Merritt Herald June 26, 2025

Stunning photos from the 2025 MSS graduation ceremony.

CITY LEADERS ALARMED BY RISING

CRIME AND CRISIS CALLS

Police committee to appeal directly to health minister for urgent help

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Merritt’s criminal problem continues to worsen as local RCMP say crime is continuing to rise beyond the 2024 highs.

Last December, Merritt RCMP released statistics showing 2024 capped a high-year trend in increasing criminal activity and police-response volume.

New data provided during a June 19 police committee meeting between local RCMP and the City of Merritt predicted call volume is suspected to continue to rise.

RCMP officers in Merritt have already responded to 2855 calls this year as of June 16. At the same time last year, RCMP responded to less calls at 2780. 2024 ended with a statistical call volume of 6762 calls.

RCMP noted multiple struggles they have faced this year and challenges throughout the years.

KIDS COLOURING CONTEST

Merritt’s youth showed their graphic design talent, making ads for local businesses in this edition of the Herald

Looming over the city and many other municipalities is the issue of repeat Want

RCMP: continued on page 3

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

MERRITT RCMP SLAM SLACK OF PROVINCIAL SUPPORT

offenders. RCMP Staff Sgt. Joshua Roda said that is the department’s main issue that wastes police resources as they continue to chase after the same individuals over multiple offences.

Unique to the last two years is the increase in spike of mental health calls. Merritt RCMP has already responded to 111 mental health calls, more than half of the total number of last year’s calls.

“These (mental health calls) are calls where people are going through situational crises and we’re having to go there, and (at times) they are suicidal,” Roda said. “We’ve had 111 (calls) to date this year and compared to 2024 - which was our highest ever year - we’re on pace to shatter that this year.”

Roda said the increase in calls is something to worry about, since responding to these types of incidents takes up significant amounts of time.

“Our officers spend a lot of time on scene dealing with the client and oftentimes they have to apprehend them under the mental health act and take them to the hospital.”

The mental health act says police can involuntarily apprehend and transport a person to a medical facility. There, a nurse practitioner can assess the patient and potentially hold them in the hospital for 48 hours or longer.

Roda said most people arrested under the mental health act are sent to the Nicola Valley Hospital. Roda continued saying Merritt’s medical facility doesn’t have the personnel to safely deal with people suffering from mental health breaks usually.

“The Nicola Valley Hospital is not equipped to deal with mental health patients nor are they equipped to hold people before they get a (mental health) assessment,” he said. “We are stuck just watching these people, essentially, for the hospital until they know what’s going to happen.”

He said hospitals in other cities such as Kamloops’ Royal Inland, have better capabilities to deal with mental health issues such as having preliminary saferooms.

Roda said they’re on pace to seeing almost one of these calls per day. He also said he assumes many of these cases are dealing with alcohol or substance abuse.

The police committee, consisting of Mayor Mike Goetz, Coun. Adam Etchart and Coun. Paul Petroczi were highly concerned with the statistics and are planning on going to the health ministry for help.

“I think what I’ll do is pen a letter to the (health) minister next week with these stats and see what their plan is on helping communities like ours with getting these people off the streets,” Goetz said.

Roda said so far the province had not helped with dealing with substance abuse within the unhoused community, especially in Merritt.

“(With) the people on the street, the drug (user) portion, that the province has talked about, we haven’t seen any of those supports locally for anybody to be honest,” he said. “Nor have we seen any of that through the courts or anything like that.”

The police committee mentioned a provincial initiative announced last year that would expand capacity for involuntary care facilities for those dealing with substance abuse issues.

Roda continued saying they have not seen any support from the province in that manner.

Petrozci, who is a former RCMP officer, said it is important to know that these mental health crisises are not only occurring in unhoused people.

“They’re not necessarily actually people on the street. They are people, sometimes Merrittonians at home,” he said.

Elsewhere, the Merritt RCMP detachment is actively investigating a few major crimes including a homicide from March and a handful of arsons around the city.

So far, local police have secured 70 illegal guns, ran three raids on homes with search warrants and seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

Four new officers are also coming to the detachment, two of them from Alberta. The filled positions will allow a few Merritt officers awaiting transfers elsewhere to leave.

GOT NEWS?

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

AFTER CROSS-COUNTRY DEPLOYMENTS, FIRE CREWS COME HOME TO B.C.

Nearly 400 BC Wildfire Service firefighters and staff have returned to the province after being deployed across Canada over the past month.

B.C. crews have been helping fight fires in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where massive wildfires have forced the evacuation off a number of communities.

In a recent social media post, the BC Wildfire Service says that these crews have now returned home, as the wildfire season picks up in the province.

“We’re proud of the work done

to help protect communities and other values at risk and are grateful to see everyone home safe,” the BCWS says.

In addition to firefighters and specialized staff, B.C. sent airtankers and firefighting equipment to help with the fires burning across Canada.

There are currently 85 active wildfires burning in B.C., with the vast majority of the biggest fires burning in the northeast of the province.

RCMP: continued from page 1

NICHOLAS JOHANSEN Castanet

PHOTO/BC WILDFIRE SERVICE

BC firefighting crews watch a helicopter land in Ontario.

LOWER NICOLA FIREFIGHTERS LAND ON PODIUM AGAIN AT PROVINCIAL COMPETITION

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Nicola Valley’s own has once again proven themselves to be some of the most formidable firefighters in B.C.

For the second year-in-a-row, the Lower Nicola Indian Band fire department has secured themselves a podium spot in the annual B.C. Indigenous Firefighter competition getting third place.

Despite many of the members being new to the competition, the team has had a very successful run over their short time together in competition.

The Indigenous Firefighter competition featured 12 detachments from First Nations across the province. The event was the 40th annual version of the competition.

Members of the Lower Nicola Indian Band considered themselves some of the favourites in the competition.

“This year, we (got to) train a little bit before we went. So we went in feeling pretty good about it,” said LNIB Fire Captain Hayley Parsons.

Success was not just about the strengths of the individual members of the team, but as a group as a whole according to LNIB fire department members who attribute their success to their tight nature as a team.

“We’re lucky enough in Lower Nicola to have career staff, where as a lot of these other nations don’t necessarily have that,” said fire department member Morgan Park.

“We get to work with each other everyday. I’m here with my team more than my family, so we do have a benefit that we are here everyday, training and hanging out and doing everything together.”

According to department member Steve Austin, the competition is mainly about teaching and teamwork, working together to efficiently operate firefighter equipment.

The province-wide activity wasn’t always about competition. There was plenty of room for inter-department mingling, which was a common way for these departments to share knowledge not just in training but in day-to-day firefighting as well.

“We were among our peers and helping them out as well,” Parsons said, who also mentioned that the LNIB team was split up to help the other groups due to their proficiency.

“(We got to) train with other communities and nations and see what they’re doing; what works there and then be able to bring it back,” Park said.

During the competition, the group also got to try out new equipment including different kinds of hose nozzles.

As the team has placed high in the competition for the second year-in-a-row, confidence continues to grow within the LNIB fire department’s ranks.

“I think we can only go get better from here,” Parsons said, attributing their success to their “awesome” trainers at First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS).

Next year’s competition will take place in Victoria, B.C.

“We’ll be training for that, looking forward to that. So that will help us also with our, you know, building our bonds and just training together and a lot of good atmosphere and having a good sense of humor and working hard,” Parsons said.

SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER

Wishing the students and all the employees of School District 58 a wonderful summer. The NicolaValley Teachers Union

The Lower Nicola Indian Band fire crew secured third place at the 40th Annual B.C. Indigenous Firefighter Competition, marking their second straight year on the podium.

B.C. SEES WILDFIRE RELIEF, BUT NORTHEAST REMAINS VULNERABLE

BRIEANNA CHARLEBOIS

The Canadian Press

The BC Wildfire Service says cool and rainy weather that has helped temper fire activity is expected to continue this week, though drought conditions will persist in the northeast.

It says that means that region remains dry and at risk for new fire starts.

The service says isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the south and central Interior.

The update comes as the Cariboo Regional District lifted an evacuation alert that was issued last Wednesday for properties near a blaze about 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake.

PHOTO/THE CANADIAN PRESS

16, 2025.

The Martin Lake wildfire is now under control, which the wildfire service credits to crew efforts and favourable weather.

