TWO NIGHTS OF MERRITT DRIVEINS /PAGE 8
SLOAN HAS PAYDAY AT PGA TOURNEY / PAGE 12
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MERRITT HERALD THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS • www.merrittherald.com
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Local firefighters give presentations to local residents on the corner of Pineridge Drive and Sunflower Avenue to teach about fire safety. MORGAN HAMPTON/Herald STORY /PAGE 3
FUTURE FIREFIGHTERS
GOLDEN YEARS Look out for our annual Golden Years guide, a helpful guideline for seniors in healthy living and keeping social.
SEE BOOKLET
SKATING RETURNS The CanSkate program comes back to the Nicola Valley Skating Club, with new COVID-19 regulations in place.
/PAGE 11 BACK TO SCHOOL The Herald takes an in-depth look on what September’s return to school plan will look like in Merritt.
/PAGES 16-24 #210, 2514 SPRING BANK This new 2 storey townhouse in Nicola Bluffs strata development has some of the nicest views in the valley. This is a great development for young families or retirees. New open concept kitchen with Quartz countertops, vinyl plank floors, gas F/P & 2 pce powder room on the main floor, 3 bedrms on the top floor with master bedrm with walk-in closet & 4 pce ensuite. The basement is finished for rec.room and a storage room and a 4 pce bath. 2 car garage.
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2 • THURSDAY, August 20, 2020
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1638 Fir Avenue
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1608 Fir Avenue
2719 Eagle Cres
1645 Miller Road
MLS#152519 $79,900 Great lot located in a popular subdivision. This lot is nice & flat, is close to elementary schools & is only minutes from beautiful walking trails along the river.
MLS#153191 $108,900 Panoramic views of the beautiful Nicola Valley. Build your dream home in the up and coming Bench subdivision. City services need to be connected at the time of permit.
MLS#150725 $109,900 New river view lot located in nicely developed Country Pine Estates. Water & sewer service to lot line. Build your dream homes & enjoy the river views from the privacy of your home.
MLS#153194 $112,900 Panoramic views of the beautiful Nicola Valley. Build your dream home in the up and coming Bench subdivision. City services need to be connected at the time of permit.
MLS#150830 $200,000 Build your dream home on the 9.90-acre lot located in the desired Sunshine Valley Estates. The lot is ready for your building ideas. Only 2.5 hours from Lower Mainland, 1 hour from Kamloops and 1.5 hours from Kelowna.
291 Fyall Road
201-1701 Menzies Street
301-2799 Clapperton Avenue
1200 Government Avenue
1-1717 Granite Avenue
NEW
SOLD
SOLD
MLS#155926 $215,000 This beautiful lot with over 2 acres of usable, flat land is ideally located in the lovely community of Lower Nicola.
MLS#157980 $215,000 Investor Alert! Immaculate 2 bed 2 bath corner unit at the Summitt with excellent tenant in place. Great outdoor patio space from the dining area, & lots of storage in the laundry room & pantry.
MLS#156661 $219,000 Quick possession if needed. Immaculate & spacious describe this 2-bedroom, 2 full bathroom apartment, located on the top floor.
MLS#154680 $245,000 Great Location! Looking for a lovely extra-large lot with a large 2 car shop/garage? Check out this great 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom manufactured home on a .26acre lot.
MLS#153672 $265,000 Bright open concept 2-3 bdrm, 3 bath adult townhouse in excellent location near downtown core. The main floor has it all - kitchen, bright eating area, living room w/ electric fireplace, den, laundry, master bdrm w/ensuite.
1863 Canford Avenue
1775 Blair Street
6953 Old Nicola Trail
208-2514 Spring Bank Avenue
106-2514 Spring Bank Avenue
SOLD
NEW MLS#157981 $279,000 Very nice, move-in ready Rancher walking distance to downtown Merritt. The home features 2 nice sized bedrooms, the master bedroom with new walk in closet and 4-piece ensuite.y
MLS#154482 $399,900 Nice family home only minutes walking distance to the downtown core. Three bedrooms up and three down. House is situated on a 12,000 sq ft fully fenced corner lot with 22 x 26 detached cinder block shop and power.
MLS#156558 $409,900 Find your escape on this stunning waterfront property with over 1.6 flat acres to build your dream home. Situated on the gorgeous Nicola Lake, in the esteemed Old Nicola Trail development
MLS#155881 $414,900 Welcome to one of Merritts’ newest executive style town home developments nestled into the Spring Bank neighbourhood. This 3 bdrm, 4 bath home features a beautiful blend of contemporary and modern finishes.
MLS#156662 $421,000 Welcome to Nicola Bluffs! This classy 4-bedroom 3 bath rancher with over 2800 sq ft of gorgeous quality finishings and upgrades is sure to impress. This home has 9 foot ceilings, a stunning kitchen with a large island.
6408 Monck Park Road
2076 Parker Drive
2465 Paige Street
1849 Pineridge Drive
1640 Chestnut Avenue
MLS#155870 $434,900 This spectacular waterfront lot on Nicola Lake offers over 1 acre of fantastic lakeside living at its best! This is a rare opportunity to purchase one of the last lake front lots located in Phase 1 of the Nicola Lakeshore Estates development.
MLS# 157796 $439,900 BENCH LOCATION: Nice rancher style home with full daylight walk-out basement features 3 bed up and 1 down. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Nicola Valley & recreational parks from the large sundeck.
MLS#157230 $455,950 Very nice, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom family home located on .42 acre in the desired Lower Nicola area. Just minutes from downtown Merritt. New roof in 2020.
MLS#156871 $499,900 Very nice 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom family home located in the desired Merritt bench area. The home features the most amazing views from your large front deck off your living/dining room.
MLS#154507 $509,800 Don’t miss out on this newly built west coast contemporary rancher style home with full crawl space. 1705 sq ft 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath luxury home features open concept. Home offers a full 2-5-10 home warranty.
1618 Fir Road
1741 Sunflower Avenue
2276 Garcia Street
6441 Jagpal Way
6557 Monck Park Road
MLS#156711 $599,900 Beautiful new custom-built basement entry, two level home with many extras. This home features 4 bedrooms (possible 5) master suite with walk-in closet & very nice spa like ensuite with large walk-in shower.
MLS#155584 $609,000 CHARM, COMFORT, LOCATION, MORTGAGE HELPER AND A POOL! This stunning 1920’s craftsman home is a must see! This 5 + 1 bedrooms 4 bathroom home is located on a double lot with walking distance to downtown.
MLS#156673 $739,000 Breathtaking views of beautiful Nicola Lake. Retreat in this lovely 4 bedroom, 3 bath home w/ a 2 car garage/shop. Indulge yourself w/ bright kitchen featuring warm dark maple cabinets & granite top island & radiant heated floors.
MLS#153296 $1,100,000 Indulge yourself with 3800 sqft of high end living as you enjoy a panoramic view of Nicola Lake. 3 Beds 3 bath home features dream kitchen with 5 burner propane stove & capacious breakfast bar.
MLS#156960 $539,900 Amazing river & mountain views from this immaculate move-in ready, custom-built rancher w/daylight basement. The home features a bright open design w/kitchen, dining & living room all open with lots of windows.
SOLD
ICE R P NEW
SOLD
THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 3
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
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FIRE MITIGATION
FireSmart seminars in local neighbourhoods The Merritt fire department is offering seminars to locals to assist them in fireproofing their homes.
tlcpond1@telus.net 250-378-4166
INSIDE Opinion ---------------------- 6-7 Sports -------------------- 11-12 Classifieds -------------- 25-26
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
The Merritt Fire and Rescue Department were out and about in local neighbourhoods last week, encouraging residents to be ‘FireSmart’, in order to help protect their homes and the community from wildfire. FireSmart Coordinator and Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, Krista Minar, was on hand to offer people tips and hand out swag bags containing FireSmart literature, along with other firefighters from the Merritt department. “We’re just out here today doing a little competition for people in the neighbourhood to encourage people to FireSmart their homes,” said firefighter Josh Geffen. “There’s a couple ways you can enter, you can sign up for a seminar (a ‘Reduce your Wildfire Risk workshop) with Krista, you can book
Online Two members of the Merritt Fire and Rescue Department during last week’s FireSmart program that went around town. MORGAN HAMPTON/Herald
an in person consultation and she’ll come around to your house and take a look and tell you what you can do, or you can just submit before and after photos of what you’ve done to FireSmart your house. We’ve got some prizes from some local businesses like Canadian Tire, Nicola Chainsaw, Home Hardware.” Geffen also noted that Merritt sees “a fair amount” of interface fires, these are fires which occur in areas where structures and property will potentially be dam-
aged or destroyed as flames may jump from the forest to homes, or vice versa. “Interface is anything that’s going to come from the wildland side into a neighbourhood, or start in the neighbourhood and go up onto the mountain, so places like this are especially vulnerable just because of all the trees and being so close to the mountain,” said Geffen, regarding Merritt. Firefighter Philip Lewis added, “It’s quite windy as well in Merritt, so that spreads the fire quite a bit. It’s windy and dry.”
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According to the Merritt Fire and Rescue Department website: “The City of Merritt actively works towards fuel reduction through new fuel reduction prescriptions and maintaining older projects as required. However, no amount of work made by the City of Merritt negates the efforts that are required by residents and business owners. It takes the community, working together, to reduce wildfire risk. By using FireSmart principles, we can mitigate our risk and work towards
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
Eight local youth have been hired as the Logan Lake FireSmart crew for the 2020 season, where they will receive training, build life and employment skills and gain paid work experience. This year’s crew has already been First Aid certified, spent time with a BC Wildfire Service group to learn about wildland firefight-
protecting our beautiful community.” “There’s lots of great prizes for people to win, the end of the competition is September 18,” said Lewis. “All the information should be on our website as well, so check that out.” The prize draw will take place on September 19. All City of Merritt residents within municipal boundaries are eligible to participate. Residents can make more than one entry by completing more than one of the FireSmart tasks.
ing, learned about fire mitigation from Logan Lake Fire Chief Dan Leighton, took a lesson on seed and tree identification, and brushed up on their Bear Aware knowledge. Logan Lake was recognized as a FireSmart Community by FireSmart Canada in 2013, the culmination of a decade’s worth of wildfire planning and mitigation activities, much of which was led by Tom Lacey of See ‘WILDFIRE’ Page 5 Merritt.
