Two structures burned last Saturday night believed to be arson.
MAY 1, 2025
LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com
Incumbent Conservative Frank Caputo is back in the driver’s seat for a second consecutive term in the new riding of Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.
With all but one of the 272 poll locations within the riding reporting their results as as of noon of April 29, Caputo leads second-place candidate Liberal Iain Currie by a wide margin, with 31,768 votes, or 51.6 per cent. Currie currently has 24,714 ballots to his name, or 40.1 per cent.
New Democratic Party candidate Miguel Godau is behind the Liberal candidate, sitting at 3,660 votes. Green Party’s Jenna Lindley has garnered 925 votes, while Chris Enns of the People’s Party of Canada brings up the rear with 510 votes. Caputo was first elected to Parliament in 2021 for the then-riding of KamloopsThompson-Cariboo. The boundaries of the riding were changed for the 2025 election, with the name changed to
It was a sad scene in victory along Seymour Street on Monday as MP Frank Caputo learned he would return to Ottawa for a second term, and ecstasy in defeat a block up on Victoria Street as the Liberals’ Iain Currie lost locally, but formed a minority government.
The inverse of emotion was apparent as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m., but Caputo ended up garnering more than half the vote in the KamloopsThompson-Nicola riding — collecting more than 31,000 of about 61,000 votes tallied.
“I’m so overwhelmed. It’s going to be such a joy to return to the House of Commons,” Caputo said a few minutes after his victory was declared.
“I’m going to take tomorrow to clean up, then sleep, then hopefully Wednesday I’ll get back to work.”
Caputo met with a small cohort of supporters in what was a sombre atmosphere inside a
vacant storefront at Kamloops Square, while Currie hosted a raucous party in the Terrace Room at the Delta a block up with lower expectations.
Currie was all smiles as he told Castanet Kamloops he expected his campaign would produce a historic share of the vote for the Liberals in this riding — but he wasn’t expecting to win.
“It’s a blue riding in the sense of the MP that we’ve had over the last many years, but it has been a riding that has considerable votes for the left and left centre,” Currie said.
Emotional in victory
Returning to Ottawa in an opposition role once more after his party fell in defeat, Caputo was teary-eyed — a far cry from the ear-to-ear grin he showed when he was first elected in 2021.
“It’s not sad — it’s overwhelming,” he said. “I’m a bit more emotional this time, I’m not sure why, but, I’ve got a couple reasons.”
Asked for these reasons, Caputo said there were “some
surprises in this campaign” but said it would be “a joy to return to the House of Commons.”
Caputo said he didn’t know what to expect from this election.
“Obviously you always want to form government,” Caputo said.
“Right now I’m proud locally, is what I can say. Of course, we want to win. NDP collapse was really big, but you know, right now there’s a lot of emotion coming through and I don’t know that I can really put it into words. I need some time to process all of this to be honest with you.”
‘So much uncertainty’
Terry Lake, a former Kamloops mayor and B.C. health minister who ran unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the 2019 federal election, said many Canadians are likely frustrated today.
“There’s so much uncertainty in the world right now with what’s going on with Donald Trump, that I think Canadians were hoping that we’d have some certainty after this,” Lake said.
“And right now, it doesn’t look like we’ll have that certainty.”
Lake commended Currie for a “respectable” runner-up showing in Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.
“He’s intelligent and a good candidate. I knew he would attract some votes,” he said.
“But that conservative temperament in the Interior of B.C., particularly around Kamloops, is just too much to overcome.”
Lake said he’s happy to see the Liberals hang on to power with a minority government.
“If you would have said that three months ago, we would have all been laughing,” he said.
“So much has changed in that
GOT NEWS?
Contact Laísa or Ty at newsroom@merrittherald.com or call 250-378-4241
time, with the election of Mark Carney as leader and, of course, the situation in the White House with tariffs and talk about threats to Canada’s sovereignty has just changed the picture entirely.”
More than half the votes Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola voters gave Caputo a stronger mandate than he received in 2021, with more than 51.6 per cent of the vote (31,768 votes with 271 of 272 polls reporting) and the strongest mandate for a Conservative since Cathy McLeod in the 2011 election.
The Liberals had a strong showing locally compared to their previous campaign with 40.1 per cent (24,714 votes) going to Iain Currie — their highest vote total in the last eight elections, compared to previous highs of Steve Powrie’s 21,000plus in 2015 and Terry Lake’s 19,000-plus in 2019.
The NDP had a historic collapse in the riding with just 5.9 per cent of the vote (3,660 votes) going to Miguel Godau.
In 2021, Caputo won KamloopsThomspon-Cariboo with 43 per cent of the vote and 30,000-plus votes, the NDP had 29 per cent (20,000-plus votes) and the Liberals 18 per cent (12,000-plus).
As he restarts his work, Caputo said he will begin by meeting with local government officials. He said he intends bring “the same tenacity as before” to support the residents of the riding.
“Talking to people, meeting with people, working with people,” he told Castanet. “My job is to represent the people of Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.”
ELECTION RESULTS
Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney first called the snap election on March 23. By the end of Election Day on April 28, the Liberal Party was projected to form a government, yet to be determined if it will be a majority or a minority.
