Merritt Herald May 21, 2026

Plans for a new overpass will help pedestrians cross the busy highway at gasoline alley.

SHIFTS COMING TO MERRITT’S ECONOMY

New labour market survey shows upcoming booms in nontraditional industries

JAKE COURTEPATTE newsroom@merrittherald.com

The backbones of the British Columbian economy are going through a transformative age, and Merritt is doing its best to ke ep up.

Traditionally known for its strong ties to the forestry and manufacturing sectors, Merritt is now seeing growth in areas such as technology, renewable energy, healthcare and tourism according to a new labour market survey conducted by a third party research group in conjunction with the City of Merritt. The scope of the project was to MERRITT ECONOMY: continued on page 3

MISFITS VOLLEY TO NATIONALS

The Merritt Misfits Volleyball Club recently headed to Edmonton for the organization’s first ever nationals.

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100 YEARS Strong

As I celebrate my first year as Managing Partner of the dealership, I couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible support from both our staff and the community. Change is never easy, but our team has fully embraced new initiatives focused on growing the business, strengthening our community involvement, and enhancing the experience we provide to our customers.

This year also marks 20 years of the dealership being part of the Murray Auto Group, and we’re excited about the future ahead. We are currently in the final stages of becoming fully certified for Electric Vehicle sales and service, while continuing to grow our team with talented individuals dedicated to serving Merritt and the surrounding area.

As part of our celebrations, I’d like to personally invite the community to stop by our showroom, meet some of the new faces on our team, and explore our inventory. This month, we’re offering exceptional promotions, including 0% financing on select models and outstanding vehicle deals. We’re also actively looking to expand our pre-owned inventory and are paying abovemarket value for used vehicles — even if customers are not purchasing from us.

MERRITT ECONOMY STANDS AT ‘PIVOTAL POINT’

understand our labour force, with the intent of making links to the types of industry that might use this labour force.

Key insights

With the population largely remaining stable over the last decade, Merritt sits in contrast to similar B.C. communities that have shown booms in population over the same time period, like Revelstoke or Castlegar.

Succession risks in all industries remains a threat, as with 28 per cent of the population being 65 years of age or older, the community’s workforce is aging.

With a labour force participation of only 51 per cent, meaning only half the population is actively employed or searching for employment, Merritt remains b elow the provincial average and with a higher-than-normal unemployment rate.

Though Merritt has a solid foundation in trade industries, its business base is also

predominantly long-established and small, with a n average of only 19 employees per firm. This raises issues of economic diversification to promote long-term prosperity, with growth opportunities in logistics, agri-food pr ocessing, renewable energy, cultural tourism, and advanced manufacturing.

“The evidence paints a consistent picture: Merritt’s economic and workforce system is stable but strained,” reads the survey report.

“The city’s strengths— strategic location, educational institutions, and community partnerships—are offset by de mographic pressures, skill shortages, and limited infrastructure capacity.”

Four key goals were set within the report to help Merritt’s economic path into the future:

1. Strengthen coordination among the City, e mployers, training institutions, and Indigenous governments.

2. Attract and retain skilled workers by

improving housing, livability, and local career pathways.

3. Align education and training with actual employer demand.

4. Diversify the local economy to generate higher-value, year-round employment.

industry has a much bleaker outlook, and has been in a steady decline provincially since the mid-2000s.

However, the recent report suggests that investment in sustainable practices, such as responsible resource management and low-im -

“The evidence paints a consistent picture: Merritt’s economic workforce system is stable but strained.” — 2026 Labour Market Survey

Opportunities for development

It is no secret that Merritt and its economy has long relied on both the forestry and mining undustries, both of which boomed in the Nicola Valley at a mass industrial scale in the early 1900s. Though mining in the community has recently received a lifeline due to the extension of the life of the Highland Valley Copper Mine, the timber

pact value-added p rocessing, can help strengthen long-term viability and attract interest from environmentally conscious pa rtners.

“Ongoing partnerships with Indigenous communities, including models s imilar to the collaboration with Stuwix R esources, demonstrate how comanagement approaches can enhance stewardship and support inclusive economic opportunities even as the

broader sector evolves.”

Looking at the big picture in a non-traditional sense, the report i ndicates that tourism remains a “significant growth opportunity” for Merritt, supported by cultural events, outdoor recreation amenities and scenic landscapes.

“By enhancing local infrastructure—including accommodations, dining, and attractions—Merritt can continue positioning itself as a year-round tourism destination.

Emerging markets such as eco-tourism and cultural tourism align strongly with Merritt’s assets and visitor appeal.”

Light-industrial manufacturing, such as the M ako Wood Furniture factory under construction in Collettville, also p resents an opportunity for Merritt to diversify.

“Sectors such as food processing, small-scale electronics, and non-resource-based m anufacturing can help diversify the local economy and reduce reliance on traditional industries. By providing modern facilities, tailored workforce-training

programs, and targeted business incentives, Merritt can strengthen its competitive advantage.”

Renewable energy was also introduced as an industry of high growth potential in Merritt, by investing in sustainable projects like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

“Integrating renewable energy into existing industrial operations would further enhance sustainability and market competitiveness.”

