With pool rental fees increasing, Merritt Otters Swim Club fears possible shutdown.
RCMP APPRECIATION
In honour of RCMP Appreciation
MAYOR SENDS $104K BILL TO PROVINCE FOR 2024 ER CLOSURES
The Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room was closed for 20 days in 2024 and Merritt city council is once again sending the province the bill.
Mayor Mike Goetz said the city will be sending the Ministry of Health the calculated cost of approximately $104,000 for last year’s closures. That number includes costs for the time Merritt Fire Rescue has had to cover medical calls while paramedics are transporting patients to nearby hospitals on the days the ER was shuttered.
The bill is going out a second year in a row as part of the city’s protest of staffing issues at the rural hospital keeping the ER shuttered multiple days per year.
Mayor Goetz has said Merritt should be reimbursed by the province on its hospital district taxes for “services that weren’t rendered, for services that were paid.”
Last year, then Health Minister Adrian Dix said the ministry would not reimburse Merritt the money, but the government would continue striving to fill physician vacancies.
With new Health Minister Josie Osbourne now at the helm of the health ministry, Goetz says he intends to send the bill for both 2023 and 2024 — about $207,000 for 39 closures.
Goetz said he has already spoken with Osborne about the bills over the phone and she is aware they are coming once 2024 is fully tabulated.
He said as a new health minister who is also in charge of mental health, he doesn’t want to overwhelm her and the bill will be sent once fully tabulated
“I told her the whole entire package is coming because she was not in that seat when it was Minister Dix,” Goetz said. “Basically, I want her to see what the situation is when we’re closed, what happens [and] the costs that are involved.”
Goetz said the bill is calculated based on the fact the ER takes up about five per cent of the hospital’s square footage, as the closures are in the ER and not the entire hospital. He said the cost works out to just under $2,000 a day.
Goetz said he thinks it would be fair if Merritt was given a credit by the government on the following year’s taxes.
“I think that’s something that should be looked at because what ends up happening is our citizens have already paid that tax.At the beginning of the year, we give the TRHD [Thompson Regional Hospital District] close to $650,000 and then when we are missing those 19 days or 20 days, then we have to
POINT: continued on page 3
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Murphy Shewchuk, a renowned Merritt photographer, has just celebrated 50 years of working in the Nicola Valley. See Page 10 for story.
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
POINT IS TO SHOW THEY CANNOT LET THE CLOSURES SLIDE
raise our taxes to cover that, so, in a way, we’re paying for it twice,” Goetz said.
Goetz said he’s not expecting to receive the credit, but the point of the bill is to show they cannot let the closures slide. He said it’s also more of an information item foe the new minister.
The City of Merritt requested little more than $103,000, including taxes, to account for 19 days the emergency room at the hospital was closed. That number also includes the cost for Merritt Fire Rescue to attend about 497 medical calls to help cover calls for paramedics on those days while NVH was closed.
Rural residents in 10 TNRD areas are getting a tax break over the next three years
RESERVE FUNDS TO SHRINK TNRD TAXES
Rural residents are getting a tax break over the next three years thanks to nearly $1 million in reserve funds the Thompson-Nicola Regional District voted to empty into electoral area budgets on Thursday.
The TNRD’s 10 rural area directors brought forward a motion asking the board as a whole approve returning the Community Assistance Reserve funds to their respective Electoral Area recreation budgets over a three-year period, starting this year.
The board approved the motion unanimously.
Returning these reserve dollars will offset the taxation in each Electoral Area by varying amounts in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The added dollars will make for smaller tax increases in six electoral areas of the TNRD for 2025. In four areas there will be slight tax reductions compared to 2024 — Area A, E, I and M, in which there will be decreases of 0.01, 2.6, 1.2 and 1.3 per cent.
The combined value of all 10 Community Assistance Reserves is $989,407 with amounts by Electoral Area varying between about $35,000 and
FELT: continued on page 4
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NEARLY 500 B.C. RESIDENTS RECEIVED AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT IN 2024
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Health authorities in British Columbia say nearly 500 people in the province received a life-saving organ transplant last year.
The Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Transplant and the Ministry of Health say in a joint news release that 481 transplants in 2024 came from more than 200 donors.
It says 118 of those donors had died, while 90 living donors contributed to transplants involving 309 kidneys, 92 livers, 47 lungs, 25 hearts, and 13 pancreas and islet transplants.
BC Transplant says it would also like to honour the additional 44 deceased donors and their families who consented to donation but were unfortunately not suitable.
The release says that, as of December 31, there are still 666 people in the province who are waiting for a life-saving transplant.
It says that B.C. residents will see a check box on their annual tax return asking if they would like to receive information about registering as an organ donor, and anyone who selects “yes” will receive an email from BC Transplant with information on how to register.
Health Minister Josie Osborne says organ donation “is the ultimate act of generosity.”
“Living donors who choose to undergo surgery to save a life and deceased donors and their families who make a selfless decision during their grief are truly inspiring,” she says. “We also want to recognize all the health-care professionals who support organ donation and transplantation across our province.”
The release says it takes upwards of 150 health-care professionals for one donor case, from organ recovery to transplant.
PHOTO/ASSOCIATED PRESS/MARK HUMPHREY A liver is prepared for transport after it was been removed from an organ donor June 15, 2023, in Jackson, Tenn.
‘WE FELT THE NEED TO RETURN IT TO TAXPAYERS’
motion because all directors are part of the board.
$198,000. Those amounts will be split in to three equal chunks and vary by how much each EA collected.
Since 2017 the dollars have remained in each reserve and have accrued interest.
According to TNRD staff, the Community Assistance Reserve Funds were created in 2017 to collect taxes for capital costs of any future park projects.
The TNRD rescinded the policy in 2023 as the Ministry of Municipal Affairs determined the policy contravened the Local Government Act.
Area M (Beautiful Nicola Valley-North) director David Laird told the board rural directors voted unanimously to bring forward the motion to use the reserves.
“We felt that, because of what the [ministry] said, that there was an inappropriate collection of tax, that we felt we needed to return it to the taxpayers where it was taken from,” Laird said.
TNRD chief financial officer Carla Fox said electoral areas’ tax bills show a “menu of different services” they pay for each year and these reserve dollars will now reduce those bills over the next three years.
“Basically, everybody will get a reduction on their taxes owing because we’ve used the reserve funds to make sure they don’t have to pay as much tax. Essentially, they’re getting a refund on their tax bill, but it’s absorbed in reducing the amount you owe,” Fox said.
The dollars for electoral areas were not collected from municipalities and will not help lessen the amount of taxes municipalities are paying in the TNRD.
Fox said all board members of the TNRD were still required to vote on the
Meanwhile, in Kamloops, regional district taxes are currently estimated to rise by about 2.6 per cent over 2024. That number is down from the eight per cent increase for Kamloops that was projected in the initial 2025 draft budget last fall.
Overall the global tax rate increase for TNRD taxes is currently pegged at a 4.2 per cent increase over 2024 thanks to the use of these reserves and a some other budgetary belt tightening by the regional district. Between the draft and provisional budgets seen this past December, the global tax increase had already been reduced from 8.5 to 7.8 per cent.
Fox said the final tax increase number will be known in March once the revised BC Assessment roll comes out in March, and, while TNRD taxes are going up as a whole, overall, it looks like residential tax rates are going down.
“It looks like residents’ taxes, all across the board, are going down a little bit because there’s growth, and the other classes are paying a little bit more,” Fox said. “It looks favourable right now for us.”
Community Assistance Reserve Fund amount to be returned to TNRD Recreation Budget (equally in 2025, 2026, and 2027):
Electoral Area “A” $64,772
Electoral Area “B” $73,745
Electoral Area “E” $198,528
Electoral Area “I” $98,478
Electoral Area “J” $35,388
Electoral Area “L” $124,601
Electoral Area “M” $148,012
Electoral Area “N” $52,702
Electoral Area “O” $60,455
Electoral Area “P” $132,725
SWIM CLUB FEARS SHUTDOW AS NEW POOL RENTAL FEES SOAR
The Merritt Otters swim club is advocating for a decrease in a price-hike aimed at swimming lane rentals at the community pool.
The new charge applied to swim lane rental services in the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre will see the Otters’ rental fees increase by 150 per cent. It is a move that if not rectified, could potentially lead to the shut down of Merritt’s only swim organization.
“150 per cent we can’t afford,” Gurpreet Chahal, Treasurer for the Merritt Otters, told the Herald. “It would put a huge strain on our ability to operate.”
“I think it will be very heartbreaking for these kids if we have to tell them we can’t keep running this program.”
Currently, the swim club pays a rate of seven dollars per hour for every lane, to which they rent about three each session. The new price, which was outlined in a council meeting last November, is over double the original at $17.50 from $7.00.
“The proposed 150 per cent rate hike puts us in a difficult position, as it would require us to either increase fees significantly or reduce our programming - neither of which aligns with our mission of inclusive, community-based engagement,” said Jennifer Reid, President of the Merritt Otters Swim Club, in a written letter to the Recreation Advisory Committee.
