Renews residents preparing to celebrate 150-year-old place of faith and pride

By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After more than a decade of work restored a revered local church, a group of parishioners and residents in Renews are looking forward to celebrating the building’s 150th anniversary this summer.

Lois Berrigan, who helped spearhead efforts of the Renews-Cappahayden Church Property Preservation committee to restore the Holy Apostles Church, said there have been countless volunteer hours and an estimated $100,000 of materials and professional services put into the project.

She said the pivotal decision to keep the church was made in 2016 and it’s been a labour of love for many in the area since then.

“The church was in bad shape, and we took it upon ourselves to have a general meeting in the harbour. A lot of people came to it and the question was do we keep the church or do we let if go?” Berrigan said. “A lot of the priests here at the time wanted us to let it go and knock it down and build a memorial garden.”

A former resident, a member of the O’Dea family, said at the meeting that the group should own the church before it did anything to restore the building.

“And everyone agreed and within a year we owned our church for very little money,” she said.

The O’Deas took the lead on replacing the roof with new green asphalt shingles, as well as interior painting, adding speakers for music and installing a wifi system so that services could be live streamed, if necessary.

The facade was updated, old chairs were re-upholstered, stained-glass windows were reframed and an inclusion grant obtained in 2019 allowed for the addition of two new ramps for accessible entry to the building.

“The last time that church was touched was just a basic paint job on the walls inside, as high as you could reach anyway, and that must have been back in the 1980s,” Berrigan said, adding that people saw things that needed to be done and just did it. “People just stepped up, there was great interest in helping.”

Not that things are perfect now – Berrigan pointed out that a 150-year-old building will always need ongoing maintenance – but she said the transformation is a source of community pride.

“One staunch church goer came in and it caught her by surprise. She started crying when she came in … she said she never thought she would see this church so beautiful again,” said Berrigan.

There was a lot of fundraising over the past decade, including a Chase The Ace fundraiser that did really well, personal donations and a series of in-memoriam donations.

There will be a series of activities running from Aug. 11 - 16 to celebrate the 150th anniversary, though Berrigan said the focus will be as much about the community as it is about the church.

Events will include an art exhibit, a concert, a wine tasting, shows, a kitchen party and a fish stew and bonfire on the beach, including a Grotto mass on the Saturday.

“We have the only Grotto built on a Mass Rock,” Berrigan said.

The mass will be followed by a dinner and dance that night, and the next day will be a special mass to celebrate the 150th anniversary followed by a brunch and a garden party.

Jeanette Kenny, left, Gerard Hickey and Kathleen Fortin, in the background, were among the volunteers who helped clear away pieces of the old roof of Holy Apostles Church in Renews during a work bee in September 2017. Submitted photo

Holy Apostles Church in Renews as it looked in 2017 while it was undergoing renovations. Renews residents will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the church's construction this summer. The church is next to the Mass rock where in the early 1700s Roman Catholics in the area gathered to hold mass in secret because it was illegal to do publicly. A grotto, built in the late 1920s, is also nearby.

Goulds street getting speed cushions this spring

By Mark Squibb

The City of St. John’s has announced temporary speed cushions will be installed on a number of streets this spring, including on Heffernan’s Line from the Back Line to Main Road in the Goulds.

Other streets include Great Eastern Avenue, Middleton Street, Old Bay Bulls Road, and Parsons Road.

The speed cushions will be removed in the fall. Householders will then be surveyed to determine if the speed cushions ought to be installed permanently.

Following temporary installation in 2025, speed cushions will be installed along Empire Avene and Smithville Crescent at the recommendation of residents.

Temporary cushions were installed along Gleneyre Street, however only 52 percent of survey respondents supported permanent installation, below the required 60 precent support threshold, and so permanent cushions will not be installed.

Speed cushions are flatter, wider, and less abrupt than speed bumps, and easier for emergency vehicles to handle.

Bay Bulls outdoor rink could go high tech

By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bay Bulls council voted unanimously March 9 to approve an application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Fund to help fund a feasibility study for its community ice rink project.

Council also approved an upfront cost of $5,000, plus HST, of an anticipated Town cost of $13,000 for the study. The total cost of the feasibility study is estimated at $65,000.

The Community Ice Rink Project includes a refrigerated outdoor ice rink, a renewable heat-recovery system to serve the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre (BBRLC), and upgrades to the Centre’s water supply to support full emergency-shelter capacity.

“I think everybody should realize that this is a big project as a link to a multitude of municipal initiatives,” said councillor Corey Ronayne in speaking to his motion.

Town Manager Ashley Wakeham said the project delivers multiple community benefits, including greenhouse-gas reduction, improved energy efficiency, enhanced emergency preparedness, and expanded access to low-carbon recreation infrastructure.

She said the Town must complete a feasibility study before submitting a final funding application.

“This study is required to validate technical design, heat-recovery potential, GHG reductions, capital costing, and operational savings, all elements directly tied to the project components outlined in the project overview,” Wakeham explained after the meeting.

