Alderwood Estates residents in Witless Bay were among many people across the province who donned red-and-white socks and walked in support of the Ronald McDonald House this past September. Ronald McDonald House Charities Newfoundland and Labrador hosts the Red Shoe Crew — Walk for Families Walk each September to raise funds for the St. John’s Ronald McDonald House, a home-away-from-home for families of children requiring medical treat at the Janeway. All told, the folks at Alderwood raised over $1935 for the charity. Pictured here are Mrs. Marie Guiney and Mrs. Florence Shortall; in the top photo, Mr. Walter Finley sporting red-and-white stripped socks for the Ronald McDonald House; and in the centre photo, from right to left are Mrs. Betty Sutton, Mrs. Alice Kavanagh accompanied by her daughter Mary Alice Kavanagh, Mr. Sam Skinner accompanied by employee Amanda Hann, and Mrs. Angela Chidley accompanied by family member Robert Walsh. In the back are Mrs. Patsy Mooney, Mrs. Betty Swain and Mrs. Margaret Vickers. Submitted photos
Witless Bay awards bevy of contracts
By Mark Squibb
Witless Bay council approved a number of contracts during the October 8 public meeting.
Council ratified an e-mail vote held on September 20 to award the 2024-2025 snow clearing contract to O’Brien’s Trucking at a cost of $227,650, plus HST.
Councillor Gerard Dunne declared a conflict of interest as the company he works for bid on the tender. The rest of council voted numinously in favour of awarding the contract to O’Brien’s.
Later in the meeting, council approved the purchase of a spotting scope for the Lower Pond trail at a cost of $9,579, plus HST, and audio equipment at a cost of $1,578, plus HST.
Council also released the request for quotes for stormwater drainage upgrades along Southside Track and entered into a funding agreement with the provincial government for the purchase of two new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA), 12 cylinders, and two masks, for the Witless Bay volunteer Fire Department on an 80/20 cost shared basis. The fire department’s portion of the cost is $14,594.
Premier Andrew Furey announced some $3 million in funding for more than 300 SCBA units this September, however failed to note that the funding would be contingent on cost-sharing agreements with communities.
Witless Bay appoints committee members
Witless Bay council last week approved a number of new committee appointments.
Deputy Mayor Jacob Hayden and councillor Margaret Swain were appointed to the recreation committee; councillors Ralph Carey and Gerard Dunne were appointed to the public works committee; councillors Ralph Carey and Justina Nawaz were appointed to the finance committee; and Deputy Mayor Jacob Hayden and councillor Justina Nawaz were appointed to human resources.
Mayor Trevor Croft sits on all committees.
The committee appointments are the first since a number of members, including Nancy Burke, Lorna Yard, and Alan Richards, resigned earlier this year and since Nawax and Swain had been elected to council.
The appointments were approved unanimously, excepting that Swain and Mayor Croft were absent.
Dunne Memorial Academy Runners
A number of runners from Dunne Memorial Academy in St. Mary’s participated in the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletic Association’s (NLAA) X-Country Series, held over three weekends in Bowering Park each Fall. Some days are beautiful for running, and others are not, but the weather doesn’t deter the runners from Dunne Memorial. In left photo, going from left to right, Dalton Corcoran, Noah Van De Bulk, Kellan Tobin (who placed first in two out of his three races and second in his third), Connor Corcoran, Katie Toope, Skye Corcoran and coach Karen Hearn. Meanwhile, Heather Squires, Kain Tobin, and Noah Van De Bulk represented the school at the School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) Cross Country Running regional tournament held in Carbonear earlier this month. In right photo are coach Karen Hearn, Heather Squires (who placed 14th in the senior girls race with a personal best time), Kain Tobin (who placed second in the senior boys race), and Noah Van De Bulk (who placed third in the junior boys race). Submitted photos
Bay Bulls extends public comment deadline on industrial application
By Mark Squibb
The Town of Bay Bulls has extended the deadline for public comment on a proposed liquid asphalt storage and offloading terminal at 2-36 Northside Road to allow the proponent to reconfigure the application and provide more information for the public.