The swim club has not seen a price increase in city-related services since 2007.
With the city, and by proxy; taxpayers,
being responsible for paying and maintaining any operations related to the aquatic centre, it was decided that an increase in price was long overdue.
Mayor Goetz said the pool’s maintenance fees were steadily increasing with “extensive” repair bills.
“We are in a situation now because we haven’t had a raise in the years that we are trying to close a gap with (operating) numbers,” he said. “That’s unacceptable, because now you end up with this sledgehammer over the head, because you’ve neglected to do your fiduciary responsibility to move these up slowly where everybody can handle the cost rates.”
The committee discussed the details of the rate hike during a meeting on Jan. 9, where a representative from the swim club was absent from the discussion.
Despite this, the committee recognized the required financial assistance the non-for-profit club needs, as well as the role they play in the community.
“We need to make more effort, because these kids are the future and we need to keep them busy. And when there are opportunities like that, I think we need more help, and we can just request the city to consider our request. And we are willing to work on a resolution that works for both parties,” Chahal said.
While costs for one time general admissions were increased by 20 to 37 per cent in the new changes, lane rentals were hit harder. It’s a fact the swim club does not understand or find fair.
As it stands, the swim club is currently operating in a deficit of over $14,000
New charge applied to swim lane rental services at the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre will see the Merritt Otters’ rental fees increase by 150 per cent.
NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT
TNARAYAN MITRA You Gotta Have Faith
he renovated Knights Inn is now an interim shelter for the unhoused (a new nomenclature for the “homeless”).
Like it or not, the homeless are here to stay in Merritt and to remain in other towns and cities for a long time to come. The question is: how far would a community go to help some of them to find shelter in times of storm, cold, and ravages in life?
The Gospel of Mark describes an incident in which four friends of a sick man engaged in a challenging act that rehabilitated a buddy of theirs from a life of uselessness to one of all-round productivity.
While Jesus was speaking in a crowded home one day, a listener jumped to his feet and interrupted him in the middle of his sermon. He pointed an angry finger at a wooden stick poking through the ceiling of the crowded home.
Other attendees rose to watch the drama taking place in front of their eyes.
The sticks of the roof were breaking and an ever-widening hole appeared in the ceiling, spraying chips of clay and dust over the people below as they moved for cover.
Within minutes, the onlookers watched four pairs of hands come through the opening, removing the roof tiles.
Soon those hands lowered into the room a stretcher
bearing a man who lay motionless on it. It was obvious to the onlookers that the man was hurting in more ways than one.
He was suffering from severe paralysis resulting from damage to the brain or spinal cord and was incapable of doing anything to move himself, depending utterly upon his friends.
But the story later reveals that his need for wholeness went beyond his physical problems. He was also hurting spiritually and was a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness.
A closer look at the four men who brought their friend to Jesus showed that they were just ordinary men who had a friend in need of help from Jesus.
How can these men teach us as to how in our days and times we can similarly help in bringing our sick friends to Jesus? Here are some teaching lessons from the story.
First, these friends had high-visibility faith. They really believed that Jesus would do something for their invalid friend. Jesus began ministering to the sick man when he saw his friends’ faith.
Their faith didn’t have any halo or a large “F” written on their foreheads. It was much more down-to-earth than that.
Jesus stared at the hole in the ceiling, the chunks of clay and dust covering the floor, four sweat-stained faces looking at Him, and a man in need of wholeness lying at His feet.
Now, that’s faith! Jesus associated faith with doing something, not just sitting still and mouthing sweet-sounding promises.
We find the same idea in book of James 2:14-26 which states: “Faith without action is dead.”
Secondly, we learn from these four men that their love for
It’s so easy to get caught up in the chaos of daily life. Yet, one simple habit—practicing gratitude—has the power to transform not only our mental well-being but also the environment we create around us.
Gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s a conscious effort to focus on the positives in life, acknowledge others’ contributions, and recognize the abundance already present. Research shows that cultivating gratitude can reduce stress, improve relationships, and even boost physical health. But its impact doesn’t stop there; gratitude can also ripple outward, creating a healthier environment for everyone. When gratitude becomes part of our daily interactions, it fosters kindness and mutual respect. For instance, thanking coworkers for their efforts builds a culture of
the sick friend cost them something.
It cost them time and, perhaps, money to later repair the damage to a householder’s roof.
They also ran a high risk of being ridiculed for their ‘silly’ action. Busting the ceiling in the middle of a high-level religious discourse is not generally accepted behaviour.
In spite of the costs involved, the men viewed their friend with compassion and thought, “It’s worth it to get him to Jesus.”
Finally, we notice that Jesus rewarded their faith and love by ministering to a needy man. To the astonishment of the self-righteous scribes, Jesus pronounced the invalid’s sins forgiven.
Following that, Jesus underscored His words of forgiveness by restoring the man’s physical health as well.
Faith and love paid the high price, resulting in wholeness for a man with four faithful friends.
All of us have at least one friend who needs Jesus. Maybe our friend is not paralyzed, drug-addicted, or living a life of gross sin. But even people in best of health – living clean moral lives – need wholeness that only Jesus can provide.
As we think about our desire to bring our friends or family members to Jesus in this New Year, let’s ask ourselves two questions:
Do we really believe Jesus can make our friends whole? Am I willing to pay the cost to bring my friend or family member to Jesus? Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus could see our active faith and minister to our friends as He did for the four men in Mark’s story? Let us stand ready to bust a hole in any roof or situation, if need be, to make it happen.
appreciation in the workplace, increasing morale and productivity. At home, expressing gratitude to loved ones strengthens bonds and promotes emotional resilience, creating a nurturing space for all.
On a broader scale, gratitude encourages sustainable choices. When we appreciate the natural world, we’re more inclined to protect it. Simple acts like recycling, conserving energy, or supporting local farmers reflect gratitude for the earth’s resources, contributing to a healthier planet.
Cultivating gratitude is straightforward. Start a daily gratitude journal, write thank-you notes, or simply pause to appreciate life’s small joys—a blooming flower, a sunny morning, or a kind word from a friend.
As more people embrace gratitude, the collective energy shifts, transforming communities into spaces of positivity and connection. By practicing gratitude, we enrich our lives and contribute to a healthier, more harmonious environment for all.
BONNIE DIXON Healthy Conversations
LETTERS to the Editor
POLITICIANS MUST PUT PEOPLE FIRST, NOT PARTY POLITICS
Editor,
While I have to agree that prorogation of Parliament was not only expensive and meant to allow the Liberals to regroup, I find it ironic that Mr. Dan Albas complains about it when he and his Conservative party have filibustered for weeks, not allowing Parliament to put through any of its proposed bills.
Bills meant to help the people of Canada during these difficult times - Pharmacare: meant to relieve people from the huge expense of medicine for the treatment of Diabetes, and opening dialogue to allow people to save money on pharmaceuticals.
Bills like the $10 Childcare Act, the grant to help people living in poverty weather the incredible increase in the cost of living, the list goes on...And the NDP haven’t helped, promising to send us to an early election none of the people of Canada want, but the politicians are crying for – especially MR. AX THE TAX who finds himself #1 in the polls.
I think it’s time all these politicians got back to working for us, the Electorate. After all, we have a TRUMP on our doorstep waiting to take us over.
– Denise Williams
POTENCIAL RCMP BUDGET CUTS IN MERRITT IS A HUGE CONCERN
Editor,
Potential cuts to the RCMP budget in the upcoming municipal budget should be deeply concerning to all Merritt residents. The City’s proposals to eliminate any existing RCMP positions could end 24-hour policing at a critical time when crime is rising across the city.
In 2024, Merritt RCMP responded to over 6,500 calls for service—the highest number in five years. Officers filed 286 reports to Crown Counsel, recommending over 600 charges this year, setting a five-year record. These numbers highlight the strain our local RCMP Members already face in responding to evolving crime trends and maintaining public safety.
Fewer RCMP officers means reduced capacity for proactive initiatives like youth outreach, community patrols, and less flexibility if an officer is sick, injured, or away on training or vacation.
If the expectation is to have programs that engage the community for crime prevention and two-way communication between local police and residents, then adequate funding to keep police officers available and proactive is a necessity.
While Council is rightly planning for financial contingencies, reducing public safety, or access to the police, to rebuild emergency reserves seems shortsighted, and risks replacing one problem with another. Public safety is not just a line item in a budget—it is an investment in our community’s well-being. A safe and secure Merritt attracts businesses, fosters growth, and ensures a higher quality of life for all residents.
It’s important to remember that RCMP officers are members of our community too. They live here, raise families here, and are deeply invested in the safety and well-being of Merritt. We should work to support them rather than strain them further by cutting resources.
Let’s prioritize public safety over short-term savings in upcoming budget discussions.
– Brian Sauvé President and CEO of the National Police Federation
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Should Indigenous leaders be included in developing Canada’s response to threatened U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods?
WEEK’S QUESTION
a new leader change your support for, or opposition to, the federal Liberal Party in the next election?
