Special Features - Merritt Visitors Guide

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Festivals Events

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PLUS Recreation Shopping Accommodations Entertainment Itineraries Maps & More!

WHERE URBAN LIFESTYLE MEETS OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

G OO IIN A G N O L O DD PP L A

serving serving quality quality home food homestyle style comfort food for for 60 years! years!

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www.homerestaurants.ca www.homerestaurants.ca

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Arts & Culture

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Living off the Land

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Education

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Itinerary

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Calendar of Events

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Live Here

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Sports

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Golf

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Retail & Shopping

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Explore Downtown

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Country Music Capital

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PUBLISHER Theresa Arnold publisher@merrittherald.com VISITOR GUIDE EDITOR Craig Lindsay EDITORIAL Emily Wessel ELECTRONIC PRODUCTION Shelley Hein Mark Lightheart

4 Season of Fun

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Spring

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Summer

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Fall

31

Winter

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Ski Map

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GeoCaching

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City of Merritt Map

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History

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Walking Tour

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Industry

2090 Granite Ave., PO Box 9 Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8

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Walking Map

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Dining

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Ph: 250-378-4241 Fax: 250-378-6818 www.merrittherald.com

Accommodations

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Conference & Event Planning 52 Clubs, Organizations & Churches Directory

Table of Contents

Community Info

SALES Ula Chauvet sales@merrittherald.com COVER Art Direction, Pinerock Ridge Graphic Art & Design; Photograph, Merritt Pro Photo.

PUBLISHED BY THE MERRITT HERALD

All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013

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Visitor Information

@ Baillie House

Open 7 Days a Week: May 1 - Sept. 30 Tuesday - Saturday: Oct. 7 - April 30 Visiting Merritt wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the Historic Baillie Property garden for a picnic or a free tour!

2202 Voght Street, Merritt BC • 250.378.0349 • bailliehouse@shaw.ca 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 3

Royal Lepage

2013

Merritt Real Estate Services Independently Owned & Operated

leading edge

YEARS OF HELPING YOU HOME Welcome to

MERRITT

BENEFITS THAT MERRITT CAN OFFER TO YOU: Small town feel with city comforts. Enticing outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, cross-country skiing and more. Easy access to the Okanagan, the Central Interior and to the Coast. Golf Course, Aquatic Centre, Arena and Curling Rink in town. Affordable housing!

BUYING, SELLING, RELOCATING TALK TO ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED REALTORS

Tom McDonagh Broker

250-378-6181

Claudette Edenoste Broker

250-280-0689

tmcdonagh@telus.net

Karen Bonneteau Sales Rep

John Issac Sales Rep

250-315-5178

250-378-1586

kbonneteau@telus.net

johnissac@telus.net

Melody Simon Sales Rep

250-315-8539

Property Management

Debra Schindler Lynda Etchart Personal Real Estate Corp. Property Manager

250-315-3548

250-378-6181

Phone: 250-378-6181

Merritt Real Estate Services

4 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

1988 Quilchena Ave. Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Fax: 250-378-6184 www.royallepage.ca/merritt www.merrittrealestateservices.com

Community Info Welcome to Merritt Easily accessible by the Coquihalla Highway, the city of Merritt is a thriving community situated at an elevation of 595 metres above sea level. Merritt tends to experience mild winters and warm, dry, sunny summers.

Quick Facts: • Merritt is conveniently located three hours from Vancouver, an hour-and-a-half from Kelowna, and just 45 minutes from Kamloops. About 14 million cars pass through Merritt every year.

• Each year, Merritt has an annual average of 250 frost-free days, and the average growing season lasts five months • Merritt enjoys over 2,000 hours of sunshine yearly — that’s nearly 85 straight days!

Welcome to Historic Merritt, where country life meets up with urban amenities and you can interact with nature within a few minutes’ walk or drive from the city.

We have mild temperatures in the winter, with access to bountiful snow clad hills for enjoying winter activities such as snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing and snowshoeing.

In the summer, expect warmer than average temperatures with little or no precipitation which all helps you to take in the numerous lakes around us and the two rivers that flow through our city. You can swim, fish, boat, canoe and kayak on these water sources. The many hills surrounding us offer up challenging mountain bike trails, hiking trails, quading trails as well as spectacular views.

Within the city you can take a heritage stroll, with a visit to the historic Coldwater Hotel, the most photographed building in Merritt, or to the Baillie House Visitor’s Centre, where a family home and outbuildings have been preserved to show how residents lived. Enjoy a walk amongst famous Country Music artists handprints and murals. Stop by the Canadian

Country Music Hall of Fame and see Country Music legends inductee plaques as well as memorabilia. To experience history at its finest visit the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives, and see the many displays. Merritt is excited to be hosting several new festivals in 2013, including the first annual City of Music event, the Bass Coast Festival.

Merritt offers a diverse cultural and a rts experience, from the Courthouse Gallery to the annual Aboriginal Day event in June. Artisan products can be found in many of the downtown shops as well as at the Farmer’s Market that runs from May to October.

We encourage you to take in the Gold Country Geocache kick-off being held this year on June 29, which will be a poker run with many classic and antique cars participating.

Merritt is what the outdoors is all about, so please stay for awhile or a day and enjoy what we have to offer.

City of Merritt Mayor Susan Roline 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 5

Arts & Culture

Local Arts Art thrives in every corner of Merritt, from coffee shops with local art hanging on the walls to eclectic community open mic nights. Music and art comprise a huge part of Merritt’s laid-back, small-town lifestyle, so take your time to discover some local treasures.

OLDE COURTHOUSE

SAYSO The SaySo Expression Society welcomes anyone to drop by the Culture Club at 2058 Granite Ave. for monthly open mic nights and the occasional professional performance. The environment is a supportive one for budding local talent including singers, musicians and poets.

FILM SOCIETY The Nicola Valley Film Society presents six critically-acclaimed international and Canadianmade films a year that offer a different point of view than Hollywood blockbusters.

VALLEY VISUAL ARTISTS A cross-section of the diverse artists living in the Merritt area gathers for support and critiques and an annual spring show and sale featuring the work of its returning painters, charcoal artists, photographers, and more — and the group happily welcomes new members.

The historic Olde Courthouse at 1840 Nicola Ave. holds an ever-evolving art gallery and a vibrant dance studio. Each month, the gallery exhibits new art in many media and is open Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. The dance studio offers internationally-recognized Royal Academy of Dance ballet classes and a host of other classes for fun and fitness, including Moms and Tots and Adult Ballet.

CONCERT SERIES The Nicola Valley Community Arts Council presents an annual four-concert series to bring a variety of professional performers to Merritt.

Past performers include Vancouver-based reggae outfit the Boom Booms and East Coast comedian Lorne Elliott. Visit nvartscouncil.com for an updated concert schedule and ticket information.

Get exposure everywhere it matters, and reach more buyers. y Choose your program, choose your price.

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We’ll customize your package for you. Call Julie at 250-280-8888 6 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Arts & Culture Local Culture With equally deep roots in cowboy and aboriginal traditions, opportunities for enriching cultural experiences abound in Merritt. Throw in a sizable Sikh population and a growing number of Asian-Canadians, and discover what Merrittonians from diverse backgrounds have to offer.

FIRST NATIONS Merritt and its surrounding area is the traditional home of the Nlaka’pamax (Thompson) people.

With several First Nations nearby, indigenous people comprise a significant portion of Merritt’s population. The Conayt Friendship Society at 2164 Quilchena Ave. offers programs and services to support a growing population of urban aboriginal people. On Aboriginal Day, the whole community celebrates with storytelling, drumming, and traditional dancing and games at Monck Park on scenic Nicola Lake. Already a feast for all the senses, the celebration is capped off with a community feast.

SIKH SOCIETY With a high representation of Sikh families in Merritt, the Punjabi community has put down firm roots in this Nicola Valley city. The Merritt Sikh Society regularly holds functions at the Merritt Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) on Chapman Street.

The city’s community-minded Sikhs invite people in the area to join in their customs and share in a vegetarian lunch on Sundays. People who attend are asked to put on a headscarf, which is available at the front door. The Sikh Society celebrates Baisakhi, the Sikh new year, and offers tastes of the culture’s cuisine at the community’s Taste of India events.

1840 Nicola Ave. • www.nvartscouncil.com

Hunting • Camping • Fishing

GET GEARED UP

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 7

NTA

Nicola Tribal Association

COLDWATER INDIAN BAND PO Box 4600 2249 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 250-378-6174 www.coldwaterband.com COOKS FERRY INDIAN BAND PO Box 130 • 3691 Deer Lane Spences Bridge, BC V0K 2L0 250-458-2224

May 29, 2013 NICOMEN INDIAN BAND PO Box 670 1054 Spence Road, Lytton, BC V0K 1Z0 250-455-2514 NOOAITCH INDIAN BAND 2954 Shackelly Road, Merritt, BC V1K 1N9 250-378-6141 Shackan Indian Band 2160 Settler’s Road, Merritt, BC V1K 1M9 250-378-5410 SISKA INDIAN BAND PO Box 519 Lytton, BC V0K 1Z0 250-455-2219 UPPER NICOLA INDIAN BAND PO Box 3700 2225 Village Road, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 250-350-3342 www.uppernicolaband.com

8 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

3RD ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #58 STUDENT POW-WOW Location: Merritt Secondary School.

For more information please call Christine Anderson or Crystal McMaster at 250-315-1123

May 31, 2013

YVONNE BASIL 3RD ANNUAL MEMORIAL POW-WOW Location: Shulus Arbour

June 21, 2013

Aboriginal Day Celebration Contact Nicola Tribal Association for more information

The total membership of the Nicola Tribal Association (NTA) Stakeholder First Nations is approximately 2744 members. The seven communities that make up the NTA are situated within a 115 km radius of the city of Merritt. They are located in the Nicola Valley, along the Thompson River and in the Fraser Canyon. The communities of the NTA are: Coldwater Indian Band; Cook’s Ferry Indian Band; Nicomen Indian Band; Nooaitch Indian Band; Shackan Indian Band; Siska Indian Band; and Upper Nicola Indian Band. The Upper Nicola Band members are Syilx speakers and therefore also have ties/alliances with the Okanagan Nation. The other Bands are Nlak’apamux speakers. The Board of Directors is responsible for directing the affairs of the Nicola Tribal Association. The Board consists of seven members – one each from its constituent Bands. Currently, the membership consists of six Band Chiefs and one Band Councillor.

The NTA also has close working relationships with other First Nations in the area such as the Lower Nicola Indian Band, Ashcroft Indian Band, as well as other Tribal Councils in the BC Interior. NTA works with the individual First Nations in a variety of ways to protect and preserve valuable cultural information for future generations. NTA also provides assistance in developing opportunities for

the communities individually, or collectively, that will allow them to move towards self-government and self-sufficiency. There are a number of economic opportunities worth pursuing in the local area, and the traditional territory, some of which include; Mining and Forestry, Green or Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Tourism. When developed properly, these opportunities can provide a solid economic foundation for future generations to build from, and provide a means to prosper and build healthy, thriving communities in the future. NTA membership in general are involved with farming, ranching and logging, economic activities that have traditionally been followed for the last few generations. There are also a number of people becoming more and more involved in commercial retail ventures, industrial, general and residential construction, for example.

The relationship between fish (salmon and resident species) and indigenous peoples of the Nicola Valley has existed ever since people and fish arrived here. Fish are an intrinsic part of the identity of the Nlak’apamux and Syilx peoples, and thus a vital component of their culture. The Nicola Watershed Stewardship and Fisheries Authority (NWSFA) is the fisheries department of the Nicola Tribal Association. On behalf of the Tribal Association’s member Bands, the NWSFA engages in a number of activities revolving around the need for better management and conservation of the fish stocks, as well as management of the fisheries on those stocks. To that end, the NWSFA – with core funding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – conducts annual stock assessment activities that provide important data on the status of salmon populations when they return to the Nicola Watershed to spawn. Monitoring the rights-based salmon fishery, and engaging with DFO in consultation processes in regard to annual salmon conservation and fishing plans, are also carried out. Additionally, the NWSFA is known for its commitment to fish habitat restoration using own source funding – an expensive but very necessary activity that is critical to the survival of the fish stocks of the Nicola watershed that have been affected by land and resource development activities over the last century. As an adjunct to the restoration activities, the NWSFA has also developed an indigenous plant nursery program that supplies native rootstock to the habitat restoration projects as well as to local residents interested in landscaping with some of the native plants of the area.

Protecting and preserving the environment and ecology of the Nicola Valley is very important to the NTA First Nations.

Visit our website for more current information

nicolatribal.com

administration@nicolatribal.org

250-378-4235 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 9

Living Off The Land

Living off the Land Merritt is well known for its many working ranches and farms. Many ranches have been around these parts for over a century employing hundreds of locals, and feeding thousands. Many of the local ranches offer lodging and tours as well as a chance to see beautiful scenery.

