead of sitting around watching TV, they can get out and get exercise,” he joked. Ty

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME YOU

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

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme) Sunday service 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464

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

Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:30 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

HOURS: FullTime–35hrs/wk

DESCRPTION:

ReportingtotheSocialDevelopmentCoordinator,theCommunityConnections Navigatorwillberesponsibleforhelpingcommunitymembersnavigatechallengeswhile supportingthewellbeingofindividualsandfamiliesinaholisticmanner.TheCommunity ConnectionsYouthNavigatormustuseacollaborativeapproachwitheachcommunitymember tosupporteachpersoninachievingtheirgoals.

SpecificDutiesandResponsibilities:

PerformsalldutiesandresponsibilitiesinaccordancewiththeColdwaterIndianBand policies,standards,andprocedures,andasdirectedbytheFinanceCoordinator.Maintains confidentialityinallmatterstotheaffairsoftheColdwaterIndianBand.

1.Provideinformationandlinkagetoappropriatecommunityservices; 2.Guideandmotivateduringimportantperiodsofdevelopmentintheirwellnessjourney; 3.AcceptreferralsfromCommunity,SocialWorkers,othercommunityservicesandetc.; 4.Outreachandengagementinthewiththecommunity; 5.Developandmaintainparticipantdrivenintegratedwellnessplans; 6.Advocateforparticipants’needs; 7.Supportparticipantstobuildcapacityinareassuchascommunication, self-advocacy a ndrelationships;

8.Participatewithteaminprovidingdeliverableactivitiesorinformation.

9.Participateinteammeetings; 10.Maintainaccuraterecords; 11.Otherrelateddutiesasassigned. RequirementofCommunityConnectionsNavigator •DiplomaorDegreeinSocialWork(otherrelatedfieldswillbeconsidered); •ExperienceworkingwithFirstNationsCommunity; •AccesstoreliablevehicleandcurrentDriver’slicense; •PassableCriminalRecordCheckandDriver’sAbstract; •Ableandwillingtoworksomeeveningsandweekends.

Deadlineforsubmissions:January26th,2024

Onlythoseapplicantsselectedforaninterviewwillbecontacted.

PleaseforwardResumeandCoverLetterto: CynthiaL.Jager,SocialDevelopmentCoordinator,cynthia@coldwaterband.org POBox4600,Merritt,BC,V1K1B8

VALUEADDED LUMBERREMANUFACTURINGPLANT

PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)

•Wages:starting$20to$28

•Steadydayshiftwork

•Studentswelcometoapply

•Noexperiencenecessary

•Willtrain

TRUCKDRIVERSWITHCLASS1

Localsteadywork

LICENCEDSECURITYGUARDS

Excellentmedical&dentalplan

Pleasesubmitresumeinpersonto 1195HoustonStreet,MerrittB.C. 250-378-6161

SUDOKU

1. Americans’ “uncle”

4. Chair

8. Ancient kingdom

10. Egyptian city

11. Alaskan glacier

12. One from Somalia

13. Ancient alphabets

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE

15. Relating to vocabulary 16. Small mongrels 17. Natural settings 18. Weekend entertainments 21. Line from which light seemingly streams 22. Your own private code 23. Swiss river

1. Counterbalancing debt

2. In slow tempo 3. Glamorous city

4. Japanese lute 5. Makes law 6. Informative book

7. Animal’s body part

9. American playwright 10. Blood poisoning 12. Angels 14. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)

15. Written account 17. Unwelcome pest