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It's hoped construction will start in the spring at the Gateway 286 development in Merritt.
At a recent City of Merrritt economic development metting, Troika Developments' chief executive officer Renee Merrifield said the Gateway 286 development project— situated at the junction of highways 5 and 97C at the former rest stop site—is scheduled for a grand opening in Q2 2026.
Merrifield described the project as a "unicorn” for its perfect alignment with the project's four pillars: economic, cultural, social, and environmental sustainability. "Really this project, we call it our unicorn, because rarely do you have a project that so eloquently presents all four pillars,” said Merrifield.
Merrifield highlighted the "power of partnership” in this development. "This is where the magic begins. This is one of the most remarkable partnerships that I've had the privilege to be a part of, and one that hasn't existed to date in this form,” said Merrifield.
Gateway 286 is collaborative development project between Spayum Development Corp which represents Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch, Shackan, Coldwater, and Upper Nicola Band; the City of Merritt; the Provincial and Federal government; and PR Petroleum and Troika.
"So you've really got a huge amount of momentum coming forward, and it's really what it takes to see an area like this come to fruition, and it's one of the reasons that we get very excited about this particular site,” added Merrifield.
Upon completion, Gateway 286 is projected to create over 150 permanent jobs. Merrifield projects that the construction phase, aiming to begin March 2025, will create approximately 250 jobs.
Gateway 286's design aims to attract tourists, evoking a "main street feel” with diverse facades, walking spaces, plazas for visitors to relax, as well as an Indigenous-themed storyboards highlighting the area's rich history.
"We also wanted to create the story and history of the area in a pictorial way, so we've got storyboards and artwork that's significant to the history of the five Nicola Valley Indian Bands that will be located throughout the site,” said Merrifield.
"Someone can actually go and find all of the storyboards and walk through and be able to learn the story of the different areas.”
"We wanted to capture some of the nearly 20,000 vehicles a day that use this corridor, and that wouldn't stop otherwise (in Merritt),” added Merrifield.
One of the key features of the site will be its environmentally conscious infrastructure, including the largest EV charging station in Western Canada, xeriscaping, and water-smart designs.
The project also prioritizes community benefits, including essential infrastructure upgrades, access to recreational trails, and plans to integrate the site with Merritt's broader tourism offerings.
"We're working to figure out what that space looks like; whether it's a whole portion of a (commercial retail unit) or if it's a board that has different advertisements, et cetera,” explained Merrifield. "We want to make sure everyone knows how to get into Merritt: what's available, what are the businesses, what are the activities? How can they make this, not just a stop, but part of their vacation?”
Merrifield emphasized the project's role in reconciliation, noting that discussions with Spayum Development Corp included creating opportunities for Indigenous populations. "It was actually part of our initial negotiations, how do we create opportunities for indigenous populations within the community?” Merrifield recalled.
Troika focused on capacity building and employment. "We are a gold seal construction company, which means that we can take on apprentices within our organization,” said Merrifield, adding, "So how do we actually pour into the community… by way of capacity and employment and training… and how can we build that legacy?”
