At 8 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2024, all polls in the B.C. provincial election were closed and thus began the nail biting wait to see who would form government for the next four years.
That same night at Merritt’s Country Music Hall of Honour, supporters gathered to see if Tony Luck would be named the new MLA for the riding of Fraser-Nicola. When all was said and done, Luck beat out NDP candidate Francyne Joe and Green candidate Jonah Timms with 10,146 votes.
Now, nearly one month after the election and newly sworn in as of Nov. 12, Luck sat down with the Herald to discuss his new role and his hopes for Fraser-Nicola.
Jumping straight in, Luck said, “For Fraser-Nicola the one big priority we’re going to have is the economy. That’s going to affect the whole province. The economy in the province isn’t working right now, in Fraser-Nicola it isn’t working, nowhere is it working. The economy is a mess in British Columbia right now. Every metric is down that we look at for measurements of how the economy is doing. The province is a mess.”
As a resident of Merritt and former Merritt city councillor, Luck is also very aware of the
impact the province’s failing healthcare is having, particularly in small, rural communities. The Nicola Valley Hospital emergency room has been closed more than a dozen times in 2024, and may close as many as 46 times according to inside reports from an Interior Health whistleblower.
“Healthcare is a big one too, we need to find a way to keep these hospitals open, staying open,” said Luck.
“Merritt should have a Class A emergency room. With the intersections of the highways here we need to be prepared for accidents and that kind of thing, we have to have a proper triage centre.”
When out on the campaign trail, Luck was also informed of emergency room closures in Lillooet, which now number 20 in 2024. To travel to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops as advised takes residents more than two hours.
“That’s not right, that’s not fair,” said Luck.
“We need to have a core service review of healthcare, we need to definitely start looking at having a review of healthcare in the province.”
Also of importance for Fraser-Nicola are natural resource industries, most notably forestry, which has suffered greatly for the past several
The Herald attended both Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Nicola Valley. Check page 16 for more pictures. Photo/Morgan Hampton
‘Really important for me to continue to go out and meet with people’
From Page 1
years, with numerous mills either facing curtailments or permanent closure.
“We need to try and get forestry going again and part of that is making sure we have proper forestry management so we can have a sustainable forest industry. And we need to look at the way we fight forest fires in the province so we can protect that resource. And agriculture,” Luck continued. “John (Rustad) has been saying that he’d like to see a doubling of agriculture in this province, there are so many opportunities, if we want food security and sustainability we need to be supplying more of our own food.”
Although the BC Conservative Party did not form government and will be sitting as the Opposition with 44 seats - five of which formerly belonged to NDP Ministers - to the BC NDP’s 47, Luck believes there is much they can do to improve life in B.C.
“We have to be good opposition and hold their feet to the fire,” said Luck.
“My feeling is that there isn’t a department in government that we shouldn’t be looking at. Every department in government should be reviewed... and as we sit in Opposition we’ll be looking at the provincial government and asking them to review all these departments, they have to be looked at.”
Georgraphically, Fraser-Nicola is a large and diverse rid-
ing which includes Gold Bridge to the northwest, the entirety of the Fraser Canyon, Dewdney in the southwest, most of EC Manning Park down to the U.S. border in the south, and extending past Douglas Lake to the east. Much of the area is rural and Luck noted the challenge in addressing the urbanrural divide.
“They (urbanites) have to realize that the rural areas generate a lot of wealth for the province,” said Luck, who also referred to Premier David Eby’s style of governance. “He can’t neglect and ignore half of the province. There’s a mood and an anger out there and people want change.”
One thing Luck doesn’t intend to change is his dedication to his constituents.
“One of the things I really want to do is just keep getting to know the riding,” Luck concluded.
“I think it’s going to be really important for me to continue to go out and meet with people. I’m an approachable person, I’m easy to talk to, and so I want to get out there and talk to people and see what we can do to bring the riding together and fight for the things that we need. Thank you to everyone who supported us and put their trust in me. I’m looking forward to honouring that trust. I’m very grateful to be able to represent this amazing riding... it’s an amazing diverse riding and we have a lot to offer.”
Newly elected BC Conservative Party MLA Tony Luck (left) talked to the Herald about some of his priorities as he steps in to represent the Fraser-Nicola constituency. Photo/ Herald file
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies aged 65.
