Merritt Herald - May 13, 2014

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Nicola Valley’s News Voice Since 1905

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Grand Opening

Dance teacher Lizette Nel allowed to returnMerritt’s dance teacher

will soon be allowed to return to Canada after a bureaucratic debacle that sent her packing for her native South Africa just over a month ago.

The fate of the dance studio is now in the hands of the Canadian High Commission in South Africa, which can issue Lizette Nel’s work permit authorization.

Once that’s done, Nel and her husband Herman will begin making arrange-ments to travel back to

Canada, the two stated in an email to the Herald.

“We miss our friends in Merritt and especially our dance students,” the email states. “Judging from emails and other com-munications, they miss us too.”

Nel was deported after the federal department called Service Canada investigated her applica-tion to renew her Cana-dian work permit when it found a discrepancy between the wage she was promised in a Labour Market Opinion when she was issued the permit in 2013 and the wage she

accepted. She worked for $15 per hour instead of

the recommended $25 per hour in order to get the dance studio up and run-ning and improve the stu-dio’s enrolment.

When she went to renew her work permit, Nel was surprised to get back a rejection and find out her file was being investigated.

Service Canada investi-gates to prevent exploita-tion of foreign workers. However, as her husband Herman told the Herald at that time, Nel offered to work for the lower wage and was not being exploit-ed by the Merritt Dance Society.

The unusual situation garnered media attention from around B.C. and Canada, but even with attempts to expedite the investigation, it took too long and the Nels returned to South Africa.

Because the Nels com-plied with the order to leave Canada, the applica-tion for a work permit sub-mitted while they were still in Canada was no longer valid.

Nel’s new Labour Market Opinion has been approved and the rest of the documents to obtain her work permit have been submitted.

She learned that step had been completed about 10 hours after she landed in South Africa.

Now it’s a waiting game — a familiar one for the Nels — only this time it has a much more promis-ing outlook.

The Nels are optimistic about their chances of returning to Merritt, and that optimism is shared by the Merritt Dance Society.

Selena Voigt, the dance society’s president, said she and the other members of the executive are thrilled to welcome Nel back.

By Emily WesselTHE HERALD

[email protected]

Lizette Nel will be able to return to work in Merritt after an investiga-tion forced her to leave the country. Herald file photo

See ‘Dance society’ Page 3

BIG BIKE, BIG HEARTS

The Silver Foxes kicked off the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike rides in downtown Merritt on Friday. Six local teams rode the bike and in total raised $8,824 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Michael Potestio/Herald

www.merrittherald.com 2 • TUESDAY, May 13, 2014

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Conayt Friendship SocietyBoard of Directors invite you to attend our

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 20145:30pm to 7:30pm

Conayt Friendship Society ~ 2164 Quilchena AveAll members and community welcome!

Only individuals with current memberships can vote or be nominated.

For more information and/or to reserve your seat for the Dinner please phone

(250) 378-5107.

Merritt Youth and Family

Resources Society

Please call or stop by for more information, pricing or forms

Hours: 6:00am – 9:00pm Monday - Saturday

2172 Coutlee Ave., Railyard Mall Box 1153, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8

Tel/Fax 250.378.4878 [email protected]

Website: merrittfamilyresources.com Two Multi-age groups with 16 full time childcare licensed spaces:

2 spots for 0 - 12 mos. 4 spots for 12 - 35 mos. 10 spots for 36 mos.-12yrs

Site Location: Airport Road, next to Valley Helicopters

For sales at other times phone: 250-378-9674 or 250-936-8363

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MERRITT HERALD

For this purpose, she was created through the death, resurrection, and the reign of Christ, which means her existence has eternal value.

The church, which is governed by the

resurrection power, will naturally reflect unity, mutual love, exemplary conduct, unquestionable hope, radiating the joy of salvation and a sacrificial mission of mercy.

These qualities have an infectious element within them by nature.

Since society is eagerly looking for a way out to experience the unity, peace, real love, deliverance from sin/sickness/slavery, the church is expected to bring answers to a severely wounded society.

The church has no excuse because, in her mission perspective, she is not a missionary-

sending body, but is sent to the society as a missionary.

In other words, the church moves beyond the four walls and makes her presence felt meaningfully by involving herself in the mission of evangelism, justice, and peace.

To achieve that end, members of the church are released, equipped, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill their callings.

In a society which is fast decaying, the church is the only community that can translate the kingdom’s message in an understandable way.

Christ’s open

grave reminds the church to come out of her inward-looking mentality and be open to listen to the voice of God and appropriate the power of God so that she keeps herself open for people to experience his love and celebrate the eternal kingdom right here on earth.

[email protected]

NARAYAN MITRAYou Gotta HaveFAITH

Church itself refl ects message of Christianity

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION

Customers were treated to coffee, tea and snacks during the Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary’s customer appreciation event last Thursday in recognition of B.C.’s Health-Care Auxiliary Day, which took place on May 10. All the proceeds from the volunteer-run Thrift Shop benefit health care in the Nicola Valley.

From left: Thrift Shop volunteers Verna, Donna, Debbie I., Terri, Marilyn, Hiro, Debbie and Myrna.

Emily Wessel/Herald

Continued from the Tuesday, May 6 edition of the Merritt Herald.

www.merrittherald.com TUESDAY, May 13, 2014 • 3

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Follow us on Twitter:twitter.com/MerrittHerald

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Opinion --------------------- 6-7Business --------------------- 8Sports ------------------------- 9Classifi ed ------------------- 10

GOOD MORNING!

REMEMBERWHEN?

From the Herald archives: May 1978

Merritt hiking club started

Earl Hagen, an instructor at Merritt Secondary School teaching a course in conservation and outdoor recreation, wanted his students to get outside the school to learn. Tom Lacey, with the B.C. Forest Service, had some ideas about establishing hiking trails in the area.