HAT CREEK RANCH Located in Cache Creek, historic Hat Creek Ranch offers a rare opportunity to explore the original buildings of a key location in the transportation history of the Cariboo.

Visitors can take guided tours of the 1860s roadhouse from interpreters in period clothing, or take a walk along beautiful Hat Creek to the Native Village.

DOUGLAS LAKE RANCH

NICOLA RANCH With a beautiful view overlooking Nicola Lake, Nicola Ranch is one of the largest cattle ranches in all of Canada.

Visitors are welcome to walk around the ranch and see the buildings, most of which were built between 1876 and 1913. Accommodations are also available, as is fishing and hunting.

QUILCHENA RANCH

Known as Canada’s largest working ranch, Douglas Lake Ranch also boasts some of North America’s fly fishing for Kamloops Rainbow Trout.

The ranch offers top notch lodging from cabins to camping and RV sites to non-impact Yurts and private campgrounds.

Located 15 minutes outside of Merritt, Quilchena sits on the shores of Nicola Lake and offers a wide range of activities for the outdoors type.

Visitors can shop at the general store, explore the hills surrounding the ranch by horse or mountain bike, or snag a fish in one of the nearby rivers or lakes.

CHUTTER RANCH

A.P. WESTERN GUEST RANCH

The 3,500 acre Chutter Ranch is located near Nicola Lake. North of Merritt on Highway 5A, the ranch features over 900 head of cattle, a bunkhouse, shop, grainer, cook house, 1,200-head feedlot and more.

Ranch owner Dave Chutter is also working hard to preserve the ‘dancing grounds’ of the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and the burrowing owl.

Located in the heart of ranch country, A.P. Western Guest Ranch is surrounded by impressive fishing lakes and thousands of acres of rolling terrain perfect for trail riding or a multitude of winter sports.

The buildings in the ranch are restored from an old 1911 homestead and offer an authentic western feel.

10 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Education Education Merritt offers a variety of learning opportunities for students of all ages. Five elementary schools, a secondary school, a post-secondary institution and a provincial firefighting training base offer students a range of experience in their educational careers.

FRENCH IMMERSION

POST SECONDARY

School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen) offers a well-established French Immersion program for students from kindergarten through Grade 12. Students immerse themselves in the French language at Collettville Elementary School and continue on in the program at Merritt Secondary School.

The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is British Columbia’s premier aboriginal public post-secondary institute. The picturesque Eagles’ Perch campus in Merritt, together with a second campus in Vancouver, offers accredited degrees, diplomas and certificates in programs developed to address needs in aboriginal communities, including Business Administration and Early Childhood Education.

ABORIGINAL ED Aboriginal Academy 9 is a unique immersion program that allows any student the chance to spend a semester immersed in aboriginal culture at Merritt Secondary School. The program combines in-class studies with hands-on cultural experiences for an holistic educational experience. The school district built a unique classroom at MSS modeled after a traditional winter house, known as the “House of Honour”, to complement the program and to give the aboriginal community a place to gather.

FIREFIGHTER TRAINING The Merritt Fire Rescue Department offers a nine-month work experience program for five firefighters-in-training who live, work and learn at the station alongside experienced mentors.

The new Ministry of Forests Wildfire Management Branch is a state-of-the-art $4-million facility for training firefighters from throughout the Merritt fire zone.

With campuses in Merritt and Vancouver and over 300 courses available, NVIT is the Home of Aboriginal Public Post-secondary Education in BC.

NICOLA VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MERRITT CAMPUS 250.378.3300 VANCOUVER CAMPUS 604.602.9555 TOLL FREE 1.877.682.3300 WWW.NVIT.CA

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 11

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Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events With a brand new electronic music and arts festival, Christmas light-up parade, and a variety of rodeos and sporting events each year, the City of Merritt is an event destination. There’s always something going on in Merritt, so be sure to mark your calendars.

JANUARY

MAY

• Old Timers Hockey Tournament • Men’s Curling Bonspiel

AUGUST

• High School Rodeo (www.bchsra.com) • Stock Car Racing season begins

(www.merrittcurling.ca)

(www.merrittstockcarassocation.webs.com)

• Ladies’ Curing Bonspiel (www.merrittcurling.ca)

• Recreation League Hockey Tournament • Snowmobile Poker Ride and Chili Run

FEBRUARY • Moccasin Hockey Tournament • Mixed Curling Bonspiel (www.merrittcurling.ca)

MARCH • Spring Home Show (www.bchomeshows.com)

• Ice Breaker Tennis Tournament • Black’s Pharmacy Senior Men’s Open Golf Tournament • Kids Try-it Mini Triathlon

JUNE

(www.merrittcountryrun.ca) Relay for Life (www.relaybc.ca)

Aboriginal Day ATV Poker Run (www.atvbc.ca) Nicola Valley Kennel Club Dog Show (www.westerndogshows.com)

APRIL

JULY

• Night of the Arts Dance and with Music at the Civic Centre • Mixed Volleyball Tournament • Ladies Volleyball Tournament (www.merrittvolleyballassociation.com)

• • • • •

(www.bcambassador.com)

• Rookies Slo-Pitch Tournament • Bass Coast Electronic Music and Arts Festival

SEPTEMBER • Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo

• Little Britches Rodeo (www.bclbra.org) • Ty Pozzobon Invitational Bull Riding • Merritt Country Run • • • •

• B.C. Ambassadors Competition

Nicola Valley Kennel Club Dog Show Nicola Valley Cruisers Car Show Merritt Otters Swim Meet Coquihalla Ladies Golf Tournament Mixed Open Golf Tournament

(www.rodeocanada.ca)

• Nicola Valley Fall Fair • Start of Merritt Centennials BCHL Season • Garlic Festival & Tractor Show

OCTOBER • Pacific Forest Rally (www.rallybc.com)

• Fall Home Show • City Spooktakular Monster Mash

NOVEMBER • Beta Sigma Phi Craft Show • Country Christmas weekend

RV PARTS AND ACCESSORIES Don’t let a broken down RV ruin your holidays

• Heating supplies • Water Heaters • Appliances • Electrical

• Plumbing • Propane Access.

• Towing Products • Awnings

• Electronics • Roof & Vent Covers • Solar Products • Satellite Supplies

N ic ol a P lu m b in g & H ea ti n g

email: nicplumb@telus.net

2064 Coutlee Ave., P.O. Box 2999 Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8

12 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide 12 • 2012 Merritt Visitor Guide

Phone: 250-378-4943

Calendar of Events Annual Events Here are some of the highlights of Merritt’s abundance of annual events: BASS COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL This three-day electronic music and arts festival attracts more than 3,000 people per year and offers everything from yoga classes to camping to high-energy electronic dance parties. There’s plenty of action for the ears and eyes at this 19and-over festival, with dozens of top electronic performers from all over the world as well as art installations throughout the campground. Bass Coast will hold its first festival in Merritt from August 2 to 5.

MERRITT COUNTRY RUN The fourth annual Merritt Country Run is scheduled to take place on June 9 through the scenic Merritt area. Runs include a half marathon (21K), a 10K, and a 5K from Voght Park. The event is quickly gaining momentum as runners from all over converge on the city for a day of fun, fitness, and friendly competition, all for a charitable cause.

Proceeds from the event benefit JumpStart, a charitable program that helps children with financial need to participate in organized sports.

PACIFIC FOREST RALLY Fast cars meet rugged terrain in this nationalcalibre event that starts in the heart of downtown Merritt. There are plenty of places for spectators to get in on the action, which takes place on the challenging back roads of the Nicola Valley. Eight stages, more than 30 rally teams, and countless related events will bring the bustle to downtown Merritt during the 2013 Pacific Forest Rally on Oct. 12 and 13.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Christmas magic starts early in Merritt with the annual light-up of the downtown core.

Usually at the end of November, the Country Christmas weekend includes craft sales, photos with Santa, a community concert, and the weekend highlight: a light-up, nighttime Santa parade. The parade involves dozens of floats that wind their way through the quaint, lit-up streets of downtown Merritt in a celebration of the season. Dress warmly, grab a mug of hot chocolate and your closest family and friends to take in the season’s celebrations with the rest of the city.

Oasis Natural Health Body and Mind Your Path to Better Health

At Oasis Health our goal is to balance your body so that you not only ffeel incredible but also are able to cope p with the stresses that you meet everyday.

B Touch for Health B N.O.T. Balance B Chakra’s & the 7 Chi Keys B SIPS B Time of Day Balance B ESR Balance B Metaphors Balance B Balancing B Five Element Emotional & Color Balance B Accu Spark and Accu Light Balance 2952 Clapperton Ave., Merritt, BC V1K 1G2

Independent Distributor of Nature’s Sunshine, GNLD, Moringa and Fine Herbs.

250-315-5202

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 13

Live Here

Live Here Situated in the beautiful Nicola Valley, the City of Merritt is an ideal place to live, work and play. Merritt’s diverse business environment, affordable housing and blend of urban amenities and country fun make this city a gem.

EASY ACCESS Easily accessible by the Coquihalla Highway, Merritt lies in a strategic location for any business relying on access to the Lower Mainland or the Thompson-Okanagan regions. Within one hour to Kamloops and three hours to Vancouver, Merritt is conveniently close to the big city, while preserving the ease of the country.

REAL ESTATE From apartments to acreages, townhouses to executive homes, Merritt’s size means it offers scenic living at affordable prices compared to larger urban centres with all the conveniences of big city living. Two seniors assisted living complexes round out Merritt’s diverse and affordable real estate landscape.

14 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

DIVERSITY Merritt has a business environment that’s as diverse as its business owners. From high-tech industry to light manufacturing, from small family farms to well-established cattle operations, and from transportation to distribution, Merritt has it all and Merrittonians can do it all.

JUST THE RIGHT SIZE At a population of 8,000, Merritt is just the right size to offer families all the amenities of daily living in a compact and convenient city.

Career-minded individuals can find excellent opportunities for entry and advancement in many fields including the resource sectors that make up B.C.’s economic backbone. With 35 per cent of the population under 25, the labour force is strong in Merritt.

Live Here TRAINING CENTRE From traditional post-secondary educational programs to specialized offerings from local businesses, Merritt offers training in a wide variety of industries that serve the community’s needs. The Merritt Academy of Hair Design, Firefighters Work Experience Program, Commercial Driver Training Program, and Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program all offer newcomers the chance to gain valuable experience and find their place in Merritt’s community.

The City of Merritt offers affordable real estate and property tax. The average house price is $211,914.

Looking for more information on Local Recipes • History • Geocaching?

Purchase your copy at: Merritt Information Centre at Baillie House or Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce

Welcome to Merritt and the Nicola Valley Your MP Available to You

Dan Albas, MP Working Hard for Okanagan-Coquihalla

Toll Free: 1-800-665-8711 www.danalbas.com 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 15

Sports

Sports Sports activities and events abound in Merritt and the surrounding area for youth and adults alike from hockey to swimming to rodeo.

Merritt’s Nicola Valley Memorial Arena is home to the Merritt Centennials, the longest, continuously running British Columbia Hockey League franchise.

Other Merritt sports highlights include: Curling, which takes place at the Merritt Curling Club Rink, built in 1972; Volleyfest, an annual volleyball tournament; Merritt Otters Swim Club, is based out of Nicola Valley

Aquatic Centre and has offered high level swimming opportunities for youth for over 30 years; the Merritt Barbarians rugby team, which competes against other teams in the Okanagan; the Nicola Valley Thunder Minor Lacrosse program, an intermediate B-level league; and the Merritt Minor hockey association has a proud history of providing both recreational and competitive opportunities.

Photo Credit: V22 Photography

th 5 5

A N NU AL

Saturday, Aug. 31 & Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013 Starts at 1 pm

N.V. RODEO ARENA Lindley Creek Road, Merritt, B.C. LOCAL RODEO EVENTS High School Rodeo - May Little Britches Rodeo - June Ranch Rodeo - August

www.nicolavalleyprorodeo.com 16 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Golf Photo Credit: V22 Photography

Golf The weather in Merritt makes it the perfect location for a long golf season. Each year, the city receives an average of only 189 millimeters of rain. This helps make way for over 2,000 hours of sunshine and an annual mean temperature of nearly 7 C. The average growing season is five months and there are 250 frost-free days in the typical year.

Experience Golf in the Heart of Country

A challenging nine hole course with the mens yardages stretching over 6200 yards. Players of any level will enjoy this course!

Course also features a clubhouse, full stocked pro shop, snack food bar and large screen TV’s.

MERRITT GOLF AND COUNTRY The Merritt Golf and Country Club is located right in the heart of Merritt. A nine-hole course with men’s yardage stretching over 6,200 meters with the Nicola River running through it.

QUILCHENA ON THE LAKE A challenging nine-hole course, Quilchena on the Lake is located right by Nicola Lake and offers some beautiful views.

