Campfire ban in effect for Kamloops Fire Centre starting noon Thursday
According to a joint release, effective at 12:00 pm on Thursday (June 8) Category 1 fires, including campfires, will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.
Category: Forestry
Two open burning bans announced for Kamloops Fire Centre
According to a joint release, effective at 12:00 pm on Thursday (May 18) Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as well as other equipment and activities will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.
High Streamflow Advisory being maintained for Thompson region
The BC River Forecast Centre is maintaining a High Streamflow Advisory for the Thompson major basin, which includes Merritt, while upgrading other parts of the region to a Flood Watch.
Forestry rally draws in official opposition MLAs as permit struggle continues
As protesters gathered for their weekly effort to share their ‘Free the Permit’ message, MLA Jackie Tegart arrived in Merritt with other opposition members to support the Aspen Planers employees and contractors affected by recent closures and curtailments at the company’s Merritt mill.
Forestry protesters continue to seek issuance of new cutting permits
For the fifth week in a row, employees and contractors with Aspen Planers gathered to rally community support for the city’s largest employer, who said this week it still has not received a new cutting permit from the Ministry of Forests.
Forestry workers gather downtown to protest cutting permit delays
Two weeks after their first demonstration and no new cutting permits later, Aspen Planers employees and local forestry contractors gathered once again today to deliver their message to the Ministry of Forest: “free the permits!”
Provincial government announces new forest stewardship initiatives
Amidst uncertain times for B.C.’s forestry sector as a whole, the provincial government has made a slew of announcements aimed at protecting old growth and collaborating with First Nations to “better care” for the province’s forests.
Discussing Nicola Valley’s forestry industry
The Herald sat down with MLA Jackie Tegart, who represents the Nicola Valley as part of the province’s Fraser-Nicola riding. Tegart said her office has been busy with calls about the forestry industry, with constituents voicing their concerns.
Workers protest amidst forestry permitting delays
Employees of Aspen Planers in Merritt, along with local forestry contractors, are gathering at the Ministry of Forests’ Cascades Natural Resource District office on Airport Road, protesting what they see as a lack of action by the provincial government on the approval of local cutting permits.
Aspen Planers reopens amidst cutting permit uncertainty
Aspen Planers has announced that it will restart its Merritt mill, which has been closed since early December due to a lack of approved cutting permits, for an undetermined amount of time.
Ministry of Forests discuss logging closures
The Herald reached out to the Ministry of Forests to ask about the permitting process and support for forestry workers.
Aspen Planers Merritt remains shut down, reopening date uncertain
One of Merritt’s major economic powerhouses currently lies dormant, closed by a lack of timber supply and government approval of timber harvesting.
Aspen Planers temporarily halts all Merritt operations
Aspen Planers has temporarily shut down their Merritt operations, closing two work sites in the Nicola Valley due to a lack of steady log supply.
Chief Harvey McLeod to attend U.N. Conference
McLeod, who is also a Director for the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, will be en route tomorrow to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend COP27 as part of the delegation.
LNIBDC awarded wildfire mitigation funding
FESBC awarded $544,425 LNIBDC to fund their ongoing work at Steffens Estates, a subdivision located north of Lower Nicola Indian Band’s Mameet IR #1, approximately 17 kilometres north of Merritt on Highway 97C.
Locals develop electric logging trucks
Two Merritt locals are going full speed ahead on their electric logging truck idea, with truck driver Chace Barber and power system engineer Eric Little teaming up to bring a new idea to life in an old-school way.
FireSmart resources still available
With the BC Wildfire Service recently announcing their prediction of a more wildfire intensive September than usual, the City of Merritt is reminding homeowners of an available resource to increase the wildfire resiliency of their properties.
Merritt forester named new BCFNFC CEO
The BC First Nations Forestry Council (BCFNFC) recently found its newest CEO in Merritt man Lennard Joe, a Registered Professional Forester with more than 30 years of experience in natural resource management and consulting.
BC Community Forest Association’s annual conference returns this year
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the past few years had gone without the in person conference but this year, BCCFA is happy to host an in-person conference once again.
Merritt’s logging history
While the City of Merritt may be a small ranching community at heart, much of its growth can be attributed to the support and economic contributions of the forestry industry, according to the Nicola Valley Museum and Archives (NVMA).