JANUARY 5, 1972
RECORD NUMBER OF PATIENTS
Statistical figures received from the Nicola Valley General Hospital also reflect the growth which took place in the Merritt area during the past year.
There were some 1,759 adults and children admitted to the hospital for care during the year as compared to 1,651 in the previous year.
JANUARY 8, 1997
ARENA COST IN AT $2.7M
The bill has been tallied for the retrofit of Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The arena took seven months to complete, from tear-down to reconstruct, at the cost of approximately $2.7 million.
Onefree10-yearlithium-ionbattery smokealarmisavailable to eligibleresidents whilesupplieslast. ContactMerritt Fire Rescue to book yourfree Fire SafetyAssessment.
ART-TASTIC!: Merritt Secondary School’s Artscape was a huge hit, featuring amazing drama, visual arts and music. A night full of talent and creativity that left everyone inspired.
CLUB BRINGS PEOPLE INTO TOWN
CLUB: continued from page 5
according to their 2024-2025 budget that was provided to council.
Adding to their financial situation, the club is still reeling from the loss of registration, and therefore revenue, that COVID brought.
Chahal said they used to have over a hundred kids before the pandemic. Last year, the club saw around 45 kids register.
The swim club is set to start their 2025 season on Jan.14. The new lane-rental pricing is already in place.
But the Otters are not wholly relying on the city to provide the costs to run operations. They are active in securing grants and holding fundraisers for a large portion of their funding.
“There are volunteers, like parents. They spend hundreds of hours of volunteer work to make this work. We put in time to apply for the grants,” Chahal said. “We cannot survive without the grants.”
Other than the program being a good way for kids to build confidence and have goals to work towards, Chahal said the club’s local swim meet also brings money into the city.
“There’s tourism here,” she said. “When you do swim meets, there are people
who are staying in the hotels. You bring business there.”
“If the club cannot afford (to continue) and cannot run, they (businesses in Merritt) will be losing the revenue as well.”
The need for such an organization was recognized by the committee during the meeting. Mayor Goetz proposed a proposition that would settle a compromise with the swim club.
The going-rate for the swim club for a lane rental would be reduced to $13 per hour, with the rate to incrementally increase year-by-year. The city would also cover the costs of running their annual swim-meet, which would save them a few thousand dollars. This would come at the expense of revoking their Grant in Aid which provides $1,260.
Still, Chahal said the reduction might not be big enough for them to keep operating as they currently do.
She said bringing the rate to $13 per hour would mean the club would likely have to charge more for membership fees. This would lead to some families not being able to afford it or being turned away from the price, which means less revenue for the club.
City council will be voting on a resolution to the matter Tuesday, Jan. 28.
MERRITT PHOTOGRAPHER MARKS 50 YEARS BEHIND THE LENS
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
A renowned Merritt photographer has just celebrated 50 years of working in the Nicola Valley.
Published nature photographer Murphy Shewchuk has been documenting his adventures and hikes in the Okanagan since 1971, when he moved to the region. A few years later in 1974-75, he found himself re-located in Merritt. He has contributed to articles in magazines such as B.C. outdoors and Road Trips.
On Thursday, Jan. 16 the half-century milestone in Shewchuk’s life was honoured as he presented some of his work to the Nicola Valley Naturalist Society.
Shewchuk was born in the middle of the Second World War. He grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan as well as in the mountains in B.C., which he said allowed him the freedom to explore his surroundings, a trait he uses in his photography as well.
“My brother and I did everything. We headed off into the bush and came back. (My) Mothers instructions were to give it back by supper time,” he said.
Experience wandering the wilderness gave Shewchuk a unique perspective on life. When he was young he delivered newspapers in Vancouver. Doing this job he ran into a man who gave him his first camera, a film-based kodak, in exchange for free papers.
Since then, he’s graduated from film cameras and moved onto digital equipment and has used everything in-between.
Throughout his time, he’s not only backpacked in the trails and mountains throughout Nicola Valley, but in exotic parts of the world as well.
COMEDY DUO BACK TO MERRITT
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
Merritt, get ready for the return of comedians Nelson Mayer and Clayton Stewart from the Bad Apples.
Part of a Canadian tour, the Bad Apples duo will be stopping to perform in the Grand Pub and Grill on Feb. 1.
The Indigenous duo take their identity and embrace it to create routines that will make you “laugh until your sides hurt”.
The duo even use the name ‘the Bad Apples’ as a way to take back a derogatory term used for Indigenous people who were raised in the city.
have.”
Mayer in particular does great work with the crowd.
The pair have had exposure in wellknown platforms, performing in both the Winnipeg and LA International comedy festivals. Their specials have even been shown on HBO Max.
A goal for them is to one day get a Netflix special.
Mayer is also the host of the network TV program, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, in which he has invited Stewart on to do comedy skits in the past.
“Mountains around the world have been of interest because I grew up in the mountains,” he said.
He listed Scotland’s Cairngorm, the Canadian Rockies and the Mountains of New Zealand as some memorable locations.
Though he and his cameras have been to exotic places such as Nunavut, the Devon Islands in the north and French caves used in the Second World War, his favourite places remain closer to home.
“My favorite trips were things like the Jasper Merritt to Kamloops up Highway five to Jasper,” he said.
He shares his exploration of the wilderness through his photos, some of which are released in trail guides or in books published by him or others.
Shewchuk also works closely with the Nicola Valley Naturalists Society and the Nicola Valley Museum Archives.
With the former, he likes to capture likeness in the Nicola Valley wildlife. One of his more famous photos is of a large herd of cattle being driven around the valley.
Going through the rural areas of the Nicola Valley, he is able to find animals that are rare to those who may not go out there. If he’s on the road and sees something interesting, he’s likely to stop and take out his camera.
“You shoot first and ask questions later,” he said, stating that if you leave it for later, the moment is likely to be gone.
Other advice about nature photography he said is to stay patient.
“It’s the patience if you can go out in the hills in the morning, or you even spend overnight some place camping if you can, and operate on the basis that it’s going to take time and understanding, and a lot of
The two have done shows in all parts of Canada, through the prairies, and across both coasts.
Stewart, one half of the Bad Apples, said there’s something intimate and special about doing shows in smaller communities.
“I love that every community has its own quirks and has its own interesting people,” he said. “I love meeting them. I love finding out about them, especially at the comedy show. Everyone’s there to laugh and have a good time, so they usually knock out all their friends and tell us what they’re known for or what, you know, bad habits they
Stewart has also featured in a few films, notably the 2012 comedy Silent Night.
“Every now and then, we do get recognized from TV and that. And sometimes people have seen either the movies or TV shows that I’ve been in, and sometimes they recognize me and it’s always a great feeling when they do,” he said.
Stewart has high hopes for this year’s performance and said audiences can expect “to laugh so much they will either cry or pee.”
The show will be hosted by their friend Chris Basso who has joined them on the tour.
Murphy Shewchuk, a renowned Merritt photographer, shows some of his photos that he has taken over the past 50 years in the Nicola Valley.
‘THE OUTDOORS IS THE THEATRE’
OUTDOORS: continued from page 10
times you might get skunked,” he said. “But, there are times that your three hours spent there you come back with some beautiful photos,” he said.
What he loves about shooting animals and nature is that he can take his time and work around his own schedule.
“I think a lot of people don’t take the time to actually interact with the wildlife or
animals, and I find that the animals are usually very curious,” he said.
“Some people don’t like Merritt because it doesn’t have the theatre or something else to suit them. But to me, the outdoors is the theatre.”
His latest photography venture forays into new technology once again. Now equipped with a drone, Shewchuk flies it around the grasslands of the Nicola Valley to present it in a way few have seen before.
A rare species foreign to North America, the Red-crested Pochard, was seen on Nicola River.
RARE HYBRID DUCK SPOTTED ON NICOLA RIVER
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
A rare species of duck was spotted on the Nicola River.
According to the Nicola Valley Naturalists Society (NVNS), there are over 3,000 Mallard ducks in the area this year counted during the Christmas season, a higher count than the average of just over 1,300.
But local Margot Vroom and the society believe one of these ducks is not like the rest of its flock.
In early december, Vroom, who lives in North Nicola, was making one of her routine trips down to the Nicola River to feed a large flock of those Mallard ducks that congregate on the frozen banks.
From that day on, she noticed one particular female that would stick out from the crowd.
Vroom described the bird to the Herald, naming its unique characteristics.
“She’s very strong and piles over the other Mallards to eat,” she said.
The bird’s coat is different from a Mallard
as well. It sports a red-cres that stretches from the front of its head and runs down its chest.
After seeing the duck for weeks, Vroom and her friend decided to photograph the bird to try and identify it.
“I went online, but I couldn’t find the particular duck.”
Vroom brought the pictures back to one of her friends in NVNS, who were also baffled at what it could’ve been.
Alan Burger, president of NVNS and avid bird watcher, spoke about the duck during a society presentation on Jan, 16.
“It’s very unusual. And I looked at this (the photo of the duck) and I didn’t have a clue what it was. Never seen anything like that before,” he said.
Burger even went out to the river to try and find the bird himself but didn’t see it.