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TheCity of Merritt’sWastewaterTreatment PlantOperator, KEVINVILAC,wasnominated the2024“TOPPERFORMER” of the year by WaterSummit Canada.Healsowonthe2022 “OPERATOROFTHEYEAR”award by EOCP, andnominatedagainin2023. Kudos to Kevin!
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
City worker nominated for wastewater award
A City of Merritt employee has been once again recognized by his work as a wastewater treatment plant operator.
Kevin Vilac, chief operator of the water and wastewater systems at the City of Merritt, has been selected as a finalist for Water Summit Canada’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator ‘Top Performer’ award of 2024.
He reflected on what the recognition means to him.
“To be honest, I find it very overwhelming and more or less speechless to be nominated and recognized in such a fashion,” Vilac told the Herald. “It was my team of operators that made me successful. It’s a great honour to receive this nomination.”
Vilac started off his journey with the City of Merritt almost 19 years ago when he started off as a seasonal labourer. After two seasons being a seasonal labourer, he was hired as a full time equipment operator, and shortly after that, he stepped in to work in the treatment plant after another worker got ill.
“My previous background was in garbage, so gross and smelly things don’t really bother me. After I spent that day in the wastewater treatment plant and saw what it was all about, I just fell in love with it and knew that’s where I wanted to be,” he added.
He then got all the certifications that he needed to in order to work at the wastewater treatment plan full time.
“The City of Merritt recognized that I was doing this on my own, and (that I was) serious about trying to get into the treatment plants. Then they began supporting my endeavors and sending me for training and I just kept doing it and worked my way up,” Vilac added.
With the industry constantly changing and developing new technologies, Vilac highlighted the importance to stay up to date.
“It’s important to stay up to date on the new technologies and new ways of doing things so that we can maximize the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plant,” he added. “It’s also a requirement to maintain our certifications to acquire a certain amount of education every year. So between the two things, that’s what keeps me going.
“I just like to do things the best way possible. To get maximum efficiency for the least amount of money is always what we strive for.”
During the 2021 floods in Merritt, Vilac worked as the chief operator of the City of Merritt’s wastewater treatment plant.
“That responsibility was solely based on my shoulders, because of my position and due to the amount of flooding that we experienced, it actually washed out the wastewater treatment plant and took it offline for seven days from start of the event until the time we were able to get it back up and running 100 per cent,” Vilac said.
He said that during the flood, the city lost approximately two kilometres of 10-inch water main and had a complete depressurization of the whole water system.
“That was the greatest challenge from the flood, was reestablishing the drinking water system and having it be potable and safe for the community to use,” Vilac said.
His work during the November 2021 flood got him the Operator of the Year in 2022. He coordinated with operators from both Kelowna and Kamloops and the Black Mountain Irrigation District who offered to help restore the systems in Merritt.
For Vilac, the greatest challenge for smaller com-
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Kevin Vilac, chief operator of the water and wastewater systems at the City of Merritt, has been selected as a finalist for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator ‘Top Performer’ of 2024. Photo/City of Merritt
LETTER to the editor
Living beyond pain: how Crohn’s disease changed my life
Editor,
November marks Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month, a time to shed light on a disease that affects approximately 300,000 people in Canada. As someone diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I feel it’s important to speak up, though I must warn that discussing this condition may seem graphic or be uncomfortable to some. But the reality of Crohn’s is not something that should be sugarcoated.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It can lead to severe symptoms like intense abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, fatigue, and other symptoms, making it incredibly hard to maintain a normal life.
Living with Crohn’s means dealing with hospital visits, bloodwork, medications, canceled outings with family and friends, and, often, feelings of helplessness as you watch your health deteriorate, despite your best efforts.
One issue for people living with Crohn’s disease that impacts everyone is the lack of access to public washrooms. Many businesses do not allow customers to use their washrooms unless they make a purchase, which puts people like me in extremely stressful situations. When you have Crohn’s, needing a washroom isn’t an option — it’s an emergency. This lack of access can cause unnecessary pain and shame, even sometimes leading to avoidable health complications. I would encourage local businesses and municipalities to adopt more inclusive policies and make washrooms more accessible to everyone.
Crohn’s is often an ‘invisible’ illness. Just because someone doesn’t look sick doesn’t mean they aren’t battling something difficult. The toll it takes on your body and mind isn’t always visible on the outside, but the struggle is very real.
