Council says it’s not responsible for Petty Harbour resident’s water woes

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove council dealt with a number of letters of concern from residents at its August 10 public meeting, including one regarding a July water break on private property on the Motion Bay Road Extension.

The letter writer lives at 9 Motion Bay Road Extension and, in addition to the letter of concern, requested to have a related water shutoff fee waived. The homeowner was made aware by a neighbour of water seeping onto the property but did not realize at that time the water was coming from a leak in the water line.

The resident reported the Town council was contacted Monday, July 20 about the issue and the Town foreman was also called, though he was reportedly off at the time.

“This, to me, was a serious situation and one that should have been addressed right away or at least investigated the same day,” stated the letter, read into the record by CAO Mandy Dinn.

The Town employee did not show up until Wednesday, according to the resident, and a contractor was not contacted until Thursday.

“I had no idea I was supposed to hire someone to do this work, however, I did know that any work done on my property I was responsible to pay for,” wrote the resident, adding it was unclear how to proceed once it was determined the leak was coming from her property’s water line. “All I heard was that it was your problem and you have to pay for the work. I was given no guidance from council whatsoever on how to proceed with the issue. If council had responded in a timely manner to this complaint the work most likely would have been completed during the week and not the weekend.”

The resident stated she didn’t want to wait until Monday, July 27 to get the work done but also didn’t want to subject the neighbour to additional water damage to their property. She argued it is the Town’s responsibility to counsel property owners in such matters and that it made no sense to leave action on the matter to the resident. She also suggested that, in the future, it would make more sense for council to hire the contractor to fix the leak and then bill the resident.

Mayor Ed Dyke responded that the dates mentioned in the letter were incorrect and that he and an employee visited the owner on Tuesday and advised the water leak was on her property. They visited the homeowner again the following afternoon, he added, and advised the owner to call contractors, noting it is not the Town’s responsibility to do so.

“The reason it is not our responsibility is because if the contractor goes in and makes a mess of the thing or does something the homeowner says is not up to their liking, then it’s the Town that (is held responsible),” Dyke said, adding that from the shutoff out to the road it is the Town’s responsibility.

Dyke said he got a call from the Town employee on the Thursday saying the resident wasn’t going to get it done on the weekend because she didn’t want to pay the resulting water shutoff fee.

Dinn said the $150 shutoff fee covers part of the cost of salary, overtime and equipment use when an employee has to be called in on a Saturday.

“Sometimes that $150 doesn’t even cover the cost of sending somebody to shut off the water,” Dinn said, pointing out there is no charge on weekdays for water shutoffs because employees are already on the clock.

Deputy Mayor Irene Stack said she sympathized with the resident feeling that she was not properly informed about how to proceed, though she didn’t doubt the mayor’s recollection of events.

Stack agreed with Dyke that the Town cannot take on the liability of hiring contractors for work that is the responsibility of residents. However, she expressed hope the Town can improve the way it advises residents of their responsibilities.

Council decided against waiving the emergency shutoff fee.

New Witless Bay CAO got municipal start in Logy Bay

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Neil Stamp got the first public meeting under his belt on August 11 as the new chief administrative officer for the Town of Witless Bay, where he was formally appointed by council in a unanimous vote.

When contacted last week for an interview about his new role, Stamp said he wouldn’t be available until he returned to the office on August 27.

Stamp was previously the Town Manager and Chief Administrative Officer in the Town of Logy Bay - Middle Cove - Outer Cove. Meeting minutes there show he was officially appointed by that council as a maternity replacement on July 7, 2025.

According to his profile on the social media site LinkedIn, prior to his move to municipal management, Stamp held the role of customer success manager with the American stock exchange NASDAQ in St. John’s, and as fleet sales manager at Terra Nova GMC Buick in St. John’s.

Stamp holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, from Memorial University and is a graduate with French Immersion Distinction from O’Donel High School. He is a husband and father of three boys – ages eight, five and three.

