Civil engineer makes bid for Placentia - St. Mary's PC nomination

By Mark Squibb | Jan. 14, 2021

Kevin McEvoy says that while he’s volunteered ‘on the fringes’ of other political parties over the years, his bid for the PC nomination in Placentia— St. Mary’s, which will be decided Friday, is his first full-blown foray into politics.

“I’m concerned. I’m concerned about Newfoundland as a whole, I’m concerned about the district of Placentia St. Mary’s,” said McEvoy, who is a senior manager with Guilford’s Inc. and has 28 years of management experience in the construction industry. “I want to finally step up and say, ‘Let me be a help to this province.’ I feel my skill set can be used, and I want to offer them up.”

McEvoy, who hails from Admirals Beach, said he’s not confident with the current administration’s ability to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Decisions and bureaucracy are holding this province back, and I believe I am a candidate for change,” said McEvoy. “We have a major task at hand to deal with what this province is going to need in terms of innovation, and thinking outside the box, and actually getting things done. And I am that kind of person. I believe we need to have a government that is nimble and able to adapt to the times.”

He says the district holds such much potential, but faces many challenges.

One of the biggest needs, said McEvoy, involves infrastructure. “And that varies from water systems to roads. IInfrastructure is an immediate need that everybody talks about,” he said.

McEvoy said seniors face particular challenges, from senior care to access to health care.

A senior ought to be able to get blood work results at a local clinic without having to drive all the way to St John’s, he argued.

“Technology needs to be used to aid seniors and people who are not able to travel the long distances,” said McEvoy.

He also highlighted the district’s potential to aid the province’s food security, what with access to large amounts of land and fishing grounds. “It seems like nobody wants to make our fishery a priority and it’s gone to the wayside, but it’s a renewable resource,” he said.

He is also supportive of the oil industry. “While we invest in green technology we should be promoting and investing in this our own industry for as long as the world still requires fossil fuels,” McEvoy said. “We do need to invest in greener friendly options but replacing fossil fuel is going to take some time.  Our oil and gas ranks with the cleanest in the world.”

As to economic recovery, McEvoy said it’s going to require collaboration between government, private business, and unions. He added that due to an ageing demographic, immigration of skilled workers will be a necessity.

“We are going to have to attract people here. And that’s not a simple process. It’s a multi-pronged process,” said McEvoy. “We need skilled people coming into this province and we need people who are willing to invest in business themselves. The government needs to be able to provide an environment to screen immigration and set out on, much like the tourism industry did a couple years ago with our marketing campaign, we need to market for the type of people that we’re going to need, and that’s people who want to invest in an economy, and then we need to make rules that allow them to invest. Whether it be doctors, nurses, skilled labourers, whatever it is we’re looking for, we have to be able to quickly turn around those certifications so that they become certified in this province.”

McEvoy said that it’s crucial that government be ‘business-friendly.’

 “We have to become a province that is more open to investment. We have to have a business environment that allows business to operate. And the government has to provide policies that allow this, and we have to cut out some of the red tape that’s there,” said McEvoy.

“I have learned to collaboratively be involved in an industry that’s had as many ups-and-downs as any. We’ve struggled, and I’ve managed to be successful and persevere through these times. And right now, I believe this province is on another huge lull. And I believe I can use my experience to help get us through this lull,” said McEvoy. “I chose to stay in this province. I’ve worked through some very tough times, and we’ve had some ‘booms’ that I’ve been privileged to work through. And now, we have another downturn. I’m choosing to jump into politics right now. I have a career. If I am successful, I will become a full time MHA. But, I am choosing this. It’s not something I have to do, but something I feel I should do, and that it’s the best thing to do.”

Voting in the nomination contest will begin on January 14 conclude at 5:00 p.m. on January 15, and is open to all members who live in the district. The deadline to sign up as a member was January 11.

McEvoy’s step daughter, Kristina Ennis, is the PC candidate in St. John’s West.

Luby questions harassment policy

By Mark Squibb | Jan. 14, 2021

Bay Bulls council adopted two new plans of very different purpose during its January 11 public meeting.

