Merritt Herald July 25, 2024 by Merritt Herald

City bills Province for ER closures

Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com

Merritt Mayor sends bill to Province and letter to Premier in response to emergency room closures.

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz has sent an invoice to the tune of $103,831.87 to the Province of British Columbia and a letter to Premier David Eby following many emergency room closures.

The letter, written on July 10, 2024, reads “Since October 2022, when this Council was sworn in, we have had 24 Emergency Room closures: 19 days in 2023 and five days in 2024.”

The invoice of $103,831.81 covers the cost of 497 medical response incidents ($55,125), medical oxygen ($1,132), 19 days of ER closure in 2023 ($33,992.41), five ER closures from the beginning of the year to July 11, 2024 ($9,069.3), as well as GST ($4,512.47).

Goetz likened it to paying for fuel at the gas station and not getting anything from the pump.

“Do that 24 times and see if you’re going to be asking for your money back, because that’s exactly what’s happened here.”

50 closures in 2023, with 17 at the Nicola Valley Hospital, none in Williams Lake, two in Clearwater, 31 in Oliver and none in Lillooet.

Starting January 1 up to July 22, 2024, there have been a total of 43 across the IHA’s jurisdiction with seven in Merritt, 10 in Williams Lake, six in Clearwater, 19 in Oliver, and one in Lillooet.

In an email Mayor Goetz sent to the Herald as well as multiple other newspapers and members of government, Goetz made reference to an interview Global did with Vancouver-Kingsway MLA and Minister of Health Adrian Dix.

“We had what we call ‘relatively late sick calls’ and so such province-wide systems can’t respond in remote communities,” said Dix. “One of the reasons why we’re attracting doctors and nurses in B.C., is that we support doctors and nurses in their clinical practice. When we disagree with them, (we don’t) have temper tantrums and call for them to be fired.”

Check out the ‘Stomp Your Way Through Downtown Merritt’ contest and get a chance to win prizes

At the time of press, Merritt’s Nicola Valley Hospital just went through two 26-hour closure between Friday, July 19 and Saturday July 20 and another closure between Sunday July 21 starting at 6 a.m. ending on Monday July 22 at 8 a.m.

Outside of Merritt, hospitals under the Interior Health Authority experienced a total of

Goetz refutes Dix’s claim that the Ministry of Health receives ‘relatively late sick calls’, stating that he receives notice of upcoming emergency room seven to 10 days in advance. “The director fills me in on the ability for them to get doctors and nurses, they let me know what’s happening with the schedule,” said Goetz in an interview with the Herald. “So either IHA is not sharing that with the minister or the minister just doesn’t check but it wasn’t very hard for me to find it out.”

“To say we are baffled is an understatement”

From Page 1

“We’re coming into a provincial election; you’re asking to be elected on your integrity, your honesty and your transparency,” said Goetz. “So, do I want a government that’s going to be sitting there, that has taken close to $103,000 of our money, and not given us the service and think it’s okay?”

In an email correspondence the Herald had with the Health Ministry’s communications office, “there is no average time (for advance notice). It varies on a case-by-case basis. Health authorities work to fill vacant shifts up until the very last minute.

Aside from the numerous hospital closures across the province, Goetz feels left behind by the Ministry of Health. “Last October 12, 2023, we were part of three communities that got to share $7.5 million for doctor retention: Merritt, Salmon Arm, and Oliver; so that was given we took $2.5 million of that $7.5 (million) and ever since then, we’ve had four doctor closures,” said Goetz.

“We’ve got $2.5 million, but where did it go?” wonders Goetz. “No letting us know what was happening, how that money would be spent; and we don’t even know who is looking after money, the ministry themselves, is it IHA? It certainly isn’t the City of Merritt, so where’d the money go?

Regarding the $7.5 million investment, in a press release from the Province, Minister Dix stated: “This investment will help ensure patients have stable access to emergency care, while we know there is more to do,” Dix said. “Through our Health Human Resources Strategy, we are also committed to train, recruit and retain more people into our workforce, including providing incentives to attract physicians working in rural com-

munities such as Merritt, Salmon Arm and Oliver.”

Additionally, the Province invested $155.7 million “in initiatives that will retain and recruit allied health and clinical support,” reads a press release from the Province.

The millions are split into $73.1 million for retention and recruitment incentives; $15 million over three years for allied health clinical mentorship, peer support and transition to practice support; $60 million to support professional development; and $7,6 million for training initiatives, including tuition credits, bursaries, and new employer-sponsored earnand-learn opportunities.

Goetz believes that more communication between different municipalities, health authorities, the Ministry, and Province is necessary.

“I think if there was something that was out there that all mayors could see that can see a plan over the next year and a half… if we could all be apart of it, and all see a plan that has where we can get to: how many nurses were hired last year, how many doctors were hired last year, how many graduate, how many stayed in the country, how many left the country, these numbers that we never get,” said Goetz.

“When we hear things like ‘we’re throwing everything we have at it,’ what does that mean? asks Goetz. “What are you throwing at it, what is the process? We don’t know when you throw something at it (if) that means that you’re retaining every single nurse that graduates and not allowing them to leave the country until they do a return on investment? What does that actually mean?”

On Tuesday, July 23 at 9:42 a.m., Goetz wrote an email to IHA president and CEO Susan Brown, the email included the Herald and members of municipal and provincial government.

The email regards the closures the Nicola Valley Hospital experienced in the month of July as well as the aforementioned split $7.5 million for Merritt, Salmon Arm and Oliver.

“I am writing today to ask what has happened to that funding, who monitors it and how is it spent, or was it just an announcement that had no teeth of any kind,” reads Goetz’s email. When this funding did come out I asked the Minister at that time if we could use some of it for nurse retention, as that seemed to be one of our big issues at that time, and was told no it was for doctor coverage only.”