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erritt
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City of Merritt
page
COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
All City Council Meetings will now be held online with live YOU’RE All CityCouncil Council Meetings now resumed beINVITED! held and online City Meetings have in-person streaming links available at will www.merritt.ca onwith the live City Regular Council Meeting - June 11, 2019 streaming links available at www.merritt.ca and on the City of Merritt social media channels. input questions/ to meet withPublic Mayor Brown every and residents are strongly encouraged to watch of information Merritt socialcan media channels. Public input questions/ Regular Council Meeting June 25, 2019 be submitted to am theto Council Wednesday from prior 10:00 4:00 pm information can be submitted prior to the Council meetings to communications@merritt.ca online via www.merritt.ca Regular Council Meeting July 9, 2019 in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall (second floor), 2185 Voght Street. meetings to communications@merritt.ca Regular Council Meeting - July 21 - 72019 Special Meeting of Council – September 1pm –hello 7pm Regular Council - toJuly Interested citizensMeeting are welcome stop 23, by, say and discuss Regularissues Council Meeting August 4 7 pm and opportunities for the City, its residents and businesses. Regular Council Meeting August 18 7 pm Regular Council Meeting - September 15 - 7 pm If you would likeRegular to schedule a particular time to meet with the Mayor- please contact Corporate Council Meeting August 18 - Services 7 pmat 250-378-8614
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY NEW WEBSITE Position: TheEMPLOYMENT City CITY of Merritt is OF inviting MERRITT applications for the position of CASUAL LIFEGUARD/
PUBLIC NOTICE
INSTRUCTOR I. Position: The City of Merritt is inviting applications for the position of PUBLIC WORKS SEASONAL PUBLIC TUESDAY 4th, 2020 at 7:00PM For complete HEARING details, visit Cityon of Merritt website atAugust www.merritt.ca LABOURER. resumes reflecting skills and abilities relevant to the position; detailing ForCurrent complete details, visit Cityapplicants’ of Merrittknowledge, website at www.merritt.ca educationisand qualifications, andthat proof of andwill licenses be accepted prior to Notice hereby given a required Publiceducation Hearing be will held on Tuesday Current resumes reflecting applicants’ knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the position; detailing 4:00 p.m. Friday, July 12, 2019 by: August and 4th, 2020 in the Council Chambers City located education qualifications, and proof of required education at and Merritt licenses will be Hall, accepted prior to at 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, BC with respect to the following proposed Carole Deputy 4:00 p.m.Fraser, Monday, July Clerk/Human 08, 2019 by: Resources Manager PO Box 189, 21852284, Voght Street, BC V1K 1B8 Or by email: cfraser@merritt.ca Zoning Bylaw 2020.Merritt, Carole Fraser, Deputy Clerk/Human Resources Manager applicants for their interest, however, those cfraser@merritt.ca selected for an interview will be POWe Boxthank 189, all 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Oronly by email: Acontacted. copy of the proposed the Bylaw and other relevant documents may be We thank allduring applicants for their interest, however, those for pm an interview will be viewed normal business hours ofonly 8:30 amselected to 4:30 on Thursday Date Posted: Monday, June 17, 2019 contacted. July 23rd to Tuesday August 4th, 2020 at City Hall, 2185 Voght Street, Merritt Posting Expires: Friday, July 12, 2019 Date Friday, June 21, 2019 BC, Posted: or online at www.merritt.ca Posting Expires: Monday, July 08, 2019 Anyone who wishes to address the above Bylaw will be given the opportunity at the Public Hearing to be heard in person, by a representative, WHAT: Summer Market Thewritten City of Merritt is please to launch website contained to Nights provide easier residents to Bylaw. find or by submission, onMerritt alla new matters inaccess the for proposed WHEN: City every FridayWHAT: June toGRAD 30th 5:00pm to 10:00pm information and be 28th involved inAugust currently community initiatives. MSS WALK If you are unable to attend the Public Hearing, written submission must be WHERE:June 2000-2100 Block Quilchena Avenue WHEN: 20,to2019 6:30 pm new toJULY 7:00 pm 2020, VisitNO www.merritt.ca view the website today! received LATER THAN 12:00PM THURSDAY, 30th, to ensure WHERE: Merritt Senior Secondary High School to Nicola Valley Memorial Arena their availability to Council at the Public Hearing.
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE
GARBAGE SCHEDULE UPDATE COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITY TEMPORARY CLOSURE Don McArthur, Planning & ROAD Development Services Manager
Written submission can be provided by any of the following methods:
WHAT: MSS GRAD CAR PARADE dmcarthur@merritt.ca Volunteer positions are now The City of Merritt is currently revamping the Residential Garbage and Recycling WHEN: June 21, 2019Street, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm PO Box 189, 2185 Voght Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 Collection Schedule. Residents are reminded thatavailable the current willEconomic remain in for schedule the Merritt WHERE: Merritt Rotary Park (2000 Block of Voght Street) to Merritt Civic Centre effect until the new schedule is available on October 1st. Development Committee. This pur(1950your Mamette Avenue) All submissions must include name and street No letter, The new 2020/2021 Garbage and Recycling Schedule willcommittee beaddress. made available pose of the is to advise NOTE: Parking will be reservedpublic at Rotary and the Church from report or representation willPark be received by Council after infrom print the and at www.merritt.ca. Council on matters pertaining to 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on June 22, 2019 the conclusion of the Public Hearing. Alleconomic written development, submissions downtown are public information pursuant to the Freedom of Information and revitalization, investment,Protection business of Privacy Act. For more information, please contact the Planning attraction, and long-term economic & Development Services Manager at 250-378-8620 or at dmcarthur@merritt. sustainability. Committee application ca forms are available at www.merritt. ca. Completed applications can be sent to Sean Smith, City of Merritt Director of Corporate Services at ssmith@merritt.ca.
WATERING RESTRICTIONS
6:00AM - 8:00AM and 7:00PM - 10:00PM
EVEN ADDRESSES Mon/Wed/Fri Deadline to apply is ODD Friday,ADDRESSES July 10th, 2020. Community Policing Office Reopens Tues/Thurs/Sat As of Monday, July 27th, 2020 theAUTOMATIC City of Merritt Community Policing Office SPRINKLERS: (CPO) will reopen to the public. The Community Policing Office will be open by appointment only for bike registrations, crimerespective prevention information, on your days and program inquiries. Tourism Merritt midnight to 4:00 AM ToConnect book an appointment phone thewebsite 250-378-3955 or email with us on our new tourism and social media.cpo@merritt.ca. *NO SPRINKLING SUNDAYS www.tourismmerritt.com • #ExploreMerritt NOW AVAILABLE For more information on the CPO programs and services please visit www.merritt.ca/community-policing Effective May 1ST to September 30TH
40 to en op es/ ERRITT as
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CITY
page
to meet with Mayor Brown every YOU’RE INVITED! PROPERTY TAX REMINDER Wednesday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to meet with Mayor Brown every
in the Mayor’sMerritt Office atCity City Hall (second 2185 Voght Street Hall, 2185 Voght Street Wednesday from 10:00 amfloor), to 4:00 pm The City of Merritt would like to remind residents 2020 property tax are due on Thursday, in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall (second floor), 2185 Voght Street. July 2nd. Please note that there will be NO PENALTY applied on July 3rd. Residents will Interested are welcome to stop aby,penalty. say hello discusson have until September 30th to pay citizens 2020 property tax without Theand penalty issues opportunities for thetax. City, its residents and businesses. October 1st will be 5% of yourand unpaid 2020 property If you would like to schedule a particular time to meet with the Mayor please contact Corporate Services at 250-378-8614
NICOLA AQUATIC CENTRE PLEASE VALLEY NOTE A NOTICE OF PUBLIC
A reminder that City Hall is open to accept payments by cash, debit and cheque from 10:00am to noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday and closed on Canada Day.
IS NOW OPEN
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR
Position: The City of Merritt is inviting applications for the position of PUBLIC WORKS SEASONAL LABOURER.
AUGUST 4, 2020 AT 7:00 PM IS ON PAGE 5
For complete details, visit City of Merritt website at www.merritt.ca Current resumes reflecting applicants’ knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the position; detailing education and qualifications, and proof of required education and licenses will be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. Monday, July 08, 2019 by: Carole Fraser, Deputy Clerk/Human Resources Manager PO Box 189, 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Or by email: cfraser@merritt.ca We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Date Posted: Friday, June 21, 2019 Posting Expires: Monday, July 08, 2019
ROAD CLOSURE CITYTEMPORARY HALL COVID-19 HOURS City Hall will be reopenedWHAT: with MSS GRAD WALK WHEN: June 20, 2019 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm limited hours. WHERE: Merritt Senior Secondary High School to Nicola Valley Memorial Arena City Hall will be open to the public from 10:00 am to noon. Although the Merritt City Hall is TEMPORARY open, residents are encouraged to ROAD CLOSURE send inquires via phoneWHAT: or email. MSS GRAD CAR PARADE Payments can beWHEN: made June online21, 2019 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm WHERE: Merritt Rotary Park (2000 Block of Voght Street) to Merritt Civic Centre at www.merritt.ca/city-services/ (1950 Mamette Avenue) online-payment-options NOTE: Parking will be reserved at Rotary Park and the Church from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on June 22, 2019
WATERING RESTRICTIONS
6:00AM - 8:00AM and 7:00PM - 10:00PM SPEED LIMIT
EVEN ADDRESSES CHANGE Mon/Wed/Fri 30 km throughout ODD ADDRESSES the Bench District Tues/Thurs/Sat The City of Merritt would like to inform residents of a speed limit change across AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS: the Bench District in Merritt. Twelve 30 km respective speed limit signs have been onnew your days placed throughout this area to ensure drivers are aware ofto this4:00 new change. midnight AM This speed limit change, from 50 km to 30 km, will help support a safer *NO SPRINKLING SUNDAYS neighbourhood in this residential area. Effective May 1ST to September 30TH
MAXIMUM
30
VISIT MERRITT VISITTOURISM TOURISM MERRITT VISIT TOURISM MERRITT FOR MORE TO SEE AND DO DO FOR MORE TOMERRITT SEE AND VISIT TOURISM FOR MORE TO SEE AND DO services Including safe visiting advice and local Add your event and see all other events in Merritt at #ExploreMerritt #ExploreMerritt FOR MORE TO SEE AND DO Including safe visiting advice and local services
l other events in Merritt at www.tourismmerritt.ca www.tourismmerritt.com/events #ExploreMerritt Including safe visiting advice and local services vents For both locals and visitors to discover more about Merritt and great upcomingwww.tourismmerritt.ca events in the community! www.tourismmerritt.ca
#ExploreMerritt #ExploreMerritt
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THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 5
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Wildfire mitigation by young team
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The Logan Lake FireSmart crew is composed of eiight members under the tutelage of the fire chief. Photo submitted
From Page 3 For several years, a FireSmart team has been instrumental in helping keep the woods around Logan Lake tidy and at a lower risk of wildfire and interface fires, something which cost the province of BC approximately $182.5-million in 2019 alone. “The value of the FireSmart program to human life, property and overall impact cannot be understated,” said Garnet Mierau, Registered Professional Forester and a FireSmart program coordinator. “FireSmart activities work, and cost the taxpayers of BC a fraction of what is being spent on suppression and emergency response. Building a resilient community with mitigated risk is key.” The program is delivered by the Logan Lake Wellness, Health and Youth Society (WHY), and is made possible by a Canada Summer Jobs grant, an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
Supported by the Logan Lake Community Forest, Forsite Forest Management Specialists and the Logan Lake Fire Department, it truly is a community driven program. Jordan Glavine, one of the members of this year’s FireSmart team, says that the program has not only helped him develop skills, but a passion for forestry. “I had worked for a very similar program when I was 14, and I came back and now I’m 20,” said Glavine. “So, it’s not only focused on students it’s just youth in general. It’s a big help to youth in general. You actually do learn a lot out here. I feel really confident now out in the forest, I was pretty good with it before, but now if I were to get stuck out in the woods, I know which trees burn smokeless fires or smoke fires so that I can be located. I know which trees provide nutrients, and things like that. You really do learn out here as well, how to interact with wildlife, which is very important if you’re
in the woods. How to basically just survive when you come head on with a wild animal.” Currently, the team is working through cutblocks that have been previously logged, clearing debris and preparing slash piles. “We just go around pruning, picking up sticks, raking them up and stuff like that, labour work,” said Glavine. “We pile them all together and get them ready for slash burns in the fall and winter. It’s a huge block this one that I’m on currently. We’ve probably done three quarters of it, so that’s actually massive. I think we’ve done probably around six to eight piles or so.” This translates into a lot of physical work, something Glavine notes is good for the group’s health. “It’s really good physically, it’s good, hard work,” said Glavine. “You build up a lot of muscle, and it’s a lot of teamwork. That’s really good for the youth I find, to build up that team-
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work experience, that’s something that they really need especially if they’re kids who maybe don’t like sports or something, or they just prefer to be outdoors instead of playing hockey or something like that.” Glavine has enjoyed his work in the program so much that he has decided to pursue a career in the forest industry. His advice for other young people who are considering getting involved with the program or other forestry initiatives is to “go for it”. “I would absolutely encourage them to do it,” said Glavine. “I kind of didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I came back to Logan Lake which is my hometown, so I came back and they really helped me out here. And I kind of realized I was really enjoying myself out here. Forestry is a huge industry there’s a lot of options there, and it’s something that you might fall in love with, so I’d probably tell them to go for it.”