The men got together and formed a hiking club. Sat-urday, a group of 15 adults and students cleared and marked a seven-and-a-half mile trail around Kentucky Lake. Next Saturday, they hope to get more people and to clear a branch to nearby Bluey Lake.

The club will be holding an organiza-tional meeting May 10 to elect an execu-tive at 7 p.m. in P2 at Merritt Second-ary School. Anyone interested in hiking is invited.

There are plans for seven trails in the area if enough peo-ple are interested, Hagen added.

Trail three will be 11 and a half miles long, and will go by 10 lakes.

Hagen said that as part of a school project, students will be making plaques identifying different plants along the Ken-tucky Lake route.

Voigt said the void left when the programs were cancelled was felt by those involved with the dance school, from the young chil-dren learning ballet to the adults participating in the Dancing Divas program.

“We’re just all excited to get that back and run-ning. My daughter, she can’t wait. It’s one thing that she doesn’t get to do right now that she wants to do. Even me, because I was in the adult dancing class and I love it,” she said.

Voigt said the group has

had plenty of contact with the Nels and also with Oka-nagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas, who has helped them accelerate the process.

The hope is that dance classes can resume at the Love to Dance Academy as they had run before at the Olde Courthouse.

“We need more programs for kids for fitness because there aren’t as many things to offer in a rural communi-ty sometimes, and when we lose something, it’s really sad for the kids,” she said.

Voigt said the call let-ting the dance society know Nel’s work permit has been

approved could come any day now, and the society is eager to get Nel and the pro-grams back.

“The sooner she gets back the better, so we can start getting that enrolment back up and having a func-tioning dance studio,” Voigt said.

From Page 1

170 fi refi ghters graduate from fi rst bootcamp at Merritt training base

Wildfire bootcamp recruit Jedidiah Anderson was hard at work digging a fireguard last Wednesday in prepara-tion for the real thing.

The work may be strenu-ous, but Anderson said it’s work with a purpose.

“It’s really fun work. It’s hard work, but it’s enjoy-able because we know we’re doing it for a purpose and it’s a really good experi-ence,” Anderson said.

Anderson, originally from North Vancouver, was one of the recruits invited to the Ministry of Forests’ spring training bootcamp – the first at the new Provincial Wildfire Training Centre in Merritt.

His fellow recruits could be found putting out small fires in the forest south of Merritt that day.

Those were two training activities recruits were busy with last week as they get ready to help battle wildfires across the province this sea-son.

To make the grade and become a wildfire firefighter, recruits need to be extreme-ly fit, highly motivated, team-oriented and adept at handling stress and dynamic situations, forest protection technician and bootcamp chair Ryan Chapman said.

“There’s lots of stuff changing and making quick decisions to deal with,” Chapman said.

Chapman said the recruits were also busy doing water delivery training, amongst other things.

“We’ve done a big piece on aviation safety, use of helicopters, working around air-tankers,” Chapman said.

Over the past two weeks,

180 candidates took part in the bootcamp – split up between two camps of 90.

About 170 firefighters graduated and will be placed at various bases across B.C., Chapman told the Herald.

Will Roberts, bootcamp instructor and forest protec-tion assistant for the Burns Lake Fire Zone, said work

ethic and teamwork are important aspects of the week-long camps, which combined classroom sessions with field exercises.

“Anything that they might be working on in the field, like with helicopters or with air-tankers or line construc-tion and burning, it’s gone over in the classroom and

then we try to mirror that with field exercises that are as real as possible,” he said.

Roberts said recruits learn the basic skills required and have more specified training at which-ever fire base they end up working at.

Candidates are screened for the bootcamp through

a fitness evaluation and an interview, Roberts said.

“And from that we draw a line. Everyone above that, that meets those criteria gets brought [to the bootcamp],” Roberts said.

The recruits were chosen from a group of about 1,200 candidates.

Due to the screening done beforehand, the suc-cess rate of recruits is high, Chapman said.

In total, 84 of last week’s 90 recruits went on to grad-uate from the bootcamp.

Chapman said fitness is generally the biggest deter-mining factor in weeding out recruits.

Those who make it to graduation are offered a job placement.

Recruits who get a job placement could find them-selves placed anywhere in the province, Chapman said.

Chapman said Merritt is an excellent spot to do train-ing because it’s a common place to see wildfires.

“And no matter where these people work in the province, if they work for us long enough, they could very well end up in and around the Merritt area,” Chapman said.

Recruits were housed at the training centre in tents resembling a fire-camp. Inside the centre, the recruits spent much of their time doing classroom work.

About two-thirds of their time was spent in the class-room, the other third in the field.

“It’s hard to find any-thing wrong with them. The amount of enthusiasm that they bring ... it’s cool to see people that are so gung-ho and ready to learn and dive in,” Roberts said of last week’s group of recruits.

By Michael PotestioTHE HERALD

[email protected]

Dance society expecting teacher’s return “any day now”

Field exercises like this one were among the training for about 170 firefighters from around the province at the first wild-land firefighter training bootcamp held at the Provincial Wildfire Training Centre in Merritt earlier this month. Michael Potestio/Herald


SANITARY SEWER FLUSHING The City of Merritt Public Works Department would like to remind residents that it is that time of year again for our annual maintenance program for sewer fl ushing and camera work. We apologize for any inconvenience and your patience is greatly appreciated. If you have had any problems with your toilet bubbling up in the past it is recommended that you place a towel or saran wrap over your bowl and put the lid down. Also, if you experience any foul smelling odour it is advised to run a little water through the household’s sinks and bathtubs.