Looking ahead

Merritt stands at a ‘pivotal point’ in its economic and workforce trajectory says the report.

“Economic diversification is critical to stability a nd resilience. While Merritt’s core sectors remain vital, reliance on a narrow set of industries exposes the community to cyclical risks. Growth in logistics, value-added manufacturing, renewable energy, and cultural or experiential tourism represents the most promising diversification pathways.”

OVERPASS COMING TO GASOLINE ALLEY

HARIT JOSHI

hjoshi@kentem.ca

Have you ever wondered about the dangers involved if one wants to walk to Crawford Avenue (in and around Walmart) from the gasoline alley on DeWolf Way?

Pedestrians have been risking their lives for years while walking on the highway with vehicles flying past.

However, this is set to change as the pedestrians will soon have an overpass bridge to help them sa fely navigate between DeWolf Way and Crawford Avenue.

The overpass bridge will be ready by “this time next year,” according to Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz.

“One of the things we noticed years ago was

that you have to walk across the bridge to get across (to Crawford Avenue),” said Goetz, who was relatively happy that the decade-long struggle to get the project off the ground was coming to fruition.

“We were very concerned that somebody might get hit or killed. So, we took a resolution to the minister about making a safe path, adding a bridge. We got notified just last year that they were doing a study. They (a team of highway engineers) were out here two to three weeks ago. We walked the whole thing to see the new path.

“So, we’ll get a nice new path that will ensure the pedestrians can cross without ever being on the highway.”

HOME HIGHLIGHTS

• 5 bedrooms | 2.5 bathrooms

Getting this overpass bridge has been a struggle for the city. After constant follow-ups with the province, it will be nearly 10 years when the bridge will finally take shape.

“We took this up 10 years ago when I was Councillor.

Premier Christy Clark was the first one who heard it from us. We presented it to Premier John Horgan. We’ve also presented it to Premier David Eby. We’ve raised that issue four times in the last 10 years. And finally, they have decided to put an overpass (bridge) in there at no charge to the city.

The city will contribute its portion, but the highways are going to be putting the bridge across at no extra cost to the taxpayers.”

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CENTRAL, COLLETTVILLE SCHOOLS BEGIN INTEGRATION

JAKE COURTEPATTE

newsroom@merrittherald. com

With the T’s crossed and the I’s dotted to close Collettville Elementary by the end of June and integrate the student and staff population into Merritt Central, classrooms are now being a ssigned and the logistical process has begun.

The Nicola-Similkameen School District provided an update at their May 13 board meeting.

“Classrooms have been assigned at Central for both French and English facilities, and the schools have created a labeling system,” said Vice-Chair Leah Ward, calling it a “lesson learned” from previous moves that have happened within the board. “So that when we pack it up at one school, we know where it’s headed and labeled correctly at the next school. So we’re not searching through the building to find a box, and making sure that they’re going to go to the right classroom.”

A second library has been assigned for the French immersion program, with the current Central library already quite full.

“initially we thought that we might have to store some of the the resources for both English and

French and rotate them, but we were actually able to find a classroom space. We’ll be able to have a separate library and two library spaces, which I think is going to be great for that inside the school.”

While some weeding out of old, underused books and resources will be done by library staff for both the French and English programs, $5,500 was also allocated to invest in new resources. Reassignments and staffing are also in the works for those moving from Collettville, with Collettville Principal Brandon Sambrook taking the reins on the task. He is hoping to have this done by the end of the month.

A new name

At the same board meeting, it was approved to rename Central Elementary to École Merritt Central

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Elementary School, to reflect both the anglophone and francophone f utures of the school.

Board trustee Justin Jepsen questioned using the word ‘school’ twice in the same name albeit in different languages, though Chair Gordon Swan said that this practice was normal in similar situations around the province.

Swan also said that there was some consultation early on for different n ames, though the chosen one stuck as other schools within the district are also named after their catchment area, like Diamond Vale and Bench.

“It didn’t make sense to name Central something other than what it’s been named for 60 years.”

With the name change approved by the Board, changes of signage will now be initiated as well as communication with the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

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NICOLA VALLEY VIEWPOINT

NICOLA VALLEY

week’s submission is by Rayna Fountain-Hall, grade 10. Submit your artwork to newsroom@merrittherald.com for a chance to be featured in print each week!

DIXON: SWEET DREAMS ARE BLISS

BONNIE DIXON

Healthy Conversations

“The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald I am truly blessed because most of my life I have been able to fall asleep easily. I created a simple routine over the years. Usually by 10 p.m. I enjoy a cup of non-caffeinated hot tea, brush my teeth, use my beauty cream, and then lay down. Tada — off to a good night’s sleep. Well… that was until the other night. I think the tea I drank may have had caffeine in it! I followed my usual ritual and climbed into bed. Hmm. My brain was racing a hundred miles an hour. My body did not even want to rest. I persevered and lay there for a couple of hours, hoping sleep would come.

It was a bit cool that night and I started to feel chilled. “Maybe I should get up again,” I said to myself. But I stayed tucked in, hoping and waiting. I bet many of you have had nights like this.