Ronayne noted that if the Community Ice Rink Project moves forward it could cost $2 million to $3 million. However, he added, there could be up to 90 per cent funding by the federal government with the provincial government potentially contributing as well.

“So, we are looking at all funding opportunities for this,” he said.

Bay Bulls and Witless Bay councils endorse regional tourism plan

By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Early work on a new collaborative approach to tourism around the Irish Loop was met with optimism during last week’s council meetings in Bay Bulls and Witless Bay.

The latter council unanimously approved and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to join the Irish Loop Tourism Project, which will look to ‘Link The Loop.’

In Bay Bulls, Deputy Mayor Ethan Williams said he was happy to support a similar motion after attending a recent stakeholder session involving residents and businesses.

“It seems like there’s a lot of opportunity, especially after a busy tourism season last year. It had been one of our busiest ever, and definitely our busiest coming out of the COVID years,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do regionally to get some more people visiting here and share our part of the province with everyone.”

Bay Bulls Town Manager Ashley Wakeham said local tourism operators have been involved throughout the process through meetings, site visits, and regional engagement sessions held this past winter around the Irish Loop.

More than 150 participants attended the first three sessions, she noted. They represented tourism businesses, municipalities, volunteer groups, and residents from across the region.

“All the tour operators, you know, I think they’ve realized they can’t work independently,” Wakeham said. “They all got to work together and there’s a piece of the pie for everybody here, including residents, with new people moving here and all kinds of spinoffs… A great place to visit is a great place to live, is what we’ve been saying.”

Wakeham said feedback from businesses has been positive, with strong interest in increased regional collaboration, improved signage and wayfinding throughout the Irish Loop and stronger promotion of the region as a unified tourism destination.

“We’re really excited to get this Linking the Loop off the ground and see what other monies might be available,” she said.

Wakeham said the MOU formalizes collaboration but does not require any immediate financial commitment from the municipalities. The pilot project is being funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Province.

The MOU establishes a shared commitment to work together on tourism development, planning, and regional initiatives. Over time, the collaboration could lead to the development of a shared cost model for future regional projects, if municipalities choose to move forward with them.

Wakeham said work on the idea began in May 2023, and in 2024 a regional working group of approximately 20 representatives from communities and organizations across the Irish Loop was formed. The group met regularly to identify next steps for tourism development.

Back in Witless Bay, that Town’s CAO, Jennifer Aspell, said she was impressed with the turnout at the stakeholder meetings, noting there were upwards of 40 people at both the daytime and evening sessions held in Bay Bulls.

She said the project acts as a community building opportunity not just for big tourism operators and attractions, but also for residents in the communities as a way to recognize the importance of tourism.

“As the project goes on, we know it’s building momentum,” Aspell said.

She reported there were 1,900 visitors at the Witless Bay tourism chalet in August alone, adding the Town continues to seek funding to extend chalet staffing from April through to October.

Bay Bulls community food sharing pantry

Don’t let her sweatshirt fool, Leah Drover is no Grinch. The 12-year-old celebrated her birthday on December 7 by collecting donations for the Bay Bulls community food sharing pantry. Leah’s brother Max was only too happy to help out.

Trepassey mayor says town is ready to face the challenges

By Mark Squibb

Wanda Waddleton was named Mayor of Trepassey on October 15, and less than a month later, was baptized not by fire, but by hurricane force winds and heavy rains when Hurricane Melissa hit in early November.

The storm caused severe damage to the town’s breakwater and cut off the Lower Coast for several hours.

“It was a challenge believe me,” said Waddleton. “But the biggest challenge is getting the government to realize the residents in rural areas shouldn’t be forgotten.”

The breakwater had been damaged in successive years prior and was still in need of repairs when Hurricane Melissa hit, deteriorating the structure further.

Waddleton said residents were thrilled when the newly minted PC government announced it would tender repairs, and are excited to see work commence.

That contract, valued at $1.6 million, was recently awarded to Rock Construction Company Ltd., with work expected to begin in January.

Waddleton said the completion of the breakwater remains the town’s biggest project in the coming year, but council has other ideas on its agenda as well, including the implementation of a town plan, emergency plan, and a new set of by-laws.

“We’ve been talking about this since I went on council four years ago, but I have stated that we are going to complete these plans this year,” said Waddleton.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for council, Waddleton allowed, is to spend within its means, given the cost of services and the need for expensive infrastructure repairs, coupled with a limited tax base.

“We only have 420 residents, so our tax base is very limited, and most of our infrastructure, like our water lines and sewer, is in great need of repair,” said Waddleton. “Culverts are collapsing underneath roads. And all of this is costing the Town a lot of money. But our biggest ongoing challenge is our snow clearing, which is costing us upwards of $100,000 a year. Plus, garbage collection is up to $83,000 a year. With 420 people, most of whom are seniors, it’s very hard to face these challenges. We’ve been trying to get government to come on board and see if they can help with snow clearing. But it’s been an ongoing challenge. It’s a challenge that comes up every meeting. And we don’t want to increase taxes because we can’t really afford to do that.”