“I’m eager to get started, listen and learn, and grow alongside the Town,” Stamp wrote in a post on the Town’s website.

Stamp replaces Jennifer Aspell, who left in May to become chief executive officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association.

Council had been awaiting the appointment of its new CAO in order to move ahead with some matters that had been put on hold until the position was filled, including a new 10-year municipal plan and a proposal for project management services to increase Witless Bay’s tourism presence.

Mayor Jacob Hayden told The Irish Loop Post he is pleased with what Stamp brings to the organization.

“He has a strong understanding of municipal operations and has brought a positive energy while having a professional, practical approach to the role,” Hayden said. “I think his experience, leadership, and willingness to work with council and staff will be a real asset to the Town of Witless Bay.”

Witless Bay Community Credit Union fundraiser

There was a mouth-watering aroma outside the Community Credit Union in Witless Bay one day earlier this month as the branch held its annual fundraiser in support of local schools. Among those dishing out the barbequed grub were, starting in the front row, from left: Parker Sparkes age 11, Mason Sparkes age 5, Jackson Courtney age 11, Theresa St. Croix, and branch manager Valerie Weir. In the back are ‘chefs’ Jimmy Boland, left, and Len Courtney, both from the Knights of Columbus. Craig Westcott photo

Fitness centre naming contest drawing to a close

By Craig Westcott

The Bay Bulls Lifestyle Centre is getting a new defibrillator.

Deputy Mayor Ethan Williams made the motion to approve the purchase during last week's public council meeting.

"This arose because the current model that we have into the centre has been discontinued by the manufacturer," said Williams. "So, an update was required."

The cost of the new unit is $1,945 plus HST. A defibrillator is a portable machine that can administer a shock to the body to restore a normal heart rate in the case of a cardiac arrest.

In other news affecting the lifestyle centre, Williams noted that a naming contest for the building’s fitness is getting close to wrapping up.

"We introduced the contest to put a new name on the fitness centre, and we have received all of the submissions now," he said. "So, the voting process will begin shortly for that."

The winner will get free membership in the fitness centre for a month.

Busy fall for roadwork around Petty Harbour

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

A stretch of road that connects the Goulds to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove is primed for some TLC in the near future, and not a moment too soon based on talk at a recent council meeting.

Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll announced August 4 that two projects in his district had recently been approved, including 3.8 km of road rehabilitation on Route 11 (Petty Harbour Road) between Crocker’s Road and the second intersection of Old Maddox Cove Road.

“I am expecting work to begin soon, and I look forward to seeing these important projects get underway,” said O’Driscoll.

That stretch of road had drawn the ire of several members of the Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Town council in June.

“It’s getting ridiculous now, it’s almost a hazard,” said Mayor Ed Dyke, proposing that council draft a letter before learning that the project was already being prepared for tender.

The tender process for Route 11 was combined with rehabilitation roadwork for around 4.7 km of Route 10 in Bay Bulls stretching from the municipal limits to Ryan’s Lane.

The tender – valued at $6,673,681, plus HST, was awarded to Municipal Construction Ltd. of Paradise. Farrell’s Excavating submitted a bid of $6,884,796 and Nortech Construction bid $7,220,552.00.

Meanwhile, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove decided its own paving patchwork tender on Aug. 10, with Formac coming in at $27,062 and CW Parsons Paving at $27,427. Both quotes were a couple thousand dollars above what the Town had hoped to pay.  

Town manager Mandy Dinn pointed out factors for why there were only two bids received namely that companies are in the prime of the roadwork season and a contract of this size is not a priority for most contractors.

Deputy Mayor Irene Stack conceded the work had to be done, even if the costs came in over budget. She made the motion to award the tender to Formac and the motion passed.

Mayor Dyke pointed out that priority areas have been identified in the community.

Dinn said the work should be done in the coming weeks.

Aquaforte council unsatisfied with response to road safety concerns

The Town of Aquaforte continues its push for immediate action by the Province to address safety concerns for a stretch of highway that has claimed three lives in three years due to moose collisions.