“So, since the announcement we have had more ER closures to lack of doctors and not nurses, to say we are baffled is an understatement,” said Goetz in his email. I write today to get some clarification on this funding and why it is not working, or what the plan is.”

At the time of press, Brown or IHA has not issued a response to Goetz’s email.

BEARDEDBROSEXTERIORS

In 2024, the Nicola Valley Hospital emergency room suffered seven temporary closures. Photo/Herald file.

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Former mayor Neil Menard dies

Merritt mourns as former mayor Neil Menard passed away at the age of 80. Menard was first elected as a city councillor in a by-election in February 2014. Later that year in November, Menard was elected the city’s mayor by a landslide, earning about 53 per cent of the votes. Aside from municipal politics, Menard was also an avid community member. He served as president and governor of the Merritt Centennials and worked with the Nicola Valley Search and Rescue.

In a Thompson-Nicola Regional

District meeting on July 18, Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz confirmed that Menard passed away on Tuesday, July 16.

“He invited me over to his house on Friday. He couldn’t speak anymore but he wrote me letters and wanted to let you know he enjoyed being part of all of this,” the mayor said. “He was always a jokester, at the very bottom he said I’m going to get out of this heat wave one way or the other, and he did happen to pass away.”

“He was a great guy and a good friend of mine and he did our community really well,” the mayor added.

Merritt EOC gets provincial funding

Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com

The B.C. government has announced funding for emergency operations centres upgrades in 29 communities across the province, including Merritt.

In a press release published on July 17, the provincial government announced approximately $1.4 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) to 29 B.C. communities for emergency preparedness. The City of Merritt is receiving $29,115 from the funding for the EOC capacity building project 2024.

Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness, said in the release that it is encouraging to see local governments and First Nations prioritizing their emergency operations centres.

“These EOCs are vital during disasters, providing fundamental co-ordination and support to ensure the safety of everyone in the community,” the minister said. “This provincial funding will help support improvements that help communities

respond more swiftly and effectively during emergencies.”

Trish Mandewo, president of the Union of BC Municipalities, welcomed the support from the provincial government to communities that are working towards resiliency.

“Communities across B.C. are working hard to build resiliency to deal with emergencies, in part by outfitting emergency operation centres with necessary equipment, and building capacity through training and exercises,” she said.

The CEPF helps communities across the province to better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives.

Adding to EOC equipment and training, disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation; public notification and evacuation-route planning; Indigenous cultural safety and cultural-humility training; and emergency support-services equipment and training are also funded by the CEPF.

Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com

Neil Menard served as a councillor in 2014 and later in the same year, he was elected mayor. Photo/Herald file.

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LETTER to the editor

Merritt Seniors Centre thanks supporters on fundraising event

Dear Editor,

Sending out a huge thank you to Laísa Condé for the interview June 18, supporting the Merritt Seniors Centre Fundraising event, featuring the talented duo Wm Brookfield and Penny Lochhead. A good time was had by all. Funds raised helped to support the centre’s members attending the B.C. 55 Plus Games in Salmon Arm in September 10 to 14. The funds raised are greatly appreciated. We would like to thank the community, local businesses, the Merritt Herald, radio station Q101.1 and The Merritt Morning Market.

Thank you to all our members who volunteered their time and energy to make this event a success.

Sincerely in gratitude,

Shirley Veniza and Joanne Larocque. Community members, teachers and students... Submit your artwork to newsroom@merrittherald.com for a chance to be featured in print each week!

You can

TEGART: Restoring prosperity in British Columbia

British Columbians deserve access to local hospitals during emergencies, but after seven years of broken NDP promises, B.C.’s hospitals are in crisis. Throughout British Columbia, emergency rooms (ERs) are repeatedly

closing with little notice, leading to devastating consequences for patients and overburdened healthcare staﬀ.

This trend of ER closures — exacerbated by staﬃng shortages and insufﬁcient support for potential solutions like Physician Assistants and reintegrating health workers — is having a devastating impact on our community.

Unfortunately, Merritt is all too familiar with the NDP’s healthcare failures as repeated ER closures at Nicola Valley General Hospital force residents to travel to Kamloops for emergency care. During a heatwave, when medical services are crucial, this is unacceptable. The 2021 heatwave killed over 600

COURTEPATTE:

vulnerable British Columbians and should serve as a lesson learned, yet the government sits idle as things get worse. These closures are just the latest in a long list of healthcare failures by the NDP. With the longest walk-in clinic wait times in Canada, one in ﬁve British Columbians without a family doctor, and cancer patients being sent to the U.S. for treatment, David Eby’s government has allowed B.C.’s healthcare system to collapse.

Kevin Falcon and BC United have a plan to reverse the NDP’s disastrous record and create a more accessible and eﬃcient healthcare system for all.

Our ‘United to Fix Healthcare’ plan

includes using publicly funded healthcare delivered at private facilities. If the public system fails, a BC United government will use existing private health providers in B.C. at no cost to patients. This will reduce waitlists immediately, ensuring patients, not ideology, are prioritized.

Additionally, we will ensure transparent access to health records on mobile devices within two years and implement speciﬁc healthcare performance targets.

The situation in Fraser-Nicola and across B.C. is dire, but with a patientcentered approach, BC United will restore faith in our healthcare system.

United, we will ﬁx it.

A new chapter with the Merritt Herald

Reflecting on when I first moved to Merritt from the Toronto area almost five years ago, it was the most impactful decision of my entire career.

I packed my bags with all of my worldly possessions, and packed my mind with all that I had learned about the journalism world in the four years that I had been out of school, and took a job as the editor of the Merritt Herald.

I immediately knew I wasn’t in Kansas (re: Toronto) anymore – my second summer in the B.C. Interior saw record heatwaves and the burning down of the Village of Lytton, followed shortly by the November

2021 flood that any of us that were here for will remember forever.