The Town’s budget, said Waddleton, is usually shy of $600,000.

Challenging as it may be, Waddleton, who had just completed a four-year term as councillor, and had previously served as mayor back in the early nineties, said she’s up to the task.

Longstanding, outgoing mayor Rita Pennell secured a council seat but opted to serve as a councillor this time around.

“I have big shoes to fill,” said Waddleton. “Rita has been a strong voice for the people of Trepassey. She’s in her 35th year of municipal politics this year, not always in the capacity of mayor, but as a member of council. But I feel like I’m capable of doing the job at hand, and I’ll do everything in my power for the people of Trepassey. As mayor, my main job is to run our town in an efficient and cost-effective way, but also to be there to obtain whatever funds are available for the betterment of our town. I’m working with an awesome council, and together, I feel we are up to the task we face in the next four years.”

Going the distance as father and son

Keith and Eric Hutchings at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon earlier this year.

By Mark Squibb

For many, having someone register you for a 42-kilometre run as a Christmas gift might seem like a cruel joke.

But when Eric Hutchings did just that back in 2023 and registered his dad, former Ferryland MHA Keith Hutchings, for the 2024 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, he did it with the best of intentions.

“He opened it and said, ‘Holy smokes, I have to run a marathon in 10 months,” laughed Eric.

The annual marathon is held in October. When Eric ran it in 2023, Keith, who in his youth had been a runner, flew to Toronto to cheer him on.

“I could see there was an itch, and that it was something he wanted to do,” said Eric. “He’d even say, ‘I always wanted to run a marathon.’ So, I did the marathon, and he was super happy that I did it and he was super proud of me. And I was thinking that it takes a lot for a person to commit and sign up for a marathon. That’s the hardest step. So, I thought that if I got him his (registration) for Christmas, the race wouldn’t be until the following October, and this would probably be all the motivation he needs.”

Father and son ran the marathon together in 2024, and again in 2025.

“That was pretty amazing to share that experience with him,” said Keith. “He was obviously in a different speed category. But I had gone up to watch him run his first marathon, so I was there to cheer him on his first marathon, and then he was there at the end, with my wife and my daughter. So, it was amazing to complete a feat like that with him and to have that experience. It was a memory we’ll share forever.”

Eric shared a similar sentiment.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Eric. “I remember growing up playing hockey, and even when he wasn’t coaching me anymore, I would look at the stands to see if he was there. Once I saw he was there I was like, ‘Alright, I’m good to go, let’s play the game.’ So, it felt like it was the reverse of that. I finished and I was tracking him along and I got to see him cross the finish line. That was a really cool experience, to give him a big hug and say congrats when he finished and tell him how proud I was of him for taking on that journey and at his age doing a marathon for the first time. It was cool to be able to coach him along the way and give him advice, and to see him do it and be happy with his time, it was an awesome, awesome time.”

Eric began running in 2022. He admits that growing up he always found running boring. Keith, meanwhile, was a competitive runner in his younger years who always dreamed of one day completing a full marathon.

“I’ve always wanted to complete a marathon, so last year was just about completing it,” said Keith. “So, after I did that, I said, well, maybe I should do it again and see what it would be like to do it a second time.”

This year, both men managed to improve upon their previous year’s time. Eric, 27, completed the marathon in 3:39:09. Keith, 58, completed it in 4:29:14.

“The big thing is to start small and just grow your distances,” advised Keith, who did much of his distance training along the Witless Bay Line. “Don’t get into a situation where you’re doing a lot of miles initially and you’re getting sore and uncomfortable. Pace yourself in terms of building up your pace and your distance. I’ve learned that doing a lot of miles is not always best. It’s more about quality than quantity. Give your body time to rest… A lot of it is mental. It’s about overcoming the barrier of thinking you can’t do it.”

The course itself is flat, and, as the name suggests, runs along the waterfront in downtown Toronto. The marathon doubles as a qualifier marathon for other world marathons.

Looking ahead, the pair are considering doing a marathon elsewhere in the coming year, but have yet to make a final decision.

Meanwhile, if you’re considering picking up running in the new year, Eric has a few tidbits of advice.

“Just get out there and get moving,” said Eric. “With each run that you do, you’ll slowly build your confidence in yourself. The hardest thing is putting the shoes on and getting out there and getting moving. You just have to trust in yourself that you can do it, and believe you can, and commit to it.”

The Colony of Avalon’s big year

By Craig Westcott

One of the many events, milestones, celebrations and other big fetes laid aside because of the Covid-19 outbreak was the marking of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Avalon.

It was in 1621 that George Calvert, better known to history as Lord Baltimore, sent a team of 12 men across the ocean to Newfoundland to build a colony that would not only capitalize on the island’s rich fishery, but also proposed to serve as a safe haven for Englishmen who wanted to continue their religious faith as Roman Catholics.