As of morning of April 29, the federal Liberal Party is projected to win 168 seats in the House of Commons, compared to Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives at 144 seats, who will form the Official Opposition Party.
Yves-François Blanchet and the Bloc Quebecois are once again projected to finish third with 23 seats, while Jagmeet Singh and the NDP’s are set to take 7 seats, though Singh himself came in third in his riding in Burnaby.
The Green Party, led by Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May, is projected to take one seat in Parliament, as May herself managed to get re-elected in the Saanich-Gulf Islands.
The People’s Party of Canada, though seeing an increase in votes from the 2021 election, once again failed to secure a seat, including leader Maxime Bernier falling to Conservative Jason Groleau in his home riding of Beauce, Quebec.
PHOTO/MICHAEL POTESTIO
Frank Caputo embraces his wife shortly after learning he was re-elected.
ELECTIONS CANADA SAYS MORE THAN 19.2M VOTERS CAST A BALLOT IN FEDERAL ELECTION
federal election, when 62.6 per cent of eligible voters headed to the polls.
The Canadian Press
Elections Canada says more than 67 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the federal election — more than 19.2 million people.
While this election was widely expected to see increased turnout, it did not surpass the record set in March 1958, when 79.4 per cent of eligible electors voted.
But turnout was higher than in the last
With votes still being counted, voter turnout still has some room to climb.
The Liberal party is currently leading with 43.6 per cent of the total vote and is set to hold 168 seats, while the Conservative party has 41.4 per cent of the vote and an estimated 144 seats.
The Bloc Québécois took 6.4 per cent of the votes and 23 seats, while the NDP took 6.3 per cent of the vote and currently holds seven seats.
The structure fire blaze on Saturday, April 26, from across the
TWO STRUCTURES BURNED SATURDAY NIGHT BELIEVED TO BE ARSON
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
Merritt RCMP have stated a structure fire that burned two abandoned homes to be the result of arson.
On Saturday night, Merritt Fire Rescue Service, Merritt RCMP, Lower Nicola Indian Band Fire Department and BC Wildfire Service were sent out to respond to fire that was burning two structures on the 1300 block of Pine Street. Both homes were abandoned and are located on the site of the flood mitigation project STUWI(x), which planned for the structures to be removed at a later date.
After talking with Merritt Fire Rescue
Service, RCMP believe the fires to be the result of arson.
“Due to the circumstances of the structure fires, and after some discussion with personnel of the Merritt Fire Rescue Department, it is believed these buildings were intentionally set on fire,” said Merritt RCMP Cst. Blake Chursinoff.
Police are asking any individuals who may have video surveillance footage on their their properties in the surrounding neighbourhood to contact them.
Individuals with information or area footage can contact Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262. The file for the case is # 2025-1827.
Coldwater River.
ALESSIA PASSAFIUME
PHOTO/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Elections Canada signage is pictured near an advance polling station in Ottawa on Friday, April 18.
INTERIOR HEALTH CEO SUSAN BROWN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
ROB GIBSON Castanet
Interior Health CEO Susan Brown will retire by the end of 2025, after seven years as the health authority’s CEO.
“On behalf of British Columbians, I extend our deepest appreciation to Susan for her leadership and dedication to serving patients and communities during her 34-year career in the provincial health system,” Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, said in a media release.
Osborne pointed to Brown’s focus on innovation, including opening the first Urgent and Primary Care Centre in B.C. in Kamloops in 2018 and, since then, 10 more, with the latest in February in Williams Lake.
The addition of new specialized cardiac and stroke services at Kelowna General Hospital and the approval of the Kamloops Cancer Centre under Brown’s leadership will support patients getting care closer to home.
“From her first days as a nurse in the emergency department at Vancouver General Hospital to her current role at the helm of Interior Health Authority, Susan’s lifetime of service has made a lasting impact to patients and their families across the province,” Osborne said.
Brown will continue to serve as CEO through December 2025, and the search for her replacement will begin immediately.
MAJOR CRIME UNIT INVESTIGATING BODY FOUND IN VEHICLE FIRE ON HIGHWAY 97C
JOSH DAWSON Castanet
The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has taken over an investigation into a body found in a vehicle fire that forced a lengthy closure of Highway 97C on Tuesday.
In a news release, Mounties said emergency services responded to a single vehicle fire along Highway 97C near Merritt on Tuesday.
After the fire was extinguished, a body was discovered in the vehicle.
“The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation and are working to determine the
circumstances surrounding the incident,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Smart.
“At this time, the cause of the fire and any potential foul play remains under investigation.”
According to DriveBC, the highway between Merritt and Logan Lake was closed at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, due to the incident. The highway was reopened after 10 p.m.
Speaking with Castanet on Tuesday, Shae Stearns with the BC Wildfire Service said an initial attack crew responded to douse the blaze, which had spread to nearby vegetation.
PHOTO/CASTANET
IH CEO Susan Brown is stepping down at the end of 2025.
NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT
HAPPY SPRING – GARDENING FOR HEALTH
BONNIE DIXON Healthy Conversations
G ardening is one of the most rewarding ways to support both physical and mental well-being.
