Haggie confirms Trepassey ambulance move

By Mark Squibb | July 22, 2021

Last week, the Irish Loop Post reported that a number of folks, including Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Dricsoll, were seeking clarification regarding reports that the Department of Health and Community Services would be withdrawing one of the two Ryan’s Ambulance Service ambulances in Trepassey to Ferryland Emergency Services based in Cape Broyle.

The Department had not confirmed the reports by publication deadline, but did confirm them following the deadline in an e-mail to the Irish Loop Post.

Attached to that email was a copy of the letter sent by Minister John Haggie to Trepassey Mayor Joan Power, dated July 7.

Haggie, in that letter, said the relocation was due to changing demographics in the communities between Cape Broyle and Trepassey.

“Over the past three decades, Trepassey has witnessed a significant decline in its population without an adjustment in ambulance coverage,” wrote Haggie. “Over the same time period the population in and around Cape Broyle/Ferryland has grown, again without an adjustment in ambulance resources. Emergency call volume in Cape Broyle/Ferryland region is now twice that of the Trepassey region. However, at present, Trepassey has two emergency ambulances while Cape Broyle/Ferryland has one.”

Concerns raised by Trepassey residents include long ambulance wait times, and Haggie did allow a potential solution to this concern.

“The ambulance in Ferryland will be available to respond to emergencies in Trepassey and if demand warrants, consideration will be given to moving the ambulance to a community closer to Trepassey when the remaining Trepassey ambulance is on a call,” wrote Haggie. “This will lessen response time to your town if a second emergency arises.”

Bay Bulls heritage group on hunt for artifacts

By Chris Lewis | July 22, 2021

Bay Bulls’ heritage committee is looking for pieces of the town’s past.

At the July 13 council meeting Mayor Harold Mullowney put out a call to residents to share any items from Bay Bulls’ long history that others might find interesting.

The artifacts will be put on display, he said, but details are yet to be ironed out.

“Any old artifacts, photographs, even some stories people might like to share. It’s all a great help to what the committee is planning to do,” Mullowney said.

Mullowney spent a year as chairman of the town’s historical society and said he is aware of things in the community that people have donated in the past. Some of those things are still in storage, in the basement of the town hall to be used in the displays at a later date.

“So, we’ve got a good start on this,” he said. “It’s a matter of going through those boxes now. I know we have old paper records, photographs, all sorts of things.”

He said there are hundreds, if not thousands of artifacts salvaged from the HMS Sapphire, a Royal Navy ship that was cornered and sank in Bay Bulls back in 1696. He hopes to see some of those come to light to be used by the committee.

“We always hoped that if we ever got to a point where we could build a climate-controlled building, we could bring those artifacts back to Bay Bulls,” he said, noting some of salvaged items are currently in Ontario. “As we move forward, there might still be hope for that. It’ll be good to see that re-energized.”

The Town has also received a private donation from a resident in the form of an old cannon that had been recovered from the water in Bay Bulls harbour.

According to Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Aspell, the Town is in the process of restoring the cannon with the help of researchers from Memorial University. She said the Town hopes to put the cannon up for display within the next couple of months.

“With any luck, we’ll have it mounted here on the wall at the Town Hall,” she said.

Witless Bay Heritage Society lays weekend plans

By Mark Squibb | July 8, 2021

Witless Bay has officially named two recreation facilities in the Town.

Known informally as the softball field and recreation grounds/playground, the softball field will be renamed the Kinsmen Field, in honour of the Kinsman and their ongoing contributions to the town, while the playground will be named the Paul Carey Recreation Complex in honour of former mayor Paul Carey.

“You’ll recall in the spring that council was fielding suggests on names for the softball field on Southside Track,” said Chief Administrative Officer Pat Curran. “Several suggestions were received. In reviewing the suggestions, council has decided to rename both the softball field and the playground area at the same time.”

The Town also accepted a tender for the provision of playground equipment from Coastline Specialties Ltd in the amount of $49,750 plus HST for that same playground. That cost is for a playhouse, spinner, seesaw, barrel ride spinner and climber, though the town has asked the supplier to revisit the seesaw and provide another piece of equipment at a comparable price.

