The Southern Shore United Under 11 Girls soccer team enjoyed a weekend of victories and fun during a tournament played in Paradise July 31 – August 1. Not only did the squad go undefeated during the annual SunSplash tourney, they kept every team they played scoreless. They beat the Fieldians 1-0 in the championship game. The members of the team include, starting in the front row, from left: Anna Tuff, Olivia O'Driscoll, Ali Curtis, Paityn Williams, Caroline Bragg, and Khloe Johnson; and in the back row from left: Assistant Coach Wendy Pittman, Jorja Vokey, Coach Keith O'Driscoll, Jane Keough, Hayden Guiney, Gianna Pittman, Georgia Hewitt, Sophie O’Driscoll, Coach Dale O'Driscoll, and Assistant Coach Charlotte Curtis.

Hayden Guiney was named team MVP while Gianna Pittman won most Sportsmanlike for SSU.

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.  

Bay Bulls 'comes home' to new pavilion

By Chris Lewis | June 10, 2021

The Town of Bay Bulls cut the ribbon Monday evening on a brand new community pavilion, freshly constructed and set up right alongside the town hall. It comes thanks to a donation from the Bay Bulls Come Home Year committee, whose event back in 2015, brought many former residents back to the community.

Bay Bulls Mayor Harold Mullowney said the committee, at the end of the event, still had some leftover funds and approached the Town with the goal of using that money to provide the town with something solid that residents and visitors can make use of for years to come.

After some ideas were floated between the committee and council, Mullowney said the idea for a community pavilion was landed on.

The committee ultimately donated $12,000, with the Town pitching in on any other minor costs after that money was used up.

“It took a while, but we’ve got a beautiful pavilion here now,” Mullowney said. “We’re quite pleased with it.”

The planning of the pavilion itself took about a year, according to the mayor, and as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province, it put everything – including the pavilion – on hold.

The site of the pavilion is what is known in the community as the Ryan property, which was purchased by the Town when it became available and ultimately went on to win a contest to become the first “forgotten corner” in the province, designated as such by the Landscape NL Horticultural Association back in 2019.

Inside the pavilion, there are a number of wooden patio furniture pieces. While the pavilion itself was built by residents of Bay Bulls, the wooden furniture came as a result of a partnership between the Town and Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP).

Mullowney explained the Town had partnered with HMP a few years back to take advantage of a program they offer that aims to give inmates important life skills. Among them is carpentry.

“So, the benches, picnic tables, garbage boxes, all that you see around the Town was all built by HMP,” Mullowney said.

Come Home Year Committee member Kevin O’Brien said the aim of the pavilion was to make sure the town benefited from the leftover funds with something that could be enjoyed by anyone and everyone – residents and visitors alike, regardless of age.

“As a committee, we wanted to give back to the town and include everybody,” he said. “This is what we came up with … This, I think was the best fit to make something that everybody could enjoy. So, after four years, this is the last thing to come from our Come Home Year event. I think it’s a good way to end it off, and hopefully in a few years we can all get together to do it again.”

Province makes Witless Bay eliminate seniors tax discount

By Mark Squibb | May 27, 2021

Witless Bay council says it had no choice but to eliminate the senior’s tax discount.

“There’s been some discussion in the town, and I will tell you that several people have approached me, with respect to why the seniors discount was discontinued,” said Town CAO Pat Curran, who noted council did not have authority to offer the discount in the first place.

Curran said the Municipalities Act does not provide for discounts on the basis of age, or other classes of residents, such as low-income residents or persons with disabilities.

“This guidance provided not only to the Town of Witless Bay, but all municipalities increasingly across the province over the last several years, means that councils are not allowed to provide the discount in the first place, and this council was directed to fix this problem,” said Curran in a follow up email to the Irish Loop Post. “Our sense from the Department is that it was not rigorously enforced until recent years. In short, the Act does not provide councils with that authority. We can offer discounts on basis of early payment, but not otherwise.”

Council does indeed offer discounts for early birds. In the 2021 budget, council offered a discount of eight percent, an increase from the five percent discount of prior years, to those who got their taxes in early. Council also extended the early bird deadline from March 31 until May 31 due to the pandemic, and that deadline extension carried into this year as well.

“I would encourage any resident who has a question or concern with regard to provision of discounts to call the office and, to the extent that I can, readily explain how this works,” said Curran. “It ultimately comes down to the fact that council really didn’t have a choice but to eliminate the seniors discount. It was outside the authority of the town to allow the discount in the first place.”

