Witless Bay Fire Department firing on all cylinders

By Mark Squibb/April 21, 2022

Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department liaison Lorna Yard gave an update on recent happenings at the department during last week’s council meeting, painting a picture of an exciting and productive fire hall.

First off, Yard said the department has been given the go-ahead from Eastern Health to resume full services.

“During the COVID pandemic, volunteer fire departments were placed on limited dispatch calls by Eastern Health to protect both members and the public,” said Yard. “Eastern Health recently contacted a number of volunteer fire departments, including Witless Bay, to see if they were prepared to go back to full service, including medical dispatch. And the supervisor of Eastern Health was notified that we are in a position to go back to full service.”

Back in March, council gave the department the green light to purchase 13 used sets of bunker gear.

“The fire department is extremely pleased with the quality of the suits,” said Yard. “They’ve all been cleaned and put into service. They actually included two free sets that only have small tears, so they have been sent to a tailor to be fixed and put into service. Also, included, at no extra charge, were some new boots and other equipment.”

Since November, the fire department has had ten new recruits, six who are currently in training and four who are still working through the interview process.

“This recent round of new recruits, and keep in mind the fire department weren’t actively recruiting or advertising, will bring the number of volunteer fire fighters in the department to its highest level in at least seven years, likely longer, but we only have the data for seven years,” said Yard.

The councillor, along with Fire Chief Jack Gatherall, hired by council in February, have designed a new logo for the fire department, which they hope to be unveil soon.

“It incorporates normal fire fighting imagery, as well as imagery unique to Witless Bay in the form of a whale tail in the centre,” said Yard, who said the design was created with input from the department.

Between January first and March 31, the department received 50 calls, putting them on track to received over 200 calls for the year.

The department has held several training sessions over the last few months, and even welcomed local Sparks and Brownies for a tour of the fire hall — their first community visitors since the beginning of the pandemic. They’re also resumed holding their meetings in person at the fire hall.

St. Kevin's charity hockey game a go

Alumni team hungry for win after loss

By Mark Squibb/April 14, 2022

April 29 is hockey night in the Goulds, as Mavericks both past and present hit the ice for the sixth annual St. Kevin’s High Hockey Alumni Charity Classic.

The tournament didn’t go ahead in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions.

“The game had built a lot of momentum over the last number of years, and to have COVID stall it was a little bit nerve wracking, because you wonder if you’re going to be able to get it back on track,” said organizer Jason Snelgrove. “But as of right now, we’re just excited to get the game going, and getting funds to help families in the community, which was always the goal.”

The money raised will go towards the Hollett family – Vikki, Mark, Camryn, and Declan, following a recent medical diagnosis of Vikki’s. As per usual, $1,000 will go to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund.

Having raised over $6,500 in each of the last two games, the goal for this year has been set at $7,500.

“If we don’t reach our goal, and only raise $5,000, that’s $5,000 that we’re using to help somebody,” said Snelgrove.  “At the end of the day, whatever money we raise is money that’s going towards a good cause.”

Snelgrove said they’ve received plenty of donations so far, but as most donations are made at the door, it’s hard to tell yet whether they will hit the goal.

And while the hockey is guaranteed to be good, what’s not guaranteed is how comfortable folks are coming out to big events.

“We had a really great momentum going the five years prior when there was no such thing as COVID,” said Snelgrove. “But there is an uncertainty of whether we will get the same turnout.”

Nevertheless, Snelgrove said he’s optimistic with how things will turn out.

“Any money you raise is good money,” said Snelgrove. So, we’ll be happy with whatever happens.”

Once all the dollars have been counted, Snelgrove hopes the tourney will have raised over $30,000 since its incarnation.

While the community is the clear winner at the end of the day, the game-winner is still up for debate.

In 2020, the high school boys put an end to the Alumni’s four-year winning streak, defeating them with a game winning goal scored in the third period.

“We’ve put together a strong alumni team, but listen, the group of hockey players on the other side, the young fellows, are a great group of hockey players themselves,” said Snelgrove. “Every year it’s been close. Last time they won by a goal towards the end of the game. And the alumni players didn’t like the loss. They’re certainly coming out to try and get the win.”

Snelgrove, the excitement palpable in his voice, said the game is all about teaching youth about the kind of an impact that they can have in the community.

“The St. Kevin’s team over the last number of years have done some great things in terms of charity and helping people out, whether it’s Christmas fundraisers or the alumni game,” he added. “That’s the best part for me, just seeing the players stand on the blue line at the end of the game and witness the handing over of the money, and witnessing families saying thank you. Those are the things I think they’ll remember, and those are the lessons they can take well beyond high school hockey. Yes, you can be a great hockey player, but you also want to be a great human being, and this event creates that atmosphere for the players.”