This is scheduled to begin on April 14 and run until about May 30th

approximately.

gardenparty

LADIES NIGHT

a Health & Wellness Evening at the

Nicola Valley Aquatic Center6:30-9:30pm

tickets $15 each or 2 for $25

There will be:Aqua fit

Wine tastingWeight loss advice

YogaReflexology

Natural healingMassage

Gym orientationsAromatherapy

Thursday, June 5th

CALL 250-378-6662 FOR MORE INFO2040 MAMETTE AVENUE

Water Conservation WILL BE IN EFFECT

MAY 1 - SEPTEMBER 30

WATERING IS ONLY PERMITTED during the following times:

THERE IS NO SPRINKLING ALLOWED ON SUNDAYViolations will result in a $50 fine.

Basic Sprinklers

Automatic Sprinklers

6 am - 8 am & 7 pm - 10 pm EVEN ADDRESS: Monday, Wednesday & Friday ODD ADDRESS: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

Midnight am to 4 amEVEN ADDRESS: Monday, Wednesday & Friday ODD ADDRESS: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

Hand watering of plants using a hand held hose with a working spring-loaded shut-off nozzle or a hand held container is permitted anytime.

Please clip-out and keep on your refrigerator to remind of regulations!

✁

✁

Kidz Tri It!

Swim Bike Run

Central Park EventsRefreshments & Snacks Games * Face PaintingBouncy Castle * Music

Sunday, June 1st Start Time 9:00amAquatic Centre - 2040 Mamette Avenue

Non Competitive & Safe Event Designed for Preschoolers to Grade 7. We Promote & Celebrate Participation in Three Fun ‘Lifestyle’ Sports:

$10 to register, in-person at the Civic Centre or the Aquatic Centre.

Merritt RCMP

Triathlon

Movies at the Civic CentreTHE LEGO MOVIE

Admission $5 CASH ONLY

Concession $1 CASH ONLY

CITY OF MERRITTLeisure Services Department

IITYTY OF MEERRRRRRIITTIITYTY O OFF MEMEERRRRITITTTCCCCLLeisu

CCC

1950 Mamette AvenueFor more information call:

Civic Centre: 250-315-1050Aquatic Centre: 250-378-6662

Admission $5 CASH ONLY

Friday, May 16 - 6 pmSunday, May 17 - 2 pm & 6 pm

Rated: PG

2ND ANNUAL

INVITATIONAL

MAY 31, 2014 5 P.M.

MERRITT RODEO

GROUNDSFREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE

will run from both the Merritt Arena & Merritt

Travel Lodge starting at 3 pm & will run

after the event

New tourism guide unveiledMerritt and the

Nicola Valley have unveiled the 2014 Travel Experiences Guide as one of the first steps of a major tourism branding and market-ing initiative designed to attract more visitors from around the world to this beautiful part of the Thompson Okana-gan region.

The guide is the result of a partnership between the Merritt Herald, City of Merritt, Tourism Nicola Val-ley, and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA). The compelling 56-page publication showcases Merritt and the Nicola Valley’s unique features and attractions.

It incorporates leading-edge tourism marketing approaches, including the Canadian Tourism Commission’s ‘EQ’ (Explorer Quo-tient) marketing pro-gram and the Thomp-son Okanagan Regional Tourism Strategy.

Ten thousand guides will be distributed through Visitor Centres across British Columbia, and an electronic copy will be available on the Merritt Herald, City of Merritt, and Tourism Nicola Valley websites, and at visitmerritt.ca.

The guide offers information about Merritt and the Nicola Valley’s attractions and

activities including fish-ing, boating, mountain biking, hiking, geocach-ing, horseback riding, heritage sites, golf-ing, ATVing, farmers markets, First Nations culture, rodeos, cross-country skiing, snowmo-biling, and camping. It also gives details about Merritt’s status as “the Country Music Capital of Canada.”

The guide is the first product of the Mer-ritt and Nicola Valley tourism development project launched last year. A main part of the project is ongoing development of a strong tourism brand, with the strategic directions for the brand having been identified through local workshops, online sur-veys and open houses. The branding process will conclude soon.

“The new Travel Experiences Guide real-ly shows best practices in community partner-ships. All four organiza-tions contributed a great deal to the project,” TOTA’s community development specialist Simone Carlysle-Smith said. “This new Merritt and Nicola Valley guide and the overall brand-ing process are showcas-ing how a smaller com-munity can build more local capacity to devel-op, market and grow its tourism industry.”

“This Merritt and

Nicola Valley tourism project is demonstrating impressive advances in how a community can carry out first-class tour-ism marketing,” TOTA President and CEO Glenn Mandziuk said.

“We’re very pleased with how our new guide tells a compelling story to visitors about the exciting travel experi-ences they will have here,” Merritt Mayor Susan Roline said.


PROVINCE

FOR MORE INFO: LEANNE POZZOBON (250) 378-7893

“THE TOUGHEST SPORT ON EARTH!”

TICKETS AVAILABLE IN MERRITT AT PURITY FEEDSAT.31ST EVENT BEGINS

AT 5:00PMMAYAAAAAAVVVVAAAAAAAAAVVVVAAAAAAAVVVAAAVV IIIIILLLLLLLLIIIILLLAAABBBBAABAABBBBAAAAAAABBBBLLEEEEEEELLLLLLL IIIIINNNNNNNIINNIIIIINNNNIINNNIEEEETTTTTTSSSSSSS

FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE FROM THE MERRITT ARENA & MERRITT TRAVEL LODGE

STARTING AT 3 PM & WILL RUN AFTER THE EVENT

AFTER PARTY & DANCE

AT MERRITT HOCKEY ARENA

FOLLOWING THE EVENT.