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VIEWPOINT GOVERNMENT
Summer session ends
Over the past few months, I returned to Victoria both in person and virtually for an unprec- JACKIE TEGART VIEW FROM edented LEGISLATURE summer session at the legislature to advocate for my constituents and all British Columbians. Though the health response has been front of mind for most of us, and we continue to support the direction and framework provided by Dr. Bonnie Henry and her staff as we collectively fight against COVID-19, there are still numerous issues that we have pressed the government on. These include, among others, the need for an economic recovery plan, supports for homelessness and the challenges of the opioid crisis, rising strata insurance rates and ways to limit the impacts of this pandemic on small businesses throughout the province. My colleagues have introduced numerous bills and ideas into the legislature that the government has chosen not to bring forward for a vote. These include measures to close the gender pay gap, ensure accessibility in new housing builds, a push to provide needed rebates from ICBC, and make permanent the liquor act changes that have proven so crucial for our restaurants and hospitality industry to increase revenue. We have also continuously advocated for a clear understanding of B.C.’s back-to-school plan to help reduce the uncertainty about returning to the classroom that I know is being felt by parents, teachers, and students in Merritt. With all this, what has been clear is that British Columbians are eager to contribute and do what they need to get through this challenge. We have proven our resiliency through time and time again and I know that together we will get through this as well.
Publisher Theresa Arnold publisher@ merrittherald.com
Last days of the old Middle East The ‘two-state solution’ is still dead. The deal to open diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, announced by Israel’s GWYNNE DYER Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu THE WORLD in Jerusalem on STAGE Thursday, opens no new vistas for a ‘just peace’ between the Israelis and the Arabs. It just repackages the existing reality. There wasn’t any possibility of an independent Palestinian state in the Israeli-occupied territories before last week, and there still isn’t now. There was only a very small chance that Netanyahu would annex the occupied territories to Israel before the Israeli-UAE deal was announced (although he talked about it a lot), and there’s even less chance of it now. No real change on the international front either. Israel and the Arab countries are already at peace, with the partial exceptions of Syria and Lebanon, although few people in the region would call it a ‘just peace’. And the UAE has already been doing business quietly with Israel
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on everything from trade to defence planning (against Iran) for years. Egypt and Jordan have had formal diplomatic relations with Israel for decades, and the other Gulf states will soon follow the UAE’s example, perhaps with Saudi Arabia bringing up the rear. The Palestinians, mostly living under Israeli occupation, understandably complain that they are being abandoned by their Arab brothers, but that really happened long ago. So what actually changed last Thursday? Very little, although Donald Trump naturally tweeted that it was a “HUGE breakthrough” and his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner promised that the deal would bring “massive change” and “make the Middle East safer.” Rubbish. The last Arab-Israeli war was 47 years ago, and it’s been decades since either side even had serious plans for one. The only plausible risk of a major cross-border war in the Middle East these days is between Iran on one side and the Arab Gulf states (with or without Israel) on the other. That’s not really a big risk either, but the Arab Gulf states in particular worry aloud about it, and to some extent they have convinced themselves that it truly is a threat. They
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hope that they would have Israel’s support in such a war, since in military terms Israel is the region’s dwarf superpower. Netanyahu’s government hates and says it fears Iran, so it probably would help the Arabs in the end. However, it would be a much more convincing deterrent to Iran if these putative Arab and Israeli allies were actually seen together in public occasionally. That’s the main reason for the Gulf states to go beyond the furtive relationship they have hitherto had with Israel. What’s in it for Netanyahu? A peace treaty with another Arab state is a feather in the cap of any Israeli prime minister, but this deal also neatly gets him out of the promise he made to right-wing Israeli voters in the last election to annex much or all of the occupied territories. Annexation would be purely symbolic, since Israel has already ruled all that land for the past 53 years, but he still needed an excuse to renege on his promise. The UAE deal is the perfect excuse: he can say he had to cancel annexing the Palestinian territories because Israel’s new partners in the Gulf would be so upset that they’d walk away from the deal. Netanyahu insists that annexation is only postponed, assuring Israelis that it is “still on the
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Morgan Hampton reporter@ merrittherald.com
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FAX (250) 378-6818 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada
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OPINION
Old Middle East reaching it’s final days From Page 6 table.” Donald Trump says “they agreed not to do it. This is a very smart concession by Israel. It is off the table now.” ‘Long-term’ for both of these men is reckoned in months, so they have no idea how
irrelevant all this diplomatic fine-tuning will seem in retrospect. The old Middle East is living through its final years. Across the Arab world every power relationship has been defined by oil wealth for the past two generations, and now the wealth is
LETTER
fading fast. Eight years ago the Arab oil-producing states were making a trillion dollars a year from their exports. Today their oil revenue is down by two-thirds ($300 billion), and it will fall further. The coronavirus has accelerated this decline,
but demand and prices have both been trending down for quite a while, and the growing unpopularity of fossil fuels in a rapidly warming world guarantees there will be no reversal of the trend. Saudi Arabia and the UAE still have large cash reserves, but some of
the smaller oil-states are running out of money right now. Economic devastation will be followed by political collapse: even the map of the Middle East may look quite different in ten or twenty years’ time. And who will emerge
from the wreckage as the sole big powers of the Middle East? Only the two countries with fully modern and diversified economies and little dependence on oil revenues: Israel and Turkey. Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?
to the editor
Big changes possible in federal politics Looking at the prospect of a snap election this fall is also an invitation to ponder some very significant changes to our federal political landscape leaving voters shaking their heads. COVID-19 allowed Trudeau an opportunity to put literally billions of dollars into the pockets of voters, and merging CERB with a new employment insurance program he skated right past the NDP, to become the leader of a new Socialist Party of Canada.
It’s not a long time ago (2015), that NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair was leading in the polls to form the first ever federal NDP government. Today the party could be looking at WEXIT. The Conservative Party of Canada’s (CPC) current membership also deserves a bit of scrutiny. When it merged with the Reform/Alliance Party of Canada the membership was almost 250,000, but, with the radical changes in the Alberta oil-patch, and with the newly registered federal party Wexit, it’s anybody’s guess where those former Reformers are going to vote. The Quebec Bloc Party is only interested in what’s good for Quebec, and between 2010 – 2018 the province received a whopping 144.8 billion dollars in transfer payments.
Trudeau may have scored a lot of political points by allowing his environmental agenda to destroy Alberta’s economy, but it begs the question: Where will Quebec’s next 144.8 billion-dollar transfer payments come from? Trudeau and Harper have both used ‘party discipline’ to effectively destroy the integrity of our party structure, producing political chaos never before seen in Canada. It’s incomprehensible that two callous and insensitive politicians have managed to inflict such incredible harm on a beautiful country like Canada, and voters will be challenged like never before. Andy Thomsen
Important questions unanswered during summer sitting Back in May of 2020 the Trudeau Liberal Government announced their preference of four summer sittings of the House of Commons ‘special COVID committee’. DAN ALBAS These sittings were VIEW FROM set in advance to occur THE HILL on July 8, July 22, August 12 and August 26. Many MP’s and party leaders planned their schedules in order to participate on these days. As an example, this week I am in Ottawa where I was able to ask several questions to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. Unfortunately the Prime Minister planned his schedule to be away on this week’s sitting and as such, could not be held accountable. There are so many important questions right now. One asked by an NDP MP was: “How can Canadians currently receiving CERB plan for the
transition to EI at the end of the month when it is just weeks away and they have no idea what the details will be?” Unfortunately, the minister advised they are not in a position to provide any details until “next week.” Next week is less than two weeks from the ending of the CERB benefit. If a citizen currently collecting CERB will end up receiving less funds on EI, this is something they will need to budget for. I asked a number of questions including the challenge facing many expectant mothers who because of COVID were just short of accumulating the required hours to be eligible for the Canada maternity benefit. Unfortunately, the minister was also unable to answer this question. Also occurring this week, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois,Yves-Francois Blanchet, has demanded that “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his finance minister and his (The Prime Minister’s) chief of staff resign.” Mr. Blanchet has taken issue with details of the WE Charity contract as well as revelations the administration of the commercial rent relief program
that went to a company where the husband of the PM’s Chief of Staff is employed as a senior executive. In order to carry out his threat, Mr. Blanchet indicated that the BLOC will table a confidence motion against the Trudeau Liberal Government this fall. The only way such a motion could pass is if all three opposition parties, the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Conservatives voted in favour. Generally speaking, this is how many minority governments ultimately fall. My question this week relates to this potential non-confidence motion. In the event the Bloc Québécois was to table a non-confidence vote in the Trudeau Liberal Government that could potentially trigger a fall election, would you vote in favour or against? I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola. This riding includes the communities of Kelowna (specific boundaries), Peachland, Summerland, Keremeos, Princeton, Merritt and Logan Lake.
From the Herald archives: August, 2011
COUNCIL VOTES FOR GOLD COUNTRY The City of Merritt will retain its membership in Gold Country Communities Society after city councillors decided to honour negotiations made with Gold Country in good faith by administration. Council voted to respect these negotiations and pay the $7,000 membership fee for 2011 at a regular council meeting July 26, even though the motion was defeated during the July 12 council meeting when it first came to the table. When council first voted on the proposed agreement with the marketing and tourism group, only one councillor voted in favour of it, however, Councillor Shelley Sanders indicated that council had already approved up to $8,000 for Gold Country.
LETTERS POLICY The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS POPCORN TIME
up for Service’ Drive-in movie nights this week ‘Stand program launched
A drive-in cinema will pop up this Thursday and Friday at the Nicola Valley Rodeo Fairgrounds.
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
A ‘Fresh Air’ cinema that has been making its way around the province will be in Merritt on August 20 and 21, when Merrittonians are invited to come out and view a movie and by doing so, support a local charity. In partnership with Fortis BC, Fresh Air Cinema has been hosting outdoor movie events with the goal of bringing communities together while still maintaining a safe social distance, as required by the Provincial Health Officer during the COVID-19 pandemic. All events are by donation, and 100% of proceeds are donated to a local charity. In Merritt, this will be the Nicola Valley Rodeo Association, with the movies being screened at the Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds. For 14 years, Fresh Air Cinema has been showing both new releases and cult classics to the public in
an outdoor setting, which this year will take the form of an old-fashioned Drive-In Theatre experience, which will allow for a fun evening while respecting social distancing guidelines. “Simply show up in your car, tune into the FM radio station and watch a movie under the stars from the comfort of your car,” reads the Fresh Air Cinema press release. “In a time where many families have been struggling to make ends meet, we wanted to do our part to give back to our local communities,” said Jason Bashnick, managing director of Fresh Air Cinema. “The joy of cinema has given families an opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones with our
vehicle events providing a fun and safe opportunity to enjoy the events they miss most this summer. It’s been amazing to see the impact we have been able to make for local charities across the province, and we are so grateful to everyone who has donated what they can in support. We wanted everyone to feel included to attend our family-focused events, and have an opportunity to spend time with loved ones.” Attendance is limited to 50 vehicles, and viewers are encouraged to stay in their vehicle unless visiting the restroom. A full list of guidelines will be provided when you acquire your tickets, which went live on Eventbrite Aug. 8. “Supporting Fresh
Air Cinema is one of the ways we’re able to connect with and give back to the communities we serve,” said Alicia Hearn, program manager of conservation education and outreach, FortisBC. “While we typically use these opportunities to speak with people about energy conservation, we just want to focus on helping to provide a great opportunity for families to enjoy time together in a safe manner.” If not sold out, tickets are available on Eventbrite. For Dolittle (2020): https:// www.eventbrite. ca/e/116264354815 and Captain Marvel (2019): https:// www.eventbrite. ca/e/116265357815 .