One of the things I personally struggle most with is seeing the impact my disease has on
my family, especially my four-year-old daughter, who often tries to comfort me as I’m struggling with nausea, rubbing my back and asking if her daddy will be okay as he pukes up blood.
There are many days filled with dark moments and longing for days of better health, when the crushing weight of fatigue and misery prevent me from doing anything other than breathing, and surviving.
I don’t mean to paint a dreary picture of a life not worth living — the reality is quite the opposite, actually. I truly believe that the challenges we face and the illnesses we may have do not define us, rather they open new opportunities to appreciate the little things and connect with ourselves and our surroundings in a more meaningful way. I urge everyone to truly ‘live’ in every moment and never take your health for granted. It could always be better, but it could always be worse.
It’s really not all bad! The support I receive from my family makes this journey more bearable. Community groups like Healing Connections Merritt (you can find our group on Facebook) provide a space where people like me can come together to share our experiences, and that sense of connection is invaluable. Being able to talk to others who understand the daily battle with pain and illness reminds us that we are not alone — and that is one of the greatest comforts in life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If nothing else, I hope it encourages more compassion and understanding for the many people living with Crohn’s disease and other chronic pain.
With love and empathy,
Marius Auer Merritt resident
ARNOLD: Let your voice be heard – Flyers are back in the Merritt Herald
We’re excited to share some good news with our readers: Canadian Tire and London Drugs flyers are back in the pages of the Merritt Herald! With the looming possibility of a postal strike, these valuable flyers have found their way back to our local newspaper, giving you the convenience of finding deals, updates, and shopping insights in one trusted source.
This is not just a moment to celebrate – it’s an important opportunity for our community to make its voice heard.
Every single letter of appreciation, every email, and every note you share helps us demonstrate to these corporations that our community values having these flyers in the local paper.
This is about much more than just ads; it’s about the livelihood of a local newspaper that has served Merritt for over a
century. When these flyers are distributed through our paper, it supports the Herald and the businesses that make Merritt home.
If you’re glad to see the flyers back, please take a moment to let us know. Write a letter to the editor and email us at publisher@merrittherald.com, or drop off a note in person at our office at #201-1951 Garcia Street. Each of your letters strengthens our case and shows Canadian Tire, London Drugs, and other potential partners that Merritt is a community that supports local media.
Thank you for your continued support of the Merritt Herald, and for helping ensure that we can keep bringing you the best of Merritt, every week.
On Nov. 24, Coquihalla House held its annual volunteer appreciation night for the people who give of their time and energy for the care facility. Volunteering takes many forms, from the very active people who help with the daily programs, run errands, take residents to doctor appointments, help with special events and outings, the staff and their spouses who help out above and beyond the call of duty. The people are too numerous to mention but without them the lives of residents would not be as rich and intesting as they are.
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.
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Challenges in a small community
From Page 5
munities like Merritt “is the availability of funding to upgrade or protect your infrastructure.”
“If there’s a way that funding can be changed for that, provincially or federally, that would significantly help smaller communities deal with their wastewater,” he added.
Looking ahead, some of the future projects that Vilac would like to see for wastewater management in Merritt involve regionalization.
“In an ideal world, I would like to see the City of Merritt, the local First Nations
and the other communities heading west of Merritt, like out towards Sunshine Valley, get together and put a wastewater treatment plant somewhere out in that area where we can encapsulate or grab everybody’s wastewater through the valley and treat it regionally in one wastewater treatment facility,” he said.
“That would ensure protecting the drinking water and the aquifers, because all of it would eliminate a lot of these septic tanks and septic fields throughout the valley and I think that’s a wiser choice for the environment and the valley itself.”
B.C. gender justice groups call for repeal of Name Act changed over child killer
Gender justice groups in British Columbia are calling for the repeal of recent provincial legislation that prevents people convicted of serious Criminal Code offences from changing their names.
The call for the repeal of the Name Amendment Act comes from groups that include the Gender-Affirming Healthcare, the Canadian Bar Association’s BC branch and the Trans Legal Clinic.
The groups say the legislation was not necessary to protect the public and harms people most in need of legal name changes, including transgender and Indigenous people and survivors of gender-based violence.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, who
introduced the amended legislation last May, said then that the law will ensure people convicted of serious crimes, including violence against other people and acts against children, can’t change their name.