Child advocate says protection system failingVICTORIA – B.C. gov-

ernment officials say the latest problems in their new computer system for child protection files are being fixed after a week of dis-ruptions, but the province’s independent child advocate says she’s heard that before.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond told a committee of MLAs last Wednesday that the Integrated Case Management (ICM) com-puter system hasn’t worked consistently since it was put in place two years ago. The system records informa-tion for social workers on threats to children, court protection orders and gen-eral information on social assistance and children in government care.

The latest failure may have left safety warnings unrecorded, and social workers could be entering a home without knowing if there are weapons or other threats, Turpel-Lafond said.

She called for an indepen-dent review of the $180 million computer system to see if it is adequate.

“They launched this, and it didn’t work,” Turpel-Lafond said. “It couldn’t print a report for court for six months. Furthermore, it has been launched in other jurisdictions and failed. The same product was used in Australia and didn’t work.”

Citizens’ Services Min-ister Andrew Wilkinson assured reporters Wednes-day that the ICM system had been restored to full operation. That changed by the afternoon question period, when NDP critic Carole James said calls were still coming in about system failures. Wilkinson said the system was being “rebooted” again after another crash.

Children and Fam-ily Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux said social workers have backup protocols when the comput-er system is down for power failures or other emergen-

cies. They take reports on paper and phone urgent information to other offices,

as they do when ministry offices are closed, Cadieux said.

Social Development Minister Don McRae said regular social assistance

payments were processed normally on April 24, and his ministry staff have the ability to issue emergency assistance payments as needed by issuing paper cheques.

Turpel-Lafond said she had a call in the past week from a father of three young children who couldn’t get a payment because no one in the office knew how to issue a cheque. And she said the loss of domestic violence warnings for social workers and police is an ongoing problem.

“Everybody who works in the child welfare safety system knows that you need to keep good iden-tifying information about the adults in a child’s life,” Turpel-Lafond said.

James said there have also been reports that emergency meal vouchers and grocery cards were not available from social assis-tance offices due to recent problems with the ICM system.

By Tom FletcherBLACK PRESStfl [email protected]

Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature last Wednesday. Black Press


It’s amazing how things tend to balance themselves out.

Last week, I came into work to find a complimen-tary email from our sports stringer commending Herald reporter Michael Potestio and I on our cov-erage of his beat while he was away on vacation.

A few messages up in the queue, I saw an email from someone that ended in a way that completely

deflated my good mood:“I am sorry to say that

the Merritt Herald is hardly worth the walk down the street to pick it up, and it is no wonder that people in this town are depressed. Thanks for nothing.”

In my line of work, I am very, very familiar with the theory that it takes people from all walks of life to keep this world a-spinnin’.

But it’s frustrating when you are doing the best job you can and you honestly stand behind your work because that commitment makes you much more vulnerable to the cruelty intended in comments like that.

It is fair if someone doesn’t like or doesn’t agree with what’s in the paper. It is fair if someone thinks that a particular topic deserves more cover-

age. But it is possible to express these sentiments without adding an insult and insinuating that the paper is somehow respon-sible for people’s mental health.

It’s one thing to be disappointed. It’s entirely another to be unnecessar-ily harsh about it.

Remember that there is a real live human reading your nasty email on the other end of cyberspace. How would you like to sit there and start your day by reading something so demeaning? What if I came down to your work to belittle you and tell you what a pathetic job you’re doing, and make all kinds of outlandish assump-tions about the disastrous effects of your sub-par work?

Of course everyone thinks their story or their

cause is the most impor-tant. Likely, to them, at that time, it is.

But we deal with a lot of information and are constantly on deadline. If that doesn’t sound stress-ful enough, throw in an unhealthy number of excessive egos and their demands that everything go their way.

It’s similar to what I like to call the “shame game,” which is played with reporters and editors everywhere, I’m sure.

It goes like this: some-one is upset by the opin-ions or someone quoted in a news story, so that some-body directs their criticism where they mistakenly think it’s due — the editor of the newspaper.

“Shame on you for printing that,” they say in lieu of any constructive criticism.

Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t make it wrong. I understand that is a tough pill to swal-low when it comes to your most staunchly-held opin-ions or your experience with a particular topic.

But telling somebody “shame on you” for the opinion of another is misled and entirely unnec-essary. It’s an attempt to school-marm your way around actual criticism, which is constructive, thought out, and most importantly, is open to a similarly constructive and thought out rebuttal — not spur-of-the-indignant-moment emailing.

Whatever the case may be, personalizing some-thing that is impersonal only serves to irritate, con-descend and offers noth-ing constructive.

Think before you type.

HERALD OPINION

Reclaiming Spain’s Jews

The Spanish parliament still has to pass the new citizenship law, but the cabinet has already approved it and Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardòn is sure there won’t be a problem. “In Spain, a clear major-ity realize we have committed a historical error and have an oppor-tunity to repair it, so I am sure that law will pass with an immense majority in parliament,” he said.

Historical apologies are in fash-ion — ex-South African president F.W. De Klerk apologized for apartheid, ex-British prime minister Tony Blair apologized for the slave trade and the Irish potato famine, and Pope John Paul II apologized for the Crusades, the Inquisition and the Church’s historical oppres-sion of women.

But Spain isn’t just saying sorry for expelling its Jews 522 years ago.

It’s offering to give their descen-dants back their citizenship.

Spain’s Jews were given only four months in 1492 to choose between becoming Christian or leaving their homes forever. Most left, settling in Muslim-ruled North Africa and the Ottoman Empire or in other parts of Christian Europe. They kept their Spanish language in the form of Ladino — Castilian written in the Hebrew script — and became know as Sephardic (i.e. Spanish) Jews.

Ladino is now a dying language, but the Sephardim have retained their distinctive identity and are estimated to number up to a third of the world’s 13 million Jews today. Spain’s planned new law potentially covers almost all of them, for it is written very broadly.