It says there are about 80 wildfires actively burning in B.C., most of which are situated in the province’s northeast corner and were caused by lightning.

It says 41 per cent are classified as out of control, 23 per cent are being held while 36 per cent are deemed under control.

Three major blazes were downgraded in the northeast last week and are no longer wildfires of note, a status indicating a fire is highly visible or a threat to communities. The province now has no wildfires of note.

INTERIOR HEALTH CONFIRMS MEASLES CASE IN KAMLOOPS

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Measles is currently active in Interior B.C. as Interior Health has identified a case in Kamloops.

Through a news release issued on the morning of June 24, Interior Health has confirmed a case of measles in Kamloops that broke out a little more than a week ago on June 16.

While Interior Health said that the risk of a member of the general public contacting this strain is low, they are investigating people who were exposed to the measles outbreak.

Interior Health listed multiple locations in which one could have potentially been exposed to measles on June 16.

– Denny’s Restaurant, 570 Columbia St, Kamloops, BC between 12:00 and 2:45 p.m. on June 16.

– Aberdeen Mall, 1320 Trans-Canada Hwy, Kamloops, BC between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. on June 16.

– Earls Restaurant, 1210 Summit Dr, Kamloops, BC between 6:30 and 11:30 p.m. on June 16.

– Shoppers Drug Mart, 1210 Summit Dr, Kamloops, BC between 9:30 a.m. and 11:35

a.m. on June 16.

– Castles and Cottages, 347 Victoria St, Kamloops, B.C. between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on June 18.

According to Interior Health this is the first confirmed case of measles in the Interior in 2025. Measles is a highly infectious virus particularly dangerous to babies and young children.

Symptoms of measles include; a fever, dry coughing, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that spreads from the face down to the rest of the body. These symptoms can take up to three weeks to show themselves after being exposed to the virus.

People exhibiting signs of measles are urged to tell a healthcare provider or hospital so the spread can be further prevented.

This case of measles was confirmed at the same time as Alberta announced 30 new cases of the virus in their province.

The BC Centre for Disease Control has an updated list of exposure locations on their website. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/ diseases-conditions/measles#cases

Northern Health reported the most confirmed cases of measles in B.C. in 2025 at 20 cases.

The Martin Lake fire burning northwest of Tatla Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June

NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT

WARFARE — NOT JUST A MOVIE, A RAW EXPERIENCE YOU’LL CARRY

LAÍSA CONDÉ MOVIE’S CORNER

Those who know me on a personal level are very aware that while I love watching movies, there are certain movie genres that just don’t usually catch my eye at first.

While I love horror movies – which often play with the unknow, the supernatural and serial killers – the real life horrors portrayed through war movies aren’t usually my cup of tea. Often very dense and nerve wrecking, war movies still remain one of our most enduring genres – from Apocalypse Now to 1917. We often return to them again and again, not because they make us feel good, but because they make us feel something – fear, grief, awe, sometimes even guilt.

I recently watched Warfare (2025) and was left with my heart pouding and my ears ringing. For a moment, my house was too quiet and I was left feeling numb. That’s what Warfare does, it doesn’t just

show you war, it drags you into it, holds you there, and refuses to flinch. I’ve seen a few of war movies. Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket. But Warfare is something else. It isn’t about strategy or glory. It’s about surviving the next 30 seconds. It’s about the silence between gunfire, and the breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

Directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza — a veteran himself — the film follows a 2006 Navy SEAL mission in Iraq. It’s shot in real time, with no cutaways, no flashbacks, no dramatic monologues. There’s no soundtrack to manipulate your emotions. The only music is the buzz of a drone overhead, the ragged breathing of soldiers, and the snap of gunfire in a stairwell. What struck me most wasn’t the action — though the intensity is almost unbearable — it was the emotional quiet beneath the noise. These men barely speak, but their glances say everything. The way they check each other’s gear, the panic when one goes down, the hand on a shoulder in passing — this is brotherhood, not bravado. At times, I felt guilty watching. Like I was intruding on something too raw, too real. The camera doesn’t blink. When someone

dies, it’s not dramatic. It’s fast. Brutal. Unceremonious. And isn’t that the point? War, in this film, is not cinematic. It’s chaos. It’s confusion. It’s grief with no time to process.

But I’ll be honest — I still found myself wanting something more. Not more action, but maybe more context. Warfare fully immerses you in the chaos of a single mission, and in doing so, it strips away politics, backstory, and broader meaning. It doesn’t tell you why the soldiers are there or what the stakes are beyond survival. It offers no commentary on the civilians affected, or the longer consequences of this kind of warfare.

And yet, I didn’t mind that as much as I thought I would. In fact, I really enjoyed the experience the movie brought — not in the usual sense of entertainment, but in the intensity of being completely absorbed. The film doesn’t just ask you to watch — it forces you to feel. And that’s rare.

Maybe the lack of exposition is intentional — maybe it’s meant to reflect the way war actually unfolds for those who live it: moment by moment, with no time for big-picture questions. It’s a narrow lens, but one that’s undeniably powerful.

‘IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD’

TY LIM REPORTER’S CORNER

It’s a heartfelt time of celebration - and some goodbyes - in Merritt as another set of graduating students have set foot in MSS for the last time.

As a newcomer to Merritt, the festivities including the parades and ceremonies were exciting to watch, as kids rode through the city streets being honoured by what felt like the entire town.

As I covered the graduation, I ran into just about everybody I knew in Merritt from each one of the stories I’ve done here.

I was happy for the graduates, and happy to catch up with everyone that came to see them. Though - I admit - in the back of my

mind I was a little jealous of the spectacle. I graduated from high school in the summer of 2021, during the peak time of the COVID-19 pandemic, my graduation consisted of a small walk around my high school, in which we were split off from many of our friends and classmates and put into different groups organized by our last names in an effort to reduce contact. Needless to say, I found it was an unceremonious end to our high school

And then comes the ending — quiet, sobering, devastating in its simplicity.

After the relentless tension of the mission, the film fades out and gives us what no dialogue or exposition could: photographs of the real soldiers. The ones who were there. Their names. Their faces. Their ages. It hit me like a brick. These weren’t just characters in a film. They were real people — young, smiling, full of life — who fought, and in many cases died, in the exact mission we’d just witnessed. The photos didn’t need narration. They said everything.

That final moment reframed the entire film. It reminded me that the story wasn’t fictional, and the tension I felt wasn’t crafted just for drama. It was memory. It was grief. It was tribute.

Maybe that’s the reflection I was looking for all along — not spelled out in monologues or backstory, but held until the very last frame. A quiet acknowledgment that this isn’t just a movie. It’s real life, captured with brutal honesty and left for us to carry. If you’re ready for it — if you’re willing to be shaken a little — Warfare is worth seeing.

experience.

So, while there was a little bit of envy in me for the Merritt graduates, it also makes me happy to see how much the youth mean to the people in this town.

From a police escort, to parents putting in dozens of hours planning the prom, it seemed the whole town takes pride in its future and embodies the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

LETTERS to the Editor

DON’T TALK ABOUT IT!

Editor,

What is diesel exhaust fluid (D.E.F.) doing to our weather and atmosphere?

Ever since the introduction of D.E.F. about 12 years ago, it has had a cumulative effect that continuously increases as more and more people buy these newer so-called “emission free” vehicles that operate on diesel.

Many people have noticed that humidity levels have increased dramatically which is true, just check your humidity index on any region on your computer.

Areas such as the Okanagan that usually had dry weather now have much higher humidity levels compared to the Vancouver region. Why is this? It seems self-evident that adding more D.E.F. vapor into the exhaust of these vehicles that spout this out of their exhaust pipes into the air; most probably multiplies the humidity pollution exponentially.

Have you ever noticed more cloud cover and a darker mist that sometimes looks like dark cobwebs that hang from the sky, and also let’s not forget about more fog in the spring and early summer.

Many people dismiss this to a phenomenon called “El Nino.”

Even an area such as Merritt that enjoys its sunny weather now is being inundated by an influx of these diesel pickups and motorhomes and now our summer weather seems to be somewhat affected too.

Does anyone remember atmospheric rivers and heat domes? A most recent phenomena I suppose.

All we have to do is to become more aware of our environment and to begin asking brave questions and not necessarily accept the present status quo.

