A selection of the top community stories between July and December 2024.
JULY
18 - Hundreds attend Lone Butte Rocks
The 2024 Lone Butte Rocks saw hundreds of South Cariboo residents enjoy a day of fun in the sun.
Set up as a way to showcase and celebrate Lone Butte, the event took place at the Lone Butte Community Hall and the Water Tower Park Rest Station. It was organized by the Lone Butte - Horse Lake Community Association and featured the Cariboo Rockin Riders, Lone Butte Fish and Wildlife Association, the Lone Butte Volunteer Fire Department and dozens of community vendors.
Heidi Meier, president of the community association, said this year marked the 16th time the community has hosted Lone Butte Rocks and was another success for the community. Meier looked forward to next year's Lone Butte Rocks scheduled for July. 13, 2025.
25 - Hot July Nights lives up to it's name
Hot weather did not prevent Hot July Nights from managing to have a record-breaking amount of participants.
Around 424 vintage trucks, motorcycles and vehicles over one ton had been registered by the end of the weekend. Marty Mahovlich, the chair of Hot July Nights, said that participants had pulled through to help people out through the heat and other things going awry such as the fact that one of the vehicles in the Rod Run had broken down in 100 Mile House.
Weekend participants got to try out several events, such as Rod Run Friday, a Poker Run Saturday, the Dog Agility Show at the Stan Halcro Agriplex, as well as the dinner and dance on Saturday Night. Thousands had checked out the Show N'Shine which had taken place on Birch Avenue. Dan Jackson, the greeter, was in tears of joy over the goodwill that people had displayed.
AUGUST
8 - Medieval warfare returns to Clinton
The Kingdom of An Tir once more came to Clinton this summer for the Lions War.
The Lions War, organized by the Society of Creative Anachronism, has been taking place near Clinton for over four decades under different names. This year marks the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic that knights, ladies, princes, princeps, peasants and spectators have come to watch three days of heavy fighting, rapier battles, bardic competitions and an overall celebration of the medieval ages.
Princeps Jadwiga Radomyskowa, otherwise known Rayvn Schmidt, remarked the event was a lot of fun. Throughout the weekend members of the SCA took part in several competitions and events. This included an archery and thrown weapon contest, a bardic competition and combat sports scenarios.
Several dozen men and women armoured themselves and took to the field with weapons made from ratan wood and foam as they fought to determine the outcome of what Schmidt called the discussion over where the capital should lie.
28 - Hundreds compete in Little Britches Rodeo
Competitors from across British Columbia came to 100 Mile House to take part in the Little Britches Rodeo earlier this month.
The rodeo, which has been going for close to six decades now, was held on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18 at the 100 Mile and District Outriders Arena. Around 200 people attended to watch 110 contestants from 100 Mile House, Cache Creek, Merritt, Williams Lake and Quilchena compete in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, a stake race, steer riding and dummy roping.
Emily Swallwell, vice president of the 100 Mile and District Outriders, stated that despite some struggles with finding volunteers before the rodeo, they pulled through in the end.
28 - South Cariboo Garlic Festival enjoys success despite overcast skies
The South Cariboo Garlic Festival attracted thousands despite cloudy weather this summer.
Garlic is a common species of bulbous flowering plant - whose closest relatives include the onion, shallot and leek - and for almost the last twenty-four years, the South Cariboo has had a festival dedicated to it. The festival began in 2000 at Forest Grove, only for it to move, once to Centennial Park and then to the Lac La Hache Community Club grounds, where it has been held every August since 2010 - next to being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizer Teresa Wager said that she loves the festival because of the smiling, happy faces, the great atmosphere and the presence of so much allium sativum, garlic's Latin name. She explained garlic is utilized in all sorts of unique ways.
SEPTEMBER
5 - Big plans in works for Broken Rock ranch
A pair of greenhouses as well as a test bed of crops is the start of what Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation were planning for Broken Rock Ranch.
East of the Tsq̓éscen̓ community, the ranch had been acquired by Spelqweqs Development Corps for the community. The First Nation had teamed up with Sustainable Food Security to provide the community with a source of fresh produce for years to come.
Kaitlyn Dixon, the communication coordinator for the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation, said they had big plans for the property, such as more greenhouses filled with produce and converting the hayfield back into a crop field. However, Dixon said that the development of Broken Rock Ranch was in stage one.