Since the beginning of 2022, my stay(s) in Merritt have been more of a rollercoaster than anything. I left in February of that year to join the Kelowna Capital News newspaper, before returning to the editor’s chair at the Merritt Herald in August of 2023.

Four months later, I made the venture into corporate communications with Pattison Food Group, a much larger office based in Langley than I had ever been used to.

That foray into the corporate jungle didn’t last long, and by the summer of 2024 I felt myself longing to be back in a smaller setting, both with work and geography.

And what better place than back at the Herald, where the best times of my career have happened since moving out west?

So, hi again everyone, I took up the open position of office admin/sales in early July, at the Herald’s new office at 201-1951

Garcia Street. Come check it out if you are curious, as the Herald moved out of the old office on Granite Avenue that had been the paper’s home for decades.

We have a fully-staffed and perfectly capable team now filling the pages, with our publisher Theresa Arnold at the helm, myself at the front desk, Laisa Conde in the editor’s chair, and Ken Wong as the reporter.

It’s certainly a different role at the Herald that I play now than I have in the past, but there are many similarities. Both editor and sales require strong people skills, a feeling of confidence in your work and the ability to communicate.

However, though I already know many of the folk around town, I’m sure through this role I’ll be getting to know plenty of new faces among the local businesses I wouldn’t have interacted with in the past, and am very much looking forward to it.

See you around town.

From the Herald archives: July, 1969

GRADUATES GIVE $1,500 TO SKA-LU-LA

Graduating MSS students gave Ska-LuLa’s upgrading project a big boost. Students shelled out $1,500 on Monday to the home of the mentally challenged from money left over from the students’ graduation ceremonies. “Wow, that’s fantastic. That’s wonderful,” said Ska-LuLa manager Rusty Brewer, who was more than surprised at the offering.

LETTERS POLICY

The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

JACKIE TEGART VIEW FROM LEGISLATURE

JAKE COURTEPATTE HERALD

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Turn Merritt into a fire-resilient community

Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com

As wildfires increase, the City of Merritt and FireSmart provide tips for fire prevention and fire safety.

FireSmart recommends reducing risks by clearing debris such as leaves and branches from the roof and gutters, under decks, and around the base of your home. Trimming overgrown trees and lower branches at least two metres from the grounds as well as trimming trees around access routes to your home to allow emergency vehicles.

Similarly, moving or replacing wooden structures at least a metre and a half away from buildings, including patio furniture and anything that’s combustible.

Replace combustible plants such as evergreen conifers with resin-like sap, including cedars, cypress, and juniper with fire resistant plants such as deciduous trees, perennial flowers, and waxy, broadleaf shrubs.

FireSmart also recommends keeping grass on your lawn less than 10 centimetres in length as well as considering xeriscaping your lawn, a type of landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for watering.

If you use bark mulch, FireSmart recommends using rocks or gravel. Ensure that firepits are three metres away from flammable structures and overhanging tree branches. “Note that Fire Permits are required in the City of

Merritt,” reads the City’s press release. “Also they are not valid during a Fire Ban, which regularly occurs from July to October.”

FireSmart recommends renovating your home with flame-retardant materials

For roofing, it is recommended to use Class A, B, or C rated materials such as metal, asphalt, clay, and composite rubber tiles, as untreated wood shakes are particularly dangerous. For siding, materials like stucco, metal siding, brick, and fibre cement siding offer superior fire resistance, while wood and vinyl siding provide little protection.

Tempered, thermal, or double-paned varieties of windows are recommended. Ensure that doors and garage doors are fire-rated and have a good seal.

FireSmart encourages every home to have ready access to shovels, rakes, axes, garden hoses, sprinklers, and ladders to assist in suppressing wildfires. Obtaining a Wildfire Home Sprinkler Protection Kit is also advised, such can be purchased from the City of Merritt for $198, approximately $40 under retail price.

The kit includes two WASP gutter mount sprinklers, two fascia brackets, and two 25 feet and three quarter flat-lay hoses. The kit can be purchased at city hall with cash, cheque or debit then heading to the fire station with your receipt to receive the product.

Photo/FireSmart BC

City of Merritt and FireSmart teamed up to educate and prepare residents and their homes during wildfire season

MERCHANTS

Prize package includes: gift cards, gift baskets etc

The Merritt Herald and participating merchants are proud to introduce an exciting new contest designed to boost foot traffic and engagement in downtown Merritt: the “Stamp Your Way Through Downtown Merritt” contest! This fun and interactive initiative invites both residents and visitors to explore and support local businesses. It’s a great way to get to know your community and discover what these local businesses have to offer.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

• This double-sided page is your entry form. Forms will be available in every paper from July 25 until August 22, 2024.

• Visit each participating merchant and have them stamp over their business contact info on the opposite side of this page.

• Once completed, drop off your entry at the Merritt Herald office located at #201-1951 Garcia Street, or at any of the participating merchants.

• The contest runs from July 25 to noon on August 29, 2024.

• The winner will be drawn at 3 pm on August 29, 2024.

OFF THIS DOUBLE SIDED PAGE WITH STAMPS & THE FOLLOWING

TO WIN

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Concerns mount over Collettville’s Lindley Creek development

Morgan Hampton

Residents of Merritt, particularly those in the Collettville area, have observed a substantial amount of work taking place at the development on Lindley Creek Road.

The development was approved in 2021 by then mayor and council. It required an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) to “remove the subject property, and other industrial properties south of Lindley Creek Road, from the Collettville neighbourhood and include them in the South Merritt neighbourhood.”

As well as an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw which changed the property from Low Density Residential (R2), Medium Density Residential (R7) and Future Development (FD) to Medium Density Residential (R7), Mobile Home Park (R5) and Park & Cemetery (P1).