– George Maier, Merritt, B.C.

CANADA MUST RETHINK F-35 DEAL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Editor,

Now that I have had a fair chance to look at the Auditor General’s report concerning Canada’s lack of “readiness” for the F-35, I find myself quite alarmed. It appears that not only are we spending untold fortunes on infrastructure and support systems to house this overrated American marvel, but we are also constructing dependencies that allow the United States to exert substantial operational control over the Royal Canadian Air Force or subject it to foreign political interference.

That such a thing should proceed with so little public outcry is astonishing, particularly when one considers the political climate south of our border, which grows increasingly authoritarian with every passing day. Even more baffling is the claim that we lack sufficient pilots. We do, in fact, possess qualified aircrew. The catch, you see, is that the United States decides who can fly the aircraft we have agreed to buy. What on earth are we doing, Canada?

Are we to spend billions only to be told which of our own service members are suitable in the eyes of a foreign government? If ever there was a time to step back and think carefully about whose hand we are placing upon our shoulder, it is now.

– Vanida Plamondon, Edmonton, Alta.

JUNE 19, 1996

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CLOSE TO A REALITY

In less than six months, the $3 million Merritt Bench affordable housing project will be under construction.

The Nicola Valley Affordable Housing Society is now working under a July 31 deadline for having the project building permit drawings completed.

Last week a public hearing was held and everything “went quite well,” said NVAHS coordinator Janet Smith.

JUNE 19, 1996

RCMP SIZE GROWS

The Merritt RCMP force may seem a little tighter these days. That’s only because four rookies have joined the detachment for the summer.

Ryan Harvey, Kinder Sekhon, Nick Anderson and Chaz Sandhu are learning the hard way what it is really like to be a police officer. Since early May they have been working in the field, first training and then out in the real world where they can gain practical experience.

In accordance withsection26 of the CommunityCharter, theCity of Merritt herebyprovidesnoticeofitsintention to disposeof.03hectaresofunopened roadallowancelegallydescribedasPID 032-485-581 That part of DL122KDYD shownonPlanEPP124029. Thelot will besold to AlkonInvestments Ltd. at the agreeduponpriceof$79,399.17.

Noticeisherebygiven that theCit yofMerritt Council will consider Zoning AmendmentBylaw No.2403, 2025for thepropert yat1750Lindley CreekRoad(subjec tpropert yshown on map) in the Regular CouncilMeetingscheduled July 8, 2025

PROPOSED CHANGES: Proposed Zoning Amendment BylawNo. 24 03,2025would amendthe Zoningfor aportionofthe subjec tpropert yfrom “M2 –Heavy Industrial”to“M1 –Light Industrial”.

As perthe Official Communit yPlan, thepropert yis designatedfor Industrial.The proposed Rezoning is alignedwiththisdesignationand thegener al vision of thecorrespondingOCP sector of Middlesboro –toinclude amix of lowand medium densit y residential,parks,and industrial uses

SincethisRezoningA pplicationisconsistentwith theCit yofMerrittO fficialCommunity Plan,a PUBLIC HE ARINGWILLNOT BE HELD.

PROVINCIAL PROHIBITIONONPUBLICHEARING: Pursuant to theLoc al Government Ac tsec tion464 (3)the City is prohibited from holdingapublichearing regardingthe proposed bylaw. Consis tent with provinciallegislation,members of thepublicare not permittedtoaddress Councilregarding theproposedbylaw during theCouncil meeting.

MORE INFORMATION: Acopyofthe proposed Bylawamendment smay be viewed Monday toFriday8:3 0amto12:00 pm and1:15pmto4:3 0pmatCit yHall, 2185 VoghtStreet, Merritt BC ,untilJuly8,2025, excludingstatutory holidays,oronlineatany timeatw ww.merritt.ca

B.C. GREENLIGHTS MAJOR EXTENSION FOR PROVINCE’S LARGEST COPPER MINE

LAÍSA

editor@merrittherald.com

Vancouver-based mining company Teck Resources has received provincial permits for the Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension project near Logan Lake.

In a press release published today, June 23, the provincial government stated that “the extension was identified by Premier David Eby as a priority project to expedite”, as part of the province’s efforts to strengthen the economy and diversify exports.

The provincial permits for the extension come shortly after Teck Resources has received a B.C. environmental assessment certificate for the extension project at the mine by the ministers of mining and critical minerals, and environment and parks, on June 17.

“British Columbia will be the economic engine to drive our whole country forward in a rapidly changing global economy. Part of our advantage is abundant resources like copper, resources in demand, everywhere,” B.C. Premier David Eby said in the release.

“By accelerating approvals for Highland Valley Copper’s extension as a provincial priority, we are growing the provincial economy and creating good jobs, while doing our part to help Canada stand strong.”

The Highland Valley Copper Mine extension project, led by Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership, will extend mine operations from 2028 to 2043.

According to the press release, the expansion is expected to generate approximately 900 million additional tonnes of ore and nearly two million tonnes of copper, reinforcing the mine’s role in supplying critical minerals for clean technology and infrastructure.

Currently employing 1,320 employees, the

mine will gain 200 new permanent positions and up to 1,250 construction jobs during the expansion phase.

Without the extension, the mine would have ceased production in just three years, initiating a wind-down of its activities.

Jagrup Brar, minister of mining and critical minerals, highlighted the government’s commitment in “making B.C. the economic engine of Canada.”

“Whether it’s major mine expansions like this or exploration drilling, we are taking action to develop the critical minerals the world needs while creating good family-supporting jobs here in B.C.,” he added.

Jonathan Price, president and CEO at Teck Resources, celebrated the news.

“Receiving regulatory approvals from the government of B.C. is a further step forward in extending the life of Canada’s largest copper mine, supporting jobs and generating economic activity,” he said.

Christine Walkem, chair of Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly and chief of Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, expressed that CNA remains committed to ensure that the voices, values and laws of the Nlaka’pamux people continue to guide the extension project.

“We expect continue accountability, respect and collaboration from all parties,” she said. “Our work through the Nlaka’pamux impact assessment set a new precedent for Indigenous leadership in environmental governance, shaping the future of major developments in Nlaka’pamux territory.

“It lays the foundation for new decision-making frameworks grounded in Indigenous laws and principles, and it creates a pathway for future generations to carry this leadership forward.”

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The Highland Valley Copper Mine near Logan Lake has received provincial approval to extend operations until 2043, creating hundreds of new jobs.

A LASTING LEGACY THROUGH ART AT MERRITT SECONDARY

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

As some Merritt Secondary School (MSS) students have stepped into the school for the last time, some graduating students’ artwork will grace the halls of the high school forever as their pieces are put into the permanent art gallery.

Joining the permanent collection, which is called the Margaret Reynolds collection, are three students. Graduating students Sarah Parno and Olivia Broman will be have their work inducted into the collection this year. Joining them is an especially young artist in Grade 8 student Envy Rauch.

Broman is being inducted for their piece showcasing a series of six different portrait drawings.

“She captured so much personality in each one of those faces,” said Shannon Dunn, art teacher at MSS.

Rauch will have their first piece joining the collection. It is an image of a cat staring directly back at the viewer.

“It’s something we want to see on the walls that you can’t stop looking at. I kind of look at it and its eyes capture me. Yeah, it has that perfect perspective that the eyes can move with you. So it’s a lovely piece, and I’m so excited to put it on the wall,” Dunn said.

Finally, Parno will be having another one of their artwork pieces in the collection. Parno had previously been featured in the collection before, but this year’s painting of a little girl had Dunn and the art committee praising the seasoned artist again.

“Last year we were in awe of one of her paintings that’s over here on the wall, called

the wave. This year, she did this portrait of a girl on a piece of cardboard. So she got some lovely texture, but the detail, and again, the sophistication of her brush strokes and what she’s doing there is pretty exciting and just honored to be able to have that as one of our pieces here,” Dunn said.

The Margaret Reynolds permanent collection was established after the passing of its namesake. Reynolds was a former secretary at MSS and a passionate supporter of the school’s young artists.

“Marg was always very excited to see the collection and big supporter of it. So when she passed away, I decided to name the collection after her,” Dunn said.

The art collection provides a platform for the students’ art to be displayed in a professional manner as the artwork is collected and framed.