Town council wrote in an August 5 letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten that the current government and previous administrations have neglected ongoing safety concerns along Route 10 in its area of the Southern Shore.

Town manager Aaron Croft said advocacy has been ongoing for many years but ramped up in summer 2023 after a moose collision killed a single motorcyclist near Aquaforte. The urgent need for moose mitigation was renewed this past June after two Bay Bulls residents were killed when their motorcycle collided with a moose, again just outside Aquaforte.

“Three lives have been lost here already. Near misses involving moose occur daily. Families, workers and visitors continue to travel a highway where the risk is well known, well documented through social media, and steadily increasing,” council wrote in the Aug. 5 letter. “Our community feels strongly – and increasingly – that both the current government and the previous administration have neglected this portion of the Southern Shore. Despite repeated warnings, lived experience, and clear evidence of danger, our section of Route 10 continues to be excluded from the very measures that are being promoted as provincial safety priorities.”

Council had written Minister Petten, Premier Tony Wakeham and Ferryland MHA Loyola O’Driscoll after the June 2026 fatalities and received a response from Petten, on behalf of the premier.  

Petten outlined brush clearing tenders awarded on Route 10 between Tors Cove and Brigus South, as well as upcoming tenders for areas between St. John’s and Witless Bay, as well as Brigus South to Cape Broyle. Petten wrote that additional clearing projects along Route 10 will be reviewed and added to project plans for future years.

The minister also highlighted the Province’s expenditure of $6.5 million on moose fencing and brush clearing along high-risk highway sections, with a total of 22 projects in 2026 covering 400 kms of provincial highways.

But Aquaforte council said the response as unacceptable, all things considered, and pointed out much of the brush clearing outlined for Route 10 was taking place in areas where brush clearing had taken place only a few years ago.

Council stated the Province must take immediate steps to include the Cape Broyle to Cappahayden corridor in its mitigation plans. Croft said he believed the last meaningful brush clearing in that region took place as far back as 2008.

Aquaforte is calling for expanded brush clearing, but also a ‘meaningful’ increase in moose hunting licences in the area.

“Brush cutting is essential, and we fully support its continued use as a mitigation tool. However, it is only one part of what is required. The moose population along Route 10 has grown significantly in recent years, and without a corresponding increase in moose licences the risk will continue to escalate,” Aquaforte council wrote in its response to Petten. “Reducing vegetation without reducing population density is an incomplete strategy that leaves our residents exposed to unacceptable levels of danger.”

Croft said the Town does not have jurisdiction to perform work along a provincial highway and that, even if it did, towns of its size do not have the financial capacity to fund any meaningful brush clearing efforts.

Witless Bay douses plan for new regional fire hall

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Witless Bay councillors say they see the merits of a new regional fire hall, but ultimately the cost of one is too rich for their blood based on the latest feasibility study.

Deputy Mayor Justina Nawaz said whether to move ahead with the project was something discussed at length with Fire Chief Jack Gatherall and the fire committee, as well as with council as a whole.

“We are looking at two different options that are both over $7 million and even with funding as a 70/30 split (with the Province) it would still cost us almost $2.5 million and everyone feels we are just not in a place to spend that money,” Nawaz said.

Councillor Ralph Carey moved to deny the cost overrun and not proceed to the next stage of the development, renovation or construction of the new regional fire hall at this time due to financial constraints.

Carey also pointed out there is no way to ensure any potential cost overruns will not become the responsibility of the Town of Witless Bay.

“Somebody has to be on the hook. Given that it’s a regional facility that serves here to Bauline and beyond we really can’t risk our financial future on something that could run tremendously (over budget),” Carey said. “What if somebody decided to, say for instance our neighbours to the south, throw tariffs on something and the price of something goes through the roof?”

Carey’s motion to kill the project passed unanimously.

In 2022, Witless Bay council accepted $2.4 million in cost-shared funding from the provincial government for the construction of a new fire hall and agreed to pay its share of the project, which at that time was $815,640. That funding was based on a 2019 feasibility study.