Originally, public submissions were due October 9. That deadline has now been pushed back to November 6.
Town Manager Ashley Wakeham said that the town has already received a number of e-mailed and hand-delivered submissions, in addition to a number of comments on the Town’s social media page.
“The Town would be remiss to not consider the social media tone around this proposal,” said Wakeham. “However, we would prefer that comments be formalized and submitted to awakeham@townofbaybulls.com or hand delivered to the Town Office at 2 Southside Road by 4:00 pm on November 6.”
Concerns raised by residents include a potential spill of hazardous material and possible impacts on the tourism industry.
Witless Bay sets date for nominations
By Mark Squibb
Voters in Witless Bay will be heading to the polls again this fall.
Witless Bay council has set November 5 as a Nomination Date for anyone interested in vying for an open seat on council. Should enough candidates step forward, a by-election will be held on November 27.
The by-election is pending ministerial approval to delay the date of the contest, which council also requested at last week’s council meeting.
“This is just a formality,” said Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Aspell. “Legislation requires that a by-election be held within three months of a seat becoming vacant. We have had two Nomination days, Justina Nawaz was acclaimed at one, and the second we had no candidates. But because the legislation requires a by-election within three months, the formality is to ask the minister for permission to delay it.”
Nawaz was acclaimed to council in June, filling one of three vacant seats at the council table. Councillor Margaret Swain was booted from council this winter but then re-instated this summer after she appealed the decision and lawyers for the Town advised she had been dismissed without cause. That left one seat up for grabs.
All motions passed unanimously, except that Mayor Trevor Croft and councillor Swain were not in attendance.
Broncos qualify for Provincial Championships
The Baltimore Broncos Senior Girls softball team have qualified for the provincial AA softball championships after winning the School Sport Newfoundland and Labrador (SSNL) regional Qualifier Tournament held September 26-29. Baltimore also hosted the tournament. In the back, from left, are Janna Reddy, Shyanne Rossiter, Jane Coady, Rachel O'Brien, Gracie Doyle, Julia Kavanagh, Isabella O'Leary, Brooklyn Jordan, and Allie O'Brien. In the front, from left, are Allissa Caddick, Emily Kavanagh, Addison Mayo, and Ava Gibson. The AA provincials will be held in Twillingate, Oct. 24-27. Baltimore School photo
Witless Bay Chief sees value in teaching children fire safety
By Mark Squibb
When was the last time you tested your smoke alarm?
“A lot of people have smoke detectors, but not everyone checks that their smoke detectors are up to date,” said Witless Bay Fire Chief Jack Gatherall. “A 25-year-old smoke detector from when you purchased the house is not sufficient.”
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is ‘Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You,’ and members of the Witless Bay Fire Department are visiting local schools, including day cares, to instill that message in younger audiences.
“We’re trying to target the young kids and make sure that they get the information,” said Gatherall. “This year’s theme is a little bit more advanced than previous themes, like ‘Hear the Beep While You Sleep,’ but kids are smart, and if you tell kids they have to check their smoke alarms, they will check those smoke alarms. They’ll certainly get on mom and dad to check those smoke alarms.”
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends you install a smoke detector in every room, and that you check your smoke detectors every six months. You can check a smoke alarm by pressing and holding the test button on the alarm.
Gatherall added that if anybody has a question about their smoke alarms, or fire safety in general, they can phone the town hall, email firechief@townofwitlessbay.ca, or message the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook.
The department boasts 30 members, and Gatherall said that as the region grows, the number of emergency calls has increased. Most calls, as is common across the country, are medical calls.
“Our department takes an ‘all hazards approach,’” said Gatherall. “So, we respond to pretty much any type of emergency: anything from a hazmat incident to a residential structure fire to a water rescue and everything in between.”
He said anybody wishing to join the department may submit an application.
