Merritt Herald July 17, 2025 by Merritt Herald

10-11

Upper Nicola Band vote ‘yes’ on welcoming one of the country’s largest AI data centres

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025

ALGAE CRISIS DEEPENS AFTER YEARS OF IGNORED WARNINGS

Old water studies, forgotten watershed plans resurface amid public concern

LAÍSA CONDÉ editor@merrittherald.com

As toxic algae once again cloud the waters of Nicola Lake, regional and provincial leaders met with residents to address the growing fears over water safety, environmental health, and community response.

The meeting, held by the lakeshore, brought together TNRD directors David Laird and Herb Graham, Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck, Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz, Upper Nicola Band Councillor Brian Holmes, and almost 100 members of the public to discuss the growing threat of a toxic blue-green algae bloom in Nicola Lake – a recurring issue that has intensified this summer.

In the last couple of weeks, Castanet Kamloops reported that a sevenmonth-old puppy fell ill and died Monday, June 30, less than an hour after being in the water.

TOXIC: continued on page 3

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RESIDENTS SEEK ANSWERS AFTER DOG DEATHS LINKED TO LAKE WATER

TOXIC: continued from page 1

Kristin Awde, who owns a summer home at the Merritt-area lake, said her English springer spaniel puppy became fatally ill on June 30 after being in the water.

According to Awde, the dog seemed disoriented and was vomiting and defecating. She added that she scooped a jelly-like bile substance out of its mouth while getting him in the shower to wash him off and right after rushed him to a veterinarian in Merritt, but it was too late.

“He died right then and there. I’m still in shock – I actually have never seen anything like this,” she said.

The Nicola Lake community keeps looking for answers after hearing several dogs became critically ill after being at the lake this past couple of weeks, with residents saying another dog has died since.

A lake shaped by people and ecology

Nicola Lake sits at the heart of the Nicola Valley, a basin long known for its ecological diversity and cultural importance.

Fed by the Nicola River and several smaller tributaries, the lake has historically supported fish populations, migratory birds, and agriculture. It also plays a central role in the lives of the Upper Nicola Band and the broader Syilx (Okanagan) Nation, who have stewarded the watershed for generations.

Over the past century, the watershed has experienced significant change – including land clearing, ranching, irrigation demands, recreational use, and population growth.

These pressures have altered flow patterns and increased nutrient loading, which scientists now identify as major factors behind recurring algae bloom.

“We’ve impacted this community with people living in it and you can see the

results,” David Laird, TNRD director, said.

In an interview for the Herald, Brian Holmes, councillor for the Upper Nicola Band, echoed Laird’s opinion, noting that while cattle in the stream is an issue and always has been, “it isn’t the only issue.”

“In particular around Nicola Lake, we’ve got housing development that has changed the landscape a little bit – so the runoff, every time it rains, it brings in a bit of sediment or any kind of material, more than it used to before there was any development there,” Holmes said.

He added that the highway that passes by the lake contributes contaminants to the water system as well.

“All the runoff from all the contaminants from whatever vehicle, exhaust, rubber, all kind of goes into the system. If there’s any accidents along the lake, which there have been a few, any of those contaminants will come to the lake and contribute to that.”

Holmes confirmed that water testing conducted last week identified a toxic bloom-forming strain of cyanobacteria.

“Recently, the algae has started to accumulate in kind of a paint-like form,” he said. “It starts with a grass clipping algae – there’s some good algae in the system, but there are also toxic-producing kinds, which we’ve been seeing more and more of.”

The bloom has shifted with the wind, he explained, initially spreading throughout the lake before being pushed to the north end.

“The calm days are when it starts to settle, and it’ll settle throughout the whole lake, then start to accumulate more into the toxic stuff,” Holmes said.

He added that boiling water does not neutralize the toxin – in fact, it worsens it.

“It makes it airborne through the steam.

TOXIC: continued on page 4

PHOTO/SIMON RIZZARDO/BIG POWER FILMS

TOP: An aerial view of Nicola Lake taken on July 7 shows a thick green layer of toxic algae coating the surface.

BOTTOM: Residents, city officials, Upper Nicola Band officials, TNRD officials all gathered to discuss the ongoing algae crisis at Nicola Lake.

OLD PLANS FORGOTTEN WHILE LAKE CONDITIONS WORSEN, SAYS RESIDENT

TOXIC: continued from page 3

We’re even advised to wear N95 masks while taking samples because of the spores.”

Beyond the risks to human and pet health, Holmes said the blooms are affecting traditional food systems.

“We’ve been advised not to eat fish during the blooms. The toxins accumulate in fish tissue, especially in the gills. I’ve caught fish during sail fishing that were green along their sides,” he said. “It’s really impacting our sustenance fishing – Kokanee, trout, burbot.”

Community voices call for structured response

During the lakeside meeting, Perry Metcalfe – who was in town visiting family – proposed a more structured and technology-driven response.

“In your committee, if you break the problem into detection, reporting, prevention and correction… Instead of twice annual detection or testing the lake twice a year, have a business case put together for real-time monitoring on the lake that the collective can access, aside from the ministry,” Metcalfe said. He added that communication systems for alerts are essential.

“That’s detection. And discuss reporting — is there a mass communication that we can do for reporting the detection we now have? And then, can we correct any infiltration problems and prevent any infiltration?”

The call resonated with many in attendance. Within days of the meeting, concerned residents began formally organizing under a new name: Guardians of Nicola Lake Watershed Society.

The group hopes to advocate for consistent testing, press for action on existing watershed plans, and engage with all stakeholders — including First Nations, ranchers, residents, and the provincial government.

A past effort that faded — and a warning for the present Dawne Tomlinson, a lake resident and longtime advocate, said the current crisis echoes past warnings that were never acted on. She referenced the Nicola Lake Stewardship Society, a registered group formed in 2013 by concerned locals including fisheries experts and water specialists.

