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B.C. ALLOCATES MILLIONS MORE INTO MERRITT’S FLOOD PROTECTION

The next step in protecting Merritt against flooding has been completed as Merritt receives millions in funding to start the Middlesboro dike.

On Friday, May 9, the provincial government announced they were giving a total of $3.56 million to Merritt for dike installation, equipment and hazard identification for future projects.

Of the money, $3.4 million is being invested into the Middlesboro dike, which will protect Middlesboro and the downtown core.

“Local governments are on the front lines of responding to climate-related emergencies and the need for proactive, community-driven solutions has never been greater,” said Trish Mandewo, president of UBCM in a press release on the B.C. funding Friday, May 9. The funds for Merritt were given through a provincially funded program, the Disaster Resilience and Innovation

FUNDING: continued on page 3

SPORTS

Rodeo season starts, sports teams at MSS experience highs and lows, dance academy wins multiple awards.

PHOTO Matthias Wiegand

RIDERS OF THE RODEO: It’s the beginning of rodeo season in Merritt. Start the season off as high schoolers from Merritt Secondary School compete in bull riding and lasso competitions. See page 18

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

FUNDING

FROM FEDS WANTED

ALLOCATES: continued from page 1

Funding (DRIF) program.

The funding is part of a province-wide initiative worth $40 million to provide support for first nations and local governments against the threat of natural disasters.

Merritt’s Middlesboro Phase One dike is the second highest-costing project funded of all 61 projects, just shy of Pitt Meadows, who received $3.65 million to install upgrades to their water pumping station.

“With support from the DRIF program, we now have the funding to complete a vital section of the flood protection dike that was previously unfunded. This project will safeguard Merritt’s homes, businesses and infrastructure from future floods, ensuring the long-term safety from our community,” said Mayor Mike Goetz in a public statement on the funding.

While the funding is a positive development in disaster resilience in this town, the city said in a public statement that it is still looking for funding for other parts of the flood mitigation project, which now has five unfunded projects.

The statement also said they are considering another e-petition to parliament. The last e-petition reached its signature goal, but was closed as the dissolution of parliament took place.

Sean Strang, director of flood recovery and mitigation within the City of Merritt, said while the B.C. government has been good in its support of flood mitigation efforts, he is also looking to the federal government to start its support.

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

A DREAM COME TRUE: ATV CLUB EYES NEW TRAILS

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Off-road riders and explorers can rejoice as the Nicola Valley ATV club (NVATC) is looking to claim their stake of backroad country, putting in a tenure to take over local trails.

The new land will cover around 30 km of trail and road on the Stumbles Forest Service Road area in B.C. The tenure will allow the ATV club to maintain the roads and upgrade them with signage, mapping and an ATV staging area.

Weisse said that they would also plan to re-open closed mining roads for riding.

“This is the start. There’s trails all over every mountain here that you see around this town, but there’s nothing legally set in place where we’re allowed to claim those trails and say they’re ours,” Weisse said.

Barkman Concrete has also donated material to the construction of the staging area.

“It’s been a dream of mine,” said NVATVC vice-president Wayne Weisse. “(It’s) for my kids, for my grandkids. If we get an area like this, (it’s) going to be here forever.”

The work is expected to be done in two phases costing a total of $18,000, all of which has been covered by grants from places such as Walmart, No Frills and the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.

The first phase will cover the clean-up and development of the Stumbles Forest Service Rd. entryway or parking lot. The plan is to turn that section of land into an ATV staging area. Weisse even described the area as a “campsite”

including a three-sided billboard which would help with directions, rules and etiquette and support local first nations through a partnership.

This first phase of the project is also to show the province that the club is a responsible maintainer of the land, and would help them get approval for phase two.

“We’re trying to show we are responsible people of the bush,” he said.

The second phase would be acquiring the trails. The tenure is regulated under section 57 of the Forest and Range Practices Act. Approval would allow the club to provide construction and maintenance on the trails, as well as build recreational facilities.

NVATVC said their plans have been supported by local First Nations groups such as Lower Nicola Indian Band and Shackan Indian Band. Part of this partnership between the club and bands will be an educational one. Weisse said they are working on having some of the signage feature writing on Indigenous values of the area’s plants and berries.

Wildfire mitigation is also a potential benefit of the maintained trails. NVATVC president Kevin Joinson said he suspects that paved trails with no vegetation could provide a buffer against wildfire, in which some of the trails had been hit with previously.

NVATVC is also giving thanks to Outdoor Recreation Council of BC and Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

PHOTO/TY LIM Nicola Valley ATV club members using an excavator to move debris out of their staging area.

MERRITT SUPPORTS MCHAPPY DAY

Citizens of Interior B.C. once again united to support their local hospital on McHappy Day.

McHappy Day, an annual event on May 8, supports the Ronald McDonald House in multiple hospitals in Canada.

The program provides a temporary home for families with hospitalized children to stay.

Across the country there are 19 Ronald McDonald programs, some of which are fully-supported housing for long-term stay, and others family rooms equipped with a kitchen and other amenities.

B.C. currently has two Ronald McDonald House programs; a long-term stay in Vancouver and a family room in Surrey. A third is soon being added in Kamloops, B.C. at the Royal Inland Hospital.

The location at the Royal Inland Hospital is being partially funded by money raised by McDonalds in Kamloops and Merritt on McHappy Day. McDonalds owner of six locations in Kamloops and Merritt, Brandy GozdaSekhon, said her locations raised over $100,000 last McHappy Day.

“My family has been a supporter of the Ronald McDonald House for well over 40 years,” she said.

Gozda-Sekhon said it was her father’s - who was the previous owner of the Kamloops and Merritt McDonalds before Brandy bought them after he retired - idea to bring the Ronald McDonalds centre to Interior B.C.

“Terry Lake (former Health Minister of B.C.) and my dad talked to Interior Health and they got this passed. Ronald McDonald House got on board and they saw that the smaller communities around us really needed it,” she said.

Gozda-Sekhon explained how the

Ronald McDonald House will support municipalities in all communities around Kamloops.

“Merritt, Logan Lake, Ashcroft, Spences Bridge. All those smaller communities are actually the ones that are going to benefit from it more,” she said.

Currently 28 per cent of Ronald McDonald House users come from Interior B.C. according to her.

She also said with the high amount of hospital closures in these small towns, Ronald McDonald House’s fully stocked kitchen, TV area, bedroom and washroom is a much needed service for families bringing their kids to the hospital.

“(If your child is sick) Where are you going to stay? Where are you going to eat? Where are you going to go because you don’t have the ability to just run home for a quick second to take a shower,” she said.

“Merritt is definitely one that, especially with the trials and tribulations of our hospital, that you have to send your child to Kamloops to receive care.”