P reparing the soil—digging, turning, and loosening it—offers a surprisingly good workout. If this sounds like too much strain, consider hiring a local teen who might appreciate the extra cash and the chance to help.
Even container gardening brings great joy. Tending to plants—watering, waiting, fertilizing, and eventually harvesting—is a slow, steady rhythm that reconnects us to nature.
C hildren especially delight in the process, their eyes lighting up when sprouts appear or flowers bloom.
For me, gardening is peaceful therapy. I find myself looking out the window several times a day, just to admire the colors and progress.
S o far, I’ve picked up some tomato plants, including a favorite heirloom called
“FARGO”:
Mortgage Lifter—a fun name with a rich flavour history. It’s still a bit early to plant outdoors here in Merritt, so I’ll wait a few more weeks for the weather to settle.
G eraniums are another staple on my porch. This year, I’ve chosen pink and white varieties, cheerful and hardy blooms that thrive in pots or flower beds. I bought them locally.
S tarting plants from seed can be easy and very satisfying, especially with forgiving choices like nasturtiums. These vibrant flowers are not only beautiful but also edible—perfect for adding a pop of color to summer salads.
W hether you have a sprawling yard or a few pots on a balcony, gardening nurtures more than just plants. It feeds our bodies with fresh produce, exercises our muscles, and brings joy to our hearts. Start small, and let your garden grow with you.
I f you are willing we have a wonderful community garden in Merritt tended by a team of volunteers. So you can get your fill of gardening and meet others of like mind.
H appy Spring Happy Gardening Happy YOU!
A COLD CRIME STORY WITH A WARM HEART
LAÍSA CONDÉ MOVIES’ CORNER
W hen the Coen brothers released Fargo in 1996, they gave the world more than a darkly comic crime story— they offered a chilly meditation on desperation, decency, and the absurdity of human nature. Set against the stark, snow-blanketed backdrop of Minnesota and North Dakota, Fargo is a masterpiece of tonal balance, effortlessly fusing violence with humor and tragedy with warmth. A t its heart is Frances McDormand’s unforgettable performance as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief whose clear-eyed morality and understated brilliance cut through the fog of greed and chaos surrounding her. In a genre often populated by brooding antiheroes, Marge is a revelation—an honest, kind-hearted figure who solves a brutal crime without ever raising her voice.
T he Coens’ screenplay, based loosely on real events (or so they tease), is both tightly plotted and wonderfully strange. William H. Macy’s Jerry Lundegaard is a study in pathetic ambition—a man so consumed by failure that he orchestrates a kidnapping that spirals into deadly disaster. The villains, including Steve Buscemi’s twitchy Carl, are memorably incompetent, revealing that evil is often as banal as it is brutal.
B ut what elevates Fargo beyond genre is its bleak beauty. Cinematographer Roger Deakins captures the vast whiteness of the Midwest not just as a setting, but as a metaphor—emptiness, isolation, and the moral cold that seeps into people’s decisions. And yet, through it all, the film never loses its sense of the ridiculous, reminding us how fragile and foolish our schemes often are.
Fargo endures because it doesn’t just tell a crime story— it dissects the human condition with precision, empathy, and dark wit. It remains one of American cinema’s most quietly profound films, where “a little bit of money” becomes a whole lot of trouble.
It was definitely worth to watch it – even if for me it was just a one time thing.
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
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
TUESDAY-FRIDAY, APRIL 29 – MAY 2
2025 SOUTHERN INTERIOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SILGA)
The Southern Interior Local Government Association serves as a collective voice for local government in south-central B.C., encompassing 37 municipalities and regional districts. – Merritt Civic Centre
FRIDAY, MAY 2
NICOLA VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL – ARTSHOW: GROWING CREATIVITY
Join Cathy Cox Neill for an evening of vibrant art as she shows watercolours inspired by nature, along with mosaics, pottery and mixed media pieces. There will also be live music by The Strange Companions from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Nicola Valley Arts Gallery.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
LACROSSE
Come on down to Shulus Arena to root for the Nicola Valley U11 Minor Lacrosse team as they face the Kelowna U11-12 on Saturday at 1 p.m.
SUNDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 4 – MAY 11
2025 NATIONAL ABORIGINAL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships will be held in Kamloops, B.C., from May 4 to May 11. This annual even, organized by the Aboriginal Sport Circle, is a major showcase for Indigenous hockey talent in Canada. More information at www.nahc2025.com
MONDAY, MAY 5
2025 LNIB MMIWG AWARENESS WALK
Walk starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Lower Nicola Band Hall, proceed to Shulus Arbor.
2025 MERRITT SECONDARY MMIWG AWARENESS WALK
Walk starts at 11:30 – 12:45 p.m. Students, faculty will gather in the MSS gym and walk through town.
For more events listings, check out merrittherald.com
Send us your event: events@merrittherald.com
foranaffordableprice.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK A LOOK BACK
GEAR FOR POOCHES
New equipment slated for Merritt Fire Rescue won’t do much for the city’s two legged residents, but could prove to be a lifesave for Fido.