“I think that pretty well explains the reason,” summarized Mayor Derm Moran. “We would love to be able to give it, but we can’t give it.”

Plenty of towns offer seniors discounts, so how was it that Witless Bay was ‘found out’?

In another follow up e-mail, Curan noted that in the fall of 2018 the Department would have carried out a standard Municipal Review, and it was then the Town's approach to discounts was noted by the Department.

“There is a reference within the summary note on the Town processing discounts without individual application to the Town, as provided for within the Act,” said Curran. “Discounts are reflected within the schedule of fees and taxes and I must assume that it would have been flagged at that point in 2019 budget adoption given the earlier Municipal Review.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs confirmed the legislation does not allow Seniors Discounts.
“There is no provision under the Municipalities Act to allow for discounts on the basis of age or other classes of residents,” read a statement from an official. “The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs will remind municipalities about the stipulations under the Act, as they become aware of incidents of discounts being provided, contrary to legislation.”

The official added that councils, by two thirds of a vote, can grant an exemption, remission or deferment of taxes and interest on taxes, but only when a resident requests it.

“This is at the discretion of council and does not specifically reference factors such as age, income, disabilities, etc.,” reads the release.

On Thursday, May 13, The Irish Loop Post requested an interview with Municipal Affairs Minister Krista Lynn Howell, but a spokesperson said she would not be available by the May 18 print deadline because she was travelling.

However, Howell did have time to phone into the VOCM Open Line Program to wish everyone a happy Municipalities Day, briefly field a question on regionalization, and offered no comment when asked about the unfolding Ragged Beach situation.

The Department, in lieu of Howell’s unavailability, did offer some further clarification on the legislation.

“The rationale for the legislation is to ensure property owners pay taxes to support municipal services, while still allowing individuals to request exemptions, deferrals and remission of taxes in appropriate circumstances,” read a statement. “This provides a way for people in extraordinary circumstances to access some tax relief. As noted, there is no provision allowing for seniors discounts specifically.”

Meanwhile, the Department admits it does not actually have an enforcement policy.
“Regarding enforcement, there are no provisions in the Municipalities Act allowing the Department to enforce legislative compliance,” said the official. “When the Department becomes aware of an issue, it is brought to the attention of the town. It is the town's responsibility to take corrective action. As elected officials, councilors have a responsibility to be familiar with municipal legislation and to help ensure that their respective municipalities are in compliance. The Department is aware that municipalities would like more flexibility in their ability to offer tax discounts. This is something the Department is evaluating as part of the ongoing review of municipal legislation.”

Fermeuse girl an award-winning volunteer

By Mark Squibb | May 27, 2021

Robyn Kenny, 17, of Fermeuse has been awarded the Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program 2021 Volunteerism Scholarship, a $1,000 cash prize.

“It’s really great,” said Kenny, a Grade 11 student at Baltimore School.  “I’m from a small town, so there’s not many opportunities for big scholarships.”

Kenny is an active member of the Fermeuse-Renews Girl Guides. She joined the Sparks program when she was five, but she actually started coming to meetings with her mother when she was only three. She has moved up through the ranks of Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and is currently in her second of three years as a Ranger.

Within the program, Kenney has been involved with fundraisers such as the Janeway Telethon, Children’s Make a Wish Foundation, mental health walks, and more, including Threads for Gemma, a non-profit that collects donations of clothing for premature babies.

Kenney helped spearhead a drive in the whole community rallying friends, family, and neighbors in Fermeuse and neighboring communities to donate knitted caps, booties, sweaters, and homemade tiny blankets and diapers, as well as knitting some of her own.

She has received many prestigious awards with the organization, including the Lady Baden Powell Award, the Canada Cord (the highest award given to Pathfinders,) and the Trailblazer Bronze award for Rangers. Along with Brooklyn Kane of the Fermeuse-Renews group and other girls across the province, she is set to receive the Silver Trailblazer award in early June.

Kenny was recently chosen to be part of a trip to Our Chalet World Center located in Switzerland, which was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19, and in the past has travelled to the Pax Lodge in England, a Guiding World Center, as one of only two provincial representatives.

Fermeuse-Renews Guide leader Madonna Ryan wrote refences to the scholarship program on behalf of Kenney.

“When a situation or event presents itself which requires assistance at a charitable event, Robyn is the first one to volunteer suggestions on how our Guiding group can help and to be physically present to carry out these plans,” Ryan explained.

Outside of the Girl Guides, Kenny often volunteers at school and elsewhere in the community.

