The Merritt Fire & Rescue Department has upgraded their fleet with a new off-road truck.
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Middlesboro Bridge to reopen
The City of Merritt is set to reopen the Middlesboro Bridge in November, marking a major milestone in the city’s recovery efforts following the devastating 2021 floods.
A ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov 16. will mark the reopening of the newly rebuilt bridge.
The new bridge, designed to withstand future extreme flood events, will reconnect the community and provide a critical transportation link across the Coldwater River.
“The reopening of the Middlesboro Bridge is a milestone for Merritt, symbolizing our resilience and commitment to building a stronger future,” said Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz. “This bridge connects not just roads, but our community as we move forward together.”
The new bridge, designed and built by Emil Anderson Construction, is engineered to handle water levels nearly four times higher than the previous structure and is built 1.45 metres higher to accommodate a 65 per cent increase in water volume.
The bridge also features a clear-span structure, eliminating the middle pier to reduce debris collection and minimize the environmental
impact on the river.
“(The middle pier) caused a lot of inconsistent flows around the pier - it causes sedimentation and debris to build up there,” said Emil Anderson project manager Kyle Jones. “Whereas our design, there’s no centre pier (and) it’s a clear span, so it allows the river to return to its natural state.”
Construction, which began in March 2024, has progressed ahead of schedule.
Emil Anderson faced challenges in aligning the schedule, procurement, and permitting to complete the Middlesboro Bridge within one season.
“There were a lot of things that needed to come together from a contract award and early works contract that Merritt let us proceed on,” said Jones. “An early works portion of the contract to demolish the existing bridge, which if they didn’t allow us to do that, it would have been very challenging to build the bridge in one season.
“It also saved a lot of money on (the City’s) end, because then we could do the demolition during low flows in the river, and under
Kenneth Wong
Clowns, creepy dolls, evil doctor, zombies and other creatures were haunting Merritt last weekend. Page 8. Photo/Laísa Condé
‘Symbolizes the resiliency and the spirit of the community’
From Page 1
a temporary permit, which allowed us to get in there and do that work.”
With the new Middlesboro Bridge structurally sound, all that’s left for Emil Anderson is to finish up the bridge’s bells and whistles, starting this week.
“We’re paving (this) week, so there’s two lifts of paving, then we have the handrails and parapet railing, and then just median barriers, line painting and traffic signage,” said Jones.
“The loss of a major piece of infrastructure or structure like Middlesboro that’s in the centre of town on the main road, it’s a symbol of the devastation and the infrastructure damage that occurred,” said Jones. “Then seeing this very
new, robust, brilliant design, and a much more significant structure go up, it just symbolizes the resiliency and the spirit of the community and that no matter how bad things get, they can be rebuilt.
“There’s a spirit in the community that allows these things to happen and support these projects, and I think it is quite symbolic of the people and the community.”
In addition to reconnecting the community, the bridge is a key part of Merritt’s flood mitigation efforts, funded by $9.6 million from the B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management Climate Readiness. This project is one of many steps the city is taking to improve infrastructure and prevent future disasters.
Slim majority for NDP after Elections B.C.’s final count
B.C. Premier David Eby has been been asked by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin to form the next government after absentee votes tallied Monday gave the New Democrats a narrow majority.
The NDP gained the one additional seat they needed for a majority when the Elections B.C.’s count flipped the riding of Surrey-Guildford to NDP from Conservative.
That gave the NDP 47 seats, which is the threshold for a majority government. The B.C. Conservatives have 44 seats and the Greens two seats.
“It is an incredible honour and a huge responsibility,” Eby said in a statement of the call to form government. “We are listening to the message voters sent with this close election, and will be getting to work on today’s tough challenges right away.”
Eby met with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin on Monday afternoon, when the final vote
count was clear, and she asked him to form the next government. “We will, and we will work hard every day to earn the trust you have placed in us,” Eby said.
Austin said having received assurances from Elections B.C. of the final count results on Monday the two met and Eby advised her he is prepared to continue as premier of B.C.
The initial vote tally by Elections B.C. on Oct. 19 had the NDP at 46, Conservatives at 45 and
Cindy E. Harnett TIMES COLONIST
B.C. NDP Leader David Eby arrives to address supporters on election night in Vancouver, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Photo/The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
The outcome of a polarized election
From Page 3
Greens at two.
A count of just over 43,000 mail-in and assisted-telephone votes over the weekend put the NDP within a stone’s throw of claiming the seat in Surrey-Guildford on Sunday night.
After about 22,000 absentee and special votes were counted on Monday, the NDP took the lead away from the Conservatives in Surrey-Guildford, ending up 27 votes ahead.
In Kelowna Centre, the Conservatives stayed in front and are 38 votes ahead of the NDP.
Judicial recounts will occur in SurreyGuildford and Kelowna Centre because of the close vote counts. An automatic judicial recount occurs when the margin between the first two candidates is below the threshold of 1/500th of all the votes cast.
The judicial recounts will not, however, delay the forming of a new government, the premier’s office said.