“We’re always actively recruiting; however, we’re trying to take our recruitment in bunches,” said Gatherall. “So, if anyone is interested in joining, they can certainly submit an application and when we reach a certain number of applications, we’ll take in a group and go through a proper training process.”
From left, Witless Bay Fire Chief Jack Gatherall, firefighter Josh Glynn and firefighter Stephanie Croft get ready to perform a rope rescue training exercise. Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department photo
Ferryland Fire Chief says education prevents emergencies
Members of the Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department attend the Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s annual Blue Mass for emergency responders. In the front row, from left, are Chief Algy Windsor, Father Emmanuel Iroulor, Loyola Kavanagh, and Barry Kavanagh. In the back row, from left, are Justin Kavanagh, Desi Johnston, Doug Stoodley, retired firefighters Annie Furlong and Martin Brazil. Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department photo
By Mark Squibb
Fire Chief Algy Windsor says members of the Ferryland Volunteer Fire Department will be meeting as usual with Baltimore students and reminding them of the importance of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, escape plans, and more, this Fire Prevention Week.
Windsor said he’s always impressed by students’ fire knowledge and eagerness to learn more.
“Some of there questions are pretty intense,” he quipped. “They’re only children but they ask some heavy questions. They ask questions that we have to think about. There might be three or four of us there and we’ll have to discuss the answer. They ask a lot of questions, and that’s great.”
Windsor, who has served with the department for nearly 50 years now, said emergency calls have dropped since the department began meeting with students some 30-odd years ago.
“The kids are bringing the information home to their parents,” said Windsor. “And that certainly makes a big difference.”
He said Fire Prevention Week activites also allows students a chance to see the bunker gear up close and become familiar with the otherwise imposing figure a firefighter decked out in full gear might cut.
“The boys will dress up in their bunker gear and have on their SCBA masks and everything, and we tell the kids, if you see someone like this coming into your house or into your bedroom, don’t run away and hide, it’s a firefighter coming to help you out and take you out of harm’s way,” said Windsor. “Some of our fellows are over 6’2” and with the big yellow tank on their back and the big pile of bunker gear and the mask and the lights flashing on their harness, it could be intimidating. We make sure the kids know who we are.”
The volunteer department currently boasts 22 members.
Brewery application puts Petty Harbour council in a tight spot
By Mark Squibb
An application to convert the former Roman Catholic church (left foreground) in the picturesque community of Petty Harbour has some residents concerned about parking problems.
By Mark Squibb
An application for a microbrewery and eatery at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Petty Harbour has not gone over well with some residents, among them Nancy Hannaford, who says the idea is a poor fit for the Cribbies Road property.
Over a hundred residents have signed a petition against allowing the microbrewery, the application for which in one form or another has been before council since the spring of 2023. Along the way, council approved motions to accommodate commercial uses at the address and to add “Microbrewery” to a list of discretional uses ahead of possible approval of the business.
Chief among the residents’ concerns are increased traffic and inadequate parking, common problems in Petty Harbour during tourist season.
“When there were weddings or masses at the church, there were cars parked all along the little side roads, at the community centre, on the church parking lot, and you tolerated it because it was an hour a day, 75 days out of the year,” said Hannaford. “But you can’t tolerate that 12 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The brewery is expected to seat upwards of 75, and will employ about 30 people, with additional employees brought on as need be for marketing and distribution of products. The applicant would also excavate to make way for a 21-car parking lot.
According to its application, the owner, who also operates Chafe’s Landing Restaurant and Tinker’s Ice Cream Parlour in other locations in the harbour, plans to install traffic signage, work with Newfoundland Tours to secure shuttle services from St. Johns, hire a traffic cop during peak times, and “encourage alternative transportation options like ride sharing” to mitigate traffic congestion. The applicant also suggested hiring from within town and encouraging employees to walk to work.
Those mitigation measures, said Hannaford, just don’t cut it.
“Encouraging ride sharing is ludicrous,” said Hannaford. “It’s not an actionable plan. You can’t control what other people do.”