An occasional restless night happens to most of us, but if it becomes common, it may be a health concern worth paying attention to. Sleep is not lazy time. When we sleep, our bodies go into repair

mode. Brain health, hormone balance, memory, mood, and our circadian rhythm all depend on quality rest. Simple habits can help improve sleep. Try keeping a regular bedtime, avoiding caffeine late in the day, turning off screens earlier, and keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and comfortable. Gentle stretching, calming music, prayer, meditation, or reading something peaceful may also help settle the mind. Tracking your sleep can also be very helpful when speaking with your healthcare provider. Make note of how many hours you sleep, how often you wake up, if you snore, nap during the day, or wake feeling tired. These details can provide important clues about your overall health.

If you regularly struggle with sleep, wake up exhausted, snore heavily, or notice changes in your health, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.

Tonight, I will definitely double-check my tea label before bedtime. Sweet dreams, everyone.

This

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VIEWPOINT LOOK OUT FOR BRIGHT PLANETS AND A BLUE MOON

GARY BOYLE

The Backyard Astronomer

For thousands of years, the night sky has been a mystical place of wonder and entertainment.

Those who followed the sky regularly realized the paths of brighter objects as they traversed the starry background over weeks, months and even years. The early Greeks called them planete, meaning the “wanderers”. Of the eight main planets of the solar system, we can see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the unaided eye, while Uranus and Neptune are only seen in binoculars and a telescope. Even the Sun and Moon were also referred to as the wanderers, and these seven are named as the days of the week.

Looking towards the western sky will reward you with seeing the two brightest planets. Brilliant Venus is lower in the sky with the giant planet Jupiter to the upper left. Over the next few weeks, you will see Jupiter appearing a bit lower each night while Venus is moving up due to its orbit around

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.

the sun.

On the night of June 6 and 7, these two will appear side by side. I term these “spooky eyes” as they take on a ghostly appearance in the sky. They are by sight only and do not physically approach each other. These jewels will be 719 million kilometres or 447 million miles apart.

The speed of light circles the Earth seven and a half times in one second. Reflected sunlight from Venus takes over 10 light-minutes to reach our eyes, with a 50 light-minute travel from Jupiter.

By comparison, Saturn is now visible in the early morning sky and is 85 light-minutes away.

A much closer object – the Moon is only 1.3 light-seconds from us.

As we follow the lunar phases over the months from a thin waxing crescent low in the west to first quarter (looks like a capital D), waxing gibbous (egg-shaped) and then full phase when the sun illuminates it 100%. Then we have a waning gibbous, third quarter

(backwards capital D) and waning crescent. Although spectacular in the sky, it is the worst night for stargazing as moonlight washes out the sky for all but the brightest of stars.

Each full moon has been given a name to address seasonal change, such as the “Cold Moon” in December and the “Strawberry Moon” in June. With an average of 29.5 days lapsing between full phases, some months will have two full moons, the second of which is termed the “Blue Moon”.

Since the full Flower Moon occurred on May 1, the next full moon will be on May 31. The moon will not physically turn blue, but by name only.

It should be another great year to plan stargazing sessions in the countryside, at the cottage or campgrounds, preferably during a New Moon. Here you can marvel at a couple of thousand stars and the lovely Milky Way, our home galaxy. The night sky is a wonderful classroom.

Clear skies!

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and previous monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

The raise recently given hospital nurses has angered one of the other two unions whose members also work in hospitals.

The Health Sciences Association (HSA), which represents the B.C. hospital paramedics, held its annual convention in Richmond May 24. According to a press release, “ anger and disbelief was felt by the members when they were in formed their contract would not be re-opened by the Health Labour Relations Association (HLRA).The HLRA recently gave a 44 per cent increase to the registered nurses over a 27-month period. This gave the nurses, higher salaries than the paramedics. So the paramedics went to the HLRA and asked for a raise also.

There are six full-time and three part-time paramedics at the Nicola Valley General Hospital. Allen Peters is the shop steward of their union here and was at the May 24 conference.

Open House

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GRAVEL PIT PROPOSED FOR AREA OF OLD CRAIGMONT COPPER MINE

MORGAN HAMPTON Contributor

The Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is supporting an application by Huldra Properties Inc. and Lower Nicola Site Services to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for a proposed gravel pit on Aberdeen Rd. in Lower Nicola.

The subject property is located at 3329 Aberdeen Rd., adjacent to and formerly a part of, the historic Craigmont Copper Mine, which ceased operations in 2000 and is currently undergoing reclamation.

Bisected by Aberdeen Rd., only a portion of the 47.4 hectares are within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The application for a Removal of Soil (Extraction) Use would allow for mining operations to be expanded into the ALR lands where high quality aggregates used to make bricks, concrete or asphalt have been discovered.

Despite the property being in the ALR, an extensive Agricultural Capability Assessment and Reclamation Plan submitted to the TNRD indicated that the agricultural value of the land was extremely limited.

“This Property has never been farmed due to mining activity, soil limitations (stoniness, soil moisture deficiency), and steep topography on the east side of Aberdeen

Road,” reads the report to the Board, which also indicates that even with improvements the soil would only be suited for specially adapted crops.