Located 15 minutes north of Merritt on Highway 5A, Quilchena on the Lake is situated on a land formerly belonging to a cattle ranch.

www.merrittgolf.com

250-378-9414

1450 Juniper Drive, Merritt, BC

Quilchena Golf Course & RV Park

THE SAGEBRUSH Opened in 2009, The Sagebrush is an 18hole golf course of unsurpassed beauty nestled amongst the rolling hills above Nicola Lake and the historic community of Quichena just 15 minutes from Merritt.

Golf Digest rated The Sagebrush the 16th best course in Canada and included it in its select list of 100 best courses outside the U.S.

QUILCHENA GOLF COURSE & RV PARK OFFERS VISITORS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Golfers can enjoy a day of golf or a weekend of pure pleasure.

We offer: 9 hole golf course, a new clubhouse and an RV Park.

20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A

250-378-2923

clubhouse@quilchenaonthelake.com 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 17

Retail & Shopping

Retail & Shopping In the heart of the Nicola Valley, Merritt offers a blend of one-of-a-kind boutiques, locally handcrafted treasures, and staple big box stores. From inspired silver jewelry to fishing equipment, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Merritt.

BOX STORES

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Quilchena Avenue is Merritt’s answer to a high street. The historic buildings of downtown house an eclectic mix of stores, boutiques and salons. A locally-owned bookstore that takes special orders, a trendy clothing store, and a craft store that serves some of the area’s creative finest are just a few of the highlights of shopping in downtown Merritt.

Staple stores such as Wal Mart, Canadian Tire, Extra Foods, Coopers offer the convenience and low prices they are well-known for, without the hassle of the big city bustle.

These big box stores are open convenient hours, and complement some of Merritt’s small-scale boutiques right here within the city.

Everything You Need for when

All Your Trusted Brands

ADVENTURE Awaits

and so many more...

We offer

In-Store DOWNTOWN PRINCETON: #1 - 136 Tapton Ave., 250-295-0657 DOWNTOWN MERRITT: #120 1700 Garcia St. Railyard Mall 250-378-5217

18 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Embroidery

Retail & Shopping FARMERS’ MARKET The Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market brings produce, crafts, and people from all over the valley together for relaxed and social Saturday morning shopping. From locally-grown organic, pesticide-free produce to handcrafted jewelry, the farmers’ market offers more than just a little something for everyone - it’s a great way to get to know the community and some of its most down-to-earth people. Check out the farmers’ market between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday until early October in the parking lot beside the Baillie House.

OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT With so many opportunities for outdoor adventure in the region, Merritt has several local stores that cater to the outdoor enthusiast.

Hunting and fishing equipment, hiking boots, mountain bikes and specialty saddles are all available in town.

Quilchena general store

TAKE A WALK THROUGH HISTORY AS YOU EXPLORE OUR TURN OF THE CENTURY OLD STORE We offer: Unique Gifts, Jewellery, Western Wear, Pendleton Blankets, Gas, Groceries, Ice. We’re Open Year Round!

20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A

250-378-2753

store@quilchenahotel.com

MARKET FRESH MEATS & CHEESES

~

Party platters, in-store specials, freezer packs & gourmet foods

We sell the best, for less.

250-378-5817 • 2051 E Voght St. (Corner of Nicola & Voght) Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am - 5:30 pm

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 19

B C

A TANYA TUCKER & GEORGE JONES 1976 Voght St.

PAUL A L BRANDT AUL BRAN BRANDT, GEORGE G ORG CANYON CAN CANYON, O

CM MURAL CMT

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Country Bug Books & Gifts

1

2 Planet Fitness 3

LONESTAR 2099 Garcia St.

H Aerobic, yoga and spin classes, tanning beds, protein powder and supplements. To work up a sweat Planet Fitness is the place to be!

Comics. Novels. Local Artisans. Computer Parts & Accessories and so much more…

CANADIAN HISTORICAL MURALS SCENES 2025 Coutlee Ave.

2049 Quilchena Ave.

I

MARTINA MCBRIDE, REBA MCENTIRE, CARRIE UNDERWOOD & RANDY TRAVIS 2101 Quilchena Ave.

250-378-1302

1901 Quilchena Ave. 250-378-0307

Home Hardware

6 Canada Cafe

5 Building Centre Home of Alan Jackson

J

Home of The Good Brothers

See us for all your camping needs, giftware and seasonal items.

1701 Voght St. WINDS OF TIME - MUSEUM 1675 Tutill Court

K

250-378-4215

Chinese & Western Cuisine Enjoy a Chinese style meal or come for a homestyle burger.

2055 Quilchena Ave. 250-378-5551

Shopping & Murals to Hwy #8

to Hwy #5 to Hwy #5A

to Hwy #5 to Hwy #5A

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GRETCHEN WILSON & ELVIS 2350 Voght St.

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JOHNNY REID 2002 Quilchena Ave.

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7

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MICHELLE WRIGHT, CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON, LISA BROKOP 1701 Voght St.

ALAN JACKSON 1701 Voght St.

TIM MCGRAW

3 City Furniture

4

Home of Tracy Lawrence

City Furniture Clearance Centre Home of Lee Roy Parnell

Home of Toby Keith

Furniture, Electronics, Appliances, Mattresses, Telus.

Home of Travis Tritt

Home of Marty Stuart

Furniture, Electronics, Appliances, Mattresses, Telus.

Two locations to serve you!

2025 Coutlee Ave. 250 378-2332 2088 Quilchena Ave. 250-378-6429

Home of Randy Travis

7 M&M Meat Shops

We offer a little bit of everything: Poultry, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Sausages, Fish, Seafood, Appetizers & Finger Foods, Pasta, Pizzas, Vegetables, Sauces, ready to serve meals and so much more.

2051 Voght St.

250-315-2348

WALK OF STARS MURAL LOCATIONS Chris Cummings ..............2185 Voght St. Adam Gregory .................2185 Voght St. Ronnie Prophet .................2185 Voght St. Kenny Hess .......................2190 Voght St. The Mavericks ..................2051 Voght St. Joanne Allen ....................2040 Voght St. Lace ...................................2001 Voght St. Blackhawk ........................2001 Voght St. Gil Grand ...........................1959 Voght St. Glen Campbell ................1976 Voght St. Dixie Chicks ......................1901 Voght St. John Berry..........................1998 Voght St. Alan Jackson ...................1701 Voght St. Tracy Lawrence .......2025 Coutlee Ave. Trisha Yearwood ......2025 Coutlee Ave. Travis Tritt ...................2025 Coutlee Ave. Lee Roy Parnell .........2025 Coutlee Ave. Randy Travis ..............2025 Coutlee Ave. Lisa Brokop ................2076 Coutlee Ave. Jason McCoy ...........2076 Coutlee Ave. Aaron Tippin ...................1700 Garcia St. Jo Dee Messina ..............1700 Garcia St. Martina McBride.............1700 Garcia St.

Two locations to serve you!

2025 Coutlee Ave. 250 378-2332 2088 Quilchena Ave. 250-378-6429

Home of Trisha Yearwood

8 Merritt Drycleaning & Coin Laundry

Your local source for coin laundry & dry cleaning.

Drop off - or self serve washers & dryers Hours Mon - Sat : 8:30 am - 5 pm Sunday: 9:30 am - 5 pm

1926 Quilchena Ave. 250-378-2676 Deana Carter ..................1700 Garcia St. Roy Clark ........................1700 Garcia St. Mark Chesnut ..............1802 Charters St. Carolyn Dawn Johnson 1800 Garcia St. Lacy J Dalton ..................1951 Garcia St. Tracy Prescott .................1950 Garcia St. Loretta Lynn ....................1950 Garcia St. The Stampeders .............2059 Garcia St. LeAnn Rimes ...................2099 Garcia St. Lonestar ...........................2099 Garcia St. Johnny Paycheck ....... 1926 Quilchena Merle Haggard ............ 1940 Quilchena Patricia Conroy ............ 1975 Quilchena Bellamy Brothers .......... 2001 Quilchena David Lee Murphy ....... 2001 Quilchena Rick Tippe .................. A-2025 Quilchena Neal McCoy ................. 2025 Quilchena Keith Urban .................... 2037 Quilchena Dr. Hook ......................... 2032 Quilchena Aaron Prichett ............... 2052 Quilchena Brad Johner ................... 2058 Quilchena John Landry .................. 2058 Quilchena The Good Brothers ....... 2063 Quilchena Duane Steele ................ 2067 Quilchena

Bryan White ................... 2070 Quilchena Marty Stuart ................... 2088 Quilchena Toby Keith ...................... 2088 Quilchena Deric Ruttan .................. 2099 Quilchena Brooks & Dunn .............. 2099 Quilchena Paul Brandt .................... 2090 Quilchena Billy Ray Cyrus .............. 2101 Quilchena Doc Walker ................ 2137C Quilchena Wynonna Judd ............. 2144 Quilchena Kenny Rodgers ............. 2149 Quilchena Jamie Warren ............ 2152A Quilchena Michelle Wright ........... 2177 Quilchena Clint Black ..................2090 Granite Ave. Tim Rushlow ................2090 Granite Ave. Julian Austin ...............2076 Granite Ave. Ian Tyson ................. 2026B Granite Ave. Ronnie Prophet ............2038 Nicola Ave. Dwight Yoakum ...........2049 Nicola Ave Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ...2099 Nicola Ave. Jo Dee Messina ..........2697 Nicola Ave. Ivonne Hernandez .............. Rotary Park Pam Tillis ............................3643 Voght St. The Wilkinsons ....... 2761 Forksdale Ave. Johnny Cash .................3999 Airport Rd.

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 21

Country Music Capital Country Music Capital Of Canada Officially branded as the Country Music Capital of Canada in 2005, country music has made its mark on every corner of Merritt. From larger-than-life murals of some of country music’s most recognizable faces to memorabilia at the national Country Music Hall of Fame, Merritt is teeming with country charm.

WALK OF STARS Dozens of bronze plaques with the handprints and signatures of country music’s top performers line the streets and immortalize over 100 country greats along a convenient walking route in downtown Merritt. Combined with vibrant murals that proudly display the smiling faces of country music legends, Merritt boasts an entertaining journey just waiting to be discovered on foot. Internationally acclaimed muralist Michelle Loughery worked with local artists and youth to craft a larger-than-life visual legacy. See pages 20 and 21 for your mural map. It’s a perfect staging area for your walking adventure.

CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME The Hall of Fame officially opened in downtown Merritt in June of 2012. This year, the hall will be open full-time during the summer season (with reduced hours during the winter months). Join us for a trip down a musical ‘memory lane’ while learning about the dozens of inductees, and their contributions to the evolution of Canadian country music.

Throughout the season, opportunities for live music, special events and a good ol’ fashioned chin-wag about country music, the legendary artists and much more abound. The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame is located at 2025 Quilchena Ave.

22 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

SPIRIT SQUARE The decorative Spirit Square is a meeting place for music lovers and performers alike, boasting a stage that’s as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional when it comes alive with performances. The project has brightened downtown Merritt even more and gives people a place to perform. The square has an audience capacity of about 500 people. Spirit Square is located at the corner of Voght St. and Granite Ave.

Known for its western ambience, and scenic landscapes, Merritt is an optimal spot for anyone stopping in for a day, a week, or even longer.

Got two days?

Itinerary

Suggested Itineraries

DAY ONE: • Visit the Olde Courthouse Gallery to see the Nicola Valley’s local art exhibits, or catch a dance routine at the Courthouse dance studio.

• Stop by the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives to learn about Merritt and the Nicola Valley’s extensive aboriginal, and industrial history.

• “A lake a day as long as you stay” — Anglers can come to Merritt any time of the year to access some of the many lakes, each with their own unique challenges.

DAY TWO: Morning - Go for a treasure hunt • Grab a GPS and Geocache Guide, and take a journey through the city to find hidden treasure deposits. You will be surprised at what you find.

Afternoon – Outdoor entertainment • When the weather is nice, and the sun is shining, listen for some outdoor music. Merritt offers free entertainment throughout the spring and summer. Visit Spirit Square, or Rotary Park to catch some of the family fun and entertainment.

• After a long day of treasure hunting, and singing and dancing with the stars, make sure to visit the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre for a refreshing swim, or relaxing hot tub soak.

Camping Weddings Group Tours & Activities

Find us on

t: line a us On ranch.ca it is V reek

.hatc

www

Open Daily from May 1 to October 1, 2013 Call Toll Free 1.800.782.0922 for More Information A great place to visit this summer and immerse yourself in BC’s history. Costumed characters, gold and gemstone panning, horseshoe pitches, animals galore and real Creamery ice cream!

Original restored buildings from 1860 and newer, wagons and farm equipment.

• Kekuli, Teepee and Cabin Rentals • Spacious Camping Areas Available • Shower & Washroom Facilities • Gift Shop & Licensed Restaurant • Powered RV Sites • Guided Tours of the Roadhouse & Shuswap Village • Stagecoach Ride • Guided Trail Rides on Horseback • Weekend Events & Activities Visit us online to Ànd out more!