She explained how the family room will be like an apartment. It was fully furnished with items provided by her husband, Sonny Sekhon, owner of City Furniture in Merritt. There will also be groceries provided for families to make their own dinner.

As of past McHappy days, GozdaSekhon has been very pleased with Merritt’s support.

“The community support is always great. Merritt always really rallies around it. Merritt does a phenomenal job of raising funds. They are usually a leader in the pack for the country, which is phenomenal, and it’s astounding what a small town can do,” she said.

PHOTO/TY LIM

Brandy Gozda-Sekhon (right) with her husband, Sonny Sekhon (left) at her McDonalds in Merritt.

ARTIST FOSTERS HER CREATIVE SIDE

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Merrittonians are invited to step into a “world without rules” as they explore the Growing Creativity art exhibition at Nicola Valley Community Arts Council.

Local artist Cathy Cox headlines the art gallery’s fifth feature exhibition of the year. Like many others, Cox’s show features a wide variety of different artistic techniques; including water paintings, mosaics, magazine collages and pottery. Separating herself from the pack, Cox brought a new artistic element to her show that plays to the sense of hearing, music.

During the exhibition’s opening day on May 2, Cox played music to the crowd of onlookers along with her band, the Strange Companions, which is composed of all Nicola Valley based musicians formed around 15 years ago.

“I was always interested in art and music,” Cox said.

Her artistic talent stems from the roots of her family. Cox’s mother was a painter. As Cox grew older she began to explore her artistic side, going to school for it in her original home in Thunder Bay. Afterwards, she decided to change careers, finally settling on accounting after getting her marketing degree. At her accounting job, she finds she is still able to utilize her creative history in her day-to-day problem solving.

On the side, she was always able to keep her artistic skills sharp; through forming a musical band or dabbling in a new form of art like photo collages, Cox has always explored new ways to ignite

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her passion.

“Over the years, I’ve come in and out of different mediums,” she said. “Sometimes my music takes front and centre for several years and I won’t paint at all, and then I’ll get it (painting) out again.”

The idea of unrestrained artform is a core of Cox’s philosophy. She believes artists get their best ideas after they start the creative process.

“I start doing something, and then I get ideas. Everything just evolves like that,” she said.

As Cox explores the many facets of being a well-rounded artist, she has recently found herself captivated with the concept of photo collages.

Like many of her pieces are, whether that be her watercolour paintings or her mosaics, Cox’s art is heavily inspired by scenes from the real world.

“The thing I’m most enthralled by now is the collage. It’s just so free. You start doing it and ideas come to you, and so often I’m mimicking a picture, or it’s just imagination or somebody gave me an idea of what they like to see,” she said.

One of her standout pieces is a collage creating Anne Bancroft, an actress in a movie Cox considers a “classic”, known as The Graduate.

As Cox is a seasoned veteran at hobby art, she gives word of advice to young artists after having her first show.

“The main thing is to try to be brave,” she said. “the process of doing the art is so fun, and I always find that the finished product is the bonus.”

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PHOTO/TY LIM

Cathy Cox in the art gallery holding her favourite piece of work.

NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT

ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY?: UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS

Healthy Conversations

Emotions are an essential part of being human. They help us process experiences, connect with others, and navigate our inner world. But have you ever noticed yourself leaning into one emotion more than others?

Whether it’s anger, sadness, happiness, fear, joy, or calm, your emotional patterns might be trying to tell you something.

Each emotion we feel is tied to specific chemicals in the body. For example, stress hormones like cortisol rise when we’re angry or scared, while serotonin and dopamine are associated with joy and pleasure. Over time, our brains can develop a preference— or even an addiction—to certain emotional states because of the chemicals they release.

If you often find yourself stuck in one emotion, such as anger, it can be helpful to

become curious about it. Rather than suppressing or ignoring the feeling, try “making friends” with it. Journaling is a great tool for this. Writing out your thoughts can reveal what’s behind the emotion—unmet needs, past experiences, or unresolved conflicts.

Talking with a trusted friend or therapist can also provide support and perspective. They can help you explore the roots of your emotions in a safe, nonjudgmental space.

Mindfulness practices like meditation, yoga, or walking meditations can help regulate your nervous system and offer a buffer against emotional overwhelm. These practices ground us in the present moment and help us respond rather than react.

The good news? Our brains are remarkably adaptable. By becoming aware of our emotional habits and gently interrupting them with healthier alternatives, we can rewire our brains toward balance and resilience.

Being emotionally healthy doesn’t mean you’re happy all the time—it means you’re able to feel a full range of emotions without being controlled by any single one. Emotional health is a journey, and small steps can lead to profound shifts.

THE PRESTIGE: HOW FAR WILL YOU GO IN PURSUIT OF GREATNESS?

In an age when spectacle often overshadows substance, The Prestige (2006) stands as a rare cinematic illusion — a film that tricks the eye while interrogating the soul.

Directed by Christopher Nolan and adapted from Christopher Priest’s novel, The Prestige is far more than a tale of rival magicians in Victorian London. It is a meditation on obsession, sacrifice, and the very nature of storytelling itself.

At its core, The Prestige is built on a narrative sleight of hand. It tells the story of Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), two illusionists whose professional rivalry spirals into a deadly vendetta.

Their battle of wits is as thrilling as any high-stakes game, but Nolan doesn’t stop

at suspense. He weaves a structure that mirrors the very concept of a magic trick — The Pledge, The Turn, and The Prestige — embedding these elements into the film’s DNA.

But The Prestige is more than structural cleverness. It’s a character study in extremes. Borden is the purist, the artist who gives everything — even love — for the sake of his craft. Angier, conversely, is the performer, consumed not by the art itself but by the need to be the best. Their contrasting motivations form a cautionary tale about the costs of greatness, and how easily ambition can curdle into obsession.

Few films challenge the audience to reconsider everything they’ve seen quite like The Prestige. It is a puzzle box, yes, but one with an emotional core. The twist — and there are several — is not just a narrative gimmick.

It recontextualizes the film’s moral landscape, forcing the viewer to reckon with questions that linger long after the credits roll. What are we willing to

sacrifice in pursuit of perfection? Can true greatness ever come without deceit?

Visually, the film is restrained but exacting. Wally Pfister’s cinematography captures the gaslit gloom of the era with painterly precision, while David Julyan’s score pulses with a haunting tension. The cast delivers career-best performances, particularly Bale’s, which reveals its brilliance only in retrospect.

Nolan, a filmmaker often criticized for coldness or overcomplexity, strikes a rare balance here. The Prestige is cerebral, yes, but never sterile. It’s a film with heart — a dark, twisted heart, perhaps, but one that beats with passion.