In order to obtain a more accurate, updated estimate of the construction cost, council ordered a new feasibility study in August 2024 at a cost of $27,666, plus tax.

Witless Bay Fire Department revamps response system

By Tyler Waugh, The Irish Loop Post/Local Journalism Initiative

The Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department has worked with NL Health Services and NL 911 to implement a new 'triage' style response system aimed to take the load off the volunteer team of firefighters.
Fire Chief Jack Gatherall told council at its July 22 public meeting the department responded to 107 calls between January 1 and June 30 and while that is still a busy stretch, it's actually a big drop from previous years in part due to this new system.
"For serious, life-threatening medical emergencies where every second counts, our trucks and crews are still out the door immediately,” Gatherall said. “Following this new criteria actually helps get the department turned out and responding faster to higher priority medical calls. For lower priority medical calls, where the fire truck isn't actually needed, we now stand by. This saves our volunteers from unnecessary late night wake up calls and runaround for lower acuity calls. This helps cut down on volunteer burnout and the retention of membership."
Gatherall said the membership is reporting a 'huge' boost in morale as a result.
He said the system also better ensures that department resources are where they need to be.
"The department in 2025 had multiple instances for as many as three calls at the same time, in which responders had to pull away resources from a serious incident such as a fire or car accident, to respond to a medical emergency, which really didn't require a fire department level of response,” Gatherall said. “This adjustment in protocol is normal and is followed by most larger departments."
He told council the department recently focused on extricating victims from vehicles during two weeks of training. Gatherall said extraction scenarios vary from wheels on ground, to vehicles on their side and resting on their roofs, to wrecks with blocked access or heavy physical obstacles, as well as those rolled into a ditch and wedged in tight.
"This course is all about giving our membership hands-on skills that they need to safely respond on vehicle accidents, to make the training as realistic as possible," Gatherall said, noting 10 vehicles had been secured for the training. "It's tough, heavy work. But these are the exact skills that save lives when the seconds count. A huge shout out to our members for putting in the hours to keep up the rescue skills."

The department did lose two members in June, including one of the four new women recruits who recently joined, and Gatherall said the department continues to actively evaluate recruitment and retention to deal with what he called an ongoing nationwide challenge for volunteer departments.
"(The) challenge of modern day firefighting balance in shifting employment demands, family life, and a heavy time commitment required for modern fire service remains a hurdle," he said.
Council approved three fire department expense requests at the July 22 meeting, including new tires for the 2012 Dodge Ram truck, a $1,000 request for uniforms and other attire, and $3,300 for advanced first aid training.
Gatherall said that training will take place in six sessions over three days.

Petty Harbour keeping an eye on short-term rentals

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove council conditionally approved a business application for a short-term rental at its July 27 public meeting but also noted it added another unit to an increasing inventory.

Deputy Mayor Irene Stack said the application would bring the total number of AirBnB listings in the community to 10 or 11. She said there is no cap, but reminded council that discussing a cap had been in consideration if the number of short-term rentals started to rise.

“It’s just something to keep in mind,” Stack said.

Municipalities across the country are under pressure to limit AirBnBs because they take housing stock off the market in the midst of a national housing crisis.

Councillor Kayla Parsons, who presented the application to council as head of the planning review committee, said the application for 111 Main Road has an intended maximum occupancy of six people and available onsite parking for four vehicles.

“The proposed occupancy seems consistent with available parking,” Stack said, adding that conditional approval was recommended with conditions that the location maintain a minimum of four parking spots with no obstruction of the road or neighbouring properties, and that the business not expand beyond the maximum occupancy of six without additional approval.

The conditional approval passed unanimously.

Council also wrestled with a written request to park a trailer on a vacant lot on Motion Bay Road Extension while the landowner builds a home on the lot. Parsons told council that based on her research of regulations, the request would be considered a ‘development’ that would require an official permit. She added that if an official permit application should come forward as suggested, the rules are somewhat ambiguous, but she believes it is left to council's discretion and believed it appropriate to issue a temporary permit for up to two years.