Merritt Fire Rescue is one of a number of fire departments in B.C. which have requested sets of oxygen masks designed to fit on dogs and cats.
The request was made to an organization called the Happy Dogs Legacy, a group which aims to equip every fire hall in B.C. with a set of pet oxygen masks.
MAY 24, 1979
KING JOINS ‘NEW TEAM OF CANADIANS’
Progressive Conservative Fred King will take his seat with the “new team of Canadians” in Ottawa.
King defeated Liberal candidate Don Moses, NDP candidate Darwin Sigurgeirson and independent Alex Barker in their bid for a seat in Parliament with a total of 21,178 votes.
Sigurgeirson placed second with 11,879 and Moses tallied 9,536 votes in the riding.
King won the major polls of Merritt, Princeton, WestbankLakeview, Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos in the Okanagan-Similkameen riding.
Noticeisherebygiven that theCit yofMerritt CouncilwillconsiderZoningAmendment Bylaw No.2399, 2025for thepropert yat150 0Willow Crescent (subject proper ty shownonmap)in theRegular CouncilMeetingscheduled May13, 2025at6:0 0pminCouncil Chambers,Cit yHall, at2185Voght Street ,Merritt, British Columbia
PROPOSED CHANGE S: Prop osed Zoning AmendmentB ylaw No.2399, 2025 would amendt he Zoning fort he sout hern portion of thesubject prop er ty from “R5– Mobile Home Park ”to“ R7 –MediumD ensity Residential.”
Proposed Zoning Amendment
TheproposedZoningwillallow developmentofthe subjec tpropert yfor Medium Densit yResidential, includingtownhomes andapartment s.
As pert he Official Communit yPlan, thepropert yisdesignatedfor LowtoMedium Densit yResidential. TheproposedRezoningisaligned withthis designationand thegener al vision of thecor respondingOCP sector of Middlesboro–toinclude a mixoflow andmediumdensity residential,par ks ,a nd indust rial uses .Since this Re zoning Applic ation is consis tent withtheCit yofMer rittO fficialCommunity Plan ,aPUBLICHEARING WILL NOTBEHELD.
PROVINCIAL PROHIBITIONONPUBLICHEARING: Pursuant to theLocal GovernmentAct section 46 4(3) theCit yisprohibitedfromholding apublichearing regarding the proposed bylaw. Consistent with provincial legislation, membersofthe public arenot permittedtoaddress Councilregarding theproposedbylaw during theCouncil meeting
MORE INFORMATION: Acopyoft he prop osed Bylawamendment smay be viewed Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 12:0 0pmand 1:15 pm to 4:30 pm at City Hall,2185Voght St reet ,Mer rittBC, until Tuesday, May13, 2025, oronline at any timeatW WW.MERRITT.C A.
Resident swillsee an increase in theirutilit y billsthisspring, as perthe up dated Fees and Charge sBylaw 2386 (2024).T hislaw waschanged in part to provideameans to save forthe aWas tewaterTreatment Plant, whichisatthe endofits lifespan .T he bylawwas also up datedtoensure af airerdis tribution of cost s, so that lowerwater andsewer user sare notsubsidizing higher us age.
It should be notedthatutilit yfeesare sets tric tly forcos trecover yonoperationaland capital expenses.T heyare nota source of profitfor the City.Prior to 2024,utilit yr ates hadremained unchangedfor 10 year s.
NICOLA NATIVE LODGE TO HOUSE ELDERS, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN NEED
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
A new affordable-housing complex in Merritt, the Nicola Native Lodge, has just made its grand opening.
On April 24, in front of a crowd of dozens from the five Nicola Valley first nations, Merritt and from BC Housing, councillor Jordan Joe of the Shackan Indian band cut the ribbon in front of the Nicola Native Lodge, marking its completion.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Jordan, who spearheaded the Nicola Native Lodge board of directors.
“This (lodge) is a great message to the Nicola Valley, how progressive our nations can be and will be.”
The Nicola Native Lodge has been planning for 51 years. Over that generation-spanning time period, the lodge had been proposed to turn into many different things. It was only 2023 when the Nicola Tribal Authority decided the building would be built, turning it into affordable housing.
For much of the leadership,
the journey has been years in the making, long before they were even born.
“There’s other leadership here that are current and past, and we would ont be here if it wasn’t for their vision, the vision 50 years ago,” Jordan said. “I think of names like Johnny Joe, he’s one that just really captivates me. It was a dream he wanted to see through and unfortunately, he’s not here to see this, but I know he’s here in spirit, and I just wanted to acknowledge that.”
The lodge will provide homes for elders, youth and families who need the extra help.
“To provide homes, to provide a roof over the heads of our elders, our single parents, our young families, those things are very, very meaningful,” Joe said.
The building was funded in collaboration with the federal and provincial government to a total collaboration of $11.2 million. BC Housing was also involved in obtaing resources.
The lodge will contain 52
LODGE: continued on page 10
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IH CEO Susan Brown is stepping down at the end of 2025.
NEW MERRITT SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTS GRADUATES ENTERING THE TRADES
TY LIM
reporter@merrittherald.com
A new Merritt scholarship fund has been opened to financially assist highschool graduates who are going into the trades.