In total, three bids were received.

Council also accepted a tender on repairs to the roof of the Ken Williams Southern Shore Arena.

The updates were part of the Town’s COVID-19 stimulus funding application from December of 2020.

The work, done by Crane Services Limited is budgeted at $43,500.

The arena association will cover $3,500, or 10 per cent of the government contributed $35,000. The arena will cover the additional $8,500 to make up the difference between budgeted and quoted amount.

Arrangements set for funeral of hockey legend Williams

By Mark Squibb | July 8, 2021

Funeral services have been planned for the late Kenny Williams of Bay Bulls.

Williams, who was known throughout the whole of the Southern Shore and the province for his many years of commitment to hockey at all levels, passed away on Thursday, March 4 of this year.

At that time, COVID-19 rules restricted funeral gatherings to five people, and so the family held off on a public funeral service.

Visitation for Williams will be held on Sunday and Monday July 12 and 13 from 2 to 9 p.m. at Ryan’s Funeral Home.

“They allow 40 in the funeral home at one time, so basically when one person goes in, one comes out, that kind of thing,” explained daughter Krista Williams.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on July 13 but will be by invitation only due to COVID-19 restrictions, and largely limited to family. The funeral service however will be livestreamed at www.tom0349.wixsite.com/streamingservices/ryans.

The burial service to follow will be held at Our Lady of Mount Loretta RC Cemetery and will be open to all those who wish to attend, provided that attendees remain socially distant and wear a face mask.

This service will also be live streamed.

Jackie Sullivan and Chris Andrews will perform ‘Fiery Hockey Blood’ at the grave site, and the Williams family are asking that both children and adults in attendance wear their hockey jerseys for the graveside ceremony if possible.

Despite not being able to hold a traditional funeral service in March, tributes and calls have poured in.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Krista. “We had calls from Hockey Canada, we had calls from right across the province. It was very overwhelming.”

Goulds taxi owner hoping voters will park their vote with him

By Mark Squibb | July 8, 2021

The owner and operator of Goulds Taxi said he’s willing to let someone else take charge of the business so he can represent the Goulds and the other communities of Ward 5.

“I’m very passionate about my community, and about my Ward,” said Earle, who was raised in the Goulds.

Earle said his many years in the taxi business have been an education both in the issues of the ward, and how to be a help to others.

“I’ve been dealing with people now for 26 years in my taxi industry,” said Earle. “And I found a lot of times, even if you can’t fix a person’s problem, just that simple fact that you reach out, and are willing to listen to them, and hear their concerns, and hear they’re problems, sometimes that goes a long way to getting to where we need to get.”

Earle said one of his concerns is that while infrastructure and recreation facilities continue to age, the response from the City seems stagnant.

“It seems to be, ‘You have what you have, and it is what it is,’ and that’s disheartening,” he said. “I just don’t see any growth… Ward Five has been hearing two letters from the English alphabet; and those two letters are N-O. No. No, no, no. I’m tired of hearing them two letters being used, so I want to add another letter to it, and that letter is W. N-O-W. Now is the time for change. Now is the time for a strong voice. Now is the time for a good, strong representative. I’m very passionate about what I’m involved in. I give it my all. The people who know me will tell you that when I take on a task, or when I take on a challenge, it’s a hundred percent or nothing. I don’t do anything halfway. I’m all in.”

Earle said he doesn’t plan to trick folks into voting for him, but can only offer that he will do his best to get the job done.

“I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear so I can convince you into voting for me, but I will listen to your concerns, and I will get you the answers they need,” said Earle. “If I become successful in my bid to become the Ward 5 representative, your issues and concerns then become mine. I’m not just seeking this seat for me. I’m seeking it for my ward.”

He also committed, as noted earlier, to giving his full time to the position, if elected.

“If you’re not committed to this full time, you’re not giving Ward 5 the proper representation that it needs and deserves,” said Earle. “There will be no resident in Ward 5 playing second fiddle to my taxi business. That’s not how I’m built, and that’s not the commitment I’m going to put forth for the residents of Ward 5, if they choose to have faith in me and believe in me.”

Earle added he hopes to help City Hall become more approachable to residents.