Alison Fox, a Land Use Agrologist for the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, acknowledged that “… it [the Application] does not appear to be detrimental to agriculture occurring on the site following the gravel extraction, nor does it seem to indicate a net benefit to agriculture unless water capture and storage is included as part of the reclamation plan in order to allow for future irrigation that would improve the agricultural capability of the site.”

The Reclamation Plan for the property is comprehensive and outlines management practices in detail:

• During conditions of adverse soil moisture content (i.e. when the soil is frozen or powdery dry) soil will not be salvaged, moved, stockpiled, or replaced to prevent slumping.

• Soil compaction will be minimized by selecting soil materials with low clay content for replacement in the root zone, where feasible.

• Stockpiled soils will be seeded with an annual grass (e.g., fall rye and clover) on an annual basis to maintain

NEW PIT: continued on page 10

MERRITT TRUNK SALE

MAY 24, 2026

NEW PIT WOULD NOT INCREASE LOCAL

MINING PRODUCTION, SAYS APPLICANT

vegetation cover, correct nitrogen, and reduce opportunities for invasive plant species.

• Surface drainage within reclaimed areas will be maintained to prevent erosion, flooding, siltation, or other degradation of soils.

If approved, the sand and gravel pit would be high producing, with an estimated extraction of 500,000 cubic metres (one million tonnes) of aggregate over a ten year period from an area roughly 8.04 ha to a depth of seven metres, with two further ten-year requests planned.

“At the end of the 30-year term, 1.5 million cubic metres (three million tonnes) of aggregate material is expected to be mined,” reads the report to the TNRD Board.

While some residents of Lower Nicola have expressed concerns about expanding mining operations and an increase in dump truck traffic from the property, this does not align with the proposed plans.

“The Applicant has indicated this expansion will not increase mining production,” assures the submitted report.

“The amendment to the Mines Permit will not change

the extraction rate, just the area that will be mined. Should the application be approved, the majority of extraction will occur within ALR portion of the Property, as topography and odd configuration limits mining the non-ALR lands. The proposed expansion will not result in more material extracted, but the source of the material will shift from non-ALR land to ALR land.”

All material mined east of Aberdeen Rd. will be transported on a conveyor beneath Aberdeen Rd. to the processing and stockpile area on the west side of the road.

The property is surrounded by Crown Land, vacant land, Lower Nicola Indian Band Land, and the former Craigmont Mine with no residences in the immediate vicinity, reducing the impact of dust and noise.

Furthermore, the draft Beautiful Nicola Valley Official Community Plan, which received First Reading on Mar. 5, 2026, ensures that any mining activity conducted in the region will have a limited impact on neighbouring properties through means such as set hours of operation, dust control, and traffic circulation.

The full report is available on the TNRD website and all ALC decisions are made public on their website.

2026 MERRITT DRUG DEATHS REMAIN AT ZERO

JAKE COURTEPATTE newsroom@merrittherald.com

After recording six deaths due to drug toxicity in 2025, Merritt saw none at all in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report from the B.C. Coroner’s Service.

The March numbers were released earlier this month indicating 136 deaths caused by unregulated drugs province-wide, equalling approximately 4.4 per day. By health authority, the highest numbers remain to be found in Fraser Health (38 in March) and Vancouver Coastal (33) , while the Interior saw 22 deaths.

Kamloops saw three drug deaths in March, bringing its yearly total to six, setting its own pace for a historic low not seen in over a decade.

Provincially, the gender proportions of those dying from drug use continues to be heavily skewed, with 78 per cent identifying as male. Those in their 40s also continue to be the highest age demographic, contributing 26 per cent of total drug deaths. Though fentanyl remains the drug most commonly associated with toxic deaths at 80 per cent, both methamphetamine and cocaine are on the rise in contributing to about 50 per cent of drug-related deaths, numbers not seen since the Coroner’s Service began tracking the data in 2015. So far in 2026, 82 per cent of drug-related deaths in the province have occurred inside, while 17 per cent have occurred outside in vehicles, streets, parks, sidewalks, etc.

MERRITT ADDRESSES NEEDS AT ANNUAL GOVERNMENT MEETING

The Herald sat down with Mayor Mike Goetz to discuss the issues he and staff brought to the 2026 SILGA conference.

HARIT JOSHI

hjoshi@kentem.ca

Three resolutions that Merritt staff and council proposed were passed at the recent annual Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) meeting that was hosted in Revelstoke from April 29 to May 2, where delegates of 37 local governments deliberated on 32 resolutions.

The first resolution was about the provincial diking reforms. The second stemmed from two domestic violence deaths in the city, appealing for better funding of the victim services program.

The third and final was about cost of public transit systems in communities under the population of 10,000.

These resolutions will now be tabled at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) where they will be addressed to the ministers to become a law.

M erritt’s Mayor Mike Goetz spoke to the Merritt Herald to explain each of these resolutions in detail.

Provincial diking reforms

“One of the things that I learned is the fact that the province has no diking authority. They expect communities every other year to evaluate their dikes to make sure they’re safe. But we don’t have anybody that’s trained to

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz

do that. So, then, we’ve got to hire somebody who comes in if they have the time, and sometimes you don’t get it done in that year, because there’s just not enough people to go around,” said Goetz.