“They did two to three years of water quality testing in Moore Creek, Quilchena

Creek, Upper Nicola River and the lake,” she said. “They had shocking results, very high phosphates. When I asked what causes that, I was told it’s cattle excrement coming down the rivers.”

Tomlinson said when the group presented their results, they were dismissed for not being “professional,” and the momentum stalled.

The society had also helped formulate the Nicola Lake Watershed Plan, developed with partners like the Fraser Basin Council and the City of Merritt.

“I found it online – nothing has been done on it,” she said. “When I contacted Fraser Basin Council, they said the funding dried up, and that was the end of it.”

She also believes the lake isn’t flushing properly anymore.

“They kept the lake really high this summer – maybe because of a perceived water shortage,” she said. “But that means the water just sits there. Ian [Gordon] told me they need to dredge the channel to the dam. That would allow the lake to drain more effectively and prevent buildup.”

Tomlinson said she reached out to Douglas Lake Cattle Company with questions about their runoff management and cattle access to water.

While she described the company’s response to her request as somewhat guarded, the ranch also issued a written statement to the Herald last year in response to growing public concern.

In the letter, Douglas Lake Cattle Company acknowledged that many factors likely contribute to algae blooms — not just agriculture.

“We share the public’s concern with respect to recent lake conditions,” the letter read. “From a scientific perspective there are many causes of algae blooms, and it is often difficult to pinpoint specific reasons why blooms form.”

While the company said it has farmed under “essentially the same practices” since 1884, it emphasized that recent land developments and large-scale logging upstream have likely altered nutrient flows in the watershed. Timber harvesting, the letter said, reduces nutrient uptake in soils, leading to more nitrogen and phosphorus entering lakes during rain events.

“It stands to reason that likely many factors are cumulatively contributing to

CANNABIS STORE

RECURRING BLOOMS ACROSS

B.C. POINT TO LARGER ENVIRONMENTAL BREAKDOWN

TI ME PHAR MACY AS

TOXIC: continued from page 4

water quality in Nicola Lake and to point at agriculture as the culprit is probably an unfair assessment,” the letter continued.

Douglas Lake Ranch also stated that environmental stewardship is essential to its success and that it has participated in sustainability initiatives, audits, and joint water quality efforts with the Upper Nicola Band.

“We continue to strive for improvement as every industry should,” the letter concluded.

Not just Nicola Lake

But Nicola Lake isn’t the only body of water dealing with toxic algae blooms. Holmes noted that in recent years, Douglas Lake has seen similar patterns, with blooms starting earlier and lasting longer.

“We suspected the same thing would happen in Nicola Lake,” he said. “What we’ve seen in Douglas — we’re now seeing downstream.”

In 2017, Upper Nicola Band investigated fish carcasses found along Douglas Lake and the Nicola River. In 2024, the band ran a nutrient study that showed the algae was being fed by external inflows — rain events, flooding, and possibly wildfire debris — rather than internal lake conditions.

“Those algae blooms are symptoms of things that have happened in the watershed,” Holmes said. “There’s not much you can do about it now but let it run its course and stay away from the water.”

Other lakes across the province — including Elk Lake, Prior Lake, Mamit Lake, Mara Lake, and Quamichan Lake — are experiencing the same crisis. The B.C. government has reported that

blooms have become increasingly common in the last decade.

According to the B.C. Ministry of Environment, cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, are naturally occurring bacteria that thrive in warm, nutrient-rich, slow-moving water. While not all algae blooms are toxic, some types of cyanobacteria produce cyanotoxins, which can cause serious illness or death in humans, pets, and wildlife when ingested or contacted through skin or inhaled as airborne droplets.

These blooms often appear as bluegreen scum or mats on the surface of the water and may look like paint, slime, or grass clippings. Symptoms of exposure can include skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, and in severe cases, liver damage or respiratory failure.

To help the public stay informed, the province has launched an online Algae Watch portal – an educational program for Citizen science data gathering – where community members can send the province their algae bloom observation.

“Our goal is to help recognize and identify algae blooms in B.C. lakes,” reads the website.

However, many residents have expressed concern that updates from the Province on the blooms are infrequent and not reflective of local conditions in real time.

“This is not unique to the Nicola Valley,” Holmes said. “The Okanagan Valley, the Kootenays, the Island — lots of places are experiencing algae blooms in the last five years. It’s the human collective. It’s climate change. It’s all of the above… all of us are responsible.”

PHOTO/SIMON RIZZARDO/BIG POWER FILMS

An aerial view of Nicola Lake taken on July 7 shows a thick green layer of toxic algae coating the surface.

NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT

WAR, FAMILY, AND THE ROOTS OF HATE: THE LASTING POWER OF INCENDIES

In the last decade, director and Quebec native Denis Villeneuve has reached superstardom for both the casual and hardcore moviegoer.

During this time, Villeneuve has established himself as a legendary movie-maker, specifically in the science-fiction genre - heading blockbusters such as the award-winning Dune series, 2016’s mind-and-time-bending Arrival and a personal favourite of mine, Blade Runner 2049.

Before heading into the sci-fi deep end, Villeneuve directed movies more grounded in reality with acclaimed films

like Sicario and Prisoners.

Today, we will be talking about his first “hit” and international blockbuster that first launched him to the heights he’s reaching today, Incendies.

Incendies, while some argue that it may be his best film, remains one of the lesser known movies on Villeneuve’s resume.

This may be due to a few factors, firstly being the language barrier. As mentioned earlier, Villeneuve was born in Quebec.

The movie’s protagonists are a pair of Arab-Canadian siblings living in Montreal. After their mother’s death, the siblings travel to their mother’s home country in the Levant, a region in the middle-east home to countries such as Syria and Lebanon, to uncover her mysterious past.

While it is unclear exactly which country Incendies takes place in, it is said the film was “heavily influenced” by the Lebanese civil war.