The changes were prompted after BC United Leader Kevin Falcon introduced a proposed private member’s bill to change the act after learning that B.C. child killer Allan Schoenborn was legally permitted to change his name to Ken John Johnson.
Schoenborn was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his children, aged five, eight and 10, in Merritt, B.C., in 2008, but he was later found to be not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.
Dix or a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health were not immediately available for comment.
Dirk Meissner
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Allan Schoenborn is shown in this sketch attending a British Columbia Review Board in Coquitlam, B.C. on Thursday March 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Felicity Don
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Winter driving tips for staying safe as weather turns
Summer weather - and along with it summer driving conditions - has disappeared from B.C. With the change of seasons it is important to also change your driving habits as needed in order to keep yourself, and others, safe on the roads.
Merritt is situated at the junction of several major highways, each known for their often treacherous winter driving conditions with steep mountain passes, suddenly changing weather, high levels of snowfall, and freezing temperatures.
According to Province of B.C. travel information, “You may start a trip in sunshine but face stretches of slush, ice, heavy snowfall, compact snow or avalanches along the way.”
Drivers on most highways in BC are required, by law, to use proper winter tires from Oct. 1 to Apr. 30.
Tires must have a three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, or be marked M+S. The tires must be in good condition and have a tread depth of at least 3.5 mm.
Before leaving for your destination check DriveBC for current road conditions and make use of B.C.’s extensive highway cam network to view your route in real time. Remember that it may also take you longer to reach your destination in the winter than in the summer, and plan accordingly.
“The posted speed is the fastest you are allowed to drive in ideal conditions,” reminds DriveBC.
“When conditions are less than ideal, drive slower than the posted limit. Drive at a speed where you know you can safely control the vehicle.”
Most vehicles are equipped with daytime running lights but heavy rain, snow, and fog reduce visibility.
Ensuring your headlights and tail lights are on helps you to be seen by other drivers, reducing the likelihood of collisions.
Make sure you have sufficient fuel to keep the vehicle running and warm if you are held up for any length of time en route.
PreparedBC recommends a winter emergency kit be kept in your vehicle. This would include ready to eat food, water, essential medications, seasonal clothing, an emergency blanket, phone charger and battery bank, a small first aid kit, battery powered or hand cranked flashlight and radio, personal toiletries, etc.
Pack additional supplies for your vehicle such as windshield washer fluid, battery jumper cables, and a windshield scraper with a snow brush.
Yellowhead Road and Bridge (YRB) is responsible for road maintenance in the Merritt area, including the Coquihalla Highway and the Okanagan Connector. It is important to give trucks plowing, sanding, applying brine, or salting enough room to work safely. Road issues can be reported directly at yrb.ca.
Morgan Hampton CONTRIBUTOR
Photo/Brayden Hilbert/Facebook
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Restorative justice offers healing alternative to traditional system
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 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.”
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 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 traumainformed 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
See CHALLENGES Page 8
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. Photo/Laísa Condé
Laísa Condé
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Continue to raise awareness on restorative justice in the Nicola Valley
From Page 11
victim’s voice is heard throughout the process.
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.”
Interior Savings volunteers lend a hand at Baillie House fall clean-up
humble attraction.
The 1908 Baillie property on Voght Street serves not only as a site of historical interest but also a quaint gift, collectible and secondhand shop, and the Nicola Valley’s Visitor Information Centre. With no admission fees for the site it is a popular location for locals and visitors alike to explore Merritt’s history, have an ice cream, and enjoy the conveniently located green space. In 2023, there were 19,843 visitors to the
Serving this level of traffic and maintaining the buildings and yard in tip top condition requires the efforts of many volunteers, and on Oct. 29 employees of Interior Savings Credit Union pitched in to help wrap up the summer season.
Sara Vigh, Supervisor of Member Service in the Merritt Branch, chatted with the Herald about what has become a yearly tradition inspired by International Credit Union Day, and Interior Savings’ own Day
of Difference.
“International Credit Union Day has been celebrated on the third Thursday in October since 1948 and Interior Savings created Day of Difference around ten years ago,” explained Vigh.
“Day of Difference is a way to honour our local communities and our members. In the past, Interior Savings closed all branches and departments for the last two hours of the work day so employees could get out into our community and volunteer.”
