Mount Pearl girls rule council chambers for an evening

The 17th Mount Pearl Pathfinders held a mock council meeting at City Hall this month where they discussed a real council agenda and held debates of their own. Pictured, from left, are Kelly Bulger, Heidi Kavanagh, Angela Weir, Chloe Locke, ‘Mayor’ Erin Rose, Isabelle Soper, Nnene Offia, Megan Butler, Erica Thistle, and Beverly Bennett. Missing from the photo is Norah Bennett. Submitted photo

By Mark Squibb

City staff handed over the keys to the council chamber to the 17th Mount Pearl Pathfinders earlier this month for a mock city council meeting.

The young women read through a full council agenda from a previous meeting before holding two debates of their own – should the City host a monthly activity for youths aged 10-13, and should dogs be allowed in all City parks?

“It was interesting, and fun, to discuss these topics,” said Erica Thistle, 13, who allowed that council work can also be difficult work.

“We decided that overall, dogs shouldn’t be in all public parks,” said Thistle, who has been a member of the Girl Guides for about five years. “The City could also add more garbage bags and poop pick up bags.”

Erin Rose, 15, assumed the Mayor’s chair for the evening, and thus had to moderate the meeting and subsequent discussion.

“I had to make sure that everyone was heard,” said Rose. “I learned that everyone in the room should be heard, and everyone should have a say.”

In regards to a monthly youth night, Rose said that “council” decided that a youth night could be held at the Reid Centre, with a designated ‘quiet zone’ at the library.

Rose has been a member of the Girls Guide since elementary school.

Kelly Bulger, one of the club leaders, said that the mock meeting allowed the young women the opportunity to see firsthand how municipal council meetings are conducted.

“They learned how politics work, and how democracy works,” said Bulger, explaining that activities such as the mock council meeting are designed to broaden the girls’ horizons and introduce them to new career paths.

The Pathfinders were joined in chambers by real life City councillors Isabelle Fry and Chelsea Lane.

Talent and initiative recognized at Focus on Youth awards

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl hosted its 35th annual Focus on Youth awards this May, shining the spotlight on local youth and their many achievements.

The Mount Pearl Senior High Student Council was named the Youth Group of The Year. The council is known for hosting a “Stuff the Bus” fundraiser, as well as cultural events for international students, staff appreciation events, trivia nights, and coffee houses.

The Sports Team of the Year went to the Mount Pearl-Paradise Skating Club Gold Starlites Synchronized Skating Team. This year, the team placed at the Sake Canada Cup competition, a feat even more impressive when you consider that this is their inaugural season.

Mount Pearl Senior High received the Performing Arts Recognition Award for a student group’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Students not only performed but worked behind the scenes to bring the drama to life.

O’Donel High School student Ian Cole received the Youth S.T.E.M. Award. Cole heads up his school’s robotics club and maintains near-perfect averages in maths and science courses.

O’Donel High School student Rachel Spurrell was awarded the Literary Arts Award. Spurrell has earned several accolades. She won first place in both the Writers NL “Space and Time” Youth Contest and the O’Donel Holiday Writing Contest and placed second in the 2024 Kiwanis Short Story Competition.

O’Donel High’s Varvara Korotnyska, known for her murals and stage props, was awarded the Youth Visual Arts Award.

Alex Taylor was awarded the Performing Arts Recognition Award (Individual), Youth In-Service Award, and Youth Opportunity Fund Youth Volunteer of the Year. A talented musician who performs at many community events and fundraisers, Taylor is best known for organizing the Merry & Bright Christmas Fundraiser, through which he has raised funds for numerous charities.

Jordan Flynn was named the Male Athlete of the Year. Flynn plays for the Mount Pearl Senior High Huskies and East Coast Blizzard U18 team, and also captained the gold-winning Team Canada’s U16 Ball Hockey Team.

O’Donel High School student Falon McLoughlan was named both Female Athlete of the Year and one of two Rossiter Memorial Youths of the Year. McLoughlan boasts a 99 percent GPA and, at 14, is the youngest female from the province ever named to the Canadian National Deaf Women’s Volleyball Team. She has earned numerous accolades across six different volleyball teams. She also volunteers with the Pisces Swim Club, teaching children with disabilities to learn how to swim.

Emma Neville was also named a Rossiter Youth of the Year. The Mount Pearl Senior High student boasts a 97.1 percent GPA, is co-president of the student council, and performs in a number of choirs and productions. She also works as a camp counselor.

This year’s banquet was hosted by the 2024 Youths of the Year Eamon Fogwill and Courtney Abbott, and featured performances by Mackenzie Critch, Alex Taylor, Imani Dacres, Hannah Connolly, the Mount Pearl Senior High Cinderella cast, and Daughters of the Rock.

