October 6 - 2022

Chamber

Commerce hosts All Candidates

Marius Auer

The Merritt Civic Centre lived up to its name on Monday night, with 20 can didates for both Mayor and Merritt City Council presenting their platforms and fielding community submitted questions from moderators at the Chamber’s All Candidates Forum. The Civic Centre’s auditorium was standing room only for much of the evening, with hundreds of locals anxious to see who their options would be at the ballot box.

The forum was moderated by Roger White, program director and afternoon host for Q101, who asked the 20 pres ent candidates a series of questions submitted to both the Merritt Chamber of Commerce and the Herald. Council candidates Jay Barley and Darrel Brooks did not attend the forum, and Mary Fleury left after the second question due to a headache. Candidates were given 90 seconds to introduce themselves, and 30 seconds to respond per question.

“It’s definitely a pretty banner year for this election,” said Joe Nemeth, program coordinator with the Chamber.

“The big thing is voter education. This is a critical piece of education not just for us as voters to find out what the candidates are all about, but it’s huge for the candidates as well. They learn what

the voters respond to and are passionate about.”

The following questions were asked to all the candidates, regardless of if they were running for Mayor or Council:

• What is your plan for long term housing in Merritt?

• Is future flood prevention more important than fixing the current housing issue?

• For phase 4 residents who still aren’t home, should security be provided over the winter months?

• What are your thoughts on a rainbow crosswalk being present ed to council?

• What relationships have you built that you see helping you as a council member?

• How will you communicate city projects and allow locals to have their say?

• What are you going to do to encourage big business to move to Merritt?

“In my opinion, this in-person interac tion is what pulls the walls down. When you engage in discourse these days, typically it’s through social media and online news. It’s fantastic that we have that immediacy of information, but we lose a lot of vetting and a lot of people

speaking for their own platforms,” added Nemeth.

The Chamber has held its All Candidates Forum for a number of elec tion cycles, hosting municipal, provincial, and federal candidates after their respec tive writ has been dropped. For more information on the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce, or to watch the recorded version of the All Candidates Forum, visit www.merrittchamber.com.

RCMP searches for woman last seen near Merritt

Izaiah Reyes NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

The Merritt RCMP is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman last seen near Merritt.

Jacqueline McDermott was reported missing on Saturday, October 1. She was last seen by her family on Thursday, September 29. It was discovered that McDermott had planned to attend a yoga retreat near Merritt on Friday, September

30. Her vehicle was found, broken down along Highway 97C between Merritt and Logan Lake. Witnesses recall seeing the woman around her vehicle.

McDermott is a 22-year old caucasian woman, standing at 5’5 ft. and weighing in at 111 lbs. She has curly blonde hair, a fair complexion, and a medium build. She also has a nose piercing.

Please contact the Merritt RCMP at (250) 378-4262 if you have any informa tion to McDermott’s whereabouts.

Jacqueline McDermott was last seen on Highway 97C between Merritt and Logan Lake. Photo/ RCMP

VIEWPOINT

Thanksgiving

2022

Merritt’s struggles for the past few years have been very well documented. Working here at the Herald, I have come across numerous stories of struggles by locals because of both natural disasters and the pandemic that swept across the whole world. Despite all the hardship and trauma, we have a few things we can still be thankful for this coming Thanksgiving.

IZAIAH

Merritonians, as I have come to known them, are a resilient bunch, and they have still shown appreciation towards others despite the hard times. On behalf of the community, I would like to thank all the people who have the kind hearts and have made an effort to help their neighbour. From the local organizations such as Rotary Club, to outside groups like Samaritan’s Purse, Christian Aid, and Infracon and all the locals volunteering to help others, you all indeed are truly appreciated.

Something that was taken away from families during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was the ability to gather. This is another thing I believe most of us are thankful for as this restriction has been lifted earlier this year. We can now be around friends and family, sharing stories and laughs over a great meal.

Thanksgiving here in Canada will happen on Monday, October 10. I am personally thankful for the opportunity I had taken, working for the Herald because I learned about the strength of the people of this city.

Merritt Central Elementary School

OPINION

Get to know the candidates: Tony Luck

deal with the issues that are preventing us from being the great community Merritt can be. I have been involved in several organizations in our city and I know I have the relations with them to work together. During my campaign, I have already been taking the time to build relationship with other leaders and organizations in our community in regard to what we need to do to move forward.

up

With the 2022 Civic Elections quickly approaching, it is important for voters to become familiar with the people running for Mayor in the City of Merritt. The Herald sent out some questions to the four candidates running for Mayor: Mike Bhangu, Tony Luck, Mike Goetz, and Linda Brown. We will be sharing their answers individually with you each week, leading up to the elections on October 15.

Why do you want to be Mayor?

“My wife Wanda and I chose to move to Merritt and make this our new home. We had raised our children and were looking to move out of the Lower Mainland like many people do to get away from the rainy and grey days. We have embraced Merritt and love living here. We both see the many positives of Merritt and the people of this great city, and I am running for the position of Mayor to help move Merritt forward after a rather tumultuous year of fires, floods and other challenges. I am committed to working hard as a team with the members of council as well as listening to the citizens of the community to bring out the bestin our community.

I want to work with the new council to help shape our future in a positive way. I am concerned about maintaining continuity of process as we continue to work hard advocating on behalf of the community to secure the funding to rebuild the Voght St bridge, the diking and other infrastructure around Merritt. It is going to be critical to have a strong voice for the city who can clearly communicate our needs to the senior levels of government and to the citizens.

Merritt deserves someone who can listen to the citizens and organizations that look to the mayor’s office for leadership. I want to work to restore trust in those working hard and serving our community everyday. We need to continue working to break down the silos and barriers to

One thing I will not be doing during this campaign is over promising and under delivering. It is easy to make promises. It is even harder to keep them. I have been at the table long enough to know that it just doesn’t work that way. I have been on several councils and regional districts and know we need to be focused on our needs. We need to be firm in our asks and collaborative as we press our ongoing needs with the senior levels of government. We must continue to work together and communicate our needs firmly with the senior levels of government.”

What makes you the best candidate for Mayor?