"This intent appears to be temporary," Parsons said, pointing out the trailer would be for private use, not commercial use.

Council directed staff to communicate with the lot owner - the specific lot address was not provided - and advise that an application is required.

Council also conditionally approved a trio of applications related to 124 Motion Bay Road – one to excavate with the intent to install additional drainage, one to build a fence and deck, and one to level a driveway and install a walkway.

Council also approved, in principle, an application to subdivide 66-70 Old Maddox Cove Road for residential development, with final approval conditional and including a subdivision review.

Two other applications, one to pave a driveway at 12 Long Run Road and one to excavate at Lot 4 Old Maddox Cove Road, also received conditional approval.

Witless Bay pool close to reopening

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

The Witless Bay outdoor pool has been closed for construction this year, and Council wasn't able to give a definite timeline for re-opening what they are calling a new and improved amenity.

Councillor Ralph Carey suggested during the July 22 public meeting that the pool could be open for business in as little as two weeks, but Deputy Mayor Justina Nawaz was more cautious about the timeline in response to a question from the Irish Loop Post at the end of the meeting.

"Thankfully, the project is actually ahead of schedule. While we don't have a definitive date for opening it yet, we are thankful and glad to say that it will be open before the summer's out," Nawaz said.

The pool upgrades were included as part of a larger flood-mitigation project at the recreation grounds at a total cost of just under $1 million, with the Province covering 90 per cent of that total and the Town on the hook for the other 10 per cent, or around $100,000. The flood mitigation included a complete redoing of waterflow and drainage in the area.

"In previous years we've had really severe flooding in the area, so much so that it covered the entirety of the recreation grounds and was spreading across the road," Nawaz said, adding that it's work that the Town needed done and that, when the Town wrote up the proposal, it included a component of redoing the pool entry to make it wheelchair accessible as well. “We have residents and children in the community that do require wheelchairs and were not able to easily access the area. So doing everything in one project has been very good for us to not only mitigate the flood issues but also improve the area for residents."

Carey provided a more specific update on pool progress during his public works report July 22, outlining how the pool is now painted and the change rooms cleaned. He added that while the flood mitigation project is ongoing, it is nearing completion.

"We want to thank the residents for their patience and understanding with this construction and, obviously, with that construction there was road closures and delays in that part of the area," Carey said. "This pool, to the best of my knowledge, will be one of the only ones in the area that is an outdoor pool that is wheelchair accessible with a ramp put in."

New Witless Bay CAO to start this week

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

The months-long search for a new chief administrative officer for the Town of Witless Bay is over, council announced at its July 22 public meeting.

Deputy Mayor Justina Nawaz said a letter of employment has been signed and the new administrator is set to start the first week of August. Nawaz and council would not reveal the name of the new CAO or details on the person’s professional background saying they will leave that to the new recruit once the person is in the position.

Witless Bay has been without a CAO or Town Manager since the departure of Jennifer Aspell, who held the position for three years before leaving May 12 to take the position of chief executive officer at the Newfoundland Construction Safety Association.

Councillors said they are excited to get the position filled so that they can work on some dormant projects, including the municipal plan process, and a proposal for project management services to increase tourism. Councillors were interested in moving forward with that latter proposal, which was on the July 22 agenda as an action item, but deferred it until the new CAO is in place and up to speed.

The Town used contractor Higher Talent to work with council's hiring committee to find the new administrator

Some Southern Shore towns have gone weeks without garbage collection

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh

The Eastern Regional Services Board (ERSB) is scrambling to fulfill waste collection for its communities on the Southern Shore after a contractor bailed just a couple weeks into a four-year contract.

Provincial Ready Mix Inc., was awarded a 48-month contract in April to provide waste collection, including recycling. Worth a little more than $1.4 million, including tax, the start date was supposed to be July 1.

ERSB CAO Steve Tessier told The Irish Loop the company gave notice July 14 it is no longer going to provide the services.

