Block watch amidst surge in crime
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
A group of Merrittonians have decided to create a block watch after rising crime.
Citizens on Patrol, who held their first meeting on Sept. 13, was formed by Merritt residents Bryan Halfordilo, Jenn Ann Fraser, and Michael Larden in response to the recent surge in crime and the homeless shelter being moved from Merritt Desert Inn to Knights Inn.
“The more eyes in the community we have, the better,” said Halfordilo. “We’re not here to confront people, we’re here to just watch, and if we have to, call the police on certain situations.”
The meeting discussed logistics and safety of organizing the patrols.
Larden has contacted the Vancouver Police Citizens Crimewatch program for documents on their rules and regulations, planning to collaborate with the mayor, police, and others to create local guidelines, ensuring clarity on what can and cannot be done for the Citizens on Patrol initiative.
The patrol group is looking to acquire radios for internal coordination as well as communication with the RCMP.
“I think it’s going to be a positive thing moving on, because there’s strength in numbers,” said City Councillor Paul Petroczi. “Policing is a lot tougher now than when I was a member.”
“That’s why reporting helps,” said Fraser. “Even a report helps, it’s not necessarily ending that crime right there right now, but getting that report helps.
“We want to make sure that everything we do with this group is above board and within the confines of the law so that everyone is protected.”
Larden also volunteered to take on the role as an administrator and incident accountant for the patrol group. “I think if there’s some sort of organization for keeping in contact, for somebody to hold all the information and organize it, like administrative,” said a resident that inspired Larden to take on the role.
“We can go to the RCMP station and hand them one radio and say ‘if you want to have a car that has the one radio on it, we go out, and if we see something, we can radio them right away,’” said Larden. “That’s essentially what happens in Vancouver, they have two police officers that, in their police cars, they have a radio that is
See PROVINCE Page 3
Engines were roaring at Merritt Speedway over the weekend. Page 25. Photo/Kenneth Wong
Ameticulously restoredheritagehouseofelegance &charmon0.8acre lotwithR2zoning,agem from1910.Thehomeboasts4bedrms3baths&a newly renovatedMillCreekCabinetkitchenwith appliances.Closetoamenities.
Veryprivatehomeon17,587sq.ft.lotwithriver frontage.Thisnicelyfinished4bedrm,3bathhome hasopendesignkitchenwithS/Sappliances, grantetopisland&shakestylecabinets.Living room hasvaultedceilings.Large rec. roomwithwetbar. Theyard isagardener’sparadise!
Affordable3bedrmhousehousewithfenced backyard andclosetoschools,storeandwalking distancetoshopping.NeedsalittleTLC,butgreat forinvestor.Nostratafees.
Executive retreaton16acreswithfruittrees,fields, workshop&chickencoop.Custombuilthomewith 4bedrms,3baths,hugeoakkitchen,highceilingsin living rm &partlyfin.basement.Relaxonthewrap aroundcovereddecks.Pefectforyoga retreat.
Fantasticviewsfromthistwostoreyhomewithhigh endfeatures,openconceptlivingwith3bedrms, 3baths,spaciouskitchenwithisland,Frenchdoor offdiningareatopatioareaplusafullunfinished basement.Closetoshopping,college&amenities.
Thisdreamcountry retreatfeatures4bedrms,2 baths,fullbsmt,alargedetachedshopandall on1.79acreswith2drilledwells.Lotsof room forhorsesorchickens&includesapowered chickencoop
kitchenandliving room.Hasdetachedgaragefor handyman.
4bedrmhoumeon1.56acres,2bedrmsupand 2downwithcountrystylekitchenwithdining
Stunning4bedrmhomewith5pceensite,and afabulous2bedrmlegalbsmtsuite.Perfectfor familiesorsavvyinvestors.Hasspaciousmain livingareawithHWondemandandbeautiful landscaping.
Greatfamilydreamhomeindesirablearea,boasts 4spaciousbedrms&3baths.Unbeatablelocation closetoschool,tenniscourts&hikingtrails.Enjoythe coveredpatioofftheprimarybedrm&overlookthe backyard.CentralA/C
fromdowntownMerritt.Featuresfreshnewpaint andflooringthroughouttheupstairs.Easyaccessto schools,parks&shopping.Quickpossession.
with3bedrmsup,spaciousliving roon,largekitchen withoakcabinets,largefamily room,plusground level2bedrmsuite.Hasfencedbackyard with gardenspace
Buildyourdreamhomeor recreation retreaton this11,947sq.ft.stratalotatNicolaLake.Hasgreat viewsandaccesstothewater. Allservicesareto thepropertyline.GSTapplies.Callformore details.
unit, RV parking,largepatioinfullyfencedback yard withgardenspace.
Province keeps delegating everything on communities
From Page 1
hooked up directly to the Citizens Crime Watch program, and they’re on there really quick when that works out.”
Issues with limited resources within Merritt were also discussed.
According to Petroczi, there are currently two on duty officers patrolling at night while a third remains at the detachment.
During the day, the City’s bylaw officers are unable to properly do their duties due to safety concerns. “When our bylaw officers go and move these tents, they’re mostly full of weapons, drugs and cash,” said Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz. “These are not homeless people, these are people usually paying off a debt to somebody.”
“The problem here is, we also have to ask the provincial government to stop downloading everything on communities, we can’t do this the way it is,” said Goetz.
Goetz suggests the idea of utilizing Crown land and installing pallet shelters. Pallet houses are cost effective, modular, rapidly deployable shelters designed to provide temporary housing solutions for unsheltered populations, with each unit assembled within an hour and equipped with amenities like climate control, locking doors, and hygiene facilities.
“If we got 15 acres of Crown land, and we took that $1.9 million (from BC Housing’s investment in the Knights Inn) we could house 150 people out of the community on their own, in their own compound for life, if they chose to do it,” said Goetz. “$1.9 million looks after 40 people for two and a half years, the spending doesn’t make any sense.”
After the meeting was over, Citizens on Patrol had their first unofficial night patrol with five volunteers covering significant ground over the span of two hours.
“We located a place that we will keep monitoring, unfortunately it is on private property so the RCMP can’t do anything about it,” said Halfordilo. “We have made them aware, and will contact the property owner, to make them aware.”
Halfordilo announced in a Facebook post he met with the RCMP to discuss safety and will not have an official patrol until Sept. 20.
“There are a lot of guns in town and a lot of people carry weapons; as people walking, we have no car to try and get away in,” said Halfordilo. “I know many of us want to keep going out, so this is what we will do, we will not go out until Friday night, to get a few things in order.”
Merrittonians gathered last Friday to potentially set up a block watch amidst crime surge in town. Photos/Kenneth Wong
Public Hearing
TheCit yofMerrittwillbeholding aPublic Hearing for Official Communit yPlanAmendment BylawNo. 2375,2024,and Zoning Amendment BylawNo. 2376 ,2024 forthe proper ty at 1129 Midday Valley Road
RESCHEDULEDTO
PROPOSEDCHANG ES: BylawNo. 2375,2024 proposes to amendthe OCPL andUse Designation forthe subjec tpropert yfrom ‘Future Development’ to ‘Indus trial’ BylawNo. 2376 ,2024proposestoamend theZoningfor thesubject proper ty from ‘FD –FutureDevelopment ’to‘M1 –Light Industrial’.
TheCurrent Land UseDesignationand Zoning intendstoidentify landsfor future developmentaligned withthegeneral vision of thecorresponding OCPsec torofMiddlesboro to includeamix of lowand medium densit yresidential, parks, andindus trialuses.