Eventually he contacted bird experts around B.C. to get an answer.
Melissa Hafting, moderator of the website BC Rare Bird Alert, returned to him, they
UNIQUE : continued on page 12
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PHOTO/CONTRIBUTED
‘WHAT’S SO UNIQUE ABOUT HER, THAT SHE LIVES IN MERRITT’
said the species is not a pure one of a single species, but likely a hybrid, a product of cross-breeding.
“She pointed out that among these hybrids, there’s a bird that looks virtually identical to what we see,” Burger said during the presentation.
The suspected combination is of, firstly, a common Mallard seen with the rest of the flock it was spotted in and secondly, a rare species foreign to North America, the Red-crested Pochard.
“I had to really do a little bit of research into what is a Red-crested Pochard. And I’m pretty sure that none of you have ever seen one. I’ve never seen one,” he said during the presentation.
eBird, a bird-species resource website, lists the Red-crested Pochard as a “common feature of waterfowl collections in European towns and city parks” or a decorative bird.
The males of the species have rounded, orange heads, while the females have a darker face.
For how it got to North America and B.C., Burger hypothesized this.
“As you can see, it’s a beautiful duck. But because it’s a beautiful duck, people in Europe and then also now in North America, were collecting these ducks and keeping them in their duck collections,” Burger said.
“So this bird, this harder that we saw, didn’t come as a natural movement, because it’s almost impossible for a duck to travel from Western Europe all the way to where we are. So this must have come from one of these, these private collections.”
Burger said he looked into the bird and found many re-sellers in the U.S. charging around $300 USD for one.
“Down in the lower mainland, there are people that have these ducks in their collections, and so that’s almost certainly where our bird came from. It must have had an encounter with the mallet, and we got the hybrid, and that managed to get up here,” he said during the presentation.
When Vroom heard about the identification she was pleased.
“It’s really neat to discover what she is,” she said. “That’s what’s so unique about her, that (a rare duck) she lives in Merritt.”
ELKS AND THEIR LEGACY OF GIVING
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
Nestled in the heart of the Nicola Valley, the Merritt Elks Lodge is more than just a social club; it’s a cornerstone of community involvement, dedicated to serving and supporting both local residents and causes in need.
Founded back in 1959, the Merritt Elks are a chapter of the larger Elks of Canada, a nationwide fraternal organization with roots dating back to the 1910s as an affiliated entity of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
The Merritt Elks are a group of volunteers committed to promoting charity, community
UNIQUE: continued from page 11 AIMING : continued on page 13
service, and fellowship. Their lodge, located on 1701 Coldwater Ave., is a hub of activity where members and the public come together for events, meetings, and social gatherings.
Their mission aligns with the Elks’ core values of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity, and this is reflected in their various charitable activities, as well as in the social and recreational programs they offer to members.
“(Back in the day) it was apparently for kids with hearing disability and the Elks, for a long time in the 70s and 80s, would purchase hearing aids for kids and just took
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ALWAYS AIMING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
AIMING: continued from page 12
off from there,” Angele Greiner, treasurer at the Merritt Elks Lodge, said.
Over the years, the Merritt Elks have become an integral part of the community, with their work spanning a wide range of causes.
“We started a lot of kids programs in the past year and we have a bingo which raises funds for kids with hearing aids, kids with medical needs, seniors with medical needs,” Greiner added.
“Now we’re a little bit more diversified, I guess. We work with the food bank a lot, we put on a kids’ Christmas for the food bank so we buy gifts and have a party.”
The effort has become a beloved tradition in Merritt, helping ensure that everyone has a better holiday season.
The Merritt Elks are also deeply invested in local education, offering scholarships to graduating students to help further their education as well as donations for local students to do their school trips.
“We just paid $5,000 to Collettville school to send the kids from Collettville to Quebec. We’re giving another $5,000 to MSS for the group for travelling to go to sports tournament,” Greiner added.
The Merritt Elks are always looking for new members who share their values of service and charity. Membership is open to both men and women, and the organization offers a space for individuals to form lasting friendships while contributing to the greater good.
The Merritt Elks Lodge has a rich history in the Nicola Valley, having been a part of the community for over 50 years.
Despite facing challenges such as economic downturns and natural disasters, the organization’s commitment to supporting Merritt and neighbouring communities has never wavered.
“The fire from Lytton would be the most memorable (moment) to me,” said Greiner. “People were donating a lot of stuff, there was no place to put it. It was during COVID, so we weren’t having any bingo here and the food bank ended up calling me and said ‘we have a bunch of stuff that’s been donated for Lytton, can we use the building?’ So we opened our doors and 80,000 pounds of stuff came in that day.”
The Merritt chapter is part of a broader network of Elks Lodges across Canada and the United States, allowing them to collaborate with other members and amplify their charitable impact. This national and international affiliation provides the Merritt Elks with a larger platform to support local causes and connect with others who share their passion for community service.
In a few stories that the Herald ran throughout the years, the commitment of the organization to support local causes is more than clear.
In 1977, the Merritt Elks donated $500 to the Nicola Valley Youth Group to support the youth centre construction in town.
In the past, the organization also sponsored entertainment to the community during Labour Day weekend, as well as many other events.
A display at the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives showcases the many accomplishments that the organization has helped out in the Nicola Valley.
Looking ahead, the Merritt Elks are focused on engaging younger generations to ensure that their work continues for years to come. Whether through new initiatives or by collaborating with other local organizations, the Elks are committed to leaving a lasting positive impact on Merritt.
“Be proud because it’s nice to be proud of what we got, that’s what I would say to the community,” Grenier said.
“Be proud of what you do. We’re not here to be better than anybody else, we do what we love.”
For those interested in getting involved or learning more about the Merritt Elks, can contact the organization at 250-378-7881 or stop by the Nicola Valley Museum & Archives to check their display. Volunteers are always welcome, and new members are encouraged to get involved in the organization’s various charitable programs.
PLUMBING &HEATING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
of trushed local news headlines, delivered straight to your inbox five days a week.
R MP c Appreciation Da y
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2024
DALE REVELL
Last seen: April 24, 2024, in Merritt
TARA MORAN
Last seen: Jan. 31, 2024, in Merritt.
MIGUEL MACK
Last seen: Feb. 27, 2023 in Merritt, BC
LALIE HONEYWELL
Last seen: May 11, 2020 in Merritt, BC
BEN TYNER
Last seen: Jan. 26, 2019 near Merritt, BC
DEAN MORRISON
Last seen: Oct. 22, 2013 near Stump Lake, BC
DEAN MORRISON
As we recognize RCMP Appreciation Day, we also highlight the ongoing efforts to bring home these six missing individuals from our area. If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Together, we hope for their safe return.
DALE REVELL
TARA MORAN
MIGUEL MACK
LALIE HONEYWELL
BEN TYNER
MERRITT RCMP OFFICER REFLECTS ON CAREER PATH IN MAJOR CRIMES
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
Being a cop is certainly not a career for everyone, but some people just have what it takes.
Cpl. Jon Puterbough of the Merritt RCMP recently shared his experiences in law enforcement, reflecting on his career path, the challenges of major crime investigations, and his commitment to serving the community.
Originally from Ontario, Puterbough moved to British Columbia with a desire to help people.
“It was just a desire to help, to help my community,” he explained.
After transitioning to B.C., he found that a career in the RCMP provided him with the sense of accomplishment he had been searching for.
“I felt like there was something missing in my life, and I thought that thing was just being the sense of accomplishment, some sense of helping people,” he said.
Puterbough’s move into major crimes stemmed from an early interest in drug investigations.
with surveillance and investigations.
In plain clothes work, officers like him blend into the community while still maintaining the ability to respond as police officers when necessary.
Although not undercover, plainclothes officers can work more discreetly.
“We don’t have any undercover officers here in Merritt, but we work in plain clothes,” Puterbough said. “You’re not as obviously a police officer, but you’re still identifiable.”
Surveillance, he noted, can be grueling.
“One of the biggest challenges is just the tedium,” he explained. “It can be hours of watching and not seeing anything, and then doing it again the next day.”
Other difficulties include the extensive paperwork required for some investigations, such as obtaining judicial authorization for search warrants.
“It really depends on the day. It could be investigating a report of drug trafficking or it could be dealing with a missing persons case.” — Cpl. Jon Puterbough
He recalled how he would watch the major crime units from Kelowna handle complex cases like murders, often intrigued by the level of investigation involved.
“It just looked like a really interesting line of work, and they’re dealing with some really complex and interesting cases,” he said.
A typical day for Puterbough can vary significantly. “It really depends on the day,” he said. “It could be investigating a report of drug trafficking, or it could be dealing with a missing persons case.”
The nature of his work requires flexibility, as investigations can shift quickly.
“You might be focused on one thing for a week or a month, but you could easily switch gears,” he said. Puterbough also shared the challenges that come
“Sometimes it can be hard to get those authorizations,” he said. “Judges can be picky about it, and you have to be careful with how you word things.”
Despite these challenges, Puterbough believes that his work is vital to the safety of the community.