Huntington Disease Awareness Month

The City of Mount Pearl has proclaimed the month of May as Huntington Disease Awareness Month. Huntington Disease is a hereditary, neurodegenerative illness with physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. There is as yet no cure. A number of representatives from the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Huntington Disease Society of Canada were in attendance for the signing of the proclamation last week at City Hall. From left are councillors Isabelle Fry, Jeff Locke, and Chelsea Lane, along with Jamie Thornhill, Lorraine Thornhill, Mayor Dave Aker, Jill Ford, and councillors Mark Rice and Bill Antle. Mark Squibb photo

Winners of the Beaumont-Hamel Centennial Cup

The O’Donel Patriots were the winners of the Beaumont-Hamel Centennial Cup for boys’ high school hockey this year, defeating the Holy Heart Highlanders 5 -1 in the championship game. The Holy Spirit Falcons won the bronze medal with a score of 4-3 in overtime against the Queen Elizabeth Pioneers. The Patriots team included, starting in the back row, from left: assistant coaches Andrew Kennedy, John Kennedy, trainer Ryan Murphy and head coach Fred Blair; in the third row, from left: Connor Holloway, Mike Sweeney, Drew Anstey, Zack Moyst, Griffon Chapman, Owen Power, Alex Sweeney, Cole Marshall, Jack Hutchings, Zach Froude, Connor Coates, Liam O’Connell, Mike Reilley, Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Strong, Commanding Officer of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment; in the second row, from left: Nate Edwards, Jack Budgell, Noah Carew, Brandon Phillpott, Ben O’Brien, Reed Chafe, Tyler Combden, Ravan Theriault; and in the front row, from left: Jack Pearcey, Aiden Edwards, and Coale Fitzgerald. Photo courtesy of Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial Hockey Corporation. The tournament is the largest high school hockey tournament in the province with more than 750 players and coaches participating.

City awards Glencoe Drive contract

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week awarded the contract for the Glencoe Drive Storm Culvert Redesign and Upgrade project to lowest compliant bidder, Coady Construction & Excavating Limited, in the bid amount of $473,685, HST included.

The tender closed on April 1, and the City received six bids.

The motion was approved without further discussion.

Back in 2023, council approved the urgent redesign of the storm culverts as collapsing culverts beneath the road caused a depression in the road at a cost of $68,676, HST included.

Construction is expected to begin sooner rather than later and wrap up in July.

Driver’s insurance company to cover pole damage

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week awarded the contract for engineering services for the replacement of a traffic signal and base at the Topsail Road and Commonwealth Avenue intersection to lowest qualified bidder Dexter Construction Company Limited with a bid amount of $95,898.50, HST included.

“This is the result of an accident we had there last winter,” explained councillor Bill Antle. “It’s being replaced by the City and is being covered by the insurance company of the person that hit the pole.”

All told, three companies bid on the tender.

Mayor Dave Aker, noting the busyness of the intersection, inquired as to when the work would be completed.

Planning director Scott Batt said the intent is to complete the work on a weekend, possibly even a long weekend.

“It’s a busy intersection,” said Batt. “So, we’re going to try and do it with as least (disruption) as possible.”

The work is expected to begin in the next month or two.

Council approved the motion unanimously.

City extends date for sale of former pool site

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl has extended the deadline to receive expressions of interest (EOI) for the sale and development of the former swimming pool site on Stapleton Road.

Initially, proposals were due May 8, but the City has extended that deadline to May 26.

When asked, staff said there was no reason in particular for the deadline extension.

The City hopes to see the 2.58-acre parcel of land redeveloped as a high-density housing development and preference will be given to plans that maximize the space and feature over 50 units.

“The City has already cleared and remediated the site to make it easier for developers to invest in Mount Pearl,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “We are excited to see innovative proposals that will help us build a vibrant neighbourhood and meet the growing demand for housing in our city.”

The pool was constructed in 1974 and closed in 2014 to make way for the new pool at the Summit Centre.

The building was demolished in October 2024.

Mount Pearl raises awareness for hard to diagnose rare disorder

The City of Mount Pearl has declared May as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) Awareness Month. From left to right are councillors Chelsea Lane, Isabelle Fry, Jim Locke, Mayor Dave Aker, Newfoundland and Labrador EDS awareness committee member Jean Janes, councillors Mark Rice, and Bill Antle. Joining remotely was Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley. Mark Squibb photo

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl has proclaimed the month of May as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) Awareness Month.

EDS are a group of 13 heritable disorders that affect the body’s connective tissues including the skin, joints, blood vessels, digestive system, and other organs and tissues. EDS is categorized by looseness, instability, and dislocations of the joints, fragile and often hyper-elastic skin that bruises, scars, and tears easily, unpredictable arterial and organ rupture causing acute pain, excessive internal bleeding, shock, stroke, and premature death.

Folks can be diagnosed with HSD when joint problems, such as ease of injury, pain, and dislocations, arise in a person who does not have the defining features of EDS or another connective tissue disorder.

Both are frequently misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed.

“One of the greatest challenges people with EDS and HSD face is being misunderstood or overlooked, even by members of the medical system,” said Jean Janes, a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador EDS awareness committee. “Diagnosis often takes years, sometimes decades, and during that time, individuals may experience worsening symptoms, mental health struggles, and a deep sense of isolation. That’s why awareness matters.”

Janes said her daughter, who has been diagnosed with EDS, has had 42 surgeries in the last 20 years.