Students are also financially compensated for their work, something Dunn thinks is key to not only growing artistic culture but also to show students that this kind of work can be profitable.

“It’s important for them to realize that there’s value in what they’re producing. It takes some hours to create, and they definitely should be compensated for that,” she said.

Funding for the framing and the student compensation goes through the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) fund which Dunn applies for every year.

Dunn believes the funds and art are being put to good use, beautifying the school and bringing some prestige to it, as schools from

: continued on page 11

PHOTO/MERRITT SECONDARY SCHOOL

Merritt Secondary Grade 12 student Olivia Broman poses with her artwork which is now part of the permanent gallery at the school.

‘ART IS MEANT TO BE SHARED’

out of town comment on the artistic talent of MSS students.

“Every time we have visiting schools come in, whether they’re coming in for basketball or soccer or another event, people notice our permanent collection and are quite in awe about it,” Dunn said.

The art is not only hung in the main hall, but in the offices of the staff and the library.

Vice principal at MSS Dave Andersen is also a supporter of the permanent collection.

“Art is meant to be shared. And so the fact that we’re able to have students present it beyond just the classroom is really kind of in the spirit of what art is about,” he said. “It’s also a really great way to encourage students that maybe haven’t tapped into their artistic side yet, to see what’s possible and build

some interest with students that you haven’t taken it yet.”

Lia Larson, the librarian at MSS, is also surrounded by student artwork. She says having local artwork around brings life to her environment.

“It just takes out a whole new life when it’s so beautifully displayed,” she said. “I think it’s different than having (the art) in a pile of papers in a classroom, or the students take home the art they love. But when it’s displayed on the walls, I think it celebrates their talent and their creativity and inspires them to keep creating art after they leave here.”

Larson said she even sees returning grads come to admire and take pride in their past work.

STRONG START GRADS READY FOR KINDERGARTEN ADVENTURE

South Central Interior Distance Education School

2025 SCIDES GRADUATES

Armstrong, Cohen (Coco)

Ashley, Jamie

Baldemor, Ralph Berinchik, Liza (Elizaveta) Blakley, Brooke

Blenk, Daniel

Bradley, Jayme Cleaver, Koen

Croney, Jennifer Cruickshank, Haylie Dunn, Keegan Flynn, Gracie

Franes, Benen

Galenza, Julian

Garceau, Trace Gojsic, Hiroki

Golke, Aaron

Harrington, Chase

Hartmann, Kaleb

Hellstrom, Jennifer

Hoang, Peter (Van Thuc Thinh)

Hope, Gradey

Howe, Fenin

Jack James, Hazel

Jacobs (Jacobs DeSousa), Taylor

Joubert, Brian Jugnauth, Colton Kamp, Simon

Kapiturova, Keira

Kardel, Samara

Kibblewhite, Hudson

Kingi, Terina

Klein, Jackson Kowalski, Madyson

Lakovic, Lynden

MacDonald, Noah

Mackenzie, Amanda

Mansoori, Ario

McBurnie, Jacob

Miller, Bryce (Emily) Morgans, Alexia

Mowery, Tracy Nixon, Chazz

Norrie, Cameron

Pantanetti, Nicole Pyatt, Dane Reese, Ashley Ritchie, Ryder Ross, Sadie Rougeau, Ryker

Schewe, Evan Schwartz, Landon Scott Florence, Amira

Somal, Jas

Stepanow, Garrett

Stirling, Kyle

Tomassetti, Nick (Domenic)

Washtock, Quinten

Williams, Janelle

Yerxa, Ben

PHOTO/MERRITT SECONDARY SCHOOL

The portrait of the girl was made by Grade 12 student Sarah Parno and the cat portrait was made by Grade 8 student Envy Rauch, both making into the MSS permanent collection.

CONGRATS GRADS! : Young learners – Addison Lippmann, Abigail Schultz, Aaron BagnallNeil, Thaxton Malloy, Evelyn Hollingsworth Yakimchunk – from Diamond Vale Elementary’s Strong Start program celebrated their graduation, marking a proud milestone as they prepare to begin kindergarten this September.

ART: continued from page 10

DIAMOND VALE UNVEILS

$195K INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND

Students helped shape new play area funded by provincial program

LAÍSA CONDÉ editor@merrittherald.com

Squeals of delight and the thud of sneakers on fresh rubber filled the air at Diamond Vale Elementary School this past week, as students swarmed their brand-new playground.

Funded through the British Columbia’s Playground Equipment Program (PEP), the $195,000 playground replaces aging equipment and was installed earlier this year.

The provincial investment supports 26 new playgrounds across the province in 2024, including Diamond Vale

less mobility.

“It’s a bigger playground, but it’s a playground that’s more accessible for students of all physical abilities,” Puterbough added. “The large playground itself has different access points, there’s more challenging pieces, but also some stairs to come up, so it gives that variety.

“We also have the merry go round, which is the new modern style which can also be used for wheelchairs.”

I think the really wonderful thing about this is that there’s been a lot of student voice in what it looks like.

Becky Puterbough

Diamond Vale Elementary Principal

Elementary. Since 2018, the province has spent $40 million on accessible play spaces for more than 70,000 students.

Principal Becky Puterbough shared that shaping the playground was a true community effort.

“I went to all of the classes and had conversations with the students about what they wanted to see that playground look like,” she told the Herald. “I think the really wonderful thing about this is that there’s been a lot of student voice in what that looks like.”

As a result, the playground has high and low features and a roundabout on a rubberized surface for wheelchairs and easier access for those with

Students have been watching the progress for months with growing excitement. By the time the final bolts were tightened and the fencing came down, the students were more than ready to make the playground their own.

“It’s been a bit of a process, it’s been built over a lengthier period of time, and they’ve just been so eager to get out there,” Puterbough said.

At Diamond Vale, not only built a safer playground but also fostered student agency, community involvement and pride.

“Today is the official opening, but once we pulled the fencing down, we had to let them go (try it), because they’ve been part of the design and they could actually see the design come to life. It added even more excitement.”

PHOTOS/LAÍSA CONDÉ

Diamond Vale students enjoy their new playground, designed with their input and funded through the province’s Playground Equipment Program.

MERRITT STUDENT WINS $44K SCHOLARSHIP

LAÍSA CONDÉ editor@merrittherald.com

A Merritt Secondary student is heading to university this fall with a major financial boost and a message of perseverance.

While in drama class earlier this spring, rehearsing for the school play, Grade 12 student Francisco Garcia received a surprise email that changed everything. He had been selected as a recipient of the Beedie Luminaries scholarship—an award worth up to $44,000 over four years.

“I had to read it over two or three times just to make sure it was real,” he recalled. “My friends were right there. We were all really excited.”

The Beedie Luminaries program, created by Vancouver businessman Ryan Beedie, supports resilient B.C. students who have faced life challenges but are determined to pursue post-secondary education. This year’s scholarship came as a huge relief for the student and his family.

“I’ve been working since the beginning of the year to save up for university. I’ll be renting, I have to pay for food, tuition— everything adds up,” Garcia said. “This really takes off the financial burden.”

His post-secondary path will take him to UBC Okanagan, where he plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with a focus on computer graphics and digital media. A longtime passion for animation has guided his academic interests.

“Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of opening an animation studio,” Garcia said. “This scholarship gives me the chance to take a big step toward that goal.”

He learned about the opportunity from Merritt Secondary academic advisor Nicole Thompson, who encouraged him to apply. The application process included essays and a video, something Garcia was particularly excited about.

“I love editing and making videos, so that part really drew

me in,” he said. “I chose to connect with the value of creativity, which felt really natural.”

In one of his essays, he addressed the concept of resilience. Having immigrated to Canada from Mexico nearly three years ago, he spoke candidly about the experience of adjusting to a new country, culture, and language and how that shaped his character.

Since arriving in Merritt, he’s made a point of getting involved. He started a Spanish club, joined the drama program and badminton team, and helped organize school and community events through the We Care volunteering club. From canned food drives to Christmas dinners, he’s looked for ways to contribute.

“Being involved helped me meet people and feel connected,” he said.

He also credits several teachers for helping him along the way. Shannon Dunn, his art teacher, welcomed him on his very first day of school. Meg O’Donovan, his English teacher, offered consistent support to his family, even donating a spare computer to help them navigate immigration paperwork.