A traffic report commissioned by council, prepared by Harbourside Transportation Consultants, estimated a traffic volume increase of 17 precent should the application be approved, and that the proposed 21 parking spaces will not be enough to meet demand, and that off-site parking will be necessary.
A commissioner’s report, presented to council in October of 2023, took many of those same concerns into account.
“I was given a petition against the proposed Amendments containing 118 signatures and it was clear to me that residents of the area are against the possibility of a microbrewery being developed on the former church property,” wrote Stanley N. Clinton in his decision. “They would be the ones affected by such a development whether by increased traffic, noise and odors.”
Clinton noted that local roads are little more than one lane wide and do not have sidewalks, and that the microbrewery would generate “significant extra activity.”
Clinton recommended that a microbrewery should not be considered for the area (although council allowed the amendment naming a microbrewery as a discretionary use to stick), and that council should consider other commercial uses for the property.
“It is clear that it should be put to some use and not left unused and likely to deteriorate,” said Clinton.
Hannaford, meanwhile, said the findings of the commissioner’s report validated residents’ concerns.
Regardless, council may yet approve the application.
Mayor Ron Doyle said he feels torn on the matter.
“This is probably one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make,” said Doyle. “It’s pretty controversial… It’s difficult, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, because you’re trying to do what’s best for the community, which basically is tourism, and trying to keep a half-decent way of living in what was always a quiet community. We have narrow streets and lots of traffic. But I’ll make up my mind in the next couple of weeks.”
Doyle said he understands the concerns raised by residents in regards to parking and traffic congestion, amongst other matters, but also admitted a microbrewery such as the one proposed could be a huge benefit to the town.
“Tourists now look for an experience,” said Doyle. “Tourists coming to Petty Harbor want to go to Chafe’s Landing, they want to go on the zipline, they want to go down to the mini aquarium, and this one will be one more part of that experience.”
Doyle added the business would create upwards of 30 much-needed local jobs.
“The future is tourism, and we’ve got to try and make as best we can,” said the mayor.
From a council perspective, there is a hurdle yet to overcome before the vote is cast. The Department of Municipal Affairs, at the behest of residents, is investigating possible conflicts of interest among some members of council in regard to the application.
Doyle said four members of council have been named as possibly being in conflict. He did not name those four members.
Doyle said it will likely take a week or so for the conflict of interest matter to be sorted out, and he hopes council will be able to vote on the application during the October 21 public meeting.
“Hopefully by the 21st this will be put to bed one way or another,” said the mayor.
Hannaford, meanwhile, said that should council approve the application, residents will appeal the decision.
Bay Bulls hosts short but productive public meeting
By Mark Squibb
It was a quick meeting, lasting less than 20 minutes, but Bay Bulls council managed to cover quite a lot of ground.
Council purchased 300 metric tonnes of winter road salt from lowest bidder Avalon Coal, Salt, & Oil Ltd., at a total cost of $40,611, plus HST, and 700 metric tonnes of winter road sand from lowest bidder O’Brien’s Trucking Ltd., at a cost of $24,000 plus HST.
Council also awarded a contract for patch paving services to lowest bidder English’s Paving Inc., in the amount of $59,700, plus HST, and purchased new directional signs for the Long Pond Walking Trail from FASTSIGNS at a cost of $16,096, plus HST.
Council approved two residential sheds, a Crown land application for 0.46 acres of land along Cemetery Lane West for the purpose of a residential home, and expansion of the Stone Duckey Restaurant at 56-64 St. John’s Road.
Council also voted to sell, by tender, two storage sheds.
The date for the annual Trunk-or-Treat has also been set as Saturday October 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m.at the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre. Council approved a budget of $1,000 in support of the event.
And they're off...
