St. John’s South—Mount Pearl MP Seamus O’ Regan presented over a dozen Local Hero Awards last weekend at a ceremony held at the Church of The Good Shepherd in Mount Pearl. The award recognises those who go above and beyond to help others in need. Recipients included Scott Hillyer of Coffee Matters, known for hosting free community suppers, the Goulds Lions Club, Branch 36 Legion volunteer June King, Ross King Memorial Library librarian Cindy Hall, who provides homeless people with Ziplock bags filled with essential items, Luke Thompson, who raised over $100 for the Red Cross this summer through his homemade lemonade stand, Knights of Columbus member James ‘Jimmy’ Boland, 14-year-old musician Alex Taylor, who has hosted a number of benefit concerts, community volunteer James Bulger, volunteer and Celtic Fiddlers founder Korona Brophy, Roger Chafe, who maintains the Petty Harbour graveyard free of charge, and James and Bernice Hart, residents at Bishop Meaden Manor who work tirelessly to obtain grants and organize activities for the Manor’s social club. Frank Scurrey, a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion, who passed in August 2022, was awarded a posthumous Local Hero Award. Pictured is O’Regan presenting Chafe with his award.

Annual Goulds charity hockey games raises almost $7,000 for charities

By Mark Squibb/March 17, 2023

Current members of the St. Kevin’s Mavericks and the St. Kevin’s Mavericks Alumni All-Star Team hit the ice for an evening of competitive hockey and fundraising last Friday night, as community volunteers hosted the 7th Annual St. Kevin’s High Alumni Hockey Charity Classic.

Jason Snelgrove helps organise the game each year.

“You’re always wondering if the support is going to lessen, if it’s going to get a little bit stale, a little bit old, but there were lots of people in the rink,” said Snelgrove. “We had lots of students in the rink, lots of young kids and families.”

Lots of laughs and smiles.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, support for the game has held steady over the years with $6,500 becoming a sort of fundraising benchmark.

Volunteers raised $6,900 this year through donations and ticket sales. Organizers donated about $2,600 to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund, and about $4,300 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society.

“It seems like every year we get a few more monetary donations prior to the game,” said Snelgrove. “So, it’s kind of nice going into the game knowing that you have a little bit of a cushion.”

And though the main order of the night is raising funds, both the young and young at heart dress for the game hungry for the win.

This time around, the alumni team earned the bragging rights.

“The older fellows managed to squeeze in a win,” said Snelgrove. “It was a very clean, intense hockey game.”

He said tat the game was tied 3-3 early in the third period, but the alumni were able to get a few ‘fluky’ goals and empty netters late in the third. The final score was 9-4.

“The final score didn’t really indicate what kind of a game it was,” said Snelgrove. “I think it was one of the most competitive games we’ve had. They’re starting to show us that the old guys are going to have to buck up their game a little bit if we want to continue our winning streak, because those young guys are right at out heels… it was a very close hockey game.”

Snelgrove said the event is a chance for young people to learn about doing good for others, and that it helps bring the community closer together.

The day of the game, members of the high school team, decked out in their jerseys, went to Goulds Elementary to read to elementary students and promote the charity event.

Snelgrove said the elementary kids treated the high school boys like rock stars, cheering them on and asking for autographs.

“That’s what it’s about,” said Snelgrove. “Making those connections and building positive role models within the community.”

Witless Bay looking to tighten security at Town Hall

By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023

Witless Bay council is looking to spend some money to tighten security at the Town Hall, although council has not committed any monies as of yet.

“Essentially we are looking into some upgrades,” said councillor Alex Troake at a February 21 meeting.

That was before the latest departure of staff from the Town Hall, which has all but shuttered town business.

Troake said town staff and members of the volunteer fire department had identified some security concerns.

“Right now, we are not prepared to finalize any one provider or a scope or work or a schedule but will continue to look at the budget and what’s needed and report back when appropriate,” said the councillor.

The matter was put forward as a point of information only, and as such, council did not take a vote on the matter.

When the current iteration of council was elected back in September of 2021, one of council’s first orders of business was to change the locks on town buildings, including the Town Hall, Fire Hall and Puffin Centre.

Municipal Affairs steps in as Witless Bay loses more staff

By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023

Senior officials from the Department of Municipal met with members of Witless Bay council on Monday following the departure of two senior staff members this week which has drastically affected the Town’s ability to conduct day to day business on behalf of its residents.

In a strange twist, however, Mayor Trevor Croft said there was no such meeting with provincial officials, though its occurrence was confirmed for the Irish Loop Post by staff at Municipal Affairs.

The departure of Acting Town Manager Geraldine Caul and Assistant Town Clerk Katherine Doyle leaves just Financial and Administrative Assistant Cassie O'Rielly as the Town’s lone office employee.

