August 13, 2010

(in photo)First city council of Merritt 1911. Back row L-R: Alderman A.P. Boyd, Alderman D. Munro, Alderman N. McMIllan, Mayor Issac Eastwood, Alderman F.A. Reid, Alderman J.A. Menzies, Alderman A. Jackson Front row sitting: H. Priest (city clerk), M.L. Grimmett (city solicitor). photo courtesy of Nicola Valley Museum and Archives

The City of Merritt will commemorate Merritt’s 100th birthday with a series of special events, the first of which will be a New Year’s Eve party this December.

Following the first meeting of the 1911 Merritt Centennial Celebration Committee on what to do for Merritt’s biggest birthday, Mayor Roline says the idea is for the City to host a series of events to build up to the final big party next summer.

“Thoughts are to kick off with a New Years eve party on December 31, 2010, then on April 1, which is the official inaugural of Merritt into an incorporated municipality, a re-enactment of that meeting, with a reception after,” says Roline.

“July 1 would be a combined Canada Day-Merritt 100th celebration,” she adds.

The biggest event is slated for the week of July 27 through to the August long weekend for a “big homecoming.”

Coinciding with Merritt’s big year are two reunions, one for Merritt Secondary School alumni, and the other for Friends of the 50s and 60s.

With the 100-year anniversary, the Nicola Valley Museum Archives Association will get to update its booklet on Merritt’s 75th birthday.

“There are just slight revisions being made to it and updated pages,” says Brodie Douglas, who handles publications for the Archives.

The booklet provides a history of Merritt and relevant symbols of identity. Archives director Mavis Polmans will be putting it together.

Merritt’s Centennial Committee will meet again on August 19 in the Community Room at City Hall.

Roline says they have yet to formalize the dates of key events.

“It will be a busy, fun-filled year for the entire community.”

The Centennial Committee meeting on July 28 was attended by members of the Museum, Heritage Commission, Baillie House, Merritt Theatre Society, and the Chamber of Commerce.

“This committee will continue to be built from residents of Merritt, as there will be a great need for a large number of volunteers to bring it all together,” says Roline

“We are looking at the communities service groups to also be involved, as anytime there are large groups of people, there needs to be food, drinks etc.”

Roline adds that several other groups in Merritt are also celebrating their 100th next year and will be holding their celebrations in conjunction with the 1911 Celebrations.