Recounts for Juan de Fuca-Malahat (won by NDP), Surrey City Centre (NDP) and one tabulator machine in Kelowna Centre (Conservative) changed the vote margins but didn’t change winners on Monday.
The final count, which occurs with every provincial election, is often regarded as more of a housekeeping matter but with such a tight race, the final count and recounts posed potential upsets in several ridings.
Royal Roads political scientist David Black called it “a very fragile majority” given that if the Speaker comes from the NDP caucus, that reduces the NDP to 46 seats. The Speaker can come from any party and is regarded as an impartial member but can be called upon to vote in ties. However, it’s conventional for the Speaker to never be the one whose vote brings down the government.
This B.C. NDP government will require some type of formal or informal agreement with the B.C. Greens, said Black.
The NDP has been speaking with the B.C. Greens since last week when Leader Sonia Furstenau said she answered a phone call from the NDP leader but had not returned a call from B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad.
Furstenau and newly elected Green MLAs Rob Botterell representing Saanich North and the Islands, and Jeremy Valeriote representing West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, said the parties will have to work together for the legislature to function effectively.
“This outcome follows a very negative, polarizing election,” they said in a joint statement.
“Government works best when MLAs collaborate and prioritize their constituents over party interests to deliver those outcomes,” they said.
“The NDP can tell a new and better story now, that is they have won a majority government,” said Black. “That one seat with respect to perceived legitimacy and bargaining power … is significant.”
The NDP government now continues its transition preparations to swear in MLAs which could happen as early as next month.
“With these results, we are saying goodbye to talented colleagues whose voices will be missed in the legislature,” said Eby. In the 2020 election, the NDP won 57 of 87 seats.
Given the closeness of the election result, Black said Eby will need to keep reiterating and reflecting he has heard the concerns of the electorate which has expressed anger over affordability, housing, public safety and health care.
He must also be more engaged with and listen to his MLAs, said Black, adding Eby can’t afford to lose “an Adam Walker or Selina Robinson” this time around.
Walker, an NDP Parksville-Qualicum MLA, was kicked out of the NDP caucus for an undisclosed alleged issue related to staff, while Selina Robinson, MLA for CoquitlamMaillardville and former minister of PostSecondary Education and Future Skills, was forced to resign after remarks she made about pro-Palestine groups.
Rustad said the B.C. Conservatives — which garnered less than two per cent in the polls in 2020 — went from 0 to 44 seats over 18 months because of grit, determination and a massive grassroots movement.
The Conservatives have expressed confidence in the vote counting process.
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In a post on social media platform X, Rustad said accepts the results of this election and thanked Elections B.C. workers.
“While there are still judicial recounts to be completed, it’s now clear that our party will not win enough seats to form government in B.C.,” he said. “I am ready to begin the important work of leading B.C.’s Official Opposition.”
He said B.C.’s Conservative caucus is committed to holding government accountable and advocating for policies that reflect the best interests of all British Columbians.
Rustad also thanked the more than 900,000 voters who supported the party, saying: “Together — we made history in British Columbia.”
VIEWPOINT
Thanumi Thasanga Jayasinghe
CONDE: Celebrating Halloween with Brazilian roots
LAISA CONDE HERALD EDITOR
Growing up in Brazil, Halloween was a curious concept – a celebration that floated in from afar, often seen in movies or tv shows yet rarely experienced firsthand. In a country rich with its own vibrant traditions, Halloween just felt like a distant echo, more a curiosity than a part of our cultural fabric.
In Brazil, we celebrated different festivals that reflect our diverse heritage. Festa
Junina, for example, filled our June (and July) with colourful decorations, traditional dances and the aroma of sweet corn dishes. During Carnaval, the streets erupted with costumes, great music and a joyful sense of freedom.
Yet, the absence of Halloween made it all the more fascinating when I encountered it through American pop culture, through movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloween. I remember seeing kids in costumes, roaming neighbourhoods in search of candy, just laughing and having fun throughout the night. It seemed magical, a whimsical night dedicated to creativity and fun.
Though we didn’t have Halloween, the playfulness, creativity and a touch of
spookiness was something that I always carried with me – afterall, my favourite movie growing up was The Nightmare Before Christmas.
When I moved to Canada in 2021 – a place that embraces Halloween – I found joy in participating, whether that would be dressing up like Wendy Torrance from The Shining or Morticia Addams, carving pumpkins, checking all the spooky decorations and handing some candy.
Each October now holds a special place in my heart. It’s a time that I can fully embrace my weirdness and creativity while still blending my Brazilian roots with it all. It’s really joyful to celebrate the beauty of being uniquely me.
ALBAS: Corruption coverup continues
When the House of Commons is in session, I typically focus on the various bills progressing through Parliament.
Unfortunately, the House of Commons remains gridlocked due to the ongoing debate on a motion of privilege.
To recap—as I wrote in my October 9th report—the current privilege motion stems from House Speaker Greg Fergus’s ruling that the Trudeau Liberal government “clearly did not fully comply” with a House of Commons order. This order demanded the government provide documents related to the now-defunct Crown Corporation, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
As some may recall, the Auditor General’s audit of this program uncovered 90 cases—totaling nearly $76 million in funding—where the foundation’s conflictof-interest policies were disregarded in awarding projects.