“I think it is important to recognize the role of Mayor is very complex in today’s environment. It is going to be extremely important in the next four years to have a mayor who can listen to the citizens and can communicate clearly and firmly the needs of our community. The people of Merritt need to know that their mayor, the leader of this amazing community will be visible, accountable and approachable. I will be accountable to you the public who have put their trust in me in the past four years and I have delivered. I have brought an elevated level of discussion to the council table by being prepared, listening, asking good questions and challenging decision of the past. I am a taxpayer like you and am deeply committed to this city and my actions have shown that. It is going to take good communication, empathy and negotiation skills to continue the hard work of building relationships and getting the funding we need to rebuild our community. I have shown time and again that I know the issues. I have the knowledge, proven experience and skills to work with the various interest groups, senior levels of government and community organizations to bring people together and understand the needs of our community. I have worked on various boards and organizations that have taught me to work collaboratively with people to get things done. It is important to have the trust of the team you are working with. I know people are angry in our city and many are frustrated with the current situation, and

many want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Unfortunately, with that you end up having an empty bowl. No history. No experience. No continuity. As a citizen myself, that concerns me greatly. I can relate to the frustration many are feeling. This is not unique to Merritt. It is happening in lots of communities in BC. Crime, homelessness, mental health issues are all having a huge impact on many communities. As your mayor I will work hard with the new council to bring confidence back to the process by working to involve more citizens in some of the research and decision making. I understand there is a lot of work to do to find solutions to many of these issues. My role and council’s job will be to look through the windshield to bring changes and efficiencies to the process only occasionally gazing in the rear-view mirror to make sure we haven’t left anything behind. A new council must be creative and explore all ideas to find the solutions to our community’s challenges.

Another reason I believe I am good candidate for mayor is the knowledge and experience I bring to the table. With my previous work and volunteerism experience on boards of organizations I have built up my skillset including chairing and directing meetings and understanding development and investment processes. I think this is important as we work to bring jobs and housing to our community.

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein. I will make mistakes, but I also realize it takes courage to stand up and be counted. I am ready to work hard for the community. I have recently made some decisions to make sure the public can put their trust in me to work in their best interest and to be available as a full-time mayor. The more I investigate the work that needs to be done to unite our community the more I understand the scope of the work to be done.”

Give an example of a situation where you demonstrated leadership abilities.

“I have been involved in many organizations. In the past I have been the Chair of the University of Fraser Valley Alumni Association working and collaborating with Deans, staff and students to advocate for better learning and funding opportunities from senior levels of government. As a Vice-Chair of the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce the Chair and I strongly advocated on our member’s behalf to get legislation to deal with grow-op remediation. We worked to get remediation resolutions to the

From the Herald

RAILYARD

PLANS PULLED

Plans for the Rail Yard, a major downtown development, have been put on hold. The project contains nine buildings laid out in a two block area of the old railway yard in the city’s downtown core. The design of the Extra Foods, the anchor tenant, building deviated from the look and design of the other buildings in both color and facade. Council was to discuss the plans on Tuesday evening.

POLICY

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

1

Brown, Linda

Luck, T

Goetz, Michael

Bhangu, Mike

2

Egan, Dana

Roline, Susan

W

P aul

Road

Lindley Creek Road

Canford Av

Bann Street

Parker Driv

Chapman Street

Coldwater Avenue

Hill Street

Phillips, MJ 19-2776 Clapperton Avenue

Littleton, Norma Jean 1937 Coutlee Avenue

Behrens, Michael

within the City of Merritt

ELIGIBLE RESIDENT V TERS:

be 18 or older on October 15th, 2022, must be a Canadian citizen, must have been living in BC since at least 15th (6 months prior to the election).

be a resident of Merritt.

not be disqualified from voting by law

ELIGIBLE NON-RESIDENT VOTERS:

• Must not be entitled to be a resident voter (above).

• Must be 18 or older & a Canadian citizen & have been in BC since at least 15th April (6 months prior to the

Palmgren, Deanna

McLean Place Charne

Barle

P on, Brian

Etchart am

vina

Darrel

Claire

Mary

Main Street

Houston Street

Road Street

Avenue

Scott Place

Stree

Street

eech, Robert

Chenoweth, John

Jepsen, tin

Gordon

Must have owned property in Merritt for at least 30 days before the day they are voting.

Must be registered as owners of the property as joint tenants or tenants in common (trusts & corporations are not to vote).

Must not be disqualified from voting by law

• May only vote once as a non-resident voter. (Those who own two pieces of property don’t get to vote twice).

• Only one vote per piece of property. (So joint owners get 1 vote. If land title indicates multiple owners, written consent is required from a majority of the owners).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

• TWO DOCUMENTS, each proving identity. At least one must also contain a signature. Date of birth or Social Insurance Number declaration required

* If these 2 documents do not provide adequate proof of residency, voter must also make a solemn declaration about place of residence.

USTIVE EXAMPLES:

• BC D er’s l and a BC Heal h e card are t do s wh ch provide evidence of identity and place of residence and signature. However, if you have a combined licence/healthcard, this is only ONE document

Provincial Chamber of Commerce to move to the provincial and federal gov ernments. Most recently I have been a strong advocate for housing not only in our community but recognizing the need for housing in BC.

I am currently a director with Southern Interior Local Government Association, and we have been leading out in discussions around improvements needed to the Emergency Management BC and ESS. During the flooding I took the opportunity to speak to Merrittonians standing in line at the ESS center in Kamloops to see how they were doing and giving them as much information that I had to share. I also participated in online broadcasts to educate the public on various aspects of city hall’s processes and procedures.

I have a very different leadership style, “management by walking around,” listen ing face to face with people and organiza tions. I do not believe we can manage a city like ours from an office at city hall 100 percent of the time. A good leader in business or public service must be visible and approachable. They must be out and about meeting with community leaders, organizations and most important the citi zens of this great community. My promise to you is that I will be front and centre. I too have been frustrated like many in our community with the lack of presence and timely updates at critical times. Part of being a good leader is being able to have confidence in your communications from your team members. Sharing the work load with my team member’s, combining our skills, will play a big part in our com munity’s success. Instilling trust and con fidence in your people demonstrate great leadership.”

What issue should the city priori tize?