The themes of the war ripple throughout the film. The film pans back and forth between the siblings’ modern day adventure in the Levant and their mother’s gruesome tale of survival in the same country, then plagued by civil war. A large theme of this film is the conflict between the Christian and Muslim populations of that country, which is the same conflict during the real-world Lebanese civil war.

Incendies doesn’t shy away from any aspect of civilian life during the war. Love, religious tensions, sexual assault, the making of child soldiers and violence inbetween family members are all themes pushed to the forefront of this movie.

Still the main component of this movie is family, and how that concept reacts in the midst of a volatile war in which displacement is people who live with the fear of losing their homes and loved ones.

REFLECTING ON MY TWO YEARS IN MERRITT

LAÍSA CONDÉ

EDITOR’S CORNER

Two years (and a couple of days) ago, I arrived in Merritt with a notepad in one hand and curiosity in the other. I came here to work at a small community newspaper, not fully knowing what to expect.

What I found was more than a job. It was a front-row seat to the heartbeat of a town that quietly thrives on resilience, generosity, and grit.

When people ask me what it’s like to work

as a journalist in a small community, I often say: it’s personal. In a big city, stories can feel distant—names are just words on a page.

But in Merritt, the people in your stories are your neighbours, your barista, your son’s hockey coach. Reporting here means showing up not just to cover events, but to be part of them.

Over the past two years, I’ve reported on everything from wildfire recovery and city council debates to community fundraisers and high school graduations. I’ve listened to stories of struggle and strength— families rebuilding homes, youth finding their voices, Indigenous leaders speaking truth with courage and clarity. These aren’t just articles; they are the living

fabric of our community, and I feel deeply honoured to help stitch those moments into the public record.

Of course, working in local news has its challenges. Resources are tight. Deadlines come fast. And yes, your mistakes are noticed—and remembered. But that’s also the beauty of it. This job holds you accountable, because the people you serve are just down the street. There’s a built-in integrity to small-town journalism that no national newsroom can replicate.

More than anything, these two years have shown me that community journalism still matters, maybe more than ever.

In a world dominated by digital noise and fleeting headlines, our role as local storytellers has not diminished. It has

As always, Villeneuve’s technical filmmaking is stellar. It is a violent movie, almost as much as his later film Sicario, in which killing was part of the protagonist’s day-to-day job. Still, Incendies never over-indulges in the violence, often cutting away at particularly brutal scenes while still giving the implication of what happened.

This film masterfully walks that tight line. Most importantly it puts a spotlight on the people of Levant, an area seemingly prone to violent conflict, most recently being today’s war in Gaza. Incendies doesn’t only show us the war, it shows us why it’s happening. It shows us why people are drawn to hate the other side, how their minds are formed by early indoctrination with radicals and how people escape the conflict. If you’re a fan of Villeneuve’s later works or interested in the concept, don’t skip Incendies.

deepened. We are the memory-keepers, the conversation-starters, the ones who show up with a camera and a question when something big—or quietly beautiful—is happening.

To everyone in Merritt who’s shared their stories with me: thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your truths, for calling me out when I got it wrong, and for helping me understand what matters most here.

As I step into my third year, I do so with immense gratitude and a renewed commitment to tell stories that reflect who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Here’s to more conversations over coffee, more sports events, breaking news, and more moments—big and small—that define Merritt.

merrittherald.com

LETTERS to the Editor

RE: COMFORT INN FIRE

Editor,

I read with deep concern the line” Elected officials and even our trusted Merritt Herald gave the spotlight to individuals who co-opted this tragedy to push their own narrative” could Miss Selena Randawa be a little more specific.

Mayor and Council have not responded to any comments or news articles pertaining to this tragic fire in the press or online, We have only commented on the amazing response time of our Fire Department and how they managed once again to keep us all safe and protected and how much we appreciate them as well as the immediate onsite response from the RCMP.

We are aware as Elected officials that this fire is still under RCMP investigation and will be making no comments on this tragedy until all the information has been made public.

– Mike Goetz, Merritt, B.C.

Editor’s note: the letter sent to the Herald in regards to the fire by Selena Randawa were not made in regards to the city. It was in response to MP Frank Caputo’s Facebook posts about the fire and the kids’ role in it, not to city officials.

LET’S KEEP CANADA A GLOBAL LEADER IN FIGHTING DISEASE

Editor,

As a young Canadian deeply invested in global health and equity, I urge our government to strengthen its commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The Global Fund has already saved over 65 million lives, but its progress is under threat due to shrinking international aid and compounding global crises.

Canada has long been a champion in this fight -- pledging $1.21 billion over three years -- but as the Fund launches its Eighth Replenishment, we must go further.

With our country assuming the G7 presidency, we have a renewed responsibility to lead by example. A bold Canadian pledge will mean more than money; it will affirm our dedication to global solidarity and health justice.

Let’s not retreat now. Let’s #WinTheFight by standing with the Global Fund and investing in a healthier, more equitable world.

–

Adil Mukhi, Mississauga, Ont.

JULY 21, 2015

SUSPICIOUS FIRE IN MERRITT

A string of vehicle break-ins and a suspicious car fire kept RCMP and the Merritt Fire Rescue Department (MFRD) busy in the early hours of Saturday morning.

At about 1 a.m. that night, Merritt police and the fire department responded to a call from the Bedford Apartments on Garcia Street of a car on fire.

The interior of a parked Toyota had been set ablaze in the parking lot of the apartments. It had been left unlocked.

JULY 15, 1998

MERRITT FIREFIGHTERS HELP AT LYTTON BLAZE

Merritt forest fire fighters are in demand. They have been working stead ily this summer throughout the country fighting fires. Most recently they were sent to Lytton to help with the forest fire that started on the weekend.

Jennifer Crawford, a public information officer for the Kamloops Fire Centre, reported a 20-person unit crew from Merritt went to Lytton Saturday to fight the fire.