“We try to be proactive,” he said, focusing on individuals who pose a significant risk to public safety. “We’re targeting these prolific offenders, putting them in jail for a while,” he said. “If we can get some of these people off the streets, it contributes to community safety.”
Puterbough also shared some of his more memorable cases.
One case involved human remains found outside of Merritt, a mystery that had remained unsolved for years.
With the help of DNA testing, Puterbough hoped to make progress on identifying the person. Unfortunately, the results did not lead to a breakthrough, but Puterbough remains optimistic that future advancements in technology may provide answers.
Another case that stands out for Puterbough was a
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‘I’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A POLICE OFFICER’
ENJOYED: continued from page 17
large commercial marijuana grow operation discovered just outside of town in 2020.
After years of reports from locals about the smell of marijuana, the RCMP secured a search warrant and uncovered a multi-million dollar grow operation.
“I was pretty proud of that file,” he said. “It involved almost the entire detachment and outside resources, and we were able to shut it down.”
When asked about the current trends in crime in Merritt, Puterbough pointed to the rise in property crimes and mischief complaints, many of which could be related to the ongoing drug crisis.
“There’s been a huge increase in property crimes, primarily because of the increase in drug use in town,” he said. “It’s an epidemic, and it’s affecting communities across B.C. and Canada.”
In the face of these challenges, Puterbough believes that addressing the demand for drugs is essential.
“As long as there’s demand, there’s going to be supply,” he said. “We were pretty good at targeting the supply side, and we can go arrest drug traffickers and get them off the streets, but they’re replaced the next day, because the demand is still there.”
Reflecting on his career, Puterbough said that solving crimes and putting criminals behind bars is the most rewarding part of his job.
“The most rewarding thing is putting bad guys in jail and getting them off the streets for a while,” he said. “Seizing drugs, finding guns, those kinds of things are really rewarding.”
For those interested in a career in law enforcement, Puterbough recommends gaining life experience and pursuing higher education.
“It’s a great career,” he said. “You get to help people, keep your community safe, and be a respected member of society.”
Puterbough is currently serving as the Acting Sergeant while Brock Hendrick is
away. His day-to-day responsibilities include overseeing operations, managing the schedule, and reviewing case files. Despite the challenges and demands of his role, John remains committed to making Merritt a safer community.
“I’ve really enjoyed being a police officer. My wife and I enjoy living in Merritt, it’s been really good for us,” he said. “It’s a nice little community and I hope in some small way, we’ve made it better.”
PHOTO/HERALD FILE
Cpl. Jon Puterbough with the Merritt RCMP shared what is like to be working in the major crimes unit with the RCMP. He also participates in the Cops For Kids bike ride yearly.
THE UNSOLVED MISSING PERSON CASES THAT HAUNT THE NICOLA VALLEY
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
British Columbia far outpaces the national average for the number of people reported missing each year. According to statistics from The National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR), from 2018 to 2022, “British Columbia had the highest number of missing adult reports per capita.”
Since 2015, when NCMPUR began publishing their missing persons fact sheets, a staggering 114,600 people have been reported missing in the province. While the majority of these cases were solved, there are many people who have not returned home to their loved ones. Several of those still missing have disappeared from Merritt and the Nicola Valley.
The Herald sat down with Cpl. Jon Puterbough of the Merritt RCMP detachment – who acts as the commander for Merritt general investigation section (GIS) – to discuss the many challenges of missing persons cases.
“I think the biggest challenge with any missing person case is by the time we get the call about this person, they’re already missing, and potentially have been missing for days,” Puterbough said.
“At that point, it’s very difficult to start collecting information and you’re trying to ultimately track their location, figure out where they were last seen and then try to retrace their movements – either through talking to people who knew them, may have seen them, gathering CCTV from the community and reviewing that videos and just trying to trace their movements.”
In some instances, modern tracking tools such as cellphones, which can assist in narrowing down a missing person’s last known location, are not available.
“Once in a while, we get a case where it’s very difficult to track them down, especially if they’ve left the community and we don’t know where they’ve gone to,” Puterbough explained. “If they don’t have a cellphone, that can become a real challenge or if they don’t have access to social media or anything like that.
“All these modern ways that we would have to try to find somebody, we don’t have access to that. So then you’re essentially relying on someone seeing them and then chasing that (lead) down, so it can be quite challenging.”
In many cases, the weather can further
PHOTOS/MERRITT RCMP
Dean Kelly Morrison (top) was last seen on Oct. 22, 2013, at Stump Lake Ranch. Miguel Mack (bottom) was last seen in Merritt on Feb. 27, 2023. He was reported missing by his family on March 3, 2023. The Southeast District Major Crime Unit’s investigation has show that Mack’s disappearance was the result of foul play.
A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE MISSING IN THE NICOLA VALLEY
HANDFUL : continued from page 19
complicate the search.
“If we get reports of missing people, like a missing hunter, for instance, one of the big risk factors in those cases is certainly the weather,” Puterbough said. “People are typically hunting in the fall when it’s cold, it could be snowing. So in those cases, that can be a huge factor which puts a lot of pressure on us to get out there and find them. The weather could be a fatality factor for them.”
The challenges are particularly amplified in rural areas where there is limited access to technology or surveillance footage.
“If somebody goes missing in a rural area, then obviously that adds another layer of complexity to a file,” Puterbough added. “We no longer have access to, say, CCTV. If somebody went missing in downtown Merritt, we have lots of businesses that have cameras. We could potentially track their movements and figure out where they went, did they get into a car? Did they meet up with a friend? In a rural area, we’re relying on friends saying, ‘They were going hunting on Iron Mountain.’ So, it can be quite challenging.”
Merrittonians undoubtedly recall that in the past decade, there have been a handful of high profile missing persons cases in the area.
Once case that has gained significant attention is of 24-year-old Miguel Mack, who was last seen in Merritt on Feb. 27, 2023. In March of that same year the RCMP Major Crimes Unit was brought on board, deeming the disappearance “suspicious.”
In the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, the Southeast District Major
CASES : continued on page 20
‘ALL OF THOSE CASES ARE STILL OPEN, AND THEY WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THEY’RE FOUND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER’
: continued from page 19
Crime Unit published a press release stating that “our investigation has shown that Miguel Mack’s disappearance was the result of foul play and that Miguel Mack is the victim of a homicide.
“His disappearance and murder are senseless acts and this investigation remains a priority for the SED MCU.”
On May 11, 2020, then 44-year-old Lalie Honeywell was last seen outside of the Double D Motel on Nicola Avenue in Merritt. After she was reported missing, items believed to belong to Honeywell were found near the Nicola River bridge, and RCMP Air Services and Nicola Valley Search and Rescue were called in to aid in the search efforts but with no success.
On Jan. 28, 2019, Nicola Ranch cowboy Ben Tyner’s horse was found riderless, but still fully tacked up, on a logging road outside of Merritt. The Wyoming native had last been seen on Jan. 26, heading out to presumably check on cattle.
Despite extensive searches of the area by volunteers and Search and Rescue crews by air, foot, horseback, and vehicle, including snowmobiles, no trace of the missing 32-year-old has ever been found. RCMP have since deemed his disappearance “suspicious” and that there was likely “criminality” involved.
In nearby Spences Bridge, just 65 kilometres from
Merritt, Luke Neville was last seen on Oct. 9, 2017. The following day his white van was found burned out on a Forest Service Road, but no further clues have been discovered. The RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit was placed in charge of Neville’s case, and considered his disappearance suspicious.
Beginning the spate of missing persons in the area was Dean Kelly Morrison, a 44-year-old father of three, who was last seen at Stump Lake Ranch on Oct. 22, 2013.
Morrison had been working as a painter on the ranch but was let go that day. When his truck wouldn’t start he called a tow truck, but by the time it arrived roughly three hours later, Morrison was nowhere to be found. No leads have turned up in the more than ten years since he went missing, and his disappearance still remains a mystery.
Tara Moran’s case is also a haunting one. She was reported missing after being last seen in Merritt on Jan. 31, 2024. One year later, her disappearance still remains under investigation. The RCMP have not ruled out foul play in her case.
Similarly, Dave Revell, a Merritt resident who also went missing in the area on April 24, 2024, has yet to be found, and his case remains unsolved.
“All of those cases are still open, and they will remain open cases until they’re found one way or the other,”
Ben Tyner (left) was last seen on Jan. 28, 2019, at Nicola Ranch. His horse was found riderless, but still fully tacked up on a logging road outside of Merritt. Tara Moran (right) was reported missing after being last seen in Merritt on Jan. 31, 2024.
RCMP RELIES ON PUBLIC’S HELP TO SOLVE MISSING PERSON’S CASES
RCMP : continued from page 20
Puterbough added. “As the case gets older and as time passes, it does become more challenging.
“In the case of Mr. Morrison, that’s several years now. When a case is several years old, it becomes even more challenging to define them, the trail just goes completely cold at a certain point.”
Local resources, while dedicated, are often stretched thin when it comes to handling multiple investigations.