Last month, $50,000 was provided by Trans Mountain Pipeline to provide scholarships to post-secondary students looking to study in the trades and continue their work.
Out of the $50,000, the city of Merritt will be providing a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating Merritt Secondary School student who has had academic accomplishments.
The city already gives out two
additional scholarships each year also worth $2,000 for graduating students of MSS or Kengard Learning Centre.
The criteria for the new scholarship is as follows.
- Be entering a post-secondary trade program;
- Have a minimum of a 75 per cent grade average in Grade 11 and 12 trades classes or in an equivalent program;
- Have an attendance rate of 90 per cent;
- Demonstrated citizenship through volunteerism and leadership in the school or broader community.
- Write a letter to city council making their case for the scholarship.
STUDIO TO TWO-BEDROOM UNITS BUILT WITH ACCESSIBILITY AND CULTURE IN MIND
units, varying from studio apartments to two-bedroom units.
The project was part of province-wide investment in the affordable housing market worth $19 billion.
“This investment in 52 new rental homes will provide safety, stability and accessibility for the Indigenous residents of Merritt, while also giving them a culturally appropriate space to grow and succeed with the members of their community,” said Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
BC Housing will also be providing the project with an annual operating budget of $413,000.
Making the building accessible to people with all kinds of needs was a priority. Of the 52 rooms, five have been made accessible to those with physical disabilities, with 31 more rooms adaptable to change.
The lodge also promotes the culture of the Nlaka’pamux people, featuring paintings and murals from local artists, including LNIB councillor Robin Humphrey.
PHOTO/HERALD FILE
The City of Merritt will be offering a $1,000 scholarship to assist high school graduates who are looking to study trades.
LODGE: continued from page 9
RED DRESS DAY
May 5 is the National Day of
MONDAY, MAY 5 - 2025
reporter@merrittherald.com
Red Dress Day is right around the corner on May 5.
The day, taken to remember and bring awareness to the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people in Canada.
According to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Red Dress Day first started in 2010 by Métis artist Jamie Black, who used the symbol of an empty red dress, placing hundreds of them in public areas, putting a spotlight on how many Indigenous women are targeted by gender-based violence.
A 2017 report by the Canadian government on violence against Indigenous women stated that they were overrepresented amongst the population of missing persons and of female homicide victims. The report states that Indigenous women represent 10 per cent of the population of missing women in Canada, at 174 missing Indigenous women, stated using statistics from a 2015 RCMP overview. The report also states that between 1980 and 2014, 16 per cent of female homicide victims were Indigenous. That number rose as the years went on. The latest statistical data to that trend was in 2014, where
Indigenous women made up 21 per cent of female homicide victims.
We also want to acknowledgetheir family members whoare stillgrievingatthistimeandsendspecial prayer stoeachand ever yoneof you.
RED DRESS DAY: REMEMBERING THE MISSING AND MURDERED
In 2015, the Canadian government put $53-million into the set-up of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry published their final report in June, 2019, outline 231 Calls for Justice that would tackle the “root causes that sustain violence against First Nations, Inuit and Metis women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse people” according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
In 2023, the CBC reported that of the 231 Calls for Justice, only two had been completed.
The Canadian government has set up a support line for anyone affected by the issue of MMIWG2S+. For emotional assistance, people can call 1-844-413-6649.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada has also set up a resource pool for those interested in learning more about Indigenous women’s rights, sexual education and decision making.
The association has also mapped out the hotspots of where cases of MMIWG2S+ take place. B.C. has the highest number of cases at 160.
WALKING FOR MMIWG2S+
Red dresses will pour onto the streets of Lower Nicola and Merritt on May 5 in honour of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.
Any interested citizens and people looking to show their support for the victims and families and the missing and murdered are encouraged to join.
start at 10:30 a.m., May 5 at Shulus Hall in Lower Nicola and it will be a 20-minute walk to Shulus Arbor.
For Carole Basil, cultural coordinator for Lower Nicola Indian Band and organizer of their Red Dress march, the walk is about education and making people aware these things can happen in your backyard.
“A few right here in our community have gone missing, (they) have been murdered,” she said.
Basil remembers when the issue of MMIWG2S+ was first brought under the spotlight.
“The red dress campaign, murdered and missing Indigenous women, it goes back for me a long way, to the disappearance of Monica Jack,” she said.
Monica Rose Jack was a 12-year-old girl who was murdered near the Upper Nicola reserve in 1978. Her case went unsolved for 40 years until her murder was finally charged in 2019.
“I can still remember the news broadcast of the report like it was yesterday,” Basil said. “(The murder of Monica Jack) that’s how our people made sure we knew this happened, and didn’t want it to happen to anybody else.”
“I was walking home with my older sister who at the time would have been in Grade 4 or 5. And I remember a car stopping constantly, asking us if we wanted a ride home. I had no idea who this fellow was, then we started getting scared, so we ran to the nearest house and he left,” she said.
“(Missing and murdered) That could’ve been us.”