PROVIDEINPUT: Inputiswelcomedatthe Public HearingonTuesday,September 24,2024 at6:0 0pm. Speakinpersonbysigningup at thehearing,orbyprovidinga written submission to theCorporate Officeratinfo@merritt .c aprior to noon Friday,September 20,2024, orbymailtothe Corpor ateO fficer,Cit yofMerritt, PO Box189,Merritt, BC V1K1B8 ,to bereceivedbeforethe conclusion of thehearing.
Please note that Councilwillnot receivefur ther submissionsfromthe public concerning this applic ation after theconclusionofthe public hearing. Itis theresponsibility of the submitter to ensure that materialsarereceived priortothe closeofthepublic hearing.
MORE INFORMATION: Acopyofthe proposed Bylawamendment smay be viewed Tuesday toFriday8:0 0amto12:00 pm and1:15pmto5:45pmatCit yHall, 2185 VoghtStreet, MerrittBC ,untilTuesday,September 24,2024, oronline at anytime at ww w.merritt .c a.
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Alleged gunman shot at least three times by Mounties
describing Karlson as “armed and dangerous.”
A man who was shot multiple times last week in what was described by police as a shootout near Merritt is expected to survive, according to his lawyer.
Ron Karlson, 37, has been in hospital since Thursday, when he was airlifted in serious condition following an alleged exchange of gunfire with Mounties.
“He was shot multiple times — he himself is not even sure if it was three or four, it might have been more,” Dustin Gagnon, Karlson’s defence lawyer, told Castanet.
“He’s kind of been out of it for the last five days. He was heavily sedated for the first three days and had to go through two surgeries, and he’s possibly going for another one.”
Prior to the shooting, on Thursday afternoon, Merritt RCMP issued a bulletin
Karlson was wanted at the time in relation to two breach charges, police said.
The shootout is alleged to have followed a high-speed pursuit in Merritt, Mounties said, after which Karlson fled to a remote forest service road, where he is alleged to have opened fire on workers in the area.
Police said Karlson was shot and the vehicle he was driving was rammed after he opened fire on officers at a road block set up to catch him. A female passenger travelling with him suffered minor injuries.
The Independent Investigations Office, B.C.’s police watchdog agency, is investigating the incident.
Anyone with information can call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477 or submit information online.
NOTICE OF RESCHEDULING
Due to a procedural error on the part of the Merritt Herald, the Public Hearing for the City of Merritt originally scheduled for September 24, 2024, has been rescheduled to October 8, 2024.
We sincerely applogize for any inconvenience this may cause to the public and the development community.
For more details, please refer to the updated Public Hearing notice that will appear in the September 26 edition of the Merritt Herald. The advertisement will appear on page 4 in the City of Merritt’s section.
Tim Petruk CASTANET
VIEWPOINT
WONG: regular civic engagement matters
KENNETH WONG HERALD REPORTER
I would like to preface this opinion piece by saying I have great admiration and respect for the people of Merritt. Nowhere else have I seen a community that is so willing to come together and support one another; to champion the causes that they believe in, whether that be a hobby, a sport, or an idea.
This piece is not meant to shame, rather, it is to inspire.
Today, I would like to talk about civic engagement in this municipality.
On Friday, Sept. 6, the Civic Centre saw approximately 250 residents enter its doors to exercise their democratic rights to hold government accountable, to ask questions, and have their voices heard.
I saw passion and a drive to protect one’s home.
Within a week of the meet-
ing, as you have read in this Sept. 19 edition of our newspaper, a volunteer neighbourhood watch group was formed. In a matter of days from the Civic Centre meeting, the idea to form a neighbourhood watch group was conceptualized; exactly seven days after the initial meeting, Citizens on Patrol held their very own first meeting.
This is what this community is capable of doing when it comes together, and Merrittonians should be proud of that. Community members saw a threat to their safety, to their homes, and they came together to do something about it.
That being said, it saddens me deeply that nobody is willing to engage with the democratic process when the danger is not immediate or obvious.
Every other Tuesday, the City of Merritt hosts a city council meeting which is open to the public. Mayor and Council are there to discuss things that are happening in this municipality; whether it be new construction on property, taxes and services fees, water shortages, or a myriad of other issues, these meetings have a direct impact on all peoples in Merritt, and sometimes, indirect impact on our neighbouring communities.
I have lived in Merritt for approximately eight months now. Since I’ve arrived here, I have
attended approximately 80 to 90 per cent of city council meetings and I rarely see anyone else in the audience.
When there are other people in the audience, they are either City staff or residents with an agenda to make a presentation (and then they leave after their presentation is over). On rare occasions, perhaps once or twice, I have seen a resident in the audience who is present only to understand what is going on in their community.
These meetings are not just there to tell you “this is what’s happening, deal with it,” they are open to the public because it is a chance for you, the public, to engage with municipal officials and for you to exercise your free speech.
The worst thing they can do is tell you no or why your idea is not possible; but it is better to be informed and have your voice heard, even if you don’t like the answer, than it is to remain ignorant and have your thoughts kept within your mind or your immediate social circle.
The democratic process is not just done at the voting booth, it is done everyday as long as we live in a democratic country.
That means engaging with your neighbours, your friends, your coworkers, your family, and your government. It means expressing what you think is right
for yourself, your community, and your society.
The energy I saw in the Civic Centre on Sept 6. was incredible and it is a shame that I do not see even a fraction of this energy in regular municipal discourse.
I come from the Lower Mainland, where 10 people present at a city council meeting may perhaps catch the attention of community leaders but not much will be done. Here in Merritt, 10 people merely present at a council meeting will make waves; 10 people voicing their concerns can move mountains.
City council meetings are hosted every other Tuesday. You can check on their website to see when the next meeting will take place and what will be discussed.
Beyond much of this, our elected officials in this council can be quite funny at times, having been to so many meetings, I am serious when I say I would pay if they held a comedy night irrelevant to politics.
I hope to see you at the next council meeting.
From
WATER PROBLEMS
Merritt city council members thought they had the water supply problem at the Information Centre all sorted out after they installed a 9,000 gallon water tank behind the centre.
But they were wrong. Even since the new holding tank was installed at the end of August the water supply to the restrooms has been failing, and as another temporary fix, truck loads of water are being hauled to the centre two or three times a week.
“The engineers are coming in again to find out what the problem is,” mayor Clara Norgaard said late last week.
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.
City seeks federal help for disaster mitigation
City of Merritt’s Flood Mitigation team is launching an e-petition aimed at garnering federal support for disaster mitigation.
The initiative calls on the Government of Canada to support the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) or a similar program to support small communities impacted by disasters.
According to a news release, the City of Merritt calls the funding a critical support in order to implement a comprehensive dike system designed to protect Merritt from future flooding events.
“The petition gives residents, stakeholders, and supporters the opportunity to make their voices heard in
Parliament, advocating for federal assistance to ensure the safety and resilience of our community,” the release reads.
Once the petition collects 500 signatures, Dan Albas, member of Parliament for the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, will secure time to advocate on behalf of Merritt’s needs on the parliamentary floor.
“Together, we can ensure Merritt’s needs are heard and acted upon at the highest levels of government,” the release says.
For those interested in supporting the cause, the e-petition can be accessed at ourcommons.ca/en/ Petition/Sign/e-5135
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
City of Merritt hopes to gain federal support for disaster mitigation through e-petition. Photo/Kenneth Wong
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
New school year, new superintendent
but students are always the center of whatever I do,” said Lawrance.
The Nicola Similkameen School District has a new superintendent.
Courtney Lawrance sat down with the Herald to talk about the future of the school district.
Lawrance was born in Chilliwack, B.C. and acquired over 20 years of experience in education and administration in rural Alberta.