In an era crowded with content, The Prestige endures not because it dazzles, but because it demands our attention. It doesn’t merely entertain, it challenges. Like the best magic tricks, it leaves you marveling not just at how it was done, but why you believed it in the first place.

A nd that, perhaps, is the ultimate prestige.

BONNIE DIXON

The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Email letters to: newsroom@merrittherald.com.

LETTERS to the Editor

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION A FUNCTIONAL ALTERNATIVE IN ELECTIONS?

Dear Editor,

The response to a recent poll on Castanet, here in Kelowna, ‘Should Canada implement a system of Proportional Representation for federal elections’, was very encouraging.

The poll confirms and complements the results of a very comprehensive national survey conducted by federal NDP MP Nathan Cullen some years ago, that established an overwhelming majority of Canadians want some form of a Proportional political system.

A Proportional ballot separating the party vote from the candidate vote is the only ballot that will completely destroy that incredible lock our party and government leaders have assumed over our current and dysfunctional colonial political system.

Separating those votes is like using two separate ballots, each completely independent of the other. The parties will now be awarded the number of seats they should have according to the popular vote, nothing more – nothing less - and people are free to vote for any of the candidates on those ballots, regardless of party associations.

A vote for a party is no longer a vote for that party’s candidate, and a vote for any of the candidates on that ballot is not a vote for that candidate’s party.

Democracy is all about consensus-based decisions made by the people, not the politicians. An incredible contrast to our current out-of-control wannabee dictators engaged in unrestrained pursuit of their distorted dreams and ambitions.

The President of a very dynamic and democratic European Parliament representing about 375 million eligible voters, has no more power than any of the other 719 members (MEPs) – one vote.

– Andy Thomsen Kelowna, B.C.

ELECTION OVER, NOW IS THE TIME FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY

Dear Editor,

The 2025 Canadian Election may be over, but the need for advocacy is far from it. Now is the moment to press forward, not retreat. Our newly elected government must understand that Canada’s long standing commitment to global leadership in health, education, and human rights cannot waver.

In a world marked by rising instability and deepening inequalities, Canada has a moral and strategic responsibility to lead with integrity and purpose. We must continue shaping a world where every person, regardless of gender, age, or background, is given the opportunity to thrive.

I speak from experience when I say that being underestimated because of who you are is not just frustrating, it’s unjust. My age and gender should not have been the determining factor of my worth, in fact, nothing should because I believe so deeply we are all equal. No one should have to fight for what is inherently their right.

Now is not the time for silence. We urge our government to step up and take meaningful action on the world stage, because Canada can be the catalyst for transformative global change. Let’s not waste the momentum. Let’s build a future where dignity, equity, and humanity are non-negotiable. Canada has the ability to be the spark that can begin a global movement that saves our world!

– Bernice Ko Vancouver, B.C.

Are you more stressed about your finances now than you were a year ago?

A LOOK BACK

FORMER NOOAITCH CHIEF BREAKS GROUND AS B.C. VICE-CHIEF

TA Merritt Native Band woman has broken barriers for other women aspiring to be politicians.

Ko’waintco Linda Shackelly, chief of the Nooaitch Band, is the new Vice Chief of B.C., a title that means she works in direct consultation with the national level of government, hte Assembly of First Nations. She is only the second woman to attain this title, following in the footsteps of her mentor Wendy Grant who was the first female Vice Chief in Canada.

“She just decided to step down,” Shackelly said.

As the provincial Vice Chief, Shackelly has many responsibilites including addressing concerns of Native residents.

These concerns involve everything from ensuring Natives have more say when it comes to healthcare to following the provincial government campaign currently going on.

“I am concerned with the provincial election,” Shackelly said. She worries about which provincial party will be in power during the next term because some parties have indicated they do not want to work with the Native treaty process.

“The NDP has shown they will work with us, others have not,” Shackelly said...

MAY 15, 1996

FLOOD DANGER RISING

“The snow pack is melting at an unusually low rate for this time of the year,” ministry public affairs coordinator Pat Kilt said.

“The risk (of flooding) is higher than normal and it is a concern,” said Kilt.

Normal melting in the higher elevations begins in April said Kilt and the slow run off allows water to flow easily through small river streams.

However, this year meltting is approximately two weeks later than normal and officials are concerned that a fast warm could trigger an unusal fast melt.

“We would like it (tempature) to stay around the 20s and then cool in the evening.”

The majority of the melt is completed by the muddle of June.

In November, Merritt fire fighers...

Open House

EngagewithCityCouncilandStaff. LearnaboutCityProjects. Getanswers to yourquestions. Shareyourfeedback.

TheCit yofMerrittisupdating its Oﬃcial Communit y Plan (OCP) to betteraddress housingneeds,align with provincial requirements,and streamlinedevelopment approvalprocesses. Proposed changesinclude:

•CompliancewithSmall ScaleMultiUnitHousing (SSMUH)legislation

•Alignment with TNRD’s Regional Grow th Strategy TI

AC TICE THEGOODNEIGHBOUR BYLAW! Allpropert yownersarerequired to maintain theirlot sand preventunsightly conditions, includinguncontrolledlandscaping, lack of maintenance, anddebris. (BYL AW 2387,2024)

Let’sworktogethertokeepour neighbourhoods cleanand safe.Helpmakeour communit ywelcoming foreveryone!

•Incorporationofthe City’s 20 -year housingneeds as identiﬁed in the2024Housing NeedsA ssessment

• WINTER 2024/2025: Background Research &Project Scoping

• SPRING 2025: Public Engagement

• SUMMER 2025: DraftingofAmendment s

• FALL 2025: CouncilConsiderationand Adoption

Property TaxNotice

INPERSON PAYMENTMUSTBERECEIVED BY JULY 2,2025 |4:30PM

RECOMMENDED BANK PAYMENTDEADLINE JUNE23,2025 MENT DEADLINE TO ALLOW FOR PROCESSING TIME

AVOIDPENALTIES: Paying throughyourbank or by mail cant akeseveral days to process. To avoidpenalties, payyourt axes wellin advance of thedeadlineorpay in person at City Hall TaxesreceivedbyCit yHallafter4:30pmon July 2, 2025,aresubjec ttoa 10%penalty

POTENTIAL CANADA POSTSTRIKE mayimpac t themailing of proper ty taxnotices. However, the deadline forpayment will notchange, andpenalties will applytolatepayment s. VisitCit yHallorc all 250-378- 4224 to obtain your Proper ty TaxNotice

CL AIMYOURBCHOMEOWNER GR ANT Homeowners Grants aremanaged by theProvince of BC .You will need information from your municipal Proper ty TaxNotice to complete theclaim.After claiming your grant, ensure youcompleteyour paymenttoCit yHallatleast oneweekbeforethe July 2deadline. Note that unclaimedgrant smean apor tionofyourpropert yt axes remain unpaid.