“They also have a thing called an orphan dike that nobody owns or looks after, and that’s a scary part.

Every time we started to work on our dikes, we would end up with provincial people here telling us what we can and cannot do, and I was like, ‘there is no diking authority, what are you doing here?’

“So, by doing that, I’ve been forcing the provincial government to take c ontrol of their dikes, inspect them, find out which ones need to be repaired, take control of the orphan dikes, and then protect communities that have rivers that are flowing through them with professionals.”

Victims services

“Victim services is for the people who are involved in a domestic incident, or they are a victim of crime,” said Goetz. “The provincial government does not fund victim services at all. It’s left to volunteers and whatever money the city can give them to operate.

We give them $35,000 from our budget for victims services to operate, which is not enough. Since we’ve had two domestic deaths recently, we are looking for better funding for victim services, so they don’t have to go begging to help these victims.

“We are also looking for a full-time coordinator to run it. Provincially paid to help people that are in moments of strife, which will then alleviate any kind of severe injury or death because victim services are so terribly funded.

“This is the third year we’re taking this to UBCM. However, this year, not only are we taking it to UBCM, but we’re going to be meeting with staff and a minister for half an hour. It’s very important we get this in our community because our community, our citizens need to be protected.”

Cost of public transit in small communities

IT’LL BE A SHAME: continued on page 12

IT’LL BE A SHAME TO LOSE TRANSIT, SAYS MAYOR

MERRITT ADDRESSES: continued from page 11

“The cost of transit every year increases, and we have to corral that cost or we’re not going to be able to afford transit in the community,” said Goetz. “The cost of public transit systems in communities under the population of 10,000, which is us. Transit is doing what they can do, but they’re basing their ridership on the west coast, like Vancouver, Victoria. If we would have gone with their recommendation this year, our tickets would h ave gone from, I think 2.40 cents to almost 10 dollars a ride. It was a 94 per cent increase.

“Our CFO, Director of Finance and HR, Kevin Natkinniemi worked very hard with transit to come to something that made sense for us, but that’s on a yearly basis. We need to permanently resolve to make sure that transit is available in

Merritt has the largest of its population for its size anywhere in B.C., with over 85,000 rides per year

smaller communities under 10,000 that’s not going to break council.

“Merritt has the largest ridership of its populations for its size anywhere in BC. We have over 85,000 rides on the bus every single year for a town of 8,000 people. We’re a shining star when it comes to transit, but we need the government also to be aware of the fact that you can’t treat us like we’re Vancouver. We can’t have price increases like that. It’s important that we get this one done as well, because if we don’t, we won’t be able to afford transit. Everybody relies on that transit, and if we lose that, it’ll be a shame.”

CITY REJECTS FOURTH CANNABIS STORE AFTER RECONSIDERATION

TYLER REIS-SANFORD Contributor

Following a mandatory reconsideration, city council has again rejected the application for a fourth cannabis store to be opened in Merritt.

As part of the application process under the L iquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), municipalities are required to have a reconsideration process for applicants applying to open liquor and cannabis retail locations. The application was brought back under mayoral powers, but was quickly shut down by city council for a second time.

“This council has been at it for three and a half years, and the amount of people that came to oppose the cannabis store,

it’s the most community information that’s ever come to council before. It was very adamant, the town of Merritt does not want another cannabis store, and I think we as tax payers have to listen,” said Councillor Wendy Charney.

“You know the old saying is ‘for every one that speaks up there’s ten behind you’, so it was very adamant that the public does not want another cannabis store, and I will stand by what I voted on before to reject another cannabis store.”

Councillors Adam Etchart and Manuel Olguin both said that they haven’t seen any new information presented that would change their mind to be in favour of bringing a fourth location to Merritt.

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Bylaw to be considered

Later in the meeting, city council also recommended that a new bylaw amendment to limit the number of retail cannabis stores in Merritt to three be sent to public hearing.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 2422, 2026, recommends that the city establish a cap of a maximum of three retail cannabis sales stores within the city until there is a demonstrated need for additional stores, and cites community concerns around saturation as the need for the amendment. Council approved the motion, and will hold a public hearing on the amendment at city hall at a later date.

A Merritt local and 2024 graduate of MC College, she brings two years of experience in the hair industry, along with strong technical skill and a loyal, growing clientele. Brandy is known for her attention to detail and thoughtful approach to every appointment—if you ask for a quarter inch, that’s exactly what you’ll get.

While naturally more relaxed than chatty, she creates a comfortable, easygoing experience and takes the time to listen closely so you leave feeling confident and happy with your look.

RCMP ACTION DID NOT PLAY ROLE IN DEATH, SAYS WATCHDOG

JAKE COURTEPATTE newsroom@merrittherald. com

Police have been cleared of any wrongdoing following the death of a man on a highway near Merritt last month.

It was just after 9:30 p.m. on April 2, 2026 that an RCMP officer spotted a vehicle parked on the side of Highway 97C near Iron Mountain Road south of Merritt. At the same time, police received an

out-of-province call from a concerned family member regarding a loved one who may be in the area.

The responding officer called in backup as well as ERT after discovering that the man inside the vehicle was in possession of a firearm.