The conceptual site plan included by the developer, one Pineridge Ventures, included 98 townhomes, 95 mobile homes in a senior-oriented development, and up to 180 condominium units in several low-rise buildings. It also proposed a park dedication of more than 20 acres to preserve Windy Canyon, which the City has confirmed is

still going ahead.

While the developer is required to cover the expense of extending water and sewer services to the property, citizens are raising concerns about the availability of water for what could be an additional 373 residences. In recent years the City of Merritt has imposed stricter water restrictions early in the season, with 2024 seeing Level 3 restrictions imposed by May.

“The City does not and cannot guarantee water to any users, current or future,” said director of public works and engineering services Rick Green when queried about the sufficiency of Merritt’s water supply.

“There are two issues involved. Water supply under our water license is fine. We have plenty of license to supply the city. Aquifer levels and drought are not accounted for in our supply calculations as we work from the licensed volumes. Drought and aquifer levels could reduce access to all users, which is an issue B.C. is facing, not just Merritt.”

At a public hearing regarding the development on Jan. 26, 2021, submissions were almost exclusively in opposition. Citizens raised con-

See ENVIRONMENTAL Page 12

Contributor

Photo/Morgan Hampton

Environmental and health hazard concerns

From Page 11

cerns around a variety of other issues that already affect Merrittonians or have the potential to with an increased population.

These included a greater strain on the wastewater treatment facility, increased use of the Lower Nicola landfill, inadequate road infrastructure to handle additional traffic, insufficient school capacity for more children, and a lack of healthcare and hospital access; this even before the Merritt ER began to see regular closures due to staffing issues.

Also included in the public hearing submissions were more than 50 pages of documents detailing the environmental and health hazards of coal mines. Merritt sits on a coal seam which runs all the way to Princeton, and coal mining was a major industry in the Nicola Valley for decades.

According to historic maps, and documents from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (now the Ministry of Energy Mines and Low Carbon Innovation), the Collettville area and “The Flats” are in the vicinity of the former Middlesboro Mine.

In B.C.’s Elk River Valley coal mining has been linked to toxic selenium pollution, which, according to a 2013 study by the University of Montana, were ten times higher than naturally occurring levels downstream from the mines in question. Nitrogen was 1,000 times higher, and sulphate levels were 40 to 50 times higher.

High selenium levels can cause liver damage, paralysis, deformities or death in birds, reptiles, and fish.

In humans it can cause a range of disorders from neurological symptoms, severe gastrointestinal upset, acute respiratory distress, hair loss, tremors, muscle tenderness, kidney failure, cardiac failure, and more.

However, most selenium contamination stems from open pit mining, with the coal mining in the Nicola Valley instead being underground.

Underground coal mining leaves behind its own hazards, such as collapsing

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Short and long term benefits of developing

From Page 12

tunnels and coal seam fires.

An article in the April 22, 1981 edition of the Merritt Herald observed “A coal fire which has been burning for years in a hill behind the Nicola Valley Sawmills has opened up a hole in the ground from which smoke and steam are emitting. The hole is about one foot in diameter and threatens to grow larger.”

At that time Mine Inspector Jim MacCulloch noted that there was no way to put the fire out short of digging up the entire hillside, with the article concurring that the fire would simply have to keep burning until it ran out of coal to fuel it.

“It’s going to keep burning until doomsday,” said MacCulloch.

Later, the problem arose again according to another Herald article, this time from the July 26, 1989 edition. “And the old, rotting lumber holding up the roofs of the underground tunnels could collapse at any time. Combined with the burning underground seams, there is danger enough for anyone walking above the smouldering old coal mines.”

Whether this could pose any risks or difficulties to the new development was uncertain at the time of its approval as according to a report submitted to council by staff in 2021, “The current OCP does not require a geotechnical report for the area of the property where development is being proposed. Therefore, staff can request geotechnical analysis, but cannot require it.”

“It’s going to keep burning until doomsday,” said MacCulloch. Later, the problem arose again according to another Herald article, this time from the July 26, 1989 edition. “And the old, rotting lumber holding up the roofs of the underground tunnels could collapse at any time. Combined with the burning underground seams, there is danger enough for anyone walking above the smouldering old coal mines.”

That said, the Official Community Plan of 2020-21 Section 4.3.18 does state for Middlesboro (South Merritt): “Ensure that any development on Active Mountain and Coal Hill is located to avoid historical mining areas.”

Developments in a relatively small town such as Merritt can be a mixed bag. Unlike cities such as nearby Kamloops or Kelowna where they are expected and commonplace, expanding in a relatively small town is more or less a balancing act of pros and cons.

City of Merritt CAO spoke to the short and long term benefits the development will bring.

“The residential development plan is expected to include manufactured homes, which will provide quicker and more attainable housing for Merritt citizens,” explained White.

“We are also pleased to share that these factory-built homes have a smaller greenhouse gas footprint, both during manufacturing and while occupied. As there is a housing shortage across the province, especially for households in the middle-income range, this new residential housing addition is extremely important for the sustainability and potential growth of the community.”

Construction of the development will take place in phases, with an expected build out timeline of ten years.

Outside of the new residential plans there will also be an industrial development.

Construction of the development will take place in phases, with an expected build out timeline of ten years.

Outside of the new residential plans there will also be an industrial development.

“The new Collettville industrial development is expected to attract new business, industry, and jobs to the city of Merritt,” said White.

“Additional industry in the city will expand our tax base and relieve some of the tax burden that residents have been shouldering since the closure of Tolko.”

PLUMBING &HEATING

Photo/Morgan Hampton

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Operations still paused at Aspen Planners

Aspen Planers remains temporarily closed but will return to operation when it makes economic sense to do so, says AP Group executive vice president Bruce Rose.

Due to what Rose calls ‘market realities,’ Aspen Planers’s Merritt Mill has been closed since April 25.

Despite the challenges, Aspen Planers’ operations outside of the Merritt mill continue to run such as their speciality panel plant in Savona, associated veneer plant in Lillooet, biomasses burning in Merritt, and western red cedar business on the coast.