“We’re chalking this up to an unfortunate situation with a contractor. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused to customers and know the impact this has had … We know it’s been frustrating,” Tessier said, adding the board is close to a short-term solution.

“We are looking at getting services for the next 10-13 weeks while we go back out and do a more complete RFP (request for proposals) process for a long-term solution,” he said.

Tessier said there was incomplete service provided to some communities initially with missed routes and missed homes, and there was no service the week of July 13-17.

The Town of Ferryland posted to its social media on July 10 that garbage not picked up on July 7 was to be picked up on July 14. However, it posted again on July 20 about garbage collection delays and shared an apology message from the ERSB.

Some residents had stated on social media that they've gone a couple weeks without service.

Provincial Ready Mix could not be reached for comment.

Some communities, such as Cape Broyle and Bay Bulls, transitioned away from ERSB waste collection starting July 1, opting instead for service through a private contractor.

City awards contract for $19 million Goulds firehall

By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Work is now under way that will see a new state-of-the-art firehall ready for action in Goulds in early 2028.

St. John’s Council announced earlier this month that it had awarded a contract for the project to Olympic Construction and that work will begin immediately.

“This new fire station will support fast, effective emergency response for residents in the Goulds and surrounding area. It ensures firefighters are well-equipped and supported to serve the community quickly and safely from a modern, efficient facility built for today and the future,” said St. Johns Mayor Danny Breen.

The new station is funded in part from a $12,705,832 grant from the federal government, with the remaining costs covered by the City.

Located at 371 Main Road, the new Goulds Fire Station will provide firefighters with a modern, functional facility featuring three drive-through apparatus bays, kitchen and living areas, sleeping quarters, training facilities, and administrative space.

The St. John’s Regional Fire Department currently man the Goulds Fire Station with City-paid firefighters during weekdays until 4 p.m., with volunteer coverage in the evenings and weekends. However, with the opening of the new facility, service will expand to a full-time, 24/7 career firefighter operation. It will mean the end for a proud brigade of volunteers who have been serving the area for over 50 years.

“Goulds volunteer firefighters were informed of this change when the new station was first announced in 2019 and have been supportive of the transition,” stated a release from the City of St. John’s.

Once the fire station transitions to full-time status, it will serve the entire region as part of an integrated emergency response system, the release added. In plainer English, that means firefighters at the Goulds station may get called to fires in other parts of St. John’s, should the need ever arise.

“It will no longer be limited to its immediate area but will operate alongside the other seven stations to provide coordinated coverage and support across the region,” said the release.

According to the City, the new station will reduce operating and maintenance costs, deliver up to a 90 per cent reduction in space heating demand, and achieve an estimated 30–40 per cent reduction in total building ownership costs.

The station has been designed to Passive House Standard, a globally recognized energy standard that uses high-performing insulation to reduce thermal bridging, an airtight building envelope, high-performance windows, heat recovery ventilation, and passive solar heating and cooling. The engineering designs services were completed by Stantec Architecture Ltd.

“The awarding of a contract and beginning of construction is exciting to see and moves us another step closer to having a state-of-the-art new firefighting station in the Goulds,” said Avalon MP Paul Connors.

Celtic rockers Derina Harvey Band offer new takes on old favourites

By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Derina Harvey Band (DHB) will double down as headliner of the 41st Annual Shamrock Festival being held July 25-26 in Ferryland.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for the Edmonton-based Celtic rock band as four members hail from Newfoundland. Even more so for singer Derina Harvey, whose father, Ron, hails from Admiral’s Cove and her mother, Sheilagh, from Witless Bay.

“I was fortunate to visit the Southern Shore throughout my childhood and teen years. In later years, it was so very special for me to bring my children here to create lifelong memories,” she said. “They are all grown now, but I have pictures of them dancing on sunny (and foggy) afternoons at the Festival Park in Ferryland to the music of live East Coast traditional bands, just as I had done in my youth.”