Johnisaac@telus.net

www.realestatemerritt.com

Office: 250-378-6181

Cell: 250-378-1586

F: 250-378-6184 3499 Voght St., Merritt, BC www.royallepage.ca/merritt

Annual SHOW & SHINE

SUNDAY, JULY 27: 8 AM - 3 PM

CommunityPlan

TheCit yof Merritt is updatingits Oﬃcial Communit y Plan (OCP) to betteraddress housingneeds,align with provincialrequirements,and streamlinedevelopment approvalprocesses. Proposed changesinclude:

Pursuantto Section 24 of theCommunity Char ter, noticeisherebygiven that the City of Merritt intendstoenter into a belowmarketlease agreementwithNicola Valley Transpor tationSociety forthe rent al of 353squarefeetofoﬃcespace at City Hall locatedat2185Voght Street , Merritt BC .Theleaseisfor atermof2 yearscommencingAugust1,2025, with thepossibility of afur ther two-year ex tension;the totalrentalrateforthet wo years will be $9,948 .36, plus anyapplicablet ax.

• Compliance with SmallScaleMulti Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation

T IM EL IN EF OR CH AN GE S:

Please direct anyinquiries to DavidZakall, Director of CommunitySer vices.

TEL: 250-378-4224 |EMAIL:DZAKALL@MERRITT.CA

THEPROVINCEOFBC advocates water conser vationa nd expect smunicipal ities to su ppor tthe se eﬀor ts throughmeasu re ssuch as watering restrictionsandpublic education.

•Alignment with TNRD’s Regional Grow th Strategy

•Incorporationofthe City’s 20 -yearhousing needsas identiﬁed in the2024Housing NeedsA ssessment

• WINTER 2024/2025: Background Research &Project Scoping

• SPRING 2025: Public Engagement

• SUMMER 2025: Engagement:DraftofAmendment s

• FALL 2025: CouncilConsiderationand Adoption

AUGUST 29

CAPUTO VISITS MERRITT TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES

MP meets with local business owners and officials to better understand regional concerns

LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com

Frank Caputo, Conservative member of parliament for the Kamloops-ThompsonNicola riding, made a stop in Merritt to meet with local business owners, city officials and residents, aiming to strengthen ties and better understand the challenges facing the community.

During the visit, Caputo toured several small businesses in the downtown core, chatted with shopkeepers, mayor and council members. According to Caputo, his visit was part of an ongoing initiative to be more present in the day-to-day lives of his constituents.

“We went around the riding, visiting mayors and councils and I wanted to get to know the business community and just meet as many people (as possible),” he said.

“Basically just hitting the ground running, getting my face out there and getting to know people so that they have a face to the name.”

He noted that flood recovery and the rising cost of living were among the issues raised by residents, along with broader concerns he frequently hears across the riding.

Thompson, that includes Barriere, Clearwater, Vavenby, all the way to Blue River. And then we get into the Cariboo a little bit, because we go almost to 100 Mile House. We even have pockets of Kamloops.”

Caputo estimates the riding is nearly the size of Slovenia — and almost as big as Costa Rica.

“We have 27 First Nations communities in this riding alone,” he added. “I think the biggest challenge will be getting to see and meet people in every community. But what I want to emphasize is that our office is always just a phone call away. Our job is to help people, whether they live in a community of 200 or are part of the roughly 60 to 70,000 people in Kamloops that we serve.”

SPEAKS OUT ON BILL C-2

As the Conservative Party’s public safety critic, Caputo has also been active in national legislative discussions. He spoke about Bill C-2, a piece of omnibus legislation currently drawing widespread attention.

“The things that we constantly hear about are flooding and flood relief, cost of living, crime, those things are always going to come up,” Caputo added. “Some of those things didn’t necessarily come up today, but those are the things that people are talking to me about whenever I visit the Nicola Valley.”

Caputo acknowledged the unique needs of Merritt, which has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly in the wake of the devastating floods in 2021. He also emphasized the importance of continued support for local recovery and resilience efforts.

A MASSIVE RIDING WITH UNIQUE NEEDS

Representing one of the largest ridings in B.C., Caputo acknowledged the complexity and diversity of the Kamloops-ThompsonNicola riding.

“It’s been a new but welcome challenge, is the way I would put it,” he said.

“For those who don’t know, our riding goes southwest to include Lytton, Lillooet, and Spences Bridge. Then we have Logan Lake and Merritt. We also have the North

Bill C-2, formally titled as the Strong Borders Act, is the first substantive bill proposed in the current parliamentary session and was first introduced on June 3. The bill proposes new powers for law enforcement and the Canada Border Services Agency and sets new limits on cash transactions and internet privacy protections.

Caputo explained that Bill C-2 is what’s known as an omnibus bill, a large and wide-reaching piece of legislation that affects multiple existing laws.

He noted that the bill impacts around 15 different pieces of legislation, ranging from criminal law to financial regulations and internet privacy.

“It covers just about everything from sex offenders to how much you can spend in cash to how much the government can snoop on what you’re looking at on the internet,” Caputo said. “So there are a few privacy concerns on that bill.”

Caputo said that as a public safety critic, he’s been hearing concerns from across the country and his riding about the potential impacts of the bill.

While Bill C-2 wasn’t a central topic of discussion during his visit to Merritt, he emphasized that it’s the kind of legislation that can affect Canadians in every corner of the country, especially in areas like online privacy.

PHOTO/HERALD FILE

Conservative MP Frank Caputo stopped in Merritt last week.

UPPER NICOLA BACKS BELL’S $300M

DATA CENTRE PLAN

Massive AI project promises jobs, tax base, and tech training as lease talks move forward

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Bell wants to build one of Canada’s largest AI data centres in the Nicola Valley, and it’s looking like Upper Nicola Indian Band will be the host.