Lawrance got into education to help students excel the way she did. “I was one of the people that education worked for them,” said Lawrance. “The system was my way to have a better life, so my goal was always to go to post secondary; and because it made such a difference in my life, I wanted to make it so that it was that way for more people.”
Lawrance has taught every subject as a teacher except for science, math and physical education; serving as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and superintendent. As a vice principal in a kindergarten to grade 12 school, Lawrance worked to improve graduation rates and balance the budget.
As associate superintendent of learning at Living Waters Catholic Separate School Division in Alberta, Lawrance and her team raised literacy rates by 23 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Basically my philosophy is, ‘how is it going to improve student learning or student outcomes?’ and that’s really what guides our work.”
One of the strategies that Lawrance is bringing over to SD 58 is being datadriven. “We tend to look at (historical data) in three, five and 10 year periods of time,” said Lawrance. “Are the initiatives we’re working on, the strategies we’re using, are they getting us the result that we want?”
Emphasizing project-based learning and developing skills for discerning credible information in a rapidly changing, tech-driven world, Lawrance describes the B.C. curriculum as ‘cutting edge or world leading.’
“It’s less about, what we would probably call in the old days, ‘skill and drill,’ so I teach it to you (and) you regurgitate it back to me,” said Lawrance. “It’s more about how we take meaning from the data set that we’ve been provided.”
“We’re seeing more project based learning, combining different subject areas where they can come together,” explained Lawrance. “It’s not so much what you know, it’s how you go about solving that problem, and that is really the skill that our students are going to need as they make their way into the work world.”
Having experience in rural Alberta, Lawrance chose SD 58 due to it being a smaller community. “I like to be a superintendent who’s in schools and knows all of our employees, our support staff, our teachers, so that you understand when you’re making decisions how it impacts people in the building,
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com See SCHOOL DISTRICT Page 10
Lawrance also announced a pilot program, which is still in the works, between Interior Health and “different school divisions.” The pilot program focuses on peer coaching and mental wellness in class -
Late Monday night, Merrittonians were graced with the northern lights as it painted the sky across Canada.
The phenomenon happened after an intense solar flare.
Courtney Lawrance joins School District 58 as their new superintendent. Photo/Contributed
School District 58, provincial leader in Indigenous education
From Page 9
rooms, following the trauma from the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2021 floods and fires.
“Trauma is a really hard thing, because you can be doing well for a while, and then it comes back,” said Lawrance. “We’ve worked really hard with our mental health and mental wellness programs to make sure that we’re able to offer support in our school.”
“We’re preparing students for careers that may not exist at the moment,” said Lawrance. “The statistics are that most people will have six different careers in their lifetime, depending on the path that they choose, so the curriculum in B.C. is really about creating people that are resilient and able to adapt and problem solve.”
According to Lawrance, data suggests that SD 58 is a “provincial leader” in Indigenous education. “A lot of what we hear other people talk about is actually in practice,” said Lawrance. “In a lot of other places, what happens is there’s been good conversation, but not as much movement.”
With the local educational agreement expiring at the end of 2024-2025, Lawrance looks to what a renewed agreement may look like.
“Part of that process is collaboration between the School District and the Bands to make sure we have an agreement that’s going to lead to positive outcomes for students,” said Lawrance. “I think relationships are really the foundation, not just for Indigenous education, but for all of the pieces that we do.”
“My overall vision would be that we’re working towards a 100 per cent graduation rate,” said Lawrance. “We are preparing them with a vast amount of skills and knowledge so that they are prepared for the work world that they go into, and
Winewit hV ineKits
Lookingtocreateyourownwinefromthecomfort of your ownhome? LooknofurtherthanV ineKits,conveniently locatedinthehear tofWest Kelowna. We area winekitand brewingstore sourcing qualityingredients fromacrosstheworld.Wecanalso preparewinefor youaccordingtoyour specifictaste.Wehavehundredsofwinekitsavailableforsale forhome brewingorchoosetohaveyourwinebrewedin-storeand bottledinfour to eightweeks.Bringyourown bottlesor purchasenewonesfromus. Whetheryou prefer to do it allyourself, bottleyourvinoin-storeortake ithome to finishthe process, we of fera varietyofoptions to suit your needs.Customorders arealwayswelcome,andourknowledgeablestaff ishappytohelpyou choosethe perfectkit foryour desiredtaste
always looking to improve academic achievement so that more doors are open for them.”
According to the B.C. government, SD 58 graduation rates were 80 to 89 per cent between 2018 and 2023.
OOKINGTOENHANCEYOUR HOME’SCURBAPPEAL?
ByemanExteriors hasyoucoveredwith TOP-QUALITYHARDIEPLANKSIDING thatcombinesbeauty,durability, andenergy efficiency.
ContactMatttodayatorvisit VinylSiding.ca todiscoverwhyhomeownersinMerritt,BCtrustByemanExteriorsforsuperiorserviceandcraftsmanship.
NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
New child care resource centre coming to Merritt and Princeton area
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
Parents in Merritt and Princeton are getting an extra resource for their little ones as YMCA opens their office in town.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m., Merrittonians are invited to the official grand opening of the Merritt Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) office at 2990 Voght St., Crossroads Church.
Parents and other community members will join Nadine Ducharme, CCRR coordinator, and her team to learn more about the services being provided in the Merritt and Princeton area over refreshments.
Maureen Doll, director of community programs for YMCA in the Kamloops region, said that the B.C. government decided that they wanted an office location in every single school district across the province, to align all school districts.
“We’ve been providing services from Kamloops remotely or driving to the community kind of once a month,” she said. “So this office, physically located in Merritt, is going to serve Merritt as well as Princeton.”
Doll added that the main focus is to support families with children, especially in the early years, and the childcare sector, such as child care administrators, people who want to open childcare and others.
“We provide professional development opportunities, networking opportunities,” she said. “When families are looking for child care, they can call the Merritt office or stop by and they can let them know where
there may be space or what the locations are in Merritt and Princeton.”
She highlighted the importance of having a physical office available in town.
“If you have a question about anything, any kind of community questions, you have a physical place to go, a physical space to get support for you and your family or even just come and have some fun with your family and meet other parents and care providers that are at the same stage that your children are at,” Doll said.
“I think that’s incredibly critical for all our communities, but especially our small communities where there’s not a lot of options.”
Doll also added that most of the services being offered at the Merritt office will be free.
“The lending library is free, the drop-in centre is free. Most of our training will be free,” she said. “We just need to be able to spread the word and (people) to come to the open house so you can see it for yourself.”
Annual Tax Sale
A s per the Local Government Act (RSBC 2015) Par t 16 , Division 7, the followin parcels of proper ty shall be offered for sale by public auc tion unless the delinquent taxes with interest are paid by October 7, 2024.
0
0 0
If the amount of delinquent taxes, taxes in arrear and interest to the first day of the tax sale for which the parcel of land and the improvements are liable for sale are not paid before the annual tax sale, the City of Merritt will offer the property for sale by public auction at the time and place stated in this notice.
If the property is sold at the annual tax sale, a right of redemption will remain in the owner or holder of the charge until the end of the redemption period
The City of Merritt makes no representation expressed or implied as to the condition or quality of the properties being offered for sale Prospective purchasers are urged to make all necessary inquiries to municipal and other government departments, and in the case of strata lots to the strata corporation, to determine the existence of any bylaws, restriction, charges, or other conditions which may affect the value or sustainability of the property.
Due diligence does not include trespassing on properties that may be available at the auction.
