The following is a letter addressed to MP Dan Albas provided to the Herald.
I write this as support for Lizette Nel in her effort to keep alive the dance studio here in Merritt, and thus keep her and her husband from being sent back to South Africa. The closure of the Love To Dance Academy would be a travesty. These people are a great asset to our community and country by supplying music, dance, entertainment and education to a huge cross section of people from the wee ones to the elderly and confined.
My immediate response to this intended action is absolute horror. I am the wife of an Alzheimer’s patient in the Coquihalla Gillis House care home in Merritt and have been (along with my husband) the fortunate recipient of Lizette’s efforts when she would bring her dance classes to the nursing home to entertain the residents — some aware, some not so aware — but all absolutely love these performances and tap toes and hands along with the dancers. On occasion I have asked some of these patients what they think of this and they unanimously say it is just wonderful. What a joy for them to be able to forget their own personal miseries for a short time and lose themselves in the beautiful world of dance and rhythm that Lizette provides for them.
We humbly ask that Lizette and her husband are allowed to remain in Canada, namely Merritt to continue their much-needed work. They are honourable, upstanding, hard-working people, totally of desirable, trustworthy character. This country needs more people just like the Nels. Please make every effort to assist them in their quest to remain here and continue the dance studio that we so love and appreciate. Thank you for your attention.
Muriel Griffiths
Merritt
