Thoughts and cheers

By Chris Lewis | Mar. 11, 2021

When students at Mount Pearl Senior High found themselves in the middle of a Covid-19 storm last month, a class of younger students at Saint Matthew’s School in nearby Cowan Heights found a way to let them know they were thinking about them.

Each of the students in Stephen Spratt’s Grade 6 class took time out of their days to draw a husky, the MPSH mascot, and hold their work up to a webcam to share. Spratt took a quick screenshot of each student’s art, and tweeted it out to the students and staff in Mount Pearl.

“You hear about some of the sad things being said to those students, and I thought this would be a fun, quick, easy activity I could have the students do,” Spratt said. “Even if just one person saw it on Twitter, that’s what we wanted.”

The message they wanted to send was simple, he said.

“We’re all here in this together, and we’re here for you,” Spratt said, adding that his students hoped it, at the very least, brightened the day of some of the older students and the staff. “Hopefully this small gesture will bring a bit of light to all this negativity.”

Spratt said things like this can be especially beneficial to young students in a time like this, when they are isolated in their homes and unable to see anybody aside from the online classmates on Zoom.

This positive outlook is something he tries to embed in all his students, Spratt said, with things like “fuzzy Fridays” where he shows his class things such as a video of some talented youth around the world that he believes will inspire them to be the best versions of themselves.

He said the students were more than happy to collaborate on this positivity project, even going on to add their own little flourishes to their drawings after the fact to make them more personal.

“I think a reason why they all jumped on board with it so quickly is because they know that one little thing can lead to much bigger things,” Spratt said. “Them drawing those pictures, that’s what they were trying to show. One show of kindness and positivity can have a big impact.”

MPSH alumni on the forefront of Mount Pearl COVID-19 testing

By Mark Squibb | Mar. 11, 2021

Husky blood runs deep in June Tavenor, a Mount Pearl Senior High alumni who has been aiding the fight against COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak.

Most recently, her and her team at Catalyst Health Solutions have been on the forefront collecting blood samples for COVID testing.

“When the variant showed up, and we had this big surge out of Mount Pearl Senior High, that was something that I was really excited to be able to help with,” said Tavenor. “It was a full circle kind of moment, coming out of Mount Pearl Senior High myself. I graduated there in 1997, and have super Husky Pride, so it was really rewarding for us to provide that service.”

Having graduated and lived in and worked in Mount Pearl, Tavenor often has personal connections with those she is helping.

“When I was trying to get into nursing school, I went to work at the Tim Hortons there right next to the high school. And the man that owns that Tim Hortons wrote my reference letter to get into nursing school. And then, he had a couple of his employees who needed to be tested, and I was able to do the test for them,” she said.

Other than Tavenor, there’s five members of the Catalyst team who have a Husky heritage. One has a daughter who currently attends the school, and Tavenor’s son will feed into the school.

Tavenor has been a registered nurse for over 15 years. After graduating from Memorial University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Nursing degree, she worked for five years at a Level One trauma facility in Toronto before moving back home in 2010 after the birth of her son, where she formed Catalyst in 2016.

During the pandemic, the clinic has been offering both educational sessions and testing to battle against COVID-19.

“We were able to pivot quickly when COVID-19 hit,” said Tavenor. “So, even though we were already doing nursing and medical support services, we were then able to turn the focus to the COVID-19 response.”

Hailing from Mount Pearl Senior High, Tavenor beams with pride when addressing her Husky heritage.

“We’ve had some pretty influential people who are alumni,” said Tavenor. “In fact, one of the people in Dr. (Janice) Fitzgerald’s office, who is one of the key epidemiologists, was one of my classmates. So, even though it might feel like everybody is taking aim at Mount Pearl, and Mount Pearl Senior High in particular right now, we turn out a pretty good product. So, stand fast, everything is going to be just fine.”

Facing some backlash, but staying strong, together

By Chris Lewis | Mar. 11, 2021

The co-student council presidents at Mount Pearl Senior High say the school’s brush with fame because of a Covid-19 outbreak was difficult at times, but it’s served to bring the study body and staff together.