Any person upon being declared the successful bidder must provide photo ID and immediately pay by cash or certified cheque a minimum of not less than the upset price Failure to pay this amount will result in the property being offered for sale again
Purchase of a Tax Sale Property is subject to tax under the Property Tax Transfer Act on the fair market value of the property
NATIONAL FOREST WEEK
September 22 - 28, 2024
2024 Theme Two-Eyed Seeing
Two-Eyed Seeing is a powerful perspective braiding Traditional Knowledge with Western Science. Through mutual respect and collaboration, we can learn how to implement Indigenous traditions with modern technologies to sustain healthy forests for future generations. Together we are stronger, helping to enable economic innovation and mitigate and adapt to the ever-changing climate challenges (such as wildfires, forest pests/pathogens, species at risk) facing our forests.
Learn how Two-Eyed Seeing can help sustain our forests by following #NationalForestWeek / #SemaineNationaleDeLArbreEtDesForêts !
Forestry’s role in shaping Merritt’s economic growth
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
Forestry has long been a cornerstone of the Nicola Valley’s economic development.
Originally consisting of small sawmills for community and personal use, the construction of the railway in 1907 significantly boosted the forestry industry, allowing larger sawmills to open and enabling transportation of timber to Vancouver and beyond.
“Forestry arrived in the Valley around the same time that mining did,” said Nicola Valley Museum & Archives manager Cameron Bridge. “At first, there were predominantly small sawmills in the area, because they always needed some level of logging and wood production for construction.
“It wasn’t done on a massive industrial scale until the early 1900s, around the time that the railroad was built,” added Bridge.
The construction of the railway saw larger sawmills open such as Canford Mills, opening in 1906 and Nicola Pine Mills Limited, opening in 1919.
“Already there is a strong demand for houses in this city, as many of the employees of the company at Canford mill will be moved to Merritt at once,” wrote an unnamed Merritt Herald reporter on July 25, 1919.
Logging spanned various parts of the Nicola Valley, with a notable presence around Coldwater and Spius Creek. Railroads and spur lines were constructed to transport lumber, boosting the local economy.
“A lot of the lumber companies ended up creating their own railyards and railroads to help basically go in, transport the wood out,” said Bridge. “It was usually spur lines on the major lines such as the Kettle Valley Steam Railway and the one down to Spences
See FORESTRY Page 14
Forestry still plays a huge role on local economy
From Page 13
Bridge.”
After the railroad era, Tolko (1987) and Aspen Planers (1959) became large economic contributors to Merritt and the Nicola Valley.
Today the Merritt timber supply area (TSA) covers approximately 1.13 million hectares. According to the 2006 British Columbia Local Area Dependencies report, 23 per cent of Merritt depended on forestry for income.
According to the City of Merritt’s 2022 to 2031 Economic Development Strategy, 7.3 per cent of Merrittonians work in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.
A 2021 BC Council of Forest Industries (BC COFI) report found that in 2019, forestry directly employed approximately 48,265 people, creating an additional 53,100 indirect and induced jobs.
The Thompson-Okanagan region creates the second most jobs in wood products manufacturing next to the Lower Mainland, and third most jobs in forestry and logging next to Vancouver Island.
The BC COFI report also found that forestry and logging; pulp, paper, and wood products manufacturing in the Thompson-Nicola output approximately $4.2 billion, the third largest provincial output equal with the Cariboo Region; however, the Thompson Okanagan Region has a higher GDP and labour income.
According to the National Forestry Database, timber sales from B.C. Crown land has always provided the most revenue out of all provinces and territories, generating $516,184,000 in 2020.
Ministry of Forests’ 2021 Economic State of British Columbia’s Forest Sector reports reveals that the Interior accounted for 73 per cent of harvests in 2021, harvesting 38.4 million cubic metres of wood. An average of 63.7 million cubic metres were harvested between 2010 and 2021, with a high of 71.1 million cubic metres being harvested in 2013 and low of 51.7 million cubic metres harvested in 2020.
According to the Ministry of Forests, the B.C.’s forest sector is export-oriented, with forest product exports valued at $16.3 billion in 2021, representing 30 per cent of B.C.’s total
See MIDST Page 16
In this picture from the Nicola Valley Museum & Archives, a loaded rail cars are parked just outside Nicola Pine Mills. Photo/Rubert Steffens/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives
TheUSWisoneofthelargestprivatesectorUnions inbothCanadaandNorthAmericawithmore than 225,000membersinCanadaandmorethan800,000 memberscontinent-wide.
Today,morethanever,workingpeople needstrong,effectiveunions.
Local1-417isbasedoutofKamloops,BC.
OurLocalUnionrepresentsover1,100members inmanyindustriesincluding:
Sawmilling
Woodproductsmanufacturing
Steelmanufacturing
Recycling
Security
Trucking
Construction
Machining,andmore.
“Midst of a crisis”
From Page 14
commodity export value. With softwood lumber with $8.9 billion worth of exports (54 per cent of B.C.’s forest product export value) and pulp and paper exports valued at $3.9 billion in 2021.
In 2021, the United States was the largest market for British Columbia’s forest products, with $10 billion in exports, making up 61 per cent of B.C.’s total forest product export value. Softwood lumber was the primary export to the U.S., accounting for 67 per cent of the exports.
China and Japan were the second and third-largest markets, with $3.1 billion and $1.5 billion in exports, respectively, dominated by pulp to China and softwood lumber to Japan.
Despite over a million hectares of timber supply in the Merritt TSA alone and the sector’s contributions to the province’s economy, the B.C. forestry industry is in the “midst of a crisis” according to industry leaders who spoke at the 2024 BC Council of Forest Industries.
COFI president and chief executive officer Linda Coady pointed out a sharp decrease in the annual wood harvest, which now stands at 32 million cubic metres, nearly half of what it was five years ago. “This is too low to sustain the workforce in our industry,” said Coady. “There’s been too much change happening at the same time.”
The decrease in harvests can be attributed to reduced annual allowable cut (AAC) rates across the province.
In June the AAC for Sunshine Coast TSA was reduced to 1.05 million cubic metres, a 12.3 per cent decrease from 2023, but still 2 per cent higher than the provincial average over the past decade.
Similarly, the AAC for Kootenay Lake and Southern Vancouver Island TSA were respectively reduced by 13.4 per cent and 5.5 per cent.
According to Canadian Forest Industries (CFI), the AAC for Merritt TSA was 1.5 million cubic metres in 2016 and decreased to 1.2 million cubic metres in March 2021.
B.C. Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives policy analyst Benn Parfitt describes the decrease in AAC as a “falldown effect.”
See FIRES Page 17
AspenPlanersarethe“breadandbutter”ofthesuccessof ourwoodshopprogram. We appreciatethesupporttheyhave providedforthespecialneedspeopleinourcommunity.
The graphic above shows a comparison of total economic impact of the forestry industry in different regions of B.C.
Photo/BC Council of Forest Industries
Fires might be less intense
From Page 16
Since the mid-1800s, B.C. has over-logged its primary forests, leading to a “falldown effect,” where a shortage of economically viable trees causes a decline in the forestry industry.
“Simply put, too much forest has been logged too quickly,” said Parfitt. “If you continue to allow logging rates to be in excess of what can be regrown, you are potentially setting up communities for a very, very hard landing.”
Despite fears of overlogging, industry leaders and analysts believe that forestry may be a component to dealing with wildfires.
Biomass power generation firm Drax argues that sustainable forest management practices, such as reducing fuel sources and thinning dense forest stands, can help lower the risk of severe and destructive wildfires.
“When there’s less fuel to consume, future fire events will be lower in intensity,” said Drax Canada Regional Biomass Purchaser Mike Thomas. “Because they’re at low levels of intensity, the existing trees will live through the fire.”
According to the National Observer, BC Wildfire Service has been budgeted $233 million for fire response and suppression in 2024-2025, with only $40 million going into wildfire risk reduction work and prevention.