The first was for an Asset Management policy that isn’t actually quite ready to roll out yet.

“We’ve been working on the Asset Management Policy now since last summer and we’re just about nearing completion, but as part of the formal process, the Town must adopt a policy,” said Town CAO Jennifer Aspell immediately prior to council taking a unanimous vote to adopt the policy. “So, we should have the actual program itself finished in the next couple of months.”

The Town also voted to adopt a Harassment Prevention Plan as an official policy. Deputy Mayor Wendy O’ Driscoll explained the Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Health and Safety Act mandates that every workplace have such a plan and provide harassment prevention training.

Part of the motion was for all members of council and staff to complete the training.

Councillor Joan Luby asked if it would be mandatory.

O’ Driscoll said that it would, and that the Town was looking at how the training would be rolled out. She added that, as per the policy, a report would be made available to the alleged harasser within 90 days. Luby asked if this period could be shortened to 30 days. CAO Aspell said that it would depend upon the nature of the complaint, and that 90 days was a pretty standard time period.

Next, Luby asked who would review the alleged harassment complaint, and Aspell said a third party would do it. Finally, Luby noted that, as per the policy, the record of complaint would be kept on file for 10 years following the investigation. She asked if this could be shorted to four years — the length of a council term. Aspell said that 10 years was a standard practice. She also noted that even though someone may only be on council for four years, a staff member may be on staff for much longer. Luby said she felt 10 years is a bit long.

Luby asked if any other councillors had questions, but there were no takers, though councillor Eric Maloney said questions may arise during the actual training sessions.

Aspell said that a policy, once adopted, can be revised if necessary.

Alderwood Estates' owner Deborah Dunne garners provincial award

By Mark Squibb | Dec. 31, 2020

Alderwood Estates’ owner Deborah Dunne is being counted among the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) 2020 women of honour roll.

Dunne was awarded the Economic Impact Award during the 23rd annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held on Thursday, November 26 which was streamed live from the Delta Hotel’s St. John’s Conference Centre. 

“I was quite humbled, and shocked initially, because I just go about my day doing my thing, and you don’t really realize the impact of what you do until someone puts it out there,” said Dunne.

Alderwood Estates, a staple of Witless Bay for decades, is run by Dunne, who bought the business from her parents. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Dunne, who also operates a nursing home in central Newfoundland, carried on with plans for an extension on the Witless Bay facility, hiring local contractors and using material from local supplier Witless Bay Home Hardware.

The 20 new suites will open in June and create work jobs for another four or five local workers to Alderwood’s team of over 20 employees.

Dunne said residents of Alderwood are members of the community, and that the whole Irish Loop is like an extended family. Keeping COVID-19 restrictions in mind, Alderwood has an open-door policy, and schools and community groups are often invited over to participate in different activities and celebrations.

“Everyone is welcome at Alderwood,” said Dunne.

In total, six women from across the province received awards at the NLOWE event.

“Every businesswoman should support NLOWE, because NLOWE is great for mentoring women,” said Dunne. “It’s harder, sometimes, for women in business. NLOWE is a steppingstone, and they’re very knowledgeable and helpful.”

Bay Bulls Mayor not confident about capital works funding

By Mark Squibb | Nov. 26

The Town of Bay Bulls has applied for provincial funding for a number of road upgrades, but Mayor Harold Mullowney is cautioning council not to get its hopes up.

“The odds of getting funding are low. I’ve attended the MNL (Municipalities Newfoundland) conference, by Zoom, over the last few days, and the Minister (Municipal Affairs) said they were prioritizing urgent situations requiring water and sewer for the most part,” said Mullowney during the November 1o meeting of council. “They also said they were not funding a huge wish list. They were trying to keep their funding down to amounts below a million dollars, so that they could spread the money further among communities.”

Nevertheless, Bay Bulls applied for funding for three different projects.

The first was for completion of the Irishtown Road upgrade at a total cost estimate of $955,000, with the province and the town splitting the cost 50/50. A portion of the road is already being upgraded from surplus funds for the St. John's Road project, which was funded under a 90/10 cost share formula with the province paying the bigger share.

