Opinion

VIEWPOINT

EDITORIAL A toast to women

In this week’s issue of the Herald, we highlight International Women’s Day by recognizing the exemplary women in our community IZAIAH REYES HERALD both past and EDITOR present.

I couldn’t help but think of the women in my own life specifically my mom, Juvy, and my girlfriend, Andrea, who both impacted my life and have shaped who I am today.

I owe a lot to these women and I would like to share with you a drink that reminds me of them. Dear readers, I present to you, the ever so popular, bubble tea.

Bubble tea or ‘boba’ is a dessert drink that is very popular within the asian community and I have personally seen its popularity grow, with many shops popping up in Calgary in the past few years.

I used to go out late at night to pick up brown sugar bubble tea whenever Andrea or my mom has a craving but if you asked them, they would tell you it was me who really wanted it.

Unfortunately, I haven’t come across a bubble tea shop in town yet so I tried to make some at home.

First I bought my ingredients; english breakfast tea, milk, brown sugar. To combine, I heated the milk in a pot mixing in my brown sugar. Once it was boiling, I took two english breakfast tea bags and steeped them in. Then I poured the drink over a glass full of ice.

The result was pretty good, but of course it can’t measure up to the store bought version mainly because I couldn’t buy tapioca pearls which is the reason why it is called “bubble” tea.

But regardless I enjoyed the drink and was able to raise a glass to the important women in my life. Cheers!

Davis Moses, Grade 5

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OPINION

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LETTERS to the editor Infrared Panels: An alternative way to heat your home

Editor,

Many homes that were damaged by the November flooding will need new furnaces. Because the focus now is to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, including natural gas, Vancouver and the Federal Government are encouraging people to switch to heat pumps. An alternative not yet well known is the use of FAR Infrared Heating Panels. These have no moving parts – therefore no need for maintenance - and work extremely well creating a very comfortable and healthy environment. We have used them as the sole heat source for our home for many years now. The footprint of our home is not much – 950 sq.ft. – but because of the shed roof the interior volume needing to be heated would equate to a house with twice this floor space. We set the thermostats in the house to 21c all day, reducing them at night to 17c. Everything in our home is electric, including the hot water tank. I cook from scratch at home, so the oven is used a fair bit. Our total electric bill for 2021 was $944.09 (about 8230 kWh). This year because of the extreme cold that lasted so long, and the fact that we are now heating a 20x20’ garage as well (10C at night, and 19C most days) I anticipate this will go up to about $1200 for 2022. The website https://infraredheat.ca has a lot of really good technical and other information for those that are interested - see the FAQ: https://infraredheat.ca/far-infraredheating-faq/. I am in no way affiliated with this company, nor do I stand to benefit in any way from any purchases. My sole purpose in writing this letter is to let people know what choices they have, and not to simply replace a furnace, albeit even with a more efficient one, without first learning about a more environmentally-friendly alternative.

Clare Wickman Resident, Merritt

ALBAS: On MP Joel Lightbound’s Press Confeence

This has been another unusual week here in Ottawa.

The protest of the truckers in the “Freedom Convoy” remains a topic of serious concern here in Ottawa and is one I continue to hear about from local citizens at home as well.

On Tuesday an unusual event occurred when a Liberal MP, Joël Lightbound, a Quebec MP from the riding of Louis-Hébert staged a press conference.

While it not uncommon for MPs to host media events, this one was highly unusual in that MP Lightbound raised some serious concerns of his against PM Trudeau.

Specifically MP Lightbound, as reported by media stated: “A decision was made to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize” Canadians over the topic of vaccination and vaccine mandates by PM Trudeau and the Liberal Party.

The Liberal MP stated it was time to “stop these divisive measures” and “it is time we stopped dividing people, pitting people against each other”.

As CBC reported “people who question existing policies should not be “demonized” by their prime minister.” And “It’s becoming harder and harder to know when public health stops and where politics begins,”

Ultimately by his own admission, MP Lightbound is concerned that the Prime Minister continued politicizing of vaccines and vaccine mandates risks undermining public trust in our country’s public health institutions.

It is rare for a Liberal MP to publicly call out the actions of the Prime Minister and I would like to commend MP Joel Lightbound for sharing his concerns with Canadians at considerable risk to

his own standing within the Liberal caucus. From my own perspective I think we should all be mindful of the words of Prime Minister Trudeau from two years ago this February, when he said: “There is always a place for Canadians to protest and express their frustrations, but we DAN ALBAS need to ensure that we also listen to each other. VIEW FROM The reality of populism, and its siren song in our THE HILL democracies these days, is a desire to listen only to ourselves and to people who agree with us and not to people of another perspective.” My question this week: do you think it is time for the Prime Minister to follow his own advice or is he right to continue to ignore the concerns of those who oppose policies such as the vaccine mandates? I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. From the Herald archives: March, 1995

MUSEUM GETS FACELIFT

After 15 years, the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives is finally getting a new coat of paint. Thanks to an Unemployment Insurance job creation program and $500 donation from the Merritt Senior Citizens’ Association.

“We haven’t had a paint job since 1981,” museum and archives representative Barb Watson said. The museum closed Feb. 20 for the paint job and is planning to reopen March 17.

LETTERS POLICY

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

John Isaac

250-378-1586

Johnisaac@telus.net www.realestatemerritt.com Ph: 250-378-6181

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