A selection of the top news stories from July to December 2024.
JULY
4 - Changes to SD27 bus routes raise concerns
Changes to School District 27's bus routes caused widespread concern amongst parents of the South Cariboo.
On June 11, the finance and transportation department recommended SD27 reduce the number of bus stops on several routes across the district - effectively reducing the number of bus stops in the 108 Mile Ranch from 12 to four. The move was seen as unacceptable by local parents, such as Chelsea Mahlovich, whose son Jackson was starting Kindergarten in the 108 Mile Elementary in September.
SD27 secretary-treasurer Brenda Hooker said the changes were being made so the district could come more in line with existing policies. Mahlovich, however, stated the number one concern was that 108 Mile Ranch had no sidewalks or streetlights and had wildlife roaming the area.
25 - 100 Mile House woman speaks out after becoming a victim of QR fraud
A 100 Mile House woman spoke out after becoming the victim of QR fraud.
Shawn Weisner lost $1,490 while attempting to sell a tent on Facebook Marketplace earlier in the month. A scammer gained access to her bank account via a QR code and it had only been thanks to a quick phone call she managed to prevent the theft of more of her savings.
An account with the name of Authur Silva expressed an interest in the tent within five minutes - and after agreeing, Weisner received a QR code from him. After three hours of struggling, Weisner said the ordeal turned bad, and several bank transfers occurred that Weisner said she did not authorize.
Weisner later reported it to the RCMP, who she said could do nothing beyond filing a report. The RCMP said they had seen a few scams like this happening over the years - and warned that no other personal info should be given on Facebook or other sites.
AUGUST
1 - 100 Mile House celebrates Pride for third year in a row
The second annual 100 Mile House Pride Parade and Pride in the Park attracted hundreds of cheering on-lookers and visitors.
Floats celebrating the 2SLGBTQ+ community paraded through Birch Avenue before heading towards Centennial Park, where Pride in the Park was happening. Saturn Zezza, the chairperson and founder of 100 Mile House Pride Society, said it was surreal and crazy to see how much it had grown.
Two notable guests were Ella Lamoreux, a drag queen from Kelowna, and King Jovian, a self-described autistic, ace and out-of-this-world Drag King - also from Kelowna.
15 - Cash box stolen from South Cariboo Farmers' Market vendor
Sophia Jackson, the owner of Mother Hulda's Garden was doing business as usual when she was distracted - only to find her cash box and $800 was missing.
Jackson had been coming to the Farmers' Market for over three years with produce grown at the Heimweg Homestead on Timothy Lake Road. In the aftermath of the theft, she told the Free Press she had felt foolish about letting her guard down.
Heather Balaam, the market manager, conducted a collection and several of the vendors chipped in a few hundred bucks to offset the loss. Jackson stated she would still attend the Farmers' Market, but with several precautions.
22 - Truck fire extinguished by elementary school
100 Mile Fire Rescue extinguished a truck fire which threatened 100 Mile Elementary School on Aug. 19.
The fire began at 1 p.m. in the bed of one of the trucks replacing the school roof. Witnesses, such as Lean Neilsen, said when they first noticed the smoke roofers had been jumping off the school and pulled the truck out in front between the portable and the school. Nielsen called the bravery of the roofers managing to get the truck away from the school as shocking.
Two fire trucks and 10 firefighters responded to the blaze, including 100 Mile House Fire Rescue chief Dave Bissat who extinguished the vehicle after the fire claimed the cab.
22 - 100 Mile needs to redevelop wells
The District of 100 Mile House announced it needs to redevelop its wells that supply the community's water.
This came after the district imposed water restrictions after receiving an alarm indicating low aquifer levels. After a week of performing tests and analyzing the water system, they announced on Aug. 14 they found the wells were not performing at the developed capacity affecting the efficiency of the water system.
Redeveloping the wells involved applying various treatments and reconstruction methods to restore each well to peak efficiency and extend its operational life. The water restrictions that were put in place remained for the rest of the summer and led to the spray park being closed.