The school was at the epicentre last month of the province’s second major outbreak since the new coronavirus started spreading throughout the world. While that outbreak actually seemed to involve several clusters and included cases in most of the high schools on the Avalon, the students and staff of MPSH were hit the hardest.

Aaron Norris and Victoria Vaters said while it has been roughly a month since the outbreak was first reported, and much of the stigma has passed, it still feels at times as though some people want to point the blame at them and their fellow students.

Norris said when the cases started to rise, he heard a lot of anxiety from the students around him, but with a nearly four-week ‘circuit breaker’ from classes following the outbreak, those feelings are starting to quell.

But, he said, they are definitely still there.

The backlash from some people came as a shock to students.

“A lot of students came to me,” Norris said. “They were saying they were afraid to go out and represent our school, wear their school merchandise including their graduation hoodies in public. That was hard for me to hear because those hoodies are supposed to represent everything you’ve accomplished at school, the fact that you made it. If people are afraid to wear that out in public, well, that troubles me.”

Vaters is happy to say that stigma students were feeling has begun to dissipate, but admitted she did hear similar things as Norris.

Vaters said even doing something as simple as going through a drive-thru while wearing their school’s colours would sometimes result in students being at the receiving end of angry looks and snide comments.

“(People would say) our school was responsible for the whole outbreak, but I mean, it wasn’t really anybody’s individual fault,” she said. “Everyone was following the protocols and measures. It’s unfortunate that it was our school, but it would have been unfortunate if it was any school, which it could have been.”

While Vaters and Norris have not experienced much of the backlash personally, they have been approached by several students about it.

As a result, both co-presidents found themselves providing advice to many of their friends and fellow students about how to handle such encounters, and how to work on overcoming the anxiety that might follow those situations.

The most important thing to Vaters was making sure the students did not try to fight fire with fire. Being the subject of a snarky comment in a grocery store, she said, does not have to be retaliated by making a snarky comment in return.

“That’s not going to get anyone anywhere,” she said. “It’s just important to inform those people that we did what everyone else was doing, following the protocols. I think (some) people just feel the need to place blame, especially since there’s still so much unknown. Really, this could have happened to anybody or any group of people.”

Norris, who is responsible for doing the school’s morning announcements, has been using online platforms like Instagram to carry that out while the school continues with online classes. Through these announcements, Norris has done what he could to spread some positivity to the rest of the student body, especially now when he feels they need it most.

Through it all, the co-presidents said, the negativity the school experienced only solidifies what it means to be a Mount Pearl Senior High Husky: sticking together as students and remaining positive.

“Some of the people I’ve met in that school are just some of the smartest and brightest young men and women that you’d ever get a chance to meet,” said Norris. “They all have so many bright futures ahead of them. And the staff too are just so supportive. They’re always there helping the students along and going that extra mile. That, to me, is what being a Husky is all about.”

Blues named regional finalists for good deeds competition

By Chris Lewis | Feb. 18, 2021

The Mount Pearl City Tire Blues have passed the first qualifying round in the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup.

The promotion, in conjunction with Hockey Night in Canada, aims to take the sportsmanship and teamwork young athletes learn on the rink as hockey players and spread it beyond the ice and into their respective communities.

The winner of this national competition will receive a $100,000 donation to a charity of its choice.

The Mount Pearl City Tire Blues are one of 11 regional finalists announced this past weekend.

The recognition comes with a $2,000 donation to a charity of their choice, but the Blues hope to take it to the next level.

Last year, it was the Northeast Eagles from Torbay that came out of the Good Deeds Cup as champions after fundraising some $21,500 for the Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Centre. Their success ultimately resulted in an extra $100,000 being donated to that charity.

Roary MacPherson, manager of the Blues, said the team has put a lot of thought into their pitch thus far, and it has clearly proven to be a solid plan.

He said the Blues players and parents recognized the mental health impacts that a pandemic like this, and the isolation that comes with it, can have on younger people.

