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MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
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New Merritt mayor takes place at table By Michael Potestio THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
Neil Menard will be hard at work the next four years — something he’s well accustomed to. “I’m just an ordinary, everyday, semi-retired person,� Menard said. The 71-year-old has worked steadily his whole life and through his retirement, but now he’s taking on the role as Merritt’s mayor after a landslide victory over the incumbent in November’s municipal election. In under a year’s time, Menard has had a rapid ascent in Merritt’s municipal government, getting his feet wet with an eight-month stint as a city councillor after winning a byelection in February. Now he’s head of the council table. On Dec. 1, Menard took hold of the Bible and swore his oath of office at the inaugural city council meeting, officially marking the start of his term as mayor. Menard said he decided to run for mayor because a number of people asked him if he would consider it. He said at first, he disregarded the request, feeling he needed more experience. However, he was eventually convinced by people that he did indeed have enough experience in council-related areas, and chose to run. He said the main reason he got involved in municipal politics in the first place was the amount of infighting he noticed and heard
New Merritt Mayor Neil Menard headed the inaugural council meeting on Dec. 1. Michael Potestio/Herald
workers of America (IWA), where he worked in a position that required him to be elected. For the past decade, Menard has called Merritt home, choosing to retire here given the connections he had to the community over the course of his working life. Two of his children even played for the Merritt Centennials. Menard grew up in Hudson Bay, Sask. and began working in the for-
about amongst the past council. Menard said there’s still a learning curve to the job, but there are staff and fellow councillors who are seasoned in the municipality. “I’m going to be learning until the day I die, that’s not going to end. I’m never, ever going to say that I know it all,� Menard said. He said council procedure is similar to that of the International WoodORIES D-DAY MEM3 PAGE
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HERALD MERRITT Runners convene for Merritt race
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of the last He was one when the Kamloops. finish line but to cross the had amassed back at crowd, which in Voght Park, saw line MA everyone the starting toSSA GE PRO the finish, to back GRA him heading even went RA A SU AM its fourth annual SUC cheered. Oborne UCCES the event Merritt held PAGEns M SUC Butcher. Sunday and in S BO jog a bit with running maratho 5 Country Run all ages participate WLERS said of Butcher started saw people and half-marathon runs. at age 66 and on for NATION merri retired he partther 10K 300 when inspirati ald.co the 5K, a big were about r was m PAGE AL CHAMPS his daughte In total, there organizer Mary 25 event [triathhim. ticipants, said the Ironman said, done “She’s [She] , and Jorgensen. led the way. so I did,� 157 runners lon] and she The 5K had 100 participants. run?’ why don’t you ‘Dad, halfthe the 10K attracted . people ran run as well. said Butcher Thirty-three bccla came out to arssifie Families d.come and her eight-ye5K marathon. Club of Merritt Asseltin Rotary the Helen Former r Paige finished Oborne partici- The old daughte . Her husband Graeme race. president Darch half-marathon race togetherold son Isaac were not pated in the an avid runner, having is in-law, and six-yearns in 53 68-year-old & Even her motherthree maratho on the 5K far behind. completing weeks ago. When asked e, 82, took Bernice Asseltin days just two s to run so much in Country Run. Oborne race at the her first 5K and it was how he manage period of time, ,� Helen “This was such a short do it while doing it together “You gotta race with her our first time answered, running the you’re young.to tomorrow, I’m young,� said about daughter. “Relative Herald. he told the y young runner Run’ Page 3 Another relativelhalf-marathon See ‘Country the in from part to take old Bruce Butcher was 78-yearThe
l Potestio By Michae THE HERALD m
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for a few years as an iron worker, until he hurt his back in an industrial accident. It was the same year he was married to his wife, whom he met in Prince Albert, Sask. After spending two years in and out of the hospital recuperating, Menard went to work for IWA in Saskatchewan. He soon became the vice president for its regional council and became a vice president of IWA Canada after council
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estry industry at age 16. When he was 18, a friend of his decided he wanted to join the Royal Canadian Navy and Menard decided to join him. His friend wasn’t successful in joining the navy, but Menard was and he served for three years as an able seaman in the signal corps. He said he left the navy because he felt the discipline had waned since boot camp. Menard then worked
mergers in the ’80s. Menard moved to B.C. in 1976 and worked out of the union’s Vancouver office until he retired. As vice president, he came to Merritt off-and-on for work with forestry companies in town. Some of his responsibilities as a VP included collective bargaining, occupational health and safety and establishing employee and family assistance programs. Menard retired in 2003, but it was in name only as he continued to work by helping to manage the IWA’s alcohol and drug counselling programs until about 2006. He said he decided to leave that behind as he was working just as much as he was prior to his retirement. But Menard didn’t stay away from work for long. He began working for an oil company based out of Alberta, establishing their alcohol and drug safety program. He worked for that company for the next three years. Again, Menard found himself working too much, and spending a lot of time away from home. These days, he is fully integrated with the community. He works as a jail guard at the Merritt police detachment. He is also involved with the Nicola Valley Search and Rescue team and is the president for the Merritt Centennials. He’s also a fixture at the team’s home games, where he sometimes works security.