The Auditor General also discovered that some companies awarded contracts under this now-defunct program were clearly in conflict-of-interest situations. In some cases, these companies weren’t even eligible for funding as they didn’t meet the criteria. It’s worth noting that these findings only represent about 40% or so of the total funds under direct review by the Auditor General, suggesting the possibility of even more undiscovered issues. While
this is a sore spot for many on Parliament Hill, who wanted a greater number of grants reviewed under this audit, it is well known that the Office of the Auditor General has publicly stated their requests for more funding—to keep pace with the Trudeau Government’s spending—have been denied.
Many Canadians are well aware that if they receive an overpayment of federal government benefits—even through no fault of their own—the Canada Revenue Agency will fully claw back those overpaid benefits.
This raises an obvious question: Will the companies awarded funding they were not eligible for have that funding clawed back?
Of course, we don’t know the answer to this question. The Trudeau Liberal government is not only refusing to answer it but also continues to withhold the documents related to this program.
This week, the House of Commons Law Clerk stated that he had recently received new documents from three government departments relating to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) program. However, in all cases, information was once again withheld by the Liberal government.
This is not the only note worthy challenge facing Prime Minister Trudeau this week. It has been widely reported that as many as 20 Liberal MPs or more have signed a private letter calling on him to resign.
As I write this week’s report, the Liberal caucus is meeting behind closed doors to discuss this very issue.
Does this mean PM Trudeau will resign? In my view, this is unlikely. With an election scheduled for this time next year, there’s little time left for any party to replace a leader and prepare for a national campaign.
My question this week: Should Prime Minister Trudeau resign? Why or why not?
DIXON: Beating the autumn blues by boosting Vitamin D and mood
As autumn sets in, some of us may notice a shift in our mood and energy. With shorter days and less sunlight, we lose a natural source of vitamin D, often known as the “happy vitamin” due to its role in supporting a balanced mood. Without it, we can start feeling down as the days get darker. Fortunately, a few dietary tweaks can keep your vitamin D levels in check and help you feel your best.
Mushrooms are one of the few plant-based sources of vitamin D. Consider making a warm, comforting mushroom soup or a mushroom-filled omelet to start your day with a boost. Liquid cod liver oil,
especially in lemon-flavored versions, is another excellent source of vitamin D; it’s surprisingly versatile—drizzle it over popcorn, salads, or steamed vegetables for an added health kick.
For those who enjoy seafood, canned tuna and sardines are both affordable and vitamin-D-rich options. They’re easy to add to salads, sandwiches, or even pasta for a flavorful, nutrient-packed meal. If dairy is part of your diet, milk and milk alternatives often come fortified with vitamin D, making them simple ways to stay on top of your intake as the sunlight fades.
While diet is essential, don’t forget that small doses of midday sunlight, even on chilly days, can still provide some vitamin D. Combined with these delicious foods, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy a happier, healthier autumn season.
Taking a walk and getting a few rays of sunshine are a great combination. Contact me for a delicious mushroom soup recipe. heartnotes2@gmail.com
From the Herald archives: Oct., 2009 FUNDS FOR LOCAL 4H KIDS
To spur an interest in the local 4H Club, Community Futures Nicola Valley (CFNV) is offering interest-free loans to eligible youth in the region. Loans will range up to $1,500 for members who want to pursue 4H projects starting in the new year. Funds will mos likely be used to purchase a heifer or feed, said CFNV business development officer Patrick Flanagan. “The main purpose is to encourage youth to join the 4H Club and continue when they have projects,” he said.
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.
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DAN ALBAS VIEW FROM THE HILL
BONNIE DIXON HEALTHY CONVERSATIONS
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Bylaw services tackles 35% case surge during summer
City of Merritt’s Bylaw Services department saw a busy summer in 2024, tackling water restrictions, fire safety, unsightly properties, encampments and a 35 per cent rise in cases.
Outlined in a recent report from City of Merritt director of corporate services Linda Brick, after the addition of a second bylaw enforcement officer during the summer season, the department was able to tackle a wide range of projects on a “larger than expected scale.”
Key initiatives included monitoring water usage, enforcing outdoor watering restrictions, and addressing overgrown properties to mitigate fire risks under the Good Neighbour Bylaw. The bylaw officers also worked on trimming hedges encroaching on city sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety, cleaning up unsightly properties, and monitoring encampments.
Bylaw enforcement has experienced a 35 per cent increase in cases opened compared to 2023. From January to September 2024, officers opened 534 cases, a notable rise from the 391 cases opened in all of 2023, and an increase of 544 per cent since April to December, 2021 with just 98 cases opened.
The types of cases varied, ranging from animals, unsightly properties, parking, noise, garbage accumulation, water usage, to snow clearing.
Compliance orders were issued for 22 properties identified as “unsightly,” and 19 of those properties have since been
cleaned up. The City is also continuing efforts to secure fire-damaged homes to ensure they meet safety standards.
