Representatives of five local First Nations bands, City of Merritt mayor and council, MLA Jackie Tegart and various industry partners were on hand at the former BC visitor’s centre near Hamilton Hill for a groundbreaking ceremony heralding the beginning of development on the Gateway 286 project.

Gateway 286 is the culmination of nearly three decades of work and planning, and an unprecedented collaboration between the provincial, federal and municipal governments along with the Coldwater, Nooaitch, Shackan, Upper Nicola and Lower Nicola Indian Bands, collectively represented as Spayum Holdings.

Those present braved fierce winds, with Stu Jackson, Chief of Lower Nicola Indian Band (LNIB), even quipping, “I think after I’m done here I’m going to go fly a kite, the wind is fitting.”

Despite the weather, the gathered crowd was cheerful and optimistic about the future of the project, which, despite the groundbreaking of March 15, was already well underway.

LNIB councillor Bill Bose offered a prayer for the project, “that it will benefit our people and all people in the Nicola Valley,” and three indigenous drummers played traditional songs.

The first phase of the development will include more than 30,000 square feet of commercial retail and services including a gas station, convenience store, food and coffee establishments, washrooms for the public and a central plaza. Also planned are a large parking area that can accommodate RVs and tow-behind trailers, as well as vehicles of Godey Creek recreation area users.

Sustainability and efficient use of resources is top of mind for project planners and designers, with rainwater run off used wherever possible, alongside drought resistant landscaping. A water feature using only collected and controlled rain water will grace the site, but will at times be naturally dry, such as during the hot summer months. Metered service connections will also encourage efficient use of resources.

At this time, the project also aims to be home to the largest electric car charging station in western Canada.
Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart addressed the crowd, noting that she has been involved with the project since her election in 2013, and that she has spoken to individuals who have been lobbying for Gateway 286 since the 1990s.

“To see that dream become a reality today, congratulations to everyone who had a piece of this,” said Tegart.

“The leadership from our First Nation bands, the commitment to the region, the partnerships that mean so much to all of us, and what it means to the people of this valley. Congratulations.”

Merritt mayor Linda Brown, also joking about the tremendous wind, expressed her happiness at seeing the project get underway.
“I am so proud to be a representative of the City, to be able to come and join in on these festivities, but also, this entire partnership,” said Brown.

“It is truly a first for the City to have something of this magnitude for us. It is pleasing and it is an honour to be a part of this, this has got to be a first in our history to be involved in this kind of event.”

Renee Merrifield, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and also CEO of Troika Developments, a major partner in the Gateway 286 project, spoke about the difficulties the Nicola Valley has faced in the last two years.

“Hopefully this is that drop in the bucket that says it’s a new day and it’s a new way forward, and it creates the excitement that we are thinking about and feeling.”