4WWW.ETA X.GOV. BC .C A/BTP/HOG

BC PROPERTY TA XDEFERRALPROGR AM: Eligible BC homeowners,including seniorsand families,may wish to participate in theProvince of BC’s low-interest TaxDeferment Program. If youare participating, ensure youhavenobalance owingonyouraccount .Propert yt ax arrears, includingunpaidutilit ybills from theprior year, arerepor tedtotheprovince

4WWW2.GOV. BC .C A

GEOGRAPHICAL ART EXHIBIT OPENS

LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com

The Kamloops Art Gallery has been transformed into a speculative, surreal landscape with the opening of Staircases Leading to Nowhere, a major new exhibition by Vancouver-based artist Keith Langergraber.

From May 10 to Aug. 30, the multi-sensory installation invites viewers into a shifting world of floating architectural sculptures, immersive video and sound environments, and sprawling drawings that challenge the boundary between the real and the imagined.

Langergraber’s work draws on historical references, popular culture, and science fiction to reflect on global instability in the wake of the pandemic and the climate emergency.

Familiar and uncanny, his layered installations collapse timelines and geographies, pushing visitors through fractured presents and possible futures.

A central piece in the exhibition is the video work In Hell Everyone Needs a Glass of Water, which begins in the Mojave Desert and follows a fictional character— performed by Langergraber himself—who discovers a mysterious map etched on a ruined wall inside an abandoned mine.

Compelled northward, the character arrives in Ashcroft, B.C., where he becomes obsessed with tracking a sub-herd of wild horses that roam the mountains near the Highland Valley copper mine.

“I know these horses from oral histories and research. They’ve been there way before the mine was,” Langergraber told the Herald. “There needs to be some way of acknowledging and celebrating that this is there too, it’s quite unique.”

The herd, estimated at 250 animals, is under threat from wildfires, drought, and the mine’s environmental impact. Langergraber, who has spent significant time in the area, camping and filming the horses, incorporates this research into drawings, photographs, and a large-scale sculpture—a 30-foot cascading herd of wild

horses suspended in the gallery.

The project was also shaped by the artist’s deep connection to B.C.’s Interior. Raised in West Kelowna and born in Trail, Langergraber reflected on his upbringing in rural environments and his current life in Vancouver.

“I’ve found myself being between these two worlds,” he said. “Since the pandemic, there’s been sort of a political divide between small towns and larger urban centres. I’m not trying to bridge that gap or do anything political… but to allegorically use the unknown that we find in paranormal or in UFO stories to show that moment of uncanny or unfamiliarity.”

That uncanny space is symbolized most poignantly through the motif of staircases, a recurring element throughout the exhibition.

Inspired by eerie stories of staircases appearing in forests and associated with missing time, Langergraber uses both sculptural and cinematic representations of these structures as metaphors for political, cultural, and psychological divisions.

“For whatever reason, staircases became sort of a symbol for where we’re at politically, between these divides between rural and urban,” he said. “They look very ghostly and that’s where I started running with that artistically.”

Blending fact with fiction, Langergraber invites viewers to question what they see and know. His work, though grounded in extensive research, leans heavily into the poetic and philosophical.

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PLUMBING &HEATING

PHOTO/ KEITH LANGERGRABER

Horses at Highland Valley Copper Mine.

SD58 BUDGET IN FINAL STAGES

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Editors note: The budget for NicolaSimilkameen School District 58 has had its second and third reading before being finalized on Wednesday, May 14.

The Thursday, May 15 edition of the Merritt Herald was put together on Tuesday, May 13, meaning some of the information may be out of date. The Herald will be updating this story in the next edition.

Nicola Similkameen School District 58 (SD58) is looking to finalize their budget which includes cuts to teaching and backline staff.

On Wednesday, May 7, the SD58 board had their first reading of the budget. SD58 is looking to cut $1.5 million in spending in order to balance their budget.

The board mentioned that it is important to note school districts are not allowed to operate in a defecit, unlike provincial and federal governing

bodies.

A few pieces of new information were handed to the public during the May 7 meeting.

One of these includes the fact that the district is saving more money on teacher attrition, meaning a few more teachers are retiring or moving to other districts which also means less layoffs.

Some other items of note were clarified. It was previously stated that the board was looking to cut bussing to Collettville Elementary. They stated the cost to run bus routes were too expensive at around $350,000 for one bus and route.

During the meeting it was clarified that transportation from rural areas to Collettville Elementary is still viable through a single bus stopping at Merritt Secondary or Central Elementary.

The budget is looking to be adopted on May 14 after the second and third readings.

STUDENTS BEAD MEDALLIONS AT COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE

National Nursing Week

CREATING A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR NURSES AROUND RURAL

LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com

As communities across the country take time to recognize National Nurses Week, Interior Health is proud to highlight the outstanding efforts of the nurses serving Nicola Valley and the wider Merritt region.

The Herald sat down with Karen Cooper, an executive director for the Cariboo Region at Interior Health, who emphasized the unwavering dedication, compassion, and professionalism that define their work.

“We have a very dedicated core group who have a vested interest in seeing the services in our community be maintained and enhanced. This group in particular is incredibly compassionate. They have a huge problem solving skill set and have really addressed the challenges we’ve experienced at the site with physician shortages and sometimes with shortages on their own team. And they just keep showing up with dedication, high quality skill sets and care and compassion,” she said.

The health authority often recognizes the unique nature of rural healthcare, but Cooper noted that many of the realities faced in Nicola Valley are common across the region. One notable strength is the multigenerational nature

of the nursing workforce.

“We do have, still, some very experienced nurses who take it upon themselves to mentor our new grads and our younger nurses so that they have that longevity of sustainability in an industry that’s very challenging to enter at this time in our healthcare history,” she added.

Nursing begins with a four-year university degree that prepares graduates for a wide range of roles—from hospital care to home and long-term care settings.

Many choose to go further, pursuing additional training in areas like emergency, public health, or mental health.

“People start out with that

foundational learning that they receive in their four years at university,” Cooper explained. “But we’re very blessed that many do choose to further their education to be able to work in those other areas of practice.”

The day-to-day reality of nursing is demanding, with extensive work hours and rotation.

“Most of our shifts in the hospital are 12-hour shifts, and folks would have a rotation that would have a mix of those 12 hours being daytime and nighttime,” she said. “We know that the impact of working at night really does reflect the dedication of these folks, that they want to be the trusted voice of care for patients and families.”

According to Cooper, supporting new nurses is a key priority for the health authority.