“It’s good to volunteer because you’re helping people out, you’re helping the environment, and you’re contributing to your community and helping out your province,” said Kenny. “You’re giving back some of what you’ve received.”

Witless Bay hires female fire chief

By Mark Squibb | May 20, 2021

After a months long process, the Town of Witless Bay has hired the region’s first paid fire chief.

Maria Churchill, who previously served as Stephenville’s deputy fire chief, will begin work on May 31.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have a female in a significant role in the town,” said councillor Colleen Hanrahan when the news was announced during last week’s council meeting.

L.W. Consulting was contracted by council to oversee the recruitment of the region’s first paid fire chief and received over 30 applications. From those resumes, a short list of candidates was identified for further screening. From that, an even shorter list of candidates was chosen for further interviews.

The decision to hire a full time, paid chief, which council argued was critical to the sustainability of the region’s fire department, was part of a major overhaul of the region’s fire and protective services in the 2021 budget.

Included in that overhaul are plans for a new regional fire station, more investment in volunteer recruitment and training, new equipment, and new training grounds. Already, the Town has borrowed $370,734 to cover the cost of a new tanker and volunteer firefighters have constructed a new smokehouse training room.

The Witless Bay Regional Fire Department serves close to 5,000 residents and over 2,000 homes and businesses in Witless Bay, Bay Bulls, Mobile, Tors Cove, Burnt Cove, St. Michael’s and Bauline East. The department provides services in three key areas including fire, medical and rescue and road traffic accidents. In 2019, volunteers responded to 190 calls for service; a jump from the 161 calls received in 2016.

There are currently about 26 volunteers with the department. Shane Cole has been serving as the acting chief at the department while the town sought a full-time occupant.

Bay Bulls to redesign town flag - but not right now

By mark Squibb | May 20, 2021

The Town of Bay Bulls has held off on a motion to ask residents to help redesign the town’s flag for the time being.

During the May 10 council meeting, Deputy Mayor Wendy O’Driscoll made the motion that council initiate a flag design contest. Folks would be asked to submit designs for a new town flag that include the current town logo.

Councilor Joan Luby, however, suggested that council postpone it for now.

“Why don’t we wait until we get our strategic plan done?” asked Luby. “They’re doing up all the signs and everything else.”

O’Driscoll said the flag is different than the town logo, or branding.

Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Aspell explained the strategic plan will likely include a section on branding, especially as it relates to tourism initiatives.

‘So, you could certainly postpone this for a couple of months,” said Aspell. “We had talked about the town flag we have now, which has some damage on the ends, it’s a bit tattered, so we were suggesting moving ahead with it now. But, if you think that there’s a possibility that we might be doing a rebranding, it might be worth waiting.”

Mayor Harold Mullowney said the timing of the redesign isn’t a big issue, and that it can certainly wait.

After the discussion, council decided to vote down the motion to move ahead with the contest.

St. Kevin's student lauded for public speaking skills

By Mark Squibb | May 20, 2021

Olivia Taylor, 16, has been busy this month, having earned not one, but two, speaking awards.

The Grade 10 St. Kevin’s High student was awarded the Miss Achievement NL Leadership Program Communications Scholarship earlier in the month, and last week earned gold in the Public Speaking category of the 2021 Skills Canada Virtual Provincial Competition.

For the Communications Scholarship, participants had to submit a recorded two-minute speech about something they were passionate about.

Taylor did her speech about her passion for nature.

That award comes with a $2,000 Dale Carnegie Program and a $500 Cash scholarship.

For the Skills Canada competition, participants, via Zoom, competed in three speaking categories.

The first was a prepared speech. Students were asked to write a speech in response to the question ‘How can you ensure more people from underrepresented groups can participate in skills trades and technology?’

“My speech focused a little bit more on women getting in careers in skilled trades and technology, because I want to see more women in these careers, but it also touched on lots of different ethnicities and different genders,” said Taylor.

Students then had to be prepared to answer a question about their speeches, and then, for the final competition, in an impromptu session, students were given a prompt which they then had to address.

“The prompt was, ‘If you were to make a social media post about Skills Canada, what would you say and why?’” said Taylor. “So, you had two minutes to write about that, and then speak to it for at least a minute to three minutes.”

Students were evaluated not just on their written speeches and vocal delivery, but also their stance, eye contact, and body language.

Some institutes believe that a fear of public speaking (or glossophobia) may be the most common phobia. Most people will admit to becoming a little nervous (or really nervous) if asked to speak in front of others.

Taylor said she’s no different.