Junction of Hwy. 97 & 99, PO Box 878, Cache Creek, BC, V0K 1H0 contact@hatcreekranch.ca • www.hatcreekranch.ca Tel: 250-457-9722 • 1-800-782-0922 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 23

4 Seasons of Fun

Four Seasons of Fun Play golf in the spring, float down the river in the summer, hike in the fall and skate in the winter. No matter what the weather, Merritt offers fun for locals and visitors alike all year round. Located at the heart of the Nicola Valley, Merritt offers an outdoor paradise without foregoing the comforts of the city. Combine this ideal location, with an ideal climate (mild winters with little snowfall and warm, dry summers) and you get a perfect playground.

Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre 2040 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC

250-378-6662

Merritt Convention & Civic Centre 1950 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC

250-378-0349

Nicola Valley Memorial Arena 2075 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC

250-378-4832

24 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Merritt Leisure Services

1950 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC

250-315-1050

Spring Spring Once the snow has melted and the lakes and ground thaw, Merritt offers a new series of activities including golf, fishing, or an evening at the speedway.

VIEWPOINT A popular look-out point is the flagpole above Norgaards Ready Mix. Follow the dirt road in your car, or on foot for a great view of Merritt.

SAILING Merritt and the surrounding area offers many great lakes offering opportunities for sailing and boating. Home of the Kamloops Sailing Association, scenic Nicola Lake is perfect for windsurfing and sailing with its occasional strong winds.

POWDERSHOOT Each year, the Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club hosts an April Fools Easter Weekend Blackpowder Shoot, which attracts people from all over the province. The public is welcome to join the events close to Merritt. The weekend also features a medieval group that wears clothes like people from that era and behaves like them too.

GOLF Golfing usually begins around the middle of April when the courses are completely clear of snow and there is no major water buildup. The golfing season in Merritt is long, as the weather stays warm enough to play a round long into the fall.

MERRITT SPEEDWAY The Merritt Speedway kicks off its season in the spring and continues to the fall. The 3/8-mile semi-banked dirt oval is open to the public and located on Mamit Lake Branch Road.

VOLLEYFEST The Merritt Volleyball Association (MVA) hosts Volleyfest every May featuring hundreds of players competing in both recreational and competitive divisions.

The MVA also runs leagues in both ladies divisions and mixed divisions.

What Kind of Yamaha are you?

Merritt’s Source For Outdoor Adventure!

NICOLA MOTORSPORTS 250-378-2416

2626 Nicola Ave., Merritt, B.C.

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 25

Summer

Summer The temperature in Merritt can reach nearly 40 C in the summer, so while activities abound from picnics to tubing down the river, make sure to incorporate water into your summer fun and keep cool.

SKATEBOARDING

The Merritt Skate Park along Voght Avenue features a concrete big-three set, a curved down ledge, an extension rail, a flat curve, a movable bench and a slam-style pyramid.

EXPLORING THE KETTLE VALLEY TRAILS

The abandoned Kettle Valley Railway corriders offer unparalleled opportunities for exploring for cyclists and hikers alike.

With countless trestles and tunnels, and evironments from cool mountain forests to near desert conditions, the trails have something for everyone from easy day trips to week-long camping trips.

Be sure to check out Dan and Sandra Langford’s book “Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway”.

Did You Know?

Merritt gets an average of 2,030 hours of sunshine each year.

WATER PARK

Merritt features several parks, including a water park that can be found at Rotary Park.

This is a fun place to take the kids on a hot summer day. As you watch the kids run through the spray, you may be tempted to join in. The park also features a playground, river side picnic benches and an open air band shell.

HIKING

There are lots of opportunities for hikers of all abilities in Merritt and the Nicola Valley.

Blessed with rolling hills, many lakes, abundant backroads and fantastic views, the Nicola Valley is truly heaven for hikers.

BIRD WATCHING

Whether it’s Beaver Ranch Flats, Kane Valley Lakes or Nicola Lake, the Nicola Valley offers many great sights for bird watchers.

In fact, a trip from Merritt to Kamloops on Highway 5A features no less than five Ducks Unlimited Wetlands projects.

Merritt Stock Car Association Fun, fast-paced entertainment for the whole family, on one of the last operating dirt tracks in the province of B.C. Racing runs every 3 4 weeks starting the May long weekend right through to the Thanksgiving weekend. During the summer most races are under the lights.

For more information call Lonni at 250-315-0474 or check our Facebook page - Merritt Stock Car Association. You can also send us an e-mail: msca1991@hotmail.com

26 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

RACE SCHEDULE May 18 & 19 - day races June 15 - night race July 13 - night race Aug. 3 & 4 - night races Aug. 24 - night race toy drive Sept. 14 - night race food bank drive Oct. 12 & 13 - day races - Bill John Memorial Invitational RAIN OUT DATES June 16 & Aug. 25

Summer PICNIC

RV PARK

The Claybanks RV Park is located right in the community along the Coldwater River. The park is filled with trees and offers various shaded, large camping areas that can also accommodate tents.

Lions Park, located along the Nicola River, is the place to go for those looking to eat outside in the summer. The destination is also a great spot for those passing through town.

Find more picnic tables at Rotary Park.

BIKING

TUBING

Tubing in Merritt is a summer tradition for many.

Whether people are relaxing at the river, or camping at Claybanks RV Park, the Coldwater and Nicola rivers run right through Merritt and are the perfect places to cool off.

The Merritt Mountain Bike Association was established in 2000 and has helped create better access to the trails in Merritt. The vast trail system offers entertainment for every level of rider.

Visit One of the Largest Mining Operations in the World!

Highland Valley Copper Mine Tours Tours offered three days a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 pm Starting May 23 & Ending August 23

or stop by our Annual Open House • Monday August 5th Regular Mine Tour Duration: 2.5 Hours The guided bus tour showcases Children under the age of various interest points of the 12 are not permitted on the mine site and includes a video daily tours. presentation.

CALL AHEAD HVC is an industrial setting, to reserve your seat. Space is casual dress is recommended: limited to a maximum of 20 pants, runners, and no open persons per tour. toed footwear.

Tour time: 1 pm

Reserve Your FREE Tour Today 250-523-3802 Hwy 97C Logan Lake, BC

Monday, August 5th, 2013 Is our Family Day Open House

Open to all ages with some age restrictions on various tours, the Open House is a day showcasing many aspects of the mine including five different types of tours, many displays and family entertainment

Open House Hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 27

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2012 Merritt Visitor Guide • 29

Itinerary

Suggested Itineraries There is plenty to do throughout the year. Hike the rolling hills, take in the wildlife, or get your picture taken with a real-life cowboy.

Just a day?

•

Grab a lunch to go from a local cafe and toss it in your pack before heading up to any of the area’s scenic trails for a relaxing hike and picnic. The Kettle Valley Railway trails, Kane Valley, and Monck Park all provide well-groomed hiking trails for the outdoor adventurer. For a quick but still rewarding hike — and one you don’t have to leave town for — take a leisurely stroll up to the viewpoint and check out some of Merritt’s sights from a different perspective.

Got two days?

DAY ONE: • •

•

Start the day with a spot of tea at the Baillie House and take in the neighbouring farmers’ market each Saturday morning.

Lace up those walking shoes and embark on one of Merritt’s many walking tours: the Walk of Stars tour (map on page 20), the Heritage Walk (map on page 41, or the Art Walk, between July 1 and August 5 (map available at visitor information centres).

Take in some of Merritt’s indigenous heritage by picking up some locally made bannock and touring the Eagles’ Perch Campus of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, B.C.’s first aboriginal public post-secondary institution.

DAY TWO: •

•

Grab your favourite four-legged compaion and take a photographic journey to the Windy Canyon Hoodoos, or catch a few pictures of the multitudes of colourful birds throughout the area. Keep an eye out for the famous Pileated Woodpecker, with its distinctive red mohawk.

“A lake a day as long as you stay” holds true for the Nicola Valley. Avid anglers can find a number of challenging lakes to fish any time of year.

ffor FAST, COURTEOUS, CO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE call MARIO’S Servicing: Merritt, Kelowna, and Coquihalla Hwy 97C. • All Major Heavy Recoveries • Serving Most Major Autoclubs /Insurance Companies • ICBC Towing • Light & Heavy Towing 250-378-9241 2676 Nicola Ave, Merritt

30 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

• Boosting & Unlocks • Serving All Interior Points • Mechanical, Automotive and Commercial Transport

TF: 1-888-292-1581 -1581

www.marios-towing.com

Fall Fall As the summer turns to fall in late September and the leaves change colour, the activities also change. Go for a run, try fishing, or visit the gun range.

SHOOTING

FISHING

Because Merritt is a prime hunting destination, it only makes sense that there would be a place to practise target shooting. The ‘Range,’ is located approximately 16 kilometres from Merritt. The Nicola Valley Fish and Game club gathers most weekends to take a few shots.

Fall is the second season of the year that offers the best fishing. Summer can often be too hot for fish to be actively seeking food — spring is the other prime season. Around September, the water temperature starts to change and fish are looking to get their mouths around whatever they can find. “A lake a day as long as you stay,” is the local saying that is certainly true around Merritt.

HUNTING

Deer in the fall are a prime age to shoot, and killing them is allowed in this season. Other animals hunted around Merritt include grouse, moose and coyote. Hunters can shoot coyotes year-round because they are a menace to many of the ranchers. Check the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations online for hunting regulations.

JOGGING

Because Merritt’s climate is so mild throughout most of the year, the jogging season extends from the early spring to late fall. Several trails are available in town, but there are also several neighbourhoods that cater to the distance and inclines each jogger prefers.

Did You Know?

The annual mean daily temperature in Merritt is 6.7C.

MILE HIGH RESORT

On beautiful Face Lake 4 Season Resort 4 Season Rates • Fishing • Boat & Kayak Rentals • 14 Housekeeping Cabins • Hunting • Camping • Seasonal Sites Available • Snowmobiling • Ice Skating • Cross-country Skiing • Ice Fishing • Snowshoeing • Monthly Cabin rates available in winter!

email: info@milehighresort.com

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 31

Winter

Winter For the outdoor enthusiast, Merritt is a winter wonderland. Winters are mild, but cold enough to offer many winter activities from cross-country skiing to snowmobiling. If you prefer to stay indoors, visit the curling rink or go ice skating.

CURLING

The Merritt Curling Club hosts men’s, women’s, mixed and senior’s leagues and beginner clinics are available at the beginning of each season. The rink is located next to Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

32 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

PLAY IN THE SNOW

What would winter be without the opportunity to make a snowman, have a snowball fight or make snow angels? Take advantage before the white stuff melts in this mild winter climate.

Winter ICE SKATING

Skating gives you a great excuse to get out of the house. Grab your ice skates and visit the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt’s indoor rink that is open year-round. Visit during a public skate, take some lessons, or join a pick-up hockey game.

HUNTING

Winter hunting in Merritt abounds with opportunities. Hunt for elk, grouse, turkey, coyote and other animals. The hills east of Peterhope Lake are a prime location for deer hunting.

Anyone looking to make a kill should check the seasons with the Ministry.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

A short drive from Merritt, the Kane Valley features more than 50 kilometres of well-mapped ski trails, enough to keep almost any cross-country skier exploring backcountry terrain for days.

The regular cost for skiing the Kane Valley is $7 per day or people can buy an annual pass for $40. A family season pass costs $80.

SNOWSHOEING

The Kane Valley is also full of various hiking trails that transform into snowshoeing trails when covered with snow.

ICE HOCKEY

Need something to do in the evening? Come watch the Cents play hockey. The Nicola Valley Memorial Arena seats approximately 1,000 people and is the home to the Merritt Centennials hockey team, which belongs to the BCHL League. The arena also hosts the Merritt Minor Hockey Association, old-timers hockey, commercial hockey, recreational hockey and First Nations hockey.

ICE FISHING

With cold temperatures at the higher elevations for thick ice coverage, anglers can try their luck at one of the many lakes. Some ice anglers huddle in huts to stay warm, but the temperature is usually warm enough for anglers to bundle up and bring a hot meal to stay warm.Various lakes in the Valley are stocked with fish.

SNOWMOBILING

The rolling hills around Merritt provide a fun destination for people on snowmobiles. Many people set out from the crack of dawn and continue to explore new terrain all day. Others have a regular area they frequent where they know they can find stunning scenery and tracks. Amazing views of the vast landscape is found on the top of some of these peaks.