Polls closed on July 7 for members of the Upper Nicola Band (UNB) to vote on their interest in having a data centre on their lands.

The vote ended 98 – 33 in favour of the data centre. The 131 members who voted are a fraction of the total Upper Nicola Band members, who state on their website have 980 members.

“It’s a very, very big deal,” said Upper Nicola Band Chief Daniel Manuel in a June 24 information video for UNB. “It will put Upper Nicola Band at the centre of data storage and sovereignty for not just community members, but also on a regional and national scale.”

The result of this poll does not mean the deal for the data centre is done, but it will allow Bell and the First Nation to further discuss the lease of the land, currently owned by Upper Nicola Holdings Limited Partnership (UNHLP) and the band as a subholder.

In a disclosure statement issued June 4, Bell plans to build a data centre with two modules of 148MW capacity each on 100 to 150 acres of land on their lot 87 land, on the north end of Nicola Lake.

DATA SOVEREIGNTY

Bell Canada has been making large investments into a litany of AI data centres this year in B.C.

Earlier this year, the company announced its plans to build six AI compute facilities of various sizes, mainly in B.C.’s southern Interior.

This ambition is bringing to life Canada’s ambitions to boost Canada’s own AI

FRIENDS &Neighbours

COLDWATER DIKE WORK BEGINS

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Construction season has started for the protective dikes in the Coldwater River.

Multiple sections of the Coldwater dikes have seen progress. Notably, the C-EPA Claybanks section and the Middlesboro phase 2 section.

The former, the Claybanks, has set to have started construction as of July 7, in which the constructors will have to take advantage of a two two month window given to them, as they are expected to be at “substantial completion” status by Sept. 12.

The new plans would move the dike further away from the river which would make the Claybanks RV Park lose three sites for a total of 14 lost.

The water and sewer system will be affected by the pushback and will have to be relocated, along with the existing electrical kiosk.

White said the $215,000 cost is coverable by funding they have already received, which has been from the provincial government.

sovereignty and innovation capacity, meaning less reliance on the American technological industry.

“Right now in Canada, all of that compute is done in the (United) States today. Canada doesn’t have the (AI) infrastructure, 95 per cent of AI workload is heading off into the States to be processed and that’s a big problem,” said Dan Rink, president of Bell’s AI Fabric in the June 24 interview with Upper Nicola Band.

Rink said regulations in Canada don’t allow for many kinds of data to be processed outside of the country, citing health data as an example of this.

Canada’s ethical framework regarding healthcare data provides privacy restrictions for clients’ data. Rink also said much of this kind of data is unable to be processed in the U.S. due to Canadian regulations.

In January of this year, the Canadian government released their guiding principles for Pan-Canadian AI for Health.

In this, it states AI has the possibility to “transform healthcare and improve health outcomes” by helping with research and innovation.

Bell said the AI Fabric will help government departments like healthcare, as well as Canadian businesses.

“What we’re doing is building out a foundational network to run AI, and that AI is being woven into many, many areas of life. It’s involved in medical imaging and finding cancer sooner. And when you do a zoom call you transcribe it and you get minutes after, that’s AI that does that work,” Rink said.

Canada Energy Regulator currently estimates there are around 239 data centres across the country, making it one of the world leaders in that industry.

Still, Canada lags far behind its southern neighbour, who are estimated to host

The C-EPA Claybanks is still awaiting its permits from the Ministry of Forests for their wood cutting permits and from BC Land, Water, Resource Stewardship for their water sustainability approval, which has been approved “in principle” according to Flood Mitigation Director Sean Strang in a Merritt city council briefing document for July 8.

During the regulation process of the dike, Strang said local First Nations and regulators suggested changes for the dike which would increase construction cost on the Claybanks dike by another $215,000 on the already $3.3 million project.

“The biggest change between this and the last discussion about the Claybanks is the potential for loss of a couple more sites,” said Merritt’s Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia White.

Mayor Mike Goetz also said during the July 8 council meeting that while the extra cost is unfortunate, that they have to “move ahead”, seeing as how it’s been four years trying to get the dikes in.

Strang said the city has been interacting with the community members alongside the C-EPA Claybanks area and nearby, letting them know about the noise.

He believes there will be more noise and traffic along the southern edge of town where the dike is being built until 2030.

“There is going to be some work there. And prepare, this is going to be a going forward thing until 2030,” he said.

Elsewhere, council approved the application for a $4.9 million grant in for the second phase of the Middlesboro dike during a June 24 council meeting.

The grant will again be with the provincial government under its Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program.

PHOTO/CASTANET

Servers in one of Bell and iTel’s data centres already operational in Kamloops.

AI DATA CENTRE PROMISES GREEN FUTURE AND LOCAL OPPORTUNITY

AI: continued from page 10

thousands.

“We need our own destiny and have sovereign capacity, so bell is working with partners like Upper Nicola to launch sites in hydroelectric producing provinces where we can produce AI compute and make it available for Canadians in a way that’s environmentally friendly.”

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

DATA CENTRES?

Data centres have often been criticized for their negative impact to the environment and their strain on local water supplies. This issue is especially prevalent within U.S. based data centres, which are often located in dry regions.

Rink promises this data centre will be environmentally friendly. He highlighted the fact that it will not use any water for cooling and will create no pollution.

“Water is not used at all as part of the cooling system, the only water consumed in this facility will be for employees for washrooms and drinking. The facility itself is made of entirely renewable materials; B.C. lumber. There’s no gas emissions at all,” Rink said.

Bell further explained their environmentally friendly practices for the construction of the data centre in an email to the Herald. It said the data centre will use; B.C. mass-timber and engineered wood products for the primary structure and interior framing.

Recycled Canadian steel and aluminum in structural members, roof assemblies and solar-array mounts.

Low-carbon concrete in foundations to cut embodied CO2.

Plant-based insulation and VOC-free (Volatile organic compound free) finishes to improve air quality and enable future material recovery.