Race volunteer Linda Goodyear was all smiles last Saturday as Targa Newfoundland made a special stop at Alderwood Estates in Witless Bay. Participants had planned to race through Witless Bay, but that did not go ahead as planned. A media person with Targa informed the Irish Loop Post that organizers were not confident that bulletins had been distributed to residents to inform them of the road closure. “The safety of residents, competitors and volunteers is our top priority,” read the statement. “We couldn’t risk that someone didn’t get the message about road closures despite our best efforts to get the word out through media and social media, so we opted for three demonstration laps as well as the car show we committed to at Alderwood Centre. That was a huge hit with centre residents, staff and neighbours.” Aggi Westcott photo
Southern Shore United Girls find the silver lining
Unable to compete in the metro soccer house league because of a lack of teams, the Southern Shore United U15 Girls Team decided instead to compete in the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association Championship League, the first ever SSU team to do so, and captured a silver medal along the way. In the back, from left, are Wendy Pittman, Emma Oates, Christa Power, Rachael Randell, Ava Collett, Gianna Pittman, Neela Mullowney, Ally Williams, Lila Dyke, Peyton Critch, Jane Hanlon, and Keith O’Driscoll. In the front row, from left, are Jane Keough, Olivia O’Driscoll, Taylor Windsor, Gracie Dalton, Charlotte Bishop, Peyton Chidley, Nadine Cox, Ali Curtis, and Khloe Johnson. Missing from the photo are Erin O’Driscoll, Audrey Molloy and coach Jessica Power. Submitted photo
Bay Bulls hosts short but productive public meeting
By Mark Squibb
It was a quick meeting, lasting less than 20 minutes, but Bay Bulls council managed to cover quite a lot of ground.
Council purchased 300 metric tonnes of winter road salt from lowest bidder Avalon Coal, Salt, & Oil Ltd., at a total cost of $40,611, plus HST, and 700 metric tonnes of winter road sand from lowest bidder O’Brien’s Trucking Ltd., at a cost of $24,000 plus HST.
Council also awarded a contract for patch paving services to lowest bidder English’s Paving Inc., in the amount of $59,700, plus HST, and purchased new directional signs for the Long Pond Walking Trail from FASTSIGNS at a cost of $16,096, plus HST.
Council approved two residential sheds, a Crown land application for 0.46 acres of land along Cemetery Lane West for the purpose of a residential home, and expansion of the Stone Duckey Restaurant at 56-64 St. John’s Road.
Council also voted to sell, by tender, two storage sheds.
The date for the annual Trunk-or-Treat has also been set as Saturday October 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m.at the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre. Council approved a budget of $1,000 in support of the event.
Belleoram man wins 40K at Cape Broyle Chase the Ace
Cape Broyle fish plant worker William Dominix, left, is donating a portion of his Chase the Ace winnings to his co-worker Jayson Velasquez Aldave, right, from the Philippines to go towards his daughter’s cancer treatment.
By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It was a happy and profitable birthday for one Belleoram man last week.
The Chase the Ace lottery in Cape Broyle had reached its forty-first week when, on September 1st, William Dominix turned over the winning card, the ace of spades.
Dominix received both the consolation prize of $3,462 and the game’s jackpot of $37,299, amounting to $40,761 in total winnings.
Dominix, who hails from Belleoram on the island’s south coast, has worked seasonally at the fish plant in Cape Broyle for 16 years. He travels between the two towns, a drive that takes more than six hours on average.
“I took work in Cape Broyle because there wasn’t any work elsewhere,” Dominix said. “And the people I met were great and that’s what kept me coming back.”
The Chase the Ace lottery is run by the local church committee, which managed to buy Immaculate Conception Church back during a court-ordered auction of Roman Catholic properties in Newfoundland last year. The lottery is held at Riverside Lounge every Sunday with a new game expected to start in October.
Dominix said he wasn’t a regular player of the lottery. In fact, September 1 was only his third time buying a ticket. He had not been planning to go since he was celebrating his birthday at his Southern Shore quarters, but his wife convinced him to do so.
“She insisted because it was my birthday and my lucky day,” Dominix said. “I think she’s psychic.”
Joking about his wife’s extra sensory perception aside, Dominix said winning that day felt like it was meant to be, even before he picked the card.