So, in the years leading up to the 400th anniversary of the founding, in 2021, there was considerable excitement and speculation in Ferryland as to how to best mark the occasion. Then came Covid with its social distancing and dampening of the world’s tourism industry.

Four years later, the Colony is on the verge of making up for that missed opportunity, thanks to several important events this past summer that the people who run the Colony hope will spur tourism to the archeological site for years to come.

The first was news that the Colony had made Trip Advisor’s list of the best places to visit on the planet.

“We were over the moon,” said Renee Houlihan, who took over as executive director of the Colony’s operation this past summer. “We were almost incredulous that we would receive such an award. Basically, Trip Advisor awarded us a Top 10 percent of places to visit in the world. And that put us up in the category of the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or the Crystal Caves down in the Caymen Islands. These were the other top finishers. So, for us to get that up in Ferryland at the Colony of Avalon was absolutely mind blowing.”

Houlihan figures the Colony won the distinction in part because it’s small.

“You’re not going to Stonehenge in England where you have 500,000 tourists on top of you.,” she said. “One of the beautiful things about the Colony of Avalon is it’s so peaceful and quiet, so you have space to take it all in. We don’t have the throngs of people like these other tourist attractions have. So, for every single person who comes though it’s a very intimate connection from our tour guides. And our tour guides are local. So, they just don’t get the history of the past 400 years, they also get to meet the local people who live in Ferryland and who grew up in Ferryland adding another layer to the experience. They love the accent, the twang, they love hearing them talk, there’s just a lovely Irish lilt in Ferryland. So that’s a huge award for us.”

The second big thing that happened was the discovery of wampum beads at the dig site. Houlihan described it a once in a lifetime find.

“They’re little, tiny beads made out of Quahog (mollusk shells) and whelk,” she explained. “We know they weren’t made here, they were made on the mainland by an indigenous woodland tribe. We found seven, they are absolutely beautiful, they’re from the early 1600s, possibly the 1500s, and they’re the first ever find of wampum beads in all of Newfoundland and Labrador. They are so tiny and delicate and exquisite. To look at the craftsmanship of the beads that were made out of shell, I don’t think AI (artificial intelligence) could replicate how delicate and beautiful and intricate the artisan made these gorgeous beads. They came out of the earth like they hadn’t been down there a day. They shone.”

Wampum beads were used by many North American Indian tribes, especially in the 1600s and 1700s, often for important ceremonial purposes such as signifying treaties, trade deals and other important matters.

“We had coverage from the Smithsonian, we had coverage from Archaeology Magazine, which has a million subscribers, we had coverage from archaeology.ca, these are all down in the ‘States, and (CBC Radio’s) World Report covered it too,” said Houlihan. “So, it’s a big, big deal for the province.”

Houlihan said the wampum bead story got 200,000 views on the Colony’s webpage.

“We noticed immediately an upswell of inquiries as to when we open next year from people wanting to come to Newfoundland and see these beads,” she said. “We’re also working with an Indigenous tribe to come down and do a ceremony of blessing and to welcome them back. They believe the Creator gave those back to us, and they will come and do a blessing and that will be a beautiful story in itself.”

The third boon for the Colony was a visit by a Winnipeg-based television crew, who spent two days in Ferryland filming a segment for the show Fishing for History, which airs on Prime and Apple TV.

“And they found artefacts of their own, which they were thrilled, because sometimes on the show they don’t find anything,” said Houlihan. “But we have so many artefacts, we have more artefacts than any other archaeological site in North America. We have nearly three million right now. That’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”

Unlike many archaeological sites, the Colony of Avalon hasn’t been built over too much.

“Geographically speaking, the topography is almost identical to what it would have been back in the 1500s or 1600s,” said Houlihan. “So that’s exactly why it’s so well preserved. We haven’t poured concrete over it... It hasn’t changed (too much). The cobblestone streets are there, and you can walk exactly where Lady Baltimore walked.”

Houlihan and the crew of 17 who work at the Colony are pretty optimistic about next year’s tourism season. There are plans to make a Haunted Hike part of the regular fare, like the ‘Archaeologist for a Day’ program, which allows tourists to put on their Tilley hats and dig for artefacts.

“I think the award and the wampum beads gave us some street cred,” said Houlihan. “People believe Trip Advisor. I think we’re fantastic, but people believe in Trip Advisor.”

Calum Brydan was the archaeologist who unearthed at the wampum beads at the Colony of Avalon historic site in Ferryland this past summer. Photos courtesy of the Colony of Avalon

Wampum beads.

The Colony of Avalon's chief archaeologist, Barry Gaulton, left, addresses a camera crew from the Apple TV show Fishing for History.

Trepassey breakwater repairs expected to start next month

By Mark Squibb

The new year will bring a new breakwater to the people living on the Lower Coast of Trepassey.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Mayor Wanda Waddleton. “The residents of Lower Coast have been living in fear when we have storms, because the road gets blocked off, and it’s blocked off for five, six, or seven hours… When we have high waves and winds, what comes in over that breakwater would frighten you.”