Applicants for Spanish citizen-ship need not speak Ladino or even be religious. They need only be able to show a link to Sephardic culture (it could be as little as a Sephardic family name).

No room for shame games in newsroom

2090 GRANITE AVE., PO BOX 9, MERRITT, B.C. PHONE (250) 378-4241 FAX (250) 378-6818MERRITT HERALDCopyright subsists in all display advertising in this edition of the Merritt Herald. Permission to reproduce in any form, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada, through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

This Merritt Herald is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

EditorEmily Wesselnewsroom@

merrittherald.com

PublisherTheresa Arnold

[email protected]

Sports writerIan Webster

[email protected]

Office managerCarol Soamesclassifieds@

merrittherald.com

ReporterMichael Potestio

[email protected]

Advertising Sales Katie Ottenbreit

[email protected]

ProductionDan Swedbergproduction2@

merrittherald.com

Emily WesselMerrittMUSINGS

See ‘Spanish citizenship’ Page 7

By Gwynne Dyergwynnedyer.com


The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor.

Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes.

Letters may be edited for length, taste and clar-ity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: [email protected].

Friends & Neighbours

The Merritt Herald is looking forCOMMUNITY-SUBMITTED STORIES

about your Friends & Neighbours.Ph: 250.378.4241 Fax: [email protected] www.merrittherald.com2090 Granite Avenue, P.O. Box 9, Merritt, B.C.

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In most cases, however, the simplest route to Span-ish citizenship would be to have a local rabbi certify their Sephardic ancestry, or to get certification of their Sephardic heritage from a recognized Spanish-Jewish community.

Spain’s justice minister reckons only about 150,000 Sephardic Jews will take him up on the offer (which will remain open for two years), and he doesn’t think that many of them will actually want to move to Spain. But he promises the government will not be strict in deciding who quali-fies as Sephardic — “We are opening the door,” he said — and he may be sur-prised by how many actu-ally apply.

What Gallardòn has not taken into account is the fact that Spanish citizen-ship is, for practical pur-poses, citizenship in all 28 member countries of the European Union. A Span-ish passport-holder can enter Britain, France, Ger-many, Sweden or any other EU country without a visa, take up residence there, get a job or start a business there. What’s not to like about this offer?

Almost half of Israel’s Jews are Sephardim, and Israel is a country where second passports are in great demand. The big Sephardic communities in the United States and Mex-ico will probably not be tempted, but the remaining Sephardic Jews in Muslim countries, including Turkey, certainly will be. Gallardòn is thinking mostly about symbolism, which is impor-tant — but his offer will also have a real impact on many people’s lives.

Portugal, which expelled its Jews shortly after Spain did, is also trying to make amends, though on a less grand scale. Last year it changed the law and now grants citizenship to Sephardim who can dem-onstrate a connection to the Portuguese Jewish com-munity. How much further might this example spread? Not very far, alas.

Most of the great expulsions of history have occurred in the context of war, such as the compulsory “population exchange” of the Greek minority in Tur-key and the Turkish minor-ity in Greece after the First World War, or the expul-sion of 10 million Germans from their ancestral homes in eastern Europe at the end of the Second.

Even the expulsion of the Muslim minority from Spain in the course of the 16th century fits that model, although the wars of the Muslim conquest and the Christian recon-quest were long over by then. The real history is a good deal more complex, but the view of the average Spaniard is the Muslims arrived as conquerors and when they lost they had to leave.

It’s because the Jews of Spain and Portugal were entirely blameless and ruth-lessly victimized that there is broad popular support in both these countries for this act of apology and belated recompense. All credit to Spain and Portugal for doing it — but it probably wouldn’t be happening even there if it seriously inconvenienced the major-ity.

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

From Page 6

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Spanish citizenship offer an attempt to right historical wrong

HAWKEYE ON THE PRIZE

Merritt painter Cass Dolen won $250 from the Nicola Valley Arts Council at the community art show and sale at the Courthouse Art Gallery in February with her painting Flying To Nicola.

“It’s a read-tailed hawk that’s flying over Nicola and the buildings are painted from his perspective,” Dolen said. “I wanted to honour a part of Nicola Valley history from painting it from the perspective of something other than a human. I was interested in painting the feeling of this experience rather than an accurate representation of a landmark because we can take a photograph for that reason.”

Emily Wessel/Herald


Congratulations graduate, you’ve done it. You’ve earned your degree or diploma and now it’s time to get on with the rest of your life. Here are the five important financial steps you should take.

Manage your student loan

For the first six months, you don’t actu-ally have to make a payment but interest will accrue. Find out what your payment will be and include it in your budget. More is better but make at least the minimum payment each month. If you are unable to make pay-ments, contact the loan provider right away.

If you have a Canada Student Loan, you may qualify for the Repayment Assistance Plan. If yours is a bank loan, you may be able to negotiate temporarily lowered payments.

Save for tomorrow with an RRSP

Consider putting the power of compounding to work for you by con-tributing to investments held in a Registered Retirement Savings

Plan (RRSP) because investing even a small amount each month can build considerable wealth over the years, plus contributions to RRSPs are deduct-ible from your taxable income for each year in which contributions are claimed. Another RRSP plus: If you’re thinking about buying a home in the future, the federal Home Buyer’s Plan allows eligible indi-viduals to withdraw up to $25,000 for a home purchase tax-free from their RRSP.

Save smart with a TFSA

It complements your

RRSP because a TFSA investment grows tax-free. You can currently contribute up to $5,500 in a TFSA each year tax-free and get your money back out at any time, for any purpose, tax-free. However, there is no reduction to your taxable income for TFSA contribu-tions.

Avoid high credit card debt

Credit card inter-est rates can be 20 per cent or more so limit their use, try to pay the balance in full each month, and pay on time to avoid late fees and additional interest.