“We really try to front load missing person investigations and what I mean by that is we try to gather as much information as we can right at the start – maybe not analyzing it, but just making sure that we actually physically have it before it gets destroyed,” Puterbough said.
these investigative avenues,” Puterbough explained. “It’s better for the file to go to them because they have the expertise to look at the file the way it needs to be looked at.”
The emotional toll of these cases is something that weighs heavily on investigators, especially when the trail goes cold.
“I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the families.”
— Cpl. Jon Puterbough
“That’s particularly important with CCTV, which can be really important information. If somebody goes missing in town, we do want to preserve that evidence while it still exists.”
Unfortunately, resources are limited, especially in smaller detachments like Merritt, and at times, cases are referred to specialist units.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have unlimited resources here locally. There are other units in the province that have the resources to take a deeper dive into some of
“The biggest challenge is dealing with the families,” Puterbough said. “You’re always delivering bad news. You want to be able to call the families and say, ‘We found them’ or ‘We have positive news,’ but that rarely happens. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the families.”
The RCMP continues to rely on the public’s help to solve these cases.
“The biggest thing the public can do is just tell us what they know,” Puterbough urged. “Sometimes people assume that we already know information, but that’s not necessarily the case. People need to talk to us if they have information about a missing person. If they think they’ve seen a missing person, they need to tell us. We can’t force people to talk to us, but we encourage people to come forward with any information they may have.”
If the public has any information about any of the outstanding missing person investigations and they have not provided that information to police, are asked to call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 or Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CONAYT FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
PHOTOS/MERRITT RCMP
Dave Revell (left), Merritt resident, went missing in the area on April 24, 2024, has yet to be found and his case still remains unsolved. Lalie Honeywell (right) was last seen on May 11, 2020, outside the Double D Motel on Nicola Avenue in Merritt. Her disappearance still remains a mystery to this day.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE OFFERS HEALING ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL SYSTEM
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
National Restorative Justice Week is recognized every year during the third week of November to acknowledge the impacts and achievements of the restorative justice approach and its application across Canada.
The Herald sat down with Chris Stokes, restorative justice coordinator at the Nicola Valley Restorative Justice Program, and Elder Mary Agnus from the Shackan Indian Band to learn more about the benefits of restorative justice for Indigenous people within the Nicola Valley.
The Nicola Valley Restorative Justice Program works with the local Indigenous communities, local elders, the RCMP, Crown council, BC Corrections in trying to resolve crimes in a proactive moral way that addresses the needs of the individuals impacted.
“Instead of focusing on punishment, we work to
repair relationships between people and foster healing between the victim and the offender,” Stokes said.
“It really looks at accountability and responsibility and aims to create a safer community through understanding and supporting both parties.”
According to Stokes, working with the local Indigenous communities and elders gives them a chance to “make sure that their knowledge, wisdom and cultural practices are integrated into the processes.”
“By involving elders like Mary, we’re able to develop a more culturally relevant approach to restorative justice. One that honours Indigenous ways of knowing,” Stokes added.
Stokes said that when working with Indigenous families, elders open the session with an opening prayer usually followed by a smudge ceremony.
“As a talking piece for our circles, we use an eagle GIVING : continued on page 23
PHOTO/LAISA CONDE
Elder Mary Agnus from the Shackan Indian Band and Chris Stokes, restorative justice coordinator at the Nicola Valley Restorative Justice Program, talked about the many benefits restorative justice brings to Indigenous communities.
GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OFFENDER TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY
GIVING : continued from page 22
feather that represents strength, wisdom, knowledge and respect in that place and time, as well as a centrepiece which incorporates in Indigenous medicines, water, fire and bringing those sorts of teachings into the circle,” he said.
In his years of working with restorative justice, Stokes highlighted the many ways that it differs from the conventional justice system when it comes to addressing harm and healing communities.
“Restorative justice gives the offender the opportunity to take accountability for their actions and to make efforts to put it right in their best efforts, best way that they can,” he said. “They get to hear and see how others were affected by their actions … which helps them stir away from reoffending again in the future.
“We work on a restorative justice agreement where the offender will be asked to complete community work, service hours or connect to counseling and professional services, connect to elders, write letters of apology to those they hurt, and generally try to work on a better way of life.”
from the Merritt RCMP,” Stokes said. “Most of them involved Indigenous youth or adults and all of those were successfully resolved through restorative justice processes.”
The restorative justice approach is to not cause further harm.
“We always take a trauma-informed approach to make sure that in the process we don’t cause any more harm,” Stokes added.
He also assured that if a situation does cause more harm, they pause the circle and resolve it before moving forward, always assuring that the victim’s voice is heard throughout the process.
“They get the opportunity to try and make things right so they can heal their community as well as themselves.”
—Restorative Justice coordinator Chris Stokes
For Agnus, restorative justice gives power to the perpetrator to have a voice and explain his actions.
“There are other things that may have led up to that particular incident and with restorative justice, the victim also has some say,” she said. “They’re in the same room and we don’t leave until it’s all settled and because it settled, nothing more is going to happen within whatever it was.
“It’s been resolved, so there’s not going to be any heartache or bad feelings once they leave.”
Stokes said that he sees high rates of incarceration of Indigenous Peoples when they go through the traditional criminal process, while restorative justice emphasizes healing.
“Restorative justice views crime as a harm between relationships, so getting the opportunity for that person to see how they’ve hurt their family members, their community members by doing what they did,” he said. “They get the opportunity to try and make things right so they can heal their community as well as themselves.”
He also added that it would be more beneficial for Indigenous Peoples to use restorative justice as their main venue of crime resolution in order to reduce the rates of incarceration and criminalization of Indigenous Peoples in B.C. and across Canada.
“Last year, our program had the most referrals I’ve seen since I’ve been in this role. We took 14 referrals
Agnus added that in the restorative justice process, those involved are all working on an equal level, leaving no authority that the offender has to submit to.
“When we’re in restorative justice, we’re all sitting at the same level. There’s nobody sitting any higher,” she said. “I find that when we’re speaking in a circle, there’s no judgment. I think that’s where the strength of restorative justice is and that’s why it’s working.
“The victim and the offender can see that there’s no levels and they see the humility of the RCMP. They see the humility of each and every one of us sitting in the circle and with that they can heal, they feel safe.”
Looking into the future, Stokes believes that education is key to ensure that restorative justice practices are being integrated more deeply within Indigenous communities.
“I think my goal as the coordinator of the program is continuing on community education, making sure that people know that these sorts of programs exist in communities, not just in Merritt, but there’s many across B.C. and raising knowledge, teaching people about restorative justice,” he said.
Agnus agreed that raising awareness and educating community members play a big role in restorative justice. She believes that “having restorative justice is a means of creating balance within our communities again.”
“We do have our local police detachment on board, which is a bonus. There’s collaboration that is starting to happen, it’s not us versus them anymore because we’re starting to work together,” she said. “If we can get it out there, educate people and start to get people talking that’d be great.
“My hope is that instead of using the regular system that more of our Indigenous Peoples come to restorative justice, because the way that we use restorative justice is the way that we did back in the day.”
recognizePoliceservicecomeswithdedicationandsacrifice to reachout to themembers ofthecommunity,wegiveourthanks andgratitude to thepeopleofthisfraternitywhocrossall roads andblockages to providesecurityforthecitizens.
BLOCK WATCH IS A SECRET WEAPON IN CRIME PREVENTION,COMMUNITY SAFETY
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
The Block Watch program, which began in British Columbia in 1986, has been instrumental in reducing crime and fostering a sense of safety in neighborhoods across the province.
Modeled after a successful initiative in Seattle, the program helped cut residential break-ins by up to 60 per cent.
Over the years, it has evolved into a key component of community policing and crime prevention efforts.
Marlene Jones, the coordinator for the Merritt Community Policing Office, emphasizes that participating in Block Watch doesn’t require a significant time commitment, dispelling the common misconception that joining will be too demanding. “There’s a little bit of time and energy spent in setting it up initially, but once that happens—helped by us—it becomes just about staying in contact,” she explains. “It’s not invasive. You’re not expected to drop everything and respond immediately; it’s just about keeping informed and aware.”
Once a Block Watch is established, the program operates on a system of regular updates and communication.
Residents are encouraged to report concerns so that police can stay informed of potential issues in the area. Jones notes, “If you have a concern, report it, so that investigators at the detachment can assess what’s happening. The community policing office can also evaluate the situation to determine if there are any factors contributing to crime in the area.”
The community aspect is a key strength of the Block Watch program. As people get to know their neighbors, the neighborhood becomes more tightly knit and better prepared to identify potential threats.
Regular monthly updates are provided via email, offering crime prevention tips, a review of local trends, and helpful advice for increasing home security. These updates are designed to be non-intrusive, allowing participants to engage at their own pace.
In addition to providing ongoing support for residents, Block Watch offers hands-on crime prevention tools, such as property assessments for homes and businesses.
These assessments—conducted by the community policing team and local officers—evaluate factors that may make properties more vulnerable to crime, such as poor lighting, overgrown landscaping, or inadequate security systems.