The April 29 action begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Goulds Arena.

Mobile Girls Got Spirit

The Grade 8 Mobile Girls Basketball Team was the overwhelming favorite to win the inaugural Most Spirited Team Award at the Brother Rice Junior High Winter Snowjam, held over the last two weeks of March. Sixty-four percent of the 8,300 votes cast went to the Mobile Monarchs. Nine teams competed in the tourney. From left to right are coach Geri-Lynn Devereaux, Abby Mullowney, Jane O'Driscoll, Gracie Dalton, Eve McEvoy, Brooke Swain, Erin O'Driscoll, Zoe Crane, Norah Lundrigan, Audrey Molloy, Rebecca Nauyul, Gracie Warford, Sarah Jane Murphy, Neela Mullowney, Sophia Fleet, Kate Dalton, and coach Audrey Dalton.

Silver Spring

The Mobile Grade 7 girls basketball team won silver at the A provincials last month. The girls fought hard, losing only one game, that being the final against MacDonald Drive Junior High. In the back row, from left, are coach Geri-Lynn Devereaux, Neela Mullowney, Zoe Crane, Audrey Molloy, Leela Joyce, Emily Carew, Ava Collett, Christa Power, and assistant coach Victoria O'Brien. In the front row, from left, are Kennedy Melvin, Gracie Dalton, Erin O'Driscoll, Taylor Windsor, and Ella Hefferman. Submitted photo

Ar n-oilean submits environmental report on Tors Cove seal oil plant

By Craig Westcott

Residents of Tors Cove and other interested parties have until May 6 to comment on the environmental preview report (EPR) that Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd., submitted to the provincial environment department on Friday.

The St. John’s-based company is looking for government approval to convert the old fish plant in Tors Cove, which it bought last year, into a seal oil plant.

The move has sparked concern for some residents in the community, who are worried there might be a stench from seal oil processing and an environmental impact from refurbishing the old building, which has lain derelict for years.

In its EPR, the company says it has developed a new cold-water process of refining seal fat into pharmaceutical grade omega-3 oil. It says no chemicals will be used to clean and process the Harp Seal skins that it plans to buy from harvesters. The resulting oil will be shipped outside the province to be poured into capsules and bottles for retail sale.

The company projects the plant will employ some 40 to 50 people, most of them for several months a year.

Ár n-oileán says it also plans to buy some 5,000 to 10,000 skins in its first year of operation with hopes of increasing the volume to 20,000 to 30,000 skins annually. It also plans to buy “limited volumes” of seal backstraps and organs to determine if it’s worth “developing an international seal meat market” for seal jerky and other charcuteries.

If the company gets environmental approval, it plans a major refurbishment of the old fish plant, which has not processed fish since 2007. That includes stripping out and replacing much of the equipment, demolishing a couple of the most dilapidated buildings, and replacing the roof. Ár n-oileán says it has already removed some 30 tonnes of garbage from the plant and is working to remove a further 20 to 30 tonnes. The plant consists of seven structures built onto each over the years with an additional administration building and bunkhouse. It’s those latter two buildings that have been condemned and will be demolished.

Repairs and upgrades to the building are expected to take three to six months, possibly longer if there are supply chain problems, the company says.

“Upon purchase of the property, Ár n-oileán received confirmation from the previous owners that at no time were asbestos or Urea Formaldehyde Insulation used in any part of the property,” the company told the province.

Once in operation, Ár n-oileán says it will use the plant’s existing piping to discharge offal some 200 feet northeast of the wharf. The company says the currents in that area draw the discharge away from the beach and that “increased sea states and tidal movements” during the winter months, when it intends to operate, will increase “the recycle flush rate of the area.”

Water from the fat separation process will be tested before it is discharged into the harbour, the company says. “The wash drums are equipped with self-cleaning pumps that will capture any hair removed from the skins during the washing process,” it adds, “where it will be collected, bagged and disposed of at the Robin Hood Bay waste management facility pending final approval from Eastern Regional Landfill.”

The company notes that as most of the processing will be done in the day, there will be minimal lighting coming from the plant at night. “Environment and Climate Change Canada and the coordinator has communicated to the company that it is not believed the lighting to be used will adversely affect migratory birds in the area,” Ár n-oileán says. “As an added precaution the company will follow a suggestion of making sure security lights are aimed downwards whenever possible.”