“She’s coming apart at the seams,” said Janes. “But at least she’s been diagnosed and knows that all the different things that are happening are not just in her head.”

Janes said someone with EDS could dislocate a shoulder simply rolling over in bed.

Members of council – many of whom said they had either never heard of EDS or HSD or were very unfamiliar with it – applauded Janes for her efforts to raise awareness of the disorders.

“It’s important to educate people when it comes to invisible disabilities, because if you can’t label it, and you don’t know what’s happening, then you feel like it’s all in your mind and you’re not as normal as everybody else,” said councillor Isabelle Fry. “You have no idea the number of people you’re going to help by making people aware of it.”

City laying on the rubber for Glacier Arena

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week approved a number of upgrades to the Glacier Arena that athletes are sure to appreciate.

The first was to supply and install rubber flooring from the Glacier 1 hallway, through the concourse area Glacier 2 and around the north end of the arena to meet the existing rubber floor just outside of the Training Room, and remove and replace the existing rubber floor in the two dressing room hallways of Glacier 2.

Staff recommended council award the contract to the lowest of three qualified bidders, Urban Flooring, at a cost of $62,500 plus HST.

Councillor Mark Rice said that as facilities age, the City has to be proactive.

“It’s nice to see this investment into our facility,” Rice added. “I’m glad to see this coming forward.”

Councillor Jim Locke added that the upgrade will allow athletes, who may be competing at Glacier 1 but assigned a dressing room at Glacier 2, or vice versa, to easily travel from dressing room to ice rink without taking off their skates.

The second upgrade was to purchase equipment storage racks for the six dressing rooms at Glacier 1.

Staff recommended the City award the contract to Canam Platforms, the lowest of three qualified bidders, at a cost of $47,577 plus HST.

“This is the reason players on G2 go to G1 right? Because they’ll get the new shelving,” quipped Mayor Dave Aker.

Both motions were approved unanimously.

The upgrades will be completed ahead of the 2025 U18 National Women’s Hockey Championship, which the City of Mount Pearl will co-host with the Town of Conception Bay South this November.

Both upgrades had been accounted for in Budget 2025.

A busy and rewarding year

Mount Pearl Youth of the Year 2024 recipients Courtney Abbott and Eamon Fogwill will be passing the mantle on to two new youths this May. Both are pictured at a wreath laying ceremony last Memorial Day, the first of many events they participated in over this past year. City of Mount Pearl photo

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl will be hosting its annual Focus on Youth Awards on May 14, and last year’s Youth of The Year recipients Courtney Abbott, 18, and Eamon Fogwill, 18, say they are ready to pass the torch along to this year’s winners.

Fogwill said the moment will be bittersweet.

“I’m happy to be able to pass the torch on to someone else, but also sad my time as Youth of The Year is ending,” said Fogwill. “If I were to give the winners one piece of advice, it would be to go to as many of these events as possible. They tell you you don’t have to, but it’s totally worth it to go. It’s so much fun and you meet so many people. If I were to give one piece of advice it would be to get as involved as possible with these events.”

Abbott echoed a similar sentiment.

“Attend as many events as you can, and don’t just show up, get engaged,” said Abbott. “Go up to a council member and say ‘Hi,’ and ask them if there’s anything you can do.”

Both youths are graduates of O’Donel High School, and both have just finished their first year at Memorial University. They have also spent this last year participating in a number of events within the City of Mount Pearl, from Frosty Festival to City Days and everything in between, including celebrations, socials, dances, award ceremonies, and more.

“We were never told that we had to go to any of the events, but we decided that they had given us the award, so the best thing for us to do with it was to get involved,” said Fogwill.

Abbott said that events like the Focus on Youth Awards helps connect young people with the broader community, and both youths are excited to attend the ceremony on May 14 and pass their mantle along to the newly minted winners.

While both expressed thanks to members of council for making them feel included within the City’s many events, both paid special thanks to councillor Isabell Fry for her continuous efforts to involve them in the community.

Fry, the founder and former Director of the Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador pageant, has a special place in her heart for the youth of the community.

“If you want something done, and done well, give it to a young person,” said Fry. “They have something to prove, and they’re going to give 110 percent…. What happens far too often, and I believe this with my whole heart, is that that demographic gets stereotyped, and not in a positive light… I don’t think youth are given the accolades they deserve. And so, the Focus on Youth Awards shines a spotlight on their accomplishments.”

Fry said she cannot praise Fogwill and Abbott enough for their contributions to the City this past year.

“They are so invested, and when they go to events, they don’t just show up, they help, they volunteer,” said Fry. “They don’t just show up to be there. They show up to help.”

Fry encourages future winners of the Youth of the Year awards to get involved and attend as many functions as possible, allowing that some in times past may not have been able to do so simply because of school or other personal commitments.

“Every past recipient has brought something unique and valuable to the role,” said Fry.

The City formerly had a youth action team, which provides youths with an opportunity to share suggestions and concerns with council. Like many things, that team folded during COVID, but now the City is trying to revive it. Those interested can reach out to the City for more details.