Develop a budget – and stick to it

Include all unavoid-able expenses such as rent and utilities and be mindful of discre-tionary expenses, such as travel, that you can control.

By the way, it’s never too early to enhance these first five fiscal steps to your financial success with an overall financial plan that will help you meet your objectives. Talk to your profes-sional advisor soon.

This column, written and published by Investors Group Financial Ser-

vices Inc. (in Québec – a Financial Services Firm), and Investors Group Securities Inc. (in Qué-bec, a firm in Financial Planning) presents general information only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any investments. Con-tact your own advisor for specific advice about your circumstances. For more information on this topic please contact your Inves-tors Group Consultant.

Contact David Brown at 250-315-0241 or at [email protected] to book your appointment.

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WILD ANIMAL ZOO

Grade 5 student Jocey King and Grade 6 student Bill Brewer talked wildlife with a group of Grade 4 and 5 students at Nicola Canford as the class toured through the school’s gymnasium last Tuesday for the wild animal zoo. The event featured actual furs, skins and trophy animals from people connected with the school’s community.

The wild animal zoo was organized and put on by the school’s parent advisory council to give students the opportunity to get up close to area wildlife and connect with the Nicola Valley’s hunting heritage.

The animals on display included bears, mallards, bobcats and a cougar.

Grade 5 and 6 students at each station answered visiting students’ questions and provided them with information about the station’s animals. A Conservation Officer was also on hand to discuss hunting ethics with older students.

Emily Wessel/Herald


HERALD SPORTSmerrittherald.com bcclassified.com

Have a sports story tip? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing [email protected]

Nicola Valley Riding Club jumping into action

The Nicola Valley Rid-ing Club’s season is off to a promising start after its well-attended first event on April 27.

The event saw about 30 member riders of all ages and styles take to the arena at the rodeo grounds to participate in events such as jumping and even an egg and spoon race — on horse-back, of course.

Nicola Valley Rid-ing Club president Hope Thomas and vice-president Michele Pinel said it was a lot of work to organize the event, but it’s something they plan to undertake once a month.

The hard part was incor-porating events that could suit both Western and Eng-lish riding styles and judges who would know what to look for in both types of riding as the club’s monthly events are scored, they said.

“Lots of people around here ride western and Michele and I both ride English,” Thomas said. “She does some jumping, I try to do a little bit of dressage, so it’s a big mix and we hope to keep it that way.”

Gymkhana events are typically speed events, with barrel racing and pole bend-ing, while English events are more like jumping and dressage, which is essentially a routine of pre-determined movements with rider and horse.

The scores from each monthly event will carry for-ward and be totalled for end-of-the-season club awards, Thomas said.

For the next month or so, the club is doing a fundrais-ing raffle for that year-end function, with four prizes and tickets available at Purity Feed or from some riding club members.

The club is only in its second year, but its executive has big plans.

The ultimate goal is to build an indoor arena, Pinel said.

That requires plenty of

donations and work, Thom-as and Pinel acknowledged, but it’s one they’ve already put feelers out for.

“That’s the finale,” Pinel said. “Then we could ride in the winter. It just keeps you going all winter.”

Thomas said without being able to train in the winter, she is not able to par-ticipate in the competitions she’d like to.

“It seems like you’re always backtracking,” Thomas said. “It’s like with any athlete. If you take six months off, you’re back at square one. It’s the same thing with training a horse.”

In the meantime, Pinel and Thomas said they’re focused on growing the club,

and are looking for more vol-unteers, a treasurer, and new members. The requirements for club membership are B.C. Horse Council insur-ance and a $5 fee.

“I think it’s going to be a good year,” Thomas said, noting the membership has grown from last year. They said the club’s Facebook page is the best way to keep up-to-date on events and to express interest in volunteer-ing or joining.

As it’s still early in this riding season, the two said they’re excited to see new faces and familiar ones returning. They said the club fills a void in the Nicola Val-ley for those who love riding their horses.

“Really, for what a horse community we are, there aren’t a lot of things offered like that. You have your rodeos and stuff, but it doesn’t offer very much, especially for people who ride English,” Thomas said.

The two said the club is a safe place for riders to try new skills and develop their passion as well as their rela-tionships with their horses.

The membership ranges from young children who are just learning to ride and trot — or horses that are just learning — to senior riders with decades of experience.

The main message of the club?

“Do something with your horse. Don’t let it just sit out in the pasture,” Pinel said. “Get out and ride.”

By Emily WesselTHE HERALD

[email protected]

Ice Breaker postponedNasty weather on the

May 3-4 weekend caused the Merritt and District Tennis Club to postpone the mixed doubles portion of its annual kickoff Ice Breaker tournament.

Tennis aficionados will still have a chance to play in mixed doubles action on the courts at the golf course on Saturday, May

17. The ladies doubles part

of the Ice Breaker was cancelled because there were no participants.

Organizers with the tennis club are hoping for more interest and less rain and wind on the new date.

Sign-up is at 9:30 a.m. and play gets underway at 10 a.m.

SPORTS

Membership picking up in club’s second season

and ride.”

NastMay 3the MTentheo

S

Merritt’s Anna Sember came in 16th out of 180 people in her age category in the Vancouver Mara-thon’s full marathon on May 4.

Sember ran 42.2 kilometres in three hours and 59 minutes.

Merritt was well-represented in the event’s half-marathon, with local Kevin Black coming in 16th in his age category (M35-39) of 528 runners with a time of 1:27:31.

Mark Nendick came in not far behind at 20th in the same age cat-egory with his time of 1:29:34.

Colleen Mullin ran the half in 1:43:45, placing her 27th out of 840 runners in her category (F35-39).

