Visitor services extended by three years at the Baillie House

MERRITT – The City of Merritt has executed a three-year tourism and visitor information services agreement with the Nicola Valley Heritage Society (NVHS) and the Baillie House.

Previously, the Baillie House was operating on a year-to-year contract which they said made it difficult to properly operate.

“By having a one year contract, it makes it difficult for us to literally hire people and guarantee them a job,” said Jack Polmans, with the Baillie House. “Instead of January when you start working, when it comes December you might be out of a job because the City has not given us another contract, it makes it difficult to operate on a one year basis.”

The new agreement, voted on unanimously by council, is three years with the NVHS for $56,000 each year, with a built in inflation adjustment rate.

The NVHS has provided visitor information services since 2006, and during the 17 years, they have hosted 298,926 visitors to the site.