The Town announced through its Facebook page the office would be closed on Tuesday, February 28, due to “unforeseen circumstances,” and then again on Friday, March 3. The Town office is also closed to the public on Wednesdays, a policy council enacted sometime back to help office staff, then numbering four, to catch up on their workload, meaning the office was only open for two days last week.

Mayor Trevor Croft wouldn’t agree to an interview regarding the staffing situation and the impact on the public, but did send a statement to the Irish Loop Post.

“The Town of Witless Bay are committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for employees by providing a competitive salary and benefits program in a union environment, as well as training opportunities, flexible work hours and work from home opportunities when possible, considering the service needs of residents as well as accommodating for the family responsibility of employees,” read the statement. “In response to staff concerns about increased demands in an ever-growing town, council voted to close the office to the public every Wednesday to allow staff to get caught up on administrative tasks. The acting town clerk position recently resolved as expected, and our long-term town clerk who came back last August as acting town manager, ended her position after a long career with the Town of Witless Bay. We express our appreciation for her service to the town and wish her the best on the next chapter.”

The statement concluded with, “It’s true to say it’s a time of transition, but we are looking forward to moving forward with qualified professionals who will help us move the Town of Witless Bay forward in a positive manner.”

Croft said the above statement was the only comment he could make. When first asked last Saturday if a meeting between council and Municipal Affairs had been scheduled, he said it hadn’t been set in stone.

When asked again Tuesday morning, after the meeting between Municipal Affairs and council had already occurred, if the meeting pertained to councillor code of conduct training which the department is holding with councils around the province, Croft said the training has not yet been scheduled, and he was not aware of any other meeting with Department officials.

The Department, however, told a different story.

Emily-Jane Gillingham, who handles media relations for Municipal Affairs, confirmed that a meeting did take pace between council and the Department.

“We can confirm that a meeting was scheduled for and took place on Monday, March 6,” read an e-mail from Jane Gillingham. “The meeting was an opportunity for council to have a discussion and ask questions and for the department to provide support to council. Meetings of this nature are consistent in how the department proactively provides assistance to municipalities across the province.”

Further inquires as to who was in attendance at the meeting went unacknowledged by the Department.

The Irish Loop Post reached out to the other six members of council, via e-mail, to ask if they were available to discuss staffing concerns.

Councillors Alex Troake and Jacob Hayden both responded, but only to say they would not discuss the matter.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss this as all media requests are to be directed to Mayor Croft,” read Hayden’s email.

“Mayor Trevor Croft is the official spokesperson for the Town, and it would certainly be inappropriate for individual Councillors to comment on HR matters,” read Troake’ s email.

Neither of the other four members of council responded to the inquiry.

The Shoreline office has been receiving calls from people complaining about business being delayed or undone because of the situation at the Town Hall.

The departure of Caul and Doyle is the just the latest episode in a long series of hirings, firings and resignations at the Town Hall over the past several years. The last time the Town Hall and council in Witless Bay was this dysfunctional was in the 1990s when then Municipal Affairs Minister Art Reid was forced to disband the council and appoint an administrator in order for residents and others to conduct day to day business with their municipality. Without a Town Clerk, or acting Town Clerk, council cannot even hold a proper meeting where minutes are recorded for the public record.

The Irish Loop Post has requested an interview with Municipal Affairs Minister Krysta Lynn Howell.

Bay Bulls council approves one business, notes closure of another

By Mark Squib/March 3, 20223

Bay Bulls council approved a new business at this week’s public meeting, but also struck another from the Town’s books after being notified of its closure.

Council unanimously approved Marine Repairs and Servicing at 130 Winnonish Drive.

Just a few moments later, council voted to strike Cruise Industry Services, located on Irish Town Road, from the tax roll and provide remission of taxes for 2023.

The motion marked the third notice of closure addressed by council already in 2023. During the previous meeting, held on January 16, council struck Building Blocks Preschool and Healing Hands Massage Clinic from the tax roll.

Besides the new business application approved this week, council also approved a variance application to reduce the required lot area by 2.6 percent and a variance to reduce the minimum building line set back by 7.4 percent from 8 metres to 7.4 metres at 232-238 Northside Road.

Third time not the charm as Witless Bay once again defers BBBAA decision

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

Witless Bay council has once again delayed making a decision on whether or not it will fund the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic Association moving forward.

“Basically, council is still ironing out the details of this MOU,” said Councillor Nancy Burke, who serves as council’s BBBAA liaison. “It’s an important item for the town which has required much discussion and decision making,” said Burke. “It is not something that we are entering into lightly. We want to ensure that we get it right, so that all parties involved are satisfied. We expect to have a decision to present in the very near future.”

For the last number of years, the Town has contributed $37,000 annually to the organization, as dictated by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Witless Bay and the organization. The Town of Bay Bulls pays an equal amount and the BBBAA effectively acts as a recreation department for both communities and the region generally.