As part of wildfire mitigation, the bylaw department issued 198 letters in 2024 to enforce grass cutting regulations under the Good Neighbour Bylaw, with 47 cases requiring city services to complete the necessary work, and 98 repeat compliance orders issued.
The report recommends pairing compliance orders with fines for repeat offenders in 2025 to encourage residents to take greater responsibility for their properties.
Encampment monitoring and cleanup were also a major focus, with 22 different locations monitored and a total of 36 tents documented. Following cleanup efforts at the homeless shelter and N’Kwala Park, the number of tents has been reduced to 12 across three locations. Cleanup efforts continue, with two more unnamed locations currently being addressed.
In response to outdoor water usage violations, over 30 letters have been issued to residents, each accompanied by an educational session about the city’s water restrictions and the importance of compliance.
Overall, the increased staffing and enforcement efforts have allowed the City of Merritt’s Bylaw Services to expand its impact over the summer months, addressing a broader range of community concerns while improving compliance and safety across the city.
THE HAUNTING OF 2024 – Merrittonians enjoyed a spooky evening at the Fright Night Haunted House hosted by the City of Merritt. Rooms filled with clowns, zombies, creepy dolls and a questionable doctor brought the Halloween thrills to town. Photo/Laísa Condé
Kenneth Wong
A June 2022 file photo shows a tent city erected in N’kwala Park in Merritt. Bylaw officers have been conducting cleanup efforts and encampment monitoring over the summer. Photo/Herald file
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
12 bikes stolen in break-in
On Sunday, Oct. 20, the local bike store Breathebikes was broken into and 12 bikes were stolen. Photo/Herald file
Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com
A late-night break-in at Breathebikes in Merritt left owner Travis Fehr reeling.
On Sunday, Oct. 20, between 11:20 p.m. and midnight, the local bike store was broken into and 12 bikes were stolen from the property.
“I’ve never had a break in before,” Fehr told the Herald. “I’ve had minor theft that we’ve caught on security, but never had a break-in.
“It feels awful, especially when I consider that some of the bikes belong to my customers who place their trust in me and my shop by bringing their bike in and now it’s gone.”
Fehr believes that the crime was planned, given that the people involved in it weren’t at the shop for a long time and “they knew where to go and didn’t mess around.
“It seems like it was definitely planned, especially for that many bikes. It’s not easy to move that many bikes up,” he added. “One of them was an electric bike and a few more were big, heavy bikes, so that takes some effort to get done quickly.”
According to Fehr, as a result of the break in, more preventative measures will be put in place at the shop.
“In cooperation with my landlord, we are going to be beefing up our security and putting in more preventative measures,” he said. “That’s just part of the whole keeping a healthy trusting relationship going with our customers.”
For those who have any information on the incident – #2024-5574, please contact the Merritt RCMP 250-3784262.
Merritt sees 5 illicit drug deaths in 9 months
Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com
At least 1,749 toxic unregulated drug deaths have been registered in the nine months of 2024 across British Columbia.
In a press release published on Oct. 24, BC Coroners Service said the amount of deaths to date this year are eight per cent lower than at the same mark in 2023, but approximately six people are still dying each day because of unregulated toxic drugs.
Health authorities of Vancouver Coastal and Interior Health had the high-
est number of unregulated drug deaths in September, with 50 in each region.
According to the release, both Interior and Northern Health had the highest rates of unregulated drug deaths per 100,000 people, with 5.6 deaths in the Interior and 4.3 in Northern Health.
Five people have died from unregulated drugs in Merritt so far in 2024, while six deaths related to toxic drugs were registered in 2023.
Since 2014, the lives of at least 16,721 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs.
50 YEARS OF LIBRARY – On Oct. 3, Merrittonians were invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library over refreshments, cake and books. Photo/Laísa Condé
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Council discusses financial plan amid declining revenue
The City of Merritt’s 2024-2028 Financial Plan Amendment addresses several unexpected costs and changes, including staffing, property insurance, and infrastructure repairs.
The amendment was discussed during the Oct. 22 regular city council meeting, reflecting new financial priorities and funding allocations across departments.
One key adjustment includes expanding the bylaw team from one full-time and one seasonal position to two full-time roles, increasing wages for the 2024-2028 period. The proposed change prompted some discussion in council, with a decision to reconsider the additional position in a future closed meeting.
Increased property insurance costs were another notable topic. Post-flood, premiums have risen by 300 per cent, with deductibles up 900 per cent, adding an unexpected burden of $76,389 to the 2024 budget.
The city is actively exploring options for 2025 to mitigate these increases. “We need to find the best optionality we can for our insurance for 2025 and beyond,” said Director of Finance Kevin Natkinniemi.
Natkinniemi highlighted the need to adjust revenue expectations due to lowerthan-anticipated sales in permit fees and development services.
“If our costs come in higher or the sale of our services comes in lower, it’s ultimately property taxation that’s balancing that equation,” Natkinniemi explained.
Natkinniemi identified two main areas where revenue has fallen short: permit fees and development services, which
are below expectations due to slower urban development; as well as commercial septage, prompting the need to identify new targets and potential upgrades to rebuild the revenue base.