“This is a tough question to answer in the context of one priority. We have so many areas that need to be discussed we build Merritt into a strong vibrant and resilient community. Housing, jobs, community safety, homelessness are but a few of the issues we are wrestling with now. The process of deciding what issues should the city prioritize next will be determined by the elected 6 councillors and mayor on October 15 th . Each with one vote. To put one as a priority over another is difficult for me to say here. Especially for the mayor who needs to have that broader vision and who must juggle many priorities in a day. I also need to be aware that there are six other people around the council table who also have their ideas of what we need to pri oritize for the city. As someone pointed out, when I am elected “I’m going to fix such and such situation.” This is a very misguided statement that reveals a fundamental lack of understanding of how councils’ function. It’s an interest ing dichotomy, since each candidate runs

as individuals then we must work as a team to get anything accomplished once elected. A lot of those ideas will come forward as we go through the strategic planning process. Having said that, I would turn to my vision statement where

I envision a thriving and vibrant Merritt supported by the core values of family, a caring community and economic stability.

Basically, this encompasses a lot of the things I believe we need to accomplish in the next four years and working with a strong council will be important.

I am committed to working hard with the council I am elected with to move Merritt forward in a very meaningful way.

I would like to make a list of promises to you but just feel at this time that would be irresponsible. I have been sitting at the council table for four years now and see the limitations and challenges we are confronting. For example, over a year and a half ago I was warning staff and coun cil about the need to start watching our budget closer as we were going to see a substantial increase in inflation in the next year that will put tremendous strain in all areas of our finances.

Today we are see ing higher inflation rates that will have a huge impact with our budgeting pro cess. It looks like the next council you elect will be having some very tough decisions to make regarding our financial position.

Hence, I am NOT going to make any outland ish promises to you that I know I may not be able to keep. I will promise you this though, in the words of a great leader from the 1940s, “I will prom ise you my blood, sweat, tears and toil,” in the next four years.”

What is the goal you want to accomplish by the end of your term?

“With the extraordinary year we have experi enced it would be difficult to identify any one prior ity for the term moving forward.

However, as I

think more about it, I am tempted to say, “Community Well-Being.” Our commu nity is hurting in several key areas, and we need to come together to turn our challenges into opportunities. It’s time we

remove the silos that are prevent us from working together for the best of the city. We need to find ways to work together to revitalize our wonderful community. I

LOWER NICOLA INDIAN

VOTE

VOTE IN-PERSON

OCTOBER 15th, 2022

VOTE IN PERSON

OCTOBER 22nd,

VOTE BY MAIL-IN BALLOT

want to recognize the past embrace the present and work for a brighter future. The community wellness theme embraces several ideas that need to be done for the well-being of our city. To achieve this goal, it would mean we have worked through some of our homeless, mental health and addictions issues. It would mean we have been able to deal with some of our major infrastructure chal lenges. It would mean we have secured the funding to build back the resiliency of our community. It would mean we have been able to move on past the negativity that is too prevalent these days. It would mean we have been successful in seeing more housing built for those displaced during the flood and for our seniors, families and more vulnerable. It means that we have been successful in bringing new employers to the city which will helps broaden the tax base and provide jobs. It will mean securing a solid plan for a new community theatre. It will mean having better communications links with orga nizations within the community, service

providers such as Interior Health and of course the people of Merritt. It will mean council working as a united team to “get things done.” It will mean better communications to the citizens including regularly scheduled town hall meetings.

It will mean more citizen involvement on committees. It would mean that we have secured more grants to add badly needed infrastructure to the city. It will mean that we have developed an effective emergency plan. It will mean that we have been able to build a sustainable relationship with the First Nations in the area. This com munity wellness theme embraces several ideas that need to be addressed for the well-being of our city. Danielle Klooster, a former Penhold town councillor, has some good advice for anyone running for office. She said “An individual with a personal grievance who runs for office is not just in danger of being an ineffective councillor (or mayor)— these folks can be downright destructive. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: anybody can tear down; tell me what you are going to build. I am com mitted to building up our community and providing good leadership for everyone.”

Reopening Murray Church

When elected as Cou ncillor, the citizen s of Merrit t can be confident their voice will be heard . I have a strong sen se of self, a passion to serve my com mu nit y and I am true to my word .

• I will promote industry and business to secure a consistent tax base

• I will improve communications from cit y hall to our citizens

• I will do my homework to understand current and future concerns of our citizens, so we can make the best decisions moving for ward.

• I am commit ted to focusing on what is best for our communit y and the people in it.

• I feel it is impor tant to meet the housing needs of the communit y while maintaining our small town feel

Author ized by Deanna Palmgren

250 392 0549

Working as a councillor requires a TE AM E F FORT, and I am excited about working with the citizens of Merrit t, Councillors, and Mayor. TOG ETH E R , we will make Merrit t a thriving and beautiful place to live

The dedication and reopening of the replica Historic Murray Church, which was destroyed by arson fire in 2019, was well attended

supported by the community. Marius Auer/Herald

Marius Auer

REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

After more than three years of fundraising and construction, the rebuilt Murray Church was opened to the commu nity in a dedica tion ceremony on Saturday, October 1. Throughout the afternoon’s ceremo nial proceedings and open house

of the newly con structed church, people from across the province and the country gath ered to witness the church bell ring again.

The original church, built in 1877 and named after a local Presbyterian min ister, was used

actively as a church for 143 years, until it was destroyed in an arson fire in January 2019. The only thing left was the chimney, the bricks of which were included in the rebuilt church. The church was used by Trinity United for special occasions and services, as well as community events

and as a tourism attraction. This will remain the case as the church has risen from the ashes.

An online fun draising campaign raised $105,579 towards the rebuild project. This, along with over $80,000 in commu nity raised funds, allowed the church to be rebuilt in its

HERE’S A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME:

cur rently

I have t he uniq ue p er s p e c tive of b eing a for mer s t u d e nt in SD #58 w ho has c hil d re n in t he s ame s c ho ol s y s te m I am d e dic ate d to t his co mmunit y t hat I grew up in, and will wor k to e ns ure t hat SD #58 co ntinue s to p rovid e a s afe and welco ming lear ning e nviro nme nt for eac h s t u d e nt I lo o k for w ar d to re p re s e nting t he me mb er s of t his co mmunit y and p ositively imp ac ting t he w ay t hat we e d uc ate o ur c hil d re n

tending school

Mer rit

Mer rit

tball

name is JUSTIN JEPSEN and

original location. It was a lengthy process, beginning in 2021, with 23 contractors and service providers contributing to the project. The project was spearheaded by the Trinity United Church’s congregation, which owned the original church, and managed by David Laird.