“The most important thing is to really be mentoring the new graduates and giving them time in the role to be successful,” she said. “That’s a big part of our onboarding… to really have them be alongside the more experienced nurses, to be an extra set of hands so they have the time to really fully hone and develop their skill sets and learn the full spectrum of the complexity of working in healthcare.”

: continued on page 12

PHOTO/METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

A nurse stands in front of an open ambulance while out on the field.

NURSING

NURSING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES BUILDS SKILL

HEALTHY: continued from page 11

Cooper added that the same commitment applies to any new staff, whether permanent or temporary.

“It’s really important for them to feel welcome, to feel that they understand the work completely, and that they know who to go to when they don’t know what to do… that teamwork, that team approach, is really what we want to foster.”

According to Cooper, another aspect that they aim to keep fostering is a healthy workplace, which helps to attract and retain nurses.

“How do we create a workplace environment that is welcoming, that feels safe, that enables that growth and development, that has the variety of work that’s attractive to both recruit and retain our nursing staff?” she said. “It is a priority to have that check-in, to make sure we’re mentoring effectively, that we create that sense of team.”

She also highlighted the role that public support has in creating a positive atmosphere, by making the staff feel recognized by their dedication and skills.

“The community itself is seen to value the staff within our healthcare services and recognize the level of dedication, compassion and skill sets of the folks that are supporting,” they added.

Cooper also added that in such a demanding field, supporting staff wellbeing is also crucial

for the healthcare system as a whole.

“It is really important that we take care of our nurses,” she said. “We do have an Employee Assistance Program in Interior Health where folks can access mental health support, where they can access growth and learning. There’s just a whole suite of services… because we know the families of our nurses are also on this journey.”

When asked if she felt there was a difference between urban and rural healthcare dedication, Cooper said that she thinks there aren’t any changes.

“I don’t think the dedication changes between urban and rural,” they said. “What I love about rural medicine in general, and rural healthcare provision is just the ability for every day to look completely different, and for staff to rise to that occasion.”

Drawing from personal experience as a physiotherapist in a rural community, Cooper reflected on the rewards of working in these environments.

“That skill set development in rural areas is absolutely, I see that across all the rural sites,” she said. “It really does produce these highly skilled, and we would label them generalists, but I don’t want that to be thought of as lesser than a specialist. It’s able to do anything and everything, and that’s the flavour of a rural nurse.”

HOW WE KEEP OUR NURSES

reporter@merrittherald.com

Representatives from Interior Health (IH) recently met in Merritt during a SILGA conference earlier this month, sharing their strategies for recruitment and retention of nurses and medical practitioners to B.C.’s Interior.

With a worldwide shortage of practitioners, and frequent closures of emergency centres in the Interior, IH shared their

strategies in the human resource department.

“Medical staff is a global priority within B.C., medical staff recruitment is acknowledged as a shared priority, both at a provincial and regional level,” said Taya Sanders, executive director of Medical Strategy and Recruitment at IH.

While she recognized the

RECRUITMENT: continued on page 13

LOCAL RECRUITMENT IS “BEST CHANCE”

NURSES: continued from page 3

demand for healthcare workers is still high and there are still challenges when it comes to recruiting to the Interior, she mentioned IH’s recruitment strategy has made a mark, increasing their “frontline” medical workers by 26 per cent over the last five years. Last year saw an increase of 1702 employees according to IH.

“What this tells us is that more people are joining the organization than leaving it, and that recruitment is attracting talent that is choosing to stay,” said Sanders.

Out of the entire frontline operation, Sanders said it was the nurses, licensed practical nurses and care needs workers who saw the most growth in their ranks.

A large part of this growth can be attributed to provincial incentives and programs allowing easier transitions for graduates into the workforce, as well as incentives for workers to move to the Interior.

For example, the rural and remote recruitment initiative was introduced last April. It is a $20,000 signing bonus for a new - or an employee who worked in a city - employee to work in a rural community for two years.

Sanders said of those incentives offered to nursing positions, 136 have

been taken out of a total of 247 offered.

To keep employees, a retention bonus of $2,000 per quarter was also added. Sanders said the bonus has decreased vacancy rates by three to five per cent.

She said IH has had a heavy focus on hiring new graduates for the last four years.

“We have close ties with each of the schools across the Interior Health region, but we also extend our efforts across the province and across the country,” she said.

According to Sanders, over 700 graduates have been put into the IH system since 2023.

New programs have also helped those with little experience in healthcare get that and get compensated, through the Health Career Access Program (HCAP).

According to Sanders this program has helped communities recruit locally. Last year over 280 people were hired through this program.

“We know that our best chance of recruiting and retaining somebody in a rural, remote community is to hire somebody that already lives there, and this program helps to support that approach,” she said.

NURSING OPPORTUNITIES AT NVIT

Healthcare assistants in the Nicola Valley have a chance to break into the nursing industry through Nicola Valley Institute of Technology’s (NVIT) Access to Nursing Program.

Students in this program partake in hands-on learning experiences, as they shadow nurses in Nicola Valley Hospital and Healthcare Centre or in other partnered hospitals.

As a practicum program, the access to nursing program requires at least 600 hours of work as a healthcare assistant or equivalent to apply.

Spotted Fawn, department chair of health programs at NVIT, said a portion of graduates have been able to work in their local community afterwards.

“Some of our graduates, have actually

INDIGENOUS: continued on page 14

INDIGENOUS LEARNING VALUED

gone into work at the hospital (Nicola Valley Hospital and Healthcare Centre),” Fawn said.

According to Fawn, the health department is looking into installing a pathways program for the access to practical nursing program, which would provide a stipend in exchange for a year of service work in a hospital.

Fawn said through the APN program, they’ve seen spots filled in IHA hospitals that have been hard to fill in the past.

“There’s no guaranteed job when they get done the program, but there are job openings and casual positions available (that the program filled) that have been hard to fill in the past. So it’s nice that we’re seeing local people become completing the program and then being able to work in the community,” she said said.

“We’ve got some new mannequins for simulation education, so that really is there to better the outcome of the nurses when they come through the program and they have more simulation to practice on.”

Fawn said the college also heavily involves Indigenous values in their learning.

“In light of truth and reconciliation, there’s a huge push for healthcare workers to come into the field that know a little bit about Indigenous culture and background and how to better serve the communities,” she said.

She said the college has many Indigenous instructors in their healthcare field and they are actively always looking for Indigenous learners.

“I think that would that recruitment of Indigenous nursing students is a little bit tricky, but it’s a little bit easier when we have Indigenous instructors and Indigenous people (teaching),”

This emphasis on Indigenous learning is to train nurses to work in localized communities that have populations of First Nations peoples.