The city also recognized the financial impacts of a lightning strike at the fire station in August 2024. The total known cost of repairs is $19,427.86, covering both material and service costs.
Additionally, repairs for a pipe break at Voght Well earlier in the year have added $45,809.07 to the budget.
Another focus of the amendment is the allocation of Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funds. Merritt received $175,795 for 2025 and 2026, allowing the city to address emissions and reduce reliance on tax dollars.
The plan proposes purchasing up to three electric vehicles with the grant funds, potentially saving the city $124,000 in capital costs.
“What we’d be looking to do is try and meet some of the pickup requests that were in last year’s capital budget without spending additional funds, so the director of public works and engineering, has agreed to trial one of these electric vehicles, and to free up a pickup that can go to the public works fleet. Then there would be other vehicles potentially for use on other teams, such as bylaw team, and they would have access to a pickup and an EV to divide and conquer the work based on those two vehicles.”
“A budget is an educated assumption on what’s going to happen in the city; we may not meet all of those goals or the outcome may not be what we assumed it might be,” added
Chief Administrative Officer
Cynthia White.
“Just like making a budget at home, this is not an exact science when you make a budget, it’s not the actuals, it is what we are hoping to see based on previous numbers and educated projections.”
The amendment reflects ongo -
ing efforts to manage unexpected costs while also planning for future growth. As the finance director noted, “Ultimately, this community has been underpaying for services, and residents have to be prepared to pay for the services they are using, whether through fees or taxation.”
The first reading of the 20242028 Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw was passed with the removal of the second full-time bylaw officer, but the conversation around service levels, costs, and future financial planning will continue into the 2025 budget discussions.
PLUMBING &HEATING
Kenneth Wong
Photo/Herald file
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Tk’emlups takes next step in developing healing centre and elders lodge
ground-penetrating radar survey on the former school site.
The fate of a $12.5-million healing centre and elders’ lodge promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for people impacted by the Kamloops Indian Residential School is off to a public hearing.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors last week unanimously approved first and second readings of a zoning amendment for the Spiyu7ullucw Ranch at 844 Miner Rd. to allow the development of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Healing House project.
The mixed-use development will see a healing centre, elder’s lodge and housing built on the 10.5 hectare property seven kilometres east of Sun Rivers, which was the site of the historic Harper Ranch.
The project had been waiting on approval from the Agricultural Land Commission, and was promised by Trudeau in October 2021 when he visited the band. The federal government then earmarked $12.5 million for the project in 2023 and the band applied that June to the ALC to allow non-farm use on the agricultural reserved land, which the TNRD supported.
According to a regional district staff report, the ALC has since approved the application.
According to the report, the intended Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Healing Centre to be built on the site is designed to assist band members in their healing from personal trauma emanating from the Kamloops Indian Residential School program and the discovery of probable graves the band detected from a 2021
The healing centre is said to be fundamental to reclaiming Indigenous language and culture and having the safe space to engage in healing practices.
In addition to the healing centre, the Tk’emlúps band will also develop multiple fourplex housing units and an Elders’ Lodge on the site. New agricultural uses will be developed on the remaining lands including community gardens, traditional medicine crops and other agricultural uses. The existing dwelling, once used by a former caretaker, will be demolished.
Future uses on the site also include regenerative agriculture, and traditional and cultural land use practices to help nurture First Nations history and talent.
The staff report also states all construction on the project is planned to be located well outside the flood and riparian area setbacks. There is, however, an archaeological site, located near the south edge of the property near the river, which would require a Heritage Conservation Act permit if any works were to be done on the identified site.
Neighbours within a 150-metre radius of the property will receive notification of the public hearing.
The proposed zoning amendment and OCP amendment bylaws will be discussed at a public hearing during an upcoming board meeting. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7.
In 1999, the Tk’emlúps band purchased the Harper Ranch, including the subject property, which will eventually become part of the Tk’emlúps reserve in the future.
Michael Potestio CASTANET
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
City’s CAO addresses Merritt’s key issues
Merritt’s Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia White recently held a “Hot Topics” question and answer session addressing various community concerns, including healthcare, housing, and economic development, speaking candidly about the city’s ongoing challenges.
A key focus of the discussion was the city’s struggle to attract healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and lab technicians.
White acknowledged that housing shortages and financial constraints make it difficult to recruit professionals to Merritt. To mitigate this, the city has kept four to six of the mobile homes purchased postflood available for healthcare workers or consultants.
“(The mobile homes) will continue to belong to the City, and we’ll just use it as temporary transitional housing,” explained White. “So if somebody’s coming in for a couple of weeks and they don’t want to stay in a hotel, then we have the option of putting them into temporary housing.”
“That’s been one of the barriers to having people move here and stay here for longer periods of time, there’s no housing for them,” added White.
White also addressed the community’s frustration over hospital closures, particularly during the holidays.
“We are really hoping that some of the new doctors coming in will get hospital privileges a little quicker,” said White. “We have to use every resource we can, because what it looks like right now is that we will be crisp closed just before Christmas, until after New Years.”
