By Mark Squibb
John Gibbons is a St. Mary’s Bay man through and through and was recently awarded a 75th Anniversary Medal from the provincial government in recognition of his love for and dedication to his community.
Born in St. Mary’s in 1947, Gibbons, for over 50 years, has run the local general store that had been passed on through three generations of his family. And although John often mans the store from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, he still finds time to serve the community. In 2014, Gibbons joined the St. Mary’s Gulch Beach Improvement Committee. He is still an active member to this day, and once served as vice-president.
Gibbons remains committed to its many goals, including the promotion of local businesses and development of the community. For many years, Gibbons has lent a hand in organizing Gulch Day, which began as a small beach barbeque but has since grown into an all-day event celebrating the town of St. Mary’s and its people, featuring an antique car parade, games and raffles, food, and music.
Since 2019, Gibbons has worked with other members of the community to build the Gulch Beach Walking Trail, a boardwalk that begins at the lighthouse and follows the ocean pathway along the bottom of the Gulch Road.
Gibbons is also a formative member of the St. Mary’s Battery Committee, which is dedicated to restoring the St. Mary’s Battery, one of only seven installed along the coast of Newfoundland in the late 1790’s to protect the island from American privateers and French marauders. The committee was recently awarded the Historical Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Outstanding Heritage Project award. The committee has worked tirelessly to transform a once barren patch of land into an accessible historic site boasting a magnificent view, bilingual storyboards, picnic tables, trail access, and of course the four restored cannons.
When he was just a boy, Gibbons contracted measles and suffered a ruptured ear drum, resulting in severe hearing loss. It’s clear Gibbons has never let his hearing loss become an impediment.
“I don’t think I’ve done too bad in life with my hearing loss and only a grade seven education,” he allowed, smiling.