Recently, members voted in favour of a merger that will see Interior Savings become Beem Credit Union, and the logistics of this meant that Day of Difference was on hold for 2024.
“One of our friends from the Baillie House mentioned to Barbara Bardy that they were sad they wouldn’t see us this year,” said Vigh.
“Barbara asked the rest of our team if we’d still be open to going to complete the clean up on our own time after work and it was an easy yes for us to continue going. In past years we’ve done whatever chores
the amazing volunteers at Baillie House have ready for us. This has included raking leaves, pruning back the garden beds, pulling plants from the flower boxes, washing windows, and moving boxes to or from the shed.”
As with many volunteer-based organizations, the Baillie House is staffed mainly by seniors and the helping hands, arms, and backs of Interior Savings employees Sara Vigh, Tami DeSimone, Jamie Anderson, Barbara Bardy, and new Branch Manager Craig MacMillan were certainly most welcomed and appreciated.
“In Merritt, we volunteered at a few different places until the year we joined the folks at Baillie House for their fall clean up,” said Vigh.
“These fantastic people who give their time to keep the Baillie House operating and in beautiful condition have this massive, overwhelming clean up job every fall, and they were so kind and appreciative of us for being there that we felt compelled to keep going back each year. It’s now something we look forward to each fall.”
Morgan Hampton CONTRIBUTOR
(Left to right) Barbara Bardy, Tami DeSimone, Jamie Anderson, Sara Vigh and Craig MacMillan volunteer to do some fall clean-up at the Baillie House. Photo/Interior Savings
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Opening of homeless shelter delayed as talks break down with BC Housing
The homeless population in Merritt may have to spend this winter in the cold as the opening of the Knights Inn shelter has been delayed.
“At this time, we [Merritt] do not have a service provider available to operate a cold-weather shelter,” City of Merritt Councillor Manuel Olguin said in an email to the Herald.
The shelter, which is taking over from the Desert Inn as the main social housing complex in the Nicola Valley, was previously estimated to be completed by the end of October according to Cynthia White, Merritt’s chief administrative officer. She has been coordinating directly with BC Housing over the course of the development.
In an email to the Herald, Darren Harbord, senior public affairs officer for BC Housing, said they now plan to open the shelter before the end of the year.
“People experiencing homelessness in Merritt will soon have access to as many as 40 shelter spaces,” he said, insisting the remaining work is only a few “minor upgrades.”
However, members of city staff said updates on an opening date have not been shared with them.
“To be honest we have not had a lot of information from BC Housing. They tend to move in their own circle,” said Mayor Michael Goetz in an email to the Herald. White previously said the City of
Merritt would collaborate closely with BC Housing on the project. She continues to stand by this stance, issuing this statement to the Herald, “the City of Merritt and BC Housing continue to work together to ensure that all permits are in place to allow the shelter to open.” She also admits BC Housing has not communicated when the shelter will open.
The shelter is currently awaiting approval on multiple permits before work can continue. The mandatory development variance permit to change the dimensions of the property had only been received by BC Housing on Oct. 22.
The permits include permission to build a fence around the Knights Inn, as well as upgrades to the building’s fire system, which is a change that has caused confusion within the city and BC Housing on whether a permit is even necessary according to Olguin.
With the Knights Inn closed for the foreseeable future, both the city and BC Housing had tried to find a temporary solution to provide a makeshift shelter but the attempts were shut down before they could be implemented.
“We explored the possibility of using the foyer at the Knights Inn, building inspectors have flagged some con-
Forum to tackle water use
editor@merrittherald.com
A public forum on water use in the Nicola Valley is set to take place on Nov. 20, bringing together local residents to discuss the future of the region’s water resources.
Hosted by the Nicola Watershed Community Round Table, the forum aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable watershed management and to address waterrelated challenges in the region.
With ongoing concerns over water quality, availability, and climate change, participants will have the chance to engage in discussions about improving water conservation efforts,
addressing pollution, and exploring new ways to engage communities in stewardship practices. The event will serve as a platform for local residents to voice their concerns and suggest solutions to water-related issues that impact their daily lives.
The Nicola Valley Watershed Forum is free and open to the public, and organizers encourage anyone with an interest in local water issues to attend.