Beautification project underway Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
Mischelle Pierce and Jano Howarth of the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council made a presentation to mayor and council on Tuesday regarding the City Beautification Project and the Public Art Collaboration Initiative.
“Mischelle and I are really excited about this project,” said Howarth. “We’ve been in the community for a long time and have contributed to a variety of endeavours over the years for sure, and this one is just right up our alley.” The project would see both the down-
town and other areas undergo an artistic transformation, dressing up drab exterior walls, sidewalks, crosswalks and other locations as suggested by townspeople, council or the artists themselves. “Possible locations, what has been suggested are intersections, sidewalks, sides of buildings, including
businesses, organizations and government buildings and odd little places like doorways and small locations or cracks in the sidewalk, just all kinds of ideas that we can come up with to create some interesting art projects and information projects,” said Howarth.
See ‘ART’ Page 10
The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) is launching a ‘Stand up for Service’ campaign to recognize and acknowledge the work of restaurants and foodservice providers to provide a safe dining experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. 14,500 BC hospitality businesses are restarting under the Public Health guidelines in an effort to provide a safe atmosphere for both staff and guests. New regulations were issued by Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, on July 31. These new regulations include restrictions around seating, physical distancing, physical barriers, occupancy and per-table seating limits, and taking down the names and contact information of patrons if contact tracing is necessary. While most patrons have been accepting and understanding of the new guidelines that have been implemented, some people have
reacted badly, abusing staff at several bars and eateries. Premier Horgan even called out British Columbians behaving in this manner at a press conference he gave on Thursday, August 6. “You’ve got employees that are doing their level best to provide an opportunity for people to come together to share a meal in a safe, comfortable place, and to have idiots come in and be idiots is, quite frankly, not acceptable,” said Premier Horgan. These incidents have prompted the ‘Stand up for Service’ campaign. “The increase in stories from around the province where guests are taking their frustration out on staff and owners isn’t okay,”
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THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 9
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
POLICE FILES Sleeping B+E suspect arrested
Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
The Merritt RCMP responded to a report of a break and enter near Petit Creek on August 13, 2020. The landowner had located an unknown bicycle on his property and discovered a
break and enter had occurred to his shop. The landowner suspected that the culprit may have still been on the property and called the RCMP. “Merritt RCMP officers responded and located the suspect asleep in a travel trailer on the property,” said Cpl. Brock
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. Deliver newspapers and start to . . . Hedrick of the Merritt detachment. “The male who is well known to the local detachment was arrested without incident.” The suspect is being help for court with police recommending one count of Break and Enter.
Missing teen located again Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
18-year-old Chenoa Johnny was reported missing after last being
seen in the Merritt area on August 14. Merritt RCMP put out a request for information to the public on August 17 and
High-risk stop of road rager Jake Courtepatte MERRITT HERALD
Merritt RCMP received several calls last Thursday afternoon of a driver exhibiting road rage, waving what appears to have been a BB gun in the process. A release about the incident was put out by Cpl. Brock Hedrick. “The Merritt RCMP received a report of a road rage incident,” read the release. “The suspect vehicle was reported to be travel-
Johnny was located safe that day. Johnny had previously gone missing on July 14 but was located on July 15.
ling north towards Merritt on Hwy #5 (Coquihalla Hwy). Multiple reports were received in regards to the suspects vehicle driving including tailgating and driving aggressively. Hedrick said that one of the complainants reported that a passenger in the vehicle was waving a handgun around. “The Merritt RCMP converged on the area and conducted a high risk vehicle stop with the vehicle on Hwy #5 at the Junction with Hwy #97C (Okanagan Connector). Three males were taken into custody.” Hedrick added that the men were placed under arrest without incident. He added that upon further investigation, the handgun turned out to be a BB gun, looking similar.
Body of swimmer recovered Jake Courtepatte MERRITT HERALD
The body of a 29-year old was pulled from Okanagan Lake on Tuesday morning. The swimmer had been missing since Aug. 16, when West Kelowna RCMP were called just after 6p.m. to look for the man.
The report said that the man had not resurfaced near Tug Boat Beach. An extensive search was carried out by the RCMP, the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team, and the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue Team. RCMP do not
suspect any criminal activity in the matter. It is now being looked at by the BC Coroners Service as to just how, where, and when the man came to his death. Due to privacy reasons, the identity of the man will not be released.
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Art projects hitting the streets From Page 8 “There could be a way to incorporate local info besides just the graphic.” Suggested themes have been animals and nature, geometric and abstract designs, words, humour and Indigenous designs, with local First Nations artist Leonard George agreeing “to create a significant mural on one of our downtown buildings”. “I’m really happy to say that Leonard George received an approval through the Vancouver Foundation and Neighbourhood Small Grant for $500 for creation of the mural,” explained Howarth, who noted it was important that the artists be paid for their work. In order to support the artists, and to purchase materials, the Arts Council requested $5000 in funding from council. “We would like to request financial help
from the City to make this a successful community endeavour,” said Howarth. “We believe that the arts need to be seen as a viable lifestyle and career. For any artist wanting to be a career artist, having work that has been purchased through direct sales or commissions, is good to show on their Curriculum Vitae. We hope that the City would contribute to the support we are offering our artists through this City Beautification Project with some funding to help promote creative entrepreneurial initiatives in the area of the Fine Arts.” Howarth commended local artists, explaining that they have donated a significant amount of time, effort and art to the community over the years. “At the Arts Council we have artists, musicians, and supporters who volunteer their work, time and money to our events, projects,
and exhibitions. We really do a lot of asking of our community to pitch in no matter how professional they are or how good they are in their craft and their art; they still will come forward and pitch in for nothing for us and for the community.” For the Beautification Project the Arts Council has not only reached out to local artists but also the Smart Step Youth program, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. “It’s really fun for me to have some youth involved, because they just have such great ideas,” said presenter Mischelle Pierce. “We just kind of go along with some of the same old stuff but they really think outside the box and make it fun. I just want to make sure everybody understands this is not just about murals, this is about art in the community. So that doesn’t mean we’re going to paint the side
of every building in Merritt. It might mean that it’s a crosswalk… it might mean that it’s a little patch of sidewalk outside of a building, so we’re not talking about huge murals on every building we’re talking about just fun art throughout the community, just bringing joy to the place… Things that just bring a smile to people’s faces.” As per municipal regulations, the request for funding was deferred for discussion to the next regular council meeting on Sept. 15, with all in favour except for councillor Bhangu, who wished to see his multicultural mural addressed before moving forward with further art projects.
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Public Notice of Proposed Road Name Changes:
Speciaalnk You Th
Lower Nicola
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure gives notice pursuant to Section 2(1)(f ) and 2.2 of the Transportation Act that the following sections of roads in the Lower Nicola area will be renamed:
to all the businesses who have continued to support us throughout these difficult times. Please remember to support local shopping. Supporting local helps everyone thrive.
• Marshall Road from Highway 8 measured south for 490 metres to the junction with Coyle Road will be renamed to Coyle Road; • Marshall Road from its intersection with Coyle Road measured west for 240 metres will be renamed to Coyle Place; and • A new road on the west side of Guichon Creek from Highway 8 to Guichon Creek will be renamed to Marshall Road. Anyone wanting to provide comments of support or opposition to the proposed road name change should do so in writing to the ministry’s Thompson Nicola District office at 447 Columbia Street, Suite 127, Kamloops, B.C., V2C 2T3, or by email to Brandon.Gustafson@gov.bc.ca no later than September 11, 2020.
For more information, please contact Brandon Gustafson at 778 257-4242 or at Brandon.Gustafson@gov.bc.ca
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SPORTS
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LEARN TO SKATE
NVSC’s CanSkate program to return in fall The CanSkate program prepares young skaters for a number of different types of ice skating activities. Diana Lorenz CONTRIBUTOR
The Nicola Valley Skating Club will be hitting the ice on Aug. 24 to kick off their season, starting with their Annual Summer Skate at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. At this year’s Summer Skate the club is offering two weeks to both figure skaters who are recreational and those that are competitive, followed by a month of preseason skating in September. There is always even a beach-themed day for some extra fun. The club’s regular season programming starts in October, adding the CanSkate program to the busy schedule for ten weeks of skating fun. This year, there will be
Young skaters take part in this year’s Carnival put on by the Nicola Valley Skating Club. The club returns this fall with a number of different programs, including the CanSkate program. Phto submitted
a completely online registration starting mid-September, this will be announced when we are ready to take registrations. It will be very convenient for our families to register from the safety of their own homes. Our website has a great showing of what NVSC is all about, from PreCan, recreational skating,
The Cents’ next generation
The BCHL has released a list of the Centennial’s new recruits, while Coach Sweet-Coulter gives his scouting report.
Jake Courtepatte MERRITT HERALD
The turnover for junior hockey clubs is always extensive in the offseason, and the Merritt Centennials are no exception. A number of new faces will take to the
up to competitive. You can explore it all at your fingertips at nicolavalleysc.uplifterinc. com. There you will find links to the social media pages, and the club’s YouTube collection of videos. If you missed the skating Carnival this past year, it is all on there as well for viewers to enjoy. Just like all sports
in BC governed by ViaSport, there is Skate Canada social distancing guidelines set in place to keep all the skaters and coaches safe. The CanSkate program assistants and coaches will be wearing masks to help the skaters, as well as hands-free coaching. There will be bigger fast track lanes for more room for skat-
ers to pass, and larger circuits to spread out their learning of strong skating skills: all the while playing games and having fun. There will be a limited numbers of skaters on the ice at once. The online registration process is on a first come, first serve basis, and always fills up very fast. The CanSkate
program is a great way to learn key fundamental skating skills for figure skating programs, hockey, and speed skating, all the while having a lot of fun to music. Skaters who have an interest in figure skating are groomed in CanSkate, which prepares them to move up to learn early stages of figure skating in NVSC’s Jr.
Academy program. CanSkate is a proven curriculum with delivery methods that guarantee skater success, safety, stronger skating skills and developing them faster, so skaters can reach their full potential. Come skate with us!! Diana Lorenz is the senior instructor for NVSC.
ice at the NVMA this season, forwards, defensemen, and goalies alike from all over British Columbia. In net, the Cents are bringing in 2000born Josh Dias, a three-year veteran of the AJHL where he had stints with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and the Lloydminster Bobcats. Cents Head Coach Derek Sweet-Coulter said he liked the amount of experience Dias brings to the squad. “He faced a lot of shots last year and held his team in there on most nights,” said Sweet-Coulter. “He wanted to be in Merritt badly and, at
the end of the day, that’s exactly what we want. We want kids that want to be here and he’s going to be a big part of our team moving forward.” The youngest of the recruits is Alex Ochitwa, one of two new players without any junior experience and the only still in his seventeeth year. Coming from the AAA Caribou Cougars, Ochitwa finished second in BC Under-18 scoring, playing nine less games than the leader. Sweet-Coulter praised his “tremendous character.” “He impressed us so much on the phone, then in person on the
Zoom calls. He’s a tremendous teammate and has tremendous character, which goes along well with his skill, speed and talent and the way he sees the game. We’re beyond excited to add him. We were able to build a positive relationship with him through the recruiting process and he decided he wanted to be a part of our culture and what we’re building in Merritt right now and that is great for our organization.” The other rookie joining the team is Jacob Myers from the Vancouver NE Chiefs, though he did get his feet wet in junior hockey by skating in two
games in the PIJHL last season. A physical player with over 130 minutes of penalty time last season, he also put up eleven goals and seven assists in 38 games with the Chiefs. “He plays the game with a chip on his shoulder,” said SweetCoulter. “The one thing we noticed about him going through the scouting and recruiting process is that he’s a player who’s not afraid to go through the middle of the ice and into those dirty areas to square guys up physically, especially in the neutral zone. He’s a player that’s going to play to the edge all the time and that’s what
we want.” A pair of newcomers were already teammates, coming from the Nanaimo Clippers. Zack Dallazanna spent the past two seasons in Nanaimo, while Brandon Dent played 21 games with the Clippers last year after a trade from West Kelowna. Looking at his new batch of talent, SweetCoulter said he and his staff are “beyond excited” to get going this season. We have a lot of great, selfless men. A lot of time has been put in on the phones to make sure that we’ve
See ‘CENTS’ Page 12
12 • THURSDAY, August 20, 2020
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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS
Cents look forward Sloan finishes T-13 at Wyndham Championship to next season From Page 11
Jake Courtepatte MERRITT HERALD
recruited great people – not only good hockey players, but great people that want to be involved with our culture. We’re excited for them to battle for each other and for the history and pride of our organization.” The Cents have a busy weekend ahead of them: they will be holding their Annual General Meeting Thursday evening at the Best Western Plus conference room, before the annual identification camp kicks off from Aug. 21-23 to find the next generation of Centennials leaders.