“There’s roughly 100 direct jobs affected at the Merritt sawmill,” said Rose in a 37 minute interview with Kelowna Now’s Jim Csek. “Our CEO’s father started the business in the Nicola Valley in North Thompson region back in the late 1940s so we’ve been operating in the southern interior and the coast by now for over 75 years.

“Merritt was the original fixed sawmill, Surinder Ghog’s father actually ran portable sawmills prior to that, but that is the original base of Aspen Planers, is in Merritt so this is why this is such a difficult situation for us because it is the company’s original community.”

“The difficulty and the really sad part of it all is the social effects of all these jobs gone away,” said Rose. “Forget the economic pieces, aside from that, the social ills and social impact in the communities is very evident and it’s a very difficult situation.”

Rose quotes the president of wood business and marketing consultancy firm Global Russ Taylor. “He actually coined the phrase which really stuck with me, where he said ‘you know what’s very sad about the number of these job losses and everything associated with it, is it almost

seems to becoming normalized’ and we can’t allow these things to become normalized,” said Rose quoting Taylor.

“I hear all the rhetoric about how about ‘it’s a foundational industry,’ ‘we want it to be a strong industry,’ we want this, we want that,” said Rose. “It’s a good thing we don’t want it to be a weak industry if this is the outcome of wanting it to be a strong industry.”

As wildfires increase and the current government is focused on climate change, Csek wonders why the government does not allow for more wood to be cut to create natural firebreaks. “Industry analysts, forest experts, people in forestry, UBC, different schools, point out exactly that,” said Rose. “They say we do need more active forest management, not a just leave it to itself and let it be approach, we need to be removing fuel on the forest floor which cause these massive wildfires.”

“The forest fires in the last three or four years have actually dwarfed all other emissions combined,” said Rose.

Rose believes that British Columbians need to come together and have a balanced conversation around environmental issues, economic issues, and social issues. “Social issues as in caring about human beings and how does all this fit,” explains Rose.

To Rose, a balanced conversation would perhaps focus more on long term forest stewardship. “We don’t spend a lot of money on fire prevention,” said Rose. “I read a thing out of UBC, an old report, I think it picked a period of time form (approximately) 2006 to 2015 where there was about $200 million spent total in that period of time in B.C. on fire prevention work, yet we spend billions on fire suppression,” said Rose.

Final days for Merrittonians to submit their entrees for the City of Merritt’s mascot design contest.

The Mascot Design Contest aims to engage community members in celebrating Merritt’s unique community and values. “The mascot should embody the essence of our community, reflecting our values, culture and aspirations,” reads the city’s announcement.

All submissions must be original and submitted in digital format. The mascot must be clothed in the City of Merritt’s colours: yellow and green.

Entrees are encourage to include a brief description explaining the concept behind the design.

In order to participate, contestants must submit their entrees to recreation@merritt.ca before next Thursday, August 1.

Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com

Aspen Planners remains temporarily closed in Merritt. Photo/Herald file.

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Connecting farmers, foodies and fun

Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com

BC Farmers’ Market Association launched a new app that connects local farmers, locals and travellers.

The app ‘BC Farmers’ Market Trail –Tasting Passport’ is a fun way to discover and share popular activities happening around featured markets across B.C., including the Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market.

Melissa Maltais, membership and programs manager at the BC Association of Farmers Market, said that the inspiration to create an app came after their wish to engage people.

“Last year we did a contest where it was a tasting tour where people could enter to win these vacation states in different markets across the province,” she said. “So last year, we were trying to think of what we could come up with that would be a new and really great way to engage people.”

According to Maltais, approximately 136 farmers’ markets across B.C. are registered in the app. She added that the association aims to focus and highlight how farmers’ markets are a fun destination for people to visit.

“We’re really trying to position the markets as a destination for, not only local folks who may or may not think about going to the market for food, but may need something to do with the kids on a weekend or want to meet a friend somewhere for coffee or tea,” she said.

“We’re trying to really focus more on these farmers markets like adjacent type tourism experiences, and also offer up the Indigenous experiences in the area too. So

really highlighting how farmers markets are such a complement to the tourism sector in British Columbia.”

The app – which is available in both Google and Apple stores – counts with features such as markets nearest to you, featured tours and the possibility to earn points and rewards.

“Then when you get to the market, you’re able to check in and earn points. And if you’re a little bit competitive like I am, it’s kind of fun to see your stuff on the leaderboard that has everybody that has downloaded the app and see how you’re moving up as you collect the points and if you’re gonna make it until the top three,”

Maltais said.

“Then once you redeem, you have a certain amount of points that you can also get some really fun merchandise like veggie socks and there’s also pollinator seeds from West Coast Seeds.”

But Maltais said the association is also already looking into the future of the app.

“This is just our first summer with it. So it is our hope to continue adding to it and working on it every year, also having more merchandise and opportunities to feature the cooperatives that we work with, like West Coast,” she said.

Maltais added that everyone involved in the project is excited to see it rollout.

“We’re super excited about the merchandise that people can (mean) and we’re hoping to see them online and see photos of people visiting the markets, and getting as excited as we are to see all that great local food.”

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New BC Farmers’ Market app features local markets and rewards for customers. Photo/Herald file.

TNRD invests $30,000 in Lower Nicola recreational pathway

Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com

Thompson-Nicola Regional District approves funding for a recreational pathway in the community of Lower Nicola.

An amount of $30,000 from the Canada Community Building FundCommunity Works Fund, allocated to TNRD’s electoral areas M and N, is set to support the project located off Bailey Avenue near Nicola Canford Elementary School.

For decades, a lot of foot traffic passed through private property to and from Nicola Canford Elementary School.

According to the regional district, the ownership of the property has changed in recent years and the new property owner recently received approval for a subdivision of lots.