The session also covered Merritt’s housing crisis, with White highlighting the city’s efforts to retain affordable housing units and future plans to invest in small rental units.
“We need to find ways to offer different types of housing to people,” said White. “Our goal is to start investing and being able to return on investment, be able to keep a fund going to support the development of accessible housing; housing that people can actually afford to rent, and-or purchase.”
White encouraged residents to consider how the city should market itself to attract new industries and healthcare professionals.
“How we sell ourselves as a community and how we invest in that recruitment is going to be really important.
“We have a number of projects coming up about how we market the community, where our downtown is, where our values are as a community, that we’re going to need lots of community input on.”
Throughout the discussion, White emphasized the
importance of community involvement, encouraging residents to attend city council meetings and participate in initiatives aimed at improving
Merritt’s future.
Kenneth Wong
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Merritt Fire upgrades fleet with new off-road truck
Merritt Fire Rescue Department has welcomed a new off-road fire truck to the fleet.
The Bush Truck 1 or BT1 is a Type 6 wildland engine, a designation of fire engine built specifically for fighting fires in remote areas and offroading.
Built on a 2023 Ford F550 medium-duty, 4-wheel drive chassis, with an aluminium body, designed for a lifespan of over 15 years. This durability also allows for future cost savings with the ability for the custom body to be transferred to a new chassis when needed.
The purchase of BT1 was approved in the 2023 budget. After what Merritt Fire Rescue Department chief Dave Tomkinson described as a “tendering process”, taking nearly 12 months to build, at a cost of $380,000.
BT1 replaces an outdated pickup truck, which only had a 100-gallon tank and lacked the firefighting capacity needed for multifaceted incidents. The new vehicle carries a 300-gallon water tank, as well as a wide array of
specialized equipment, including portable pumps, hoses, medical gear, and firefighting tools.
“The pump on board can pump almost 400 PSI at about 90 gallons per minute, we found that we didn’t have the capacity to pump to higher elevations with our previous truck,” explained Tomkinson.
Tomkinson emphasized the critical role of Bush Truck 1 in enhancing community safety and the effectiveness of the Merritt Fire Department’s emergency responses.
“Our initial attack is really important, if these small fires get away, could become a fire that could threaten structures or neighbourhoods,” said Tomkinson. “In the summer, we go to a lot of smoke chases or sites of smoke and investigate, and then there’s also the issues of incidents off of the freeway as well that are relevant and within our jurisdiction.”
BT1 serves a dual purpose for the Merritt Fire Rescue Department by responding to both wildland fires and medical emergencies. “We’re trying to make the most of this new truck so it will respond to approximately
400 to 450 medical emergencies annually, and then however many wildland calls that we get,” explained Tomkinson. “Instead of putting the big red fire truck out there, we are sending a much smaller unit, where its operating costs are much less.”
The Merritt Fire Rescue Department acquired the BT1 approximately a month ago and it has already served on four missions with the fire department. “It’s responding to different things like lightning-hold-over-fire, some nuisance type of calls where a normal fire engine wouldn’t be able to access,” said Tomkinson.
Tomkinson recalls the ceremony conducted by the fire department when the BT1 was first acquired. “We’ve been around since 1907 so we’ve been around the community a long time, and the department really started with a bucket brigade,” said Tomkinson. “When this truck came into service, we actually did a push-in ceremony, where we mimicked what would have happened way back in the day, of pushing the horse drawn carriages into the hall.”
“We took one of the antique round bottom buckets and we took water out of the old apparatus, transferred that bucket through every member’s hands, and poured the water into this truck to christen it,” recalls Tomkinson.
The Merritt Fire & Rescue Department poses in front of the newest addition of their fleet, the wildland truck. Photo/Kenneth Wong
Kenneth Wong
Split weekend for the Cents after back-to-back against Osoyoos
editor@merrittherald.com
Tuesday, Oct. 22 – Merritt
Centennials 3, Kelowna Chiefs 2
The Cents celebrated their fourth win in a row after taking down the Chiefs 4-2 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The first period saw a balanced game from both sides, with 11 shots on goal for the Cents, though neither could find the back of the net.
During the final minutes of the second, the Centennials’ Maxim Radamanovich opened the scoreboard after scoring the first goal of his junior hockey career.
The pressure wasn’t enough as the Chiefs managed to add a goal of their own two minutes into the final frame, tying the game 1-1.
Not long after, Kelowna’s Ben Henshall managed to put it past the Cents’ goalie, making it 2-1.
Merritt did not let the pressure dictate their game as close to the end of the final frame, Wyatt Ball (4) found the back of the net to once again tie it up.
The game remained deadlocked at 2-2 during the final frame going into overtime, despite Merritt’s 11 shots on goal.
After a scoreless overtime, the two teams headed to a shootout to decide the winner. Dylan Ruff scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout, crowning a 3-2 victory for the Cents.
With the win, Merritt improved to 5-5-1-0 on the 2024-25 season.
The Merritt Centennials defeated the Osoyoos Coyotes 2-1 on Friday at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Mathis Perron stopped 28 out of 29 shots to help lead the Cents in a tight and physical victory over Osoyoos.