“I’d like to see the City be more approachable,” he said. “I’d like to see the City be more user friendly.”

He also said the City should expedite minor concerns, such as the installation of crosswalks and speed signs.

“A lot of these issues and concerns, if dealt with efficiently, don’t have to be a big undertaking,” said Earle.

Wally Collins is currently the Ward 5 councilor.

Another successful Strides for Melanoma

By Mark Squibb | June 10, 2021

Beverly Corrigan couldn’t help but pump her fist in celebration at the end of the day.

About 35 folks came out for the Strides for Melanoma walk on Sunday, May 30, along the Witless Bay Line, the second of its kind in recent years. Others walked ‘virtually’ on their own time. Those who walked in person also enjoyed music, 50/50 draws, and the like, all done with COVID precautions in mind.

By the end of the day, volunteers had raised $6,200, with donations still coming in.

That’s a considerable increase from the $4,500 raised last year.

“This was definitely a team effort,” said Corrigan, the Walk Coordinator with the Melanoma Network. “That money to me means that more people are being aware, and more people want to make a difference.”

Corrigan said that due to personal circumstances, she couldn’t commit as much time throughout the year as she would have liked raising awareness for the fundraiser, and because of that she was expecting handy around the same as last year, if not less.

“People are really supportive, which is fabulous,” said Corrigan. “It’s such a good feeling.”

The event also struck an emotional chord with all those in in attendance, as tribute was paid to Beverly’s father Albert Corrigan, who passed away earlier this year.

“Dad was a big part of my walk last year, a huge part of it,” said Corrigan. “I had a big sign, and he signed it last year. When I took it down this year, I read ‘There’ll be a bigger party next year. I’m so proud of you. Love, Dad.’ So, it was quite emotional, in a good way. It was so positive. When you do things out of love, everything will always go right, and that’s how that that went, and everyone felt it.”

Corrigan, also an active member of the Melanoma Network’s Patient Advisory Committee, has been a force for melanoma awareness over the past year. She organized the first annual Strides for Melanoma last September and was named the Melanoma Network’s Volunteer of The Year in 2020.

As we head into the sunny summer months, Corrigan reminds folks to ‘stay sun safe’ by wearing SPF 50+ broad spectrum sunscreen, appropriate clothing on sunny days (including brimmed hats and sunglasses), and being careful during the ‘peak time’ (between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from March to October.)

She noted that in Newfoundland, folks might not think of applying sunscreen on days that don’t feel hot because of strong, cold winds.

“People who normally go to Florida and who carrying their sunscreen with them and reapplying, are not doing it here because the winds are masking it,” said Corrigan.

Meanwhile, folks are already looking forward to next year’s event, said Corrigan.  

Bay Bulls 'comes home' to new pavilion

By Chris Lewis | June 10, 2021

The Town of Bay Bulls cut the ribbon Monday evening on a brand new community pavilion, freshly constructed and set up right alongside the town hall. It comes thanks to a donation from the Bay Bulls Come Home Year committee, whose event back in 2015, brought many former residents back to the community.

Bay Bulls Mayor Harold Mullowney said the committee, at the end of the event, still had some leftover funds and approached the Town with the goal of using that money to provide the town with something solid that residents and visitors can make use of for years to come.

After some ideas were floated between the committee and council, Mullowney said the idea for a community pavilion was landed on.

The committee ultimately donated $12,000, with the Town pitching in on any other minor costs after that money was used up.

“It took a while, but we’ve got a beautiful pavilion here now,” Mullowney said. “We’re quite pleased with it.”

The planning of the pavilion itself took about a year, according to the mayor, and as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province, it put everything – including the pavilion – on hold.

The site of the pavilion is what is known in the community as the Ryan property, which was purchased by the Town when it became available and ultimately went on to win a contest to become the first “forgotten corner” in the province, designated as such by the Landscape NL Horticultural Association back in 2019.

Inside the pavilion, there are a number of wooden patio furniture pieces. While the pavilion itself was built by residents of Bay Bulls, the wooden furniture came as a result of a partnership between the Town and Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP).

Mullowney explained the Town had partnered with HMP a few years back to take advantage of a program they offer that aims to give inmates important life skills. Among them is carpentry.