Newly minted Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure Barry Petten, along with Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, announced back in November that government would soon be tendering major repairs to the breakwater, with the intention of starting construction in the fall.

That tender has since been awarded to Rock Construction Company Ltd., in the amount of $1.6 million, and construction is expected to begin in January.

RJG Construction, Southern Construction Ltd., Farrell’s Excavating Ltd. and Coady Construction & Excavating Ltd., submitted bids in the amounts of $1.8 million, $2.2 million, $2.6 million, and $2.8 million, respectively.

Project estimates at the time of the announcement hovered around the million-dollar mark.

The announcement came on the heels of a major storm which caused significant damage to the breakwater, which was already awaiting repairs for damage incurred back in 2024.

Waddleton said residents felt ‘forgotten’ by the previous administration, and that she’s glad to finally see the project moving forward.

“They’re going to put in new armour stone, fix the seawall, and put in cribbing to support the seawall to help save the road and infrastructure going down to the Lower Coast,” said Waddleton. “This is what we wanted done in the first place.”

Petty Harbour balances next year’s budget without tax increases

By Mark Squibb

Although most municipalities don’t pass a budget until early or mid December, the Town of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove were on the ball ahead of the others again last month and approved a balanced budget of $1.3 million for 2026 that will see no tax increases.

Residential and commercial property taxes will hold steady at 7.2 and 10 mils respectively, while the commercial business tax will remain at 13 mils.

The new tax structure will introduce a new by-law violation fee. Those who go afoul of it will be charged $50 for the first offense and $100 for the second offense.

The budget also included an increase in councillor remuneration based on the Town’s two percent fixed revenue regulations. All told, $25,600 has been earmarked for council renumeration to be shared among the members, along with $2,000 for travel.

The Town has budgeted $672,820 for general government, the biggest single expense category. General government includes everything from salaries, benefits, supplies, and insurance, to professional services and general maintenance.

The next largest expense is transportation services in the amount of $303,000, most of which is for snow clearing at $188,000. Other expenses include vehicle maintenance and street maintenance.

The Town has budgeted $94,642 for protective services, most of which – roughly $80,000 – has been earmarked for fire protection.

Environmental health, which includes water supply, sewage disposal, and garbage collection, has been budgeted at $112,260.

The Town has budgeted $34,500 for recreation, and $11,000 for planning.

Council expects to bring in $767,492 in residential property tax and $40,216 in commercial tax, along with $22,680 in vacant land tax. The Town also anticipates $180,380 in residential water tax, $7,800 in commercial water tax, and a combined $86,294 in business tax and utility tax.

Council approved the budget unanimously during its November 10 public meeting.

Petty Harbour- Maddox Cove Christmas Events

Ellee, 5, and Nolan, 3, Williams were happy to buy a couple of raffle tickets from their nanny, Jackie Connolly, at Petty Harbour- Maddox Cove’s Christmas Tree lighting and raffle. The community has a big Christmas event lineup, including a breakfast with Santa, adult dinner and dance, and Christmas bingo. The town’s festivities will wrap up with the Christmas parade on December 14. The parade will start at 2 p.m. at the gravel pit and run along down to the Ron Doyle Volunteer Community Center.

Santa Claus coming to town this weekend

One of the many groups that participate with a float in the annual Kin Club of Witless Bay Santa Claus Parade is the Mobile Central High School council. The parade features groups from throughout the north end of the Southern Shore, from Tors Cove to Bay Bulls, and is always well-attended by spectators along the parade route in Witless Bay. Agnes Westcott photo

By Mark Squibb

The Witless Bay Area Kinsmen Club is hosting its 45th annual Santa Claus Parade this weekend.

While it may be easy to take the annual parade for granted, it doesn’t happen without a lot of work, and maybe just a little Christmas magic.

Kin Club member Chris Swain said that initial planning begins about six weeks before the parade, when Kin Club members begin to call a host of people and businesses, including Town staff, St. Bernard’s school, and the big man himself.

Once a date has been set in stone and the school gym booked for the after-parade lunch, Kin members reach out to a number of volunteers outside the Kin Club who help with everything from directing traffic to serving lunch.

Even after all that, there’s still lots to do in the week leading up the parade. 50/50 prizes and raffle tickets need to be secured, hot dogs need to be purchased, award plaques need to be finalized, and Santa’s sleigh needs to be given a final inspection to make sure it’s road ready.

“We have a spreadsheet and over the six weeks we just gradually check things off as we’re going, making sure everything is done as it’s needed,” said Swain.

The parade is “100 percent” a community effort, he noted, adding the Knights of Columbus help with the raffle, while members of the Witless Bay Days Committee help sell 50/50 tickets. Other volunteers help dish out hot dogs and drinks to hungry paradegoers. There are also volunteers who walk the parade to keep an eye on things and make sure no one is in trouble.