Next up, was upgrades on Winnonish Drive at a cost of $371,000, at a 50/50 cost share rate.

The third and final application was for upgrades to Northside Road and Bread and Cheese at a cost estimate of $1.5 million. The proposed cost sharing formula on that would be 40/50/10 for the federal, provincial, and municipal governments respectively.

Mullowney did hold out some hope for the applications for Irish Town Road and Northside Road.

“I’m hopeful that we might have a shot at the roadwork we already have under construction, because there are serious water issues on Irish Town Road, and the Northside has some serious issues with the possibility of erosion along that coast there,” he said.

Mullowney had introduced the funding request as “probably the most important piece of work on the agenda tonight.”

Goulds Arena warm room named for faithful Lion

By Mark Squibb | Nov. 26

The Goulds Lions Arena bears the Lions name, so it’s only appropriate that its warm room also bear a Lion’s name.

During a short ceremony on November 19 attended by family and fellow Lions, the Lion Ron Whitten Room was unveiled.

“A few months ago, one of our Lions came to me with a suggestion. He said, ‘We always honour Lions with a plaque or something, after they pass away. Why not do something for our Lions while they’re still alive?’” Goulds Lions Club President Charlie Phillips said to those gathered.

So, when Phillips announced that they would be naming the warm room after Lion Ron Whitten, Whitten jokingly asked if that meant he was going to die soon.

“Without Ron, I’m not sure if, or when, there would have been a Lion’s Club,” said Phillips. “It was the vision of Lion Ron when he returned from Labrador back in 1975. He had a notion of starting up the Lions Club, which, he did, in March of 1976. He is a well-respected member of our community, and also a well-respected member of our Lions Club. Ron is a strong supporter of the Lions Club and of it’s activities. I’m sure most of you, if we went around the room, could add another 10, 20, 40, maybe a hundred reasons why we should name this room after Lion Ron.”

Whitten was grateful for the gesture.

“I appreciate this, it’s very nice,” he said. “It’s important to help out the community where you’re from.”

During the ceremony, the Goulds Lions Club also presented a $6000 cheque to the Arena Association.

COVID's clout to economy encourages Tors Cove artist to open her own shop

By Mark Squibb | Nov. 19, 2020

After about a decade creating and selling metal jewelry, a Tors Cove artist has announced she will be opening her own mini-shop and studio.

Jaclyn Humphries of Hillside Fine Crafts creates handmade jewelry using metals such as copper, enamel and sterling silver.

“All the components are made by hand, using hand tools to manipulate the metal and shape it, and a kiln to fire the enamel onto the metal,” she explained.

Humphries began by making jewellery out of fabric, having studied Textile & Apparel Design at College of the North Atlantic. Looking for a more challenging experience, she enrolled in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

Because regular craft shows have been cancelled, along with wholesale orders from clients, Humphries said that having a storefront, which she anticipates to open in April, means both more independence as an artist, and more clientele.

She recently received $25,260 in funding from the provincial government to assist with development of an e-commerce website, marketing materials, signage and a social media campaign.

“I was just completely ecstatic. This is going to change how many people can actually see my business. I do wholesale too, so now I can present a professional presence online to wholesalers, and also to retailers,” said Humphries. ‘‘This marketing grant will really help propel me and get me into different provinces, and across the world eventually.”

Hillside Fine Crafts was one of eight businesses to receive funding from the program, which doled out a total of $216,000. The funding comes at a time when many crafters, Humphries included, have faced an economic blow due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as craft shows have had to be cancelled, and are only now able to open once again under provincial guidelines.

But, Humphries said, the pandemic has also been a time when local people have shown their support for local craftspeople and artisans even more than usual.

“There’s been a lot of local support for small business since COVID. It’s almost like people have gained more appreciation for things that are local and handmade,” said Humphries, who said that at one point many years ago she was hesitant to start her own business, but has since found success in a niche market she has carved for herself.

“I resisted starting my own business for many years. Now that I’m actually doing it, I see that it can be successful,” she said.

SMB residents put the 'giving' back in Thanksgiving for children in the Dominican Republic

By Chris Lewis | Oct. 15

Thanks to people in Riverhead, S.M.B., some families in the Dominican Republic have a bit more to eat for Thanksgiving.