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Merritt Civic Centre. For more information visit the Nicola Watershed Community Round Table’s website at www.nwcrt.ca.
cerns about its suitability for this purpose,” Olguin said in an email.
Businesses in the vicinity of the Knights Inn also noticed there has been little work on the project.
Pareka, owner of the Road Runner Motel, has said he has seen new beds being brought into the shelter but any fencing around the area has not been put up.
Mike W., owner of the Merritt Lodge Motel located across the street from the Knights Inn, said he has not seen much work being done on the project. He said the lack of a proper shelter has caused the homeless population to congregate in the area around the Knights Inn, which includes his property, and that their presence could hurt his business.
“It definitely doesn’t do good to run business in this kind of setting. Especially for clients who are staying here, say for a week, the contractors who are here to work, they want their safety,” he said.
W. hopes that the opening of the shelter will keep the homeless inside, leading to
better business for him.
As nighttime temperatures are projected to drop below 0 C, housing support groups in Merritt are trying to work with the city to provide assistance to the homeless.
Angela Papou is the director of Merritt Operations for ASKWellness, an organization dedicated to combating homelessness. Papou said in an email to the Herald they will be meeting with other like-minded groups in the community as well as the city to create a plan for the winter.
“We will continue to work closely with the City and other community partners with the hope that a more robust plan can be put into place to keep people safe during the winter,” she said. “It will take a municipal and community response to ensure that this happens.”
ASKWellness’ main office in Merritt will provide shelter, bedding and food during 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Laísa Condé
Merritt Centennials complete weekend
Centennials 6, Castlegar Rebels 2
Friday, Nov. 8 – Merritt
Centennials 7, Nelson Leafs 3
The Merritt Centennials started off their three-game weekend with a huge win after taking down the Nelson Leafs 7-3 at the Nelson Community Complex.
It didn’t take long for the fans in Nelson to see some action, as the home team opened the scoring just under a minute into the game.
Both teams played a very balanced game, with 12 shots on goal for Merritt and 10 shots for Nelson in the first period.
The Centennials managed to score a goal of their own from Dylan Ruff, tying the game 1-1.
Nelson would add another goal with 10 seconds left in the first, putting the pressure on the Cents.
Merritt players’ refused to one-goal lead for Nelson dictate the game, as Wyatt Ball potted a goal early in the second period, tying the game once again.
The Leafs added another goal of their own during a power play in the middle frame, but four minutes later, Steven Foster put it past the goalie, tying the game 3-3.
The floodgates opened from there, with Dylan Ruff adding another goal for the Cents by the end of second period.
In the final frame, the Centennials’ offence didn’t slow down, as Brayden Thurlow found the back of the net just 15 seconds in.
Merritt kept dominating the game both offensively and defensively throughout the final period. Sam Giangualano scored a short handed goal for the Cents, making it 6-3.
Late in the game, Merritt got one more chance on the power play and capitalized, as Maxim Radmanovich fired a shot into the back of the net for the seventh goal of the night.
Saturday, Nov. 9 – Merritt
In their second game on the road, the Centennials defeated the Castlegar Rebels 6-2 on Saturday at the Castlegar & District Recreation Centre.
The Rebels came out of the gate strong and put a lot of pressure on Merritt. Castlegar’s dominance throughout the first period was felt after the team got 16 shots on goal, while Merritt only had eight.
Castlegar opened the scoring close to the end of the first period with Jordan Brunham.
During the second period, the Centennials seemed to have found their rhythm and dominated with 17 shots on goal against nine for the Rebels.
Merritt’s Kameron Lawrence put it past the goalie just over two minutes into the second frame, followed by Dylan Ruff to take the lead.
The Centennials continued to dominate as Sam Giangualano found the back of the net during a power play, turning it into a two-goal lead.
The Cents then added three more unanswered goals by Dylan Ruff, Wyatt Ball and Ethan Nesimiuk, making the score 6-1.
The Rebels added a shy goal in the final frame, but it wasn’t enough to take the win from the Cents.
The Merritt Centennials won 6-2 against the Castlegar Rebels in their second of the three away games over the weekend.
There was little time to celebrate Friday’s and Saturday’s victories as the Centennials hit the road to face the Grand Forks Border Bruins for their last game of the weekend.
The first period saw Grand Forks coming out of the gate strong as they opened the scoring just under two minutes on the powerplay.