“Making sure that everybody is safe is the number one priority for us,” said Swain, who reckoned there’s upwards of 30 volunteers on the ground for parade day. Hundreds, meanwhile, participate in the parade itself.

“We have great support from the towns (Bay Bulls and Witless Bay) and from the (Tors Cove) local service district,” said Swain. “And we have people coming for the parade, people supporting our raffle, people offering to help, and all that kind of thing. And all the different organizations, minor hockey, Mobile High School and the Girl Guides and Brownies, they’ll all enter a float or walk, and the local cadet marching band will be there. So, it’s really a regional event that just so happens to happen in Witless Bay.”

Swain has been involved in the parade one way or another the last 20 years, and said the time and energy spent organizing it is always rewarded on parade day.

“For me, it’s worth it when you walk up through Witless Bay and see the kids – and adults – and see how happy they are,” said Swain. “Everybody has a smile on their face, everybody will give you a handshake.”

The Kin Club boasts about a dozen active members, and a number of volunteers waiting in the wings. Swain said the club is always looking for new members

This year’s parade will begin at Dean’s Road at 10:30 a.m. Following the parade, folks are invited to head down to St. Bernard’s School for a hot dog lunch, raffle, and meet and greet with Santa.

Deans Road will be open only to one-way traffic from 9:30 until 11, and folks are asked to enter by the Community Credit Union.

Bay Bulls seeking funds for new woodchipper

By Mark Squibb

Bay Bulls council is hoping the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) will pitch in to help cover the cost of buying a new woodchipper.

The Town is applying for cost shared funding through the MMSB Community Waste Diversion Fund 2026 to buy a woodchipper to help reduce organic waste.

The Town estimates the woodchipper could cost upwards of $10,000.

Councillor Jason O’Brien said organic waste is charged at a rate of $4.50 a tonne when it is dropped at the Robin Hood Bay Landfill. That waste could instead be mulched and reused as garden fertilizer.

Town Manager Ashley Wakeham said residents would leave their waste at a drop-off location and would not use the woodchipper themselves. She noted, for example, that folks could drop off their Christmas trees to be mulched.

Through the program, the MMSB will provide a maximum of $25,000 in funding for local waste diversion projects.

Some of the projects approved in the most recent round of funding included installation of surveillance cameras at common dumping areas in Placentia at a cost of $4,401, and a $15,000 recycling promotion blitz in Mount Pearl.

Bay Bulls hoping to hire at least three students next summer

By Mark Squibb

While there’s still another six months or so of winter to struggle through, the Town of Bay Bulls is already looking ahead to it’s 2026 summer season.

During last month’s meeting, Deputy Mayor Ethan Williams moved that the Town apply to the 2026 Canada Summer Jobs Program for funding for three student positions. One of those positions will be a tourism chalet worker, while the other two will be outside recreation and maintenance workers.

Depending on the chalet’s hours, the tourism chalet position may be split between two students.

“This program is a great benefit to us, as a town, but also to the students,” said Williams. “I was one of those students years prior. And anyone I’ve spoken to who has held a position has had high praise for being able to spend the summer working for the community, and it seems to really bring young people into the community. So, I’m glad to see that we’re applying again.”

Mayor Keith O’Driscoll concurred that the program is great for both students and the community.

The motion was approved unanimously.

Bay Bulls council getting in the Christmas spirit

By Mark Squibb

Members of Bay Bulls council may have avoided being visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, after approving a number of donation requests during the November public meeting.

Firstly, council approved a donation of 55 vegetable hampers for the local Knights of Columbus at a cost of $18 per hamper, for a total of $990.

“Young families and seniors alike have received these hampers over the years,” said Town Manager Ashley Wakeham. “It’s quite needed at this time of year. And it’s not just vegetables in the hamper; that’s just one part of the entire package that’s dropped off.”

Council agreed the donations would be especially welcomed given the closure of the Kinsmen Club food pantry in Witless Bay. The pantry was struck by vandals this past summer.

“This is a great thing for the Town to contribute to, for sure,” concluded Mayor Keith O’Driscoll, before the matter was put to a vote and approved unanimously.

Council also approved a donation to the Mobile Central High School Scholarship Fund. Council was initially set to approve a donation of $250 to be divided evenly among five students.

Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien, however, suggested increasing the donation amount, noting the Town has held its donation amount steady over the years while the cost of living has increased.

Wakeham suggested increasing the donation to $375, meaning that each student would receive $75 rather than $50.

Council was agreeable to the suggestion, and the new donation total was approved.

Council also approved a donation of $400 for the annual ‘Kidmas’ event scheduled from December first to the fifth.

The Kidmas festival is hosted by the Bay Bulls Regional Lifestyle Centre and includes a number of kid-friendly Christmas events, concluding with the Town of Bay Bulls tree lighting ceremony. This year’s schedule of events is still in the works.

To cap off the festivities, council voted to once again host the annual ‘Light it Up’ challenge and announced $500 worth of local gift cards that will be handed out to residents who best decorate their homes.