Police then used a drone to investigate, and discovered that the man was dead on-scene in the vehicle with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

T he IIO was notified shortly after the incident and has begun an investigation.

The chief civilian director has now reviewed the evidence collected by IIO investigators, including officer statements, radio transmissions and video footage, and has determined that there is no connection between police actions and the man’s death.

The matter is now considered closed.

CHARGES RECOMMENDED IN DROWNING DEATH OF BABY AT HOME

who said they found their baby face down in the bathtub.

Police have recommended charges in the d rowning death of a seven-month-old baby girl in Merritt.

Emergency crews were called to an address in Merritt on the evening of Dec. 20, 2024, by parents

The girl was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators believe she was “placed in a floating device and periodically left alone in the bathroom for brief periods of time” while her parents ate

PRINCETON MAN WINS BIG

JAKE COURTEPATTE newsroom@merrittherald.com

A Princeton man is over $100,000 richer after matching five of six numbers plus the bonus from a Lotto 6/49 Classic Draw.

Wayne W. was visiting with family at his brother’s house when he checked his numbers for the April 18 draw and couldn’t believe his eyes, learning that he had won $124,363.

“My first thought was, ‘I don’t believe it, it can’t be true!’” said Wayne, who

added that his family were all very excited for him.

The winning ticket was purchased at Petro-Canada on Bridge Street in Princeton.

Although some of his winnings will go directly into savings, Wayne, who mentioned he owns an older car that he likes to show off at car shows, shared that he plans to start searching for “a new older car.”

And his thoughts on his six-figure win?

“Awesome!”

dinner, according to a police affidavit filed in Kamloops provincial court.

The file is now in the hands of prosecutors.

“Our investigation has been completed and submitted to the BC Prosecution Service for assessment,” said Merritt RCMP Staff Sgt. Josh Roda.

NICOLA VALLEY SPORTS

MSS BIKER RACES TO TOP OF PODIUM

HARIT JOSHI

hjoshi@kentem.ca

Layne Neustaeter made Merritt proud by clinching gold in the a mountain bike race league event on home turf.

On May 7, Merritt was abuzz with the Brakeless Bandit Enduro race happening for the first time ever in the city. The Merritt Secondary School-hosted event received an overwhelming response with over 155 high schoolers from across Thompson-Okanagan Zone .

MSS’s Neustaeter topped the Bantam Boys category with a total time of 6:18.0 (scapegoat 2:31.8, brakeless 1:29.5). His teammate Remy Graham was the other participant in that race, where 78 riders participated.

Merritt Secondary School had a total seven participants in the event. Jacob Sheldon and Carter Hughes competed in junior boys, while Jacob Davis, Ryan Quimet, Gabe Peterson and Devan Rohkre competed in senior boys.

“MSS has had a mountain biking team for the last three years. I wanted to have Merritt be a part of this race league. We wanted to showcase our great trail network and bring people to our city. It was quite exceptional to see all our riders do quite well. They were all in the first half of their respective rankings. Layne stood out for us by winning the gold. I am extremely proud of all of them. It’s been one of the best seasons we have had so far as a team. We had a third-place finish in Kelowna and first in Merritt,” said MSS head coach Sam McKibbon.

Twenty-six schools participated in the Merritt race. Riders are not timed for uphill, but the downhill portion, which is “quite challenging,” is timed with an electronic chip.

“What touched me especially was when people told me about how fantastic our trail is. They also acknowledged the ton of work our volunteers put in. I would like to thank all the volunteers, the Nicola Valley Search and Rescue team, three nurse volunteers, and our sponsors for their support, without which this event would not have been successful. It shows footprints of how strong our community is,” said McKibbon.

AD POLICY SHAKES UP AFTER SOFTBALL CONCERNS

organizations.

The city of Merritt has voted to return its updated advertising policy to staff for rewording.

The decision comes after a previous change to the city’s policy on advertising on public property, which saw youth organizations like the Merritt Minor Softball Association (MMSBA) splitting revenue with the city evenly. The original policy was passed in May 2025, and implemented for the 2026 season.

MMSBA saw a significant drop in advertising revenue for the 2026 season, with only two of last year’s 18 sponsors returning to purchase a banner with the league, representing a loss of nearly $8,000 in funding.

T he new policy would create an exception for youth leagues like MMSBA, allowing them to receive 100 per cent of the funds generated through advertising programs on city property like their banner program. It would also provide MMSBA with the ability to bring a proposed agreement to city council on the league’s terms.

“We’re more than willing to let people know when we made a mistake .”

— Mayor Mike Goetz

”I want to make a comment that council does listen when sometimes we don’t make the right decisions,” said Mayor Mike Goetz. “We’re more than willing to let people know when we made a mistake.”

Despite the support from the community and councillors for the intended changes, the policy will have to be returned to staff before being implemented in a future meeting.

Councillor Manuel Olguin was the first to voice concerns about the titling of the policy being too narrow and focused on youth sport advertising, despite the policy covering more than just advertising for youth

”For me, this statement suggests that the policy is primarily about youth recreation funding,” said Olguin. “But the document, it’s actually a comprehensive municipal advertising policy, that is my concern.”