“That really meant a lot to us,” he said. “It helped start our process for permanent residency. I’ll never forget it.”

To other students considering scholarship applications, he encourages persistence and courage.

“At first, I was intimidated by the process. I thought, ‘what if I’m not good enough?’ But my parents gave me the push I needed, and I’m really glad I followed through,” he said. “Even if you’re unsure, just go for it. You never know what might happen.”

As he prepares for his first semester at UBCO, he says he’s grateful and ready to keep building on the hard work that brought him here.

“I’m really thankful for this opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to make a big difference.”

PLUMBING &HEATING

PHOTO/MERRITT SECONDARY SCHOOL

Merritt Secondary student Francisco Garcia has been awarded a $44,000 Beedie Luminaries scholarship to support his studies at UBC Okanagan this fall.

Merritt KIDS 2025

PULL-OUT SECTION

This special 12-page feature is designed as a pull-out section — feel free to remove it from the paper and keep it all together as a keepsake or easy reference!

PAGE 15 - 26

Engaging Young Minds, Supporting Local Schools — And Celebrating Creativity

At the Merritt Herald, we’re always looking for new ways to bring our community together — and this spring, we were thrilled to launch our very first Kids Colouring Contest, made possible through the incredible support of our local businesses and schools. What began as a lighthearted creative project quickly turned into something far more meaningful than we could have imagined.

The concept was simple but powerful: participating businesses purchased ad space in our paper and invited local students to create original drawings inspired by what they thought best represented that business. Whether it was a cheerful mechanic wielding a monkey wrench or a grocery store bursting with smiling fruits and veggies, the results were nothing short of magical — imaginative, colourful, and full of heart. Even better? Fifteen percent of

all proceeds went directly back to the participating schools. So not only did the project provide a fun, hands-on opportunity for creative expression, it also gave back to classrooms in a real and impactful way. It became more than just a contest — it became a fundraiser that gave everyone a reason to smile.

The response from local teachers and students was overwhelming — in the best possible way. In total, seven classes participated, and many teachers shared how much their students loved the opportunity to connect with the community in such a unique and meaningful way. For the kids, it was more than just an art assignment — it was a chance to take pride in their work, to see it in print, and to feel like they were a part of something bigger.

We received dozens of incredible entries, each one showcasing the creativity and spirit of our youngest

artists. Choosing just one drawing per business was no easy feat. In fact, some businesses were so moved by the submissions that they opted to highlight multiple entries — and even then, narrowing it down was a challenge. These drawings brought our pages to life and reminded us of the joy and talent that lives in our community’s classrooms.

Beyond the fun, the fundraising, and the fantastic artwork, this initiative was also about creating a stronger connection between young people and their local newspaper. We wanted to show students that the Merritt Herald isn’t just a place for news — it’s a space where their voices, their talents, and their imaginations can shine.

We want to send our heartfelt thanks to the teachers who made space for this project in their busy classrooms, to the students who poured their creativity into every line and colour, to the

parents who encouraged and supported their children’s efforts, and to the businesses who believed in the idea and made it possible.

And the best part? We’re just getting started.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be bringing the Kids Colouring Contest back next year — bigger, brighter, and with even more opportunities for involvement. If your class or business didn’t get the chance to participate this time around, we encourage you to reach out and join in next year’s edition. We’d love to include even more voices, even more creativity, and even more community connection.

Because at the end of the day, we’re not just publishing art — we’re building bridges between generations, sparking imagination, and celebrating all the little things that make Merritt such a vibrant and special place to call home.

Bench

Grade 1 students

Grade

Grade

Elementary Tanis Kanigan’s class

Diamond Vale Elementary Paige Price’s class

4/5 students

Diamond Vale Elementary Tamara Foster’s class

6/7 students

Central Elementary

Lorena Matheson’s class

Grade 4/5 students

Central Elementary

Michael Gagliano’s class

Grade 3/4 students

Nicola Canford Elementary

Dawn Ellingsen’s class

Grade 6/7 students

Community Champions!

The Merritt Herald would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing businesses who made our Kids Colouring Feature possible.

Your support gave local students a chance to get creative, connect with the community, and contribute to their schools — all while having fun. This feature wouldn’t exist without your generosity, and we’re so grateful to have partners like you.

THANK YOU TO:

Best Valu Glass

Diamond Vale Elementary

Komalpreet Kaur’s class

Grade 3/4 students

Breathe Bikes

Cascade Dental

Miss Vicki’s Petals and Plants

Canco Gas / Pizza Pizza

Kal Tire

Johnny’s on the Rez

Jennifer Knightley

Home Hardware

Fountain Tire

Nicola Plumbing and Heating

Murray GM No Frills

Persistence Personal Training

Work BC

Nicola Motorsports

Super Save Gas

Purity Feeds

Nicola Valley Sports

Save-On-Foods

Nicola Valley Community Justice

Because of your involvement, we were able to bring smiles, colour, and community spirit into classrooms across the Nicola Valley.

Thank you for making it happen!

— From all of us at the Merritt Herald

A new student-led project is working to identify vulnerable residents in Merritt to better support those in need during emergencies.

NEW PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY MERRITT’S MOST VULNERABLE IN DISASTER

A new project will help in identifying Merritt’s population that is vulnerable to disaster.

Through a registry system, key population demographics were pointed out as at risk, if another disaster like 2021’s atmospheric river event would happen again.

A vulnerable persons registry is a self-enrolled list of people who need special care. Through the self-enrollment process, listing a person’s physical and personal description, emergency services can then easily identify people on this list in case of a disaster.

A project by UBC Vancouver residents is working on identifying who the particularly at-risk individuals are in Merritt.

The registry project is similar to those using data in other disaster-struck towns, such as Grand Forks or Sault St. Marie, who had their project started due to an incident where a child with a disability was not given the proper equipment to survive during a mass power outage, leading to his death.

The project, headed by UBC resident Miini Teng, uses data from various provincial organizations. Teng presented an update to the project during a June 10, city council meeting.

Teng first came up with the project coming to Merritt when she visited in 2023. During that time she spoke to Mayor Mike Goetz, who was highly receptive of the work, as well as representatives from Interior Health Authority, First Nations Health Authorities, RCMP and Merritt Fire Rescue Department.

“What we heard that these were the factors that make someone more susceptible to climate emergencies; so the elderly, people who don’t drive or have access to a

vehicle, people with disabilities, people with no access to phones or computers, people living with lower socioeconomic status, mental health challenges, people with no fixed addresses and people living near riverbanks,” Teng said.

Data from these groups has allowed Teng and her team to create algorithms which identify which people are at high-risk. She said there are 1,700 people in Merritt and the surrounding area who are above the age of 75 and 1,600 people who have ability difficulties.

The team has created multiple algorithms, then used the overlap between the algorithms to identify which are truly the people they need to focus on.

Using this algorithm, the team has mapped out the locations of the vulnerable people based on their rough locations and addresses.

Still, the project is missing a few pieces of information that could still leave certain people in the dark.

Merritt chief administrative officer Cynthia White, would want to see unhoused people represented in the registry as well.

Teng said it has been thought of, and they are working with the ministry of health to try and get access to more data of vulnerable people with no fixed addresses which includes data from Emergency Support Services (ESS).

Right now, Teng’s 15 algorithms identify a range of 200 to 500 people that are potentially at-risk. She said the team is actively working internally to narrow down a more concrete number.

White also wanted a solid number so the city can identify and properly plan for the amount of resources needed.

‘THE FIRST DISASTER LIKE THIS’

Lytton-area residents experienced trauma, frustration, slow rebuild after devastating 2021 wildfire

JOSH DAWSON Castanet

This story is the third of a four-part series exploring recovery and rebuilding efforts for B.C. Interior communities that suffered significant damage and the displacement of residents due to destructive wildfires.

The mercury was above 49 C when Lorna Fandrich watched leaves fall off the decades-old tree behind her Lytton business “like dried herbs that you have

in your kitchen.”

“I’d never seen that before,” Fandrich told said. “I went home and said to Bernie, ‘Even the acacias aren’t tolerating this heat.’”

The Lytton Creek wildfire sparked the next day, on June 30, 2021, razing 90 per cent of village buildings and killing two people.