The life of the party

Jose Waddleton, 90, is marking her 30th year as president of the Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club.

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Jose Waddleton, 90, of Trepassey has been president of the town’s 50+ Friendship Club for almost 30 years.

She was too young to get involved when it was formed in the seventies and was initially called the Hillview Senior Citizens Club. But once she became a member in the 1990s it wasn’t long before she became president. That happened when the president resigned in 1996. Waddleton was nominated for the position and accepted the role for one year on a trial basis. She has been president ever since.

Waddleton said the club is involved with many events and occasions in people’s lives. They hold birthday parties twice a year, and also do bereavement gatherings.

“We have a social get-together where we supply everything for a meal for bereaved families after a funeral,” she said.

The club also holds exercise classes once a week. They also host dances with entertainment by a band or DJ. When Waddleton became president in 1996, the club had 20 members. Today, it has 120.

“We do different things, and I was the one who organized everything,” she admitted. “I don’t like to brag about myself, but I did.”

Waddleton recently helped secure funding for the club, as well. The Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club applied for the New Horizons for Seniors grant last year and was successful, receiving $25,000.

“The grant was mostly for parties, meals, and guest speakers to come in and give us information on anything of interest to a senior,” Waddleton said.

On November 11, the club used money from the grant to provide a big meal for Remembrance Day. “And we had a caterer, too, all because of our grant, which was wonderful,” said Waddleton.

The club fed 100 people, which is what they would expect if the weather was fair. Though the weather that day was bad, they still had a turnout of a hundred.

Waddleton allows that being involved with the club is pretty fulfilling. It allows her to meet new people and keep in touch with the world.

“I love to help people,” said Waddleton. “I always loved to help seniors. Now I’m a senior myself.”

Next month the Trepassey 50+ Friendship Club will hold its annual elections. Waddleton said she is considering stepping down as president after three decades.

“But I still feel capable of carrying on the work,” she said. “So I’m not really sure if I will step down or if I’ll continue on for another while.”

Witless Bay council hit with case of teleconference interruptus

By Mark Squibb

Residents were unable to dial into the Town of Witless Bay’s public council meeting on November 12 as Bell has discontinued its teleconferencing services in the area.

Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Aspell said while it is not a requirement for towns to broadcast meetings, staff are currently looking at other options.

The meeting, which was rescheduled due to the Remembrance Day holiday, was still open to in-person attendance, and the agenda is available on the Town’s website.

New government jumps in fast to fix Trepassey breakwater

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, left, and Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure Barry Petten speak to reporters on the heels of an announcement to construct a new breakwater in Trepassey following the havoc cause by Hurricane Melissa earlier this month. Mark Squibb photo

By Mark Squibb

Newly minted Minster of Transportation and Infrastructure Barry Petten and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll announced last week that a tender for the new Trepassey breakwater has been issued, and construction will begin this fall.

Moreover, the new provincial government will cover the full cost of the project.

Petten said the initial estimates were about $750,000, but the major windstorm of November 4 had driven those estimates up slightly. Engineers had yet to fully assess the situation, but Petten didn’t think the increases will push the project over the million-dollar mark.

“We’re not sure of the exact amount, but we still anticipate it will be less than a million dollars,” said Petten, who noted the Liberals failed to address the matter when the breakwater was damaged in 2024.

A handful of residents living out on the battery had to be evacuated during Hurricane Melissa, as crashing waves threated to overcome the breakwater and wash out the lone road connecting the area known as “the Lower Coast” to the mainland. Those residents, said Petten, travel with their bags packed, in case a storm rises and the road becomes inaccessible.

Lifting that road above sea level, said Petten, would be a huge cost. The provincial government meanwhile has no appetite yet for relocating residents from the battery, and so the breakwater remains the only viable option.

“We hope this (the breakwater) will work,” said Petten. “Nobody is ever one hundred precent certain, but our engineers are good engineers, and they feel confident that this should hold up.”

O’Driscoll added the breakwater had lasted a good number of years but had become compromised in recent years due to a number of storm surges.

“Hopefully this time it will work,” said O’Driscoll. “With a wall put up, and cribbage behind it, and armour stone in the front, I think it can last, for sure, as long as we do it properly.”

There is no project completion date as of yet, but Petten and O’Driscoll say they hope to get the job finished sooner rather than later.

Petten admitted he was unaware the federal government would be announcing an $8 million breakwater in Petty Harbour just days before the Province announced funding for the breakwater in Trepassey.

Portugal Cove South’s taxi man calls it a career as mayor after 50 golden years

Clarence Molloy has retired after 50 years serving as mayor.

By Mark Squibb

After 50 years of municipal service, former Portugal Cove South mayor Clarence Molloy has handed over the chain of office.

“I’m 79 years old, so I’ve put in my term,” said Molloy. “But I’m still here to help. The community just had a big dance in my honour, celebrating 50 years. We had a band, and it was a lovely time.”

Molly first put his name forward for elected office in 1975.