“We try to recruit Indigenous learners as much as we can,” she said. “(We try to) Educate someone in their own community and build capacity there (for them) and then for them to be able to work in that area without ever having to ever move away, because that can be pretty disruptive and traumatic for some people.”

MAINTAINING NURSING RATIOS

LAÍSA CONDÉ

newsroom@merrittherald.com

As British Columbia celebrates National Nursing Week, a critical and long-awaited shift is unfolding in the province’s healthcare system — the implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios.

For decades, nurses in B.C. have called for mandated staffing levels to ensure safe patient care and sustainable working conditions. Now, after more than 20 years of advocacy, real change is finally on the horizon.

According to the 2023–24 Annual Report, the BC Nurses’ Union represents more than 48,000 professional nurses and allied health-care workers who provide care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities across the province.

These frontline workers are the backbone of B.C.’s healthcare system and they have been advocating for safer working conditions and better care standards for decades.

In April 2023, the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) negotiated a groundbreaking agreement directly with the provincial government, the first of its kind in Canada, to establish nurse-to-patient ratios across the healthcare system. This marks a historic moment not only for nurses in B.C. but also for the entire country.

“This is something that we’ve been asking for over 20 years,” said Adriane Gear, president of the BC Nurses’ Union. “What this means is that, right now, there’s limited requirements to maintain safe staffing levels. There’s a high degree of variability depending on where you are in the province — and that’s a problem.”

Currently, patients in B.C. face a postcode lottery when it comes to nursing care. Whether you’re a cardiac

patient in the Interior, on Vancouver Island, or in the Lower Mainland, the level of nursing care can vary dramatically. Compounding this issue is a severe and ongoing nursing shortage.

“Frankly, patients are not receiving the care that they require or deserve in some instances,” Gear said. “For nurses, that means not meeting practice standards, which puts their license at risk. And beyond that, there’s no job satisfaction if you can’t do your job properly.”

The new agreement isn’t just about numbers — it’s about transforming patient care and nurse safety.

“Ratios create quality practice environments for nurses and improve patient outcomes — fewer mortality rates, reduced readmissions, and shorter hospital stays. When nurses can observe and monitor their patients properly, they can intervene sooner.”

One of the key wins in the agreement is the 1:4 ratio for medical-surgical units, applied 24/7 — a first in North America.

“Other jurisdictions might have a 1:4 ratio for a 12-hour day shift, but we’ve gone further,” said Gear. “It’s a testament to B.C. leading the way.”

Critical care settings, such as intensive care units, have also been standardized to a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio.

“What we know is that in practice, some ICU nurses are still caring for two or more patients. If a patient requires intensive care, they should have their own nurse. That will become the standard,” she added Gear acknowledged that trust in government promises has been historically low among nurses.

“When the agreement was first made, many were skeptical. I was skeptical. We’ve had promises before that didn’t

RATIOS: continued on page 16

PROPER RATIOS CREATE A WANT-TO-WORK CULTURE

MAINTAINING: continued from page 15

come to fruition,” she said. “But I’ve become a believer. When I looked at the evidence, and saw what was achieved in other jurisdictions despite their own shortages. I knew this could work.”

She described how some units have already begun staffing toward the new ratios, even before full implementation.

“It created a culture where people wanted to work. Units weren’t shortstaffed. People volunteered for overtime because it wasn’t unsafe anymore.”

Still, she emphasized the need to hold the health authorities and government accountable.

The rollout of ratios is being managed through Joint Regional Implementation Committees (JRICS), with equal representation from the union and health authority leadership.

Each health authority — from Interior Health to Fraser, Island, and Northern Health — is responsible for applying the agreed ratios to their specific units.

“It’s not the same across the board,” said Gear. “Some are doing it geographically, some by care area. Rural and remote areas are especially challenging — sometimes it’s literally just one nurse, without support staff. We’re building in

redundancies there because those nurses might have to accompany patients during transfers to higher-level care.”

While the B.C. Ministry of Health has allowed flexibility in how health authorities implement the changes, the focus has been largely on medical and surgical units in the early phase.

Gear said units undergoing this process are considered “activated” — once additional staffing lines are posted and filled to meet ratio requirements.

“We are seeing signs of activation, but the truth is, very few nurses are currently feeling the impact,” she said.

“When you compare what’s been negotiated to what nurses are actually experiencing — six, seven, even nine patients per nurse — the shift to a 1:4 ratio is huge.”

The most pressing challenge is the shortage of nurses.

“I wish I had a magic wand. We don’t have enough nurses in the system. But it’s not just about numbers. Working conditions are a huge barrier — violence, burnout, lack of respect. If we can’t keep nurses safe, we can’t keep

them, period.”

Currently, 46 nurses a month in B.C. file WorkSafe claims due to workplace violence — nearly double the rate from just a few years ago.

Gear said this is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.

“Health authorities must do better. Security, especially in high-risk facilities, is a necessity, not a luxury.”

Other challenges, such as affordable housing and access to daycare, are also hampering retention and recruitment.

“We’re even meeting with municipal governments now to talk about solutions like workforce housing.”

Gear emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. While data-sharing processes are still being finalized, she confirmed that there will be monitoring by both the union and the Ministry of Health.

“Each JRIC will track compliance, and the union will be encouraging members to report both successes and failures. We need to know where it’s working — and where it’s not.”

While it may take years to fully transform the system, Gear is clear-eyed about the path forward.

“It didn’t happen overnight in other jurisdictions, and it won’t happen overnight here. But what we are doing is building hope, with a plan.”

For Gear, National Nursing Week is a moment to reflect and to push forward.

“To my members, I say thank you. Thank you for holding on, for enduring unimaginable conditions. I hope, and I believe, that what we’re building will make your lives better. And to the government, I say: we need to remain competitive. Alberta nurses now make more than us. If we don’t act, we risk losing the very professionals we’re trying so hard to keep.”

The nurse-to-patient ratio agreement in B.C. is a bold and necessary step. It represents both a recognition of past failings and a commitment to a better future — one where nurses can thrive in safe environments, and patients receive the care they deserve.

“Nurses are tired of being told to be resilient. What they need is to be respected, supported, and safe. That’s how we keep them and that’s how we heal the system.”

ThankYouNurses ForServingOurCommunity

To thenurses whocare, comfort,andkeepusgoing —thank you.