The Observer also reports that between 2003 and 2017, B.C. spent $3.1 billion on fire suppression and only $73.8 million on prevention.
Skawahlook First Nation Chief Maureen Chapman and former Shuswap MLA George Abbott call for an urgent need for significant mitigation funding, warning: “The challenges of fuel mitigation and community safety will not diminish… Solutions will be neither easy nor inexpensive, but in the absence of substantial new investment, we can expect that the costs of wildfire suppression, and losses to citizens and the provincial economy, will continue to grow.”
MERRITTFOREST COMMITTEE
inpartnership withPrinceton
GRADE5TREEPLANT:
May13– 17,2024
Building StrongerCommunities
2024POSTERWINNERSARE:
STUWIXRESOURCES JOINTVENTURE
TheMerrittForestWeekCommittee, whichconsistsoftheMinistr yofForests District,BC WildfireService,StuwixResourcesJoint Venture,and Weyerhaeuser CompanyLtd.,heldtheAnnualGrade 5TreePlantatLundbomLakeandthe ChinaRidgeareainPrinceton.Inadditiontotreeplanting,thisyeartheevent alsohad asegmentwherethestudentslearnedaboutaquaticinvertebrates, fightingfiresanddronetechnology.
VermillionForks(Princeton)
1stplace: JakeGraham
Honourablementions:EmilyVermette &KeiraShea
DVElementary
Honourablementions:OliviaPedersen &Taylor
BenchElementary
1stplace: Vienn
Honourablementions:LivBoone& Portia Ryan
2024PhotoContest
To celebrateNationalForestWeek,theMerritt Forest WeekCommitteeisinvitingyouto participateinourphotocontest.Thecontest willrunthroughthedurationofNationalForest Week(September22-28,2024).
Prizes:Giftcards -1X$100Adult,2X$50foryouth.
Thethemethisyearforthepostercontestwas “Howdoforesterstakecareoftheforests?”
Rules: PicturesmustbetakenbetweenSeptember22andSeptember28,2024. ContestisopentoresidentslivingwithintheMerritt TimberSupplyArea(includes Lytton,Princeton). Photossubmittedmustshowcaselocalforests/trees. Contestwinnerswillreceive agiftcardand aspecialfeatureoftheirphotographinMerrittForest Week Facebookpage.Thecommitteewillhavetherightstousethephotographincommitteepublications. Twodifferentagecategories –Youth(17andUnder),Adult(18+).
HowtoEnter: Entriesaretobe adigitalphotograph(JPEGorPNG)andsubmittedelectronicallybyemailtoAndrea.Inwards@gov.bc.ca. Entriesmustbereceivedby October1,2024 at9:00am Submissionsmustinclude:Digitalphotograph(JPEGorPNG)showcasinglocalforests/treesinbothrawandeditedformat.Photographername, contactinformationandagecategor y(YouthorAdult)Shor tcaptiondescribingthephotograph,includingthelocationofwhereitwascaptured.
Emily Vermette
Froom boom to bust: Canford sawmill’s destruction in devastating fire
In the evening hours of May 27, 1919, a fire broke out at the Canford sawmill creating what the Merritt Herald would call on May 30, 1919, “The Most Devastating Fire In The History Of The Nicola Valley”.
The fire destroyed eight residence buildings on site, offices, the train yard, the sawmill plant, the plaining mill, a store on site, as well as the lumber piles causing damage totalling to approximately $250,000 (nearly $4 million in today’s money).
The only structure that survived was the residence of the mill manager, H.C. Meeker.
Meeker had been on a business trip to the Coast and had only returned an hour before the fire was discovered, he had just finished dinner and was walking to the offices when the alarm went off.
It began in the lath mill and is believed to have been caused by a faulty electrical wire. By 7:30 p.m. the fire was already out of control and calls were placed to Merritt and Lower Nicola for assistance.
Nearly every single vehicle in those communities was quickly mobilized and on their way to the mill.
The fire spread so quickly that only a handful of documents were able to be saved before the offices were destroyed.
The Merritt Volunteer Firefighters gathered their chemical firefighting equipment and set off in a horse cart, but the fire had already caused enough damage that all they could do was try to save some of the outlying buildings, for the main buildings had already been lost.
Many residences and lumber piles were blown up over the course of the evening in the hopes of creating a fire barrier to slow the spread, but it did not work.
By the morning hours the sawmill that was one of the best equipped sawmills in British Columbia
See POST Page 20
Cameron Bridge NICOLA VALLEY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
Post office also destroyed
From Page 19
just 24 hours before, was a smouldering pile of debris.
The cost of the fire was devastating, the mill had employed close to 100 workers in the mill itself and the surrounding plants. 4,000,000 feet of lumber had been cut and was prepared to be transported by train to market, all of it was lost.
The store that was on the mill site lost its entire stock, worth approximately $8,000 (close to $150,000 in today’s money).
In addition to this, the post office was also destroyed in the fire. Meeker announced to the Herald that temporary offices would be set up so that the post office and the government services could be restarted as soon as possible.
The mill would not reopen at Canford, instead Meeker would reopen the mill on what is now the Tolko site, south of Merritt.
Celebrating
The aftermath of the devastating fire that broke out at Canford Mill in 1919. Photo/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives
BC NATIONAL FORESTRY WEEK
LNIB Development Corporation tackles wildfire risks at Logan Lake
Kenneth Wong reporter@merrittherald.com
Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation is engaging in wildfire fuel management in Logan Lake.
Since March 25, Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation (LNIBDC) has been working to thin out hazardous fuels at the Logan Lake Community Forest.
Dubbed Logan Lake East (LLE) 1 and 2, the site or fuel treatment units (FTUs) the Band corporation has been contracted to manage is located approximately two kilometres from downtown Logan Lake and sits near critical infrastructure, access and evacuation routes, and recreational areas.
According to the project description, exclusion of fire after European settlement has led to dense forests with excessive surface and ladder fuels. The proposed treatment will reduce canopy closure and create a more open understory, mimicking natural fire patterns in the region.
“The idea is to reduce the potential for a highly volatile wildfire,” said LNIBDC general and forestry manager Don Gossoo. “If a fire does get going, hopefully it’ll stay on the ground, (fuel management) makes it easier to fight, and less damaging to the forest and the local community.”
The project started March 25 with 47.2 hectares to thin out. Currently, the LNIBDC team has thinned out 42 hectares, pruning and cutting down approximately 250 trees daily.
Teams go around the forest cutting down and pruning trees and then pile up the debris. Once there is precipitation or snowfall, the piles are burned. Larger pieces of debris are left to decay back into the natural ecosystem.
With the Province budgeting $233 million on fire suppression and $40 million on wildfire risk reduction, Gossoo highlights the provincial government’s historical gap between fire
Protecting TraditionalValues throughSustainable Forest
Forest fires expensive to fight
From Page 21
and fire mitigation.
“With the work that’s now being undertaken with wildfire risk reduction, I would hope that we would see that start to correct itself and maybe less money will be spent on fighting fires because of the work that we’re doing,” said Gossoo. “Especially in and around what they call ‘interface communities,’ that are heavily surrounded by forests.”
“Because forest fires are really expensive to fight,” Gossoo added. “In the last several years, specifically in 2021, we’re seeing climate change, and forest fires are getting larger and harder to fight.”
Gossoo encourages property owners to engage in fuel management. “Anybody that’s close to forested areas should be doing their best to fireproof their own properties by keeping their weeds or their grass at bay, and just keeping a clean, tidy property; so in the event a fire does get going, perhaps you have a chance,” said Gossoo.
From sawmill waste to wood furniture
Nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s lush forestry region, Merritt-based company Pine Ideas has been a dynamic player in the wood product industry.