The Coyotes came out of the gate strong and put a lot of pressure on Merritt. Despite the visiting team’s dominance through the first period, Sam Giangualano found the back of the net for the Centennials, opening the score
just over 10 minutes in.
During the second period, the Centennials seemed to have found their rhythm and dominated the period with 19 shots on goal against seven for the Coyotes.
Merritt’s Tyler Origitano put it past the goalie in the second frame of the game, making the score 2-0 to the home team.
The two-goal lead would carry until the very last two minutes of the game, when Mason Rudolph scored the only goal of the game for Osoyoos.
With the 2-1 win over the Coyotes, the Centennials celebrated their fifth win in a row.
There was little time to celebrate Friday’s victory as the Centennials hit the road to face the Osoyoos Coyotes at their arena for the second time over the weekend.
The first period saw Osoyoos dictating the game, with 17 shots on goal against seven for the Centennials, though neither of the teams could find the back of the net.
After a scoreless first frame, Dylan Kruchten opened the scoring to give the Centennials a 1-0 lead early in the second period.
But the lead would soon be gone as the Coyotes added two unanswered goals throughout the middle frame, turning it into a 2-1 game.
Merritt players did not let the one goal advantage for the Coyotes get into their heads going into the final frame.
Cents’ Steven Foster put it past the goalie during a power play and tied the game 2-2.
After a scoreless overtime, the two teams headed to a shootout to decide the winner. Osoyoos crowned their victory after both of their players scored during shootout and Merritt players didn’t.
The Merritt Centennials fell 3-2 to the Osoyoos Coyotes, breaking their five-win streak.
Merritt is back on the ice tomorrow, Nov. 1, against the Revelstoke Grizzlies at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
1) How did you know when you wanted to play hockey?
My parents put me in hockey when I was 8 years old and since then I’ve loved playing the game and kinda just stuck with it.
2) What is your favourite meal before game time?
Pre game meal is always chicken and rice.
3) Favourite animal?
Favourite animal would be a dog.
ICE BREAKER
Laísa Condé
The Merritt Centennials faced the Osoyoos Coyotes back-to-back over the weekend. Photo/Laísa Condé
SPORTS
Indigenous coaches lead local athletes to historic perfomance at lacrosse competition
Laísa Condé editor@merrittherald.com
Two local Indigenous athletes and two Indigenous coaches made history at the Men’s World Sixes lacrosse tournament in Vancouver.
Coaches Wayne Kaboni and Bernard ‘Buzz’ Manuel led the charge, bringing their extensive knowledge and passion for the game to inspire the young athletes.
Kaboni, who has been coaching lacrosse for over a decade, emphasized the importance of cultural representation.
“Never even thought in my wildest dreams that I would be coaching against two Olympic teams,” he said. “It was just an honour to be able to get the kids motivated to understand how important it was for them to show up and represent their communities.”
Manuel added that the team was there representing their families, communities, nation and Indigenous Peoples as a whole, not just themselves.
‘‘
second game we got better, and in the third game we got better… They were fairly close games for the most part. We were beating Team Mexico in the last two games and we ran out of gas, not knowing how to play under pressure.”
For a team that was put together at the very last minute, coach Kaboni praises their achievement.
“It was a pretty good achievement for the kids. We had a great coaching staff too, we balanced ourselves in terms of technical skills, motivation and getting the key team to keep thinking ahead and looking at the opportunity,” he added.
Manuel shared his most memorable moment of the competition, highlighting the game against Team Canada.
“I think it was our second game on Saturday night. The boys were down, we were playing Canada and their energy level was so high, but their concentration level was even higher,” Manuel said.
‘It was an opportunity that we wouldn’t get, especially Merritt kids.’
“We were all pulled together by the Creator to come and play this game for the people and to spread awareness and spread the love of lacrosse,” he said.
— Coach Wayne Kaboni
Joining them at the tournament, local athletes Dakota Grismer-Voght and Marcelo Raygn Bose have been pivotal in their community’s lacrosse scene.
“Being able to represent my community was very cool,” Bose said. “It’d be nice if we got to do it more.”
“It was really cool to be able to represent not just one nation, but everybody,” GrismerVoght said. “It was awesome to be able to show everybody that (lacrosse) is a native sport.”
Throughout the competition, Team Indigenous played against both Team Canada and Team Mexico Olympic teams. During two matches against Team Mexico, Team Indigenous came very close to winning but the final score were 17-15 and 18-17 to the Olympic team.
“It was an opportunity that we wouldn’t usually get, especially Merritt kids,” coach Kaboni said.
“Before our first game there were lots of little hiccups, but the team evolved and in the
“For them to put the egos down and to just come together and play as a team that was a really powerful moment, because there was a lot of tension built up in the first two or three games, and then they eventually outgrew that for a few minutes, and they all played really hard as a team, and that’s when we scored the most goals against Canada.”
As for young Indigenous players aspiring to compete at higher levels in lacrosse, all four of them advise them to never lose hope.