“The congregation of Trinity United and Murray Churches are extremely thankful for the overwhelming support. We are sincerely grateful for the excellent lead ership of David Laird, project construction manager,” said Richie Gage with Trinity United.

A Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Murray Church, located on Highway 5A at Nicola Ranch, on October 9 at 2pm. Regular church service is held at the Murray Church on the 5th Sunday of a month. For more information, call the Trinity United Church at 250-378-5735.

RE-ELECT

FOR MAYOR

7 ways to reduce breast cancer risk

Many women are concerned about the potential for developing breast cancer in their lifetimes. Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer among women in the United States and Canada. Despite that prevalence, there are ways for women to reduce their risk for breast cancer.

While it is impossible to change family history or genetic markers, like gene mutations that increase breast cancer risk, the following are seven ways women can lower their risk:

1. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Physical activity and monitoring calories can keep weight in check. The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity. Strength training at least twice a week also is recommended. Being overweight or obese increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

2. Consume a healthy diet. The link between diet and breast cancer risk is still being studied. However, research suggests that a diet high in vegetables and fruit, and calcium-rich dairy products, but low in red and processed meats may lower breast cancer risk.

3. Avoid or limit alcohol consumptions. Alcohol increases risk of breast cancer, even in small amounts. For those who drink, no more than one alcoholic drink a day should be the limit. The

more a woman drinks, the greater her risk of developing breast cancer, states the Mayo Clinic.

4. Undergo genetic counseling and testing. Women concerned about a genetic connection or family history of breast cancer can speak to their doctor about testing and counseling that could help them reduce their risk. Preventive medicines and surgeries might help those at elevated risk for breast cancer.

5. Limit hormone therapy. Combination hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women may increase risk of breast cancer, indicates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similarly, taking oral contraceptives during reproductive years may increase risk. Women can speak with their physicians to weigh the pros and cons of taking such hormones.

6. Breastfeed children, if possible. Breastfeeding has been linked to reducing a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

7. Learn to detect breast cancer. Women should get to know their bodies so they can determine if something is awry as early as possible. Early detection of breast cancer increases the chances that treatment will prove successful. Women can embrace various strategies to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

Proud

Cancer

cancer

Efforts to educate women about breast cancer have helped raise awareness of the disease and just how treatable it is when detected early. Despite that, a diagnosis can still be difficult for women and their families. When someone close to you is affected by breast cancer, priorities suddenly change and you may be wondering what you can do to provide the support needed to help this person navigate any ups and downs that could be on the horizon.

A breast cancer diagnosis does not produce a uniform response. While one loved one may embrace others wanting to help, another may feel she is a burden and exhibit an unwilling ness to accept help. In the latter instance, being a supportive bystander may require walking on eggshells. Even still, there are some universal ways to lend support when a friend or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer.

• Offer practical support. Cancer affects the body in a num ber of ways. Energy levels may wane and certain symptoms may arise. Side effects from treatments also can make it difficult to continue with daily tasks. So an offer to help with tasks associ ated with daily living, such as cooking meals, gardening, washing clothes, or cleaning up around the house, can be practical and much appreciated. Approach the individual and ask questions in pointed ways. Rather than, “What can I do to help?”, which may result in an answer of, “Nothing,” figure out a way to pitch in and then ask if that would be acceptable. This may be, “Would you like me to run to the supermarket for you today?”

• Offer emotional support. Someone with breast cancer may just need a person who can be there and listen. A hug, a nod of understanding, or even a companion who can chat and take the person’s mind off the cancer can be immensely helpful. Keep in mind that emotions may change on a dime, and some emo tions may be directed at support systems. While it can feel hurt ful, remember, the real reason for any outburst is the disease. Patience is needed at all times.

• Learn what you can about breast cancer. Research the type of cancer your loved one has, which may make it easier to

understand what to expect. If the person is amenable, you may consider accompanying her to appointments to hear firsthand about the next steps in her treatment and recovery.

• Maintain a positive attitude. It’s never easy knowing some one you love is sick. They are going through their own emotional roller coaster, and support systems can lift their spirits by main taining positive attitudes. Avoid wearing rose-colored glasses, but try to remain as upbeat as possible.

• Find a support group. Professional support groups are great resources for coping with a cancer journey. Supporting a person with cancer takes its own unique toll, particularly when caring for a spouse, child or mother with breast cancer. Support groups for support networks can be helpful.

Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer may need a little extra love and support. It’s up to caregivers and friends to step up and provide what is needed.

Potential warning signs for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women across the globe. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, there more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer in women in 2020. Such figures are sobering, but it’s important to recognize that breast cancer survival rates have improved dramatically in recent decades, providing hope to the millions of women who may be diagnosed with the disease in the years to come.

Various factors have helped to improve breast cancer survival rates, and education about the disease is certainly among them. Women are their own greatest allies against breast cancer, and learning to spot its signs and symptoms is a great first step in the fight against this potentially deadly, yet treatable disease.

Women are urged to report any abnormalities in their breasts to a physician immediately.

common symptom of breast cancer. A lump or mass that is cancerous is often painless, but hard and has irregular edges. However, lumps caused by breast cancer also can be soft, round and tender. Some even cause pain.

• Swelling: Some women experience swelling of all or part of a breast even if they don’t detect a lump.

• Dimpling: The skin on the breast may dimple. When this occurs, the skin on the breast sometimes mimics the look of an orange peel.

• Pain: Pain on the breast or nipple could indicate breast cancer.

Knowing your body

The American Cancer Society urges women to take note of how their breasts normally look and feel. That knowledge is vital because it helps women recognize when something does not look or feel good to the touch with their breasts. Screening alone may not be sufficient, as the ACS notes that mammograms do not find every breast cancer.

Signs and symptoms

When women are well acquainted with how their breasts look and feel, they’re in better position to recognize any abnormalities, which may or may not be indicative of breast cancer. The ACS reports that the following are some potential warning signs of breast cancer.

• A new lump or mass: The ACS indicates that this is the most

• Retraction: Some women with breast cancer experience retraction, which occurs when the nipple turns inward.

• Skin abnormalities: Breast cancer may cause the skin on the breast to redden, dry out, flake, or thicken.

• Swollen lymph nodes: Some women with breast cancer experience swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone.