Other DHB members include Steve Pinsent on drums, Ed Smith on bass, Scott Greene on guitar, and fiddler Jessica Blenis, who is from New Brunswick.

The group offers a fresh take on traditional folk songs, as well as a few originals, and earned the fans’ choice award for Entertainer of the Year at the 2024 East Coast Awards for what Harvey calls an ‘electrifying kitchen party’ vibe at their live shows.

Harvey herself has been acclaimed for her powerful vocals with accolades that include a Contemporary Singer of the Year Award at the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

In May of 2023 the band released its third, full-length album titled “Waves of Home,” which features eight original tracks and three re-imagined folk songs.

“When I’m songwriting about ‘home’ — its breathtaking beauty, the kindness and strength of the people — trying to capture its indescribable yet unmistakable magic and charm would be impossible without spending those precious moments with family and friends on the Southern Shore,” Harvey said, adding that the title track from Waves of Home is an invitation to all to come explore and fall in love with the beauty, the music, the landscape and the people of Newfoundland. “Coming back east to Newfoundland and Labrador, an area teaming with talent and legendary musicians we look up to, is both inspiring and rejuvenating,” added Harvey.

DHB will be featured at the opening night dance July 25 at the Arts Centre and take the stage again at Ferryland Festival Park for an all-ages event the next day.

The Shamrock Festival’s weekend lineup also features The Ramblers a visit from Lord & Lady Baltimore, a youth session, a Tribute to Ron Hynes, The Masterless Men and Down Forward.

There will be a beer garden and food truck on site.

Advance tickets for the 19+ dance on Saturday night are available at O’Brien’s Value Grocer & Ultramar in Cape Broyle, Ferryland Foodland, Riverside Restaurant & Lounge in Cape Broyle, and the Tetley Tea Room at the Folk Festival Centre. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The Masterless Men keep putting the shine in Shamrock Folk Festival

By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Brothers Wilf and John Curran were born and raised in Ferryland and the well known Newfoundland musicians have always seen the Shamrock Folk Festival as a bit of a homecoming event.

The Currans have been a festival stage mainstay for more than three decades, first as a duo and now as founding members of The Masterless Men, who return for the 41st Annual Shamrock Festival with a July 26 performance.

“It’s special to us, it’s where we are from,” said Wilf. “The festival has always been something that would be a call to come home for summer holidays. It’s a great chance to connect with old friends and there are always parties. The boys in the band always enjoy it because they were made to feel right at home and made to feel part of the community, too. It’s going to be a great show, rain or shine, either indoors or outdoors.”

The Masterless Men were formed in 1991 and now includes Maurice (Mock) Greene on bass, Dave Lush on banjo and harmonica, and fiddler Greg Walsh. The band was originally called Colcannon, after the traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables. The boys honed their craft in the concert halls and taverns of St. John’s and the Irish Loop.

But the name needed to change after a performance in Florida drew the attention of a U.S. performer who claimed rights to Colcannon.

“He said, ‘I don’t want you guys coming to the U.S. using that name anymore. So, we needed a new name,” Wilf said. “The media got hold of the story and the CBC did a couple of call-in mornings and people made a bunch of suggestions.”

The Masterless Men is a nod to the Irish Loop’s rich history, referring to a band of Irish men in the 1750s who defied the tyranny of their British masters. They were a thorn in the side of the British and lived under the threat of hanging for more than a century in the mountainous area of wilderness around Butter Pot.

The band pays homage to that heritage with lively performances of Celtic music, with a little country thrown in from time to time.

The band released its first album, “Ode To Age”, in 1993 which was followed by “Breakin’ New Ground” (1996), “Back on Track” (2000), “On the Run” (2002), “Bramble and Rose” (2008) and the compilation called “20” in 2011.

Wilf left the band for a while before rejoining them in 2017 after Chuck Lewis became ill and later passed away. He said Lewis and former longtime member Perry Dawe will always be a big part of the band’s legacy.

He also praised the festival organizers for all the work that goes into hosting this community celebration.