“You’re always a little bit nervous in the back of your mind,” said Taylor, who began public speaking some years back in her local 4H Club.

 “I’m usually a little bit nervous to speak, but once I start speaking, I just get in a mode, and nothing can stop me,” she laughed. “There’s only so much you can do, just practice, and do your best, and hope for the best.”

Taylor said that doing the speeches through Zoom, rather than in a roomful of people, for the Skills Canada competition was actually more intimidating, because it added a layer of potential technical problems.

“I didn’t know if my internet was going to lag or if I would freeze up or anything, so I was nervous about that aspect as well,” she said.

When she was younger, Taylor won gold for public speaking in the Intermediate category (open to students in grades seven through nine), but winning in the provincial category means she’ll be eligible to compete in the national competition.

“I’m not sure what to expect just yet, because this is my first one,” said Taylor. “So, I think it’ll be a little bit different and more competitive than the provincial one.”

That competition will be held on May 26.

Regardless of the outcome, Taylor said developing skills through programs like Skills Canada, helps prepare youth for their futures.

“It prepares you for so many different things in life,” she said. “Whether I work as a veterinarian or whether I’m working in an office, all these are skills you’ll use in your career and you’ll use in your life. And it’s such a great experience to practice these skills and it’s really beneficial in my opinion.”

Goulds staple Keith's Diner set for summer reopening

By Mark Squibb | May 6, 2021

If you’re dying for a feed of Keith’s, you hopefully won’t have to wait much longer.

Owner-Operator Mallory Ward says they are scheduled to reopen the doors of the Goulds institution in  mid-August, sooner if possible.

The eatery closed back in January following an overnight kitchen fire, but in addition to the repairs, Ward said the building is being refitted to better serve its customers.

Perhaps the biggest change will be the addition of a second kitchen.

“Our biggest challenge in the last couple of years has been trying to meet the demand of our customers,” said Ward. “We’ve been closing earlier, we’ve been selling out on a daily basis, and we felt that we could provide a better service to our customers. So, the biggest goal of this extension is a brand-new prep kitchen. So, this kitchen is solely used for prep purposes. This is going to allow us to be open later, and increase our hours, and keep up with the demand, and give our customers what they love… We’re going to have the capacity to take on catering, weddings, special events, corporate functions. This kitchen is opening a lot of doors for us to expand into other avenues as well.”

Those who have made Keith’s Diner a staple in their lives will be glad to hear that, amongst the changes, there are no plans to change the menu or the recipes that make the joint a regional staple.

“These are the traditional, family recipes that we’ve been using literally since the 60’s,” said Ward. “The same recipes have been used in the kitchen since my grandparents, Betty and Reg Ward, opened the doors in 1963, and they’re the exact same recipes that we’re going to be using when we reopen this summer.”

Those recipes have been passed down through three generations of Wards, from Betty and Reg to Keith and now to Mallory, which means that the Ward family has been feeding the Goulds for as many generations.

“Residents from the Goulds and the surrounding communities grew up eating here, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” said Ward. “We’ve served generations of families, because we ourselves are in our third generation. And they’ve seen the hard work that our family and staff have put in over the years, and I know they appreciate that too.”

That community closeness has been evident in recent months,

“We had customers reach out and offer to volunteer and assist in any way shape or form since the day we announced the fire,” said Ward. “I can’t even explain how good that made us feel.”

She said the community support has been humbling and overwhelming.

“I never anticipated the amount of support, and how much people would miss us,” said Ward. “You don’t realize how involved we have been in people’s lives. We’ve got customers who eat here regularly. We didn’t anticipate that people would be feeling the loss without us … A big day for us, and a big day for many people in this industry, is of course Good Friday. For us, obviously we were down and out this year. But we had people say, “I’m not going anywhere else this year. I’m not ordering fish and chips anywhere else. I’m going to wait until next year. Those types of things really, really pull at our heartstrings. Because that’s the loyalty we have from our customers, and that’s incredible.”

In addition to extra kitchen space, Ward said a new take-out entrance will help ease congestion.

“What we’ve done to alleviate some of the congestion on the lot is we’ve built a separate take-out entrance,” she said. “So, now we have two separate entrances for our dine-in and take-out customers, which is going to help us tremendously improve our takeout and delivery services, along with our dine-in service, because it keeps those areas separate, which is something that we felt is important.

“We just really wanted to bring Keith’s Diner to where it should be. It’s more than just a makeover. Everything makes more sense, we’re more accessible, we’re better equipped to handle orders and to serve our customers. So, we’re really excited about what’s going on and show everybody what we’re up too.”