Roger Sloan capped off his weekend on Sunday with a one-over final round to finish in a tie for 31st at the Wyndham Championship. He finished at nine-under par. The North Carolina tournament saw Sloan in a tie for first after day one last Thursday, shooting a stellar
score of 62 at eight-under par. He finished Friday with a score of 70 for even par to make the cut and stay in the running, before maintaining average scores to earn a good payday. Scores of 68 and 71 on Saturday and Sunday respectively saw Sloan earn a paycheck of $41,920. A double bogey was costly for Sloan on the par 3 seventh hole in the final round, where
he put his tee shot into the drink just short of the green. After the penalty, his third shot chip saw him put it around eleven feet from the hole, though he two-putted for a double. He recovered on the back nine, however, shooting a oneunder including a late birdie on the seventeenth. Sloan’s second shot on the par four saw him target the pin to within around four feet,
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before draining the birdie putt. Jim Herman, a nine-year veteran of the PGA Tour, won the event with a 21-under score, his third PGA win of his career. Sloan’s nine-under score of T-31 finish is the best that the Merrritt native has had in just under a year, when he finished in a tie for thirteenth at the Safeway Open in September of 2019.
THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 13
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COMMUNITY BOARD The Merritt Herald is changing up the way we do the community board. With all events being cancelled throughout the area we thought it would be nice to feature some local businesses. If you would like to nominate a business to be featured please email: publisher@merrittherald.com We want to help all businesses survive this pandemic.
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Turner, of ‘Spin Theory’, something I hope to do more of, since the area is great for shoots like that.” Even now, in the technological age, where anyone with a digital camera or even a smartphone may claim to be a photographer, or be a hobbyist photographer to some extent, Wiegand has faith in his craft and continues to expand his knowledge and repertoire. He works with families, models, businesses, and other photographers whenever the opportunity arises. “People underestimate the work that goes into it, it’s not just when they see you press a button,” said Wiegand.
Business Feature
Matthias Wiegand was born and raised more than 7,000-kms from Merritt, in a small town just north of Hanover, the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. It was in Germany that Wiegand completed his education. Coming from a hands-on family of respectable tradesmen, Wiegand initially wanted to break the mold by pursuing a career in journalism. “Germany has a different school and university system… the way I graduated, I could have gone straight to university for a Master’s degree, not like here with the detour through college and a BA (Bachelor of Arts) first,” Wiegand explained. “I graduated well enough to get into any German university for business or law… med school would have been out of my league. I wanted to study journalism, but an older journalist told me my
chances would be better to study economy and Chinese, maybe end up writing about business and finance in Shanghai.” As much as Wiegand enjoyed writing, he couldn’t imagine himself being happy behind a desk in China, typing out financial reports or the daily drivel of foreign business markets all day every day, so he returned to his roots and took up roofing, following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps. “I decided to pick up the family trade instead,” said Wiegand. “I used ‘A family tradition since 1927’ for my roofing business. March 15, 1927 is when my grandfather started his apprenticeship. My grandfather was a journeyman, my dad and I are masters.” Remarking on his missed business career on the Asian continent, Wiegand joked, “I couldn’t picture that,
so I ended up roofing in Merritt.” Indeed, in 2004 Wiegand came to BC on a work and travel visa after a few exploratory vacations in 1990 and 1994. “I came to Merritt from Germany because I had relatives in town and thought this as good of a place than any other to start a life in Canada,” said Wiegand. It was here that Wiegand developed an interest in photography. “I developed an interest in photography from taking pictures of my food,” said Wiegand. “I wanted to get better at food photography and ended up getting a wide spectrum of photography.” So much so, that just over a year ago, in 2018, he decided to take a detour from his roofing career and delve deeper into photography, launching ‘Wiegand Personal Stills’, specializing in both on-location and studio photography. This development came as something of a surprise to Wiegand, who had previously considered writing to be the extent of his creativity. “Writing was my strong suit, I’d never done anything visual before,” Wiegand explained.
However, the Wiegand Personal Stills portfolio continues to grow. “I enjoy food and product photography most, but I am game for all creative pictures, and also standards like corporate headshots and family pictures,” said Wiegand. Merritt and the surrounding area has provided an interesting backdrop for more than one photoshoot, and continues to inspire Wiegand to step outside of the box and try new and sometimes difficult projects. “I think the desert landscape makes for a great portrait and fashion background,” Wiegand said. “An interesting recent project I’ve worked on is a nighttime shoot of a fire spinning artist, Sean
THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME YOU Crossroads Community Church
2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911• Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.
Merritt Baptist Church
2499 Coutlee Ave. (Corner of Coutlee and Orme) • 250-378-2464 Service Time/ Sunday School: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
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/ Sunday School (K - Gr. 4) - 10 am
Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:30 pm • 250-280-1268
Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502 Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.
DayWeather Weather Forecast Forecast for Merritt, BC -- Thursday, 77Day Thursday,August March 20 14 -- Wednesday, Wednesday,August March26, 20,2020 2013 Thurs. Aug. 20
Thurs. Mar. 14
Cloudy Cloudyw/Showers with Showers High 23˚C High: 9C Low: 6C Low: 14˚C
Fri. Aug. 21
Fri. Mar. 15
Chance Periods of Shower Cloudy High: 22˚C High: 10C Low: 10˚C Low: 4C
Sat. Aug. 22
Sat. Mar. 16
Sunny Variable Clouds High: 22˚C High: 8C Low: 8˚C Low: 4C
Sun. Aug. 23
Sun. Mar. 17
MainlySnow Sunny Wet
High: 24˚C High: 6C Low: 2C Low:10˚C
Mon. Aug. 24
Mon. Mar. 18
Tues. Aug. 25
Tue. Mar. 19
Wed. Aug. 26
Wed. Mar. 20
Stain Glass by
Almerina Rizzardo
• • • • Mix of Sun &Clouds Clouds Variable High: 24˚C High: 6C Low: 0C Low: 10˚C
Chance of Showers Showers SnowRain High: 24˚C High: 7C Low: -1C Low: 13˚C
Light MostlySnow Sunny
High: 25˚C High: 7C Low: 0C Low: 12˚C
STAIN GLASS SUN CATCHERS NIGHT LIGHTS PICTURE FRAMES
Available at Creative Company 2074 Quilchena Avenue, Merritt, BC Monday - Saturday Ph: 250-378-0813
14 2020 10 • THURSDAY, THURSDAY, August July 30,20, 2020
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200 VEALE VEALE ROAD ROAD 200
6432 MONCK MONCK PARK PARK RD RD 6432
396 WILD WILD ROSE ROSE DR DR 396
Personal Real EstateCorporation Corporation Estate
315-3043 315-3043 6685MONCK MONCKPARK PARK 6685
S
#3172 #3165
$414,900 +GST $569,000
Good Good starter starter or or retirement retirement home home with with 33 bedrooms, bedrooms, spacious spacious living living room room & & kitchen kitchen plus plus an an addition addition with with hobby hobby room, all on a 60x99 freehold lot. room, all on a 60x99 freehold lot. Includes Includes attached attached 20x36 20x36 shop shop with with 200 200 amp amp & &3 3 pce pce bathroom. bathroom.
#3187
1651 GREIG STREET
$225,000
1967 SAGE PLACE
D SOL Good Good starter starter or or retirement retirement home home in in great great location, location, close close to to schools schools & & shopping. shopping. This This 33 bedrm bedrm home home has has newer newer kitchen kitchen cabinets, cabinets, furnace furnace & & some some flooring. flooring. Large Large fenced fenced yard yard with with room room to to build build shop. shop. Single Single garage garage with with upgrades. New roof. upgrades. New roof.
#3184
$269,000
2770 PEREGRINE WAY
Spectacular Spectacular sunset sunset views views from from this this executive executive 5 5 bedrm bedrm home. home. Beautiful Beautiful rancher rancher with with walkout walkout bsmt. Open floor plan with Brazkian HW floors, bsmt. Open floor plan with Brazkian HW floors, ceramic ceramic tile tile & & carpet carpet on on main. main. Mill Mill Creek Creek cabinets cabinets and and S/S S/S appliances. appliances. Large Large deck deck in in back. back.
#3190
$575,000
2760 PEREGRINE WAY
Private Lower Lower Nicola Nicola property, property, nicely nicely Private landscaped with with creek creek running running through through front front landscaped of property. 1 bedrm up & 1 down, open of property. 1 bedrm up & 1 down, open concept kitchen kitchen with with all all appliances appliances & & huge huge concept master bedrm bedrm with with ensuite. ensuite. Woodstove Woodstove in in full full master bsmt. Large Large workshop workshop 22x50. 22x50. bsmt.
#3180
$475,000
IT’S YOUR JOURNEY, WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
$499,900,
#3194
$414,900+GST
2749 PEREGRINE WAY
New custom executive home with fantastic views. 3 bedrms on the main with open concept floor plan. Master has 4 pce ensuite & W/I closet. Large private deck in back off the family room.
#3174
#3175
#3176
$639,900+ GST
Waterfront lot lot on on Nicola Nicola Lake Lake of of 11 acre acre to to Waterfront build your your dream dream home. home. Only Only 2.5 2.5 hrs hrs from from build Lower Mainland. Mainland. Fantastic Fantastic lake lake for for recreation recreation Lower activities of of water water skiing, skiing, fishing, fishing, hiking, hiking, biking, biking, activities etc. etc.
11 acres acres with with drilled drilled well, well, fenced fenced with with good good 11 potential and and fantastic fantastic views. views. Easy Easy access, access, potential locatedoff offColdwater ColdwaterRd Rdjust just10 10minutes minutessouth south located of Merritt. Merritt. Great Great place place to to build build your your dream dream of home. home.
Enjoy the the great great outdoors outdoorson onthis this11acre acrelot lotinin Enjoy greatcommunity communityon onIron IronMountain, Mountain,only only10 10 aagreat mins.From FromMerritt, Merritt,11hr hrto toKelowna Kelowna&&22hrs hrsfrom from mins. coast.Have Haveyour yourown owncountry countryestate estateor orhobby hobby coast. farm. farm.
acre lake lake view view property property featuring featuring stunning stunning 11 acre panoramic views views ofof Nicola Nicola Lake. Lake. Perfect Perfect panoramic recreationalproperty propertyororaayear yearround roundresidence. residence. recreational NicolaLake Lakeoffers offersyear yearround roundactivities. activities. Nicola
Former auto shopnewer in a highly visible 7874 sq.ft. lot inrepair a growing subdivision location. 3 bay shop with 1 bay withwill 12 allow ft door and the natural slope of the land & hoist, other 2style havehome 10 ft doors. Has with storage for a rancher in front a room & basement. office with reception area. 2608 sq.ft. walkout Great views
#3192 #3192
#3147 #3147
#3191 #3191
#3158 #3158
#3197 #3138
$439,900 $439,900
$285,000 $285,000
$139,900 $139,900
$159,900 $159,900
building with parking. Call for details.