That MOU expired at the close of 2022, and Witless Bay council has yet to decide whether it will renew it, despite the item appearing on three public meeting agendas since December.

In early December, Burke had noted a decision would need to be reached soon, as the Town was budgeting for 2023.

Councillor Alex Troake, responding to an e-mail inquiry from the Irish Loop Post earlier this winter, said that $37,000 has been earmarked for the BBBAA in the budget should council once again enter an MOU. If the Town chooses not to enter into an agreement, that money will be used for other recreational purposes.

Council denied a request from the BBBAA for an additional $13,000 back in 2022; at the time, finance chairperson Councillor Troake accused the BBBAA of “sitting on their hands” during the pandemic, a statement BBBAA president Scott Penney vehemently denied.

Bay Bulls has already approved its funding to the BBBAA for this year.

Ottawa moving to bring high-speed internet to more of the Irish Loop

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

A handful of politicians representing the federal and provincial governments braved a blizzard to travel to Ferryland Wednesday morning to announce up to $94 million in joint funding for Bell and Xplore Net to bring high-speed internet to another 36,000 homes in over 350 rural, remote and Indigenous communities throughout the province.

Avalon MP Ken McDonald began the session with a playful shot at federal Minister of Rural Economic Development and the MP for Long Range Mountains, Gudie Hutchings.
“Every time Gudie speaks, she says she’s from the best coast, the west coast,” said McDonald. “And I’ll say, ‘You can think that all you like, but I have the Irish Loop in my riding, so mine is the best.’ So, I’m going to challenge her a little bit today, and ask her which community in her riding has got an international stamp?”

McDonald was of course referring to a stamp released in 2019 showing a giant iceberg that floated past Ferryland in 2017.

Hutchings had no comeback for McDonald.

“I noticed that Minister Hutchings is not jumping up or singling out any communities in her riding, so what is it in wrestling, the tap out? I got the shoulders pinned to the mat and now I’m wearing the belt.”

McDonald went on to relay the importance of internet to rural communities.

“I don’t think I need to tell anybody here how important high-speed internet is to communities like Ferryland, and all the other rural communities across our province,” said the Avalon MP. “Our government is working hard to give Canadians who live in rural and remote areas all the advantages and connectivity that come with high-speed internet access. Since day one, our government has been dedicated to building high-capacity infrastructure to connect Canadians, no matter where they live. Today’s announcement is another step towards our goal, and I’m proud to say it’s a big step for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.”

He relayed how during COVID lockdowns, the House of Commons met over Zoom and “didn’t miss a beat.”

“We can all vote on now, as members of Parliament, on our phones,” said McDonald by way of example. “We have an app on our phones, that if we’re at home, and not in Ottawa for some reason when a vote takes place, you take out your phone, and click on the voting app, and vote. There’s facial ID to make sure it’s not some phony person voting in your place who might not vote the way you would. It gives us the ability to be in our ridings more, and not in Ottawa. Because I always tell people, there’s nobody voting for you in Ottawa, unless you’re an Ottawa MP. So, the more you can be in your riding, the better off you are as a politician.”

Hutchings also spoke about Ottawa’s commitment to bringing high-speed internet to rural communities.

“Internet is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Hutchings. “It’s not just Netflix.”

She went on to detail how folks use the internet to work, play, further their education, and stay connected.

“But the big thing that it is, is that it’s an equalizer,” said Hutchings. “It’s an equalizer from every part of Canada, from coast to coast to coast. That makes it a level playing field, no matter where you business is, no matter where your farm is, no matter where your fishing operation is, if you have reliable, high speed internet, the country is equal.”

She said the federal government is working to provide high speed internet access to 98 precent of Canadians by 2026, and the entirety of Canada by 2030.

According to Hutchings, 93.5 precent of Canadians are connected to high-speed internet. She later said that 79 percent of this province has access to high-speed internet.

“I know, for some communities it’s been a long time coming,” said Hutchings. “But we are getting the job done… so get ready, because your world is about to change, in a good way.”

MHA Brian Warr then reiterated that access to the internet is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Also in attendance were MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, Ferryland councillor Keith Mooney, and MP Seamus O ‘Regan, and representatives of Bell and Xplore Net.

Bell’s portion of the project is expected to be completed by December 2025, and Xplorenet’s by March 2026.

A list of communities to receive services was provided by Ken McDonald’s office, but that list does not include the number of households to be serviced in each community.

Communities along the Irish Loop to receive additional service include Admiral’s Beach, Admiral’s Cove, Aquaforte, Biscay Bay, Brigus South, Cape Broyle, Cappahayden, Fermeuse, Ferryland, Gaskiers-Point la Haye, La Manche, Mall Bay, Port Kirwan, Portugal Cove South, Renews, St. Catherine’s, St. Shotts, St. Vincent’s, and Trepassey.

Those communities are being serviced by Bell.