For cooling, it said it will use a closed-loop, direct-to-chip dielectric cooling system coupled to high efficiency heat exchange and chillers, meaning liquid coolant will be applied directly onto the hot surfaces. Bell said no water coolers or evaporative towers will be used at any stage.

It said excess heat will be reserved for a “district energy program” which could give heat to other facilities such as greenhouses or fisheries.

WHY UPPER NICOLA?

The band’s location was a major factor in bringing a potential data centre to the community.

The location of the data centre on the north end of Nicola Lake would be around seven to 15 kilometres away from BC Hydro’s

Nicola substation, which is a major node in the province’s power network.

Rink said that substation is connected to multiple major BC Hydro dams that run to the lower mainland. He there is a large amount of “latent power” stranded in the substation that the data centre would utilize.

OPPORTUNITY FOR UPPER NICOLA BAND

The data centre opportunity will come with economic benefits for the band if the deal goes through.

Upper Nicola Band said the development of the land would provide them a significant tax base. The band said in a disclosure notice on June 4 that at current time it would be impossible to give an exact figure of what the tax base is at the moment because it is based on assessed value.

Still, the notice mentioned the current tax rate set for light industrial industries is $11.0192 per $1,000 of assessed value. This tax rate isn’t far from what is charged in major municipalities. It’s an almost identical rate to Vancouver’s which has its rate set at $11.02684 per $1,000. It is also a higher rate than Surrey’s tax for light industry which sits at $8.76 per $1,000 of assessed value according to their financial plan for 2022-2026.

The construction of the project, which is estimated at 2-years from start to finish, will also bring around 2,000 jobs, of which Bell and Upper Nicola Band will be using local contractors for a portion of the work.

The completion of the data centre will be bringing 200 direct jobs to the community, according to Rink.

“These (New AI facilities) because of the density of the equipment and the fact that the equipment is very novel and new, it has a higher breakage and maintenance rate, so we need a lot more people to maintain the equipment, constantly changing out hard drives and power supply,” he said.

While some roles will be specialized, Rink specified there will be entry positions as well. He said there will also be opportunities for specialized roles. If the project goes through, Rink said they are working on a partnership with Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) to provide said training, and that there will be opportunities for apprenticeship.

Rink said he plans for opportunities for tradespeople to have work on site, as well as the possibility for a large cafeteria and possibly a restaurant.

The band will also have the option to receive five per cent of the gross profit from the project from Bell instead of a fixed rent.

LETTHE VO TINGBEGIN

BUSINESS

BusinessCustomerService______________________

B utcherShop___________________________________

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Ta ttooStudio___________________________________

Senior sH ome__________________________________

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ClothingStore__________________________________

ColdBeerWine /L iquorStore____________________

ConvenienceStore______________________________

Daycare________________________________________

D og/CatGroomer_______________________________

F itnes sFacility__________________________________

GasStation____________________________________

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Spa___________________________________________

Salon_____________________

Hotel /M otel___________________________________

InsuranceOffice________________________________

L ogging Company_

UniqueBusiness________________________________

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T ireSho p_

Accountant /B ook ke eper________________________

Bank__________________________________________

Stora ge Fa cility_________________________________

Catering_______________________________________

Restaurant_____________________________________

Pub___________________________________________

Mas sage Office_________________________________

P harmacy______________________________________

RealEstateCompany_

O pticalBusiness________________________________

B uildingContractorCompany_

ElectricalCompany_

We ldingCompany_

CoffeeShop/Cafe_______________________________

PEOPL EA NDPL AC ES ( In c ludeName &B usines sN ame)

L ocalArtis t_

D entis t_

Doctor_________________________________________

Coac h_

HairDresser____________________________________

Nail Te chnician_________________________________

Cook__________________________________________

E yelash Te chnician______________________________

Mechanic______________________________________

Manager

Pe rs onal Tr ainer_______________________________

Photo gr apher___________________________________

Realto r_

Receptionist____________________________________

S erve r_

L oca lB and/Musicia n_

Te acher/Educator(Elementar yS chool )_

Te acher/Educator(Hig hS chool )_

People’s Choice Aw ards

A gricultural/ Fa rm /RanchBusines s_

HomeBase dB usines s_

Ve terinaria n( nameofvet)________________________

Vo lunteer______________________________________

Club/SportsOr ganiz atio n_

No nP rofi tO rganizatio n_

BestLocalEvent________________________________

FOODANDBEVERAGE

Breakfast______________________________________

Bu rger

Chinese Fo od___________________________________

S teak_________________________________________

P iz z a_

Soup__________________________________________

W in gs

Desse rt

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TO PB USINESSES

BusinessOfThe Ye ar____________________________

BusinessOveral l( Under10Employees)____________

BusinessOveral l( Over10Empl oy ees)_____________

NewB usiness -2 year’sorl essinbusines s

TWOWAYSTOVOTE:

1) Newspaperentry - nophotocopiesaccepted 2) Voting online -oneentry perpersonper day

It’stimeforpeopletomake theirchoice. IndicateyourtoppicksfortheMerrittHerald People’sChoice Awardsonthisentr ysheet,or usingouronlineballotfor mat https://www.merrittherald.com/peoples-choice-2025/

Name:

Address:

City:

Te lephone :

Onlyor iginal newspaperballotsandonlineentries willbeaccepted.Nophotocopiesallowed. Allballotsmustbereceivedorenteredonline by nolate rt han Fr iday, September12atnoonPST Somerestrictionsandconditionsapply 25% ofcategoriesmustbe fi lledinfo ry ourvotestobecount . Contestcloses Fr id ay Sept.12atnoon. Oneentr yperhouseholdper week. PLEASEPRINTCLEARLY

Ballotscanbedroppedoffatth e MerrittHeraldoffice, #201 -1 951GarciaSt. ,M erritt,BC

NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS

Laísa or Ty at newsroom@merrittherald.com or call 250-378-4241

KIJHL UNVEILS 2025–26 SEASON FORMAT, PLAYOFF UPDATE

LAÍSA CONDÉ editor@merrittherald.com

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) has announced its full slate of updates for the 2025-26 season, including regular season dates, playoff qualification changes, and significant steps toward its future as a two-tier Junior A league.