“What happened at the time was that the council here in Portugal Cove was having problems, and there was a couple of people after resigning,” said Molloy. “So, we didn’t have a council, and for some reason people started to say that if we didn’t get a council the government would get Trepassey to take us over. I know that that would probably never happen, and I don’t know where it came from. And you know what small communities are like. We got along and we helped each other out, but the way it was, even playing hockey with Trepassey back in the old rink, we had to beat Trepassey. And it was sort of the same thing. People said that we got to get a council.”

Molloy, who was driving a taxi at the time, said he put his name forward and the rest, as they say, is history.

“We had the first meeting, and they wanted me to be mayor for some reason,” said Molloy. “At that time, we were a community council. The government changed it to a town council years ago. But back then you were considered a community council. You had a chairperson, and a vice-chair and a secretary and whatever else. You weren’t considered mayor and deputy mayor, but you were. It was the same thing. You were considered chairperson of the community."

Molloy said there were times over the years when he considered not putting his name forward again, but a drought of candidates forced him to reconsider. Other years, elections came in the midst of big projects council had undertaken and Molloy stayed on to see the projects through to the end. He did all that while driving his taxi and delivery van back and forth to St. John’s every day.

The council, said Molloy, was initially formed in 1963. One of the first orders of business was the installation of a waterline in the town so that folks would not have to rely on their wells.

“And it was all done with picks and shovels,” said Molloy. “There were no backhoes back then in ’63. Everyone in the community was hired to go to work.”

Molloy recalled that back in the day one could simply walk into Confederation Building and stroll into a Minister’s office and have a chat and request funding for different projects.

“You probably wouldn’t be able to do that now,” said Molloy. “Everyone is barred off.”

During Molloy’s time as mayor, the town gained a fire department, fire hydrants, and garbage collection, and rebuilt its community centre. Molloy was also an active figure in the more recent battle to keep the Holy Rosary Church a community building, a battle that was won thanks to am anonymous buyer.

Molloy said that when he put his name forward for re-election 2021, he had already decided it was to be his last term on council.

“I said that this would probably be my last time,” said Molloy. “I told people that I wouldn’t be running again. So, I had my mind made up, but then I almost went in again because they only ended up with four members.”

Those four members are William Hartery, Rowena Nichol, Keith Stampe and Michael Ward, who were acclaimed to council in September.

Genny Coombs, Elaine Nichol, Charlene Power, Lucas Ward, and Cynthia Power were acclaimed during the October 28 by-election, making for a complement of nine council members.

Meanwhile, the Town of Portugal Cove South will be naming the community centre after Molloy.

Given his 50 years of service, it only seems fitting.

Remembrance Day attendance growing

By Mark Squibb

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 based in Ferryland, more commonly known as the Southern Shore Legion, will be hosting the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Ferryland cenotaph at 11 a.m. on the morning of November 11, and secretary Heather Sullivan says that attendance at the ceremony seems to be growing.

“In recent years it’s grown,” said Sullivan. “There was a bit of a lull for a few years, but now it’s bigger than ever. We’ve had anywhere from 60 to 75 wreaths laid on Remembrance Day.”

Sullivan ventured to guess that the growth could be due to young people who desire to pay their respect to those who served in recent peacekeeping missions, as her generation paid its respects to those who served in WW II and the Great War in years past.

In the lead up to Remembrance Day, Branch 34, which serves Renews-Cappahayden as far as Petty Harbour - Maddox Cove and every community in between, will be hosting it’s annual Remembrance Week kitchen party on Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Legion building. There is no cover charge, however, 50/50 tickets will be sold.

The Legion also hosted a free technology assistance class on Wednesday, November 5.

“We’ve been doing this once a month for the last year,” said Sullivan. “We have a girl that comes in and helps seniors with tech issues. Sometimes we have a special guest come in. We’ve had the RCMP and a folklore specialist come in so seniors could research their ancestry.”

The Ferryland Legion is also busy this time of year fielding entries for the national poster and literary contests. The Ferryland Legion accepts entries from students in Mobile Central High, St. Bernard’s Elementary, Baltimore School, Goulds Elementary, St. Kevin’s Junior High and St. Kevin’s Senior High. Members of the Legion also attend school remembrance ceremonies in full uniform.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Committee of Witless Bay will host a prayer service to honor Witless Bay veterans at the Holy Cross Cemetery on November 11 at 11 am. Flags will be placed on veterans’ gravesites beginning at 10:45 a.m.

In Bay Bulls, the memorial parade will leave Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church around 10:30 a.m. and the wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial will begin at 11 a.m.

In Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, the Remembrance Day ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the war memorial. Those wishing to place a wreath at the service are asked to call Ron Doyle at 745-1106.

In Witless Bay, anyone wishing to place a flag can reach Maureen Walsh at 689-5087.

In Bay Bulls, anyone wishing to lay a wreath may contact Patricia Hearn at 334-2833.

In Ferryland, anyone wishing to lay a wreath may contact Heather Sullivan at 682-0387.