Leafing through the many editions of the Merritt Herald that we published this year, it’s clear that in its 100th year after incorporation, the City of Merritt is very much alive and thriving.
Festivities during Merritt’s 100th Anniversary Homecoming Week gave residents a chance to learn about the cultures and industries that have contributed to making Merritt what it is today and many of the events were well attended.
Merritt’s first annual Great Canadian Bike Rally is also worth an honourable mention. The city’s downtown core, which usually slumbers shortly after 5 p.m., was alive with concerts and activities until almost midnight for a few days during the summer.
Mayor Susan Roline says that she has had many people tell her it reminded them of how Merritt used to be when everything social happened downtown.
There is also much promise for the coming years with an increased electrical capacity on the horizon.
Inside the walls of City Hall, staff and elected officials are very optimistic about the future of Merritt’s economy, but for some reason the excitement hasn’t really filtered throughout the community.
Perhaps, the many empty storefronts that cast shadows in Merritt’s downtown core have people skeptical about the booming economy that City Hall envisions.
Many Merritt residents are cautious about how much of their taxes will be used to fund the infrastructure development that will be needed to attract these big businesses to town.
There are probably also those who fear change and would rather have Merritt stay just the way it is.
Or maybe the lack of excitement is related to the apathy that kept over 60 per cent of Merritt residents from visiting the polls and voting in November’s municipal elections.
Luckily the minority who take an interest in Merritt’s future are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get to work. For example, a group of locals are working hard on a business plan to build a movie theatre downtown, which should stimulate other businesses in the city centre.
Change is a good thing and as the city continues to progress, the quality of life will improve for Merritt residents. While it is good to be cautious, we might as well be optimistic at the brink of a new year.