Regular season to begin Sep. 19

The puck will drop on Friday, Sep. 19, as all 21 teams begin a 44-game regular season campaign.

This year’s schedule includes 10 inter-conference games per team under a rotational format:

- Doug Birks teams will host Eddie Mountain opponents

- Eddie Mountain teams will host Bill Ohlhausen opponents

- Neil Murdoch teams will host Doug Birks opponents

- Bill Ohlhausen teams will host Neil Murdoch opponents

The regular season, extended by one week, will wrap up on Saturday, February 28. The full schedule will be released on July 9.

Wild Card Playoff format introduced Playoffs are set to begin Friday, March 6, with a notable change in the Okanagan-Shuswap Conference.

A Wild Card system will allow the fifth-place team in the six-team Bill Ohlhausen Division to claim the fourth playoff spot in the Doug Birks Division— if their regular-season record is superior to the Doug Birks’ fourth-place finisher.

This aims to create a more balanced and competitive playoff field.

Junior A Tier 1 transition moves forward

The league also shared progress on its move toward a two-tier Junior A structure set for the 2026-27 season.

Six teams—100 Mile House Wranglers, Castlegar Rebels, Creston Valley Thunder Cats, Kelowna Chiefs, Quesnel River Rush, and Williams Lake

Mustangs—have confirmed participation in Phase 2 of the Junior A, Tier 1 assessment.

The evaluation, led by Blackfin Sports Group, will take place in fall 2025. Discussions with new communities for potential Tier 2 expansion teams are ongoing, with final decisions expected at the league’s Semi-Annual Meeting in January 2026.

Focus on player wellness

In a major step toward supporting athletes off the ice, the league has hired Kerri Woods as its first-ever Player Wellness Coordinator.

Woods, a Canadian certified counsellor with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Gonzaga University, will focus on developing and expanding mental health and wellness resources for players across the league.

With structural changes, playoff innovations, and an eye on athlete development and support, the 2025-26 season marks another pivotal step in the evolution of the KIJHL.

SUN, SWINGS AND SMILES AT DEREK’S DIRTY CLASSIC IN MERRITT

PHOTO/LAÍSA CONDÉ

The 2025-26 season of the KIJHL will kick off on Friday, Sep. 19.

NICOLA VALLEY COMMUNITY BASS COAST RETURNS TO MERRITT

Crossroads Community Church 2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911 Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church 2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme) Sunday service 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464

Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899 Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919 Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772

Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.

Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735 Service Time every Sunday - 10 am

Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268 Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502 Service Times: Sunday 10 am

The independent electronic music and art festival Bass Coast returned to the Merritt Festival Grounds for the 13th year in a row. Hundreds of people across the province and Canada made a pit stop in Merritt for the event.

CLASSIFIEDS

Schlosser(Tingle), Catherine“Kay”

July14,1943 –July6,2025

CatherineMarySchlosser“Kay”passed awayon July6,2025,inMerritt,BC,attheageof81 —justa weekshy ofher82ndbirthday.

Gary George Fairley

MERRITT &DISTRICT HOSPICE SOCIETY

Being withpeoplewho are dying inconscious and caring waysisofvalue tothem and us Their reminiscences and our care contributeto a legacythat enrichesour lives.

www.merritthospice.org

P:250-280-1701

Email:merritthospice@shaw.ca

She wasthebelovedwifeofBobfor63years, untilhispassingin2022.Sheissurvivedbyherchildren:Wendy(Dave) Campbell,Melinda(Greg)Peckham,SandraSchlosser,andDan(Aimee) Schlosser;11grandchildren; 9great-grandchildren;hersiblingsJimTingle, MargaretBegg,andDoreenThompson;andmanyniecesandnephews.

Catherine wasbornandraisedinMerritt,BC,whereshemetandmarried Bobandstarted afamily.Bob’scareertookthemto variousplaces overthe years,wheretheymadelifelongfriends.

SomeofKay’sfondestmemorieswerespendingtimeattheircabinin Canoe,BC.

Shelovedbeingcreative andpassedthatlove downtoherchildren.

Shehad asmallstature butwas astrongpersonwith abigheart,always doingthingsforothers.

Shebravely overcameNon-Hodgkin’sLymphoma15yearsago —winning abattlefewcould.Butwhenthecancerreturned, evenher incrediblestrengthandunwaveringdeterminationweren’tenoughtodefeat it asecondtime.Despitelosingthisbattle,sheheldontohersenseof humorrighttotheend.

Gary and his twin sister Lynn were born in Prince George in 1951. Not long after they were adopted by their wonderful parents Rosamond and George Fairley. Gary grew up in Merritt and loved spending his time working and playing on local ranches. He would later turn that in to a career. He was a devoted father and grandfather who was generous, kind, and the first to offer help. He will be deeply missed.

Gary is survived by his loving partner Carol, his son Cory (Tanya), his grandchildren Dominik (Lucas) and Jake, his sister Lynn, his niece Debbie (Steve), and nephew Lee (Sarah).

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 18th from 6 to 8 pm at the hall at St. Andrews Place Co-op. The address is 7365 Cedar Street in Mission.

Mon.,Tues.,Thurs.& Fri.: 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

Merritt, BC Wednesday: 1:00 p m - 6:00 p m www.MerrittFuneralChapel.com

2113 Granite Ave., Merritt,BC 250-378-2141 or1-800-668-3379 REGULAROFFICEHOURS

We wouldliketoextendourdeepestthankstothestaffatMerritthospital whohelpedensureMomwaswelltakencareofandcomfortable. Kaywillbedeeplymissedbyherfamilyandmanyfriends.