“The common theme they brought up was just about having someone to talk to,” MacPherson said. “They said finding someone to talk to can be a bit of a challenge for young people sometimes. Some just don’t know where to go to find that, or not being comfortable talking to certain people in their lives.”

From there, he said they started doing a little research on the Kids’ Help Phone and found how beneficial it can be.

“They thought it was a great tool,” he said. “It gives a chance to talk for many kids, the majority of whom have cell phones these days.”

MacPherson said voting for the champion of the competition is continuing until Feb. 24. Anyone looking to vote can do so at www.chevroletgooddeedscup.ca.

Mount Pearl finds new "maestro" for City Hall

By Chris Lewis | Jan. 28, 2021

The City of Mount Pearl has officially replaced former Chief Administrative Officer Steve Kent.

Since September of 2020, the City has been carrying out the process of finding a new CAO with the help of recruitment firm Knightsbridge Robinson Surrette. This is due to the departure of Kent after an extensive human resources investigation, for which an appeal is still ongoing.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, councillor Bill Antle reported the City is hiring Dana Spurrell.

Antle said there was an extensive search carried out by the City, involving 150 applicants from across Canada, only a number of whom were met and interviewed by a selection committee of council members.

Spurrell is a former executive in the provincial government with over 25-years of experience, according to Antle.

“Her leadership, expertise and labour standards, labour relations, and workforce attraction will be instrumental in moving our City forward,” Antle said.

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke described it as a great day that added a sense of excitement throughout City Hall.

“Running a city is a collaborative process that requires teamwork, patience, and perseverance” Locke said. “One thing we do have here in this city, and around this table, is a high degree of teamwork and respect for each other. So, Dana is joining a very good team.”

Locke said that in recruiting a new CAO, the City was looking for two things: someone who is supportive and growth-oriented.

“We already have a good orchestra here, we just need a maestro to lead them in the right direction, and I think (Dana) is going to be the perfect maestro,” Locke added. “As we all know, the last two years have been challenges for the City, but we’re here to focus on the positive outlook today.”

Councillor Isabelle Fry said Spurrell’s “empowering approach to leadership” makes her the right choice for the City. Fry described the hiring process as gruelling and was happy to see an end result that everyone could agree on.

Mayor Dave Aker agreed the past two years brought unique challenges.

“No one person runs the entire show,” Aker said. “This is the entire Mount Pearl team here as we speak. The last 18-months have been a struggle, and yet we have delivered services in a way that only Mount Pearl can deliver them: according to our standards, but adapted to the circumstances. So, I give credit to all of our staff today.”

Aker thanked City Clerk Mona Lewis for stepping in to fill the void as acting CAO while the city conducted its candidate search.

“Throughout the storm that we experienced in the last 18-months, there was this calm leadership, this voice of honesty, integrity, and professionalism,” Aker said, referring to Lewis. “I sit here as a friend, and say thank you on behalf of all the citizens of Mount Pearl, as well as the council and your colleagues here at the table … You showed this council what we want and appreciate in a CAO.”

Blades peewee manager happy for chance to celebrate Minor Hockey Week

By Chris Lewis | Jan. 28, 2021

According to Mount Pearl Blade Minor Hockey Association volunteer Roary MacPherson, minor hockey programs in the community can do wonders for the youth.

MacPherson serves as team manager for the City Tire peewee team and has held that position for about three years.

He said that minor hockey organizations are beneficial to any community, as participation keeps young people active and introduces them to new hobbies and friends.

“It plays a big factor in how they progress into adulthood,” MacPherson said, as the Blades organization, likes minor hockey groups across the province, prepared to celebrate Minor Hockey Week last week. “They learn to play with a team. They develop and maintain really great friendships over the years, and it just teaches them so many important life skills: how to listen, how to show respect and how to put yourself in a position to get where you want to be.”

MacPherson said that many people like him volunteer for minor hockey teams because they love the sport. Another big motivator for him personally is that it’s a chance to spend time with his son Luke.