Sid Woolfrey organised the fundraising campaign to help families there with the guidance of fellow teacher, Patty Briscoe, who teaches in the Dominican.

Briscoe’s school was shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many in the small Caribbean nation, their only solid meal of the day came from school. With schools closed, that meal was no longer available.

After talking to Riverhead Mayor Sheila Lee about Briscoe’s situation, Woolfrey and Lee collaborated to see enough money sent to feed approximately 100 families during Thanksgiving.

“When COVID hit, not only were the schools closed, but no markets were allowed,” Lee said. “They were all shut down too. So, their only source of income was gone on them too.”

Lee said Briscoe told her stories of small children begging on the streets, despite that area being relatively well-off compared to other parts of the Dominican Republic.

Lee added that Briscoe had the opportunity to return to the province in August, but instead she decided to stay and do what she could to help the locals. With school closed, she had some extra time on her hands, and used it to make contact with friends and family back home in Newfoundland to try and raise money that could be used to feed the hungry.

With that money, Briscoe bought food in bulk – staples such as beans and flour – and organized it into small hampers, delivering it to those in need.

The hampers could feed a family for a week, despite only costing around $10.

“I put a message out there to people I knew would be able to help,” Lee said. “I was hoping for 50 friends of mine that might be able to donate maybe $20 to this little Thanksgiving project. That would give 100 families a nice meal on Thanksgiving, plus some extra food for the week.”

Lee’s call to action got an overwhelming response. In a week, the effort had accumulated $1,000.

Lee added that Briscoe will be posting photos online so that donors can see the payoff from their contributions.

“The gratitude on their little faces is just so great, you know?” Lee said, adding the children are delighted to be given something as small as a banana – food that, Lee added, some children here in the province may turn away.

Now, Lee is hoping the effort will inspire others, especially with the Christmas season around the corner.

“If we could get a couple different groups to realize how important this kind of thing is, that could be the difference between one family eating for a week, or struggling,” Lee said. “Hopefully, we can plant that seed in people’s minds now. Maybe someone can take on a Christmas project, and see what we can do for those poor souls this time of year.”

In total, Woolfrey and Lee have helped to send over $6,000 to Briscoe in the Dominican Republic for food.

“(Briscoe) said to (Woolfrey) that the people over there were just overwhelmed with excitement that some people who didn’t even know who they are would have that kind of compassion, and lend them a helping hand,” Lee said.

Folk arts council plans for life after COVID-19

By Mark Squibb | Oct. 15

Like many other organizations and businesses, due to COVID-19, it was a bit of a difficult summer for the Southern Shore Folk Arts Council.

However, the group is readily settling into the new normal as well as any.

“It’s been quiet, relative to other summers, said executive director Jamie Clowe. “We didn’t have the Dinner Theatre three nights a week. We didn’t run our Shamrock Folk Festival, which would have been our 35th, so, with just the Tea Room open it was relatively quiet.”

Clowe was hired on in March, although, due to pandemic, he didn’t get started until June.

With a background in the hotel and hospitality industry, Clowe was hired to replace Keith Mooney, following his retirement.

Originally from Ferryland, Clowe had lived away for some 40 years, and returned to the province just a couple of years ago.

It goes without saying that no one anticipates their first days on a new job to be in the middle of a pandemic, and it certainly hasn’t been a typical season for the organization.

“Financially, it’s been difficult, but our Tea Room did well enough, that from an operational standpoint, it’ll get us through a few more months. And then hopefully come the spring, a few more restrictions will be lifted, and we’ll get back to a little more normalcy,” said Clowe, who added that there was still  business this summer from local tourism ‘staycationers’.

The Atlantic Bubble didn’t open until September, and the Tea Room closed on Sept. 15, so there wasn’t as much opportunity for out of province guests to stop by.

However, the organization has been able to host some events with the recent lifting of restrictions on public gatherings.

They held a two-night tribute to Ron Hynes featuring local musician Katie Barbour in late August, and “An Evening on the Deck” with Jackie Sullivan and Katie Pilgrim in early September, both of which were well received and reached maximum capacity.