Anna Sember smiles through the rain at the Vancouver Marathon. Submitted

MERRITT AT THE MARATHON


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Reporting to and under the direction of Finance Manager, the Payroll Clerk is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of all payroll functions, including the updating and maintenance of employee information and the timely and organized reconciliation of the Payroll Control Account, for the Lower Nicola Indian Band.

Areas of responsibility:

Receives and reviews employee time sheets for completeness and accuracy;Maintains records of employee attendance, leave and overtime to calculate pay and benefit entitlements;Prepares and verifies statements of earnings for employees, indicating gross and net salaries, with tax, garnishments, benefits and pension plan contributions; Prepares, completes, verifies and processes forms and documentation for the administration of benefits, pension, leaves, employment and medical insurance;Compiles and creates statistical reports, statements and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts;Administers the group insurance , pension and benefits plans;Ensures accurate processing and recording of sick pay, benefits and vacation payouts;Provides information to employees on payroll matters and benefit plans;Compile statistical reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits Accounts;

Qualifications & skills:

Completion of secondary school or equivalent;Post-secondary education in accounting, bookeeping or payroll or a combination of equivalent education and experience;Minimum of 2 year experience in payroll function;Canadian Payroll Association Certification (CPA), preferred;Demonstrated knowledge of payroll and payroll tax law requirements;Good communication skills, problem solving and team work skills;Ability to adapt, undertake multiple tasks and respond to changing priorities is imperative;Possess strong computer skills (MicroSoft products and Adagio and Paydirt accounting systems);Diplomacy, tact and confidentiality in dealing with a variety of people and information;Obtain a satisfactory criminal records clearance.

If you possess the necessary qualifications and skills, please forward your cover letter, resume and salary expectations, in the strictest confidence, by May 30, 2014, to:

Lower Nicola Indian BandHuman Resources Department181 Nawishaskin LaneMerritt, B.C., V1K 0A7Email: [email protected] Fax: (250) 378-6188

Please insert Payroll Clerk into email subject heading.

LOWER NICOLA INDIAN BANDDEPARTMENT: FINANCE

POSITION: PAYROLL CLERK

Employment Employment

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Information

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Drivers/Courier/Trucking

OWNER OPERATORSDid you happen to miss our Job Fair in Kamloops last week? Monarch Transport (1975) Inc. will continue to ac-cept Class 1 Owner Operator applications for our Western Canada Van Division & our US Van Division.Please contact our recruiter at 1-855-877-0619 or email re-sume with a current Commer-cial Drivers Abstract to: [email protected]

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Trades, Technical

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Sales

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Your community. Your classifieds.

250.378.4241

fax 250.378.6818 email classi [email protected]


Education Coordinator The Coldwater Indian Band has an immediate and exciting opportunity for a full time Education Coordinator who reports to the Coldwater Indian Band Administrator. The Education Coordinator is responsible for the planning and coordination of Coldwater Indian Band Education Programs and services.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONSPost Secondary Diploma (prefer in Business • or Public Administration) OR an equivalent combination of post secondary educa-tion and directly related work experience or minimum of 2 years related experience preferably in an equivalent First Nations Education Coordinator positionWorking knowledge of in-school and post • secondary programs and requirementsKnowledge of N’lakapamux and Coldwater • Community an assetExcellent communication and interpersonal • skills (written and verbal, including record keeping, reporting, facilitation, presentation and public speaking skills)Good working knowledge of a nancial • operation system, Xyntax an assetExceptional integrity and professionalism• Strong analytical and decision making skills• Strong planning, organizational and coordi-• nation skillsAbility to consistently demonstrate tact, • discretion and sound judgementGood negotiation skills (Local Education • Agreements)Able to work independently and in a team • environmentSatisfactory Criminal Records check• Valid Driver’s License and Reliable vehicle•

Send your resume with references and cover letter:

c/o COLDWATER INDIAN BAND – H.R. COMMITTEE

BOX 4600, MERRITT, BC V1K 1B8Fax: 250-378-5351

Deadline for resume’s: May 27, 2014 4:00 pm

Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview

Coldwater Indian Band Box 4600

Merritt, BC V1K 1B8Ph: 250-378-6174 • Fx: 250-378-5351

JOB POSTINGScw’exmx Child & Family Services Society

Full-Time Fixed Term Administrative Assistant

Objective:

The Front Desk Receptionist is responsible for a wide variety of clerical office duties in support of company administration. This position includes coordinating and communicating office activities, greeting and screening visitors, answering and referring inbound telephone calls, and clerical support to Scw’exmx child and family services staff. The Front Desk Receptionist will also be responsible for administrating company correspondence.

Requirements:

Graduation from High SchoolExcellent time management and organizational skillsProficient in the use of computer programs for accounting, word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email and the internet to the intermediate levelGood understanding of computer hardware and be able to support internallySuperior oral and written communications and interpersonal skillsMust have a valid BC Driver’s License and reliable transportationMust be able to pass a criminal records check

Start date: ASAP as needed.

Pay: Rate will be negotiated based on experience

Term: This is a term position that will end March

31, 2015 with the possibility of extension

pending funding

Deadline: May 20, 2014

For Full job description contact SCFSSApply by submitting your cover letter and resume

Attention: Yvonne Hare, Executive DirectorScw’exmx Child & Family Services Society

85 Highway 8, Merritt, BC V1K 0A7Tel: (250)378-2771Fax: (250)378-2799

Email: [email protected]

Scw’exmx Child & Family Services Society thanks

all those who apply, however, only qualified

candidates will be considered for an interview.

Upper Nicola Band is seeking an experienced professional to fulfill the role of Finance Manager. The Finance Manager is responsible for supporting the Chief and Council, Senior Management and staff in achieving overall goals of Upper Nicola Band, and in particular, the effective and efficient financial administration of this rapidly growing organization. Under the direction of Band Administrator, the Finance Manager will be responsible for Upper Nicola Band’s accounting, cost control and budgeting systems. In addition, the Finance Manager will produce financial statements, reports and other financial information to the Band Administrator, UNB Finance Audit Committee and Council for effective decision-making.