Ár n-oileán’s directors include company president Kendall Flood, David Vere-Holloway, Jeffrey Pardy, Mi’sel Joe and Thomas Michael Køllgaard Nielsen.

The minister’s decision on the EPR is due May 14.

Trepassey Harbour Authority gauging interest for a slipway

By Craig Westcott/April 7, 2022

The head of the Trepassey Harbour Authority is hoping to find enough local interest to convince Ottawa it should help fund a slipway for recreational boaters.

"There's nowhere here to put out a boat," said Dave White, the Authority's president. "So, we're just going to see if there's enough interest in going to look for a few dollars for us to do it."

White said a launchway could be used by anyone who needs it. 

Currently, people with small boats who want access to the water have to back down onto the beach near the Government Wharf to get their craft in the harbour. 

Really, there's nothing here," said White. "I'd say we're the only community on the shore that has nothing regarding a launchway."

The current Harbour Authority board, which took over several years ago, reckons there is enough demand in the area for a launch way.

"Right now, I'd say there are 50 boats around here," White said. "That's between Portugal Cove South and Trepassey. There are a fine lot of boats around, but I guess nobody ever went looking for anything like a slipway before. They have one in the Cove (Portugal Cove South) out by the wharf, but if you're going fishing up around St. Shotts and places like that it's not always nice enough to be able to get out there. And it's a lot farther (to steam to the St. Shotts side of the peninsula) from the Cove. And there are only three or four boats in the Cove anyway."

White admitted the group has no idea yet of the cost of constructing a slipway. "Now you're asking a million-dollar question," he said. "We haven't sized that up yet. All we're trying to do now is see how much interest there is in it and who is interested. If we have a few names and enough interest in it, then we can go to Small Craft Harbours (a division of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans) and see will they do anything for us."

Trepassey harbour itself, which once hosted a booming offshore fishery fleet, is still fairly active. There are three or four local commercial fishing enterprises based in the town, and a number of boats that come up every summer from Renews and Fermeuse to use it as a base for the whelk fishery. The commercial boats, if they are not already in the water, typically have to be lifted over the wharf with a crane at a harbour that has access to such equipment. A slipway is typically used by smaller craft, and recreational boaters.

"We're hoping to have a meeting within the next couple of weeks to see what happens and where we're going," White said.

A group of Ferryland residents held a bake sale and ticket draw at the Royal Canadian Legion on Sunday to raise money for the Red Cross in Ukraine. Local entertainers were also on hand to lend a festive air to the effort. Among the organizers and supporters were, from left: town councillor Keith Mooney, Mona Barbour, Katie Barbour, Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, Madeline McCaul, Bernie Stratton and town councillor Nathan Ryan. The event was organized by the four women in the picture. “As of today, we have over $1,800 raised with a goal to reach $2,000 before handing in our donations to the Red Cross on Friday,” said Katie Barbour on Monday. “Anyone who still wants to make a contribution can contact Madeline at 363-7176, Mona at 363-8366 or by sending an EMT to katiebarbour@hotmail.com.”

Penney disappointed at Troake's attack on BBBAA

By Mark Squibb/March 31, 2022

The chairman of the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic Association (BBBAA) says he’s disappointed the Town of Witless Bay has chosen not to approve a funding increase of $13,000, but he respects the decision.

“I get the pressure of a new council trying to balance a budget,” said Scott Penney. “I was trying to be optimistic, but I knew it was a coin toss. Many towns face many financial pressures … There’s only so much money going around.”

But when specific details of councillor Alex’s Troake‘s argument against the funding request made their way to Penney’s ears, he was surprised.

“I started to get some phone calls and texts about some of the comments and the rationale as to why they were not giving us the money, and I was at a loss for words to be honest with you,” said Penney. “And this is certainly not to brush the entire council, but … I was trying to understand where it was coming from, such a harsh attack on the association. Our association has been here for 16 years, and we’ve made, I think, a significant contribution to the seven communities which we represent. And to sit down and listen to, and read, some of the commentary that was made by a councillor who was there for what, 16 weeks? I hope his tenure is as long and as valuable a contribution as the BBBAA’s has been over 16 years.”

During the March 8 council meeting, Troake argued it would be financially irresponsible to increase this year’s funding to the BBBAA from $37,000 to $50,000. He accused the organization of having made no effort to fundraise, describing it as “sitting on their hands.” Troake also questioned the BBBAA’s operating cost increases, and called the organization too ‘Bay Bulls-centric,’ amongst other complaints.

Penney said that of all the comments, the accusation that the group was ‘sitting on their hands’ got to him the most.