“It was like I knew,” said Dominix. “I knew where it was and without any hesitation I put my finger on the card.”
As for what he will do with the money, Dominix said he would like to buy a truck.
And he will also keep a promise.
Dominix had told his friend and fellow plant worker, Jayson Velasquez Aldave of the Philippines, that if he won Chase the Ace he would give Aldave $2,000 to put towards his daughter’s cancer treatment.
“I’m true to my word,” Dominix said.
U15 Girls take the silver
Unable to compete in the metro soccer house league because of a lack of teams, the Southern Shore United U15 Girls Team decided instead to compete in the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association Championship League, the first ever SSU team to do so, and captured a silver medal along the way. In the back, from left, are Wendy Pittman, Emma Oates, Christa Power, Rachael Randell, Ava Collett, Gianna Pittman, Neela Mullowney, Ally Williams, Lila Dyke, Peyton Critch, Jane Hanlon, and Keith O’Driscoll. In the front row, from left, are Jane Keough, Olivia O’Driscoll, Taylor Windsor, Gracie Dalton, Charlotte Bishop, Peyton Chidley, Nadine Cox, Ali Curtis, and Khloe Johnson. Missing from the photo are Erin O’Driscoll, Audrey Molloy and coach Jessica Power. Submitted photo
Petty Harbour and Goulds boys help Hitmen hit the mark
The Galway Hitman are the 2024 Senior Men's National fast pitch championships after a spirited competition in Saskatoon last week. Pictured are members hailing from the Goulds and Petty Harbour: from left, Sheldon Keough (Goulds), Team Captain Ryan Boland (Goulds), Colin Walsh (Petty Harbour), Ryan Maher (Petty Harbour) and Shane Boland (Goulds). Missing from the photo is Peter Kavanagh of Ferryland. Ryan Maher and Shane Boland are also the first two from this province to win both a junior and senior national championship in the same season. Submitted photo
Councils worried about trash talk at waste facility
Members of the town councils in both Renews-Cappahayden and Bay Bulls are sounding the alarm over allegations of harassment at the Renews-Cappahayden Eastern Regional Service Board (ERSB) waste facility.
“It’s concerning to all the residents of the region,” said Renews-Cappahayden Mayor Jack Lawlor. “Certain people are going to the facility and bringing items that they want to dispose of that are items that are not on the list of approved items. The Eastern Regional Service Board has published a pretty detailed list of what you’re allowed and not allowed to bring to the facility and when they have been told those items are not acceptable, then their attitudes become a bit belittling.”
RCMP confirmed there was a report of a threatening message made, but no charges were warranted.
Bay Bulls Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien shared a similar sentiment as that of Lawlor.
“We’ve been having issues with the public coming in and basically threatening and giving the attendant a hard time,” said O’Brien. “Some people don’t want to follow the rules, and some people think they can drop off whatever they feel like, and when the attendant says, ‘No, we can’t take this’ or ‘You can’t drop that off,’ people start getting disrespectful.”
The facility is typically manned by one attendant, and O’Brien said the service board has cycled in employees from other facilities who have been met with similar disrespect.
“It’s getting to the point that workers don’t want to go there,” said O’Brien. “And in this day and age that doesn’t fly anymore.”
He said there haven’t been any such issues at the Bay Bulls facility, and that if the abusive behaviour continues, the ERSB may be forced to close the Renews site entirely.
Both men say the behaviour has to stop.
“We have these waste recovery facilities in place, they’re in place for a reason, they’re a valuable resource to residents and allow residents to drop off bulk waste and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way, and we need to keep these facilities open and functioning on a regular basis,” said Lawlor. “But it’s no different than any other workplace. You can’t have people come in and bully you and disrespect you in your workplace, and we can’t have this happening at the waste recovery facility.”
The facility was closed during much of August due to the issues.
The service board was unable to comment on the matter due to the RCMP investigation.
Both councillors, meanwhile, say the majority of users are respectful of both the rules and the facility’s workers.