And he has seen the benefit of minor hockey in his son first hand, MacPherson said.

When he first got involved in hockey, MacPherson noted, Luke tried his best but was not immediately seeing the kind of results he wanted. But it didn’t take long before he started to see improvements, which MacPherson said teaches a valuable lesson for youth and adults.

“Seeing that kind of progression over the years, it makes you feel great because they feel great,” MacPherson said. “I’m a big believer in trying to improve upon everyone’s experience. My role as manager is to make sure every player on that team has the best year possible. On our team, we do our best to make every year one to remember.”

That beginning-to-end progression is what makes MacPherson so passionate about minor hockey in Mount Pearl.

“That’s something I’m happy to be a part of,” he said. “At the end of the year, when they see how much they’ve achieved and how much they’ve improved, it’s a great feeling for all of us.”

MacPherson said Covid19-related social distancing restrictions has had a big impact on minor hockey, even more so outside Newfoundland where some provinces have had to postpone play altogether.  

He applauded Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador's efforts, and the Mount Pearl Blades organization, for putting together this year’s COVID-19 plan for getting back on the ice.

“It’s not the way it was years past, when you’d go to the rink, and it would be packed,” MacPherson said. “This year, with the necessary restrictions, teams are going to look a bit different…Only two parents are allowed (in the rink) at a time. But, every coach and every manager is working hard to make sure we all follow the rules in this plan as we hopefully make some strides forward.”

Despite the circumstances, MacPherson said it’s good to see games going ahead in any capacity.

“Not all kids are into hockey or basketball, but as long as you can find an activity that a kid loves and enjoys playing, that’s a very important part of any young person’s life,” he said.

COVID-19 provided chance to run for PC candidate

By Chris Lewis | Jan. 21, 2021

Long-time Mount Pearl resident Cindy Grant is taking her first dive into politics with an optimistic attitude.

Grant has spent her entire life in and around Mount Pearl. She grew up and attended school in Mount Pearl and raised her children there. She now lives in adjacent South Brook and said she is exceptionally proud of the area.

Grant, who is running for the Progressive Conservatives in the District of Mount Pearl – Southlands, said she believes her personality is a good fit for the role, describing herself as a very outgoing person who is “always up for a chat.” She said many people know her for her distinct and robust voice.

Grant said that she has been doing her best to help people in and around the area for the last two decades, having dedicated herself to volunteerism.

“I just want to be the voice that people in our community can depend on and trust,” she said. “That’s why I decided to do it.”

Grant works in the airline industry, which has been facing some hardships over the last year due to COVID-19. It meant there was likely not going to be a better time for Grant to give politics a shot. It’s something she said she has wanted to do for quite a while.

“I said to myself, ‘Cindy, this is a sign — this is your chance to show everybody what you can do and what you’re made of.”

Grant said she has a deep love for the area and said the process for tackling its issues boils down to one tactic: listening to the people.

“I’ve been listening and solving problems for 14 years,” she said.

Grant said business development in the district needs a shot in the arm, arguing that constituents want to work where they live. That’s why job creation, one of the main planks of the PC platform, is so important, she argued. The concerns of rotational workers are an essential part of her campaign platform as well, she said. In her line of work, Grant said, she has spoken to many rotational workers and has become intimately familiar with their struggles, especially during the pandemic.

“Having to leave for months at a time to provide for their families, and then COVID-19 hit,” she said. “Watching what they had to deal with – flying in and out. But the way the government treated them during this pandemic, it’s literally heartbreaking … As far as I’m concerned, our rotational workers contribute a lot to our community and our economy. I really want to be their voice, because it’s something I feel I’d be fantastic at.”

Grant the PCs are ready to tackle such issues.

“We need to get to work and bring back jobs to our province and communities,” said Grant. “I absolutely believe in (the PC party). We have to improve our economy for our families and for the kids so that they can actually stay here and live secure lives.”

Grant said she will be hitting the streets and knocking on doors once her campaign literature is printed.

