People watched in shock as the Tulameen River, Coldwater River and Nooksack River caused the sudden evacuation and catastrophic destruction of thousands of homes and businesses in Princeton, Merritt and the Sumas Prairie region of the Fraser Valley, respectively. 

Just a few short months earlier, a devastating wildfire season had prompted widespread evacuations ahead of uncontrollable blazes across BC’s Interior. The Village of Lytton and surrounding First Nations communities were decimated by the Lytton Creek wildfire. 

“Like many of us who are in the Southern Interior and into the Fraser Valley, we watched it all unfold quite dramatically,” explained Greg Girard, co-founder of Eh Canada Travel. 

“A lot of us were evacuated and we had so many discussions with people in hotels and also the people who stayed, and we were hearing over and over about the devastation that was happening.”

Donations began to pour in from all over BC, Canada, and even the United States with the town of Paradise, California raising around $7,000 for Lytton residents, sympathizing with the community after their own town had been nearly destroyed by a 2018 wildfire. 

However, Girard felt that more could be done than just soliciting donations. 

“A few of us got together and said what if we went big, go big or go home, and came together and pooled our resources and put smiles back on peoples faces with some entertainment, and in the process raise some money for our friends and neighbours within Merritt and the affected communities,” Girard explained. 

Several organizations were able to come together to make this idea a reality, including Eh Canada Travel, Experience Nicola Valley, Tourism Nicola Valley, Kenny Hess of Rockin’ River Music Festival, Citwx Nlaka’pamux Assembly, and the Merritt Rotary Club.

The result is the Hell or High Water benefit concert, which will be a two-hour event broadcast from the Clarke Foundation Theatre in Mission, BC alongside a twelve-hour telethon on Mar. 13, 2022. 

“I was contacted by Melvina White and Greg Girard about helping out, and I felt that they had a solid plan and that I could bring my particular skill set to the organizing team and hopefully together we could raise some much-needed funds for the victims of the floods,” said Kenny Hess, founder of Rockin’ River Music Fest. 

“Merritt has a special place in my heart after performing at the Mountain Fest for 18 years, and then of course moving our Rockin’ River Fest there in 2015, makes me feel like Merritt is my second home. I have a huge soft spot for all of BC, after all, it is the most beautiful place in the world.”

While Eh Canada Travel, Experience Nicola Valley and Tourism Nicola Valley have been promoting the event, including with the launch of a new website, https://hellorhighwater.ca, Hess has been using his industry contacts to line up performers for the much anticipated concert. 

“My connections through a lifetime in the industry as a show promoter and as an artist have given me an avenue to the talent,” said Hess. 

“As a result, we have been very lucky in getting the talent for our event. Lots of talented people from all over the country have offered up whatever help they can give.”

Girard estimates that there will be more than 50 musical artists and some highly respected Canadian celebrities to act as guest hosts, such as Amber Marshall of Heartland fame. 

From the website, those who donate will be able to choose an amount and select the community they wish to support: Merritt, Princeton, Lytton & First Nation communities, and Abbotsford (Sumas Prairie). 

In Merritt, funds raised will be handled by the Merritt Rotary Club. 

“They approached us because they wanted to do a concert for the community and we were already collecting funds to help the community out,” said Leslee Lucy, president of the Merritt Rotary Club. 

“So, they approached us to see if we could partner with them. And after much discussion, we decided we could. We will collect the money and then we will give it out to the community.”

Although the Rotary Club is currently working on establishing Terms of Reference for who will be eligible to receive financial aid, 100% of the money will stay within the community, with a focus on those most drastically impacted by flooding. 

“The money that comes into Merritt will stay in Merritt,” said Lucy. 

“It looks like a lot of fun. These guys have put an extraordinary effort in and they’ve advertised it across Canada. They’re looking to raise a significant amount of money.” 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those assisting in the telethon by answering phones and processing donations will not be gathered in the same place, but will be doing the work from home via computer. For this, Merritt has reached out to fellow Rotary Clubs in Princeton, Kamloops and around the Interior, but welcome help from anyone who wishes to volunteer. 

“When it comes to the telethon part of it, we’ll need people to man phones and take donations,” said Lucy. 

The concert date has been pushed back once due to pandemic protocols, but there is hope that this will not happen again. 

“Because of the situation that we all face right now with the current climate of the pandemic, it’s been an interesting ride,” said Girard. 

“We have to have one, two and three back up plans, but I think with the rescheduling for a month it gives us a little more leeway, and everything seems to be coming together.”

Girard has been inspired by the response not only to the disasters British Columbians have endured, but also to the willingness of people to step up and help where needed. 

“You can make a difference at the local level if we all come together, and after going through what we have, to come together like we have is probably the biggest compliment you can give to the community of Merritt,” said Girard. 

“We couldn’t be prouder of the people of Merritt.” 

Hess hopes that the concert and fundraising will assure those hardest hit by what could be called a series of unfortunate events that they haven’t been forgotten. 

“I have no words that could possibly bring comfort to all of those affected, but I hope our actions show just how much we truly do care,” said Hess.