Later this fall, Ferryland actor Randy Crane will be also be doing a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the organization have already sold a number of tickets.

With the possibility of new restrictions, or an increase in COVID-19 cases pushing the province back into another lockdown, planning for future events has been difficult given the uncertainty of the times, Clowe noted.

But still, you have to plan ahead anyway, he added.

“You can’t stop planning and just wait, because you don’t know if it’s going to get better, or if get worse. But if you’re planning, at least you’ve got the ball rolling,” said Clowe.

Still a help, even in times of COVID

By Mark Squibb | Oct. 8, 2020

Representatives of St. John Ambulance were in the Goulds Monday night, Oct. 5, to present a certificate of appreciation to the Goulds Lions Club for its support.

With the help of an annual donation from the Lions, St. John Ambulance was able to buy a new ambulance, valued at approximately $25,000.

“It feels great to be recognized, but anything we do as Lions we don’t do for recognition,” said Goulds Lions Club President Charlie Phillips.

“St. John Ambulance is quite an important part of the community, always has been… we’re quite proud of our relationship with St. John’s Ambulance and quite proud of our relationship with the community.

We’re proud to support them. We’ve had several people who went through the St. John’s Ambulance program who are actually now Lions Members, which is great.”

Phillips is quick to point out that the volunteer spirit can be found in every corner of Goulds.

 “The Goulds is a community built on volunteers, from St. John’s Ambulance, to the Lions Club, to minor softball, minor soccer, minor hockey, it’s all about volunteers,” he said. “Without volunteers you wouldn’t survive…All organizations need support, and it’s important for us, as Lions, to be supportive. And not just organizations, but sometimes individuals who need some help.”

There’s currently 46 active members of the Goulds Lion Club, with one new member to be inducted in the coming weeks. Like all organizations, regular meetings and events have ground to a halt because of restrictions around COVID-19, but Phillips said that weekly meetings have resumed, and the club is looking at how, and if, usual events and activities can resume safely.

Southern Shore Folk Arts council settling into the new normal

By Mark Squibb | Oct. 8, 2020

Like many other organizations and businesses, it was a hard summer for the Southern Shore Folk Arts Council.

“It’s been quiet, relative to other summers, said executive director Jamie Clowe. “We didn’t have the Dinner Theatre three nights a week. We didn’t run our Shamrock Folk Festival, which would have been our 35th, so, with just the Tea Room open it was relatively quiet.”

Clowe was hired on in March, although, due to pandemic, he didn’t get started until June.

With a background in the hotel and hospitality industry, Clowe was hired to replace Keith Mooney, following his retirement.

Originally from Ferryland, Clowe had lived away for some 40 years, and returned to the province just a couple of years ago.

It goes without saying that no one anticipates their first days on a new job to be in the middle of a pandemic, and it certainly hasn’t been a typical season for the organization.

“Financially, it’s been difficult, but our Tea Room did well enough, that from an operational standpoint, it’ll get us through a few more months. And then hopefully come the spring, a few more restrictions will be lifted, and we’ll get back to a little more normalcy,” said Clowe, who added that there was still a business this summer from local tourism ‘staycationers’.

The Atlantic Bubble didn’t open until September, and the Tea Room closed on Sept. 15, so there was little opportunity for out of province guests to stop by.

The organization has been able to host some events with the recent lifting of restrictions on public gatherings.

They held a two-night tribute to Ron Hynes featuring local musician Katie Barbour in late August, and “An Evening on the Deck” with Jackie Sullivan and Katie Pilgrim in early September, both of which were well received and reached maximum capacity.

Later this fall, Ferryland actor Randy Crane will be also be doing a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the organization have already sold a number of tickets.

With the possibility of new restrictions, or an increase in COVID-19 cases pushing the province back into another lockdown, planning for future events has been difficult given the uncertainty of the times, Clowe noted.

But still, you have to plan ahead anyway, she added.

“You can’t stop planning and just wait, because you don’t know fi it’s going to get better, or if get worse. But if your planning, at least you got the ball rolling,” said Clowe.