“Keep your head down and keep working, the opportunities will come,” Bose said. “There shouldn’t be any reason that you should quit, because the opportunities are what makes sports… you should always strive to be a better version of yourself.”
“Play hard, have fun and be open to learning and playing other positions, be open about playing with a different team, different coach, different town, different kids and just have fun,” Manuel added.
For Grismer-Voght, focusing is the key for success and future opportunities.
“I feel like the work is not actually training and practice, it’s focusing on that goal and not getting distracted by what your friends want to do,” he said.
“If you love it, stick with it. I think that’s the biggest advice.”
Photos/Wayne Kaboni
The curious case of the missing cannon: a 100-year mystery
Around 1877, a couple of people from Nicola discovered a onepound cannon that was placed in the hills above Shuter Creek.
This cannon was a Hudson’s Bay Cannon and was likely originally from Fort Kamloops, back when it was a Hudson’s Bay trading post.
How the cannon got to Shuter Creek is unknown, but the cannon was taken and displayed at the Shuter Place for many years.
After the construction of the Nicola Courthouse was completed in July 1914, it was decided that the cannon should be placed outside the new courthouse, and there the cannon sat proudly for the next 5 years.
In mid-December 1919, the government decided to close the government offices and courthouse in Nicola and move permanently to Merritt.
This announcement was met with a lot of discontent from the people of Nicola, although this was inevitable, by this point Merritt had far eclipsed Nicola
in population and infrastructure and thus this move was to be expected.
What was not expected however, was that when the offices moved, so too would the cannon.
It appears that in the orders to move offices, the government also asked that the cannon on display outside of the Nicola courthouse was to be moved and put on display at the Merritt courthouse.
This made the people of Nicola incredibly upset, their relic had been moved to another city without their consultation.
It appears that a resident of Nicola sent a note to the Herald saying that the people of Nicola will take their cannon back, the Herald made note and published an article saying:
“If you are awoken rudely some night in the near future by noises that sounds like the return of a victorious army… just sleep peacefully, you will not be harmed… It will simply be the people of Nicola returning to their homes after having captured or recaptured the old Hudson Bay cannon that was brought to
Merritt a few days ago.”
It turns out that this was no idle threat. On New Years Eve, 1918, a group of people from Nicola came to Merritt in the dead of night to take their cannon back, and they were successful in doing so.
By January 1, 1919 the cannon was back at the Nicola Courthouse.
Interestingly however, shortly after it was replaced at it’s spot in Nicola, the cannon went missing and appears to have been lost for over 100 years.
In a January 31, 1919 article, the Herald was reporting on a mock parliament session that was being held in Nicola.
At this mock parliament session for the Province of Nicola, Mrs. Langstaff, Member for Nicola Lake, put forward a petition that they should investigate the disappearance of the cannon saying jokingly, “This cannon was needed to protect the citizens of [Nicola] from the dangers of Bolsheviks and the ‘flu.”
The whereabouts of this cannon appear to have been com-
pletely lost. The Merritt Herald placed articles asking for information on the whereabouts of the cannon even as late as June 1984, but I was unable to find a follow up story, or any information in our archives about what happened to the cannon.
■ Approved mini-storage
■ On-siterentals
■ Secured
■ SaleofNew&Used storagecontainers
1750HillStreet ■ Phone:250-315-3000
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
Cameron Bridge NICOLA VALLEY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
The missing cannon stood outside the Nicola courthouse, circa 1986. Photo/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives
Middlesboro Bridge reopening sparks review of transit routes
The City of Merritt is considering reinstating pre-flood transit routes following the reopening of the Middlesboro Bridge in November 2024.
The bridge’s destruction in 2021 prompted route changes to accommodate access, however, with Middlesboro Bridge reconstruction finishing on Nov. 16, Merritt city council, BC Transit, and the Nicola Valley Transportation Society are evaluating the option to revert routes to their original paths.
According to the city’s director of finance Kevin Natkinniemi, return -
ing to pre-flood routes would discontinue service along Midday Valley Road, a route that currently serves areas such as the Barkman Industrial Plant.
Data collected over the past year shows low ridership on this route, with only six passengers boarding or disembarking between October 2023 and September 2024. Meanwhile, restoring the original routes would meet public demand for direct service between Downtown and Bob’s Mini Mart, though riders traveling between Collettville and other parts of the city would need to transfer
between routes 2 and 3.
BC Transit is actively collaborating with the City of Merritt to determine the best approach.
“In preparation for the reopening of the Middlesboro Bridge, BC Transit and the City of Merritt are in the process of collaborating on potential routing options for the Merritt Transit System,” stated BC Transit’s Jamie Weiss, senior media relations and public affairs advisor. “We want to ensure all areas of the community are being served, with an anticipated service change implementation in early 2025.
L“These decisions are still all yet to be made as we work with the City of Merritt. More information will be available once these decisions are finalized.”
The council will discuss three options at its upcoming meeting: reinstating the preflood routes, maintaining the current modified routes, or inviting BC Transit to attend a future meeting for further discussion on potential alternatives.
A decision regarding these routes is expected to follow discussions with BC Transit and consideration of the community’s needs.