TRAVEL CENTRE & TRUCK STOP 3999 Airport Road, Merritt, BC

www.wagonwest.com

250-378-2100 • 24 Hour Convenience Store • Elephant Ranch Restaurant • 24 Hour Auto Parts & Accessories Store • FREE Wi-Fi • Greyhound Bus Depot

• Retail Diesel & Gasoline • Propane • Television • High Speed Internet Docking Bays • Private Showers 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 33

Ski Trails - Kane Valley

TURN OFF 18KM FROM MERRIT

LEGEND Road Trail Creek

Corbett Lake

ME N Z I E

M ICU TI LL

VALE

S-O VER

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Lower Second Lake

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This map is sponsored by

#102, 2840 Voght Street, Merritt, B.C.

250-378-6166 Toll Free MOVING REAL ESTATE BC LTD. 1-877-841-2100 www.movingrealestate.ca

34 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

MARKED JUNCTIONS & REST AREAS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Nicklin Ldg Jake's Jcts Skyhigh Ldg Bertha Ldg Aspen Ldg January Ldg Teiffel's Ldg Five Star Jct Buzz Ldg Lunchbox Ldg Tilicum Ldg Indecision Ldg Stock Ldg Panorama Ldg North Pole Jct Harman Lake

Homes tead Lo

R oad

EN

l ey e Va l

A SP

Kan

H SKYHIG

HARMON CUTOFF

R AV I N

E

6

TRAIL LENGTHS (KM) 1.1 3.1 0.7 1.2 2.4 6.4 0.5 4.5 2.1 4.5 1.2 0.8 1.1 2.3 3.9 1.4 0.9 1.2 0.9 1.9

Asp Aspen Chute Cross-over Gulch Harmon Harmon Cutoff Kane Lynx Matthew's Loop Menzies Neil's Valley North Overeasy Raven's Ridge Ravine Skyhigh Sundown Tilicum Vale

42.1

Kilometres

GeoCaching Coordinates GeoCache

Coordinates www.goldtrail.com

Craigmont Mine ....................... GC1TQEP Monck Prov. Park.................... GC1TTW0 Merritt Viewpoint ......................GC1TTVC Pineridge Cemetery ................ GC1TTWA Trinity United Church .................GC1TTXZ Baillie House ........................... GC3P8RM Godey Creek Trails................... GC3PBCZ James Teit ................................ GC3PBD4 Nicola Sub. Agate & Dot .......... GC3PBDF Jesus Garcia ............................ GC3PBDR McLean Brothers ....................GC1TWQN Mary Lafek, Pioneer ................ GC1TTQX Pennask Lake & Esker ..............GC1VCKZ Promontory Lookout ...............GC1TTWQ Clapperton Falls....................... GC1TQE8

Geocaching is a popular activity in Merritt and the surrounding area with many great coordinates and several popular events.

One of the biggest is the Gold Country Poker Run which starts on June 29 in Merritt.

Quilchena ...............................GC3PAMG Salmon Valley......................... GC3PAN2 Paradise Lakes........................ GC3PAM3 Stump Lake ............................. GC3P8MP Trans Canada Trail ...................GC3PANE Guichon Lundbom Grasslands .GC1V1X7 Brookmere...............................GC1V1YV AP Mining Characters .............. GC1TKPX The Smith’s.............................. GC1V1ZA Aspen Grove Mining Camp......GC1TQ48 Stoyoma ................................. GC1V20G Merritt Subdivision ....................GC3PCJ6 Kane Valley Ski Trail ................ GC3PBDY Kentucky-Alleyne Prov. Park .....GC3PBE6 Henry Castilou ......................... GC3PBEG

NK & S .................................... GC3PCEK Tunkwa Lake............................GC1VBVC The Birth of Logan Lake.......... GC1V1WP Logan Lake Pioneers ...............GC1VBWP Transvaal Mine ........................GC1TQFD HVC Mine ................................ GC1TXPX Paska Lake ............................ GC1VNQ7 Joseph Burr - Glossie City.........GC3P97H George Dawson.......................GC3P8N7 Glossy Mountain..................... GC3PCN8 Logan Lake Shovel .................. GC3PCKG Stake Lake Trail........................GC3P9A8 Mimi Falls ...............................GC3Q6XK Bluebird Trail............................ GC3P8K4

Field Guide providers can be found at www.goldtrail.com Available in English, French & German 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 35

Merritt City Map

MERRITT

D. DR

A PANAR

BOY

DR. ST C RE ON

.

AV E

IN E I RV

AVE .

ORD

SPRINGBANK AVE.

BANN ST.

HILTON DR.

SCOTT PL.

.

R CRT MILLE RD. E P R THO

SAGE PL.

6

TELEMON PL. McLEAN PL.

SUNNYVIEW ST.

LANGSTAFF PL.

SAGE ST.

MENZIES ST.

CRANNA PL.

HOUSTON ST.

C o l d w ater River

ORME ST.

CLARKE AVE.

RANSOM AVE. GRANITE PL.

COWLEY ST. DUNCAN ST.

4

DOUGLAS ST.

COLDWATER AVE.

PRIEST AVE.

PRIEST AVE. McMILLAN RD.

PARCEL ST.

DOUGLAS ST.

LAUDER AVE. HOUSTON

JACKSON AVE.

CLAPPERTON AVE.

23

NICOLA AVE.

GRANITE AVE.

COUTLEE AVE. MAY ST.

40 42 26 34 35 21

QUILCHENA AVE.

MARIAN AVE.

LAUDER ST.

CLAPPERTON AVE.

5 VOGHT ST.

BLAIR ST.

CHARTERS ST.

NICOLA AVE.

GARCIA

GRIEG ST.

ST. RIVER

18

MARGARET ST.

GARCIA ST.

LANGLEY

CHAPMAN ST.

CLEASBY ST.

BY ST.

SEYOM CR.

ET ST. WAY SUNS COWAN

AN

McGORAN ST.

MAMETTE AVE.

G ST.

CHAPM

McGORAN PL.

T RON

CLEAS

22

MERRITT AVE.

ARMS

PONDEROSA AV

WILCOX AVE.

MID

POOLEY AVE

DAY

COLDWATER RD.

CHESTNUT AVE. McF AR WAY LANE

Y VALLE RO AD

To Merritt Mountain Music Festival Site

HO UST

ON ST.

To Merritt Mountain Music Festival Site

NEILSON ST.

SPRING ST.

1

CHARTERS ST.

L. MA P

IDG P I NER E D R.

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ALE

ST.

ALE

WILSO N ST.

KSD

MAIN

EXIT #290

ROAD N CH .

R RA CRT

FOR

EY ST.

36 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

COUTLEE AVE.

CHESTNUT LANE

HILL ST.

N ST.

911 911 911 250-378-2242 1-800-663-5555 250-378-9343 250-378-4224 250-378-5634 250-378-0349 250-315-1050 250-378-6662

D.

MORRISL

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3

LI NDLEY CRE EK R

TAYLOR PL.

6 32

1 37

S LIAM WIL CR.

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BIRCH AVE.

ST

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ST.

ETT S

ST.

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SPRUCE AVE.

WALNUT AVE. FIR AVE.

43

.

AVE

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LANGLEY RD.

COLDW ATER AV33 E. RD AVE.

30

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RKS

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PO

BURGESS AVE.

BLACKWELL

36 38 16 7 5 15 17

GRANITE AVE.

31

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RT. ID C

5A

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T.

5

DO N

13 2ND AVE.

QUILCHENA AVE.

GOVERNMENT AVE.

24 Police: Ambulance: Fire: Hospital: Forest Fire Report: Government Agent’s Office: Merritt City Hall: Chamber of Commerce: Visitor Info/Baillie House: Civic Centre: NV Aquatic Centre:

2ND AVE.

14

29

FAIRWAY PL.

20

AW S

GOR

28

1ST AVE.

19

L.

E.

AI R

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MAXWELL AVE.

12

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2

2 9

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8

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.

N D R LO U CR. NTAI IL MOU C AS T R. EASTWOOD RO C MU N S E V 8 A I G L L IS CR. GRE AVE. PARKER DR .

10

www.merritt-chamber.bc.ca

AVE. Schools HICKS 1 Merritt Secondary 2 Bench Elementary 3 Collettville Elementary 4 Diamondvale Elementary 5 Central Elementary 6 Coquihalla Middle School

REI

27

44

Chamber of Commerce

SH

SY

www.city.merritt.bc.ca

BREMNER AVE.

NICHOLSON AVE.

ES

City of Merritt

E

BEL

FOR

V E. O W ER A

GRANDVIEW H WA LT

39

EAG L

ST.

S UN FL

Tourist Information Centre 250-378-2281

HWY #8 TO HWY #97 LOWER NICOLA 10 km LOGAN LAKE 50 km SPENCES BRIDGE 65 km

A

HWY #5 TO KAMLOOPS 87 km

CR

OS DER PON WAY

School District #58 Office Baillie House - Tourist Info Ministry Of Forests Ministry Of Transportation & Highways City Works Yard & Pound Government Offices Coquihalla Centre Mall Pineridge Cemetery Moonshadows RV Park & Campground

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

FAL C

Senior Citizen’s Recreation Ctr. & Museum Archives Lawn Bowling Green Claybanks Campground Rodeo Grounds, Fall Fair Complex Viewpoint Mall Skateboard Park Bike Park Fire Hall Collettville Park Fairley Park Legacy Square Youth Centre Railyard Mall Gillis House Chamber Of Commerce

RS

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

M ET

Nicola Valley Health Centre RCMP Station Airport Bus Depot (in truck stop) City Hall Post Office Civic Centre Bench Tennis Courts & Park Central Park & Kiwanis Play Area Golf Course Central Park Tennis Courts Rotary Park N’Kwala Park Lions Park Curling Rink Nicola Valley Memorial Arena Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre Public Library Recycling Depot Voght Park

GR IM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

C RA WF

Numerical Guide to Merritt’s Facilities

45

CITY MAP

Merritt is known as being at the centre of everything - a city on the way to just about anywhere. A short three hour drive south along Highway 5 takes the traveller to Vancouver, and 45 minutes north takes you to Kamloops.

Head out along the scenic Highway 5A, wind past Nicola Lake, the picturesque Quilchena Douglas Ranches and head out to Kamloops on the old road. To get to the Okanagan, take Highway 97 C and either take the Aspen Grove turn off and head to Princeton or keep on going past Corbett and Courtney Lake and drive to Kelowna. It takes exactly one hour to get into Westbank.

TO MONCK PARK, NICOLA LAKE, QUILCHENA, DOUGLAS LAKE AND KAMLOOPS. HWY #5A TO KAMLOOPS 95 km D.

3

4

LOWER NICOLA

TO CHATAWAY LAKE

Nicola River

CORKLE

KINVIG

ANDERSON

WINNEY

WOODWARD BRENTON

SMITH

PAIGE

MORGAN

CARRRINGTON

DODDING

GUICHON CARRING T ON

LLA

TURNER

HIG

HW AY

8 TO SPENCES BRIDGE

POSTELL ST.

GRAY

Cottonwood Trailer Park SCHINDLER CRES.

MAR S H ALL ROA D

F YA L L

LE

IHA

BAILEY

COY

QU

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Lower Nicola Trailer Park

8 TO MERRITT

This map is sponsored by 5A EXIT #286

JOEYASKA ROAD

5

BARWICK

STERLING ROAD

RT R

?

PEACHLAND 108km PENTICTON 156km PRINCETON 85km KELOWNA 132KM

Tourist Information Center

MOVING REAL ESTATE BC LTD. www.movingrealestate.ca

5 HOPE 115 km VANCOUVER 271 km

#102, 2840 Voght Street, Merritt, B.C.

250-378-6166 Toll Free 1-877-841-2100 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 37

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Merritt City Map Welcome to Merritt

History

History Nestled neatly between hills and rivers of the Nicola Valley, the City of Merritt is still alive and thriving 100 years after incorporation. Built on the backs of hardy pioneers, and the First Nations people who were native to the land, the area has a rich history to celebrate. Take a history walk through Merritt or visit the museum to learn more about what made the area what it is today.

PICTOGRAPHS

HERITAGE WALK

The best way to get a flavour of historic Merritt is to take a self-guided heritage walking tour through the city. Pick up a brochure from the Baillie House (the start of the tour) and stroll through the streets keeping your eyes open for the heritage plaques on buildings.

These plaques are a way for the Merritt Heritage Commission to recognize a building’s historical significance to Merritt. All the buildings are pre-Second World War. The Baillie House (the oldest) was built in 1908, and the Post Office (the youngest) was built in 1939. The tour also features the Trinity United Church, The Tutill House and the Merritt Elks Hall. Enjoy your walk.

Located on the shores of Nicola Lake, Monck Park features many pictographs and depressions left in the ground by pit houses.

To reach the area and discover historical First Nations artificats, take Highway 5A out of town and follow the signs to Monck Park.

To reach the pictographs, walk around the fence at the edge of Monck Park, and look for the white boulder.

""" ! # $

Winter Hours: Summer Hours: 10 am - 3 pm Mon. 9 am - 5 pm Tues. - Sat. Closed Sunday

38 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Did You Know?

First Nations people have lived in the Nicola Valley for approximately 5,000 years.