“So, the benches, picnic tables, garbage boxes, all that you see around the Town was all built by HMP,” Mullowney said.

Come Home Year Committee member Kevin O’Brien said the aim of the pavilion was to make sure the town benefited from the leftover funds with something that could be enjoyed by anyone and everyone – residents and visitors alike, regardless of age.

“As a committee, we wanted to give back to the town and include everybody,” he said. “This is what we came up with … This, I think was the best fit to make something that everybody could enjoy. So, after four years, this is the last thing to come from our Come Home Year event. I think it’s a good way to end it off, and hopefully in a few years we can all get together to do it again.”

Province makes Witless Bay eliminate seniors tax discount

By Mark Squibb | May 27, 2021

Witless Bay council says it had no choice but to eliminate the senior’s tax discount.

“There’s been some discussion in the town, and I will tell you that several people have approached me, with respect to why the seniors discount was discontinued,” said Town CAO Pat Curran, who noted council did not have authority to offer the discount in the first place.

Curran said the Municipalities Act does not provide for discounts on the basis of age, or other classes of residents, such as low-income residents or persons with disabilities.

“This guidance provided not only to the Town of Witless Bay, but all municipalities increasingly across the province over the last several years, means that councils are not allowed to provide the discount in the first place, and this council was directed to fix this problem,” said Curran in a follow up email to the Irish Loop Post. “Our sense from the Department is that it was not rigorously enforced until recent years. In short, the Act does not provide councils with that authority. We can offer discounts on basis of early payment, but not otherwise.”

Council does indeed offer discounts for early birds. In the 2021 budget, council offered a discount of eight percent, an increase from the five percent discount of prior years, to those who got their taxes in early. Council also extended the early bird deadline from March 31 until May 31 due to the pandemic, and that deadline extension carried into this year as well.

“I would encourage any resident who has a question or concern with regard to provision of discounts to call the office and, to the extent that I can, readily explain how this works,” said Curran. “It ultimately comes down to the fact that council really didn’t have a choice but to eliminate the seniors discount. It was outside the authority of the town to allow the discount in the first place.”

“I think that pretty well explains the reason,” summarized Mayor Derm Moran. “We would love to be able to give it, but we can’t give it.”

Plenty of towns offer seniors discounts, so how was it that Witless Bay was ‘found out’?

In another follow up e-mail, Curan noted that in the fall of 2018 the Department would have carried out a standard Municipal Review, and it was then the Town's approach to discounts was noted by the Department.

“There is a reference within the summary note on the Town processing discounts without individual application to the Town, as provided for within the Act,” said Curran. “Discounts are reflected within the schedule of fees and taxes and I must assume that it would have been flagged at that point in 2019 budget adoption given the earlier Municipal Review.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs confirmed the legislation does not allow Seniors Discounts.
“There is no provision under the Municipalities Act to allow for discounts on the basis of age or other classes of residents,” read a statement from an official. “The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs will remind municipalities about the stipulations under the Act, as they become aware of incidents of discounts being provided, contrary to legislation.”

The official added that councils, by two thirds of a vote, can grant an exemption, remission or deferment of taxes and interest on taxes, but only when a resident requests it.

“This is at the discretion of council and does not specifically reference factors such as age, income, disabilities, etc.,” reads the release.

On Thursday, May 13, The Irish Loop Post requested an interview with Municipal Affairs Minister Krista Lynn Howell, but a spokesperson said she would not be available by the May 18 print deadline because she was travelling.

However, Howell did have time to phone into the VOCM Open Line Program to wish everyone a happy Municipalities Day, briefly field a question on regionalization, and offered no comment when asked about the unfolding Ragged Beach situation.

The Department, in lieu of Howell’s unavailability, did offer some further clarification on the legislation.

“The rationale for the legislation is to ensure property owners pay taxes to support municipal services, while still allowing individuals to request exemptions, deferrals and remission of taxes in appropriate circumstances,” read a statement. “This provides a way for people in extraordinary circumstances to access some tax relief. As noted, there is no provision allowing for seniors discounts specifically.”