SEPTEMBER
5 - SD27 moving ahead with busing changes
SD27 secretary-treasurer Brenda Hooker said that after feedback, they had reestablished some bus stops - but parental concerns remained. Danielle Colbourne, whose family had moved from Lac La Hache to 108 Mile Ranch, had been wanting SD27 to reverse course fully on safety grounds: her six-year old son Miles (who attended Mile 108 Elementary) had now been required to walk to school rather than ride the bus. A test by Colbourne, where the walk from their home to school, was done and was clocked at around 30 minutes. Colbourne added that the lack of sidewalks in the 108 poses a potential danger for children. Hooker said that it is not SD27's fault the 108 Mile Ranch was developed without sidewalks - and added that SD27's focus ought to have been on educating the students and ensuring much of the money went to classroom as possible. Hooker stated there was no other school district offering the same transportation services as SD27. Colbourne, who had been in contact with other 108 Mile Ranch moms, said she wanted more transparency. Concerns were also raised by MLA Lorne Doerkson, District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney, and members from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
12 - Parents hold safety awareness walk in 108
Around 50 parents took part in a Safety Awareness Walk in the 108 Mile Ranch, organized by citizens concerned about School District 27's new transportation policies. The event was intended to demonstrate the risks of children walking to school along 108 Mile Ranch's roads and remind drivers to slow down around the school. Co-organizer Danielle Colbourne said she felt the walk went well and was able to illustrate the points. The walk started in the parking lot of Cariboo Chilcotin Life Fellowship, and made its way up Telqua Drive to the Cariboo Regional District Airport and back. Those who participated included District of 100 Mile House councillors Jenni Guimond and Donna Barnett, as well as CRD director for 108 Mile Ranch/Lac La Hache Al Richmond, and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson - as well as members of the 100 Mile House RCMP.
12 - Northern Secwepmec communities celebrate opening of new heritage site
The Ckultenellcw Cultural Centre officially opened for members of the Northern Secwepmec people on Sept. 6.
The Ckultenellcw Cultural Centre is a new culture centre celebrating Northern Secwepmec culture built next to the 108 Heritage Site. Members of the Williams Lake, Esk'etemc, Stswecem'c, and Xget'tem First Nations joined Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation in a drumming ceremony. Also in attendance were Cariboo Regional District chair Margo Wagner as well as CRD director for 108 Mile Ranch/Lac La Hache Al Richmond.
Despite the cultural centre being structurally complete, it was not yet open to the public. The Northern Swcwepmec Cultural Cultural Society planned on spending 2025 organizing and preparing the exhibits for the centre.
26 - Lone Butte's Sweet Ash Bistro burns to the ground
An early morning fire, on Sept. 18, gutted the building containing the Sweet Ash Bistro and Smith's Antique in Lone Butte.
The Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department and 100 Mile Fire Rescue responded at 2 a.m. The blaze however ultimately consumed both of the businesses. The loss of the businesses, said Amalia McGlashan, a Lone Butte resident, would be felt by the entire community - as the building had been the pillar of the community for decades.
Thalia Rajala, the Sweet Ash Bistro's restaurant manager, said she and bistro owners Lee and Caitlin McNish were left in shock by the fire. An investigation was ultimately unable to determine a cause for the fire.
26 - Chilliwack man walking from Alaska passes through 100 Mile House
A Chilliwack resident walking through Yukon and British Columbia for half a year made a stopover at 100 Mile House.
Grant Beacock began his journey at the Alaska/Yukon border at Beaver Creek and walked every day carrying his food, pop-up tent, inflatable mattress and clothes in a hand-drawn wagon that weighed about 170 pounds. Along the way, he observed the beauty of nature, encountered roaming bears and talked to dozens of people.
He embarked on the Encouragement Walk to raise awareness about senior loneliness and to advocate for the inclusion of seniors in everyday life.
OCTOBER
3 - Historic 100 Mile Ranch barn vandalized in break and enter
One of 100 Mile House's oldest buildings had a chainsaw taken to it in early September.
The 100 Mile Ranch's main barn was broken into by a perpetrator who used a chainsaw to cut into the historic building in an attempt to steal fuel and farm equipment. It's a crime that had become all too commonplace for ranch owner Marina Cecil, who estimates she has dealt with two dozen break-ins over the last 15 years.