10 am - 3 pm Mon., Tues., Fri. 10 am - 4 pm Wed., Thurs.

Closed Saturday, Sunday

History MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

Located at 1675 Tutill Court, the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives transports visitors to an earlier era to experience its mining, ranching and logging exhibits. There are also displays of the Valley’s medical history, a parlour that displays the elegance of earlier times, and the clothing and tools used by early settlers. View artifacts from renowned early citizens like James Teit, worldrecognized anthropologist, and Harry Priest, a photographer who chronicled life in the Nicola Valley for decades. Archives are also available to researchers. The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours from May to the September long weekend.

HISTORIC BAILLIE PROPERTY

Open the door to the Baillie House and step back in time. Cosam Bigney built the house for his English bride-tobe, but she fell in love with another man on the voyage and never arrived in Merritt.

Bigney never married but lived in the house with his business partner until blacksmith Melville Baillie pur-

24 years

24 years

CITY FURNITURE:

HOME HARDWARE:

2025 Coutlee Ave., Merritt 250-378-2332

1701 Voght St., Merritt 250-378-4215

chased it in 1938. In 1998, the Nicola Valley Heritage Committee acquired the building as a heritage site.

The property hosts garage sales, garden tours and summer teas. Grounds are open to the public for picnics and tours start mid-May. This is also Merritt’s downtown tourist information centre.

108 years

2090 Granite Ave. 250-378-4241 www.merrittherald.com

MERRITT HERITAGE

WALKING TOUR 1

1. Baillie House 2250 Voght St.

1908

9

4

2

3

2. Grimmett House 2326 Garcia St.

3. J.J. Gillis House 2276 Garcia St.

1910

1920’s

11

10

4. Dr. Austin Gillis House 2101 Nicola Ave.

1920

12

9. Armstrong 10. Coldwater Hotel 11. Trinity United Church 12. United Church Manse Department Store 1999 Quilchena Avenue 1899 Quilchena Avenue 1887 Quilchena Avenue 2025 Quilchena Avenue

1910

17

1914

18. Hyland Hall 1776 Nicola Ave

1907

26

25. McGoran House 1502 River Street

26. Merritt Drill Hall / Elks Hall 1702 Coldwater Ave

1910

19. Gabara House 1740 Nicola Ave.

1915

20. Tutill House 1937 Nicola Avenue

1906

27

25

1921

20

19

18

17. Merritt Court House 1840 Nicola Avenue

1910

1910

28

27. Eastwood House 1402 Coldwater Ave.

1917

28. Collett Ranch House 1415 Collett Street

1916

Many of Merritt’s heritage homes and buildings have been restored, renovated and upgraded since these photos were taken, which show the country charm of their original facades.

40 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

e r o l p Ex

the historic past of Merritt

5

6

5. Grand Hotel 2099 Garcia Street

1909

7

6. Methodist Church 2113 Granite Avenue

1909

14

13

13. Middlesboro House 1849 Quilchena Ave.

1907

21

8

7. Adelphi Hotel 2101 Quilchena Avenue

1913

1908

15. Warren House 1888 Granite Ave

16. St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman Street

1910

1913

23

22

1920’s

16

15

14. Gordon House 1784 Granite Ave

8. Rex Theater 2037 Quilchena Avenue

24

21. Jackson Building 2015 Voght Street

22. Post Office 2040 Voght Street

23. Hosp. Aux. Thrift Shop 1803 Voght Street

1910

1940

1926

24. Yuen On Lung Store 1798 Voght Street

1928

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 41

Industry

Industry Merritt is home to both primary and secondary production in the forestry and mining industries. While forestry and mining have traditionally underpinned the resource-rich Nicola Valley’s economy, today, industry in the Merritt area provides service on the leading edge of these ever-evolving industries.

MINING

FORESTRY

Secondary production and tertiary industry development are the key components of the economy in Merritt. Value-added wood products and the use of waste wood cogeneration energy production are important elements for future development and diversification.

Did You Know?

The town of “Forksdale� was changed to Merritt in 1911, honouring mining engineer William Hamilton Merritt.

Merritt is the service centre for the various copper, gold, and silver operations in the region. These secondary support industries play an important role in the further development of the primary mineral development in the area. Merritt is a hub for the mining industry, with the high-grade Huldra Silver mineral exploration company and Canada’s largest open-pit copper mine, the Highland Valley Copper Mine, nearby.

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2761 Forksdale Ave, Merritt Phone: 250-378-1818 42 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

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ALPHA SHOP: t 1PPMFZ "WFOVF DESIGN PARTS: t .D'BSMBOF 8BZ www.alpha-weld.com TOLL FREE:

Industry Industry Diversification of industry is the cornerstone of development, and Merritt’s industrial diversification represents a range of business opportunities, including high technology, light manufacturing, small, computer-based companies and graphic designers, the retail and accommodation sectors, and tourism.

Merritt is building an economy grounded in historical competitive advantage. The evolution of industry includes the development of a high tech cogeneration energy facility that uses the byproduct of wood manufacturing to produce power, and BC Hydro’s upgrade to the electrical grid will double available power to the system.

Merritt’s industrial service industry remains critical for support including transportation, distribution, or technical trades. Entrepreneurial development and the creative class are growing and the tourism sector is flourishing as a result of Merritt’s status as the official Country Music Capital of Canada.

Nicola Valley Radiator

Big or small we fix them all!

• Logging, mining trucks & automotive • Air conditioning & coolant flushing • Full service & repair of air conditioning units • Recore radiators • Repair radiators • Custom built radiators • Heater cores: new and recore • Flushing (power)

Free Estimates

Mesabi radiator authorized repair facility & sales. Air conditioning mobile unit.

Shuttle Service

NO DISTANCE TOO FAR, TO SERVE YOUR NEEDS! No heat?

Try Flushing BEFORE REPLACING

2775 Marian Avenue, Merritt, B.C.

250-378-1366 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 43

Itinerary

Suggested Itineraries There is plenty to do throughout the year. Hike the rolling hills, take in the wildlife, or get your picture taken with a real-life cowboy.

Just a day?

•

Stop by the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives and step back into the Wild West. Learn about Merritt and the Nicola Valley’s extensive and fascinating aboriginal, industrial, and ranching history with displays of local treasures and even peruse archived copies of Merritt’s changing media landscape over the last century.

Got two days?

DAY ONE • Set your sights on the sails at Nicola Lake. The crystal clear waters of the largest lake in the Nicola Valley are inviting for sailors of all skill levels. For the more experienced, the Kamloops Sailing Club holds competitions during the summer, and rents boats and provides training for less-experienced visitors. Opportunities for fishing, canoeing, windsurfing, and swimming at the sandy beaches round out the lake’s many recreational uses.

DAY TWO • Grab your adventurous spirit and a mountain bike and get out to explore some of the area’s mountain biking trails. Head up behind the B.C. Visitor Centre at the junction of Highways 5 and 97C to take on rides along Godey Creek, the grasslands, and the cheekily-named Too Much Information trail.

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMBASSADOR PROGRAM www.bcambassador.com The mandate of the program is to:

Candidates are judged on:

Nurture provincial leaders of the future Promote and assist with the expenses of postsecondary education Forge links of friendship and understanding throughout British Columbia communities

Promotion of Tourism of their Community General knowledge of British Columbia (including current events) Personal Interviews with the Judges Presentation Skills Public Speaking Talent

Acacia Schmietenknop {Kamloops} Carley Henniger {Trail} Mariah Morris {Castlegar}

The British Columbia Ambassador Program began in 1999; it is an annual event that takes place in Merritt, BC, August 16th & 17th. The program is open to any young man or woman age 16 to 24, who has held an Ambassador/Royal title in British Columbia. The British Columbia Ambassador team representing our youth travels throughout our province, promoting our mandate.

EDUCATION MOTIVATION SELF-ESTEEM For Ticket Information Please Contact: Michael Hume 44 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Ph: 1-888-755-2304 ext. 211 951 Main Street, Lytton, BC.

Pi nerid ge

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St

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Flagpole (1.5 km)

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Colletville/Voght Park (3.2 km)

Ho us

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Mer rit

Cla pp

Coldwater River/Voght St (3.4 km)

Sunset St

Lindley

Ta y lo

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Morrissey St

Hill St

Av e

rA ve

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strong St Arm

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City of Merritt Walking Routes

C o ld

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Walking routes developed by the Rotary Club of Merritt Sunrise in conjunction with the City of Merritt. The Rotary Club of Merritt Sunrise acknowledges the assistance of the Province of British Columbia 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 45

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Rotary Map

Take a walk daily and keep your heart happy and healthy.

Dining

Dining Bring your appetite to Merritt, where local cuisine meets international flavour. Merritt’s diverse population means a host of dining options, including some inspired by the ranching and farming legacy in the Nicola Valley.

INTERNATIONAL

As a microcosm of some of B.C.’s larger urban centres, Merritt has all the variety of bigger cities without the wait times or even the need for reservations. Spice it up with Indian food, feast on buffet-style Chinese cuisine, or sharpen those chopsticks skills to indulge in Japanese food, located only a short distance from where you are — wherever you are in Merritt. Coffee shops, pizza parlours, and comfort pub food round out the delicious dining options in Merritt.

LOCAL

Local farms and area ranches offer a wide variety of fresh, organic take-home produce and meat products for the at-home chef. The Nicola Valley Farmers’ Market and Nicola Valley Produce provide a one-stop shop for fresh fruit and vegetable needs, and Footprints Harvest even offers home-delivered organic produce. Plus, the mere aroma of fresh-baked bread and goodies emanating from Merritt’s family-owned favourite lunch spots is enough to tantalize any palate.

COLDWATER HOTEL

Serving Merritt Since 1908

-1022 - 315 250

Come up & check out all your favorite sports

ENJOY LU NC H & VI EW TH E NI CO LA VALLEY ON OU R OUTD OO R PATI O!

olf Way, Merritt (T ake Exit 2 3701 De W 90 Off Hwy 5)

COME IN AND TRY OUR DAILY SPECIALS Famous Home-made Meals! and our

!

Formerly known as the

Call us for information on Fundraising or Special Occasions

46 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

1901 Voght Street Restaurant: 250-378-4543 Pub: 250-378-5711 OfďŹ ce: 250-378-2821

OLD BARLEY MARKET Cold Beer, Wine & Liquor Store

Large selection of imported cigars OPEN: 9 AM - 11 PM DAILY 1975 Voght Street

250-378-8859

5A DINER Restaurant

eat fresh.

BEST BURGERS IN TOWN! Huge portions!

2.6” wide x 3.2” high ad

2.6” wide x 3.2” high ad OPEN DAILY: 7am - 10 pm

Great Prices!

Daily Specials!

80 seats (beautiful open surrounding)

3999 Airport Road, Merritt, BC at the Wagon West Travel Plaza

Second Location

250 - 378 - 2100

Petit Café

3623 DeWolf St.

French Cuisine

DIANE

378-3646

Merritt, B.C.

2190A Voght St.

Have a sit down dinner, take-out order or have it delivered.

Lunch Buffet: Mon. - Fri.: 12 - 2:00 pm Dinner Buffet: Fri. to Sun.: 5 - 8 pm

2.6” wide x 3.2” high ad

Petit Café Diane’s specialty is good old-fashion home cooking of the owner & chef, Diane Bouchard.

Famous for our Crêpes!

Come in to try more delectable dishes Tuesday to Thursday: 7 am - 3 pm Friday & Saturday: 7 am - 4 pm

• Freshly baked bread • Fresh food • Low fat • Great tasting • Custom made

2101 Quilchena Ave. Merritt, B.C. 250-315-5613

2.6” wide x 3.2” high ad Business Hours Mon. to Fri.: 11am - 9 pm Saturday: Noon - 8 pm Sunday: 4 - 8 pm

Canada Cafe Canadian & Chinese Restaurant

250-378-5551

2055 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC

• Gourmet Pizza • Oven Baked Subs bs • Wraps • Wings • Calzones • Salads

NEW

ade Homesm a t Pa Now le Availab

and much, much more!!

Wir Wireless Wi debit available

WE DELIVER! Delivery after 4 pm Phone: 250.378.5154 • 2190 Voght Street - Merritt, BC

ONLINE ORDERING AVAILABLE www.yakijoesmerritt.com

Your Hometown Hospitality Specialists + Best Food in Town + FREE + Extensive Wine List Find us on

www.grandpubandgrill.com

SHOW Your Hotel/Motel Key to get a GRAND Discount *Changes per month

Best Western EconoLodge Ramada Super 8

2099 Garcia Street • 250-378-4618 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 47

Accommodations

Accommodation Would you like to pitch your tent under the trees by the river or hook up your dream RV in a fully serviced park? Perhaps you prefer the comfort of a luxury mattress in a quiet, economical motel, breakfast included. How about a stay in a cozy bed and breakfast with a soothing hot tub soak? However you choose to rest at the end of a fun-filled day, Merritt can accommodate you.