General Responsibilities:

Financial administration of programs, projects with multiple funders (government and non-government), timelines, agreements and agencies, including primarily project-based funds with varying sources and types of revenue;Provide assistance to Senior Managers to develop and monitor operational and project budgets, develop multi-year financial plan, assist with applications for funding, and prepare financial reports to funders and membership;Perform the day-to-day tasks required with respect to UNB’s finances, including overseeing employee payroll and benefits plan, bookkeeping responsibilities including processing expenses, payments and deposits, monthly bank reconciliations, preparing for and overseeing the annual audit, and other related responsibilities;Preparation of financial statements, and month end and year end reports; Ensures financial recording accuracy and compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, GAAP, and establishes accounting standards, procedures and internal controls.Lead the development and implementation of UNB financial policies and procedures in adherence to Upper Nicola Band Financial Administration Law;Support the UNB Finance and Audit Committee to ensure financial reporting; internal control and management processes are followed.

Requirements and Qualifications:

Completion of a recognized professional accounting designation, or a combination of education and experience 3+ years of progressive experience managing an accounting department, especially in a First Nations settingDemonstrated teamwork and supervisory skillsDemonstrated financial report preparation and analysis skillsDemonstrated ability to manage and operate Xyntax accounting systemsAbility to prioritize workload and occasionally work under peak load pressure to ensure cyclical deadlines are met.Must be bondable and complete a criminal records check

Salary commensurate with experience

To Apply: Submit a resume and a cover letter outlining why you are interested in this position and stating your salary expectations. Applications will be accepted until May

30, 2014 at 12:00pm to:

Upper Nicola Band, Attention: AdministratorBox 3700 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8

Fax: (250) 350-3311 [email protected]

Only Qualified individuals being considered will be contacted for an interview.

Upper Nicola BandCareer Opportunity

PART TIME BOOKKEEPER / ADMINISTRATOR required with minimum 3 years experience in

Simply Accounting. Job duties are, but not limited to: accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, government remittances, providing administrative support, maintaining supplies,

inventory and other related of ce duties.

Applicant must be organized, self starter, able to multi task, have a pleasant telephone manner

and able to work independently.

Please bring resume to 1120A McFarlane Way, Monday - Friday between 9:30 am - noon.

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Septic TanksOtter Valley Septic Installation, 250-295-6649. Government Cer-tifi ed/Registered/Insured. New installs, replacement & mainte-nance. www.rdlandscaping.ca

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$249,900.00

Call 250-573-2278Toll Free 1-866-573-1288

7510 Dallas Drive, Kamloops

www.eaglehomes.ca

Help Wanted

Real Estate

Real Estate20 ACRES $0 down, only $119/mo. Owner fi nancing, no credit checks! Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful mountain views! Money back guarantee. Call 866-882-5263 Ext. 81 or online www.sunsetranches.net

Rentals

Apt/Condo for Rent

FOR RENT 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT1 unit available,

1st oor unit ideal for seniors

Available Jan. 1, 2014

$750/month incl. heat & laundry.$100 OFF 1ST

MONTHS RENTNewly renovated units“Clapperton Manor”

2775 Clapperton Ave.250-315-8340

2 bedroom Sandpiper apartment for rent $750 or for sale $108,000 Available immediately. Phone 378-7116

Avail Immed. One bdrm for one adult only. N/S, N/P, heat & cable incl. $525/mon. Ref’s. 250-378-2954

Help Wanted

Rentals

Duplex / 4 PlexAvailable May 1st two bed-room duplex. Washer, dryer, fridge, stove, utilities included. Fully fenced front and back yards. $950 per month. 250-378-0887

Misc for RentClean & quiet 2 bedrm ground level suite. Utilities incl. no laundry, no smoking. Damage deposit & references required. $800/month. Phone 250-378-8363

Mobile Homes & Pads

2 bdrm mobile home. Avail June 1. Lrg deck overlooking river. $750. 250-936-8763

Available immediately, one bedroom trailer. Washer, dry-er, fridge, stove, utilities in-cluded. $800 per month. 250-378-0887

Help Wanted

Rentals

Modular HomesCelebration over 35 YearsIn the manufactured Home Business. We specialize in customizing Modular & Manu-factured Homes and Park Models. Price match Guaran-teed. 1-800-339-5133

Homes for Rent2 bedroom house for rent. Available May 15. $700 per month. No large dogs. Phone 250-378-2177, or cell 250-378-7250

New fully reno’d 3 bdrm house avail immed. New carpets, fl ooring, paint etc. Nice, large and clean. If your interested please call 250-378-4392

Shared Accommodation

Roommate wanted. Furnished bedroom with own bath, shared laundry, kitchen, inter-net included. Non smoker, non drinker, no parties, no pets. $500 per month + damage de-posit. Responsible person only apply. Call 250-378-6020 or cell 250-280-2264

Help Wanted

Rentals

Suites, LowerReno 2 bdrm basement suite. Nice and spacious. Avail immed.Everything incl. If you are interested please call 250-378-4392

Transportation

Auto Financing

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Auto Financing

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Thompson-Nicola Regional District250 377 8673 1 877 377 8673 email: [email protected]

th Residents can drop-off these items FREEof charge. Items collected will be safely disposed of, or recycled.

If you are unsure if an item will be acceptedcontact the TNRD at: 1 877 377 8673

Small electrical

appliances and electronic

waste nowaccepted!

Merritt Herald - May 13, 2014

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Transcript of Merritt Herald - May 13, 2014