News

Fall 2026 MONDAYS October 26 – December 21, 2026 1:00pm – 2:00pm LOCATION: Merritt Civic Centre COST: $55 / 9 sessions

EFFECTIVE NOON Thursday, September 3, 2026 Effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Category 1 campfires will once again be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.  As a result, residents with a valid Small Confined Fire (Campfire) Permit within the City of Merritt may once again enjoy campfires on their private property, subject to the conditions of their permit.  A reminder that Category 2 and Category 3 open burning remains prohibited within the City of Merritt, Tiki torches, sky lanterns, and any other outdoor fires or burning devices not explicitly permitted by the City are also prohibited. Please continue to use caution with all permitted fires and ensure they are fully extinguished when unattended. For More Information Contact: City of Merritt Phone: 250.378.4224 Email:  info@merritt.ca

Every Thursday September 10, 2026 – March 25, 2027 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Drop-in: $4.00  |  60+ years Seniors, 60 plus, can now skate safely with their peers on Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, from September 10,2026 to March 25, 2027. This is an open skate, with no instructor.  The 2025-2026 drop-in seniors’ rate is discounted from the regular rate. The discounted rate is $4.00.  Cash only. Visit merritt.ca/arena.

The City of Merritt is excited to welcome back the Nicola Valley Rodeo for their 66th annual event this coming Labour Day long weekend. “Bring your Lil’ cowpokes to this high quality action packed family event that honours the ranching and rodeo heritage of the Nicola Valley. Boots ‘n’ Beats After the Friday evening parade, head over to the Rodeo Grounds for live music, beginning at 8:00 pm.  This event is free to the public. * Friday, September 4, 2026  |  8:00 PM Merritt Rodeo Grounds: 499 Lindley Creek Road * TNV will be running a shuttle bus between the Merritt Hotels and the rodeo grounds starting at 6:30 PM

Building a More Resilient Community Together The City of Merritt is facilitating the development of a community-driven resilience framework. The framework will help community partners, service organizations and local businesses better understand resilience and identify the strengths and opportunities that can help Merritt navigate sudden events, ongoing stresses and other pressures. It will be a key tool to help unlock partnerships, funding and grant opportunities as we work together to enhance our community’s resilience.

Mindful Chair Stretch FALL 2026 TUESDAYS + THURSDAYS NOVEMBER 19 – DECEMBER 22, 2026 11:00 am – 11:45 am COST: 6 SESSIONS $5 DROP-IN LOCATION: Merritt Civic Centre Program Description: Designed for seniors, our Mindful Chair Stretch Program combines gentle seated stretches with mindfulness practices to support wellness in a simple, accessible way. Designed for all fitness levels, this program is especially suited for individuals with limited mobility or those seeking a calming break within a busy schedule. Incorporate wellness effortlessly into your day, one mindful stretch at a time. BRING: Water Bottle

Absolute Closure in Effect EFFECTIVE DATE: Friday, August 14, 2026 Please be advised that this closure is absolute. For everyone’s safety, no access is permitted within the closed area. This includes: Walking, including dog walking People entering on foot Pets Vehicles Horses Mountain biking Any other recreational or non-essential access There are no exceptions. Please respect the closure and help keep the area safe. Dog walkers: If you’re looking for an off-leash area, the only designated off-leash dog area is Voght Park, 1500 Canford Avenue. Dogs must remain on leash in all other public areas.

Effective immediately on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, off-road vehicles (ORV) will be prohibited on Crown land throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. Given the scope and scale of fires currently burning in B.C., and the elevated danger ratings in many southern regions of the province, this prohibition is being put into place to further protect public safety. As of Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational purposes on Crown land will be prohibited, and all on-highway vehicles must remain on road surfaces as defined in the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation. The prohibition applies to off-road vehicles as defined in the Off-Road Vehicle Act and section 2 (a) of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation: all-terrain vehicles motorcycles off-road side-by-side vehicles A map of the affected areas is attached.