HOTELS

COUNTRY GETAWAY

Merritt hotels and motels include familiar chains and unique boutique hotels, which offer a variety of room sizes and amenities. Many venues have nearby eateries and some offer complimentary continental breakfast. If you’re travelling for business, you will find you can sleep, eat, and meet in a single complex and work from the comfort of your room with internet access.

MERRITT HERALD

Spend your time at a bed and breakfast located only 12 minutes from the city, or get the full country experience by staying at a working guest ranch, or historical landmark hotel.

CAMPING

Stay at an RV park within walking distance of Merritt’s downtown core, or venture a little further into the wilderness and stay at one of the many campgrounds only a short distance from the city.

EDITION

Did You Know?

Don’t miss an edition.

The first Coldwater Hotel was built in 1907. Two years later, in 1909, a new Coldwater Hotel was built on the opposite side of the street.

Check out the Online Edition at

www.merrittherald.com

Claybanks RV Park • LLarge sites • Pull throughs • RV storage WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN AMENITIES

H Heatedd washrooms h • Sani station • Handicap toilets

Your hosts: Jack and Rosemary McNeil

• Sh Showers • Gift shop on-site

Down by the River

OPEN

• Recreation building with amenities for large gatherings • Golf Discounts available for two local courses YEAR ROUND Monthly Rates • 44 service sites and 20 tent sites • Reservations required for the winter time

Phone: (250) 378-6441

48 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Check out our Virtual Tour on-line: www.claybanksrv.com

Fax: (250) 378-6444

Quilchena HOTEL & RESTAURANT

• 14 Comfortable Units • Low Rates Guaranteed • Movie Channels & Wireless Internet • Lots of Parking • Close to Downtown

2677 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC

TOLL FREE 1-877-378-6899

QUILCHENA HOTEL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1908 & OFFERS VISITORS A STORY LIKE NO OTHER We offer: 15 Antique Appointed Rooms, 80 Seat Banquet Room, Dining Room, Parlour, Garden Patio, Saloon.

20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A

250-378-2753

hotel@quilchenahotel.com

• 1 & 2 Bedroom Suites • Kitchenettes • 24 HR Service •10% Seniors’ Discounts • 10% Discount to BCAA/CAA/AAA Members 2276 Nicola Rd. Merritt, BC

www.coppervalleymotel.net coppervalley@hotmail.ca

Phone: 250-378-9214 TOLL FREE 1-866-378-9214

• Located next to the arena, curling rink, aquatic centre and convention centre • One or two bedroom suites including kitchenettes and living room.

• Corporate rates • Conference room • Voice mail and wireless internet

2201 Voght St., Box 878 Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8

Front Desk: 250-378-4291 Fax: 250-378-8819

RESERVATIONS: 1-888-828-8828

ALL SEASONS MOTEL • Ai Air C Conditioned diti d • Aff Affordable d bl Rates • Smoking or Non-Smoking • Cable TV & FREE Movies • Daily, Weekly or Monthly Rates • Special Rates for Truckers!

2652 Nicola Ave. Merritt BC

250-378-2352

• 33 Deluxe Units Including 18 Kitchen Units • FREE Wireless Internet • Cable TV • Laundry Facilities • Air Conditioned Rooms •Smoking & Non-smoking Rooms • Free Local Calls •All rooms include: fridges, microwaves, coffee & tea

3463 Voght St. Merritt, BC sportsmanmotel@yahoo.ca

TOLL FREE 1-800-663-6868

Year-round Recreation, Fun and Relaxation!

RANCHLAND VILLA MOTEL • New Double & Queen Sized Beds • 1 Bdrm Suites • Kitchenettes • Complimentary Coffee & tea • Flat Screen TV’s •Pet Friendly • Cable TV & Movie Channels •Wireless Internet

Ph: 250-378-2140 Fax: 250-378-2049 2379 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC ranchlandvilla@uniserve.com

Merritt, BC All amenities available.

Also offers long term winter stays.

Call: 250-315-2267 or 1-888-344-2267 e-mail: info@moonshadows.ca 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 49 2012

50 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 51

Conference & Event Planning

Conference and Event Planning

Merritt’s multiple facilities are as diverse as your event planning needs. From the scenic setting of a rural golf course to the convenience of a central conference centre, finding a place to gather is a cinch in Merritt.

TRADE SHOWS

CONCERTS

Whether your special interest exhibition event is big or small, Merritt has a room that can fit your needs, from the Olde Courthouse Art Gallery, which features art exhibits and hosts receptions, to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, which can be rented for special events, including high school graduation.

Spirit Square in downtown Merritt boasts a beautifully designed outdoor stage and the perfect place to play in the spring and summer. For an intimate, indoor experience, local hotels offer listening rooms, and Merritt’s cosy coffee shops can accommodate live performances.

Live your Retirement Years like you are on a Permanent Vacation

The Florentine

COME AND TOUR WHAT COULD BE YOUR NEW HOME • One and Two Bdrm suites with balconies • All Home Cooked Meals, plus snacks prepared by Red Sealed Chef • Weekly Housekeeping • Laundry Facilities • Hair Salon & Spa • Full Activities/Social Program Daily • Respite Care • In-House 24-hour, Call System (pendants, wall alarms) • Maintenance

• Billiards room Lounge • In-House Wellness area with private Program for beverage cabinets scheduled and • Extra Secure Storage unscheduled needs Locker in basement/ • Library / Chapel / Arts Underground Parking and Crafts Room / • Guest Suites Exercise Room • Reading area with • All Utilities Included Àreplace / Lounge Prices starting at with 58” Plasma TV • Movie Room with /month theater seating Single Occupancy • Computers with internet access & /month casual TV 42” Plasma

1,980 $ 2,480

$

Couple

Join our residents and enjoy a longer retirement. 250-378-5300 Contact Linda 52 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

Conference & Event Planning CONFERENCES

WEDDINGS

Because of its convenient location, Merritt is often a meeting place for business people, and the city offers plenty of diverse settings for conferences and meetings. The Merritt Civic Centre hosts annual functions as well as special events, and has several spacious rooms available that can be configured for your use.

Conference rooms are also available to rent at some local hotels. The lecture theatre at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology also provides an ideal location for community events, including seminars, plays, and movies.

When it comes to planning for a wedding, it’s all about location, location, location. The Merritt Civic Centre provides a full, modern kitchen and an auditorium that can hold hundreds of guests for maximum wedding fun. The Quilchena Hotel offers a more classic experience with its majestic turn-of-the-century hotel and breathtaking vistas of nearby Nicola Lake and the Quilchena Golf Course. For a little romantic nostalgia, the historic Baillie Property provides a quaint and picturesque backdrop for your special celebrations.

CONCERTT / AUDITORIUM CONCERT AUDITO AUDITO A DITORIU DITORIUM ORIUM RIUM M

WEDDINGS DDINGS / AUDITO A AUDITORIUM UDITORIU UDITORIUM

KITCHEN

MERRITT CIVIC CENTRE RATES Location

BUSINESS CONFERENCE /

Entire Facility Full Auditorium East Auditorium (Lrg. Side) West Auditorium (Sm. Side) Room 1 (Small Room) Room 4 (Med. Room) Room 2 & 3 (Lrg. Rooms) Foyer Kitchen –With Auditorium Kitchen –Without Auditorium

MEETING ROOM 3

Seating Cap.

Per Hour Rate

Per Day Rate

520 330 190 33 40 60/Room (wall opens up)

$105.00* $75.00* $41.25* $37.50* (Min. 2 hrs) $37.50* (Min. 2 hrs) $56.25* (Min. 2 hrs)

$750.00* $525.00* $375.00* $206.25* $75.00* $75.00* $112.50* Each

(Chairs Only)

$56.25* (Min. 2 hrs)

$112.50* $56.25* $75.00*

LOCATION: 1950 Mamette Avenue Contact the Civic Centre to book your special event at 250-315-1050 or email: jetchart@merritt.ca Fax: 250-378-4205 • Box 189 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8

Face book us at Merritt Civiccentre to check out some of our events and pictures. * Prices are subject to change.

TRADE TRAD ADE SHOW SH S OW O M MEETI MEETING EETING EETI NG G ROOM ROOM OOM O

EVENT/AUDITORIUM

BUSINESS HOURS: Monday to Friday 9 am - 5 pm

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 53

Clubs & Organizations Clubs & Organizations MUSIC & ARTS Merritt Community Choir Ellen Nast: 50-378-9899 N.V. Community Arts Council Chelsea Werrun: 250-378-6515 N.V. Community Band James Clarke: 250-378-9894 N.V. Film Society Cathy Starr: 250-378-3974 N.V. Quilters Guild Ellen Maclaren: 250-378-8199 Sagebrush Spinners and Weavers Bev Scafe: 250-378-2787 Valley Visual Artists Fran Murchy: 250-378-4230 bfholdings@telus.net SENIOR GROUPS/ACTIVITIES Merritt & District Senior Assoc.

Phylis Riley: 250-378-3763 Merritt Seniors’ Bingo Phylis Riley: 250-378-2225 Merritt Seniors’ Carpet Bowling Rose Muldowan: 250-378-4139 Merritt Seniors’ Crafts Bev Stanich: 250-378-2536 Merritt Seniors’ Floor Curling Kathy Jackson: 250-378-4732 SPORTS & FITNESS Merritt Dance Society Linda Sanford: 250-378-6109 Merritt and District Tennis Club Diane Quinn: 250-378-4501 Merritt Barbarians Rugby Club Ryan Reid: 250- 378-7470 Merritt Bowlers League Ewan Turner: 250-378-5252 Merritt Curling Club

Club Office: 250-378-4423 merrittcurling.ca Merritt Lawn Bowling Club Alex Mackinnon: 250-378-4091 Merritt Golf and Country Club 250-378-9414 Merritt Minor Hockey Assoc.

Club Phone: 250-378-4044 Merritt Minor Softball Missy Stewart: 250-378-8101 (Days) or 250-378-9635 (Nights) Merritt Mountain Bike Assoc. www.merrittmountainbiking.com merrittbiking@yahoo.ca Merritt Slo-Pitch merrittmixedslopitch@gmail.com Merritt Otters Swim Club Amanda Carmichael: 250-378-3480 merrittotters@hotmail.com Merritt VolleyBall Assoc.

Dave Finch: 250-378-5464 merrittvolleyballassociation.com Merritt Youth Soccer Assoc info@merrittyouthsoccer.com Nicola Nordic Ski Club John & Kate Anderson: 250-378-9674 N.V. Minor Lacrosse Assoc.

Ron Hartwig: 250-378-1519 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS BC Visitor’s Centre 250-315-1342 Cadet Core, 950 Rocky Mnt. Rangers (Hall) 250-378-9485 Conayt Friendship Society Office 250-378-5107

Canadian Mental Health Assoc.

778-220-3471 www.cmha.bc.ca Girl Guides of Canada (Brownies & Sparks) 1-800-565-8111 www.bc-girlguides.org Gold Country Geocaching 1-877-453-9467 www.goldtrail.com Joyce Perrie: 250-378-4768 Hello BC: 1-800-435-5622 High School Rodeo Association Elaine Gill: 250-378-6827 N.V. Transportation Society Contact: 250-378-4080 www.busonline.ca Merritt Flying Club Tom Fox: 250-378-7379 Merritt Centennials Booster Club Betty Doberstein: 250-378-6940 Merritt Little Britches Rodeo Elaine Gill: 250-378-6827 Merritt Model Railway Club Mike Goetz: 250-378-3632 Merritt Navy League Corp Debra Raymond: 250-378-6781 nlccventures@gmail.com Merritt Search & Rescue Dave McCauley: 250-3783929/7296 Merritt Snowmobile Club Kathy Senio: 250-315-1082 Merritt Stock Car Assoc. www.merrittstockcarassociation. webs.com Merritt Toastmasters merritt.freetoasthost.net Nicola District Hospice Society

Gillian Sanford: 250-280-4040 N.V. Cruisers Al James: 250-378-7402 N.V. Explorers Club Terry Frizzell: 250-378-5190 N.V. Fall Fair Assoc.