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NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS

RODEO SEASON KICKS OFF WITH HIGH SCHOOL RODEO AND BARREL SERIES

BARREL SERIES RESULTS

1D Placings:

1st - Coleen Duggan on Special Twilight Run

2nd - Shayle McLeod on Higgins

3rd Shayle McLeod on Sweet Shades of Gray

2D Placings:

1st - Cally Allison on WL Rockets Bonanza

2nd - Marlo Fosbery on Givem French Fame

3rd - Casey Barron on Lakota Bar Cash

3D Placings:

1st - Tracey Schmidt on MM Classic Jet

2nd - Paige Franklin on RNR Smokin Sugar

3rd - Robin Collins on Charlie

4D Placings:

1st - Katie Chenier on Betty

2nd - Robyn Wandfluh on Sheza Hula Gem

3rd - Darlene Gellrich on Bully Snappy Boy

MSS ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM UPSETS IN LOCAL TOURNEY

TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com

Ultimate frisbee season is reaching its crescendo, as Merritt’s team at Merritt Secondary School (MSS) is looking forward to the provincial championship after coming off an emphatic win at a local tournament.

The all-grade team at MSS suffered setbacks earlier in the season which placed them as the bottom (fourth) seed in the Okanagan Valley Champions AA ultimate tournament.

“We were definitely not coming in (as) the favourites,” said John Bolton, one of the coaches on the ultimate frisbee team.

The tournament was in the form of a four-team bracket that consisted of them and three other regional teams.

Going into this tournament and season, the Panthers had won this tournament the last three years in-a-row.

LOSS AND LOVE SHOWCASED IN DANCE PERFORMACE

LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com

In a season marked by heartbreak and healing, Love to Dance Academy has emerged from their first competition of the year with a stunning set of accolades.

Seventeen Merritt dancers took to the stage and brought home a total of 7 golds, 4 high silvers, 1 high gold, 2 Shine Bright Awards, 4 overall awards, and a Choreography Award for a special lyrical piece dedicated to the late Presley Kristan, a beloved student whose memory has shaped this season in unforgettable ways.

The academy’s standout wins included first place overall in the Rising Star division, first and second overall in the

A stark challenge this year was the lack of senior players after the previous crop had graduated.

“A big thing this year was getting a new crop of talent to join up. But a lot of younger girls came on board and really worked hard to fill in that gap where it had been left by these senior girls who left last year,” said Bolton.

Novice division, and first overall high score for competitive soloists.

“It’s been a hard season for obvious reasons. We had our winter concert, which was successful, and a week later, we lost a student. So that has been really hard for everybody,” Kia Henriksen, artistic director and dance instructor at Love to Dance Academy, shared. “The kids have been really resilient, though.”

In Presley Kristan’s honour, the dance academy created a scholarship and her family established the Dancing Diva Foundation—both dedicated to preserving her spirit and passion for dance. The tribute piece, titled “In Loving Memory,” was choreographed around ideas Presley contributed before her passing, which include using flower petals during the performance.

“She was the first one to speak up,” the director recalled. “She had this idea of how it would be really pretty if we threw flower petals at part of the dance. And she was so excited.”

The lyrical group number, performed by six dancers, earned not only a Choreography Award but also a Shine Bright Award, a judge’s special

Despite the change, the Panthers came into the hometown tournament with confidence, especially from the players.

“(We had) a great group of athletes we have, and they had, determination, perseverance, positive energy,” said coach Lara Condello.

Also a driving force coming into the tournament was the return of

recognition for the emotional storytelling and impact of the piece.

“We danced for her. And the kids said that she danced with us.”

The competition also saw performances from a new mini team of dancers aged five to seven, many of whom were competing for the first time. Despite the emotional weight of Presley’s absence, the dancers carried her with them.

“We designed new jackets as a team,” the director said. “Instead of our logo, it’s actually her. It’s her on our chest. And on the back it says, ‘Never lose Presley’s light.’”

The second Shine Bright Award went to a lyrical solo performed by Kinley Stewart, also dedicated to Presley.

“I think she would be proud of it. I definitely cry every time I watch it.”

Off-stage moments were just as powerful as those under the spotlight. The director spoke with deep emotion about the strength and compassion the dancers showed each other.

“My proudest moment during the competition was seeing the way that they were off stage, the way that they held each other... the way that they leaned on each other, because it was

their captain, Carson Mouland, who had missed the rest of the season due to a broken toe.

“(He) played really well, really strong and helped us - with his experience - secure that victory as well,” Bolton said.

Mouland, along with the remaining seniors, set the tone for the game.

PROVINCIALS: continued on page 20

challenging.”

Following Presley’s passing, the studio became more than just a space for dance. It became a place to grieve, to create, and to find strength together.

“We didn’t make the kids dance if they didn’t want to,” she said of the weeks following the tragedy. “We did some art. We did a piece at her service. Just trying to breathe was a challenge.”

Despite the emotional toll, the academy’s dancers and instructors poured themselves into preparation for the season, facing every rehearsal and performance with courage.

“It’s not about trophies,” Henriksen emphasized. “We compete to grow and to become better dancers. But that recognition for a piece that they’ve poured so much into is really special.”

Love to Dance Academy now looks ahead to their next competition over the May long weekend, and their upcoming concert, where they will once again perform the dedication piece.

“I love getting to see other people’s art and creations, and watching my students be inspired. We’re there to share. I think they see that, and I believe they appreciate it.”

PHOTO/LARA CONDELLO Merritt Secondary School’s ultimate frisbee team before and after a match against South Okanagan Secondary.

GEARING UP FOR PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

ULTIMATE: continued from page 19

“We only had a handful of seniors this year, but with their experience and positivity, they really role modeled good play,” Condello said.

During the tournament, each game came down to the wire, as Merritt clawed to victory with a margin of a single point each game.

The final game against South Okanagan was even played until the overtime point rule was brought out, which is a sudden death type of rule system in which the first team to score wins.

Condello said a key tactic that carried the team through both hard-fought ties was their excellence

MSS

zone defence that got them the wins.

“When we got that last point, you just kind of feel not only the team, but the whole sideline erupt. It was a pretty special moment,” Bolton said.

“I feel really proud of the players, like I said, they’re really, really good athletes. To come together when you’re the underdog, and also win it in your hometown, that’s really, really cool,” Condello said.

The next step for the ultimate frisbee team is the provincial championship taking place in Surrey.

For the coaches, they emphasised that their path to a good result is to not change their gameplan, and

refine what they’ve mastered, which according to Condello is to hammer down on their zone defence drills.

She and Bolton also are looking for more students to join the team next year.

“Ultimate is a great, outdoor, running in the sun kind of sport. And we encourage, you know, anyone who’s attending MSS to come out in the future for tryouts in the spring, because, you know, there’s, there’s, there’s room on the team, and there’s room to grow,” said Bolton.

“Let’s go Panthers!” said Condello.

GIRLS COMPETE IN SOCCER TOURNAMENT

The team played four games over the course of Friday and Saturday May 9 and 10.

