Efforts to keep Merritt’s dance school running and its instructor in Canada have paid off as much as they can.
Now it’s a matter of waiting to see if the Merritt Dance Society has adequately fulfilled the federal government’s requirements to pay the local dance instructor fairly, in its view.
In January, Love to Dance Academy instructor Lizette Nel was told she could no longer work there because she had not been paid according to the Labour Market Opinion of $25 an hour she received when she immigrated to Canada from South Africa.
Because of startup delays beyond her control, Nel agreed to work for $15 an hour.
Service Canada and Immigration Canada gave Nel until Feb. 14 to make up the difference in wages. Fearing unable to in such a short time, Nel announced her resignation and the Love to Dance Academy’s closure on Jan. 22.
It was then that parents of dance students and others connected with the studio stepped up and got underway with their various efforts.
“All the things so many people did to save the Love To Dance Academy carried me through the past 3 weeks,” Nel wrote in an email. “I have never before experienced such concern and support from a community.”
All the required funds for Service Canada have now been raised, thanks largely to volunteer efforts.
Those efforts included a community yard sale at the Civic Centre on Feb. 9.
Nel said the sale was “extremely well supported” with some volunteers even working from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
On Feb. 12, volunteers held a spaghetti and ribs dinner at the Desert Inn, which Nel called a “great success.”
“It was a happy evening with good service and good food served in a warm and friendly atmosphere,” she wrote.
An online auction contributed to the funds as well, and as of Feb. 24, 360 signatures had been collected on petitions with more expected to come in.
“I appreciate that so many people took the time to write letters or even spoke personally to the MP Dan Albas, the MLA Jackie Tegart and to Mayor Roline,” Nel wrote.
Now it’s a matter of waiting for the Integrity Services Branch and Immigration Canada to accept the dance society’s payment to Nel before the school can resume running at full capacity.
In a statement, the Merritt Dance Society thanked Merritt for supporting the efforts, and said it hopes the government won’t disappoint.