Meanwhile, the Department admits it does not actually have an enforcement policy.
“Regarding enforcement, there are no provisions in the Municipalities Act allowing the Department to enforce legislative compliance,” said the official. “When the Department becomes aware of an issue, it is brought to the attention of the town. It is the town's responsibility to take corrective action. As elected officials, councilors have a responsibility to be familiar with municipal legislation and to help ensure that their respective municipalities are in compliance. The Department is aware that municipalities would like more flexibility in their ability to offer tax discounts. This is something the Department is evaluating as part of the ongoing review of municipal legislation.”

Fermeuse girl an award-winning volunteer

By Mark Squibb | May 27, 2021

Robyn Kenny, 17, of Fermeuse has been awarded the Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program 2021 Volunteerism Scholarship, a $1,000 cash prize.

“It’s really great,” said Kenny, a Grade 11 student at Baltimore School.  “I’m from a small town, so there’s not many opportunities for big scholarships.”

Kenny is an active member of the Fermeuse-Renews Girl Guides. She joined the Sparks program when she was five, but she actually started coming to meetings with her mother when she was only three. She has moved up through the ranks of Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and is currently in her second of three years as a Ranger.

Within the program, Kenney has been involved with fundraisers such as the Janeway Telethon, Children’s Make a Wish Foundation, mental health walks, and more, including Threads for Gemma, a non-profit that collects donations of clothing for premature babies.

Kenney helped spearhead a drive in the whole community rallying friends, family, and neighbors in Fermeuse and neighboring communities to donate knitted caps, booties, sweaters, and homemade tiny blankets and diapers, as well as knitting some of her own.

She has received many prestigious awards with the organization, including the Lady Baden Powell Award, the Canada Cord (the highest award given to Pathfinders,) and the Trailblazer Bronze award for Rangers. Along with Brooklyn Kane of the Fermeuse-Renews group and other girls across the province, she is set to receive the Silver Trailblazer award in early June.

Kenny was recently chosen to be part of a trip to Our Chalet World Center located in Switzerland, which was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19, and in the past has travelled to the Pax Lodge in England, a Guiding World Center, as one of only two provincial representatives.

Fermeuse-Renews Guide leader Madonna Ryan wrote refences to the scholarship program on behalf of Kenney.

“When a situation or event presents itself which requires assistance at a charitable event, Robyn is the first one to volunteer suggestions on how our Guiding group can help and to be physically present to carry out these plans,” Ryan explained.

Outside of the Girl Guides, Kenny often volunteers at school and elsewhere in the community.

“It’s good to volunteer because you’re helping people out, you’re helping the environment, and you’re contributing to your community and helping out your province,” said Kenny. “You’re giving back some of what you’ve received.”

Witless Bay hires female fire chief

By Mark Squibb | May 20, 2021

After a months long process, the Town of Witless Bay has hired the region’s first paid fire chief.

Maria Churchill, who previously served as Stephenville’s deputy fire chief, will begin work on May 31.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have a female in a significant role in the town,” said councillor Colleen Hanrahan when the news was announced during last week’s council meeting.

L.W. Consulting was contracted by council to oversee the recruitment of the region’s first paid fire chief and received over 30 applications. From those resumes, a short list of candidates was identified for further screening. From that, an even shorter list of candidates was chosen for further interviews.

The decision to hire a full time, paid chief, which council argued was critical to the sustainability of the region’s fire department, was part of a major overhaul of the region’s fire and protective services in the 2021 budget.

Included in that overhaul are plans for a new regional fire station, more investment in volunteer recruitment and training, new equipment, and new training grounds. Already, the Town has borrowed $370,734 to cover the cost of a new tanker and volunteer firefighters have constructed a new smokehouse training room.

The Witless Bay Regional Fire Department serves close to 5,000 residents and over 2,000 homes and businesses in Witless Bay, Bay Bulls, Mobile, Tors Cove, Burnt Cove, St. Michael’s and Bauline East. The department provides services in three key areas including fire, medical and rescue and road traffic accidents. In 2019, volunteers responded to 190 calls for service; a jump from the 161 calls received in 2016.

There are currently about 26 volunteers with the department. Shane Cole has been serving as the acting chief at the department while the town sought a full-time occupant.