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form Act fends NCR Re s’ rights rcie Clvicartimkes saydes Bill C-54 protects victim Familyr ofoftripDa le murder
the Merritt Country in the 5K at a pack of runners Ian Webster/Herald Little leads as Ontario. r-old Calvin as far away of life and from RACES Seven-yea OFF TO THE participants from all walks races attracted
Run on Sunday.
disorders, with mental s than those and become the statement says. Review Board royal assent B.C. ing, it gets In 2011, the orn escorted visits Cordon. the law. five-year-old the Port that reminds granted Schoenb old Max, and Galt have worked “This is a bill al review boards into the community from facility where provinci Clarke and of victims all it is psychiatric courts and Minister Stephen Coquitlam held. That permission we – the families– have been asking matter. In fact, with Prime y General Rob that victims reminder that victims he was being after opposition from across Canada not criminally be Harper, AttorneCanadian Heritage than a soon found y more than was revoked people and was for: will hopefull THE HERALD.com the bill who said she Nicholson get better supports matter — it statement says. Moore on merrittherald Clarke’s family, responsible in place; the communewsroom@ Minister Jamesyears. They say the y the law,� the addresses imbalnearby. s of a woman are currentl receives the protecrequest to transfer ding living for nearly fivebring victims’ rights The bill also Family member murdered by Schoenborn’sfacility in Selkirk, nity as a whole s]; and the famiwere legislation surroun changes will ric those of people lly responances in the whose childrenMerritt in 2008 are to a psychiat tions [it] deserve[ get more time into balance with lly responsible. not crimina d by the B.C.has in those found g that there is no legal Man. was approve victims finally their father support of the Not but released of crimina t lies not readin in February, found a statemen s of the its second sible, includin Reform speaking up Review Board out. Clarke’s famito heal,� reads her cousin, Stacy The bill passed Commons late obligation to notify member Responsible offender be carried saying Criminally by Clarke andvictims’ advocacy web- ing in the House of of 242 to and yet to ity if a high-risk move as well, area. that vote facility, the a the commun a Act. on with from ly opposes change Galt, by a in the Selkirk last month or escapes ca. The act would those found not leavesMARC g those with now be reviewed she has family site 4darcie. for H classifyin ly orn was found on before 34 and will ESS Thedifferent treating and MADN release reviews ble from annual Allan Schoenb histories ble by reason committee and reported Merritt Second responsi lly responsi murthree lengthy violent criminally ary School not crimina for the hearings every its third reading. class of its third read2013 hit hearings to Darcie Clarke’s family of mental disorder children, the streets If the bill basses HOMES for their grand years, which will correct an imbal- ders of his and Clarke’s FEATURE eight-year march down Kaitlynne, system. members say Voght Street 10-year-old current review on Friday ance in the being proposed is what Fri for commencemen By “What is t. Full story Michael on page THE HERAPotestio 3, more
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Manager Merritt Pat Sibilleau’s The City city last before she council meetin down two of Merritt managers is position moves to a new g will be workin and in Alber Albertta. a staff shorta g through a. City of of the summ ge for most Merritt, is movin Sibilleau Administrati er, Chief g an oppor on to pursue Matt Noble ve Officer said Buffalo. tunity in Wood regular There, she council after a the meeting Tuesday. will be on plannmanager of financ ing for the ial municipality regional , which includes M E R R I T T
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She said the jo job there with a counc “I’ll be time, what doing th there, full- rewarding,� il is quite Sibilleau of my desk I do off a corne “Pat’s given At the meetin said. here,� she us some productivity g, counsh said r cil gave her real and she’s improvemen applause a round of Sibille when discus time here,�invested a lot ts proud of au said she is most her depar sing ture. Noble said. of ship she’s the good rel “That said, relation- Mayor Susan Merritt she has Roline opportunity thanked council established w an during her with that’s fit hard workSibilleau for all time in tim the andinto her long-r going to the city. she has done ange certainly “To be for compe able to we couldnplans Noble establish te ’t can do with that, so all departure said Sibilleau’s is really we leaves a suppo as to fill she’s big h l rt h s