News

Protect Your Home by Reducing Wildfire Fuel The City of Merritt is committed to helping residents reduce the risk of wildfire by providing a free FireSmart chipping program for highly flammable trees and shrubs. This initiative helps homeowners remove hazardous vegetation from their properties, making them more resilient to wildfires. How the Program Works The FireSmart Wood Chipping Program offers free curbside pickup and chipping of flammable plant materials such as: Cedar hedges Juniper shrubs Mugo pine Conifer branches and prunings (spruce, fir, pine) This program does not accept deciduous (leafy) trees and shrubs, grasses, flowers, bulk pine needles, roots, dirt, rocks, gravel, or non-organic materials. This program is designed to focus on the most flammable vegetation. Any materials that do not meet the program’s requirements will be left on site.

Saturday, April 4, 2026 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (egg hunt: 10:15am) Central Park Come celebrate Easter on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 10 AM to 12 PM.  This year, the event will be at Central Park instead.  There will be an egg hunt, bouncy castle, arts and crafts, a magic show and a balloon artist. Bring your family, friends, and neighbours (and your easter egg hunting baskets), and kick off spring with all the delights of Easter.

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to section 494 of the Local Government Act, the following proposed Retail Cannabis Store Application will be presented to the City of Merritt Council for consideration at the Regular Meeting of the Council scheduled on March 24, 2026. APPLICATION INFORMATION ADDRESS: 108 – 1700 Garcia Street, Merritt (Railyard Mall) APPLICANT: One Plant (Retail) Corp. PURPOSE: To provide recommendation to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) for the proposed retail cannabis store. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The subject property is zoned for C6 – City Centre Zone. Retail Cannabis Sales is a permitted Principal Use in C6 Zone. A report was presented to Council at the Regular Council Meeting of February 24, 2026. The recording of the meeting can be viewed at www.youtube.com/cityofmerrittmeetings.

The City’s Claybanks RV Park, on the banks of the Coldwater River, opens for the season on April 1, 2026, and remains open until October 31, 2026.  It closes for winter from November 1 to March 31. The sani-dump next to the park remains open; the water pipes are shut off and winterized every autumn. Reservation for summer 2026 opened at 2:00 pm on January 21, 2026. Make reservations and learn more about the campground at www.claybanksrv.ca.

EFFECTIVE MARCH 27, 2026 Every spring, City Park washrooms are de-winterized, cleaned and opened for the season, from about March to November. This year, the City will be opening all restrooms starting Friday, March 27, 2026. Washrooms will be open from dawn to dusk. For More Information Contact: City of Merritt Phone: (250) 378-4224 Email:  info@merritt.ca

RECEIVE UP TO $2,500 IN REBATES AND SAVE ON YOUR HOME INSURANCE Merritt FireSmart is offering a local rebate program to residential property owners within municipal boundaries who complete eligible FireSmart activities on their properties. For strata properties, rebates are available for the common property. First application intake April 1-30 Second application intake July 1-31 Priority will be given to first-time rebate applicants. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rebates pay for 50% of the project cost. See Program Guidelines below for eligible activities. Apply for the grant and request your FREE Wildfire Mitigation Assessment to start the process.  View the application process below. All projects must be completed by October 31, 2026.

Construction, Maintenance, and Replacement of City Assets The City of Merritt is committed to providing reliable services and maintaining the infrastructure that supports our community, such as roads, parks, buildings, and water systems. As part of our asset management planning process, we are seeking your feedback to better understand community priorities and satisfaction with current services. What are Levels of Service ? Levels of Service (LOS) describe the standard at which public services are delivered through City infrastructure. They reflect how well services such as road quality, stormwater management, and facility accessibility perform, and what residents can expect in terms of reliability, safety, and availability. Managing levels of service involves balancing three key factors: Cost: The financial investment required to maintain or improve a service. Performance: How well the service meets community and technical standards. Risk: The potential consequences if a service fails or declines, such as reduced safety or increased accidents. Changes to service levels affect all three. Increasing LOS typically raises costs but improves performance and reduces risk, for example by reducing potholes and improving road safety. Decreasing LOS lowers costs but can reduce performance and increase risk. Conversely, scaling back investment in parks or arenas may save money, but it can reduce accessibility and quality of life. In some cases, it may also lead to higher long-term costs due to increased maintenance or unexpected repairs. Ultimately, managing LOS means understanding these trade-offs and aligning cost, performance, and risk with community priorities and the City’s financial capacity. Share Your Voice Your input will help guide decisions about infrastructure now and in the future. This survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and help shape Merritt’s future. Share your experiences by taking this community survey. COMPLETE BY FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026

Shipping Containers Shipping containers—often called sea cans—are large, standardized steel boxes originally designed for transporting goods by ship, rail, and truck. In many communities, they are now also used for storage, temporary structures, or even building components. To allow these structures on residential land, municipalities often require design treatments or visual screening, and possibly modifications to meet the BC Building Code. Design or Screening To prevent containers from becoming long‑term, unsightly storage, municipalities often require aesthetic improvements, such as painting, landscaping, fencing or other screening. Maintaining neighbourhood character is a key factor in allowing the installation of shipping containers.  Placement parameters, such as locating the structure in the backyard, are intended to reduce visual impact. Municipalities may also require that containers do not obstruct sightlines or emergency access. All shipping containers must also be installed safely. BC Building Code (BCBC) Although sea cans are strong and durable, they were not originally designed as buildings. When used on private or public property, several safety and regulatory issues arise: Structural Safety Containers may be modified (cutting doors, windows, stacking, etc.), which can weaken their structure. BCBC ensures they remain safe for use. Fire Safety Containers can create fire hazards if placed too close to property lines or other buildings. BCBC sets minimum distances and fire‑resistance requirements. Ventilation and Moisture Control Containers can trap moisture and create mold or condensation issues. BCBC ensures proper ventilation and safe use. Electrical and Mechanical Installations If a container is wired for power or used as a workspace, it must meet BC electrical and mechanical codes. Public Safety and Liability Municipalities allow sea cans only when they do not create risks for residents, workers, or neighbouring properties.

The annual cleanup of Merritt’s Pine Ridge Cemetery is scheduled for May 4–8, 2026. City crews will be working on turf maintenance, irrigation, headstone levelling, and cleaning. All wreaths, plastic flowers, and other memorabilia will be removed and left at the shed for pick-up for 30 days. Any items not collected before June 5, 2026, will be discarded. Residents are invited to replace flowers or plastic flowers after this time, but please refrain from placing any materials onsite until cleanup is completed. Please note that City Bylaw #2244.2018 (reference sections 16.3 and 18.1–18.4) states that “no person shall adorn any Grave Space in the Cemetery, except for the placement of Flowers.” Flowers, wreaths, and fake flowers are permitted at the grave site. However, memorabilia is not permitted. This includes: Rocks Glass or metal vases Pinwheels Solar lights Picture frames Metal art For example, glass or rocks placed on headstones present a safety hazard. Broken glass or rocks falling in the path of mower blades can damage maintenance equipment and present a danger to work crews and the public. Any item that does not conform to our Cemetery Bylaw #2244 will continue to be removed throughout the season. For more information on cemetery guidelines, visit merritt.ca/cemetery. Also reference www.merritt.ca/bylaws. For More Information Contact: City of Merritt Phone: (250) 378-4224 Email: info@merritt.ca