It took only 26 minutes for the fire to burn through the village, and nearly four years for the Fandrich’s business, the Lytton Chinese History Museum, to reopen. It’s the only business to open in Lytton since the fire.

It’s been years of frustration and slow rebuilding for residents of the village and surrounding community, many of whom were traumatized by the devastating blaze in 2021.

WHERE DID EVERYONE GO?

Fandrich has lived in Lytton for 46 years, and she contemplated retiring after the fire. She instead decided to rebuild the museum to look the same as it was before, with an all-new collection of RURAL: continued on page 29

July 2 - August 14

Colour Y o ur Summer

PHOTO/TY LIM

Lytton mayor, Denise O’Connor overlooking the railway where the 2021 fire broke out..

RURAL RESIDENTS FEEL LEFT BEHIND AS VILLAGE RECOVERY EFFORTS INCH FORWARD

RURAL: continued from page 28

artifacts donated by community members.

“I didn’t want to be one of the businesses that bailed on Lytton, and that sounds a little bit harsh because a lot of them didn’t bail — a lot of them didn’t have enough insurance so they couldn’t rebuild,” Fandrich said.

“I thought, well, if I can get this going again, it’s a start. It’s something for the community.”

Before the fire, Fandrich said she enjoyed walks to the village post office — a four-block distance, but a half-hour trip.

“You talk to everybody, sometimes you stop and have coffee and pie with someone you ran across, and that’s why we live here,” Fandrich said.

But that’s no longer the case.

Bernie Frandrich, Lorna’s husband and founder of Kumsheen Rafting Resort, said the village lost its downtown core that served as a “magnet” for residents of the village and surrounding community.

He said some village councillors have organized Monday morning coffee gatherings, but social interaction between residents is still “minimal.”

“You can come sit around, have a coffee and a pastry, whatever, and chat about what you’re doing,” Bernie said. “That’s about all there is for a community right now.”

With many lots now sitting vacant with no plans for development, Lorna hopes younger families will “take a chance on Lytton” and move in. However, she said higher home prices could make that difficult.

“We need those services back, because people won’t move here with kids if we don’t have health care, if we don’t have a grocery store,” she said.

WON’T LOOK THE SAME

Lytton mayor Denise O’Connor said 11 homes in the village are now occupied and two more are under construction.

A new Lytton Royal Canadian Legion hall is under construction, design work for a new village office is up for council approval in the next month, a public works building is going up, a grocery store has received a building permit and is hoping to return, a pharmacist is in the process of purchasing property in the town and the post office will be returning to its old location in the village as well. The village has also received federal funding for a swimming pool and a space for an outdoor farmers market.

O’Connor said the rebuild has been slow and steady, but momentum began to mount about a year ago.

“People are a lot more hopeful now than they were before, because every day they can come in and they can see something has changed, something visual has changed or is moving forward,” she said.

O’Connor said provincial funding has allowed for the hiring of a full-time

People are a lot more hopeful now than they were before, because every day they can come in and they can see something has changed, something visual has changed or is moving forward. Lytton Mayor

Denise O’Connor

corporate officer, who’s working to recreate all of the village’s bylaws that were lost in the fire.

“A year and a half after the fire, there was not even a council procedure bylaw in place,” she said.

“There would have been 80 years of bylaws, and they would have been updated over the years and new ones brought in gradually — all of a sudden, bang, we’re starting from scratch.”

She said the community has lost many of its elders after the fire. Some moved, while others have passed away.

“For a long time after the fire, I had this vision of Lytton rebuilding and coming back and looking like it was,” O’Connor said.

“It never, ever will. It will be different.”

LITTLE AID FOR RURAL RESIDENTS

Tricia Thorpe, Thompson-Nicola Regional District director for Electoral Area I, said while federal and provincial dollars were used to help clean up properties inside the village, properties outside village limits in the surrounding community didn’t receive any government funding for backfill or remediation work.

MUSEUM: continued on page 30

PHOTO/TY LIM Streets of Lytton, B.C., harbouring homes, some of which are still under construction.

ONE MUSEUM REOPENS, BUT MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY REMAINS

FRACTURED AND UNRECOVERED

MUSEUM: continued from page 29

“When I was elected, I tried to get money for them to clean up because I kept saying, ‘Same fire, same community, same day, should be the same funding,’ but it’s not – because they’re not part of the municipality,” Thorpe said.

She called it a “calamity of errors.”

According to Thorpe, about 11 per cent of the B.C. population lives outside municipal boundaries.

She said some money was provided to property owners by the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, but Thorpe said it was a “drop in the bucket” of what was needed.

“There was the PacifiCan programs that set up federal funding to help with the village recovery, and ironically enough, they were only for the village,” she said.

“It took me almost a good six months after I was elected to get that changed to a 15-kilometer radius around the village, but they didn’t realize that there were people outside the village that were impacted by the fire.”

She said the 2021 fire moved up Highway 8 and into the Nicola Valley several weeks later, destroying more than a dozen structures. Those rural residents were then hit by the atmospheric river that fall, and a debris flow the following year.

Of the properties located adjacent to the village, she said many of the property owners and renters won’t be returning.

“The thing I hear from anybody that’s been through a disaster is, there’s nothing worse than feeling abandoned or forgotten,” Thorpe said.

DIFFERENT

LEVELS OF FIREPROOFING

Of the 15 structures destroyed just outside village limits, Thorpe’s home is the only one that has been rebuilt since the fire. She said it was constructed entirely by volunteers.

“We built this house as if we were defending our castle from an enemy, and the enemy was fire,” she said.

In 2022, the federal government announced the Village of Lytton would get $77 million to help rebuild the community with fire-resistant and energy-efficient standards, with $6 million of that set aside for residents to bring their homes up to the same standard under the Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild Program.

O’Connor said she knows of “two, maybe three” that have accessed money provided by the program through top-up grants — meaning residents put out the money ahead of time and are reimbursed after construction.

“Our insurance didn’t cover it. I had full replacement insurance, so the only thing I paid for was some upgrades to my house. I put in a second bathroom, for example,” she said.

“In order to make it net zero and fire resilient, according to their standards, to get this grant, I would have had to put up about $80,000 [extra] to be reimbursed after my house was finished, and I said, ‘No, thank you.’”

She said all the buildings in the village have been built with Hardie board and have either metal or shingle roofs, which is new for the village.

O’Connor said a village bylaw that was introduced by a previous council requiring residents to build to the federal government’s energy-code standards was shelved because those rebuilding couldn’t afford it.

“We’ll recommend and we’ll advise, and we’ll provide guidance on how to do it better and find grants hopefully to help people,

but we weren’t going to mandate it,” she said. Thanks to a partnership between the village and Lytton First Nation, O’Connor said village residents who FireSmart their homes following an assessment can receive a rebate covering 50 per cent of their costs, up to $5,000.

She said residents have rebuilt their homes to be fire-resilient to their “level of comfort.”

Lorna Fandrich said she’s installed a sprinkler system on the roof of her business that will be activated by her cellphone, and has implemented some fireproofing recommendations like keeping vegetation further away from structures. Other recommendations weren’t as accessible, such as installing triple-glazed windows.

But she doubts how effective any of the efforts would be under the same intensity of fire.

“Having been here when a fire came through town, if another fire came I think it would be the same scenario, even if we had all of these things here,” she said.

‘WE’RE

THE GUINEA PIGS’

O’Connor said many delays kept residents from returning to their properties for months, including thorough ground remediation work she called “over the top,” and archaeology work she’s previously called on the province to expedite.

She said the Kumsheen ShchEma-meet School resumed operations the year after the fire, and UNITED: continued on page 32

Noticeof Construction

Highway 5and Highway 8Flood Recovery Projects

TheB.C.M inistry of Transpor tation and Transit herebygives noticethat asubmissionhas beenaddedtothe CommonProject Search (onlineregistr y), pursuanttothe Canadian Navigable Waters Act, forpublic comment on theworkdescribed here

Pursuant to paragraph4(1)ofthe said Act, theB.C.M inistr yofTranspor tation andTransit has depositedanotification of minorworkonthe onlineCommonProjec tSearch Registry (cps.canada.ca),under registr ynumbers 13156, 13158 and 13159, as described below:

•13159: Theministr yintends to complete streamrestoration andenvironmental enhancement,including side channelenhancement, woodydebrisinstallation and riparian planting,inthe ColdwaterR iver along Highway5,approximately45k ilometres south of Merritt, B.C.