Basil said some of the families of the MMIWG2S+ come to the marches yearly. She said the marches make them feel good that someone is talking about the issue and getting the word out.
“The person may not get murdered, but it may be close. Getting that awareness out of violence, drugs, sex trafficking, having our young aware (is important) because it’s usually the young (at-risk). It could be as young as 11-years-old to 34 is the age range of when you’re at risk.”
To keep youth safe, Basil said one of the most important things these days is to be wary on social media.
“If you’re on social media, if you don’t know the person, delete them right away. I feel that’s the biggest concern for me right away,” she said.
Lower Nicola Indian Band’s march will
Basil said all youth and young adults are at risk of becoming victims. She said when she was 11 or 12, she almost became a victim of kidnapping.
“(It’s about) being more aware, having even the young ones more aware that this happens. And it’s not only happening to women, it’s happening to ladies, to men (too).”
RED DRESS DAY
coordinator at LNIB Carole Basil is organizing this year’s walk for MMWG2S+
HISTORY OF THE HIGHWAY OF TEARS
MORGAN HAMPTON
Contributer
The Highway of Tears is a 725-km. stretch of road that connects Prince George and Prince Rupert in central B.C. Officially known as Highway 16, the name ‘Highway of Tears’ was coined by Florence Naziel during a vigil held in 1998 to commemorate the women, many of them Indigenous, who had gone missing along the route.
Naziel had observed the families of those missing crying over the disappearance of their loved ones, and their tears were strongly connected to Hwy 16.
For more than 50 years, the route through rural B.C. has been the site of numerous abductions and murders.
An RCMP task force, E-Pana, was created in 2005 with the purpose of solving cases of those missing and murdered along Hwy 16. Within a year, the scope of the investigations expanded to include Highways 5, 24 and 97.
Between 1970 and today, the E-Pana list recognizes fewer than 18 victims. However, according to Aboriginal organizations, the number of missing and murdered women could exceed 40, beginning earlier than 1970. Taking into account all potential cases on all routes, the number of victims could be more than 80, beginning with the unsolved murder of 26-year-old Gloria Levine Moody near Williams Lake in 1969. There has been much speculation over the years as to whether the murders are the work of several perpetrators,
sadistic opportunists, or whether a serial killer may be operating in the region.
A billboard erected along the route reads: “Girls don’t Hitchhike on the Highway of Tears. Killer on the loose!”
Many of the victims were known to frequently hitchhike, or went missing while hitchhiking along the highway, due mainly to poverty, lack of car ownership or access to reliable transit. In order to leave situations of domestic violence, visit friends and family, travel for work or school or to attend medical appointments, many women have no alternative, despite the dangers.
RCMP believe there are several factors which have lead to this area becoming a hotspot for criminal activity, including the remoteness of the area, reducing the likelihood of being interrupted while committing a crime such as sexual assault or murder, soft soil in which to dispose of evidence, and the prevalence of carnivorous scavengers such as birds, wolves, bears, and coyotes.
On June 16, 2006 the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendation Report was issued, a 35-page report which made 33 recommendations intended to be a call to action for Victim Prevention, Emergency Planning and Team Response, Victim Family Counselling and Support and Community Development and Support.
Recommendation #8 included a request for increased cell service along the route.
PHOTO/FLIKR
A billboard warns of the dangers of hitchhiking along the Highway of Tears
RE DDRESS DAY
MAY5
It is aday dedicatedtoraise awareness of missingandmurderedIndigenous womenand girl sand to endthe violence.
We acknowledge allmissing andmurdered women, girls, transand twospirited people acrossturtle island. Ourthought sand prayersextend to theirfamiliesand communit ies impacted by missing theirloved ones.
Anywomen,g irls,trans,ort wo spir ited people experiencing anyabuse please reachout andcallournumber below.
ENDTHE VIOLENCE
24 hours/ 7daysa week
PHOTO/KENNETH WONG
MMIWG2+ WALK: Last year’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit march gathered hundreds to bring awareness to the cause.
FIVE YEARS GONE FOR MISSING MERRITT WOMAN
LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com
Local Merritt Indigenous woman Lalie Honeywell went missing in May of 2020 and questions about her disappearance are yet to be answered.
Despite extensive search operations, she has yet to be found.
Honeywell was last seen in Merritt on May 11, 2020, at approximately 6 p.m., right outside of the Double D Inn motel on Nicola Avenue.
She is described as a 44-year-old woman, being five feet and three inches tall, with short brown hair and brown eyes.
At the day of her disappearance, Honeywell was described to be wearing jeans, a purple shirt and a pair of DC brand shoes.
She was reported as missing on the following day, May 12, triggering a search effort by the Merritt RCMP.
The initial searches of her whereabouts were mainly focused on areas around the motel, but the investigation took a turn when personal items – which were believed to belong to Honeywell – were found near the Nicola River bridge on May 14, 2020.
This discovery at the time led to a more intensive search operation, with the Nicola Valley Search and Rescue combing the riverbanks while air support from the RCMP Air Services surveyed the area from above.
Despite these efforts, no significant clues regarding Honeywell’s whereabouts were uncovered.
