Architecture in Europe has a recent influence from the movement known as Art Nouveau. The stylish presentation of iconic muralist content is a popular and enjoyable enhancement to buildings and public spaces and it’s style continues to build. No more than a century and a half has past since this positive style has broken through to the hearts of the audience en vie.
Category: Sports and Leisure
Charm

I’m, what promise do you need?
Visitors to Merritt BC Canada were about this weekend and this guy challenged me to take his photo and then happily moved on.
May have been locally ported.

Not wanting to miss anything this guy posed,perfectly and purposefully in a truck we presume as his.

A line up in a pre-covid time in Merritt BC.
The Pacific Forest rallies back again with another program starting on Friday, May 30th and continuing to the 31st in Merritt, British Columbia The race starts on Granite Avenue with a display as above as the precursor to the start.
Start and finish, Rally 2025 and volunteer registration.
Neck guards
Adam Johnson is dead and four decades of neck guards in minor hockey have not persuaded broad usage in the big leagues.

Neck guards in minor hockey have a history rooted in a tragic incident. In 1975, Ontario Junior A league goalie Kim Crouch suffered a severe neck laceration from a skate blade. Following this near-fatal injury, his father developed the first neck guard to allow Kim to return to playing. This event spurred the initial adoption of neck guards, particularly in Canadian minor hockey leagues.
Over the following decades, neck guards became increasingly common in minor hockey across Canada. Many provincial and local hockey organizations mandated their use for players under a certain age. The Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) certification became a standard, ensuring the quality and protective capability of neck guards used in Canada.
In the United States, the adoption of mandatory neck guards in minor hockey has been less uniform historically, often varying by state or local association. However, following the death of Adam Johnson, who suffered a fatal neck cut in a professional game in England in October 2023, there has been a significant push for mandatory neck protection at all levels. As a result, USA Hockey mandated neck laceration protection for all players under the age of 18, effective August 1, 2024.
Use in Professional Hockey:
Currently, neck guards are not mandatory in the National Hockey League (NHL). While some players choose to wear them, the majority do not. Concerns about comfort, potential hindrance to performance, and tradition are often cited as reasons for this resistance.
However, the conversation around neck guards in professional hockey has intensified following recent serious neck injuries in hockey globally. Some NHL players have begun to wear neck guards voluntarily, and there is ongoing discussion about whether the league and the NHL Players’ Association might eventually agree to make them mandatory, similar to the evolution of helmet and visor rules.
Other professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League (AHL) and leagues in Europe (Germany, Sweden, Finland, and England), have implemented mandatory neck guard policies. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) also mandates neck guards for all its tournaments, including the World Junior Championships and the World Championships.
Effectiveness and Usefulness:
Neck guards are designed to protect the vulnerable neck and throat area from lacerations caused by skate blades, hockey sticks, and pucks. They are typically made of cut-resistant materials like Kevlar or Spectra fibers, often encased in a comfortable fabric.
Studies and real-life incidents suggest that neck guards can be effective in preventing or reducing the severity of neck lacerations. While no protective equipment can guarantee complete safety, neck guards provide a crucial barrier against sharp objects that could otherwise cause life-threatening injuries to major blood vessels and nerves in the neck.
Have they ever saved anyone from catastrophic injury?
Yes, there are documented cases where neck guards are believed to have saved players from severe or fatal injuries:
* The case of Kim Crouch: His injury in 1975 directly led to the development and subsequent use of neck guards, preventing similar incidents for countless players.
* Recent youth hockey incident in Eastern Ontario: Following Adam Johnson’s death, a young player was reportedly saved by a neck guard after being cut by a skate.
While less publicized, it is plausible that neck guards have prevented numerous other less severe but still significant neck injuries over the years.
In conclusion, the history of neck guards in hockey began with a serious injury that prompted their invention. They have become a standard and often mandatory piece of equipment in minor hockey, particularly in Canada, and are now gaining increased attention and mandatory status in youth hockey in the United States. While not currently mandatory in the NHL, the effectiveness and potential life-saving benefits of neck guards are becoming increasingly recognized, leading to more players choosing to wear them and ongoing discussions about a potential league-wide mandate in the future.
Sportsmen need Sportsmanship all ways.
The city of Merritt is on you round level 3 water restrictions 2 days a week watering on and off on even house numbers.
Hand held anytime


Is fishing back?
Based on the search results, here’s information regarding fishing licenses on the BC Coast:
Tidal Waters (Saltwater) Recreational Fishing Licenses:
* In the 2023 to 2024 season (April 1 to March 31), a total of 333,478 tidal waters sport fishing licenses were issued to residents of British Columbia. This includes various types of licenses such as annual, 5-day, 3-day, and 1-day for adults, as well as annual licenses for seniors and juveniles.
* For the 2022 to 2023 season, the total number of tidal water sport fishing licenses issued to BC residents was 302,179.
* Approximately 300,000 license holders participate in tidal recreational fishing in British Columbia.
* Juveniles (under 16 years old) are required to obtain a free tidal waters sport fishing license.
* A separate Salmon Conservation Stamp is required for anglers of all ages who wish to retain any species of Pacific salmon.
Commercial Fishing Licenses:
* The number of individual annual commercial license holders in the Pacific region has been declining. In 2023, there were 4,057 individual license holders, which is a 74% decrease from the peak in 1987.
* These individual license holders were issued a total of 5,512 species-specific commercial licenses in 2023.
It’s important to note the distinction between recreational (sport) fishing licenses and commercial fishing licenses, as they are managed and tracked separately. The data provided above gives a recent snapshot of the number of licenses issued for both categories on the BC Coast.
New show on now… Runs till May 31st.

Reception Growing Creativity,
Cathy Cox Neill
4-7 PM
Artist reception Friday May 2nd 2025.Corner of Nicola and Voght,Merritt BC.Enter by Keklui cafe. Music by Chris Lepsol and (Strange Companions) friends. (Music 5-6 PM)


Long are the weeks for repose
Short are the nights to compose,
Regeneration stay winters old man
Long months will fly, we comply.
Rest our souls till harvest supply.



