•13156 and 13158: Theministr yintends to complete stream restoration and environmental enhancement,includingsidechannel enhancement,woodydebris installation andriparianplanting, in theN icolaR iver along Highway8,approximately 50 kilometreswest of Merritt, B.C.

•Construc tionisexpec tedtobegin in thesummerof2025.

Commentsregarding theeffect of thisworkonmarinenavigation can be sent through the CommonProject Search site mentionedabove under the comment section(searchbythe aboveregistry numbers) or by sending your commentsdirec tly to:Transpor tCanada, 820 -800 Burrard Street,Vancouver, B.C.,V6Z 2J8, if youdonot have accesstothe internet

Commentswill be consideredonlyif they arein writing(electronicmeanspreferable) and are received no laterthan 30 days afterthe publicationofthis notice. Although all comments conforming to theabove will be considered,noindividual responses will be sent.

Signed at Victoria, B.C.,this26thday of June,2025.

BritishColumbiaM inistry of Transportationand Transit

Formoreinformation, please contac t Johnathan Tillie at 250252-8855 or at jtillie@integrisco.ca

THANK YOU... FOR BEING PART OF OUR TEAM!

RESULTS

AGGREGATE RESULTS:

Elijah Lajarca: Div 1 Silver Medal

Ellize Lajarca: Div 2 Gold Medal

Ezekiel Lajarca: Div 3 Gold Medal

Loryne Peralta: Div 3 Bronze Medal

Sophia Van Elswyk: Div 4 Bronze Medal, Bianca Cavaliere: Div O8 Bronze Medal

Aubrey M LeBeau: Div 1 50 Freestyle Place 3

Julieta A Martins: Div 1 50 Backstroke Place 2

Julieta A Martins: Div 1 100 Freestyle Place 3

Naomi Reid: Div 3 50 Breaststroke Place 2

Naomi Reid: Div 3 100 Freestyle Place 3

Imroz Brar: Div 4 200 IM Place 3

Portia Ryan: Div 4 100 Breaststroke Place 2 RELAY RESULTS

200 Freestyle Relay Div 2 Place 1: Elijah, Ashlynn, Julietta, Ellize

200 Freestyle Relay Div 2 Place 3 Christie, Esther, Kamilla, Aubrey

200 Freestyle Relay Div 3 Place 1 Ezekiel, Eduardo, Liam, Antonio

200 Freestyle Relay Div 3 Place 2 Mavis, Saisha, Lilly, Naomi

200 Medley Relay Div 3 Place 2 Aubrey, Mavis, Ellize, Saisha

200 Freestyle Relay Div 4 Place 1 Loryne, Imroz, Sophia, Portia

200 Medley Relay Div 4 Place 1 Loryne, Imroz, Sophia, Portia

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the sponsors, volunteers, coaches, and parents who made the Merritt Otters Swim Meet on June 14 and 15 a tremendous success. Your time, energy, support, and generosity were invaluable—we truly could not have done it without each and every one of you. From setup to cheering in the stands, your contributions made a big impact on our swimmers and our community.

Aggregate Winners: Loryne, Ezekiel, Bianca and Sophia (Missing Ellize and Elijah)

Merritt Otters Team with their coaches Bianca and Ashley

SHOW A UNITED FRONT AND WORK TOGETHER TO SUCCEED

UNITED: continued from page 30

students were bused through the charred, fenced remains of the village.

“It was a local person that said it’s like driving past an open casket every day, twice a day,” O’Connor said. “It was frustration, it was not knowing, it was people with PTSD, some couldn’t even come into the town. It was horrible.”

Bernie Fandrich said of the homeowners that had insurance to cover their homes, many had difficulty with their insurance companies.

“Most of them were not at all cooperative,” Bernie said. “They didn’t know what the obligations of the insurance companies were, because this has never happened to them before.”

Thorpe said she met with Interior Health alongside six local First Nation bands and O’Connor to discuss rebuilding the Lytton health centre that was lost in the fire. She said the communities “can’t work in silos.”

“We need to all show a united front and work together if we’re going to succeed, and that, I think, is a lesson learned about the importance of community and collaboration,” Thorpe said.

O’Connor said while the community was no stranger to wildfire, the 2021 event was “unprecedented.”

“It was the first disaster like this,” she said.

O’Connor said she hopes the recovery efforts in Lytton have served as an example to all levels of government.

“Before I was mayor, I used to think, ‘We’re the guinea pigs,” O’Connor said.

“We’re not going to see the same anywhere else, which is a good thing.”

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PHOTO/JOSH DAWSON Lytton mayor Denise O’Connor said 11 homes in the village are now occupied and two more are under construction.

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NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS

MERRITT CROWN RETURNS STRONG WITH NEW TEAM AT THE HELM

LAÍSA CONDÉ editor@merrittherald.com

The Merritt Crown endurance mountain bike race made its return to the Nicola Valley on June 13, drawing 61 riders from across the province to test their stamina and grit on either a 60 kilometres or 120 kilometres course through some of the region’s most rugged terrain.

This year marked a changing of the guard, with Courtney McQueen and her event partner Jeremy Rolle taking over the reins from longtime organizer Kara Delwo.

While it was their first time hosting the event, the duo brought a fresh outlook and a deep commitment to community engagement, environmental stewardship, and showcasing Merritt’s world-class trail network.

“I volunteered at the event last year, so I had a bit of an idea what it was about,” said McQueen. “But hosting it this year gave us the chance to really get to know all the ins and outs. It’s been an incredible experience.”

One of the most memorable moments for McQueen came at the finish line, where Darch Oborne, the founder of the Merritt Crown and a well-known local trail advocate, was on hand to congratulate riders.

Feedback from riders was overwhelmingly positive, especially about improvements to course marking.

Organizers added more arrows and flagged sections to ensure riders didn’t have to rely entirely on their GPS devices. It was a change riders clearly appreciated.

“When the first 120-kilometre finisher crossed the line, he took his helmet off and said, ‘That was the hardest race I’ve ever done,’” McQueen recalled with a laugh.

“Darch just nodded and said ‘That’s good.’

That moment really captured what the Crown is about. It’s tough, it’s rewarding, and it’s something to be proud of finishing.”

Behind the scenes, the event was powered by a small but passionate team.

McQueen, Jeremy, and Jeremy’s wife, who managed volunteers, were joined by members of the Merritt Mountain Bike Association, who helped with course marking early in the week. A crew of about ten volunteers supported aid stations and logistics, while Darch and his wife anchored the finish line and helped serve food.

We really want to build an event that the whole community of Merritt feels proud of, something they can participate in, volunteer at, or even just come out and enjoy.

Courtney McQueen

“Having Darch there meant so much,” she said. “He helped us with some of the organizing and then showed up to cheer on every rider at the finish. It just felt like a full-circle moment to have the original creator of the Crown back to see it carry on.”

This year’s race welcomed 61 participants, a smaller turnout than in previous editions, but McQueen sees that as an opportunity.

“We’re hoping to grow those numbers again in future years. We really want to build an event that the whole community of Merritt feels proud of, something they can participate in, volunteer at, or even just come out and enjoy.”

“Planning starts months in advance.

We opened registration in early December and we made several trips to Merritt ahead of time to scout trails,” said McQueen. “The community support, especially from the Mountain Bike Association, was amazing.”

But the team’s attention didn’t stop at organizing the race itself, they were also committed to minimizing environmental impact.

McQueen addressed concerns some residents had about trail markings being left behind, noting that the team always removes ribbons after the event and even picks up existing litter as they go.

“This year, we saw some notes written on our flags saying ‘This is littering,’” she said.

“I wish there was a better understanding that we absolutely clean up after ourselves and often more than that. We want the

trails to be better after we leave than when we arrived.”

The event also gives back financially. Proceeds support the Merritt Mountain Bike Association, which maintains and upgrades the local trail network.

“The work they do – building bridges, maintaining trails – it’s incredible,” said McQueen. “And it makes these kinds of events possible.”

Looking ahead, the organizing team is already brainstorming ways to make the Merritt Crown more accessible and community-centered.

A shorter 30-kilometre route is in the works for future editions, which would open the event to more casual riders and even families.