The presence of any of these symptoms merits a trip to the doctor. Women with these symptoms should not immediately assume they have breast cancer, as the ACS notes that various symptoms of breast cancer also are indicative of non-cancerous conditions that affect the breasts. Only a physician can diagnose breast cancer, which underscores the importance of reporting symptoms to a doctor immediately.

T O G E T H E

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FRIENDS &Neighbours

BC Liberal Leader spends a day in Merritt ‘Volunteers of the Year’

On Saturday, October 1, BC Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon met with the people of Merritt to hear their con cerns. The engagement served as an opportunity for locals to meet the new leader in person as well as to voice out issues that he could bring up in the leg islature.

As part of the rounds he was mak ing throughout the summer, Leader Kevin Falcon made a stop in Merritt to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Central Park. There, he was met by locals, and leaders from different levels of government.

“I was honored to send an invitation and have him respond positively for a visit to Merritt and area,” said MLA Jackie Tegart. “Merritt is a very impor tant community in Fraser-Nicola so it’s great to have him here.”

Falcon won the Leadership of the BC Liberal Party earlier this year, passing other candidates such as Ellis Ross and Michael Lee with over 52 percent of available points. He now serves as both the MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena and the Leader of the Opposition.

“I just think it’s very important that we go out and listen to people,” he said. “With this beautiful venue here and all these folks coming around, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to con nect with the people of Merritt, find out what the issues are here, and take that knowledge back to Victoria and push the government and the legislature to start investing in small communities again.”

Prior to his visit in Merritt, Falcon had gone to Kamloops, Barriere, and Clearwater. Throughout the summer, he has been on the road, visiting all of the municipalities across B.C.

“His focus is very much on the out reach to communities,” Tegart said. “I’m just so pleased that Kevin gave the opportunity for the community to ask questions and to share his ideas as we look to the future for British Columbia.”

Merritonians came in ready with questions for the Liberal Leader, bring ing up issues on housing and the preva lent staffing issues of the Province’s healthcare system.

“They echo everything that I’ve been hearing across the whole province,” he described. “We have a healthcare system that is collapsing upon itself due to inef ficiencies and due to the lack of leader ship from the Provincial Government. How is it possible that they’ve only just announced a healthcare human resources plan and they’re in their sec ond term?”

Along with his Q&A with locals, Falcon also attended the Community Engagement Fair at the Civic Centre

“It is really nice to have a Leader come in to the community and spend the amount of time that Kevin spent here,” said Tegart.

“I think people are pleased to see when someone comes into their com munity. Rather than waiting for people to approach him, he reaches out. I think that’s the style that Kevin brings to the leadership of the official opposition.”

After his stop in Merritt, Falcon headed to Kelowna to meet with their locals before reporting back in Victoria this week.

The Nicola Valley and District Food Bank is honouring their dedicated staff, awarding two of their volunteers for their service in the community. Brenda Fahlman and Georgina Johnny, both vol unteers with the food bank, were named the organization’s ‘Volunteers of the Year’ in commemoration of their hard work and years of service.

The two volunteers perform a num ber of tasks for the food bank during an extremely busy time for the organization. Floods, fires, and economic downturn has led more people to require assis tance from the food bank. Fahlman and Johnny both pick up and deliver dona tions, sort donated goods, interact with clients, and ensure operations at the

much needed local food bank stay run ning smoothly.

“We are looking for board members to help fill positions, especially our secre tary position,” said Food Bank Manager Derlanda Hewton.

“We’re also looking for members that are eager to grow with us, because we’re coming up on a time where we’re going to begin our campaign for a new build ing. It’s going to be an exciting time for us in our future here.”

As the food bank hopes to expand, it will fundraise and search for a more suitable location. The Nicola Valley and District Food Bank always welcomes and appreciates monetary donations, and is actively seeking both board members and committed volunteers. For more information, or to get involved, visit www.nicolavalleyfoodbank.com.

Izaiah Reyes

BC Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon answers questions of Merritt locals about different issues

as housing and healthcare. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

Georgina Johnny and Brenda Fahlman were named the Nicola Valley and District Food

City reminds voters of election procedures

ballot. To do this, anyone wanting to vote will need to present two pieces of ID proving their identity, address, and signature. This could include a BC Drivers License, health card, credit card, or citizen ship card, The City is required to record the name, address, and either birthdate or partial Social Insurance Number of those

who cast a ballot. Those not able to prove their address are required to make a solemn declaration to a polling clerk.

“If a person doesn’t have that, we can use two pieces of ID, as long as we can prove their identity and signature, for example bankissued credit and debit cards. If they’re doing this,

they must make a solemn declara tion to the polling clerk about their address,” said Lowis.

“The informa tion voters provide will only be used for running the election, so that will be destroyed after the election is complete.”

General vot ing day is set for October 15, 2022, at the Merritt

Civic Centre (1950 Mamette Avenue), from 8AM to 8PM. Advanced poll ing was held on October 5, and will be again on October 12 at the same time and location. For more information on the nomination pro cess, contact candi dates@merritt.ca, or call City hall at 250-378-4224.

Marius Auer

Eligible voters will soon head to the polls in a his toric election for the City of Merritt, marking their bal lots and selecting their local govern ment ‘dream team.’

A record number of 18 council can didates are join ing four mayoral and school trustee hopefuls to secure a four year term end ing in 2026. With advanced polls now underway, there are multiple oppor tunities for locals to ensure their voice is heard and their ballot is counted.

The Local

Government Act, a piece of provincial legislation, sets out the parameters for municipal elec tions across B.C. Municipalities themselves administer the election process, and Director of Corporate Services Greg Lowis is tak ing on the role of Chief Election Officer in this fall’s race. He sat down with the Herald ahead of polls opening to talk eligibility, voting opportunities, and City election proce dures.

“The Mayor

and six people elected to council serve an absolutely vital role in making sure our commu nity is moving in the direction that Merrittonians want it to move in,” said Lowis.

“We have general elections for municipalities every four years in British Columbia, and this is the process by which Merrittonians decide who they want speaking for them, and what direction the City should be going in.”

An eligible voter is anyone who is a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or

older, and has lived in B.C. for at least six months prior to voting. They must present two valid pieces of identifica tion, and not be disqualified from casting a ballot under the Local Government Act. Merritt has never subscribed to the Provincial voters list, which means there is no record of a number of eli gible voters for this coming election.