Witless Bay swamped with appeals

By Mark Squibb | May 6, 2021

Witless Bay town staff have been busy this year defending council’s actions before the Eastern Regional Appeal Board.

Not even five months into 2021, the town has had to appear before the Appeal Board eight times, with two more appeals pending this month. A number of the appeals have involved two residents who have been taking the Town to the Appeal Board, and sometimes court, for years.

For reference’s sake, staff members of the Town of Conception Bay South, which boasts about 26,000 residents, roughly 26 times the population of Witless Bay, faced only three appeal board hearings, with one pending for May.

It’s a steep increase for Witless Bay over last year when it faced only one appeal.

Of the eight appeals scheduled thus far for 2021, decisions have been returned on four, three have been postponed, and one remains pending.

Last week, The Shoreline reported on one of the appeals, in which a couple sought to overturn the decision of council to issue their neighbour a permit to build an accessory building. The couple felt the accessory building would hinder their ocean view, and harm their property value. The Appeal Board upheld the Town’s decision.

In another appeal heard by the Board on March 23, the appellant, Melanie LaFosse, whose parents live on Mullowney’s Lane, tried to overthrow the Town’s decision to issue a tender to extend a portion of Mullowney’s Lane and upgrade a right of way. LaFosse was represented by Gallows Cove resident Noel O’Dea, who has been fighting with council for years against any development in the area. O’Dea presented the board with “ten categories of arguments with sub-bullets.”

However, he failed to sway the three members of the Appeal Board. Instead, the Board accepted the advice of a municipal planner, who advised that infrastructure work on town roads is not considered “development” and that towns have the authority for the construction and maintenance of public roadways within their jurisdiction.

The Town’s chief administrative officer, Pat Curran, informed the board the purpose of the proposed extension is to allow access to multiple property owners in the area “and to improve the general public access to the beach and hiking trails.”

In their joint decision, the Appeal Board members ruled that under the Urban and Rural Planning Act it had no jurisdiction to hear LaFosse’s appeal. “Council has the authority for the construction and maintenance of public roadways, and for taking over privately developed roads to be used by the public and vested in the Town Council, as provided by Sections 163, 164, and 165 of the Municipalities Act,” the board ruled.

LaFosse and O’Dea and have since signified they intend to appeal the Appeal Board’s decision at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland. Their application for a court-ordered injunction to stop any work on Mullowney’s Lane is scheduled to be heard today, May 6.

Another appeal, also heard on March 23, sought to overturn the decisions of the Town to allow the reconstruction of a home at 215-217 Gallows Cove Road, which had been damaged by weather and then fully removed. The house is located next to property owned by O’Dea. However, the appellant was Ed Vickers, a Witless Bay property owner who has been part of a small circle including O’Dea, who have opposed development in the area for years. Vickers appeared as an interested party in the LaFosse appeal.

Vickers told the Appeal Board the Town had acted beyond its authority when it approved a permit for the reconstruction of the house. Vickers contended the proposed re-construction does not meet the Town’s development regulations. He further argued that the background history of the property should not have any bearing on the decision of the council, or Appeal Board, to approve the application.

In looking at council’s decision, the Appeal Board members noted the area in question is zoned Residential, which allows a single detached dwelling as an approved use. They agreed the Town does have the authority to approve the building application on the existing lot as long as it meets all the regulations pertaining to substandard lots. The Town was ordered to review the application again to make sure it meets those rules.

In still another appeal, former town councilor Ralph Carey fought the Town— and won, at least temporarily.

Carey fought a decision of council to grant approval in principle of an application from Stephen Dunne to build a family home on Dunne’s Lane. Carey argued that council had not responded to his concern that the well for the proposed house would be too close to his well. Carey also contended the development required a bigger variance from development standards than the Town is allowed to give.

The Board ruled the Town had not correctly followed procedures in its development regulations and ordered the approval be reversed. The Board further ordered that the application be referred back to council, and furthermore, that council pay Carey $230 to cover the cost of the appeal fee.

Dunne has since launched an appeal of his own and is scheduled to appear before the Appeal Board on May 21.

The Easter Bunch

Members of Alderwood Estates poultry club were busy over the Easter Weekend hatching a brood of chicks. Pictured from left in the back row are John Dunphy, Terry Pennell, Garry Malloy, and Ingo Kuehr. In front, from left, are, Michael Kieley, John Walsh, Kevin Bennett, and Sam Skinner. The chicks hatched over the Easter weekend, to the eggcitement of all.