M MSBA president Amy Douthwright said that at the beginning the process gave her hope that even though city council had not listened to her initial concerns, that they would be receptive to concerns from the broader public.

“It is a bit frustrating that the changes did not get approved at the last council meeting due to some wording in the original document that had been approved previously, if we were able to have it approved last week we likely would have been able to implement the advertising for this season, but now that we will be two-thirds through the season, it will be too late for this year,” said Douthwright. “We are hopeful that council will correct this policy timely and we will be able to implement the advertising structure for next season.”

NICOLA VALLEY COMMUNITY

FIRST NATIONALS FOR MISFITS V-BALL WALKING TOGETHER IN MERRITT

JAKE COURTEPATTE newsroom@merrittherald.com

It was the trip of a young lifetime earlier this month when the Merritt Misfits volleyball squad travelled to Edmonton for the 14U Nationals.

Acceptance into the national tournament is made via application, with the Merritt club applying early to ensure they received one of the limited spots among the over 175 teams that apply each year from across the country.

Using provincial rankings to determine divisions, the Misfits were placed in a division with teams based in much larger populations to draw from, including matchups with teams from Edmonton, Winnipeg and Burnaby on a day one that saw them go undefeated.

“That was pretty great what we did on day one, so they bumped us up into a higher pool for day two,” said Misfits manager Gian Cavaliere.

Day two saw some tougher competition for the Merritt squad, facing off against clubs from the likes of Calgary and Vancouver to name a few, and managing to

squeak out another win against a different Winnipeg-based team before the playoffs.

That set up a matchup with a team from Estevan, Saskatchewan, in what Cavaliere called a “small town vs. small town” battle.

The Misfits came up just short in three sets, ending their run though considering it a success.

“Man, what an experience,” said Cavaliere, who noted that the squad finished higher than they were originally ranked. “The girls got to experience Edmonton, they set a good tone, and we’re just really proud of the girls.”

The Misfits have already been renewed for season four, with tryouts set to begin in November, while high school volleyball returns in September.

“If you blink you’ll miss it, then volleyball will be back either way,” said Cavaliere.

“You never want too long of a break.”

He added that “the sky’s the limit” for the club’s future, with the hopes of even introducing a boys team next year.

““It’s pretty cool hearing the comments from players, coaches, parents, and they just love what we’re about, and the mark we have left behind so far.”

HARIT JOSHI hjoshi@kentem.ca

Despite the sudden shift in the weather combined with torrential downpour for the whole of Wednesday, May 13, community members of Merritt showed up for a ‘Walk with your Doc’, an event organized by the Doctors of BC and held at Rotary Park. An initiative to promote healthy living in the community and mingle with doctors in an informal and social setting, Walk with your Doc has consistently garnered support from communities for the last 15 years. This year, Walk with your Doc looked a little different, with more emphasis on physician-led events in communities.

Dr. Tonya-Leah Watt, Dr. A Alnatuh and nurse practitioner Ashley Fulcher were in attendance from the medical fraternity of

Merritt. The walk was attended by Mayor Mike Goetz, some senior members of the community and a number of families.

Fulcher, a family nurse practitioner at the Medical Clinic, wholeheartedly supported this initiative. “It’s great to encourage people to get outside and enjoy the walking path with each other. We hope it will encourage people to continue to do that,” she said.

“I come from a nursing background, I’ve worked in the community,” said Fulcher. “So, it’s not just like, ‘here’s a pill, it’s gonna save your life’. There’s so much more that we can do to be healthy, including just getting outside, walking, and connecting with friends.

“And this kind of a setting, which is not clinically driven, helps you understand each other, the community, their perspectives in a better way.”

NICOLA VALLEY COMMUNITY

‘TOTAL FAILURE’ OF PUMPS LEADS TO SPAWNING CHANNEL CLOSURE FOR 2026

Logan Lakers and those in the nearby area will not have the opportunity to watch resident trout spawn this year as the pump which supplies water to the spawning channel has suffered a total failure and will not be up and running before the 2026 spawning season comes to a close.

The spawning channel was originally added to the lake in 1991 through a partnership between the Provincial government and the Highland Valley O utdoor Association for the educational purposes of showcasing both the life cycle and spawning habits of trout. Eventually, the responsibility for operation and maintenance was handed off to the District of Logan Lake.

“They created this so the female fish can go up the channel and spawn,” explained Mel Bohmer, Director of Public Works and Recreation for the District of Logan Lake.

“They’ll lay all their eggs in the gravel bed and then what we do to manage the fishery… we turn the spawning channel off. We don’t want any of them to hatch, what it does is help the female mortality of the fish.”

Logan Lake is stocked with both diploid and triploid fish. Triploid fish have three sets of chromosomes instead of two and are s terile, whereas diploid fish are normal, fertile fish. The diploid females will search for a place to lay their eggs before they die, and can otherwise become “egg-bound”, a condition where retained eggs lead to a swollen, bloated belly.

PHOTOS/DISTRICT OF LOGAN LAKE

Trout are shown during spawning season in the Logan Lake spawning channel.

Every May, a contractor for the District of Logan Lake starts the pump which brings water into the spawning channel. The pump is then turned off once the fish have all laid their eggs and left the channel, usually within the first two weeks of June.