The City’s last elec tion in 2018 saw less than half of the eligible 5,184 voters cast a vote. Voters in Merritt will register to vote at the time they go to cast their

Community Futures Nicola Valley hosts ‘Engagement Fair’

Various local nonprofit organizations congregated at the Merritt Civic Centre to engage with the community. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

A C A

Izaiah Reyes

The Civic Centre was buzzing this Saturday morn ing as Community Futures Nicola Valley (CFNV) hosted their second annual ‘Community Engagement Fair.’ The networking event looks to con nect community members to the various non-profit organizations in the Nicola Valley.

On Saturday, October 1, Merritt Civic Centre saw roughly 36 differ ent local non-profit organizations for CFNV’s networking event.

“The goal of the Community Engagement Fair is to connect mem bers of the public with groups that they might want to participate with,” said CFNV Lending Officer Joe Nemeth.

“There’s a lot we can get done through partner ship and hopefully people have found

groups to partner with as part of this event.”

CNFV is a non-profit organi zation that acts as a resource for cur rent and aspiring business owners in rural and remote

communities. The group offers a variety of services including financial loans and business training.

Nemeth notes that this was the second annual engage ment fair hosted by Community Futures. The group organized the first

year of the event back in 2019, but as with most pub lic gatherings, the event had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 restric tions.

“People have been excited,” he said. “A lot of these groups have been excited to jump back in and

participate. A lot of these groups have signed up over two years ago and have stuck to

Story Continues on Page 20

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their word by being here today. We can’t thank them enough for the commitment to Community Futures like that.”

What’s new for the event’s second go around is featuring recreational organiza tions such as the Merritt Snowmobile Club.

“A lot of NPO’s say that they need events like this to access new blood, so it’s great to see how much the public have

shown up.”

Aside from networking opportunities, attendees were treated to raffle prizes from the different organizations. There was also free snacks and refreshments, as well as an entertaining dance number, performed by Kate Van Rensburg of the Love to Dance Academy.

“I think this is starting to become a tent pole event for us,” Nemeth described. “Every year we want to be hosting this and we just want to see it become bigger and better next year.”

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Kate Van Rensburg of Love to Dance Academy, performing a dance number during the engage ment fair. Izaiah Reyes/Herald

‘Community Connect Day’ at Rotary Park

play is very good for a person’s both mental and emo tional wellness.”

Since last year, the non profit orga nization has been present in Merritt to provide aid in people’s recovery post flood. Initially, their support came in the form of assistance with the clean up of flood damaged proper ties.

by connecting with one another.”

The group had collaborated with Cross Roads Community Church, Nicola Valley Arts Council, and Endeavour to be Better to organize the event. Prizes from local business es were also offered in name draws.

“Even though

we’ve been through a flood, we’re not identified by it,” said Peterson. “Our identity is found in how great we are together which is what we celebrat ed.”

For more information on Samaritan’s Purse’s different services, please call Sherry Peterson at (250) 574-4885.

On Sunday, October 2, Samaritan’s Purse organized a ‘Community Connect Day’ at Rotary Park.

Through the event, the non-profit orga nization aims to uplift the communi ty, furthering their mission to support Merritt after last year’s devastating floods.

The Samaritan’s Purse organized a fun filled family day which invited the people of Merritt

out to Rotary Park last Sunday. People were treated to a free meal, music, and games.

“The whole pur pose was just to cel ebrate the strength of the community when they come together,” said Recovery Specialist Sherry Peterson. “The communi ty at large, has been in a lot of stress since last year. Just to be able to get out in the open air and, though it may sound funny, just to

As many prop erties have been restored, the group have stepped into their post flood recovery phase where Peterson and her co-specialist, Meghan Blackmore are staying in the community for two years to help resi dents in identifying resources they need to become resilient from future flood ing events.

“Our job is to help build com munity capacity, fill in blanks, and help people with their emotional and spir itual wellness,” said Peterson. “We are here to help them with their recovery plan and to encour age the community to move forward

for

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Izaiah Reyes

Local runner stars in short documentary film

For the past few years Darius Sam has become one of the most notable fig ures coming from the Nicola Valley. The 22-year old has gained national recogni tion for his feats in long distance run ning, most recently becoming one of the youngest runners in history to complete the Moab 240, a 240 mile race across the desert in Moab, Utah.

“The feeling can be a little bit over whelming,” said Sam, speaking on the attention he has been receiving from run ning.

“Did I really deserve to have this opportunity? However, I think as people get focused on their hobby or their craft and put a lot of energy and effort into it, they can manifest anything they want to.”

beautiful.”

Sam’s previous attempt had also raised money, providing $100,000 for the Nicola Valley Food Bank.

The film is already gaining traction, being picked up by both the Edmonton and Vancouver International Film Festivals.

Two special advanced screening of the film were also held on Tuesday, October 4, for both the community and NVIT staff and students.

Darius Sam is making the Nicola Valley proud once more with another achievement, but this time it is in the arts rather than athletics. Sam stars in a short independent film about the journey of his second attempt at completing his 100-mile run, giving a new meaning to finish lines.

‘The Runner’ is a 17 minute short film that covers Darius Sam’s second attempt at completing a 100-mile run back on December 5, 2020. This was his second attempt at the challenge, falling 11 miles short in June of that year.

“I didn’t know how, but I had a vision of changing the way people think, chang ing how they view themselves and how they treat their lives,” said Sam.

“I hope the film can really open some eyes and maybe push some people to chase what they want to do with their life.”

Director Amar Chebib discovered about Sam and his undertaking online and instantly wanted to tell his story.

“I just came across an online article that was shared on Facebook,” Chebib recalled. “It was the Merritt Herald’s preview article he was going to do on December 5, 2020. I was amazed from

his story, so I just reached out to him via social media and we started talking.”

Chebib is an independent filmmaker based out of Vancouver. He created the film ‘Joe Buffalo,’ a story about the name sake, who is a residential school survivor turned professional skateboarder from Samson Cree Nation in Alberta.

“I was incredibly inspired by Darius and his story,” said Chebib. “Being there, filming him while he was on the run, see ing all the ups and downs, the community coming out to support him, it was really touching.”

“That’s how it came out to be,” said Sam. “He just reached out through insta gram and we hopped on a Zoom call that day and we talked it over and we kind of got along right away.”