Cecil said she has spent thousands of dollars on securing the barn with locks, chains, bars and security cameras to try to keep people out. She admitted, however, that you can't compete with a chainsaw. Outside of the financial loss and trouble, Cecil explained that this particular incident hurt due to the damage done to the barn itself. The boards the thief cut through were original barn boards and can't be easily replaced.
24 - Centennial Park's new entranceway blessed by Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation
A new entranceway now rises above Centennial Park bearing both its English and new Secwépemc name Tsecwil'ecul'ecw.
Installed by the District of 100 Mile House over the summer, this new fir entranceway is unmissable, welcoming all to the park. On Monday, Oct. 21 the district along with the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation council, community members and representatives of the Cariboo Regional District gathered together to commemorate its installation.
Kúkpi7 (chief) Helen Henderson of the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation said she felt immense pride and gratitude to see her people's language recognized in such a way. Henderson said the sign serves as a reminder of the deep connection her people share with the land and the joy everyone can find in Centennial Park. She noted the park was a favoured camping ground for the Tsq̓éscen̓ before colonization and it remains a part of their histories and stories.
NOVEMBER
14 - Hundreds attend Remembrance Day ceremony
Remembrance Day ceremonies were held in 100 Mile House on Nov. 11.
The ceremonies were preceded by a parade down Birch Avenue as veterans, soldiers as well as members of the 100 Mile Fire Rescue marched down the avenue and then turned right to gather in the 100 Mile Community Hall, where an event commemorating Remembrance Day was held.
After performances by Eclectica Community Choir, who sang And the Poppies Grow by Donna Forward-Houriet and Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor - arranged by Andrea Klouse - wreaths were placed by the Government of Canada, as well as the District of 100 Mile House. Among those who placed wreaths was Karen Pellerin, the Indigenous Liaison Officer for the Legion, who stated that she felt nervous doing such.
An open house was held at the Legion after the ceremony, including serving of a cake donated by Save-On-Foods commemorating veterans.
21 - 100 Mile well redevelopment to be complete by May 2025
The District of 100 Mile House selected a contractor to redevelop the community's wells.
During the district's regular council meeting on Nov. 12 council voted unanimously to award the contract to Precision Service and Pumps Inc. who bid $289,577 for the redevelopment, beating out Robbins Drilling and Pump Ltd and Drillwell Enterprises, who bid $397,250 and $405,850 respectively.
Todd Conway, the director of community services with the District of 100 Mile House, said Precision is a company that works with wells and reconditioning redevelopment. The report additionally said that the work on the wells is expected to be fully completed by May 15, 2025.
DECEMBER
6 - 100 Mile branch of BMO to close after over five decades of service
The 100 Mile House Branch of the Bank of Montreal announced it will close permanently on June 27, 2025.
The closure was announced in a letter sent out to business partners and customers of the bank.This closure will mark the end of over five decades of serving the people of 100 Mile House.
When reached out to for comment BMO spokesperson Jeff Roman said the bank continuously assesses their operations, including their branch footprint, to ensure they are "well-positioned to serve the changing needs of our customers." When asked directly why 100 Mile's branch is being closed, Roman did not provide an answer, instead again noting BMO will provide resources to help people learn how to access banking services online.
District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney said she and district staff were as surprised as anyone by the closure's announcement. She noted there was no indication or consultation about a potential closure before the announcement.
13 - 100 Mile Skatepark dismantled to make way for temporary bridge
The District of 100 Mile House dismantled the 100 Mile House Skatepark in preparation for the replacement of the Horse Lake Bridge.
The work was conducted on the morning of Friday, Dec. 13 by district staff who carted away the grind rail, the ramps and the two small jumps. Todd Conway, the director of community service for the district, said this removal is temporary and is being done to allow the construction of a temporary bridge during the replacement of Horse Lake Bridge.
The replacement of the Horse Lake Bridge has been a priority for the district for the last several years and is expected to cost at least $4.7 million. With the necessary permits in hand, council planned to have the project completed by the end of 2025.
