Cape Race area gets cash for tourism strategy

Ottawa and the province have ponied up some of $183,811 to help Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. develop a marketing strategy to promote the entire Edge of Avalon Heritage Coast from Portugal Cove South to Cape Race, including the Mistaken Point UNESCO Site.

Avalon MP Ken McDonald mad ethe announcement last week.

The money will be used to support a number of activities to promote the area’s tourism offerings, such as adding high quality photos and promotional videos to the website, upgrading signage to tourist attractions, and creating a virtual tour of Mistaken Point at the Interpretive Centre so that visitors unable to hike out to the rocks can still see the site.  

“Our province’s Avalon region holds so much beauty, history and culture,” said McDonald. “I’m proud to see the Government of Canada helping organizations like Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. develop a strategy and activities to highlight the many sites from Portugal Cove South to Cape Race, like the Mistaken Point World UNESCO Site. It’s important that we promote our tourism assets so they can be seen far and wide, and attract visitors to our communities.”

The chairperson of the group thanked both levels of government for their financial support, which she added, will increase awareness, visitation, and the offerings available in the area.

“There are up to 25 people working at the Edge of Avalon Interpretive Centre located in Portugal Cove South, the Myrick Wireless Interpretive Centre at Cape Race, and field staff for Mistaken Point employed by the province, who deliver unique tourism experiences to visitors,” noted Gertie Molloy. “This project will help improve these offerings and increase visitation to the area and the province, which in turn will sustain our operations, maintain jobs, and contribute to small business growth in the area.”  

Cape Broyle navy diver tackling WWII ordinance

Cape Broyle native Andy O’Brien has been engaging in some interesting work this summer related to the German attack on Bell Island during World War II.

The Sailor 1st Class with the Canadian Navy has been operating a rigid hull inflatable boat as part of the project to recover and remove ordinance from the bottom of Conception Bay near the island.

From September to November 1942 four defensively armed merchant ships –  the SS Lord Strathcona, SS Saganaga, SS Rose Castle, and PLM 27, were sunk while anchored south of Bell Island, Newfoundland. This was during the height of the Battle of the Atlantic when German submarines were laying waste to Allied convoys ferrying troops, armaments and other supplies being shipped from North America to England. The ships that were torpedoed off Bell Island have since remained on the bottom with their ordinance in their respective magazines, and are a popular dive site for recreational divers.  

O’Brien is a clearance diver and member of the Fleet Diving Unit Pacific based at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt B.C. O’Brien graduated from Baltimore High School where he ran cross-country. He has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2000, and has deployed overseas and has travelled to over 40 countries. He currently lives in Sooke, BC where he lives with his wife and daughter. According to Lieutenant Richard, McKenty, a Public Affairs Officer with the Canadian Forces, O’Brien is very happy to be part of this historic operation and very much appreciates the opportunity to visit with family and friends.

Cape Broyle Green Team shinin' up stones

By Mark Squibb | July 29, 2021

A Conservation Corps Green Team is busy this summer cleaning up and beautifying the Cape Broyle Immaculate Conception Cemetery.

Last year, a Green Team cleared brush, trees, and overgrowth in the cemetery. This summer, the team, consisting of Kelly Aylward, Dylan Francis, Nicholas Dalton, and Christina Aylward, is working to make the cemetery more accessible by filling dips and clearing pathways, while adding some new features to the cemetery.

“We’re beautifying the cemetery,” explained Kelly. “We’ve made two flower beds and are in the process of making a seating area.”

The team has also helped clean several gravestones.

Because of the delicacy of the stones, some of which may date to the mid-nineteenth century, earlier this summer the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador hosted a headstone cleaning session, conducted by Robyn Lacey and Ian Petty of Black Cat Cemetery Preservation.

“We ended up cleaning nine or 10 headstones,” said Dalton. “You use a brush and a chemical which sticks into the stone and cleans it over a couple of weeks, so over time it get brighter and brighter. It was a success overall. The headstones there now are looking a lot better than the way we found d them.”

Several residents from the community have also come out to lend a hand, or just to visit.

“People from the community have been really involved,” said Christina Aylward. “We’ve had a lot of people drop in and out for a visit, and they were really impressed with the headstone cleaning. They’re happy that we’re making the cemetery more accessible, because it is a really rough spot to try and get into to. It is a heritage site, so it’s nice to see it being taken care of and restored.”

In addition to the manual work, the team has to put together five community environmental awareness presentations. The program runs for about eight weeks.

“We are really having a lot of fun, it’s a great outdoor job, we get to be out in the open, as well as helping people in our community,” summarised Kelly Aylward.

Admirals Cove crowd pitching in for five sisters in India

By Chris Lewis | July 29, 2021

For the last three years, residents in Admiral’s Cove on the Southern Shore have been gathering together as a community in the name of kindness.

On Saturday, Aug. 7, Nicola Hawkins and Andy Perlis’ garden will be filled with approximately 50 people enjoying some fresh desserts and camaraderie. “Desserts in the Garden” is a fundraiser that Hawkins and Perlis have been hosting annually now to raise money for a family they met in India many years ago.

The Rajasthanian family consists of six children, including five daughters who all work hard to maintain a living in one of India’s poorest states, where the female literacy rate sits at only 58 per cent.

“Girls there are less inclined to be educated than the boys for various reasons, but these five girls are settlers and we’ve been supporting them for about six years now,” Hawkins said.

She and Perlis have spent a lot of time in India, often travelling there in the winter. It was actually where the two initially crossed paths some 35-years ago.

Since meeting the family, Hawkins and Perlis have wanted to help them obtain a better life as best they could.

“The parents were really progressive thinkers as far as equality goes, and the empowerment of girls,” Hawkins went on.

The efforts started off as Hawkins and Perlis maintaining contact with the family, but over the last three years Hawkins said it has become more of a community effort.

“People started hearing about them through us, and they wanted to come on board and help,” Hawkins said. “It’s organized by a community of people, for a community of people.”

This year the event will also see live music being played; a first for the fundraiser, but Hawkins and Perlis hope it will not be the last.

While the fundraiser’s main purpose is to support these girls in getting a post-secondary education, the pair say it has undertaken something of a second purpose in bringing the people of Admiral’s Cove together.

Although they have no monetary goal in mind, attendees give what they can and both Hawkins and Perlis describe past years as having been great successes.

Of the girls at the receiving end of this kindness are Seema and Neeraj, who are both one year away from post-secondary graduation in the field of computer science and veterinary nursing respectively. Their younger sisters, they say, are well on their way to following a similar path.

“Going back to the same part of India year after year, it became kind of like a second home to us,” Perlis said. “We met this family, and over time we got to know them very well. In India, the education system is quite different than what we are used to here. It’s a very competitive system, so it’s normal for people who hope to go to university to have what they call tutors. That’s because there are so many different tests you have to pass in order to get in, so these funds all go toward things like that. It all costs money, so we as a community have been doing what we can to support them in that.”

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.