Sam noted that Chebib and his crew started filming with less than two weeks away from his run.

“There wasn’t much of a script,” he recalled. “They came down and just fig ured it out when they got here. It was free flowing and it was kind of a freestyle film.

I thought it was just going to be a few clips here and there and it would be cool.

I didn’t know it would be what it is right now.” ”

Sam completed the 100-mile run to raise money and awareness for men’s mental health. He was able to raise over $13,000 with his GoFund me page for the Nicola Family Therapy.

“It’s cool to have a film come out and we can highlight men’s mental health, where men could really come forward and maybe step outside of their comfort zone,” Sam explained.

“Kind of rolling into being softer, being loving to yourself. It was pitched that we were going to really highlight that in the film and I was all for it. I think it’s really

“When I had heard that the Vancouver International Film Festival had picked up the film and the director was keen to get a showing in Merritt, we coordinated in that process to ensure that the people in the Valley can view it in a place that made sense,” said Kelly Donaldson, staff mem ber of NVIT.

Donaldson is also the wife of Sam’s trainer, Mark Nendick. She had pitched Sam’s film to NVIT as part of their speak er series.

“NVIT was one of those places because of our available space and equip ment and also because Darius is a student here.”

The Runner will be releasing online on October 10 at www.newyorker.com and on the New Yorker’s official YouTube chan nel.

Provincial volleyball tournament receives sponsorship

that there is a need for some sponsorship with this. We reviewed the request and made the decision to go ahead and sup port it.”

Wall was made aware of the funding needs of the Provincials through a con nection with Sponsorship Chair, Nicole Mackay-Smith.

“We are thrilled with the donation,” she exclaimed. “I think our committee ini tially was just hoping to get gym sponsor ships that are more in the $1000 - $2000 range. We did discuss that if an opportuni ty presented itself, finding a sponsor, then that would be ideal so we are just thrilled of how this opportunity played out for us.”

The unexpected amount will help with the different costs that come with running the Provincials, such as gym costs, banquet costs, food and lodging for paid positions such as referees.

Surerus Murphy Joint Venture have collaborated with Trans Mountain for their expansion project. Spread 5A is the section of the pipeline that Sereus Murphy is currently constructing. The project spans from Black Pines all the way to the Coquihalla Summit, reaching 185 kilo metres long. Employees involved with the project have made the donations possible through their fundraising efforts.

“This is truly a partnership between the employees of both companies, as well as employees from the subcontractors work ing with us on the project,” said Wall.

“I think the tournament will help bring a lot of people together that wouldn’t necessarily come to Merritt Secondary. I also think when kids see the support of the community, that helps them feel a sense of belonging at the school and in their com munity which is really great.”

Employees of the Spread 5A Trans Mountain Expansion Project have donated to the Sr. Girls Provincial Volleyball Tournament. The donation will help with the costs to run the event in December. On Thursday, September 29, 2022,

Surerus Murphy Joint Venture, Indigenous and Community Affairs Manager, Adrian Wall and employee representative, Derek Pickford visited Merritt Secondary School to present a cheque worth $5000.

“This donation is through some of our employee fundraising,” explained Wall. “This was just brought to my attention,

“It’s really just a way of us to look at the project’s overall impact with the com munity,” said Wall, explaining the dona tions.

“We know we’re bringing jobs, we know we’re bringing in a lot of procure ment opportunities but we want to things like donate to the community and try to leave it a little better than when we arrived.”

Earlier this year it was announced that Merritt Secondary School will be the host of the Sr. Girls Provincial Volleyball Tournament. The 16-team tournament will take place at three different locations; Merritt Secondary School, Coquihalla Middle School, and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. The Provincials are set to begin on Dec 1, 2022.

Merritt Curling Club compete at the BC 55+ Senior Games

cold turkey,” said Susan Newton, president of the MCC.

“With no prac tices before hand, we played well and hoping we can do this again next year.”

be accepted to go.”

Senior athletics are being represent ed well in Merritt as members of the Merritt Curling Club finished fourth place at the BC 55+ Senior Games.

Four members

of the Merritt Curling Club rep resented the region for the 55+ BC Senior Games in Victoria, B.C. the week of September 13. Lorna Latremouille, Monika Tenisch,

Susan Newton, and Debbie Phillips all competed very well at the games despite having little to no time for prac tice.

“Considering this is the first time we have played together as a team and we went in

The opportunity to join the tourna ment arose when the MCC learned that the tourna ment was short on teams because of competitors elect ing not to attend due to lingering concerns about COVID-19.

“Normally you would have to win in your region but nobody in our region wanted to go,” she explained.

“We decided to put together this team and see if we would

Newton said their region was very large and includes places like Merritt, Kamloops and Revelstoke. An application was made to enter in the tournament earlier in March and it was quickly accepted. The team had gotten in the tournament how ever were set back because of the lack of opportunities to train.

“To prep for it was pretty tough because we didn’t have any ice in Merritt at that time to practice,” Newton explained.

“We had went down to Kamloops to see if we could still throw a rock and swing it off

because it had been four and a half months since we last curled. It’s hard to get back into that motion again.”

The ladies competed against six other teams, playing a total of four games. Their performance had earned them a chance to win bronze however, they would fall short against a Langley team los ing by one point.

“They (Langley) had already played in a couple of bonspiels so they’d had lots of practice but we still did very well, giving them a run for their money,” said Newton.

Overall, Newton and the team were

very happy with their performance and with the out come of the tour nament.

“It was great competition and it was a great chance to meet a lot of wonderful ladies from different clubs and the organizers and volunteers did a splendid job.”

Back in August, current and for mer members of the MCC had also entered in the 55+ Canada Senior Games.

Deb Stowell, Shelly Sanders, Lorna Latremouille, and Lynn Newhouse all headed to Kamloops and competed in the 65+ age division.

“This was truly an amazing experi

ence to represent BC at the Canada Senior games,” said Sanders. “We had a lot of fun playing teams from across the country, which included Nova Scotia, PEI, NWT and Alberta.” After competing in the tournaments, the Merritt Curling Club now gets ready for a new season, with reg istrations opening next week.

“It’s a life long sport,” said Newton. “It’s fun to play, you meet new people and have a lot of fun.”

For more infor mation on the Merritt Curling Club, please visit www.merrittcurl ing.ca.

