Merriwake Interpretive Centre Shelter

The Merriwake’s Final Resting Place

We are very grateful to Gene Kinoshita, retired architect who once lived in the Village of Slocan, for his time and expertise in designing the shelter. Shown below are his initial drawings of the proposed structure.

Initial drawings by Gene Kinoshita

Nelson Rocha of Studio 9 Architecture + Planning Ltd will provide architectural oversight during the build.

Future Home

The Merriwake Interpretative Centre will be located on Main Street at Fitz Avenue in the Village of Slocan.

After unforeseen delays, the build began in the fall of 2025, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.

The shelter for the Merriwake will not only give a resting place for this “golden-ager” but also tell the parallel story of the internment of Japanese Canadians through an array of interpretative panels. Ian Fraser & Associates will create a series of eight panels that will take the reader through the decades prior to World War II up to the present day.

Madden Timber will be the contractor for the build and Alison MacLeod of MacLeod Nine Consultants Ltd will provide structural engineering oversight during the construction phase.

We have partnered with the Village of Slocan and the Slocan Valley Rail Trail Society and are grateful for their support. We would also like to recognize the Regional District of Central Kootenay and Therin Rhaintree, of Kokanee Law, for their contributions to this project.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

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