“It’s a lot of energy and a lot of preparation that goes into the weekend. There are great volunteers up there,” Wilf said. “You get people pulling their campers up a week in advance. People bring their lounge chairs around the permanent stage, it’s a nice one. It’s special there.”

The festival kicks off with a dance on July 25 with opening act The Ramblers and headliner the Derina Harvey Band. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are available in advance and at the door.

Performances resume the next day outside at Ferryland Festival Park starting with a set by Lord & Lady Baltimore at 1:15 p.m., followed by a youth session (1:30 p.m.), a tribute to Ron Hynes (2 p.m.), The Masterless Men (3 p.m.), the Derina Harvey Band (3:50 p.m.) and Down Forward (4:40 p.m.).

Mistaken Point celebrates 10th anniversary of heritage designation

By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mistaken Point earned the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designation as a World Heritage Site a decade ago, a rare distinction shared by only 18 other sites in Canada, and as plans are finalized for a July 17 event to commemorate the anniversary, folks are reflecting on the work that went on behind the scenes to make it happen, and the impact that designation has had on the community.

Former Portugal Cove South mayor Clarence Molloy, who held office when the UNESCO designation was announced, still remembers the day he got the good news.

“It was a Sunday. I remember mentioning it to Father Peter (Golden) and I think he said something church. It was a big deal for us,” said Molloy. “We thought it would bring a lot of attention and draw lots of visitors. It’s had a big impact not just for us, but the whole southern shore.”

Carol Ann Devereaux said her son, John, bought the Edge of the Avalon Inn 11 years ago with the belief that the designation would be confirmed. The business has expanded from 15 beds and 13 rooms at that point to four buildings with 40 beds.

“The only reason it’s even operating right now - and doing so well - is because of that designation. It’s one of the biggest draws for the area, we get people from all over the world,” Devereaux said, adding that about 75 per cent of clients are drawn in by Mistaken Point.

She said that the tourist traffic has not only prompted growth in the Avalon Inn, but has also been the catalyst for the creation of at least 10 AirBnB locations nearby - all of which are booked solid from June through September.

She said while the impacts were immediate, there is one change in visitor inquiries 10 years later.

“At one point we would have to promote the fact that the Mistaken Point UNESCO site was nearby. Now most of the inquiries we get are calls where the first question from them is about Mistaken Point. The word is out there now, and it’s promoting itself,” Devereaux said.

The story of Mistaken Point’s designation begins with the discovery of fossil beds by geologist Shiva Balak Misra and field assistant Paul Thompson that were the first record of Ediacara-type fauna in the Western Hemisphere.

The fossils had been hidden in plain sight, with locals aware of ‘strange markings’ in the rock, but by the 1980s Mistaken Point had been recognized as housing the oldest metazoan fossils in North America and the world’s most ancient deep-water marine fossils.

A five km coastal stretch was provisionally established as a reserve by the provincial government in 1984 and then granted a permanent designation in 1987 as a fossil ecological reserve.

Molloy recalled how preserving and promoting the site became a labour of love for several dozen volunteers over the years.

“Originally, it was a lot of residents working to try to promote it,” Molloy said, adding that pursuing the bid for a UNESCO designation included scientists and the government. “There were so many people trying to get this underway.”

The Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc, a not-for-profit organization established in 1998, has been a driving force behind Mistaken Point. Their mandate focuses on preserving, protecting, developing, and promoting the natural, historic, and cultural resources in the area.

The push to earn the designation became official on July 17, 2016 - almost 50 years after the official discovery of fossils.

Mistaken Point remains an active research site and houses an interpretation centre with official tours every day from mid-May to mid-October.

The anniversary event will take place July 17 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Portugal Cove South Town Hall. The event will include official remarks, cultural presentations, musical performances and a light reception.

For the latest info on the anniversary celebration, please visit https://www.facebook.com/mistakenpointnl. To learn more about Mistaken Point, please visit https://mistakenpoint.ca/discover/

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