Back in 2020, Cpl. Derrick Francis of the Merritt RCMP detachment provided insight into the investigation.
“We have no reason, no information leading us to believe that Lalie didn’t go to the river, it seems like she did.”
At the time, this strong assumption guided the focus of the search efforts, with authorities focusing on the river’s vicinity.
“No clues at all, no clothing, nothing of interest,” Cpl. Francis told the Herald back in July of 2020 after a helicopter flew over the area.
The search activities included riverbank searches and helicopter flyovers along the stretch of the river from the Double Inn motel to the Nooaitch reserve.
However, these efforts have once again yielded no tangible leads in the investigation.
At the time, Cpl. Francis emphasized to the Herald the ongoing communication with Honeywell’s family and the collection of familial DNA to aid in identification, if necessary.
“We update the family fairly regularly, we have an open communication with the family so they can call and ask us questions,” he told the Herald at the time.
As the case remains with unanswered questions, the Merritt RCMP urges anyone with information regarding Honeywell’s disappearance to come forward.
If the public has any information and they have not provided that information to police, they are asked to call the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 or Nicola Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
PHOTO/RCMP
The only photo of Lalie Honeywell who went missing in May, 2020.
MMIWG2+ AWARENESS WALK
NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS
VOLLEYFEST TOURNAMENT A SMASH HIT IN MERRITT
LAÍSA CONDÉ newsroom@merrittherald.com
Volleyball fever was back in Merritt over the weekend.
Merritt Volleyball Association hosted its annual mixed Volleyfest tournament, which attracts multiple players from out of town to come play in the tournament.
In total, 48 teams have invaded Merritt to participate in the tournament.
“These tournaments bring in a lot of revenue for our community with most teams coming from outside of Merritt, as well as some great volleyball,” Angela Russell, an executive with the Merritt Volleyball Association said.
There were recreational games at Merritt Secondary School, at the former Coquihalla Middle School and at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.
From May 2 to 4, the local volleyball association will also host a all-ladies’ tournament at the same venues.
TRADITIONAL GAMES DAY AT NICOLA CANFORD ELEMENTARY
TY LIM reporter@merrittherald.com
Grade 6 students from across the NicolaSimilkameen school district were invited to take part in day practicing traditional Indigenous games.
On Friday, April 25, students gathered at Nicola Canford Elementary to play through a series of traditional Indigenous games.
The kids made their way through seven stations of games. According to Merritt Central Elementary ISA worker Martha Chillihitzia - who also explained all the games - were invented for the children to practice their skills either physically or mentally.
The first game was knobby-ball (or sometimes known as double-ball). Knobbyball is a game akin to lacrosse. Players with curved sticks work to pass a knobby-ball to each other, eventually working their way across a narrow goal line.
Next is Lahal, a game played with bones.
“Lahal is a bone game where (the players) have to guess,” said Chillihitzia. “They have two bones. One has a stripe and one is unmarked. The other team has to try to guess which one’s unmarked. So, they hold it out in front of them, they point left or right. Then, (the holder) shows, and if they pick the wrong one, they have to give up a stick, and you play until all those sticks are on one side.”
The third game of the day tested the kids’
flexibility. The high kick involves a ball being hung above head height. Competitors would then try and kick the ball to see who could reach the highest. Chillihitzia said it was historically used to test the athletic ability between tribes.
The next station of the day was the big drum, where kids learned a few pow wow songs.
“Powwows have been coming to our region for quite some time,” she said, adding that sometimes, kids who learn the songs go on to join a pow wow trail.
The game after that is the spear throw. One person would throw a 2-layered hoop into the air, and the spear thrower would aim for the inner ring. Traditionally, this game was used to train the dexterity of its players, before they would use those skills in practice during a hunt.
The next game was also traditionally hunting training. Rock throwing had the kids aim and whip stones into small wooden cutouts with the aim of finding that perfect blend of force and accuracy to knock the cutout over. It was used to train for the hunt of small game.
Finally was the big hoop, again a game used to train athletic ability. One person would spin and roll a large ring across a field. The player, or runner would then jump through the hoop as many times as possible before it fell.
PHOTOS/JENN PASKARUK TOP: Zone 2 badminton team Ronin Sahota, Gavin Morrison, Mitchell Denton, Sophie Paskaruk, Addison Illingworth and Aubrey de Visser.
PHOTOS/TY LIM
TOP: Zone 2 badminton team Ronin Sahota, Gavin Morrison, Mitchell Denton, Sophie Paskaruk, Addison Illingworth and Aubrey de Visser.
NICOLA VALLEY COMMUNITY
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ROTARY CLUB ROLLS OUT NEW FOOD TRAILER
LESLEE LUCY
Contributed
Our Merritt Rotary Club has had a loud and proud history in Merritt. Every where you go in Merritt, you see evidence of our good work.
Rotary Bike Park, Rotary Skate Park, Rotary Park with water park and kids’ playground, as well as our Pollinator Garden. We have trails named after us.
We also have a lot of unseen good works, scholarships every year at the local high school. School trips supported. We have been very active with the Rotary Youth exchange Program. The Cross-country ski and bike trails show evidence of Rotary support.