In order to allow the permanent con-

tinuance of foot traffic in the area, Lower Nicola Waterworks is giving three meters of their 20 metre right of way to the project.

Through the new pathway project, School District 58 and the TNRD will have a contractor excavate a walking path and lay crushed gravel as well as install 4-foot-high galvanized chain link fencing for the length of the pathway to separate it from the private property.

According to TNRD, the completion of the pathway “will allow an estimated 35 residents to pursue active transportation daily, therefore reducing emissions.”

Projection of the recreational pathway located off Bailey Avenue near Nicola Canford Elementary School. Photo/TNRD

Merritt’s Ultimate Frisbee star gears up for Nationals

Sports fans who are looking for something a little different than the standard fare might want to check out Ultimate Frisbee.

The seven on seven game play is open to both men and women depending on the team, and Merritt has a rising star in Jayden Etchart who will soon be heading to Nationals with Kamloops team Parched.

“It’s a simple sport, it’s cheap, anyone can play it,” explained Etchart.

“You have an end zone, you have a disc, one team will pull it (throw) to the other and then they have to try to work their way up the field and score in the end zone. Since it’s seven on seven and you can play girls and guys at the same time the gender ratio will change. So, it might start with four boys and three girls and then every two points the gender will change... when you score in the end zone the point is over so the seven that were on can come off and then seven new players can come on.”

Unlike most other sports the game is self-refereed, with players calling their own fouls. Although there may occasionally be an “observer” present, they are unable to make a call unless they are asked and players are responsible for their own conduct.

“I would definitely say I like the community and how the sport is meant to be played,” Etchart said of what he enjoys about the game.

“It’s a very spirited sport it’s not supposed to be

aggressive, it’s not supposed to be smack talking, it’s all supposed to be about the spirit of the game and having fun with your friends... the people are always so fun, so great to play with.”

Although he is now playing cutter, a position similar to that of the wide receiver in football, for a Kamloops based team, Etchart got his start in Merritt.

“My math teacher in Merritt, Ben Laidlaw, he told me to come out and try the sport,” said Etchart.

“I did and I ended up really liking it. That was during COVID though so we didn’t have any games that season for Merritt. So he invited me to come out to the new club team called Helios they were starting in Kamloops. I joined it and I had a lot of fun and have been playing it ever since.”

And playing it well. Parched placed third at Regionals this summer and will be heading to Ottawa in August to compete in the Nationals, the highest level tournament in Canada.

“I’m really excited for it,” said Etchart.

“We’re a great team and we can compete at the highest level with any other team. We’re a new team, so we’re pretty ready to show the rest of Canada what we’re about. A lot of focus is on the Vancouver teams and we’re pretty excited to show them what the Interior can do.”

For youth interested in trying Ultimate Frisbee for themselves there is a high school team at Merritt Secondary School and Helios, the summer club team in Kamloops.

Sagebrush Golf Course named best public golf course in B.C.

A Merritt golf course was recently ranked as the best public course in British Columbia, while a handful of other local courses made Canada’s Top 100 list.

Last week, SCOREGolf magazine wrapped up their rankings up the Top 100 golf courses in all of Canada, and named Merritt’s Sagebrush Golf Course as the 17th best course overall in Canada.

This places it as the third best overall course in B.C., beaten only by Capilano Golf Club (5th in Canada) and Victoria Golf Club (13th in Canada). Both of those courses are private. In its rankings, SCOREGolf wrote: “Sagebrush’s extreme property demands imagination and creative shot-making from start to finish. This course is a blast to play.”

“We are incredibly honoured to be recognized as the top public course in British Columbia and among the best in Canada,” said Chris Hood, General Manager of Sagebrush Golf Club.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we are grateful to SCOREGolf for acknowledging our efforts to provide an unparalleled golfing experience.”

Other local courses that were recognized by SCOREGolf include Kamloops’ Tobiano Golf Course at 19th overall, and the third best public course in B.C. The Ridge Course at Vernon’s Predator Ridge Ridge was ranked 33rd overall, the fourth best public course

in B.C., while Predator Ridge’s Predator Course was named 92nd overall, making it the eighth best public course in the province.

Talking Rock Golf Course, located in Chase, was ranked 73rd overall.

The SCOREGolf Top 100 announcement show was also filmed at Merritt’s Sagebrush this year.

“We are thrilled to have hosted SCOREGolf for their Top 100 announcement show,” Hood said. “This is a significant milestone for Sagebrush and for golf in Western Canada. We look forward to welcoming golfers from near and far to experience the excellence that earned us these prestigious rankings.”

The distinction of top overall course in Canada was handed to Cabott Cliffs Golf Course in Inverness, Nova Scotia. The course took the top spot during the last Top 100 competition as well, back in 2022.

“Visually, the golf course is spectacular thanks to its setting high above the Northumberland Strait, and its routing of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s is both unique and ultra-fun,” SCOREGolf says about Cabott Cliffs. “The dramatic finishing stretch along the water leaves a lasting impression on all golfers who spend a day there.”

The SCOREGolf judges rank the courses based on nine criteria – fun factor, beauty, challenge, strategy, design, Par 3s, Par 4s, Par 5s, and conditioning.

Nicholas Johansen CASTANET

Morgan Hampton Contributor

Photo/Jayden Etchart

Nicola Nordic Ski Club secures $8,000 grant for new grooming machine

Nicola Nordic Ski Club received $8,000 in funding from Thompson-Nicola Regional District to purchase a new grooming machine, crucial for maintaining ski and multi-use trails in Kane Valley.

On July 17, Thompson-Nicola Regional District representatives and NNSC representatives got together for a $5,000 cheque presentation. Prior to this, the local ski club also got another cheque from TNRD in the amount of $3,000.

The funding for this project comes from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Directors Grant In Aid Fund.