“The most rewarding part of the program is seeing the community grow stronger over time,” Jones says. “As people start working together, they become more aware of who should and shouldn’t be in their neighborhoods, which increases the overall sense of safety.”
One of the primary benefits of Block Watch is its ability to help people become better witnesses.
Jones discusses how the training provided can make a significant difference in a crime investigation.
“If you’ve never called the police before, it can be overwhelming. But if you think about what to look for beforehand, like vehicle descriptions or distinctive features, it can make a big difference when reporting an incident,” she explains.
Being prepared means being able to provide crucial details, such as the make, model, and colour of a vehicle or the appearance of a suspect, which can significantly aid law enforcement in solving crimes.
Furthermore, the Block Watch program also supports business owners through target hardening strategies. These strategies involve simple steps to improve the
Marlene Jones, coordinator at the Community Policing Office in Merritt, sat down with the Herald to talk about the Block Watch program.
‘IT’S ABOUT BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY’
BUILDING : continued from page 24
physical security of properties, such as increasing lighting or securing valuable equipment.
Businesses in the area have benefited from these consultations, helping them to implement practical measures to prevent theft or vandalism.
In 2023 alone, the program completed 14 business assessments, with another 13 conducted in 2024.
Despite the valuable insights provided, Jones notes that the most significant barrier to implementing these changes can sometimes be the cost.
“Business owners may not always have the budget to make these improvements,” she says.
However, she points to provincial funding programs like the Crime Prevention and Vandalism program,
which offers financial support to businesses dealing with issues like graffiti and vandalism.
At its core, the Block Watch program aims to empower residents to take an active role in maintaining the safety of their communities. This not only reduces the chances of crime but also strengthens the bonds between neighbors. By encouraging regular communication and providing crime prevention tools, Block Watch is making it easier for people to protect their homes, families, and businesses—without it becoming a full-time job.
As Jones concludes, “It’s about building a stronger, more connected community. And through that, we’re able to create a safer place for everyone.”
MERRITT RCMP RECEPTIONIST FINDS FULFILLMENT IN HELPING PEOPLE
In a small town, operating the reception at an RCMP detachment can come with all sorts of surprises.
Olivia Moscatel is a recent addition to Merritt’s RCMP team. She deals with non-emergency calls to the police station.
Moscatel is about a year into her RCMP tenure. Her previous work is quite different to what she does now. She comes from a background in psychology going through schooling in Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She said after taking classes relating to criminology and law enforcement in post-secondary, working in that field was something she’s wanted to try.
Since joining the detachment, she said she loved the environment it fosters.
A lot of the people here (in the RCMP) already had family in the RCMP, so I felt a little bit like an outsider at first,” she said. “But I really enjoy the family feeling here. We’re all close.”
For her day-to-day duties, Moscatel’s main responsibility in the department is to assist the public in
navigating police files or opening a case. It’s an important duty that provides a link between the public and the RCMP, as well as allows Moscatel to work with a wide variety of people.
“I get to work on something new everyday,” she said. “It’s an adventure. Seeing and working with people from all walks of life.”
It can be challenging work. In some cases, she’s had to work with people who’ve been through a lot of trauma recently, leading to lower tempers and patience.
“When somebody’s in the situation of calling the police, they’re usually having a bad day,” she said.
While dealing with this can be hard for some, Moscatel remains positive about her responsibilities. She said staying calm and relaxed when dealing with clients is key in her job to provide people with a good experience.
Moscatel said this role has been her favourite job so far and the one that’s given her the most fulfillment.
“It’s nice to know that what you are doing you are actually helping people.”
PHOTO/OLIVIA MOSCATEL
Olivia Moscatel shares how life brought her to local RCMP detachment to work as a recepcionist.
NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS
CENTS FALL AGAINST CRESTON VALLEY, WIN OVER 100 MILE
LAÍSA CONDÉ
editor@merrittherald.com
Friday, Jan. 24 – Merritt Centennials 0, Creston Valley Thunder Cats
The Merritt Centennials fell 2-0 to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats Friday night at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The Cents came out of the gate strong and put a lot of pressure on the visiting team, with 10 shots on goal during the first period.
Despite a lot of pressure from the Cents in the first putting up 10 shots, the Thunder Cats would strike first when Brendan Kindlein put one past to open up the scoring for Creston Valley.
The lead would carry through the middle frame, and despite both teams pressuring each other’s goalies with nine shots on goal for Merritt and 10 shots on goal for Creston Valley, none found the back of the net.
The game remained 1-0, until Kindlein added his second goal of the night and crowned Creston Valley’s victory.
The Merritt Centennials fell 2-0 to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
Saturday, Jan. 25 – Merritt Centennials 4, 100 Mile House Wranglers 1
The Merritt Centennials hit the road on Saturday, Jan. 25 and brought home an important win as they defeated the 100 Mile House Wranglers 4-1.
The Cents came off the gate strong with 12 shots on goal while 100 Mile House only had five in the first period.
Merritt struck first on the power play 12 minutes into the opening period, as Grady Sluggett put it past the Wranglers goalie to score his first goal as a Cent and lock a 1-0 lead.
Less than 20 seconds into the middle
frame, Merritt would increase their one-goal lead with Dylan Ruff, who scored his twelfth goal of the season.
The Wranglers would shortly answer with a goal of their own as Diego Cazac put it past the Cents’ goalie.
The final frame saw Merritt control the pace, outshooting 100 Mile House 15-8.
Sam Giangualano made it 3-1 for the Cents, scoring his twentieth goal of the season.
Tyler Origitano capped off the victory with a goal of his own, making it 4-1 as the Cents clinched their second win against the Wranglers.
The Merritt Centennials will look to keep their momentum rolling when they head into the next game as they face the Williams Lake Mustangs on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
BILL OHLHAUSEN DIVISION
PHOTO/LAISA CONDE
The Merritt Centennials head to their next two games this upcoming weekend, aiming to increase their winning streak.
MSS JR. BOYS FINISH FOURTH IN HOMETOWN BASKETBALL TOURNEY
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
In a hard-fought weekend, two wins and two losses for Merritt Secondary School’s jr. boys basketball team led them to a fourth place finish in the Eagles Perch Invitational.
Through the two day tournament, the Panthers showed spirit as they mounted multiple comebacks in close games.
It was a match of tight margins for the tournament’s opening game where the Panthers played against Pleasant Valley Secondary.
Merritt managed to take a six point lead to close out the game, winning the low-scoring affair 47-41.
In their second game, Merritt played against long-travelled team Lions Gate Christian Academy who hail from North Vancouver.
The Panthers opened slowly whilst their opponents came out hot, especially from three.
Through the first, the Lions built on their lead until they accumulated a 10 point cushion. The second period opened at 26-16 in favour of the Lions.
The Panthers continued to struggle in the midst of the second, finding it hard to get an offence tempo going against a tough defence.
On the other end of the court, the Panthers couldn’t keep their hands off the Lions, accumulating enough fouls to go into the bonus, a time where any foul against the receiving team will result in free throws.
It wasn’t until the final minutes of the first half when Merritt was finally able to find their rhythm offensively. Their big man was key to this, getting fast looks from mid-range to the inside of the paint to get going.
The first half ended 35-47.
In the third the Panthers adjusted their schemes, learning to play physical without the fouls. They completely shut down the offensive capabilities of the Lions while they caught up on points.
The quarter ended with Merritt behind only five points at 44-49.
Tempo was increased again in the fourth with both teams regaining their offensive strides.
Through the final period it was Merritt who had the hotter hand to conclude a comeback run ending the game 64-55.
The two wins on Friday, Jan. 24, meant finding themselves in the final four.
Both games on Saturday, Jan. 25, were played in the Community Learning Centre in front of a home crowd.
In their morning game facing
Similkameen, the Panthers found themselves down and unable to find a comeback opportunity.
They ended up losing 48-83.
The last game of the tournament was against Osoyoos with third place up for grabs.
In the opening exchanges it became clear it would be a close game through all four quarters.
Neither team could start a run to pull away from the other in the first half. It was a slow start by both teams but Merritt had a slight offensive edge, as they took a three point lead to go into the second half at 20-17.
In the second half, their opponents found their scoring touch to create a lead.
The Panthers ended the third 28-31.
In the beginning of the fourth, Osoyoos found space to widen the score-gap.
As regulation-time looked to be coming to a close with a Merritt defeat, the Panthers hit a series of tough shots to stay in the game.
The closing minutes were dramatic. A shove on a Merritt player went uncalled with pushback from both teams towards the referees.
The shove was made up for as an Osoyoos player scored on his own basket to make up for the no-foul, bringing it back to a one-possession game.
Osoyoos scored again, and with time for two possessions left, a Merritt player hit a tough contested shot to once again make it close.
In the game’s final moments, a foul was called on the Panthers. Osoyoos shot free throws, and grabbed their own rebound on the miss as they ran out the clock.
The game ended 54-51 in favour of Osoyoos.
Merritt ended the weekend taking home fourth place.
PHOTOS/TY LIM
Merritt Secondary School Panthers Jr. Boys team were able to secure fourth place in home tournament.