Bay Bulls tenders snow clearing contract
By Mark Squibb
The dog days of summer are only just winding down, but the Town of Bay Bulls is already looking ahead to winter.
Council earlier this month approved the release of the tender documents for the 2024-2025 snow clearing contract.
Council typically pays for snow clearing on an as-needed basis, but last year, it awarded the snow clearing contract to Southeast Construction at a bid price of $329,900 plus HST. Council paid an additional $5,000, plus HST, for snow clearing in February and again in March.
Earlier this summer, council decided not to renew the contract and instead moved to tender a new snow clearing contract and go back to an hourly rate rather than a fixed contract.
The release date for the contract was September 3.
Shore’s youngest politicians say there’s plenty room at the table
By Mark Squibb
Three young people along the Southern Shore are challenging the notion that seats at the council table ought to be reserved for retirees and the middle-aged.
Ethan Williams was 19 when he was acclaimed to Bay Bulls council in October of 2023.
“Finding ways to better the community that I grew up in and that supported me was one of the big reasons I decided to run for council,” said Williams. “Even if we can’t do everything, it’s good to know that we can do something to better the community.”
Williams said he was overwhelmed with the support he received both from within the Town Hall and from the community at large.
“It’s been incredible, and that’s no word of a lie,” said Williams. “When I put my name forward there was definitely a little bit of worry… but it’s been nearly a year and it’s been absolutely incredible. My colleagues at the Town Hall have been extremely supportive of me and of making sure I got on the path, that I was understanding everything, that I was picking everything up, that I wasn’t being left behind at the discussion table, which was of course greatly appreciated. But the coolest thing for me to see is how supportive my community has been.”
Williams recalls that the 2015 provincial and federal elections were the first political events of any kind that he paid close attention to.
The federal election in particular, and the possibility of long running Prime Minister Stephen Harper losing his seat to Liberal Justin Trudeau, sparked political discussion amongst Williams and his elementary school classmates.
“There were discussions among me and some of my friends, even in sixth grade, about what was going on,” said Williams. “There was a lot of talk about the possibility of Stephen Harper being ousted. Keep in mind, we were born in 2004, so at that point a Stephen Harper led country was all we had known, and so that actually sparked a lot of conversation among me and my friends, even though we were only 11 or 12 years at the time. ‘Oh my goodness, Stephen Harper could be gone!’— and for us, that was a big deal. We didn’t know a lot about politics, but we knew that he was the leader of our country.”
As Williams matured, so did his interest in all thing’s politics — outside of Bay Bulls council, he serves as a board member and vice-president of internal affairs for the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament and as a member of the Young Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador.
He said youths often offer a different perspective from other community leaders.
“You still don’t see a whole lot of youth representation at the decision-making table, and when you really think about governance as a whole, the best way for us to have a strong government is to ensure that all the different voices from our communities, from different age ranges and backgrounds, are represented,” said Williams. “You can learn so much from a different perspective, from a different opinion, or when something new is brought forward.”
He encouraged other youths to also put their names forward for council should they feel compelled to do so.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, and I really do stand by that one because I think we have a really big misconception when it comes to elected office and leadership positions as a whole,” said Williams. “A lot of times young people feel like they really don’t belong in those positions, and I think the best thing myself and other people who are in these positions can do is to say that they absolutely do belong at those decision-making tables.”
Besides serving as a member of council, Williams is working towards both a political science degree and a business degree at MUN.
Justina Nawaz, 19, was acclaimed to Witless Bay council this past May. Nawaz said her grandmother Jessie Burke encouraged her to put her name forward for council.
“She knew that I was pursuing an education in political science and suggested I consider running for Witless Bay council,” said Nawaz. “I initially dismissed the idea as I believed I lacked any necessary experience to take on such a position. During our conversation, I told her I felt I had no place acting in a role that granted me voting power on issues that I knew others could be much more knowledgeable in. She was quick to remind me that no singular community member is more important than the other, and any person willing to step up and put themselves forward for the town was one deserving of the position.”