Founded with a focus on efficiently utilizing excess wood from sawmill processes, the company has evolved significantly over the years.
Curtis Sloan, president of Pine Ideas, told the Herald that the business started almost 30 years ago alongside with his business partners.
Sloan said that at the time, his business partners were running a sawmill in Merritt which had a complimentary operation that utilized a lot of the additional wood that came out of their process at the mill.
This initial approach laid the groundwork for what would become a diverse range of product lines.
The company’s growth trajectory has been impressive. Pine Ideas started by producing beds, bed slats, and shelving programs for IKEA.
Over the past 15 years, it has expanded its offerings to include components for box springs used by major mattress companies.
Currently, Pine Ideas is venturing into custom processing and packaging for suppliers serving prominent chain stores such as Costco and Home Depot.
“Being in the middle of the forestry section of B.C. enabled us to be a lot smarter about the wood products we handle,” noted Sloan.
Sustainability has become one of the main focuses as consumer awareness grows. “More and more, the finished products sold at retail are being affected by sustainability. The average consumer is more conscious about where the product’s coming from, and these types of things, particularly if you’re selling to higher retail customers such as Home Depot, have become particularly important — the traceability, sustainability, and even carbon footprint of the organization,” Sloan explained.
Pine Ideas is committed to meeting these demands, ensuring their products align with modern environmental standards.
Despite the shifts in market demands and operational challenges, the core mission remains
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
BC NATIONAL FORESTRY WEEK
Froom logging to combat: Nicola Valley Forestry Corps
There are many things that are needed to wage war on the scale of the First and Second World Wars.
Soldiers on the front lines are backed up by thousands of manufacturers, suppliers, postal workers, cooks, mechanics, miners, farmers, doctors, etc.
One such of these supporting roles was the Canadian Forestry Corps.
The Forestry Corps was created during the First World War to supply the war effort with much needed wood for the creation of crates, as well as wood to line and support the trenches, and anything else that might need wood for its creation.
They were dissolved after the end of the war, but was recreated at the outset of the Second World War.
Many men from the Nicola Valley signed up signed up to join the forestry corps where their experience in working in logging and lumber mills could be put best to use.
One particular company was organized by Captain E. H. Martin of Merritt and comprised a total of 26 men from the Nicola Valley.
After organizing Company No. 7 of the Canadian Forestry Corps, Captain Martin left for Scotland with his company.
There they were sent about five miles north of Inverness where they were tasked with cutting 25,000 to 35,000 board feet per day.
In December 1943, Captain Martin returned after three years away from the Nicola Valley to spend the holidays with his family and spoke with the Herald about his time over there and what a number of the men from the Nicola Valley had been doing in Scotland.
Captain Martin had high praise for his company and of the Nicola Valley men, he told the Herald that they had completed their target a full year ahead of their estimated timeframe.
He also told the Herald that the Nicola Valley men had been behaving themselves quite well and that there had been less than the average crime per capita for a company of this size.
He mentioned that forty of the approximately 200 men had married Scottish ladies during their time in Scotland, including Nicola Valley men such as Ray Fairley, Billy Dobbie, Ernie Gavelin, Paddy Kernes, R. Rigby, and Sgt. Jack Greenwood with some more engaged to be wed.
Company No. 7 was also noted for it’s sporting ability,
See PLEADED Page 25
Contribute to local economy
unchanged.
“The main mission, or the goal of Pine Ideas, I think at the end of the day, we’re here trying to manufacture a product that will enable us to etch out a living and provide some jobs for the local economy,” Sloan said.
The company’s dedication to sustaining local employment and contributing to the community is evident in its ongoing efforts.
Looking ahead, Pine Ideas aims to maintain steady production and adapt to evolving industry trends.
“I guess the goals for the future continue to support that, and the fact that trying to maintain an even keel to production, not to have swings, so that the staff that I hire can depend on year-round jobs,” Sloan stated.
As the business landscape evolves, Pine Ideas remains vigilant for new opportunities, ensuring its resilience and continued success.
In a rapidly changing world, Pine Ideas stands as a testament to the strength of local industry and the potential for growth through innovation and sustainability.
Cameron Bridge NICOLA VALLEY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
Pleaded donations to Red Cross
From Page 24
Nicola Valley men; Jimmy Kinnear and Shorty Maxwell were both noted for being outstanding baseball and softball players.
Sgt. Tommy Rodgers of Merritt was mentioned as having won the district boxing championship in 1943 as well as made his name known as one of the best pastry chefs in the Canadian Army (after which the Herald noted for anyone interested that Rodgers was still single).
Company No. 7 also won the district track and field championship in both 1942 and 1943.
A number of men who signed up with the Forestry Corps would then go on to transfer into other areas of the army. Hugh Campbell, Gordon Cameron, and Dewy Ewart would end up seeing action in Italy where Cameron was wounded in May 1944. There were also a number of other Nicola Valley people that passed through Inverness, Captain Martin noted getting to see both Nurse Cathie Aitken, on her route to the Canadian General hospital in North Africa and Nurse Marion Dobbie on her way to South Africa.
Captain Martin made a plea for the people of Merritt to donate to the Red Cross and provide them with funding and fruit.
Martin made note that he had seen very little fruit in his time in Scotland and that white bread and nuts have been unavailable for years.
Second World War Forestry Corps’ Company No. 7. Photo/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives
Merritt Centennials split final preseason games
Tuesday, Sept. 10 – Merritt Centennials 3, Kelowna Chiefs 1
The Cents hit the ice on Sept. 10 for their fourth game of the preseason and first against the Kelowna Chiefs at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Merritt got on the scoresheet just over four minutes into the first period when Nexon Hiebert found the back of the net.
The Cents added another off the stick of Lucas Alexander, a 2-0 lead for the home team which lasted until just over halfway through the second.
The Chiefs broke the shutout before the end of the period, with the Cents leading 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
The Cents did not panic, however, and early in the final frame, Deegan Sellers sealed the game for Merritt to make it a 3-1 game.
Merritt is back in action this Thursday, Sept. 12, as they face the Princeton Posse at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Thursday, Sept. 12 – Merritt Centennials 4, Princeton Posse 2
The Cents hit the ice on Sept. 6 against the Princeton Posse at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in what turned out to be a nailbiter of a finish, with Merritt hanging on for a 4-2 win in the second game between the new rivals.
The opening period saw plenty of back and forth, with the home squad getting on the scoreboard first with Owen Van Herk’s first of the preseason.
After a scoreless second period, Sid Chadi found the back of the net early in the final frame, setting the score 2-0 for the Cents.
Shortly after, Princeton added two goals of their own, tying the game 2-2.
The Centennials didn’t let the pressure of a tied game get to them as Dylan Ruff managed to find the back of the net in the final minute of the game.
Van Herk crowned the Cents’ victory with an empty net goal with just eight seconds left on the clock.
Saturday, Sept. 14 – Kamloops Storm 6, Merritt Centennials 2
There was little time to rest and celebrate Thursday’s victory as the Cents faced the Kamloops Storm for the third time on Saturday at the McArthur Park Arena in Kamloops.
The opening period got off to a bad start for the Cents as Kamloops scored twice within the opening minute.
The Storm added two more goals, setting the score at 4-0 before the first buzzer, putting the early pressure on the Cents.
Maxim Radmanovich was able to break the shutout before the end of the first, to send the Cents to intermission down 4-1.
Merritt’s Kael Kozicki scored the only goal of the second period to make it a two-goal game, though despite their efforts, the Cents were unable to contain Kamloops’ relentless attack.
The Storm added two unanswered goals late in the third period to crown their victory, with the Cents eventually falling 6-2, a third defeat against their rivals.