Kathy Reimer: 250-378-5925/9929 N.V. Fish and Game Club Paul Komonoski: 250-378-4904 N.V. Kennel Club Linda Carmichael: 250-378-9967 Nicola Naturalist Society Alan Burger: 250-378-2468 www.nicolanaturalists.ca N.V. Pony Club Val Edgell: 250-315-0337 N.V. Rodeo Association Elaine Gill: 250-378-6827 N.V. Women’s Institute June McLeod: 250-378-5225 Royal Canadian Legion Jan Oswald: 250-378-5631 Rotary Club of Merritt Chris Walder: 250-378-5133 Rotary Club of Merritt, Sunrise Rich Hodson: 250-378-6794 Scouts Canada (Scouts, Cubs & Beavers) Shawna Perkins: 250-315-0070 Vintage Car Club (Merritt Chapter) Al James: 250-378-7402 Teen Centre Stacy Wormell: 250-315-9581 stacy@askwellness,ca The Merritt Elks Club 250-378-4656 The Knights of Columbus Lee Mack: 250-378-1848

Places of Worship ST. MICHAEL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH 250-378-3772 Corner of Granite Ave. & Chapman St., Merritt, BC SCW’EXMX ANGLICAN PARISH 250-378-4320 • 28 Neale Road, Shulus, Merritt, BC SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 250-378-2919 Corner of Blair St & Jackson Ave., Merritt, BC ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS 250-378-2919 Corner of Blair St. & Jackson Ave., Merritt, BC TRINITY UNITED CHURCH 250-378-5735 Corner of Quilchena Ave. & Chapman St., Merritt, BC NICOLA VALLEY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 250-378-9502 •1950 Maxwell Ave., Merritt, BC N.V. NATIVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 250-378-2619 • 1950 Maxwell Ave., Merritt, BC

54 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

MERRITT BAPTIST CHURCH 250-378-2464 Corner of Coutlee Ave., & Orne St., Merritt, BC FAMILY WORSHIP CENTRE 250-378-1965 • 2054 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH 250-378-2911 • 2990 Voght St., Merritt, BC NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 250-378-4534 • 1938 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 250-378-9086 • 2190 Granite Ave., Merritt, BC THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 250-378-5503 • 2451 Spring Bank., Merritt, B.C. JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES KINGDOM HALL 250-378-6343 • 1505 Sunset Rd., Merritt, BC MERRITT SIKH SOCIETY 250-378-2445 • 2399 Chapman St., Merritt, BC

2012 Merritt Visitor Guide • 55

Directory ACCOMMODATIONS ADELPHI HOTEL 250-378-9905 2101 Quilchena Ave., Merritt ALL SEASONS MOTEL 250-378-2352 2652 Nicola Ave. Merritt BC BEST WESTERN NICOLA INN TF: 1-800-663-2830 4025 Walter Street, Merritt E-mail: nicolainn@telus.net Website: www.bestwestern.com CLAYBANKS RV PARK Phone: (250) 378-6441 Fax: (250) 378-6444 www.claybanksrv.com COPPER VALLEY MOTEL TF: 1-866-378-9214 2276 Nicola Rd. Merritt, BC www.coppervalleymotel.net ECONOLODGE TF: 1-888-828-8828 2201 Voght St. Merritt, BC www.econolodge.com HISTORIC HAT CREEK RANCH Historic Hat Creek Ranch Junct. Of Hwy 97 & 99, Cache Creek, BC 1-800-782-0922

KNIGHTS INN TF: 1-866-658-9244 2702 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC knightsinnmerritt@shaw.ca www.knightsinnmerritt.ca

RAMADA LIMITED TF: 1-800-353-3571 3571 Voght St. Merritt, BC ramadamerritt@telus.net www.ramada.com

MERRITT DESERT INN 2350 Voght St. Merritt, BC merrittdesertinn@telus.net www.merrittdesertinn.com

ROAD RUNNER MOTEL Ph: 250-378-4201 2799 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC

MILE HIGH RESORT TF: 1-866-371-2606 Between Merritt & Kamloops www.milehighresort.com MOON SHADOWS RV PARK & CAMPGROUND Call: 250-315-2267 or 1-888-344-2267 e-mail: info@moonshadows.ca NICOLA RANCH 250-378-7993 TF: 1-888-708-7388 7 kms North of Merritt on Hwy 5A towards Nicola Lake.

PRINCE MOTEL TF: 1-877-378-6899 2677 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC QUILCHENA HOTEL & RESTAURANT 250-378-2753 20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A hotel@quilchenahotel.com

RANCHLAND VILLA MOTEL Ph: 250-378-2140 Fax: 250-378-2049 2379 Nicola Ave. Merritt, BC ranchlandvilla@uniserve.com SPORTSMAN MOTEL TF: 1-800-663-6868 3463 Voght St. Merritt, BC sportsmanmotel@yahoo.ca SUPER 8 MOTEL TF:1-866-500-4938 3561 Voght St. Merritt, BC super8merritt@telus.net THE LODGE 250-378-0424 2751 Nicola Ave., Merritt, BC TRAVELODGE TF: 1-800-578-7878 3581 Voght St. Merritt, BC travelodgemerritt@telus.net

FRANK’S MECHANICAL SERVICE OLD OR NEW WE HAVE THE EXPEREINCE TO REPAIR THEM ALL • Tune Ups • Brakes • Exhaust • Suspension • Lube/Oil •Radiator Service • Shocks & Struts • Air Conditioning Service

2026 Mamette Avenue 56 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

250-378-1322

Directory ARTS & CULTURE NICOLA VALLEY COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 1840 Nicola Ave., Merritt, BC 250-378-6515 www.nvartscouncil.com NICOLA VALLEY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES 1675 Tutil Court, Merritt, BC 250-378-4145 www.nicolavalleymuseum.org

AUTOMOTIVE CANADIAN TIRE Phone: 250-378-1818 2761 Forksdale Ave, Merritt, BC

MERRITT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2058 Granite Ave., Merritt, BC 250-378-5634

CONVENTION CENTRE

EDUCATION NVIT Merritt Campus 250-378-3300 Vancouver Campus 604-602-9555 TF:1-877-682-3300 www.nvit.ca

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE DAN ALBAS, MP Toll Free: 1-800-665-8711 www.danalbas.com

NICOLA VALLEY RADIATOR 250-378-1366 2775 Marian Avenue Merritt, BC

ENTERTAINMENT

OLD BARLEY MARKET Cold Beer, Wine & Liquor Store 1975 Voght St., Merritt, BC 250-378-8859

COMMUNITY GOLD COUNTRY www.goldtrail.com

BRITISH COLUMBIA AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Ph: 1-888-755-2304 ext. 211 951 Main Street, Lytton, BC. www. bcambassador.com HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER 250-523-3307 Hwy 97C Logan Lake, BC MERRITT SPEEDWAY Track: 250-378-3520 Office: 250-378-5591 NICOLA VALLEY PRO RODEO www.nicolavalleyprorodeo.com

GOLF COURSES MERRITT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 250-378-9414 1450 Juniper Drive, Merritt, BC www.merrittgolf.com

Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce

OASIS NATURAL HEALTH BODY AND MIND 250-315-5202 2952 Clapperton Ave., Merritt, BC

MERRITT CONVENTION & CIVIC CENTRE 250-378-0349 2250 Voght St., Merritt, BC

KAL-TIRE Phone: 250-378-5141 2601 Nicola Ave., Merritt, BC

COLD BEER WINE & LIQUORE STORE

HEALTH

QUILCHENA GOLF COURSE & RV PARK 250-378-2923 20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A clubhouse@quilchenaonthelake.com

• Award-Winning Stylists • Nails • Tanning & Spa Packages • Make-up Artistry • Clothing & Accessories

2040 Granite Ave. (250) 378-5558 INFORMATION CENTRES BRITISH COLUMBIA VISITOR CENTRE @ MERRITT. Phone: 250-315-1342 Exit 286, Junction Hwys 5 & 97C DISTRICT OF LOGAN LAKE TOURIST INFORMATION Phone: 250-523-6322 Toll free: 1-800-331-6495 E-mail: tourism@loganlake.ca www.loganlake.ca MERRITT VISITOR INFORMATION @ BAILLIE HOUSE 250-378-0349 2202 Voght Street, Merritt BC bailliehouse@shaw.ca

PROFESSIONAL Carrie Ware & Company Inc. Chartered Accountant Firm 1964 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC 250-378-2215

REAL ESTATE CENTURY 21 MOVING REAL ESTATE BC LTD. Phone: 250-378-6166 Toll Free: 1-877-841-2100 Fax: 250-378-4344 E-mail: info@movingrealestate.ca Web: www.movingrealestate.ca #102 - 2840 Voght Street, Merritt

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 57

Directory REAL ESTATE

RECREATION

PROPERTY GUYS 2001 Voght., Merritt Phone: 250-280-8888 www.propertyguys.com

NICOLA MOTORSPORTS 250-378-2416 2626 Nicola Ave., Merritt, B.C.

ROYAL LEPAGE MERRITT 1988 Quilchena Ave., Merritt Phone: 250-378- 6181 Fax: 250-378-6184 www.royallepage.ca/merritt www.realtor.ca www.merrittrealestateservices.com

SHOPPING CITY FURNITURE - MERRITT 250-378-2332 2025 Coutlee Ave., Merritt COUNTRY BUG BOOKS & GIFTS 2049 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC 250-378-1302

Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 5:30 pm Saturday 10:30 am - 4 pm

2075 - Quilchena Ave. Ph: 250-280-2223

HOME HARDWARE - MERRITT 250-378-5817 2051E Voght St., Merritt POST’S FRESH MEATS & DELI 250-378-4215 1701 Voght St., Merritt QUILCHENA GENERAL STORE 250-378-2753 20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A store@quilchenahotel.com WORK N’ PLAY 250-378-5217 Railyard Mall, Downtown Merritt

58 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide

NICOLA VALLEY AQUATIC CENTRE 250-378-6662 2040 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA 250-378-4832 2075 Mamette Ave., Merritt, BC NICOLA VALLEY OUTDOORS 2052 Nicola Ave., Merritt, BC 250-387-9211 www.nicolavalleyoutdoors.com

RESTAURANTS

YAKI JOE’S 250-378-5154 2190 Voght St., Merritt, BC

RECYCLING

Merritt Return-It Depot Full Refund On All Acceptable Bottles & Cans ELECTRONIC DROP-OFF (250)

280-2359

5A RESTAURANT 3999 Airport Road, Merritt, BC 250-378-2100

RETIREMENT HOMES

CANADA CAFE Canadian & Chinese Restaurant 250-378-5551 2055 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC

RV PARTS & ACCESSORIES

COLDWATER HOTEL Restaurant: 250-378-4543 Pub: 250-378-5711 Office: 250-378-2821 1901 Voght Street GAME ON! SPORTS BAR & GRILL 3701 deWolf Way, Merritt, BC 250-315-1022 GRAND PUB & GRILL 250-378-4618 2099 Garcia Street, Merritt BC www.grandpubandgrill.com HOME RESTAURANT 250-378-4618 3561 Voght St., Merritt, BC PETIT CAFE DIANE 250-378-9112 2101 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC SUBWAY 250-378-3646 3623 DeWolf St. & 2190A Voght St. Merritt, BC

THE FLORENTINE 250-378-5330 4100 Belshaw., Merritt, B.C.

NICOLA PLUMBING & HEATING 250-378-4943 2064 Coutlee Ave., Merritt, B.C

TOWING MARIO’S MERRITT TOWING LTD. TF: 1-888-292-1581 250-378-9241 2676 Nicola Ave, Merritt

TRAVEL PLAZA WAGON WEST 3999 Airport Rd., Merritt, BC 250-378-2100 www.wagonwest.com

WELDING ALPHA DESIGN Toll Free: 1-866-378-5395 Shop: 250-378-5395 2795 Pooley Avenue Parts: 250-378-3765 1101 McFarlane Way www.alpha-weld.com

Q

UILCHENA RESORT Since 11908

hotel & restaurant

QUILCHENA HOTEL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1908 & OFFERS VISITORS A STORY LIKE NO OTHER We offer: 15 Antique Appointed Rooms, 80 Seat Banquet Room, Dining Room, Parlour, Garden Patio, Saloon and guest can enjoy biking, hiking, tennis or enjoy our beautiful Nicola Lake.

Rooms Starting at

79

$

Golf Course & RV Park

QUILCHENA GOLF COURSE & RV PARK OFFERS VISITORS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Golfers can enjoy a day of golf or a weekend of rest & relaxation.

We offer: 9 hole golf course, a new clubhouse and an RV Park.

250-378-2923

250-378-2611

clubhouse@ quilchenaonthelake.com

PRESENT THIS AD AND

PRESENT THIS AD AND

hotel@quilchena.com RECEIVE

5 Quilchena BUCKS

$

one per person

RECEIVE

20% OFF

One Regular Green Fee

General Store

TAKE A WALK THROUGH HISTORY AS YOU EXPLORE OUR TURN OF THE CENTURY STORE We offer: Jewellery, Clothing Pendleton Blankets, Pottery, Post OfÀce, Gas, Groceries, Ice and plenty of good old fashioned hospitality!

We’re Open Year Round!

250-378-2753 store@quilchena.com PRESENT THIS AD AND

RECEIVE

5 Quilchena BUCKS

$

one per person

20 km north of Merritt / 70 km south of Kamloops on Hwy 5A ~ 6500 Hwy 5A, Quilchena, BC V0E 2R0

2013 Merritt Visitor Guide • 59

60 • 2013 Merritt Visitor Guide