David Brown, director of the Nicola Nordic Ski Club in charge of fundraising and grant applications, highlighted the importance of the funding to the club.

“The first grant we received from them was pretty quick, but then Dave approached us and said ‘I think we can do better’,” Brown said. “The objective of this whole thing was to acquire a new machine to pull our heavy groomer.”

Ian Webster, director at the Nicola Nordic Ski Club in charge of grooming, celebrated the $8,000 in total presented by TNRD.

“Dave Brown and I are thrilled to be receiving this cheque for $8,000,” he said.

“Local and longtime TNRD directors Herb Graham and David Laird are to be thanked for going to bat for us in our quest to raise sufficient funds to purchase a new grooming machine.”

Webster added that the club’s current grooming machine, a 2005 Yamaha Pro snowmobile, is on its last legs.

“It has been a workhorse over the years, but its days are numbered,” Webster said. “The last few seasons, it has been having overheating problems, and we recently had to replace the transmission. It is no longer a reliable machine.”

Brown also highlighted the importance of the funds received from TNRD.

“This is pivotal. This is going to be much appreciated because we’re not just getting folks in town using it. It’s not uncommon to see Washington plates in the parking lots, Alberta (plates),” he added.

“The cool thing about it is not just ski trails, but they’re double usage in the summertime and the fall. It’s used by bikers and hikers and horseback riders.”

Brown also said that the club is expanding the snowshoe trails in Kane Valley. The plan is to incorporate another 20 kilometres of snowshoe trails that intertwine with the existing cross-country ski trails.

“There’s seven of them out there, almost equal in length to the ski trails that we got,” he said. “There’s quite a bit and now the logging is pretty well completed there.”

“Our goal here now going forth is to complete the balance of the signage so that it’s a seamless experience for anyone in the wintertime,” Brown added. “Not to get lost and then do some mapping and different things like this there.”

TNRD directors Herb Graham and David Laird shared their thoughts on the importance of helping local clubs in the community.

“People don’t understand how important societies are in our community. They fill in and do a lot of dedicated work to keep our community going,” said TNRD director David Laird. “Herb and I always felt that we need to support society as we’ve supported numerous of them over the years.”

Barrel racing gallops into Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds

Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com

On July 18, a benefit barrel racing in honour of Cassidy Evenson took centre stage at Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds. Resa Stoltzfus won the jackpot and the Ripn By Design Stallion stud fee. Photos/Laísa Condé

Left to right: Herb Graham, Ian Webster, Dave Brown and David Laird pose for the cheque presentation after the Nicola Nordic Ski Club secures $8,000 grant from TNRD for new grooming machine.

Photo/Laísa Condé

Speed, style and history at Show ‘n’ Shine

Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com

Nicola Valley Car Cruisers celebrates 30th Show ‘n’ Shine.

On Sunday, July 21, Merrittonians and enthusiasts got a chance to see hundreds of cars ranging from classics to rare and niche cars.

Merritt Speedway veteran Christopher Jones brought in his race cars, dubbed the Grinch and Batman. “These two are Legend race cars, they are made in Charlotte, North Carolina. They’re factory built race cars and they’re running Yamaha FJ1200 and F1250 engines, they have a top speed about 200k.”

Jones has owned the Grinch for four years and Batman for two years. “They’re at least 25 years old and they’ve been racing the whole time.”

“They’re a novelty, right? It’s not a full size car, it’s a little car, they’re cute, everybody likes them. they’re adorable, but they’re not a toy, they go like hell,” said Jones.

Jones’ favourite memory from the years he’s been coming to Show ‘n’ Shine has been talking with fellow enthusiasts about racing. “It’s just such a novelty because the majority of people don’t know that we have

a race track in Merritt,” said Jones. “The more interaction we get for it, the more knowledge we get about it, the more people are going to come up to the track.”

“It’s just fun to get dirty, you’re playing in the dirt, you’re not a pavement princess,” said Jones.

Show ‘n’ Shine tends to bring in a lot of classic cars. This year, Bruce Fostery brought in his 1929 Ford Model A. “This vehicle was bought by my dad in 1952,” said Fostery. “He paid $50 for it.”

“He drove it for a while and the engine seized up so it was left for years on the old farm and I picked it up about 1980,” said Fostery. Since Fostery repaired the car in 1980, the Model A has been up to Alaska and an additional 68,000 miles (109,435.39 kilometres) on the odometer.

Fostery believes it’s important to preserve old diesel cars. “You can take a car like this made in 1929 and drive it today, that won’t be opening for the new cars when they get to that age,” said Fostery. “I would like to see a lot of younger people get involved in these old cars, ‘cause you gotta keep them.”

Merrittonians joined in at Central Park to celebrate 30 years of Show ‘n’ Shine.

More photos are

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME

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 1:00 p.m.

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

Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

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

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

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

Service Time every Sunday - 10 am

Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268

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

Service Times: Sunday 10 am

Nicola Valley Farmers Market

Photo/Kenneth Wong

CLASSIFIEDS

NeilLeonardMenard

August18,1943 –July17,2024

NeilMenard(80)passedawaypeacefullyin hissleeponJuly17,2024,atMerritthospitalafter abattlewithcancer,complicatedbypneumonia.Heis predeceasedbyhisbrotherDwaine,sisterKarenandparents Oscar,MargaretandstepmotherMargy. HeissurvivedbyhiswifeOlga,children Doneau(Laura),Derry(Jacqueline),DarciandgrandchildrenHayley, Hannah, SullivanandSydneyaswellashistwosistersGailandDeniseandmultiple niecesandnephews.

NeilservedintheRoyalCanadianNavyasa youngman.Hespentmostofhis workingyearsintheforestindustry, servingtheI.W.A.membershipas acontract negotiatorandseniorunionofﬁcial.Heimpactedmanylivesthroughhiswork establishingtheEmployerandFamilyAssistanceProgram(EFAP)andsubstance abuseprogram.