$64,500
1561 MILLER MILLER ROAD ROAD 1561
1101MIDDAY MIDDAYVALLEY VALLEYRD RD 1101
1898BLAIR BLAIRST ST 1898
Approx. 40 acres in justgrowing 20 minutes west of Merritt Lot 22, located subdivision with in Sunshine Valley. Great rural Valley. property to build amazing views of the Nicola Close to your private retreat. GSTplace is applicable amenities. The perfect to build your dream home.
Spectacular76 76acre acreproperty propertyininMiller MillerEstates Estates Spectacular justwaiting waitingfor foryour yourdream dreamhome. home.Very Veryprivate private just propertybacks backsonto ontocrown crownland landwith withfantastic fantastic property views.Has HasCo-op Co-opwater watersystem systemand andpower powerat at views. lotline. line. lot
10acre acresite sitewith withCD-1 CD-1zoning. zoning.Has HasCity CityService Service 10 notyet yetconnected. connected.Lots Lotsofofpotential potentiallocated located not neartruck truckroute. route.Bring Bringyour yourideas. ideas. near
Fully fenced fenced commercial commercial property property ofof Fully approx.30,000 30,000sq.ft. sq.ft.with with22titles. titles.Seller Seller approx. motivated && will will consider consider carrying carrying isis motivated mortgageor oraajoint jointventure ventureininaabuilding building mortgage complex complex
#3147 #3105
#3183 #3183
#2958 #2958
#3137 #3137
6433 MONCK MONCK PARK PARK ROAD ROAD 6433
LOT 7,PEREGRINE PETIT CREEK RD 2725 WAY
Build your your lakeview lakeview dream dream home home on on this this 11 acre acre Build lot overlooking overlooking Nicola Nicola Lake Lake with with views views of of the the lot valley. Boat Boat launch launch isis just just minutes minutes sway. sway. Great Great valley. lakefor forswimming, swimming,boating, boating,waterskiing waterskiing&&fishing. fishing. lake Just 2.5 2.5 hrs hrs from from Lower Lower Mainland. Mainland. Just
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SOL
A rare waterfront of rancher 0.94 acres Beautiful 3 bedrm, 3lot bath with waiting office/ for development withFeatures over 509 ftmetres ofopen river den, and a fully bsmt. ceilings, frontage, not subdividable. In neighbourhood of floor plan with large newly renovated kitchen high island, end custom homes. for & more details. with laundry on theCall main 5 pce spa-like ensuite. Bsmt has 2 bedrm inlaw suite. Lots of RV parking in fenced yard.
#3195 #3179
$490,000 $490,000
MILLER ROAD ROAD 1425 MILLER
D
New executive family home on the Bench with views. 3 bedrms, 2 baths, designer kitchen with quartz counters, gas F/P in living room, 5 pce ensuite & a full unfinished basement. GST applies
$739,900
#3169
10.06 acre acre property property just just 25 25 mins. mins. South South of of 10.06 Merritt. House House has has approx. approx. 700 700 sq.ft. sq.ft. finished finished Merritt. & 2800 2800 sq.ft. sq.ft. unfinished. unfinished. Property Property has has an an art art & studio, outbuildings outbuildings & & Voght Voght Creek Creek running running studio, through. Backs onto Crown land & close to through. Backs onto Crown land & close to outdoor activities. activities. Being Being sold sold “as “as is” is” condition. condition. outdoor
SOL
New 2 storey townhouse in Nicola Bluffs with great views. Open concept kitchen with Quartz countertops, vinyl plank floors, gas F/P 3 bedrms up, 4 baths and full bsmt. Has $4,000 appliance package & central A/C. Under construction.
#3172
Nicely finished finished 55 bedrm, bedrm, 33 bath bath home home with with Nicely open design design kitchen/living kitchen/living room. room. Recent Recent open reno’s include flooring, paint, kitchen cabinets reno’s include flooring, paint, kitchen cabinets refinished with with new new counters counters & & bathrms. bathrms. Huge Huge refinished fenced yard, yard, lots lots of of parking. parking. fenced
2288 AVE 3001 BURGESS HILTON DRIVE
#210, 2514 SPRING BANK
Spacious Spacious new new home home with with open open concept floor plan, spectacular spectacular views views & & high high quality quality finishing. 2 bedrms up, up, master master on on the the main main & & 22 more more down, 4 baths & full full unfin. unfin. Bsmt. Bsmt. New New Home Home Warranty. Warranty. Double garage
$739,9000 + GST
FOR LEASE 1653 LINDLEY CREEK RD
NEW
OLD
New 2 storey townhouse in Nicola area, Bluffs Fabulous home in the downtown with great Open concept perfect forviews. a large family. Has Millkitchen Creek with Quartz countertops, plank5 cabinets,huge family room,vinyl 2 F/P’s, floors, F/P 3 &bedrms up, 4Double baths baths, gas 6 bedrms inlaw suite. and full bsmt. Has $4,000 appliance garage + single garage in back package & central A/C.
Karen Karen Yakimchuk Yakimchuk 315-3076 315-3076
Brad Brad Yakimchuk Yakimchuk Personal Real
Jared Jared Thomas Thomas 778-694-6804 778-694-6804
Melonie Melonie Ivanic Ivanic 778-803-6554 778-803-6554
$210,000 $569,900
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THESE LISTINGS.
THINKING OF SELLING? THINKING OF SELLING?
This 44 bedroom bedroom custom custom rancher rancher with with This walkout bsmt bsmt isis in in exclusive exclusive Miller Miller Estates Estates walkout on private private fenced fenced 10.87 10.87 acre acre property property with with on fantastic views views and and setup setup for for horses horses with with fantastic hay storage storage & & loafing loafing shed. shed. 33 car car garage. garage. hay
#3160
$739,000 $739,000
1653 COLDWATER LINDLEY CREEK RD 2338B AVENUE
#3181 #3181
$165,000 $165,000
$350,000 $75,000
$439,900 $439,900
$699,000 $699,000
$439,000 $439,000
6449 MONCK MONCK PARK PARK RD RD 6449
2800 PEREGRINE PEREGRINE WAY WAY 2800
6348 MONCK MONCK PARK PARK ROAD ROAD 6348
3551VOGHT VOGHTSTREET STREET 3551
2845NEILSON NEILSONST ST 2845
The perfect lot tocomfortable build your dream home.half This Very clean and 3 bedroom lot is in a new2subdivision therecently natural duplex ingrowing good area. bedrooms&up, slope of the allow for a rancher style painted andland haswillnewer flooring in most home in the front with large a walkout basement. rooms. 1 bedrm down, rec.room and 3 Great views. pce bath. Private fenced backyard. Close to amenities
Build your your dream dream home home in in one one of of Merritt Merritt areas areas Build finest development, development, Nicola Nicola Lakeshore Lakeshore Estates. Estates. finest Water & & sewer sewer hookups hookups available. available. Close Close to to Water water access. access. This This lake lake isis known known for for fishing, fishing, water water skiing skiing & & more. more. water
Build your your dream dream hom hom on on this this 6674 6674 sq.ft. sq.ft. Build building lot lot with with spectacular spectacular views views of of the the building valley.Water Water&&sewer sewerare areat atthe theproperty propertyline. line. valley. Closeto toall allamenities amenities Close
acrewaterfront waterfrontlot loton onNicola NicolaLake. Lake.Build Buildyour your 11acre dreamhome homeor orvacation vacationgetaway getaway. .Land Landhas has dream gentleslope slopeto towaterfront. waterfront.Great Greatlocation locationfor for gentle manywater watersports sportsand andclose closeto toMonck MonckPark Park many ProvincialPark. Park.Water Water&&sewer sewerto tolot lotline. line. Provincial
1.5 acre acre C-4 C-4 lot lot inin great great area area with with good good 1.5 exposure just just off off freeway freeway and and located located on on exposure Merritt’s motel motel row. row. Perfect Perfect place place for for hotel, hotel, Merritt’s motel,car carwash, wash,garden gardencenter center&&more. more.Call Call motel, forzoning zoningpermitted permitteduses. uses. for
15.9 acre acre RV RV Park Park zoning zoning bordering bordering 15.9 theColdwater ColdwaterRiver. River.Hookups Hookupsininplace place the future set set of of plans plans for for expansion expansion && future available. Has Has city city services. services. Has Has small small available. rentalhome homewith withlong longterm termtenants. tenants. rental
#3138 #3185
#3074 #3074
#3189 #3189
#3157 #3157
#3090 #3090
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SOL
$64,500 $249,900
4420 IRON MOUNTAIN RD
$159,900 $159,900
#3188 #3188
$139,900 $139,900
6436 MONCK MONCK PARK PARK RD RD 6436
1101 MIDDAY MIDDAY VALLEY VALLEY RD RD 1101
acre waterfront waterfront lot lot on on Nicola Nicola Lake. Lake. 11 acre Build your your dream dream home home in in prestigious prestigious Build Nicola Lakeshore Lakeshore Estates. Estates. Only Only 2.5 2.5 hrs hrs Nicola from Lower Lower Mainland. Mainland. Great Great lake lake for for from fishing, water water skiing, skiing, swimming swimming & & more. more. fishing,
10 acre acre development development site site with with CD-1 CD-1 10 zoning. Will Will have have city city water water and and sewer sewer zoning. (not connected connected yet). yet). Bring Bring your your ideas ideas (not andcall callfor formore moredetails. details. and
#3193 #3193
#2958 #2958
$425,000 $425,000
MIDDAY VALLEY VALLEY ROAD ROAD MIDDAY
$495,000 $495,000
$1,650,000. $1,650,000.
LOT1, 1,HOUSTON HOUSTONST ST LOT
923MIDDAY MIDDAYVALLEY VALLEYRD RD 923
Approximately 44 acre acre residential residential Approximately developmentproperty. property.Zoned ZonedR1. R1.Bring Bring development yourideas ideasand andcall callfor formore moredetails. details. your
Approx. 291 291 acres acres of of land land with with great great Approx. potential. Current Current plans plans are are for for aa 22 potential. acreestate estatelot lotdevelopment developmentwithin withinthe the acre cityboundaries. boundaries.Fantastic Fantasticviews viewsofofthe the city valley. valley.
D
SOL FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OR TENANT PLACEMENT ONLY
Inventory have Buyers looking. Inventory is lowisandlow weand havewe Buyers looking. We can assist you in renting your investment. Callusus a Market Evaluation let’shome get your Call for for a Market Evaluation and let’sand get your listed!home listed! FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OR TENANT PLACEMENT ONLY
1 acre with large rancher of 1600 sq.ft. with full bsmt partially finished,. 3 bedrms on the main, 1 down & another potential. Open design kitchen with oak cabinets, 3 baths, huge rec.rm. Huge covered deck & a workshop.
We can assist you in renting your investment. #3166
Grandview Heights
$419,900
250-315-0000 250-315-0000
www.merrittpropertymanagement.ca www.merrittpropertymanagement.ca
$439,900 $439,900
$699,000 $699,000
DEANNA
RESIDENTIAL VIEW LOTS Prices Starting at $104,000 + GST Fully serviced residential lots with fantastic views of the Nicola Valley and surrounding mountains. Choose your lot, bring your plans & start building your future! Close to #2894 shopping.
We can assist you in renting your investment 250-315-0000 www.merrittpropertymanagement.ca
$300,000 $300,000
#2959 #2959
$230,000 $230,000
#2956 #2956
$3,990,000 $3,990,000
MOVING TO MERRITT?