“That in and of itself is enough to really give you a sense of what his mindset is on the BBBAA,” said Penney. “I don’t have any issues with the funding decision. My issue is that there was a barrage of innuendos as to why the BBBAA is not successful. Well, the BBBAA is very successful.”

Typically, the BBBAA spends January to June preparing for an annual auction and gala dinner, which raises tens of thousands of dollars for recreation infrastructure throughout the region. That auction has not been held during the pandemic period.

“We don’t go out and fundraise,” said Penney. “We don’t go out and sell cold plates, we don’t sell tickets, we don’t do dances. That’s not what we do. There’s a lot of other community groups in the area that do that… We don’t want to tread on anybody’s toes. We made that decision years and years ago, and we just stayed in our lane and did our own fundraising.”

Money committed through the towns of Witless Bay and Bay Bulls through an MOU covers the operating costs, including salaries and overhead expenses. The BBBAA serves as an extension of the recreation programs for both towns, saving the cost of salaries for individual recreation directors and staff for each municipality.

“We are not going to go fundraise to pay salaries,” said Penney. “We will fundraise and manage our budget so we can put pieces of recreation infrastructure in the community.”

Money given to the BBBAA through the MOUs mean that towns have a recreation program in their community, at a cheaper price, said Penney, than building their own recreation program from the ground up.

Trokae had also alluded to programs offered by the BBBAA, such as the High Five course and resume writing courses and chided the group for charging students to partake.

Penney said those courses offered by the BBBAA are conducted by other organizations, and the BBBAA does not receive renumeration for offering them. The High Five course, for example, is a leadership skills course offered by Recreation NL.

“It just tells me that there’s a lack of knowledge or insight, and that councillor Troake just does not understand,” Penney said.

Another allegation that Troake levelled against the BBBAA was that they were, ‘Bay Bulls-centric.’

Penney said he would have agreed — 15 years ago.

Bay Bulls, he pointed out, just happened to be the community that stepped up and went ahead with the construction of a recreation centre. Despite that, the BBAA does offer many programs in neighbouring communities.

As for Troake’s complaint that not enough children’s programming was offered at the Puffin Centre, Penney noted that Witless Bay parents requested their children attend the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre.

“People want the larger centre,” said Penney. “It has much more functionality. It has a gymnasium. The Puffin Centre is a beautiful building and serves the purpose it’s supposed to be.”

That purpose, however, is not hosting children’s programs.

“People want to live in small communities with big centre amenities,” said Penney. “And the big centre amenities on the shore right now are the hockey rink and the Lifestyle Centre, and those two facilities are your anchor points.”

As to Troake’s allegation the BBBAA hasn’t kept up to date submitting financial documentation (Troake alleged the last documents the town has on file are from 2016), Penney said that is simply not true.

“They need to go check their filing system,” said Penney. “We went to a meeting in December, and they weren’t even aware there was an MOU.”

He said all the information the BBBAA has sent to the town, at least over the last two years, is on file and can be easily accessed.

As to why the BBBAA’s payroll increased from $55,000 to $75,000, and the overall increase from $74,000 to $100,000 in operational costs, Penney said COVID-19 measures, such as extra staffing to ensure that COVID regulations were followed, was the cause.

He added that COVID guidelines also meant that registration had to be cut in half for some programs, which was one of the reasons the BBBAA asked the towns for the increase to begin with.

Penney pointed out that in recent years the BBBAA has given about $65,000 to the Town of Witless Bay. Most recently, a week prior to council’s decision in fact, the BBAAA finished a $20,000 contribution to the Witless Bay swimming pool, money that had been committed to the previous council.

“I think you have a council over there that are looking at the financial pressures that are in their town,” said Penney, adding that some members of council who voted against the motion have been big supporters of the BBBAA over the years and he appreciates that it was likely a tough decision.

The MOU between the BBBAA and the towns of Witless Bay and Bay Bulls, which guarantees each town give the organization $37,000 annually, is up for renewal within the year.

With Troake suggesting council may reconsider how funding towards regional recreational facilities and programs are applied in the future, Penney doesn’t know what to expect when renewal time rolls around.

“For the first time in 16 years, I don’t know what’s there,” said Penney. “At the end of the day, the BBBAA is a strong supporter of the Town of Witless Bay and it’s residents, the Alderwood Retirement Centre, the 50-plus club, the schools, we help the Kinsmen, we’re very entrenched in the community, and we’re very proud of the fact that we have given $65,000 to help improve and upgrade the infrastructure in the town. Hopefully the Town of Witless Bay can see a way forward that we can all work together for another 16 to 20 years again.”