The Cents will open their 2024-25 regular season campaign on the road against the Quesnel River Rush on Sept. 20.
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
Photos/Laísa Condé
Merritt Secondary School’s Senior Girls Volleyball Tournament Air Attack was back for another successful year. According to Gian Cavaliere, athletics director at MSS, 20 teams from all over the province came to Merritt for the event. MSS won the consolation bracket of the tournament as Westsyde Secondary School won the tournament.
Engines were roaring at Merritt Speedway over the weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday, Merrittonians had the chance to see some incredible action at the local dirt track. Photos/Kenneth Wong
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
Photos/Kenneth Wong
‘Ranchin’ Man’ to perform in Merritt
Canadian singer, songwriter and award winner Ryan Fritz is coming to Merritt for a one night performance.
Fritz is set to perform a concert at the Country Music Hall of Honour on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m.
Fritz said that music has always been a part of his life.
“(Growing up) I saw agriculture, ranching environment, and being cowboy was in my blood. I grew up doing that. My dad worked on ranches and stuff. So of course, Ian Tyson was a big influence. You know, him being from Longview, that’s the music I grew up on.”
Known as a “Ranchin’ Man”, Fritz started writing his own songs back when he left home at the age of 17 to cowboy on Gang Ranch and at the Douglas Lake Ranch in B.C. He was heavily influenced by Ian Tyson.
“When I went to work on ranches, that’s sort of music I started playing and I would play his songs, and then slowly started writing my own models, working on branches and stuff, and just progressed to performing,” he added.
“I really love writing both the lifestyle of ranch and contemporary, and a little bit of history as well with ranch.”
His love for the ranch lifestyle is what motivates Fritz to keep composing his songs.
“Just living in it is very inspiring to me. I love to write, so I’m always trying to listen or find something that inspires me to write about it,” he added. “I love to get out, especially to smaller places, the ranch communities and share my songs with those people.
“When you’re kind of in a smaller setting, people get to just relax and listen to these songs, it’s pretty gratifying to share them and just sort of have a special moment.”
One of his songs is called Ben Tyner, after a local cowboy who went missing from a ranch near Merritt back in 2019.
“When I first heard it, it was just, you know, a terrible thing to hear. I also thought, well, it’s probably gonna make a good Ian Tyson song and I took it over to him and told the story,” Fritz said.
“He thought ‘well, let’s just wait a little while until this is wrapped up, then we know the ending’. And then two, three years went by, there’s still no more clues on this. It was something that just kept at me.”
Fritz added that he felt compelled to write that song as his son was working at a ranch not too far from where Tyner went missing and that it could’ve been him or anyone else he knew.
As for his first performance in Merritt, Fritz sounds very excited about the whole experience.
“I haven’t performed in Merritt and I haven’t been back there for a lot of years, but I got a lot of friends out there,” Fritz added. “I got a lot of influence on my music from my time out there.”
Fritz hopes that those who attend his concert have a great time.
“I’m hoping some of the guys at the ranches will come in and hear some tunes and have a good time, and anyone else that just loves the ranch way of life and western enthusiasts alike,” he added.
Photo/Ryan Fritz
Crossroads Community Church 2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911
Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme) Sunday service 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464
Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899
Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919
Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.
St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772
Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.
Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735
Service Time every Sunday - 10 am
Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268
Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502
Service Times: Sunday 10 am
Ryan Fritz is set to perform in Merritt on Sept. 21 at the Country Music Hall of Honour.
Laísa Condé newsroom@merrittherald.com
CLASSIFIEDS
WANTEDCATORKITTEN
HansKruse
October23,1939 -September2,2024
OnSeptember2,2024HansKrusepassedon peacefullyatthefineageof84.Hanswasbornon October23,1939inHolland,eventuallymovingto Merrittwithhisfamily.Hewassoproudtosayhewas fromMerritt.
Alwayssocial,andreadytostart aconversation.Music,especially agood liveband,madehimdanceandsmile.Intheearlyyears,Hansenjoyedplaying thedrums.Withhisentrepreneurialspirit,Hanswasa successfulbusinessman. Hespentmanyhoursontheroad.Butifyoudidn’tfindhiminhistruck,you wouldfindhimatthehockeyrink.HewentontoowntheMerrittCentennialsfor severalyears.Hansalsowasa volunteerfirefighter.Fruitstandsmadehimhappy. Opa,youwillbeforevermissed,andalwaysinourhearts.Wewillcontinueto sharememoriesofyou.
MainSKILLS:
Merritt &DistrictHospiceSociety
Part-timeEmploymentOpportunity -10hoursperweek
POSITION:CoordinatorCommunityLiaison& OfficeSupport-Administrative Position
Greatopportunityforsomeonereturningtoworkforceorrecentlyretired
•Good workingknowledgewithSimplyAccounting ,MicrosoftOfficePrograms
•Organizationalskillsanddetailoriented
•Marketingskills
•Excellentpeopleskills
•Vehiclerequired
•Abilitytomulti-task
APoliceRecordCheckwillberequired.
DUTIES:
•Officeduties,includingbutnotlimitedtopreparingcorrespondence,meeting minutes&financialstatementsusingSimplyAccounting ,organizing& maintainingpaper&digitalfiles.
•10hoursper week
•Liaisonwithotherhospices &CommunityMembers
•Writingproposals,fundraising
Formoreinformationandtoreceiveacompletejobdescription,pleasecallMerritt Hospiceat250-280-1701.
Deadlineforapplications: September30,2024
ForinformationaboutMerritt &DistrictHospiceSociety, pleasevisit,www.merritthospice.org.
Bernice Ward
April7th,1944- September8,2024
Mrs.Bernice Wardpassed awaypeacefully inMerrittonSeptember8,2024,attheageof 80.
PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)
•Wages:starting$20to$28
Bernicehad adeeplove fortheoutdoors,and her favoritehobby wasgoingfordrivesinthe bush,wheresheenjoyedthebeautyofnature. SheissurvivedbyherlovinghusbandBarry Ward;daughtersJoanneAubertinofMerritt, BC,andJulieDesrochersofHamilton,Ont.;son RobertAubertinofSalmo,BC;grandchildrenLeah Wilton,Jesse Wilton,KayleeMcGhee;tengreatgrandchildren;sisterCarolG.DeAngelis;aswellas manynieces,nephews,friends,andrelatives.
Bernice waspredeceasedbyJulieDesrochersandHarvey Peltier. Shewillbedearlymissedbyallwhoknewher. Noformalservicewillbeheldatherrequest.
HansKruse
3,1939 -September2,2024
MainSKILLS:
Merritt &DistrictHospiceSociety
Merritt &DistrictHospiceSociety
Part-timeEmploymentOpportunity -10hoursperweek
Community Health Services Society Stoyoma Dental Clinic EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Part-timeEmploymentOpportunity
POSITION:CoordinatorCommunityLiaison& Offic upport-Administrative Position Greatoppo omeonereturningtoworkforceorrecentlyretired
POSITION:CoordinatorCommunityLiaison& OfficeSupport-Administrative
MainSKILLS:
r2,2024HansKrusepassedon
•Organizationalskillsanddetailoriented
•Marketingskills
Greatopportunityforsomeonereturningtoworkforceorrecentlyretired
POSITION TITLE: Dental Assistant (Certified in an asset)
REPORTS TO: Dental Clinic Manager
efineageof84.Hanswasbornon 3,1939inHolland,eventuallymovingto sfamily.Hewassoproudtosayhewas
RESPONSIBILITIES:
•Excellentpeopleskills
•Vehiclerequired
•Abilitytomulti-task
APoliceRecordCheckwillberequired.