Asperherwishes,therewillbenopublicservice.

ColdwaterIndianBand JobPosting 2POSITIONSAVAILABLE COMMUNITYCONNECTIONSNAVIGATOR& COMMUNITYCONNECTIONSYOUTHNAVIGATOR Help Wa nted Help Wa nted Help Wa nted Help Wa nted

PerformsalldutiesandresponsibilitiesinaccordancewiththeColdwaterIndianBand

Inlieuofflowers,donationsinmemoryofKay canbemadetoanylocalfoodbankorcharityofyourchoice.

confidentialityinallmatterstotheaffairsoftheColdwaterIndianBand. 1.Provideinformationandlinkagetoappropriatecommunityservices; 2.Guideandmotivateduringimportantperiodsofdevelopmentintheirwellnessjourney; 3.AcceptreferralsfromCommunity,SocialWorkers,othercommunityservicesandetc.; 4.Outreachandengagementinthewiththecommunity; 5.Developandmaintainparticipantdrivenintegratedwellnessplans; 6.Advocateforparticipants’needs; 7.Supportparticipantstobuildcapacityinareassuchascommunication, self-advocacy a ndrelationships; 8.Participatewithteaminprovidingdeliverableactivitiesorinformation. 9.Participateinteammeetings; 10.Maintainaccuraterecords; 11.Otherrelateddutiesasassigned. RequirementofCommunityConnectionsNavigator •DiplomaorDegreeinSocialWork(otherrelatedfieldswillbeconsidered); •ExperienceworkingwithFirstNationsCommunity; •AccesstoreliablevehicleandcurrentDriver’slicense; •PassableCriminalRecordCheckandDriver’sAbstract; •Ableandwillingtoworksomeeveningsandweekends. Deadlineforsubmissions:January26th,2024 Onlythoseapplicantsselectedforaninterviewwillbecontacted. PleaseforwardResumeandCoverLetterto: CynthiaL.Jager,SocialDevelopmentCoordinator,cynthia@coldwaterband.org POBox4600,Merritt,BC,V1K1B8

February 24, 1951 - July 5, 2025 VALUEADDED LUMBERREMANUFACTURINGPLANT

•Wages:starting$20to$28

(dependsonexperience &attendance)

•Steadydayshiftwork

•Studentswelcometoapply

•Noexperiencenecessary

•Willtrain

Shulus

Enterprises Limited

FULL CYCLE BOOKKEEPER

A small gas station is seeking a full cycle bookkeeper (part-time to start). The qualified candidate be must be able to work unsupervised, meet deadlines and perform full cycle bookkeeping duties.

SKILLS:

Must have strong understanding of accounting principles and concepts

Experience with Simply Accounting and Microsoft Office

Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise diplomacy and discretion

Excellent attention to detail and high degree of accuracy without supervision

LANGUAGE: English, spoken and written (Required)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Perform full cycle bookkeeping

Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivables

Prepare bi-weekly payroll

GST & PST -CRA payments and installments & provincial Tax Monthly bank reconciles

Assist external accountant to complete corporate year end statement

General office duties such as filing. Various tasks, as required

WAGE: Starting wage is$ 20.50 but could be negotiable depending on knowledge and experience.

HOW TO APPLY: Hand in the Resume to Johnny’s on the Rez (7km from town on Highway 8 West) or fax to 250378-2566

Dodds AUCTION

ONLINETIMED •CLOSEOUT AUCTION ELECTRICALENTERPRISELTD.• VERNON TOOLS/EQUIPMENT/OFFICE-FURNITURE/SUPPLIES WEDNESDAY,JULY23RD -9AM (lotsstartclosing) **REGISTER/BIDNOW**

PartialListIncludes:5,000#ForkliftFG25,2-OverheadCranes, WelderMillermatic252, 2- Lathes,MillingMachine, Grinders, NewElectricalMotors,Snap-On Tools, Toolboxes,HugeLotofAsst’d Wire,CopperWindingWire,Lg.AirCompressor,Lg. Transformers, HugeSelectionofNewMotors/Parts/More,Office-Furniture/Supplies, PlusMuchMore!!

Viewing -Mon/Tue(July21/22)-9am-4pm ‘On-Site’ -460031st Street, Vernon P/U-Wed(July23) -1pm-4 pm& Thu/Fri(July24/25) -9am-4pm

ASPENPLANERS

ForestOperationsMap,PublicNotice

PleasebeadvisedthatAspenPlanershaspublishedaFOMwhich ispublicallyavailablefor reviewandcomment.AFOMdepicts thelocationswhereharvestingand/or roadconstructionmay occur.ThePublicmayaccessand reviewthemapthefollowing waysduringtheperiodofJuly19,2025- To August18,2025

InpersonatAspensplaceofbusinesslocatedat1375Houston streetduringnormaloperatinghoursof8:00amto4:00pm, MondaytoFriday.

Onlineat https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects

Public reviewandcommentbeginsonJuly19,2025andends August18,2025.Thosewishingtosubmitcommentsmaydoso thefollowingways

ByaccessingtheFOMwebsitelistedaboveandproviding commentsthroughtheonlinepublicwebsite.

Bypersonaldeliveryatthephysicaladdresslistedabove,during normaloperatinghours.

Bymailc/oPlanningforester,AspenPlanersLtd,POBox160,1375 HoustonStreet,MerrittBCV1k1B8

Byemailatapfom@apgroup.ca

Thisnoticeisapplicabletothefollowingprojectslistedbelow. AspenPlanersmay relyuponthesemapsforthreeyears commencingonAugust18,2025forthepurposeofapplyingfor acuttingauthorityorfora roadpermit.

FOMName

FOM-Merritt-July2025

GeographicLocation

CascadesFOMID: 2454