Main Event Sponsor Surerus Murphy Joint Venture hands a $5000 cheque to the Provincial Volleyball Tournament Committee. Izaiah Reyes/Herald Izaiah Reyes

(From

Lorna Latremouille, Monika Tenisch, Susan Newton (skip), and Debbie Phillips at 55+ BC Senior Games. Photo/Susan Newton

Local organization educates people on Nicola watersheds

sumption by 10 percent, which they say will significant ly contribute to the sustainability of the Nicola Watershed. The NWCRT also built and maintains the Grasslands Interpretive Site, an educational site of pristine grass lands with signage and walking paths.

October 5, the round table hosted a meeting to dis cuss strategy, and begin the process of planning their first public forum in two years.

or public forum.

We can only exist if there are people interested in attending,” added Anderson.

For more infor

mation on the Nicola Watershed Community Round Table, visit the organization’s web site at www.nwcrt. ca.

Marius Auer

The Nicola Watershed Community Round Table (NWCRT) is a local organization looking to involve Merrittonians in the process of protecting the local waterways and supply, and to provide an oppor tunity for locals to have their say in land and resource management. The organization looks to inform and edu cate residents of the Nicola Valley about the impor tance of managing the usage of vital resources, such as the local water shed.

A watershed is

a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually bays and oceans. The Nicola Watershed is made up of the lakes, rivers, and aquifers that lie in the Nicola Valley. The NWCRT was founded in 1994 to provide pub lic input on the management of the valley’s water supply. The round table has facilitated a number of scien tific studies of the local watershed, and worked with the Province of BC in the early 2000’s to implement a

five-year Water Use Management Plan.

“The Nicola Watershed Community Round Table is about people coming together, listen ing to each other, learning from each other, understand ing each other’s point of view and, from time to time, addressing and resolving issues through consensus decision mak ing,” said Kate Anderson, member of the NWCRT.

While water and natural resources are the main focus of conversation and action taken by the round table, it is certainly not lim ited to those issues.

The NWCRT has hosted public

forums on a vari ety of issues since 1996, including school board amal gamation, health care, timber supply, biosolids, and of course, water.

In addition to the public forums and collabora tive management plans, the round table also offers a number of educa tional opportuni ties and challenges through its website.

Information on droughts, water management, and local issues can be found online, in addition to the NWCRT’s 10% Water Use Challenge. The challenge urges individuals and families to reduce their water con

“The NWCRT built a Grasslands Interpretive site that is well used and loved to this day at the top of Lundbom Hill. This was no small feat and 20 years later, with the dedication of some key people, it remains a relevant and informative destination,” said Anderson.

“We would like to thank Nicola Log Works, for their generous labor to keep the kiosk maintained, and to Gerry Sanford for his endless hours look ing after the details at the site.”

Moving for ward, the NWCRT hopes to bolster public support and engagement, while continuing to provide educa tional opportuni ties on important local issues. On Wednesday,

“The relevance of the Round Table is the people. All are welcome and all have an equal voice at the table. After a two year hiatus from holding public meetings, it’s time to gather and plan our next steps and/

CONTAIN-IT STORAGE

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WEL COME YOU

Crossroads Community Church 2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church

2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Omre)

Sunday ser vice 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 Hear t 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 ever y 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 Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

The Nicola Watershed Community Round Table is a non-profit coalition of locals working to protect the Nicola Watershed and other local resources. Photo/Herald

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Phyllis (Slater) Riley

June 16, 1930 September 22, 2022

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Phyllis Riley

Phyllis was born in Kamloops, BC to Annie and George Slater In 1952 she married the love of her life, Jim Riley The happy couple made their home in Merritt where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Together, Jim and Phyllis raised two boys who also married and made their homes in Merritt.

Phyllis was a teacher at both Central Elementary and Collettville Elementary schools. All her life, Phyllis was an active member of the community, involved in activities such as bowling, softball and curling and in organizations such as the Patricia Rebekah Lodge and the Merritt Seniors Association where she often held positions of importance. She and Jim loved to entertain friends and often held dance parties in their home. The family spent many weekends camping and fishing with friends. Jim and Phyllis, long time members of the Good Sam Club, would often travel around BC and the States in their RV after the boys were grown. Phyllis loved to cook and bake Sunday family dinners were a tradition for many years Phyllis was also an avid crafter and knitter and loved to spend afternoons with her grandchildren at the kitchen table making crafts.

Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Jim (2006) and by her sister, Doreen. She leaves to cherish her memory her sons Doug (Cindy) and Fred (Janice), her grandchildren Amy (Conrad), Jayden (Stephanie), Ryan (Rachel), Jessica (Ian), Chad (Amelia) and her great-grandchildren Charlotte, Hugh, Cohen, Raya, Brea, Henry and Rynne.

All her life, Phyllis was surrounded by the love of her family She loved life and never missed a chance to be involved in any opportunity or adventure that came her way Her family and friends were near and dear to her and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her A tea in Phyllis’ honor will be held at the Merritt Senior’s Center on Coldwater Avenue on Wednesday October 12 at 2pm. Please

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Land Act: Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that I, the City of Merritt, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Region Thompson Okanagan, for a tenure type and purpose situated on Provincial Crown land located at Section 11, Township 91, KDYD, north of Ranchland Road in Merritt, BC

FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 3413654 Written comments concer ning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, Thompson Okanagan, FLNRORD, at 441 Columbia Street, Kamloops, B C V2C 2T3 Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to date FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this November 1, 2022 Please visit the website at http://comment nrs gov bc ca/ for more infor mation

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To: SHEILA MARGARET BODNAR

Action No E14996 has been filed in the Campbell River Registr y of the B.C Supreme Cour t by Michael Rober t Hawkins seek to a divorce, dated July 6, 2022.

An order of substituted ser vice has been made against you You must file an Response to Family Claim within 30 days at the Campbell River, Registr y of the B.C Supreme Cour t at 500 13th Ave., Campbell River, B.C or fur ther proceedings may be taken without fur ther notice to you.

You may obtain from the Campbell River Registr y, a copy of the Notice of Family Claim and a copy of this order providing ser vice by this adver tisement. This adver tisement is placed by Harold A. Henning, solicitor for the Claimant whose address for ser vice is 100-1170 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, B.C., V9W 2C8 and facsimile is (250) 830- 0032 and e-mail is henninglaw@shaw ca.

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