The Border Bruins then added two more of their own before Troy Horn found the back of the net for the Cents with just under
two minutes left in the first period, making the score 3-1.
Grand Forks continued to dominate the game, as they added two more goals to the scoreboard, making it a 4-goal lead.
Merritt players did not let the four-goal advantage for the Border Bruins get into their heads for the remainder of the game.
Cents’ Troy Horn put it past the goalie once again by the end of second period, making it 5-2.
In the final frame, Merritt players showed that they were all in to turn the game’s result.
Steven Foster found the back of the net twice early in the final period , turning the game into a one-goal lead for Grand Forks.
During a power play, Merritt’s Alex Cordero managed to put it past the goalie and tie the game for the Centennials.
The tied result would be gone 21 seconds later, as Grand Forks added a goal of their own, making it 6-5.
The one-goal lead would carry for another two minutes, as Sam Giangualano scored for the Centennials to tie it again.
In the final minute of the game, both Giangualano and Dylan Krutchen found the back of the net and crowned the Cents victory.
The Merritt Centennials outscored the Grand Forks Border Bruins 8-6 to take their third victory of the weekend.
Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com
‘Whodunnit’ art show captivates local artists and art enthusiasts
generous people were donating their art, and how talented the people in the Nicola Valley, how creative.”
If you missed your chance to view or purchase some of the art pieces from the “Whodunnit” be sure to stop by the upcoming Winter Artisan Show where you just may be lucky enough to find a handful of pieces remaining.
“Whodunnit?!”
Even the great Agatha Christie would be impressed by the mysteries of the Nicola Valley Arts Gallery’s latest show, which wrapped up on Nov. 10.
“We’ve been trying to go out to other communities and see what they’re doing for art, so we went to the Ashcroft Hub and the woman that runs that told us about this anonymous show they do every year and we thought that sounds like so much fun,” explained Nicola Valley Arts Council President Mischelle Pierce.
At the time prior to the show the Gallery was without beloved, long time curator and enthusiastic arts supporter Jano Howarth, who had stepped down from the role, and how things would progress was up in the air.
Luckily, Linda Suzuki, retired high school art teacher and a painter herself, had hosted a show at the gallery and felt that she wanted to get more
involved with the local arts community. Suzuki loved the idea of an anonymous show and came up with the idea of hosting the “Whodunnit” as a co-curator.
From there Pierce said everybody just “ran with it” with the Gallery providing 6x6 woodblocks and canvases to be used for whatever medium the artists so chose. Upon opening, the show boasted a whopping 38 canvases and 71 woodblocks, of which around 30 were completed by Shannon Dunn’s high school art class.
The majority of the pieces sold throughout the show’s run, a boon to the Art Gallery as the event doubled as a fundraiser with the artists receiving half of the proceeds and the Gallery receiving the other half.
“We used it as a fundraiser because we have one whole wall of the Art Gallery gift shop that hasn’t got any spotlights at all,” said Pierce, who noted there is other lighting that needs upgrading as well.
“It really makes a big differ-
ence in the shop, it looks very dark especially in the winter time.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to witness the amazing and diverse creativity and talent of the people of Merritt, and for their generosity - especially as most of the artists have donated the proceeds to the Art Gallery,” said co-curator Astralis Snee (they/them).
For 25 cents patrons were also invited to guess the artist for any piece, with correct guesses entered into a draw to win one of several art piece prizes donated by Linda Suzuki, Herta Klassen, Mischelle Pierce, Astralis Snee, or tea from Ruth Tolerton.
The “Whodunnit” has gone down as one of the most popular shows the Art Gallery has ever hosted, prompting the Arts Council to look at repeating it in the future.
“I think we’ll do it annually now, as a community art show,” said Pierce.
“I want to emphasize how
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THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME YOU
Crossroads Community Church
2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911
Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme) Sunday service 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464
Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899
Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919
Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.
St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772
Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.
Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735
Service Time every Sunday - 10 am
Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268
Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502
Morgan Hampton CONTRIBUTOR
Mischelle Pierce displays art prizes in front of some of the “whodunnit” art submissions at the Nicola Valley Arts Gallery. Photo/Morgan Hampton
REMEMBRANCE DAY
The Herald attended both Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Nicola Valley, held at the new First Nations Veterans monument in Shulus and the cenotaph in Merritt.
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