Located Off Petit Petit Creek Creek Road Road
Merritt is is aa great great community community to to raise raise your your family, family, Merritt have aa hobby hobby farm, farm, grow grow your your business, business, retire retire or or have have have recreational property property to to escape escape to. to. Surrounded Surrounded by by aa recreational picturesque mountains mountains and and ranch ranch land, land, our our unlimited unlimited picturesque recreational activities activities offers offers something something for for everyone everyone recreational to to enjoy enjoy –– fishing, fishing, ATV, ATV, horseback horseback riding, riding, snowmobiling snowmobiling and and cross-country cross-country skiing skiing
RICK
Licensed Property Property Licensed Manager Manager
FULL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OR TENANT PLACEMENT ONLY
#2962 #2962
Spius Creek Estates
Licensed Property Managers Licensed Property Managers DeannaDeanna Rick Rick Licensed Property Manager
Approximately 55 acre acre parcel, parcel, north north Approximately facing, with with fantastic fantastic views. views. City City facing, services, not not currently currently connected. connected. services, Zoned R-9 R-9 High High Density Density Residential. Residential. Zoned Greatopportunity. opportunity. Call Callfor fordetails. details. Great
Prices starting starting at at $224,000 $224,000 Country Country living living at at its its best! best! Approx. Approx. 10 10 acres acres lots lots located located 15 15 minutest minutest west west of of Merritt Merritt in in the the beautiful beautiful Sunshine Sunshine Valley. Valley. These These properties properties have have stunning stunning views views of of the the valley. valley. Great Great area area for for horseback horseback riding, riding, biking, biking, hiking hiking and and more. more. Call Call for for full full details. details. GST GST applies. applies.
#3145 #3145
Let Let us us help help you you find find the the right right property property that that fits fits YOU! YOU!
Give Give us us aa call call 250-378-6166 250-378-6166
movingrealestate.c21.ca • 378-6166 • movingrealestate.c21.ca • 378-6166 378-6166 • • movingrealestate.c21.ca movingrealestate.c21.ca • • 378-6166 378-6166
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School Registration Information
Return to Classroom Information
During the period of August 24 to September 4, 2020 our schools are only open to the public
BY APPOINTMENT
due to COVID-19 precautionary measures. ELEMENTARY STUDENT REGISTRATION
For “NEW” Elementary school students, please register your child at the neighbourhood school in your catchment area from Monday to Friday, August 31 to September 4, 2020. Schools will be open from 9:00 - 11 :30 a.m. and 1 :00 - 2:30 p.m. Please call ahead to make an appointment. Collettville Elementary School: 250-378-2230 Diamond Vale Elementary: 250-378-2514 Merritt Bench Elementary: 250-378 -2528 Merritt Central Elementary: 250-378-9931 Nicola-Canford Elementary: 250-378-2172
KINDERGARTEN
To register, a child must be 5 years old, on or before December 31, 2020 and a birth certificate, immunization record, Care Card and proof of residence should be presented. Kindergarten starting dates will be arranged through the school.
FRENCH IMMERSION All students in this program attend Collettville Elementary School {Grades K-7), and Merritt Secondary School {Grades 8- 12 ).
GRADE 8 - 12 MERRITT SECONDARY SCHOOL
Phone: 250-378-5131 New students register at the school from August 24 to Sept. 4, 2020. Counsellors will be available, and students are to call ahead to schedule an appointment.
KENGARD LEARNING CENTRE· 2475 MERRITT AVENUE. Phone: 250-378-4245 If you have not completed secondary school the KENGARD LEARNING CENTRE can help.
The Community Learning Centre offers courses up to Grade 12, a hot lunch program, parenting classes, job preparation and much more! New students can register at Kengard Learning Centre by calling 250-378-4245 or register at the school on September 8, 2020, 2475 Merritt Ave.
Distance Education: South Central Interior Distance Education
S.C.I.D.E.S. 250-378-4245 or 1-800-663-3536 SCIDES is the distance education school operated by the district which offers BC Ministry approved educational programs for students of all ages, anywhere in the province of B.C. {Kindergarten through Grade 12 and adult learners, tuition free). Registration is ongoing. For an appointment call 250-378-4245 or 1-800-663-3536
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 58 (NICOLA-SIMILKAMEEN)
THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 17
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BACK TO SCHOOL COLLEGE RETURN
NVIT’s return to the classroom plan
The Herald sat down with the NVIT President to talk about what class is going to look like. Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
NVIT will be bringing students back to
class for the fall semester, but it will look different than previous years as the postsecondary institution adapts to teaching during the pandemic. President of NVIT Ken Tourand discussed some of the changes being made to keep students and staff safe while still delivering courses and helping students complete their studies. “At NVIT we are
moving to what we call a hybrid learning environment,” said Tourand. “And what that means is we’ve got a COVID-19 protocol and on campus etiquette document that’s on our website which basically will outline how students will return back to class and what measures we’ve taken.” Like other public places and indoor spaces where people
are interacting, barriers have been installed and guidelines for social distancing are being implemented. “We’ve got sneeze guards and directional arrows and all of that type of stuff that are ready to go in the campus already, and what we’ve done is we’ve removed a certain number of desks from each classroom so that we’ve got each classroom limited in terms of the
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number of students that each classroom can accommodate, based on social distancing protocols,” Tourand explained. In addition, NVIT is providing a new level of flexibility, offering classes online and remotely if students are unable to attend due to health concerns, or uncomfortable sharing space with others during this public health emergency. “The plan is if the class is small enough and it will fit in a classroom, then it will be regular classes, classes will be scheduled as per regular and the instructor will be standing at the front of the classroom and teaching,
as per regular,” said Tourand. “In the event that there’s more students in the class than the classroom can accommodate, where we don’t have enough space to accommodate, then what will happen is it will be a hybrid learning environment. So, students, if they don’t want to attend on campus, it will be synchronous learning, it will be scheduled learning, so the faculty member will be in the classroom, but you can access that class online.” Currently, staff are organizing the classrooms according to the program that will take place. Programs are assigned to classrooms
depending on the number of students who will be attending and how much space is needed to maintain adequate social distance. For the most part, students will have the option to attend in class or via online technology such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. “That way if students aren’t feeling well, we obviously are closely following the Public Health Officer and those orders,” said Tourand. “So, if anybody is feeling unwell, they’re not allowed on campus. But then students don’t necessarily have to miss class, they can join
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New challenges at NVIT Masks now required for BC schools From Page 17
remotely through the hybrid learning.” However, Tourand notes that this does present some challenges for some programs that rely on hands-on learning. “We do have a couple classes where it’s tough, Culinary Arts, for instance,” said Tourand. “That’s a little bit more difficult to do remotely, so the chef is trying to figure out exactly how that’s going to work, and the same with some of our trades programs like electrical. Those ones we were able to have running, but in a socially distanced, safe, manner. It will depend on the program whether you have to be here or not.” Additional safety measures include providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff, and eliminating several common areas, or altering their layout to allow for students to remain a safe distance from each other. “We’ve removed the couch-
es; we’re going to try and take all of the safety measures that we can so that students are not congregating in groups. Come to your class and then go home, or if you need to study in the learning commons then we’re setting that area up so that you can be socially distanced. What we have offered for our employees is additional personal protective equipment, so if our faculty wants a face shield or anything like that then we’re willing to get that for them as well.” While masks will not be made mandatory on campus, students and faculty will be encouraged to wear them. “We’re not making masks mandatory, but they’re going to be encouraged. All students at NVIT will be encouraged to wear a mask if they’re on campus, as will our employees.” The NVIT Elders council has always played an important role on campus, and Tourand assures that that will remain the case, despite the pandemic. “What we’ve done with
our elders is we’ve asked our elders not to come on campus, because they are in that highrisk group,” said Tourand. “We’ve outfitted all of our Elders Council with iPads so they will be accessible to students and accessible to employees. They’ll still be scheduled, and we’ll have Pat Brown as the elders coordinator so students and employees can ask Pat, find out which elder is available on a certain day, and then students or the employee can contact the elder and have a Zoom call or Microsoft Teams call with the elder. They’re still going to be playing a large role, they’re just going to be doing it remotely rather than on campus.” All other necessary technology has been updated or is in the process of being updated for the fall semester, which will aid in keeping teachers and students connected through digital means for those taking courses remotely. “We’ve done a large investment in our information technology, so all of our classrooms
are now going through a technology upgrade to be able to offer this hybrid learning,” Tourand explained. “All of our faculty have new laptops and everything. I think we’re ready to go, we’re excited.” The excitement is true for the beginning of any new school year, although this year, of course, presents certain challenges and some unpredictability. “For the most part I think faculty are excited to get back in class, lots of them are hoping that it goes well in terms of face-to-face and we can offer classes,” said Tourand. “There’s obviously some nervousness, I fully expect it, but at least there’s some certainty. We’ve got a plan on how it’s going to happen. Our hope is that we can do this safely and if at any point in time there looks like there’s a community outbreak in Merritt or the risk is such that we shouldn’t be operating in a hybrid then we will pivot to remote like we did in March.”
Masks will now be mandatory in high-traffic areas in BC schools, according to the Provincial Health Officer. Morgan Hampton LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
staff. The new health and safety guidelines will require masks for staff, middle and secondary students in high traffic and common areas such as buses and hallways, or at any time when students are outside of their specific learning group and are not able to maintain physical distance. The Province and Ministry of Education had previously received criticism and backlash from parents and the BC
The Province of BC is setting requirements for masks in schools, updating their operational guidelines for students, teachers and See ‘TEACHER’S Page 19
THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 19
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Teacher’s Federation Prez ‘confident’ in new policy From Page 18 Teachers’ Federation for refusing to mandate masks within schools, a decision Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has stood by, citing masks as possibly interfering with learning. “It is a challenge,” said Dr. Henry. “To think of, particularly a young child, ten, eleven, twelve, sitting all day in a classroom with a mask on is probably not realistic. There’s lots of things we can do to make those environments safe without requiring someone to sit with a mask on for long periods of time.” Dr. Henry has also said that masks within schools would be the “least effective” of all layers of protection. “There is a role for masks, absolutely, but they
are, as I have said, one of the layers of protection that we have and we are building in many layers,” Henry said. “They are the end of our hierarchy of controls. The least effective of the layers that we need.” BC Teachers’ Federation President Teri Mooring disagreed that masks were unnecessary, and predicted that there would be a mask policy in place before students returned to class. “I do think there needs to be plans in place for masks to be required in certain situations and it can’t be ambiguous,” said Mooring. “I’m quite confident that the policy will be in place before the school starts. There need to be measures in place that people know will keep them safe and that’s one of the basic ones.”
Exceptions will be made for those who are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons. Even when wearing a mask, students and staff are expected to maintain physical distance whenever possible. In order to support this new mandate, the Ministry will be providing additional funding to school districts that will support the purchase of up to $1.5 million masks, enough for every public-school student and staff member to have at least two masks each. Canadian Shield, an Ontario firm which manufactures PPE has announced it will donate 54,500 face shields for K-12 schools in BC. The changes came after BC recorded its highest ever one-day number of positive COVID-19 cases through Friday August 14 and Saturday August 15.
School District 58’s return to the classroom The Herald sat down with the Superintendent of SD58 to talk about what their plan to return to school looks like. Jake Courtepatte MERRITT HERALD
It’s safe to assume that all school districts across Canada will have a f luid plan of returning to the classroom in September. School District 58, which covers Merritt and Princeton, is certainly no different.