Afterretirement,hemade ahomeinMerrittandﬁnallygottoenjoyhishorses, hunting,andhisHarleyDavidson.Heservedasa citycouncillorandmayorof Merritt.Hegavehistimetomultiplecouncilsandboardsinthesurroundingarea aswellashispassionfortheMerrittCentennialsJuniorHockeyClub,wherehe servedmanyyearsasa GovernorandPresident.

Neil’sexpressedwishisthata celebrationoflifebeonlythroughfamily in asmallgathering. We thefamilymournhispassingandhavebeenhugely touchedbythecalls,messagesofcondolence,memoriessharedandoffersof helpreceived.

Restinpeacecowboy,youmade adifference.

REPORTSTO: ExecutiveDirector

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•TheHealthClerkwillassumethesecretarial,clericaland receptionist dutiesunderthesupervisionoftheExecutiveDirector,andwill performotherdutiesas required.Theyarealsosubjecttothe PoliciesandProceduresoftheScw’exmxCommunityHealthServices Society(SCHSS).Thepositionwillbe responsiblefortheprovisionof administrativeandclericalsupporttotheSCHSSprograms.

AsIallowmyselftomourn,Icreateanopening inmyheart.Surrenderingtothestrugglemeans freeingmyselftomoveforward.

•Thispositionwillbe responsibleforensuringthat reportsderivedfrom thedatabaseaccurately reflectthemostup-to-datehealthstatus ofthecommunitiesofColdwater, Shackan,andNooaitch.Theywill alsobe responsibleforarrangingandensuringpaymentformedical appointmentsforclientsandestablishingtheirmedicaltraveleligibility forfundingundertheNon-InsuredHealthBenefitsProgram.

•Requiresexperiencewithstandard officeequipmentandMicrosoft Office.

•ExperienceworkingwithFirstNationscommunitiesisanasset. We offeracompetitivesalaryandfullbenefits.

Pleasesubmitresumeto:

Scw’exmxCommunityHealthServicesSociety Attention:BarclaySmith 103-2090Coutlee AvenuePOBox3090Merritt,BCV1K1B8 oremail: reception@schss.com

Deadlineforsubmissions: July26,2024 VALUEADDED LUMBERREMANUFACTURINGPLANT

PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)

•Wages:starting$20to$28

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Excellentmedical&dentalplan

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

2024 Fall FairGiant

319LindleyCreekRoad

Saturday9–2,Sunday10–2

June1,2,15,29&30

July13,14,27&28

August10&11

DonationsgratefullyacceptedonGiant YardSaleDates andThursdaymorningsfrom9-12. Ourpickuppersonisnotavailabletodopickupsduehealthreasons.

Byvirtueofthe Warehouseman'sLienAct, we willsellthe stored goods ofthe followingto recover costsofunpaid storage Shavon Taylor, - Unit#38 Amount owing$350.75 and GregMoyes, - Unit#51 Amount owing$534.00 These personaland householdeffectswillbe soldbyeitherpublicor privateauctiononorafter August25,2024 R.HackMini Storage, 2865 Pooley Ave., Merritt 250-378-5580.

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. Average damage per system (abbr.)

5. Lustful woodland gods (Greek mythology)

11. Colombian Town

12. Sour

16. A way to stuff

17. Former AL MVP Vaughn

18. Carried or transported

19. Cannot even fathom

24. Hammer is one

1. Charge with a crime

2. Mended with yarn

3. North Atlantic flatfish

4. Boil at low temperature

5. Lapps of northern Scandinavia

6. Poisonous plant

7. Atomic #22

8. 36 inches

9. Monetary unit of Russia

10. Type of gin

13. An alternative 14. Alone

25. A way to separate

26. Not moving

27. Women’s service organization (abbr.)

28. German river

29. Quantitative fact

30. A person’s head

31. Process that produces ammonia

33. French modernist painter

34. Too much noise

38. Agree to a demand

15. A way to ooze

20. Publicity 21. American firm 22. Jewish calendar month

23. Popular sandwich

27. Comedian Cook

29. The NFL’s big game (abbr.)

30. Political action committee

31. Make a low, steady sound

32. Legendary sportscaster Michaels

39. One a line at right angles to a ship’s length

40. Employees

43. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid

44. Component of hemoglobin

45. Quick and skillful in movement

49. Passing trend

50. Part of the eye

51. One who acclaims

33. One thousand cubic feet (abbr.)

34. Designed to keep ears warm

35. One who scrapes

36. Tear into two or more pieces

37. Supervises flying

38. Flying arm of the U.S. military (abbr.)

40. District in Peru

41. One died leaving a will

42. Morning

44. The world of the dead

53. Deadly amount (abbr.)

54. Taste property

56. Genus of mosquitoes

58. Blood type

59. A group of countries in special alliance

60. Institute legal proceedings against

63. Shade of a color

64. Spoke

65. Work units

45. Widen

46. Drink containing medicine

47. Celebrating

48. Secret encounters

50. A type of tag

51. Halfback

52. Modern tech

54. Monetary unit

55. Resigned to one’s sleeping chamber

57. Execute or perform

61. “The Golden State”

62. “The Beehive State” (abbr.)

Sunday, August4,2024

This family day showcasesmany aspects of HVC and includes:

• Four varieties of tours of theminingoperation

•Open to allageswithsomeage restrictionson various tours

•Department exhibitboothsandequipmentdisplays

•Interactiveboothsfromcommunitypartners

•Children’s entertainmentand UncleChristheClown

• Fund-raisinggames fortheRIH Foundation

•Mine Rescuedemonstrations

• Hotdogs& refreshments...andsomuchmore

• No booking required

•Bringa reﬁllable water bottle

•Industrialsetting

• No open-toed footwear

•Pleaseleaveyourpets at home