DUTIES:
,andreadytostart aconversation.Music,especially agood and,madehimdanceandsmile.Intheearlyyears,Hansenjoyedplaying ithhisentrepreneurialspirit,Hanswasa successfulbusinessman. yhoursontheroad.Butifyoudidn’tfindhiminhistruck,you imatthehockeyrink.HewentontoowntheMerrittCentennialsfor ears.Hansalsowasa volunteerfirefighter.Fruitstandsmadehimhappy. illbeforevermissed,andalwaysinourhearts.Wewillcontinueto sofyou.
•Good workingknowledg implyAccounting ,MicrosoftOfficePrograms
•Good workingknowledgewithSimplyAccounting ,MicrosoftOfficePrograms
•Organizationalskillsanddetailoriented
•Marketingskills
•Excellentpeopleskills
•Vehiclerequired
• Dental assistant works chairside along with the Dentist. They are essential to creating a connection between clients and dentists. The incumbent maintains a collaborative relationship with clients and all members of the oral healthcare team to deliver the highest level of client centered care.
•Abilitytomulti-task
APoliceRecordCheckwillberequired.
DUTIES:
•Officeduties,includingbutnotlimitedtopreparingcorrespondence,meeting minutes&financialstatementsusingSimplyAccounting ,organizing& maintainingpaper&digitalfiles.
•Officeduties,includingbutnotlimitedtopreparingcorrespondence,meeting minutes&financialstatementsusingSimplyAccounting ,organizing& maintainingpaper&digitalfiles.
•10hoursper week
• We are seeking a positive team member, who is energetic, organized, and a compassionate caring individual. This individual is mindful of detail and accuracy in all reporting. Training provided with opportunities to further educate to become certified and licensed.
PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)
•Liaisonwithotherhospices &CommunityMembers
•Wages:starting$20to$28
•Writingproposals,fundraising
•Steadydayshiftwork
•10hoursper week
•Liaisonwithotherhospices &CommunityMembers
•Writingproposals,fundraising
• The incumbent promotes the safety and well-being of clients and when necessary, communicates immediate concerns to appropriate Stoyoma Dental staff.
•Studentswelcometoapply
•Noexperiencenecessary
Deadlineforapplications: September30,2024
Formoreinformationandtoreceiveacompletejobdescription,pleasecallMerritt Hospiceat250-280-1701.
•Willtrain TRUCKDRIVERSWITHCLASS1 Localsteadywork
Formoreinformationandtoreceiveacompletejobdescription,pleasecallMerritt Hospiceat250-280-1701.
Deadlineforapplications: September30,2024
ForinformationaboutMerritt &DistrictHospiceSociety, pleasevisit,www.merritthospice.org.
• Our office is committed to positive and inclusive dental practices to provide the best patient experience. Our dental services are available to the public, focusing on serving and meeting the complex needs of local First Nation individuals.
ForinformationaboutMerritt &DistrictHospiceSociety, pleasevisit,www.merritthospice.org.
LICENCEDSECURITYGUARDS
Bernice Ward
April7th,1944- September8,2024
Excellentmedical&dentalplan
Mrs.Bernice Wardpassed awaypeacefully inMerrittonSeptember8,2024,attheageof
adeeplove fortheoutdoors,and ritehobby wasgoingfordrivesinthe sh,wheresheenjoyedthebeautyofnature.
VETERINARY CLINIC
We offer a competitive salary of $25-$31/hr based on experience and full benefits with a pension. This position is permanent averaging 3-5 days per week Monday to Friday.
Pleasesubmitresumeinpersonto 1195HoustonStreet,MerrittB.C. 250-378-6161
Please submit resume to: Stoyoma Dental Clinic 2088 Quilchena Avenue - PO Box 3090 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 or email: palmgren.d@schss.com
vedbyherlovinghusbandBarry rd;daughtersJoanneAubertinofMerritt, BC,andJulieDesrochersofHamilton,Ont.;son ubertinofSalmo,BC;grandchildrenLeah Wilton,KayleeMcGhee;tengreatgrandchildren;sisterCarolG.DeAngelis;aswellas ,nephews,friends,andrelatives.
Dodds AUCTION
PUBLIC NOTICE
*ADVANCENOTICE* -IN-HOUSE -VERNON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER21st
IN-HOUSE•VERNON SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER21st
PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)
PRODUCTIONWORKERS (FT/PT)
•Wages:starting$20to$28
•Wages:starting$20to$28
SESSION 1-HUGEMULTIESTATE 8AM(LotsStartClosing)
SESSION1-HUGEMULTIESTATE 8AM(LotsStartClosing)
•Steadydayshiftwork
Notice that Stuwix Resources has posted Forest Operations Map (FOM) Stuwix 2024-002 to https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects for public comment.
•Steadydayshiftwork
•Studentswelcometoapply
spredeceasedbyJulieDesrochersandHarvey Peltier. illbedearlymissedbyallwhoknewher. Noformalservicewillbeheldatherrequest.
SESSION2-BAILIFFSEIZURE-SMOKANAGAN NOON(LotsStartClosing) ONLINETIMEDAUCTION/**REGISTER/BIDNOW**
SESSION 2-BAILIFFSEIZURE -SMOKANAGAN NOON(LotsStartClosing) ONLINETIMEDAUCTION
•Noexperiencenecessary
Review period starts September 19th ending 30 days after and the information may be used for up to 3 years.
•Willtrain TRUCKDRIVERSWITHCLASS1 Localsteadywork
PartialListIncludes:JD37204x4Tractor, JDFarmImplements,High-End Jewellery,SilverRounds/Bars,FordModelTCars(1917&1927),HugeSelectionof Antiques&Collectables,QuonsetBuilding,UniqueHighQualityDiningFurniture,Mid CenturyModernTeakFurniture,Pictures/Prints,TVs,Stereos,Kitchen-Smallwares, Electric&AcousticGuitars,LargeSelectionofHigh-EndExerciseEquipment,Pinball Machines,PoolTable,PortableSauna,Welders,Compressors,Generator,Chain Saws,FoldingBikes,Fishing&CampingGear,Downriggers,Go-Cart,MiniQuad, Snowmobile,CommercialSewingMachines,LargeSafe,CommercialIceBlasting Unit,Vehicles,PlusMuchMore!!
BAILIFFSEIZURE-SMOKANAGAN-KELOWNA
PartialListIncludes:JD37204x4 Tractor JDFarmImplements,High-End Jewellery,FordModel TCars(1917 &1927),HugeSelectionofAntiques & Collectables,QuonsetBuilding,UniqueHighQualityDiningFurniture, MidCentury ModernTeakFurniture,Pictures/Prints,TVs,Stereos, Kitchen-Smallwares,Electric &AcousticGuitars,LargeSelectionof High-End ExerciseEquipment,Pinball Machines,Pool Table,PortableSauna, Welders,Compressors,Generator, Chain Saws,FoldingBikes,Fishing &CampingGear,Downriggers,Go-Cart, MiniQuad Snowmobile,CommercialSewingMachines,LargeSafe,PlusMuchMore!! BAILIFFSEIZURE -SMOKANAGAN -KELOWNA Viewing -DoddsShowroom -Vernon(BothSessions) Thu/Fri(Sept19/20) -8:30am -5pm& Sat(Sept21) -8:30am -Noon
Viewing-DoddsShowroom-Vernon(BothSessions) Thu/Fri(Sept19/20)-8:30am-5pm& Sat(Sept21)-8:30am-Noon
Public may also view the FOM weekdays 8-4pm at 2-98 Hwy 8, Merritt BC,V1K 0A7 - 250-378-2277 or comments emailed to planningforester@stuwix.com
Comes with one rechargeable battery. In excellent shape. Must pick up 16 km West of
at 2241 Hwy 8