We raised over a million dollars to support residents affected by the flood in the fall of 2021. There are more, but you get the idea of how dedicated our volunteers have been in our small city of Merritt, B.C.
We, like a lot of other service clubs are struggling with our enrollment. At one time we had two clubs in Merritt, a breakfast and a lunch club. We are now one small but mighty lunch club. The lower membership creates some problems when it comes to fundraising.
We are unable to do any large events that take a lot of manpower. Since COVID, we have been doing smaller fundraising activities. One of which has been pancake breakfasts. These are a ton of fun and keep us in the public eye; while boosting our bank account so we can continue to support our community. This is a slow road to success, and we have been looking for other opportunities.
Well, just such an opportunity came through one of our long-time members – Frank Rizzardo.
When we did the pancake breakfasts, we borrowed ‘Old Smokey’ from the Nicola Valley Rodeo club. Now Old Smokey had a lot of character and a long tradition of serving up breakfasts in the Nicola Valley. But Old Smokey saw his last days when he caught fire at our last pancake breakfast. At that time Frank offered to have a trailer kitchen built for the Nicola Valley Rodeo club and donate it to them.
They declined as they didn’t have proper storage for the trailer to keep it from being vandalized. A couple of our members heard about this offer and approached Frank to see if he would extend the offer to our Rotary Club––and he did. Frank had the trailer built and shipped to Merritt. He
took possession of the trailer in early February.
There is additional work that needs to be done after the initial build. Frank has been busy getting these done. The donations don’t stop there, we have had three grills donated, a compressor, the labour for the gas fitting, and the graphics on the outside of the trailer.
We have lots of plans for this trailer. Starting with our famous Rotary Breakfasts. We are working with WorkBC to see if we can get some labour and looking for grant money. Our business plan will include – expanding our menu offerings to include lunches and dinners. We have been in conversation with other organizations in town to see about some opportunities to work together, such as the local Golf Course for their tournaments. We hope to be able to work with the City and have a permanent location to offer meals to locals and tourists. Merritt hosts music festivals during the summer, this could be an opportunity for us as well. Stay tuned –– we will let you know all the fun and fundraising we will be having in Merritt and surrounding areas.
Sunday each month 1:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919
Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.
St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772
Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.
Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735
Service Time every Sunday - 10 am
Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall) Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268
Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502
Service Times: Sunday 10 am
Motion Church Merritt 2114 Nicola Avenue • 250-434-3333
Scott was born July 4, 1961 to John and Mary Hostrawser in Weston Ontario. Scott was a beloved husband, father, papa, brother, uncle and a great friend.
JOINTHEFIGHTAGAINST UTERINECANCER!
Scott will be sadly missed by his wife Sandra, their children Cody, Corey (Roxy) Tamara (Oneil) his brother and sister John and Linda Hostrawser, his grandchildren Andrea, Kenya, Missy, Arianna, Carter, Calleigh, Hunter, Riley, Echo, Layla and Omari.
A celebration of life will be planned in the summer of 2025.
Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land
Take notice that I, Mount Mabel Wind Inc. from Toronto, ON, have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS), Thompson Okanagan Region for an Investigative Licence – Windpower situated on Provincial Crown land located 12 kilometers southeast of Logan Lake, near Highway 5.
WLRS invites comments on this application. The Lands File is 3413861. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, Thompson Okanagan Region, WLRS at 441 Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2T3. Comments will be received by WLRS up to June 13, 2025. WLRS may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision Database website at http:// comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.
Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.
1. McCarthy acolyte Roy
Ancient Korean chiefdoms
Not soft
Jai __, sport
Philosophy
Do what you’re told
Gaffe
Widely known and esteemed
Amusement park
20. Popular comic strip
Usually has a lid
Currency
Ceramic jar
Reagan’s Secretary of State
God worshipped in Kanesh
One thousand cubic feet (abbr.)
Semitic
About blood
23. American sportscaster
Lung fibrosis
General’s assistant (abbr.)
Pouch
Upset
Partner to hem
Astronomy unit of distance
Witch 38. Gradually disappear
Regions
Possesses 41. Body parts
A way to comprehend
11. Hebrew calendar month
Advise someone
Colors clothes
The sun does it
Concealed
City of Angels hoops team (abbr.)
Droop
Away from one another
Challenges
A harsh scraping sound
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.
43. Defraud 44. Sandwich type
45. Expression of disappointment
46. Popular Dodge truck model
47. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet 48. Soviet Socialist Republic
49. Songs to a beloved
52. Custom
55. Partner to cheese
56. West Indies trees
32. Attaches to a wall 33. Capital of Ethiopia: __ Ababa 34. German river 36. Disappointed 37. Star Wars character
Solo
38. Supervises flying 40. Not mass-produced 41. Nonsense
43. Automobile 44. Hogshead (abbr.)
46. Soak in water
47. Flower cluster
60. Member of a Semitic people
61. Plant that originated vegetatively
63. Squandered one’s money
64. Ethiopian river
65. Excessive fluid accumulation in tissues
66. Acquire by one’s efforts
67. Irish goddess 68. Hungarian village 69. Cereal grasses