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

Motion Church Merritt 2114 Nicola Avenue • 250-434-3333

Meets the first Sunday of the month at 10am

PHOTO/TY LIM

MSS girls soccer team playing against Fraser Lake, the team lost but gave their all in a close match.

CLASSIFIEDS

William McCue

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Find out who the Chamber is, our accomplishments and our goals for the future by attending our AGM.

When? Thursday,January18th,2024,at1:30PM

ItiswithheavyheartsthefamilyofKenneth WilliamMcCueannouncehispassingonFriday,April 25,2025attheageof78aftera briefbutaggressive battlewithcancer.

2021 Annual General Meeting Announcement

Thursday, May 29 from 5:30 - 730 PM.

TheBoardofDirectorsoftheThompson-NicolaRegionalDistrictgivesnoticethatitwillholdaPublicHearing intheTNRDBoardroom,4thFloor-465VictoriaStreet,Kamloops,BC,toconsiderproposedBylaw2822.

The Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce will be holding the 2021 AGM on Wednesday, the 28th July from 6:00-8:00PM.

At the Florentine

WhatisTemporaryUsePermitTUP68,Bylaw2822,2023?

Thanks to the lifted restrictions on gatherings, the Chamber is pleased to announce that the AGM will be held at Central Park, near the gazebos.

We look forward to seeing you there!

LandAct:NoticeofApplicationforaDispositionofCrownLand

Kenwillberememberedbyhiswifeof39years,IreneGuzyk,daughterSarah (Joshua)andgrandson,Micah.HewillalsobethoughtofbyhischildrenAlison, Scott,Sean(deceased),sistersDorothyKayandPatricia(Melvin)andseveral niecesandnephews.

Itwouldenable Traveller AccommodationUse (“short-term rental”)withinanexistingsingle-family dwellingat6592MonckParkRd,at NicolaLake(PID:026-485-541), shownshadedontheadjacentmap, zoned LR-1:LakeshoreResidential zoneforuptothreeyears.The specificTUPconditionsarestipulated ontheproposedpermitwhichforms partofBylaw2822.

4100 Belshaw Street, Merritt, BC Refreshments provided Please RSVP at info@merrittchamber.com Everyone welcome

This free event is open to the public so please join us to find out more Chamber’s initiatives. Food and refreshments will be served.

y, Oregon.Hedidtwo icensedPracticalNurse lasattheNicola Valley eingfriendlyandsociable.Hehad ncludinghunting,ﬁshing,aviation,mechanics,camping,reading Kenneth

Allpersonswhobelievethattheir interestinpropertymaybeaffectedby theproposedbylawshallbeafforded areasonableopportunitytoprovide inputatthePublicHearing.AnyonewhowishestopresentattheHearingvirtually(viaZoom)mustcontact LegislativeServicespriortonoononJanuary16th,2024,toarrangevirtualaccess.Anyonemayalsomake writtensubmissionsonthematterofBylaw2822(viatheoptionsbelow),whichmustbereceivedatouroffice priortonoononJanuary16th,2024.Theentirecontentofallsubmissionswillbemadepublicandformpart ofthepublicrecordforthismatter.

HowdoIgetmoreinformation?

CopiesoftheproposedBylawandallsupportinginformationcanbeinspectedfrom8:30a.m.to4:30p.m., Monday-Friday(exceptstatutoryholidays)atouroffice,fromDecember22nd,2023,until1:30p.m.onthe dayoftheHearing;orpleasecontactusviaanyoftheoptionsbelow.

FORinvitescommentsonthisapplication.TheLandsﬁleisFile Number3410347.Writtencommentsconcerningthisapplication shouldbedirectedtotheSeniorLandOfﬁcer,ThompsonOkanagan, FORat441ColumbiaStreet,KamloopsBCV2C2T3.Commentswill bereceivedbyFORuptoFebruary26,2024.FORmaynotbeable toconsidercommentsreceivedafterthisdate.PleasevisittheApplications,CommentsandReasonsforDecisionDatabasewebsiteat http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ formoreinformation.

Beadvisedthatanyresponsetothisadvertisementwillbeconsideredpartofthepublicrecord.Accesstotheserecordsrequiresthe submissionofaFreedomofInformation(FOI)request.Visit http:// www.gov.bc.ca/freedomoﬁnformation tolearnmoreaboutFOI submissions.

NorepresentationswillbereceivedbytheBoardofDirectorsafterthePublicHearinghasbeenconcluded.

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

Thompson-NicolaRegionalDistrict

th,2024,at1:30PM

TheBoardofDirectorsoftheThompson-NicolaRegionalDistrictgivesnoticethatitwillholdaPublicHearing intheTNRDBoardroom,4thFloor-465VictoriaStreet,Kamloops,BC,toconsiderproposedBylaw2822.

DDED

AUCTION Dodds AUCTION

LandAct:NoticeofApplicationforaDispositionofCrownLand

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inputatthePublicHearing.AnyonewhowishestopresentattheHearingvirtually(viaZoom)mustcontact ,2024,toarrangevirtualaccess.Anyonemayalsomake writtensubmissionsonthematterofBylaw2822(viatheoptionsbelow),whichmustbereceivedatouroffice ,2024.Theentirecontentofallsubmissionswillbemadepublicandformpart

CopiesoftheproposedBylawandallsupportinginformationcanbeinspectedfrom8:30a.m.to4:30p.m., Monday-Friday(exceptstatutoryholidays)atouroffice,fromDecember22nd,2023,until1:30p.m.onthe

Email Website legservices@tnrd.ca www.tnrd.ca

NorepresentationswillbereceivedbytheBoardofDirectorsafterthePublicHearinghasbeenconcluded. A.Krause,GeneralManagerofDevelopmentServices

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TakenoticethatWaterBoyTruckingLtd.fromMerrittBChasapplied totheBritishColumbiaMinistryofForests(FOR),Thompson-OkanaganforanexpansionofanexistingrockquarrysituatedonProvincial CrownLandlocatedoverunsurveyedCrownlandbetweenDistrict Lots4426and4427,KamloopsDivisionYaleDistrict(KDYD). FORinvitescommentsonthisapplication.TheLandsﬁleisFile Number3410347.Writtencommentsconcerningthisapplication shouldbedirectedtotheSeniorLandOfﬁcer,ThompsonOkanagan, FORat441ColumbiaStreet,KamloopsBCV2C2T3.Commentswill bereceivedbyFORuptoFebruary26,2024.FORmaynotbeable toconsidercommentsreceivedafterthisdate.PleasevisittheApplications,CommentsandReasonsforDecisionDatabasewebsiteat http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ formoreinformation.

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PartialListIncludes: LargeSelectionof Tools,Furniture, Vehicles,PlusMuchMore!!

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