In sitting down with SD58 Superintendent Stephen McNiven, it is clear that there is a welldesigned and detailed plan in place, though there is a sense that it could change day-to-day. McNiven said that on Aug. 10 the school district received a template for their plan from the provincial government, one they can work off of and manipulate to fill the needs of our small community. “It’s going to provide us some reporting information that will help lead our planning. And we’ll submit that to the Ministry of Education.” McNiven said that he
has been meeting with all of the district’s stakeholder groups, the union partners, the Abroginal Advisory Council. Though generally, the plan is to follow the rules laid out by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “There is lots of planning going on right now, but what she has told us is our template.” McNiven said that in general, SD58’s plan is to build on what was already in place in June. That means keeping physical distance, maintaining health and safety measures, and lowering group
See ‘SD58’ Page 21
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KEEPING AN EYE OPTOMETRIST OPTOMETRIST ON YOUR CHILD’S Keeping an eye on yourVISION vision SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST Keeping an... eye onclassroom your isvision good eyesight in the essential •Having Pens and pencils check learning. is why an optometrist one of •for Water bottle check Having good...That eyesight in the classroom isisessential •the New backpack who and runners ...becheck specialists should consulted before theof for learning. That is why an... optometrist is one •start Good healthy eyes huh? ofvision a newand school year. This appointment seems the specialists who should becomes consulted before the 80% what important your child learns through vision, evenofmore when we understand that start ofita an new school year. This appointment seems making essential back to school item! more than 80 percent of a child’s learning is through
even more important when we understand that
Ask ... the your visualchild acquisition of information. thanlose 80their percent a child’s learning is through •more Do they placeofreading your Do they have the visual acquisition of •Do Does thechildren print go have in andgood outinformation. ofeyesight? focus eyewords problems •any Do the float orsuch moveasonmyopia, the page.hypermetropia Do children good eyesight? Doable they •(farsightedness), Doyour they blink frequently or squint. orhave astigmatism? Are they to have see any eyeColours? problems such as myopia, hypermetropia •details? Do they spend extended time exposed to the blue light Do they blink their eyes frequently (farsightedness), or astigmatism? Arecoordinated? they able to see coming from or squint? Arescreens? their eye movements Do
details? Colours? Do they blink their eyes frequently
A child’s reading difficulties can Abechild’s reading difficulties can caused by vision problems. be caused by vision problems.
they confuse some letters?they Optometrists answer A their child’s readingare difficulties Many children do not realize have a visioncan disorder and think symptoms normal. can or squint? Are their eye coordinated? Do the all your and, if yet amovements problem detected, suggest of by glasses, They mayquestions see “20/20” and have diffiis culties with focussing andwearing eyecaused coordination thatorthoptic can impair be vision problems. theyreading, confuse some letters? Optometrists canbelief answer exercises, or note surgery. their taking and eventually even their that they can be a capable student! all optometrist your questions and, your if a problem detected, suggest the eye wearing of glasses, orthoptic An evaluates child’s eyeishealth, visual acuity and coordination ensuring Specialists having children’s eyes examined when they between six everything working together for the best results. Early intervention, while theare neural pathways exercises,isorrecommend surgery. andstill nine years old. Whygood is this? Simply because after this age, a child’s neurological are malleable, ensures visual function is established for life. Specialists recommend children’s examined when between six The firstiseye examinations are vision recommended at 6 months, and then 3they yearsare of age. Similar system less malleable having and defects eyes can become permanent. to dental when child starts school, they should have an annual eyeaexamination as things and ninecare, years old.a Why is this? Simply because after this age, child’s neurological can change dramatically as they system is less malleable andgrow. vision defects can become permanent.
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20 • THURSDAY, August 20, 2020
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Children can benefit in various ways by participating in sports. These benefits, both physical and mental, can help kids in all aspects of life, and even lay the groundwork for a successful transition into adulthood. Playing sports goes beyond just being physically active. Important lessons are learned on the court, field and pitch. Kids who participate in sports can learn about discipline, how to handle winning and losing with grace, and the importance of setting and achieving goals.
Skate Canada Programs offered this season Precanskate This is for age 3 and up in the very first stages of learning to skate.
Canskate- CanSkate is Skate Canada’s flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. It focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. You will earn ribbons, badges and other incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. Junior Academy 2 sessions per week. Figureskating based program offered after skaters have passed Stage 3 in Canskate. Junior STARSkate 2 sessions per week. Figureskating program offered to skaters who have progressed through Junior Academy. STARSkate 4 sessions per week. Figureskating program offered to skaters who
have progressed through Junior STARskate. Cost dependent on number of skating sessions. Please contact the club. Cost dependent on number of skating sessions. Please contact the club. All programs start the first week of October and run until mid December. Mandatory $45 Skate Canada Insurance fee must be paid at registration in addition to program cost. Insurance is valid from September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021 Funding assistance for program costs also available. Please contact us to discuss.
Register online starting September 15 at nicolavalleysc.uplifterinc.com If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Registrar at skatinginthevalley49@gmail.com or (250) 378-0114. Or our Head Coach at professionalcoachdiana@gmail.com. Come out and join us! If you are unsure what program your child should enroll in, we will have evaluations done by the Head Coach at the beginning of the season. All programs follow the rules and guidelines of Skate Canada and are taught by a NCCP accredited Coach & trained Program Assistants.
THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 21
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SD58 following provincial guidelines in safe return
From Page 19 sizes. Though September’s school look will be different due to all students returning to the classroom. In McNiven and his staff’s minds, the main difference and impactful change will be the use of the new grouping system, or ‘cohort groups.’ “These will be their learning
groups,” said McNiven. “So at the elementary level, we have to structure our schools around learning groups of 60, and at the high school level, we have to structure something around groups of 120. “So how do we manage our buildings, and our learning, keeping those bubbles in place is really what we’re working on.”
See ‘COHORT’ Page 23
N’kwala School
Parents, Community, members and staff working together to achieve the highest quality of education for our students to be lifelong learners.
STAFF MISSION STATEMENT TO ENSURE EACH STUDENT BE AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL
Reasons why parents and students choose N’kwala School ✔ Small teacher: student ratio maximizes learning ✔ Student focused learning and teaching ✔ Syilx language and culture ✔ Healthy snacks and hot lunch provided ✔ Certified Category 2 Independent School - Provincial Education Standards ✔ FNSA (First Nations Schools Association) Certified ✔ K4 to Grade 12, including the Adult Graduation Diploma ✔ Open to ALL students Contact Information & Registration: Address: 9410 N’kwala Road, Douglas Lake B.C V0E 1S0 Phone: 250-350-3370 Email: nkwala@uppernicola.com Summer Email: principal@uppernicola.com
Serving Communities: Merritt/Nicola/Quilchena/Douglas Lake
22 • THURSDAY, August 20, 2020
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BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY
Kids, complete the school safety phrases in each ad on the page and get the chance
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POSSIBLE ANSWERS : cough, kind, soap, teacher, buddy, phone, bus, helmet, wave
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RULES: Complete the school safety sentences found in each ad by matching the missing word with the incomplete sentence. Drop your entry form off at the Merritt Herald, 2090 Granite Ave. before 5 p.m, Sept. 2 Winner will be drawn 9 a.m. Sept. 4, 2020. Employees and family members of Merritt Herald are not eligible for this contest. Must be attending school in 2020/2021 school year to play.
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If you’re bullied or see somebody being bullied, tell a ______ or trusted adult.
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THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 • 23
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Cohort groups key to back to school success From Page 21 McNiven added, however, that these numbers are strictly a guideline. The Merritt school system has much different needs than a school system the size of one in say, Vancouver. Therefore, the option for smaller cohort group sizes is certainly a possibility. “If you look at an elementary school, and we have all of our students back, really what they learn with typically is a class size of 20, 25, or 30. But what the limit allows groups and schools to do, is work together on occasion. But you wouldn’t want to do anything where you have say, three classes working together.” McNiven said that at the high school level, it gets much more complicated due to school size. Merritt Secondary School’s website says that it serves around 600 students in total. “A lot of work is going into making it work,” said McNiven. “We’re working on creating a schedule that is going to reduce the contacts that kids have.” In terms of the cohort groups, McNiven said that there are two factors that have to be considered. One is that when students are within their cohort group, the focus has to be on not having any physical contact.
‘‘
“That physical distancing, you still want to do to the best of your ability, but there’s some relaxations on that within the cohort group.” At the high school level, the school district is relying on the words of Dr. Bonnie Henry. What she has been telling staff is that there is a crucial need to make sure there will be the two metre physical distancing between both students and staff when they are outside of their bubble. Outside of the bubble, masks were recently mandated in high-traffic areas, including buses and hallways. “Outside of their bubble, or even outside of the school for that matter, there needs to be a trust. But the expectation is that a greater emphasis is placed on the physical distancing. “We’re going to do our best with the things that we can work with.” McNiven said there are still questions, and will continue to be throughout the year surely, as to how these guidelines will work: for example, how to stagger breaks. What do we do during break time? Well, let’s stagger our breaks, as much as possible, so that the groups of kids out may be less and may even just be down to their cohort group if possible.”
‘We’re going to do our best with the things that we can work with.’ — SD58 Superintendent Stephen McNiven
Usually, Merritt Secondary School has just one lunch break. McNiven said their is a possibility of MSS running two or three different breaks, so less kids are in the halls at the same time. “We can have some f lexibility throughout the day, that would help us do that, for sure.” He did add, however, that if the crossing over of bubbles occurs during the breaks, that physical distancing must still be strictly enforced. In terms of class sizes, McNiven said that they should remain relatively stable as they were before. At the high school, class sizes are mostly limited to thirty, though in some subjects, like shop, they can be much smaller. “Those are the maximums,” said McNiven, who added that sizes usually range between 18 and 30. “Typically, in our district, our class size average is lower than the provincial average.” At the elementary school level, the maximum is just 20 in kindergarden, 22 in primary, and 30 at the intermediate levels. Though sending students back to school was voluntary in June, September’s return to the classroom is something for all students. “The voluntary state is gone,” said McNiven. “Parents have to choose, will they send their kids to school face-to-face? If they choose not to do that, then they will have to enroll them in some kind of home schooling.” The Herald will have more on SD58’s return to the classroom next week.
Programs for Youth and Adult Learners at SCIDES Sign Up Now! Distance Learning is what SCIDES has done for 30 years. K – 12, BC Ministry of Education programs and courses are available, and fully-certified BC teachers expertly guide learning. Haven’t graduated? Select core courses are free of charge for adults who graduated in BC and are wishing to upgrade.
Contact us to talk to one of our advisors or visit our website to find out more.
1.800.663.3536 www.scides.org/programs
SCHOOL AREA (Warning)
This sign indicates there is a school nearby and school children may be present near or on the roadway.
30 km/h
A person driving a vehicle on a regular school day and on a highway where signs are displayed stating a speed limit of 30 km/h, or on which the numerals “30” are prominently shown, must drive at a rate of speed not exceeding 30 km/h while approaching or passing the school building and school grounds to which the signs relate, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m
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24 • THURSDAY, August 20, 2020
Lower Nicola Indian Band School
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REGISTRATION 2020-2021
THE LOWER NICOLA BAND SCHOOL INVITES ALL CHILDREN (First Nations/Non First Nations) To Register for KINDERGARTEN to Grade 7
“FREE” Daily
• Full-time Kindergarten – must be 5 yrs by Dec 31, 2020 • Bus Services provided to all areas of Merritt.
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM and SNACK PROGRAM
HEAD START SERVICES:
NEW 4 CLASSROOM ADDITION NEW COMPUTER LAB
NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT CLIMBING WALL BASKETBALL COURT SPINNER
Education Comes First
• 3 & 4 year old Program (K4 must be 4 yrs old by Dec. 31, 2020) • Parent & Tot Drop In • Home Visiting Program • Transportation provided for all Head Start programs • Mom’s & Tot’s Services 0 to 6 years old
CURRICULUM: • New BC Curriculum • Nle?kepmx • Cultural Studies • Field Trips • Learning Assistance Program • School supplies provided
FACILITIES: • Full-Size Gymnasium • Library • Computer Lab • Baseball/Soccer Field
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Lower Nicola Band School Ph: 250-378-5527 201 Horn Rd., Merritt, BC