Tobacco was one of the crops being considered to be grown, but Dixon said it will need to be carefully managed. Once they have completed the first phase of what grows best on the ranch, Dixon said their next phase will be expanding the farm to grow more food.
7 - 100 Mile Horsepower Ranch Mud Races brought camraderie
Mud drag racers from all over BC gathered in Forest Grove for 100 Mile Horsepower Ranch's Mud Races.
The event was held on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, around 45 minutes near Forest Grove and is sanctioned by the North West Mud Racing Association. Around 1,000 people attended the event, not counting the racers, according to Leanna Davies the event's organizer and co-owner of 100 Mile Horsepower Ranch.
There is also a strong sense of camaraderie among the men and women who race according to Chad Coelen who drove his 1987 Ford Bronco this weekend. Coelen said he recently lost his daughter Brianna Leigh, aged just 13, and during the race, he commemorated her life and was touched when many of his fellow racers did the same.
As for the race itself, Coelen participated in the street stock category as well as J Hook racing. Coelen has been mud racing since 2015, and says it is an "adrenaline rush." He also had good things to say about the non-profit association.
19 - Over 100 attend South Cariboo Track and Trail Moto Rodeo
The South Cariboo Track and Trail Dirtbike Association's Season End Scramble and Moto Rodeo attracted over 100 riders from across the Cariboo to 100 Mile House.
The event was held at the club's track at the end of Ainsworth Road and featured a night ride, a poker run, barrel racing, a slow poke race, drag racing and more for the community to enjoy. Wesley Silverston, the association's president and mechanic by trade, had felt the weekend was a huge success for the club.
Participants included Kolton Allwood, a longtime member of the association, who had been dirt biking as long as he could remember.
26 - 100 Mile Elementary runs for Terry Fox
Terry Fox's legacy was kept alive by 100 Mile House Elementary School students on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The entire school took part in their Terry Fox Run around Centennial Park running as many times as they could around the park for a half hour. Crystal Dawn-Langton, principal of 100 Mile Elementary, explained they had figured out that if they ran 65 laps around the park it would be the same amount as what Fox ran in a day during his Marathon of Hope.
Overall she remarked she was very proud of her students and staff for their participation. As of the day of the run, Dawn-Langton said they had raised $529.15 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
OCTOBER
2 - 108 Heritage Site Fall Fair attracts pandas and salesmen
Kids dressed up as salesmen and pandas attended the 108 Heritage Site's second annual Fall Fair.
The fair, which wrapped up the 108 Heritage Site's season, was held on Sept. 28 on the Heritage Site's grounds. Hundreds of people attended to see the many historical sites, as well as 34 exhibitors, food vendors and a dog agility show. Some kids came in dressed in their Halloween costumes.
Kelly Carnochan, the president of the 100 Mile and District Historical Society, stated that they wanted kids to show up with costumes despite it being a month away from Halloween due to it being in the season.
8 - Science World shares love of science with South Cariboo
South Cariboo students got the chance to learn about science firsthand from Science World On the Road.
Science World science facilitators Chelsey Stuyt and Megan Zong spent Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 touring South Cariboo schools visiting Mile 108 Elementary School, Lac La Hache Elementary School, Eliza Archie Memorial School, Forest Grove Elementary School, Horse Lake Elementary School and 100 Mile House Elementary School. Stuyt said they had found the Cariboo to be a welcoming place and its students very engaged with their presentation. With a master's degree in ancient history and an interest in theatre, she wanted to find a job that combined both of her passions.
Stuyt said the tour allowed her to do this by sharing her love of science with children in an engaging and fun way. Science World's tour of the South Cariboo came at no cost for schools or students thanks to a $2,500 donation by the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation.
21 - Horse Lake Bridge resurfaced ahead of winter months
The aging Horse Lake Bridge was resurfaced one final time ahead of its eventual replacement.
Dawson Road Maintenance workers were hard at work on Thursday, Oct. 17 and Friday, Oct. 18 replacing the old wooden boards with new beams. The work was contracted by the District of 100 Mile House, Mayor Maureen Pinkney said, noting they had no issues securing supplies for the project.
The total cost of this repair was just over $65,000, with the crew doing some repairs to the understructure of the bridge as well.