Nawaz, who is majoring in Law and Public Policy at MUN, said she’s been interested in politics from a young age.
“I remember listening in on political conversations as a kid, whether they were on the news or in my living room and was drawn to the enthusiasm it brought out in others,” said Nawaz. “I started taking political science courses my first semester of university and I’ve been consistently taking them since.”
Like Williams, Nawaz said that it’s important to have young voices at the council table.
“Including youth in political spaces such as the council table results in a council that properly reflects the community they represent. I think encouraging young people to get involved in municipal politics provides a great learning opportunity for those like me who have interests in both the field and in their community,” she said. “Recognizing the value of our voices ensures that our opinions and perspectives are considered at the same level as everyone else’s. Council members bear a responsibility to consider all of those they represent. By creating space for youth in their political spaces, the council table becomes less intimidating and more accommodating.”
Nathan Ryan was 20 when he was elected to Ferryland council during the 2021 general election.
“I’ve always had an interest in politics and in being involved in the community,” said Ryan. “From a very young age you would see me volunteering, whether that was with school sports or with different community functions. I was always very interested in giving back, and once I got into my high school years, I started to look at politics and tried to see where my values best aligned, and of course then I got involved with the Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that’s been a great experience for me, and I’ve made lots of allies and friends in that world. And so, I said to myself, I love being involved in politics, and so what’s the best way I can be involved in politics but also give back to my community? And the logical step was council.”
Ryan said at the time, there were no young people at the council table.
“Some of my buddies said to me, ‘Maybe you should run! You’re involved in politics, you’re involved in the community, why don’t you give it a shot? We’ve never voted in municipal elections before, but we would for you,’” said Ryan. “And so that was a bit of motivation, and so I said. ‘Okay, I’ll put my name in.’”
Ryan is following in the footsteps of his parents Wayne and Vivian Ryan, both of whom served on council, and said the support of his parents was a big factor in his decision.
Ryan said he is proud of the work council has put into establishing a local wharf, which was at the top of his mind when he put his name forward in 2021, and the launch of the Ferryland Fall Fair and Ferryland Days festival in recent years, amongst other council projects.
“It’s not always rosy, but the benefits in the end pay off because you see your community thrive, you get to give back to a community that you love so dearly, but also you get to expand your network along the Southern Shore,” said Ryan. “We’ve got a great town, with great people in it, and having the opportunity to work with the people in your community is fantastic. Our town is small, but we’re mighty when it comes to effort. Our council works hard, and in terms of council, everyone has their strengths, and everyone pulls those strengths together for the betterment of the community. Members of council don’t always get along, but, in the end, they come together with the common goal of making their community better. Everyone has different viewpoints, everyone has different ways of making a decision, but in the end, we come together for a general consensus and for the betterment of the community.”
Ryan said he’s glad to see other young people, like Nawaz and Williams, step up in neighbouring communities, and hopes he can encourage others to run for municipal office. He said people in Ferryland were excited to see a young person run for council, and he reckons the rest of the Shore would be the same.
“We need more young people involved in these communities, because we’re the future of these communities,” said Ryan. “Twenty, 30, 40 years down the road, we’re going to be the people trying to keep these communities alive. Starting out young in council isn’t a bad thing because you learn, and you learn early, and you make mistakes, but then you learn from those mistakes.”
Outside of council, Ryan is a member, and former chair, of the Southern Shore Joint Council, and an active member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He’s also heavily involved in a number of other groups, including the Southern Shore Breakers.
He encouraged anyone considering politics to shoot for the stars.
“That’s something I’ve always believed in,” said Ryan. “There’s nothing in this life that you can’t do. Hard work always pays off. Never say never until you try. I think there are people out there who are passionate, but who are nervous to step up because they may perceive councils as an old guy’s club, but really, it’s not. When you have a supportive community, those bridges are there to be built.”
Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts from MUN and a degree in Public Relations from the University of Regina and hopes to continue his schooling in the near future.
