Heritage Chats – Merlin Bunt

Come listen to local historian, Merlin Bunt, as he talks about his connections to Chilliwack's past, the popularity of his Facebook page, and the journey to becoming a published author.

A fifth-generation Chilliwackian, Merlin Bunt is a Chartered Professional Accountant who was gone from Chilliwack for 42 years before returning in 2018 when he retired. To share his hobby of researching and writing about Chilliwack’s history, Merlin has created a page on Facebook in which he regularly posts articles that he writes on our community’s rich past.  

Merlin regularly speaks to local groups about the city’s past and leads heritage tours. He has been interviewed on local TV, on CBC TV, and in Fraser Valley Current, which called him “Chilliwack’s king of social media history.” Acknowledging his direct personal link to the settler era, Merlin is also motivated to share well-researched, absorbing stories from the more recent past that resonate with readers—those who, like him, remember Chilliwack in the post-war era, as well as newcomers who are curious to learn more about the city’s history. His first published book, on Chilliwack history, is set for release in 2025.