NOVEMBER
1 - Coats for All welcoming donations this November
100 Mile House's Coats for All program is consolidated its distribution system this year.
In 2024, rather than giving out coats at several different locations throughout November, long-time volunteer Gayle Dunsmuir said they have secured the use of St. Timothy's Anglican Church's basement for the entire month.
While this put less of a strain on Dunsmuir and the other volunteers, who are mostly seniors, it was also expected to be beneficial for the families needing to access the coats. Every week she said there would be new coats, mitts and scarves to choose from and they will have access to the full inventory, rather than just a selection they would take to places like the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre.
She noted, however, they would still send coats to their regular distribution places in outlying communities like Canim Lake and Canoe Creek.
5 - Orphaned fisher kits return to the wild in South Cariboo
It was a crisp and frosty morning when Yegwúp the fisher was returned to his natural habitat.
One of three fisher kits orphaned in June 2024 Yegwúp, which means 'To Grow Strong,' spent the last several months growing up in the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops. Now able to hunt and fend for himself he was reintroduced to his environment and released back into the wilderness of the South Cariboo on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
With an audience of 20 humans watching, including members of the Recovering Fisher Population Project, representatives from the Williams Lake First Nation, Esk'etemc and the media, the fisher proved to be camera shy at first. However, after being left alone for a few minutes he soon ventured forth from his cage and began to explore his habitat, much to the delight of Thompson Rivers University Students and Recovering Fishers Population Project members Shannon Werden and Mae Frank who helped rescue and raise him.
25 - Hundreds attend 2024 100 Mile House Santa Claus parade
Snow provided a magical atmosphere to the 2024 100 Mile House Santa Claus Parade.
Held on Saturday, Nov. 23 the parade attracted hundreds of South Cariboo children and their families all keen to get a glance at Old St. Nick himself. Joining Santa in the parade were dozens of floats put together by local businesses, fire departments and community groups many themed around a Goldrush Christmas. Awards were given out in several categories to participating floats with TLC Logging winning Best Lights, the Iron Horse Pub winning Best Music, Ace Cameo Hardware winning Best Theme and Outlaw Clothing Co. winning the Best Decorated Business.
DECEMBER
9 - 100 Mile Tim Hortons raise close to $9,000 through Smile Cookie
100 Mile House's Tim Hortons sold the seventh most cookies in all of British Columbia during the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign last month.
Tim Horton's owner-operator Chad Lecompte said the community came together to purchase 5,968 cookies from Nov. 18 to Nov. 23. This raised $8,962 locally, with half going towards funding local children's trips to camp and half being donated to the South Cariboo Health Foundation.
Lecompte said he knew this was going to be a big year thanks to a community-wide challenge he issued. Local businesses were encouraged to buy cookies and challenge another business to match or exceed them. By the end of the week, Lecompte said Save-On-Foods bought the most cookies, purchasing a grand total of 120.
10 - 100 Mile and Area Men's Shed finds a home in 108 Mile Ranch
The 100 Mile and Area Men's Shed found themselves a shed to gather in.
Located at an undisclosed address in the 108 Mile Ranch, the shed was donated by a member of the Men's Shed who has allowed to organization to set up shop in his backyard. Andy Gray, the president of the 100 Mile House Men's Shed, said he and the other members appreciate the donation.
During the most recent meeting that had been held on Dec. 6, around eight members of the 100 Mile and Area Men's Shed came out to discuss the projects that they were doing.
24 - 100 Mile Rotary Club feeding children in need through new program
Three new 100 Mile Rotary Club members are taking the lead in organizing the South Cariboo Starfish Pack Program.
Designed to provide at-need children and their families with food during the weekend, the Starfish Pack Program is being championed by freshman rotarians Petra Gentry, Jenna Estabrooks and Cassandra Stenerud. All three of them have joined the club within the last year and are looking forward to making it more involved with the community.
In addition to being the newest members of the group, all three of the Starfish Pack Program's organizers were all recruited by longtime rotary club member Gisela Janzen. Gentry, a realtor for RE/MAX 100 Mile, admitted with a smile when she first heard about the club she thought it was some kind of model plane club.
Estabrooks, who works at Stolz Gallant Accountants & Advisors, said she had wanted to get involved with the community and saw the club as a great opportunity to do so. For Stenerud, RBC's branch manager, the rotary club provided her a way to stay active in the community after her children aged out of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, which she had been involved with up until 2024.