MERRITT MISFITS SHINE AT KELOWNA TOURNY
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
The Merritt Misfits volleyball teams kicked off their season with impressive performances at separate tournaments in Kelowna last weekend.
The U13 team secured a remarkable second-place finish in their nine-team tournament, while the U14 team fought hard to place ninth out of 19 teams in their first outing of the year.
Coach Gian Cavaliere, who leads the U14 team, praised both squads for their determination and progress.
“It was the first tournament for two of our teams, and I coach the U14s,” Cavaliere shared. “We had a lot of success on the first day, winning our first three games and losing one, which placed us in a different playoff bracket. On the second day, we lost our first game but ended the tournament on a high note with a win.”
The U14 team, a tier-three squad competing against tier-one opponents, demonstrated resilience throughout the competition.
“We’re a bunch of grinders,” Cavaliere said. “We grind for our points. I was happy with their hustle, their play, and how they’re starting to understand the new system we’re trying out. They’re coachable, asking lots of questions, and learning quickly.”
The coach highlighted the team’s improvements in blocking and serving. “We’ve been emphasizing serving and its importance—making serves to earn points. It’s starting to show in their play,” he added.
Meanwhile, the U13 Misfits made a strong statement by reaching the finals of their tournament. Although they fell short in the championship match, their journey to second place was a significant achievement for the program.
“I watched their semifinal, where they beat a high-end club from Vernon to make the finals. That was a big deal for the club,” Cavaliere said.
The tournaments also marked a major milestone for the young players, many of whom are transitioning from elementary volleyball in Merritt to competi-
tive club-level play.
“It’s a whole new world for them,” Cavaliere explained. “Part of the program is about building connections and relationships with kids before they go to high school. By the time they get there, they have a family to bond with and connect with.”
The Misfits program also fosters inclusivity, featuring players from different schools across Merritt and even neighboring communities. “Our U13 team has a mix of grade seven girls from various schools and two players from Princeton. It’s a motley crew, but that’s what makes it special,” Cavaliere said.
The next tournaments for the Misfits program will take place in early February, with the U12 team making their season debut and the U13s continuing their campaign.
ONE-DAY DOUBLES BONSPIEL, A HUGE SUCCESS
LAISA CONDE editor@merrittherald.com
The Merritt Curling Club recently held its inaugural one-day Doubles Bonspiel, featuring 10 teams competing in a fast-paced and exciting event.
This unique tournament, with two players per team, saw local curlers alongside participants from Tsawwassen and Kamloops, making for a diverse and competitive field.
Among the standouts were two junior curlers, each playing on different teams, who impressed the crowd with their skill and sportsmanship.
The event also introduced at least four new players to the doubles format, adding an element of fresh energy to the competition.
The Merritt Curling Club’s next event is the mixed bonspiel on Feb. 21 to 23, which hopes to match the same enthusiasm as the men’s and ladies’ one. Those who wish to participate can sign up online at merrittcurling.ca.
The list of all winners as follow:
- First and second place tied: Leona Thoms from Kamloops and Curt Thoms/Rene Thomsen and Vern Latremouille
- Third place: Ian Gordon and Lynn Newhouse
4:00 pm • 250-280-1268
Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502
Service Times: Sunday 10 am
First and Second place
Third place
Photo/Merritt Misfits
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“Bill”
William Edouard Allen
March 30, 1942 - January 26, 2025
Bill passed away peacefully with family by his side at the Merritt Hospice “Gillis House” on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Loving father of Tammy Allen, granddaughter, Alysha and great grandchildren, Gracie, Tyson & Julius; cherished brother of John Allen, Marie Alopaeus, Flore Allen and Thelma Jenkins and his many nephews and nieces.
Bill is predeceased by his parents William Edward and Regina Allen, his sister Rachel Murphy, and his brothers, Denis Allen and William Alexander Allen.
In keeping with Bill’s wishes, cremation has already taken place.
Internment will be held at a later date in Ontario at Bill’s place of birth.
Condolences may be sent to his daughter via the following email address allen.taa3@gmail.com.
TraceyJohnson
SUDOKU
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
1. Where entertainers perform
7. Miller beer variety
10. Ageless
12. River in SE Europe
13. Able to be repaired
14. Type of wrap
15. Atomic #54
16. Type of tent
17. U.S. Treasury position
18. Opposed to
1. Supreme god of ancient Egyptians
2. Nevada city
3. Energy, style and enthusiasm
4. Bird’s beak
5. Language
6. Midway between south and southeast
7. Punjab village
8. Small biting flies
9. Sportscaster Patrick
19. Protective covering 21. Bridge building degree
22. Clouding of the lens
27. Priestess of Hera loved by Zeus
28. Unacceptable
33. Mr. T’s “The A-Team” character
34. American national park
10. A way to get around
11. Repeat
12. A way to cook with fat
14. Temporary loss of consciousness
17. Reciprocal of a sine
18. Fir tree genus
20. “Transformers” director Michael
23. Criminals who steal
36. One point south of due east
37. Assist in a crime
38. Greek mythological personification of Earth
39. A major division of geological time 40. German courtesy title
41. English family dating back to Norman times
24. Genus of leaf-footed bug
25. Music product
26. “Talk to you”
29. Santa says it three times
30. Doctors’ group
31. African nation
32. Ageless
35. When you hope to get somewhere
36. Worn
44. Discounts 45. South American nation
48. Former Milwaukee Buck Michael
49. Hostile
50. Passports and drivers licenses are two 51. Discourages from doing
38. Deprives of vigor
40. Used to have (Scottish)
41. Where you live
42. Muslim ruler title
43. Basics
44. Type of drug (abbr.)
45. Spanish soldier
46. It precedes two
47. Illuminated
COMMUNITY
SOCKS COLLECTED IN MEGAN’S MEMORY
editor@merrittherald.com
In the face of tragedy, a mother’s love never falters. Carol Fulcher, who recently lost her daughter Megan to a four-year battle with brain cancer, is turning her grief into a powerful legacy of compassion.
Megan’s story is one of kindness, adventure, and an unyielding love for children, especially those in need. Now, Carol and her family are honouring Megan by collecting socks to send to children in Guatemala, a cause that was close to Megan’s heart.
Megan’s connection with the Mayan children of Guatemala began during one of her short-term mission trips, where she encountered kids who, despite their hardships, displayed resilience and joy.
“Most of the kids don’t have socks,” Carol explained. “They’re running around and their feet inside their rubber boots. She went and got a roll that one kid had a hole in his rubber boots, so she got duct tape and she started to fix his boot and then all these kids lined up behind so that she could fix all of their boots.”
That moment was a turning point for Megan. It wasn’t just the act of fixing boots that stayed with her; it was the connection she made with each child through her simple, yet powerful gesture.
Her ability to empathize and walk alongside others, particularly children, left a lasting impact on those she encountered.
“Since Megan was a little girl, she always had a place in her heart for children and for people that were struggling,” said Carol. “Her ability to connect with people and walk alongside with empathy allowed her to touch each child with her kindness.”
Megan’s journey wasn’t only about
helping others abroad—it was also about how she lived and worked in her own community.
Megan’s role at Nicola Family Therapy, where she worked with families and children, reflected her deep commitment to making a difference.
In honour of her daughter’s memory and her lifelong love for children, Carol and the family decided to carry on Megan’s legacy through a simple but meaningful request: socks. In lieu of flowers, they began collecting children’s socks to be donated to Guatemalan children, ensuring that Megan’s kindness would continue to reach those in need.
“The legacy of Megan’s life is her involvement with and love of families and children, particularly the children of Guatemala,” Carol said.
The community response has been overwhelming. To date, 1,086 pairs of socks have been collected, and the donations continue to pour in. People from across the region have stepped forward, offering their support and honouring Megan’s memory.
The NicolaValley Health Care Endowment Foundation is a registered charity that raises funds for Health Care in the NicolaValley.
The Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation is a registered charity that raises funds for Health Care in the Nicola Valley.
Life-Saving Equipment
The Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation is a registered charity that raises funds for Health Care in the Nicola Valley.
Facility Upgrades
We provide life-saving equipment and facility upgrades to our local health care programs, your support and donations make it possible. Health Care touches everyone’s life, let’s join forces for a better tomorrow in the Nicola Valley.
Life-Saving Equipment
Socks have been sent to Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church, the drop-off point for the drive, and will soon be delivered to Guatemala in the coming months.
For Carol, the outpouring of love and support has been both healing and humbling. “Thank you to all the people that helped us on this, helped Megan on this journey, people that called, they worked hard, they provided resources, people helped the driving, people have dropped off food, flowers. There’s just been a tremendous, surreal amount of kindness,” she said.
Facility Upgrades Be a champion for local health care and support our mission for a better tomorrow in Merritt and the Nicola Valley.
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Donate online at nvhcef.com or by mail to: PO Box 1423, Merritt BC V1K 1B8, or call 250-315-1832 for more information. Scan the QR code or visit nvhcef.com for more information
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FULCHER
Megan Fulcher helps a Guatemalan child to fi x their shoes.
LAISA CONDE