By Tyler Waugh, The Irish Loop Post/Local Journalism Initiative
The Witless Bay Heritage Committee (WBHC) is determined to involve young people in its efforts to preserve and promote heritage in the community.
What better way to do it than by creating a family friendly competition through a Scavenger Hunt?
The contest was started during Witless Bay Days in 2025. Members identified items or places in the town with heritage significance. Clues in the form of riddles were developed to lead participants to the answer. The clue for the day’s item was posted on the committee’s Facebook account. Once posted, the hunt was on!
When a participant had an answer, he or she had to take a selfie by the item or location and email it to the Heritage Committee. The first participant with the correct answer was awarded a prize. The hunt involved four clues, so the scavenger hunt lasted for four days with separate winners every day.
According to co-chairs Bonnie Johnstone and Maureen Walsh, the Scavenger Hunt has been a resounding success. Children enlisted their parents to help them solve the riddles and send their selfies to the Heritage Committee. In 2025, all the winners were children.
This year there was a surprise as one riddle proved to be challenging for some participants. Three seniors living in Alderwood Retirement Centre successfully identified the Liar’s Bench and Gossip Seat located across from the personal care home as the answer.
“The contest draws participants into the community to look for the items and locations they pass everyday but now see them in a different way,” said Colleen Hanrahan, who looks after communications for the heritage group. “Not only are the clues leading participants to win a prize, they are also informing them of the history or use of an item or location in Witless Bay.
In fact, sometimes members of the Heritage Committee learn about these items too. One example is the large black cauldron on Harbour Road. The story board about the Barking Kettle not only informed people who took the time to read it, but some members of the Heritage Committee were enlightened too.