This year, an issue arose sometime during the night after the pump was started, causing it to shut down. Bohmer suspects that the intake, which is designed to lay on the bottom of the lake, likely took up weeds which led to pump cavitation.

Several fish were killed when the channel ran dry, and some female trout have found other areas of the lake to lay their eggs.

“The challenge is that now they will lay eggs in the lake and they’ll hatch in the lake, and we typically don’t like that because it means smaller fish and we keep it

as a bit of a trophy lake,” said Bohmer.

“The larger fish will generally eat all of those, but we don’t introduce any eggs into the lake. We just get it stocked.”

Overall, there will be little change to the fish population or the health of the lake with the loss of the spawning channel, though recreational anglers may find themselves reeling in a few fish smaller than they expect this year. In the meantime, The District of Logan Lake is currently coming up with a plan to potentially replace the pump or update t he system.

“It’s just an old system that completely failed,” Bohmer said.

“If we’re going to do it again we’ll have to look at some new designs or different options, and make a bit of an investment in it.”

THE CHURCHES OF MERRITT WELCOME YOU

Crossroads Community Church

2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church

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

Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899

Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919

Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

St. Michael’s Anglican Church

1990 Chapman St. • 250-319-8823

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: 2:30 pm • 250-280-1268

Sunday School Time: 12:15 pm

Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church

1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502

Service Times: Sunday 10 am

Motion Church Merritt

Sundays 10 am

Coquihalla Middle School (2975 Clapperton Ave) www.wearemotionchurch.ca/merritt

CLASSIFIEDS

DEADLINE: MONDAY at noon. for that week’s paper.

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or email: publisher@merrittherald.com

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Help Wanted BAND ADMINISTRATOR

DEPARTMENT: Administration • POSITION/TITLE: Band Administrator

SUPERVISOR: Chief & Council • SALARY: $100,000-$125,000 depending on experience

SUDOKU

319 Lindley Creek Road

Saturday 9 – 2, Sunday 10 – 2

May 30 - 31, June 13 - 14, 27 - 28, July 11 - 12, 25 - 26 & August 8 - 9

Donations gratefully accepted on Giant Yard Sale Dates and Thursday mornings from 10 am - 1pm. NO EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OR BEDS.

The Nooaitch Indian Band is currently seeking a Band Administrator to join our team. As the Band Administrator, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Band office and ensuring that the Band’s programs and services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner.

Responsibilities for Band Administrator:

• Oversee the operations of the Band office, including human resources, finance, and administration,

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines to support the Band’s goals and objectives,

• Manage the Band’s budget and ensure that financial resources are used in a responsible and effective manner,

• Work with Band Council and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategic plans and initiatives,

• Ensure that the Band’s programs and services are delivered in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner,

• Foster positive relationships with Band members, stakeholders, and other First Nations communities,

• Represent the Band in negotiations and meetings with government agencies, funding organizations, and other stakeholders,

• Prepare reports and make presentations to Band Council and other stakeholders,

• Respond to inquiries and concerns from Band members, stakeholders, and the public regarding Band operations and services, and

• Perform other related duties as assigned by Band Council.

Qualifications for Band Administrator:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field,

• Proven experience in a senior management role, preferably in a First Nations community or organization,

• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills,

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure,

• Knowledge of First Nations governance and legal frameworks,

1. Government lawyers

4. The back of a person’s neck

8. Mild yellow Dutch cheese

10. In a less flashy way 11. Living room piece

12. Shepherd dog

1. Abstain from

2. Admirer

3. Expedition to observe animals

4. Act that is legally void

5. WW2 combatants

6. A tool

7. Looked at

9. Showing wild excitement

13. A citizen of Iran 15. Moved slowly 16. Small finch 17. Previously 18. What a kid does on Halloween 21. Monetary unit 22. Using dry humor 23. Ocean 24. Greek goddess of the dawn

10. Banknotes

12. Tired 14. Printers need it

15. Women’s patriotic group

17. When you anticipate getting somewhere 19. Functions

20. Breed of sheep

25. Not close 26. NHL legend Bobby 27. A ballplayer would love to do this

34. Charity 35. City in Finland 36. Loomed over 37. Vaccine developer 38. Avoids capture

23. Mocking pieces 24. A major division of geological time 25. Andiron

26. Many not ands 27. Cuban city

28. He voiced “Olaf” 29. Criticize

39. We all need it 40. Openwork fabrics 41. Get away

Something you might hit 43. Soviet Socialist Republic

30. “Thundercats” character

31. Markings

32. Gets up

33. MLB lefty reliever A.J.

34. An assembly of witches

36. High energy lasers (abbr.)

• Understanding of financial management, budgeting, and reporting,

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders,

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion, and

• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.

If you meet the qualifications and are passionate about working for a First Nations community, please submit your resume and cover letter to the Nooaitch Indian Band for consideration. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interested applicants please direct resumes and cover letter to: Nooaitch Band

2954 Shackelly Rd. Merritt, BC V1K 1N9

Ph: 250-378-6141

Email: executive.assistant@nooaitchband.ca

Deadline for applications: Posting will remain open until June 22, 2026

AUCTION