New Girl Guides unit
Shelbey Couture and Crista Ross will be opening a Sparks and Embers unit in Cache Creek. Sparks (for girls aged 5–6) and Embers (for girls aged 7–8) are part of Girl Guides of Canada, and while the new unit will call Cache Creek its home base, it is open to everyone in the surrounding area.
Details are still being finalized, but the plan is for the unit to operate three times per month, probably on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:15 p.m. The unit will follow the school calendar for holidays and closures.
A parent/caregiver information session is planned, and registration details will be released soon; watch this space for news.
St’uxwtéws fundraiser
Come out to St’uxwtéws (Bonaparte) First Nation from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 11 and enjoy a smokie or burger, chips, and a drink for just $6. The event — taking place beside the tee pee by Five Star — is a fundraiser for a St’uxwtéws youth trip to Vancouver in August, so enjoy some barbecue and support a great cause.
Lone Butte rocks
Come one, come all to Lone Butte Rocks, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. This good old country-style family event features live music, a demonstration from Equine Liberty, line- and barn-dancing, hula-hooping, hay wagon tractor rides, a dunk tank, a craft market with more than 35 vendors, firefighting competitions courtesy of the Lone Butte Fire Department, axe-throwing, bouncy castles, face painting, kids’ games, and much more. There will also be a concession featuring burgers and hot dogs, popcorn, homemade doughnuts, snow cones, cookies, ice cream, and other delicious treats.
The event takes place at 5994 Highway 24 in Lone Butte, and attendees should bring cash for the concession, vendors, and more. For information, or to volunteer, call (778) 444-3022.
Women’s meet-up
Looking to broaden your social circle, or find other women to attend functions or travel with? Then come on down to the Ashcroft Legion on Tuesdays (12:30 p.m. to ?) to meet with other mature women who are looking for like-minded people to do things with. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 15.
Highway 8 summer celebration
The Nicola Valley Partners Alliance are hosting a Highway 8 summer celebration on Thursday, July 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. The event will feature activities for kids and adults, door prizes, and dinner, and will take place at the top of Quarry on Highway 8 at site 10A east of Spences Bridge (look for signage).
For information, contact Ryan Malcolm at (250) 258-5550 or email rmalcolm@emilanderson.ca.
St’uxwtéws pow wow
The second annual St’uxwtéws (Bonaparte) pow wow is coming up at Historic Hat Creek Ranch from July 25–27. The weekend will feature a huge variety of dance contests for men, women, and children, including traditional, fancy, grass, and jingle, as well as a drum contest and special Tiny Tot contests for boys and girls.
There will be Grand Entries on July 25 (7 p.m.), July 26 (1 and 7 p.m.), and July 27 (1 p.m.), plus vendors on site, and all are invited to come learn more about pow wow culture. Admission is $10 per day ($20 for the entire weekend), with no charge for Elders or for children under age 6. For more information, email jp.pw.society@outlook.com.
Desert Daze deals
From now through July 31, you can get $10 off a full-weekend pass for this year’s Desert Daze festival in Spences Bridge, which promises two full days of music, vendors, food and drink, and more on Sept. 5 and 6. An even better deal is in store for volunteers, who can get in for free in exchange for a bit of their time. For more information, go to www.desertdaze.ca.
Organizers are now taking reservations from market vendors and food truck operators who would like to take part, at a cost of $100 for market/vendor space. And there’s a special offer that makes the deal even sweeter: if you have a talent that you can share with, or teach to, others during the festival, your booth is 50 per cent off!
For more information, or to book space, call Sanatra at (604) 819-6555 or go to the website above.
Clinton art show
The Clinton Art and Cultural Society will be holding its annual art show on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clinton Memorial Hall, and is inviting local artists and artisans to take part.
All artists are welcome, whether you specialize in original artwork, handmade crafts, or the performing arts. There will be a cash prize for the People’s Choice of Art, and the entry fee is only $20 (free for Clinton Art and Cultural Society members). The deadline for registration is July 25; for more information, or to register, contact Nancy at (250) 459-2976 or email snirt6@gmail.com.
Summer hockey camp
Hockey season might seem a long way off, but Steel Training Co.’s 2025 summer hockey camp is fast approaching, and will take place at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in Merritt from Aug. 12–15. There are camps for three age groups: players born from 2017–2019 ($250); players born from 2013–2016 ($425); and players born from 2009–2012 ($425). The cost includes a camp jersey.
Participants will learn on-ice skill development; hockey-specific off-ice fitness and conditioning; and lectures on a variety of topics, all led by instructors with high-level hockey experience. For more information, or to register, email steeltrainingco@gmail.com, go to www.steeltrainingco.com, or call (250) 280-2520.
Integris community calendar
Do you have a great picture of Clinton or the surrounding area tucked away on your camera or smartphone? Integris Credit Union is always looking for photos for its community calendar, and submissions are open year-round for a chance to be featured in next year’s calendar. For more information, or to submit a photo, go to https://bit.ly/48Z4j4Z.
Report illegal dump sites
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s back country clean-up program is available to help clean up sites where waste has been deliberately abandoned, and to support public clean-up events. In 2024 the program led to 24 illegal dumping sites being cleaned up, with well over 100 tonnes of waste removed, and supported six community clean-up events.
Reports from members of the public who spot these sites are critical to help address illegal dumping. If you see one of these sites while out in the back country, you can report it to the TNRD by going to tnrd.ca/illegal-dump-sites. Please also report all illegal dumping to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277, or *7277 on your cellphone.
Calling all gardeners
Looking to get information about invasive plant management in our region, including identification tips to help you spot invasives, alerts about emerging invasive plant threats, strategies to protect native ecosystems, expert insights, and news about local events and training opportunities, and more?
Then sign up for the Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee’s free e-newsletter “Taking Root,” and join a growing community of local conservationists. To receive “Taking Root,” go to https://bit.ly/3FBBGSI, where you can also find more information about invasive plants in the Thompson-Nicola region, or visit the Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee Facebook page.
Grief support library
Did you know that the Ashcroft and District Hospice Society has a free library of grief support resources for people of all ages? In addition to pamphlets and books, the society also has contact information for organizations that can provide even more resources and support.
The society’s office, at 509 Railway Avenue in Ashcroft, is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For assistance outside office hours, call (778) 207-7575.