There’s also been discussion about shifting the start and finish lines into town rather than the current location at the Coutlee Mountain Bike Trail and Rec Site.

“We’re weighing the pros and cons of that,” said McQueen. “There are real advantages to keeping the start and finish

up in the wilderness, but we also see the potential for more community involvement if it’s closer to town.”

For McQueen, the ultimate goal is more than just hosting a successful endurance race. It’s about building connections between visitors and the landscape, between riders and volunteers, and between the race and the Merritt community at large.

“We’d love to hear from people in Merritt,” she said. “Even if they’re not riders. If you have feedback or ideas or concerns, we want to hear them. We’re here to create something lasting and inclusive.”

The Merritt Crown may be one of the toughest mountain bike races in B.C., but McQueen hopes it will also become one of the most meaningful for riders and residents alike.

“It’s not just about pushing limits on a bike,” she said. “It’s about discovering the land, respecting it, and coming together as a community to celebrate it.”

PHOTO/ROWAN SMART

Riders push through the steep and scenic backcountry of the Nicola Valley during the Merritt Crown on June 13.

MERRITT YOUTH SOCCER SHINES IN OUT-OF-TOWN

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

As soccer season in Merritt comes to a close, coaches and players within Merritt Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) are reflecting on a successful season for the club.

Success for the club this season came from their good play in two out-of-town tournaments this year in Ashcroft and Clearwater.

During the tournament in Ashcroft, the U10 and U13 teams placed second and third in their respective divisions.

The kids had great games during this tournament, but it wasn’t until the Clearwater tournament on June 7 and 8 that they really found their footing.

Great play from the U10 team earned themselves a first place finish in their age-bracket, while the U13 team got themselves a second place finish.

“These results speak to the growing

strength of the soccer program in Merritt. There’s a lot of talent in Merritt and participation in these tournaments are so beneficial to our development,” said Paul Sutton, vice-president of MYSA, in an email to the Herald.

“As the MYSA soccer season winds down, we reflect on this success and use it as motivation to keep the game growing in our community,” the email continued.

MYSA thanks their sponsors, specifically McDonalds, Teck Resources and Nicola Valley Sports.

MYSA will be partnering with Soccer Quest from Kamloops, B.C. to be bringing a summer soccer camp to Merritt which will take place in Voght Park from July 28 to Aug. 1.

Age ranges for the camp are U13, U11 and U9 kids.

Interested participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.

BARREL SERIES BACK TO THE NICOLA VALLEY RODEO GROUNDS

PHOTO/MERRITT YOUTH SOCCER

U13- Runners up of the 2025 Footy Fest in Clearwater, B.C.

HOCKEY CANADA EXPANDS WCDM PILOT PROJECT THAT INCLUDES KIJHL

TIMOTHY SCHAFER Castanet

The Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project will expand its scope for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on roster composition.

Announced in July 2024, the WCDM pilot project is a joint initiative between Hockey Canada’s four western members, their respective Junior A hockey leagues and the Western Hockey League (WHL) that prioritizes athlete development on and off the ice through four key pillars:

– Player advancement;

– Roster composition;

– Standard of play and rules; and

– Alignment and messaging.

“Throughout the WCDM pilot project, the four western members and six junior leagues have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to bringing forward innovative and creative solutions to enhance the delivery of hockey in Western Canada for players and their families,” said Katherine Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada.

Development Model has created exciting new opportunities for our league and member clubs to help develop players for advancement to the Western Hockey League,” said KIJHL commissioner Jeff Dubois.

“We’ve already started to experience these benefits through the increased number of WHL drafted, listed and signed players competing in the KIJHL as well as the tremendous growth of the BCHC Prospects Game.”

Next season, five additional changes will be implemented as part of the pilot:

– Western Junior A teams will be permitted to register up to five U.S.-born players at one time on their active roster, a decrease from the previous six;

– 16- and 17-year-old U.S.-born players who have been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team will be eligible to be rostered by any western Junior A team;

“The expansion of the pilot will ensure that our system continues to evolve to meet the needs of our participants, prioritizes their safety on and off the ice and produces high-quality junior hockey throughout Western Canada for years to come.”

The initial season of the pilot project introduced eight changes to junior hockey in Western Canada, including increased flexibility in the development pathway for 15 and 16 year olds, the choice to wear half-face protection for players 18 years of age or older and streamlined playing rules between Junior A leagues and the WHL.

“The KIJHL’s participation in the Western Canadian

– Each western Junior A team will be eligible to roster one 16- or 17-year-old player whose parent(s) reside(s) outside of their province or region, if the player has been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team. (Up to a maximum of 23 such players across all western Junior A teams, or one player from each WHL team.);

– Out-of-province players who participate in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) will be eligible to affiliate with Western Junior A teams in their school’s respective province or region; and – No more than eight players born in a province not participating in the WCDM may be registered on the active roster of a western Junior A team.

Data from the WCDM pilot project will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with the expectation that additional changes will be introduced in future seasons.

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

PHOTO/LAÍSA CONDÉ

Hockey Canada’s development model altered the roster regulations for KIJHL and western Junior A teams.

CLASSIFIEDS

www.merritthospice.org Email:merritthospice@shaw.ca

Gerry: July4,2014 &Brenda:July

Andhandinhand, Ontheedgeofthesand, Theydancedbythelightofthemoon It’sbeen11yearsnow.Weallmissyoueveryday. We loveyouboth. Love,Cathy, Dwight,Christy, Patrick,Sofia,Josie,Joel,Heather,Charlie, Walker,Sawyer,Cindy,Heidi,Cody,andJessica

October 31, 1945 – May 21, 2025

With deep sadness, we share the passing of Maureen Tudor (Mama Moe) on May 21, 2025, at the age of 79. She passed peacefully at Gillis House in Merritt, BC. Her family is deeply grateful to the staff in the Multi and Special Care Units for their compassion and care in her final years. Maureen was born on October 31, 1945, in New Westminster, BC, at Royal Columbian Hospital. True to her Halloween birthday, she was a spirited woman with a wild heart, a bold way with words, and a presence you never forgot.

She was predeceased by her husband, Sidney Tudor, and by Al Hollick, a significant part of her life who supported her in raising the girls and remained an important part of her journey.

She is survived by her children Laura (Dennis) MacDonald, Angela (Brian) Holmes, and Ken (Sonya) Hollick; grandchildren Sedona Rose MacDonald, Carter Holmes, and Daxon Holmes; and her lifelong best friend, Joan Keller.

A Celebration of Life will be held in July 2025 at the Merritt Seniors Hall, connected to the museum. All who shared in Maureen’s life are welcome to attend.

To honour Maureen’s memory, donations or snack contributions to the Multi and Special Care Units at Gillis House are welcome. Instead of flowers, remember her in your own way — with a story or a smile.

Maureen Tudor

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Dodds AUCTION

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 reconciliation

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

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Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

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Computer manufacturer

Noted space station

Kurt Russell film “Captain”

Automaton

Everyone has one

Incline from the vertical

Fights

Dunn & Bradstreet (abbr.)

Finishes off

Creative expression

Fiber from the outer husk of a coconut

City in ancient Syria

More disturbed

Pays no attention to

Competitions

Lyric poems

Famed American lawman

18. Places to store things

20. Dutch painter Gerard __ 21. Smaller quantity 22. There’s a North, South and Central of these 25. In an early way

More spacious

Short-term memory

One who possesses

Sesame

12. Expression of disappointment

Scars 19. Satisfy 23. Central European river 24. Brass instrument 25. One who gets paid to perform

26. Propel with oars 27. Long period of time 28. Woman (French) 29. Type of plane

Forbid

A way to explain

Not around

Evoke or suggest

Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea

Dekameter

50. Fencing sword 55. “Luther” actor Idris 56. Affirmative (slang) 57. Afflicted 59. One point north of northeast 60. Born of 61. Arabic name

Pitching stat

Pointed end of a pen

Pro sports league

Body part

Inoffensive

Yellowish cotton

Feline

Does not tell the truth

Set out to attract

Hong Kong food stall: __ pai dong

Not the start

45. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation

Abba __, Israeli politician

Repair

Genus of flowering plants

51. Tributary of the High Rhine

52. Prejudice

53. C. European river 54. Restrain

Father

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