“I just want to encourage the people of Mount Pearl and Southlands to come forward to me with their issues and needs,” Grant said. “I’m a very one-on-one person, and I just hope that they feel as though they can reach out to me.”

Grant said she feels people want change in Newfoundland and Labrador. Although this may be a difficult time to hold an election, she said she feels the province is still in a pretty good place compared to other parts of the country. She applauded the efforts of Newfoundlanders for keeping COVID-19 numbers low.

Grant highlighted the critical role that special ballots will play this year, adding that those who do not feel comfortable with the regular voting process can cast their votes early and by mail.

“That’s something I’ll be reaching out to our seniors about, for sure,” she said. “It’s a great option that people can take advantage of.”

One time critic lauds City's wetlands effort

By Chris Lewis | Jan. 21, 2021

World Wetlands Day is quickly approaching, and one Mount Pearl resident has some words of wisdom for the City.

Tuesday, February 2nd will mark the 50th anniversary of World Wetlands Day - a celebration of the world’s natural resources and the environment as a whole. This is not something that the City of Mount Pearl has forgotten about in years gone by, partly thanks to the efforts of local resident Brian O’Keefe.

O’Keefe has, over the last few years, gotten himself involved in the monitoring of the Waterford River because of the flooding that would occur post-storm. From that, his involvement developed into a passion for wetland areas and the impact they can have on municipalities. He says he has not stopped since, and has spent plenty of time over the last seven years or so involved with the local wetlands in any way he could.

Each year, O’Keefe sends in a reminder to City council about World Wetlands Day, ensuring that they are not only keeping a watchful eye over the Waterford River area, but also remaining aware of its importance to the City’s well being.

Wetlands regions are responsible for the presence of biodiversity, O’Keefe explained, but more pertinent to cities like Mount Pearl, keep water clean, and prevent flooding by reducing the amount of water sent downstream along the River.

With World Wetlands Day right around the corner, O’Keefe saw it as a good opportunity to harp on his message about ensuring the safety of local wetlands.

“We have to embrace and respect our wetland areas for the next generation,” O’Keefe said. “I can often be critical of different things, but I have to give some kudos to the City of Mount Pearl.”

O’Keefe said that the City has been doing a pretty solid job of maintaining its wetlands regions, and keeping it safe.

He explained that the water coming into the streams in the City come directly from Galway, specifically Donovan’s Industrial Park. He said there is storm water coming from Galway, which eventually flows into Mount Pearl through the Park.

“It will come down through (the City) and go own by the chicken farm, where it turns into a river system and continues all the way down Commonwealth Avenue,” O’Keefe explained.

This constant cycle is beneficial for the City, but can easily be impeded by developments in and around the City. Generally, O’Keefe said, this has not been too much of an issue in Mount Pearl, but they are not entirely off the hook.

“About three or four years ago, the City packaged a major development for Kenmount Hill … There are two wetlands up there, which are right on the corner of a playground,” O’Keefe said. “They want to push through one of those wetland areas to increase the development. It’s been a challenge.”

That being said, O’Keefe is generally happy with the City’s handling of wetlands and the environment in general.

“They’ve tidied up around the Waterford River, cleaned it all up, put down some sods for grass, and extended on an area where residents can go down and plant some vegetables,” O’Keefe added. “And that’s all adjacent to the Waterford River. It’s something everyone can enjoy, but also something everyone needs to be aware of and respect. Like everything else, it will grow and last with those things.”

No city by-election until appeals by Ledwell and Power are heard

By Chris Lewis | Jan/ 14, 2021

Despite two vacancies on council, Mount Pearl residents need not expect a by-election anytime soon.

At Tuesday’s public meeting, councillor Bill Antle raised the issue, noting the concerns that have been raised about it in the community.

The vacancies date back to last June when councillors Andrea Power and Andrew Ledwell saw their seats declared vacant by their colleagues amid allegations they had privately discussed a Human Resources investigation with its subject, the then Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Steve Kent. He too was fired by council.

Current CAO Mona Lewis explained that because both Ledwell and Power have filed appeals against the City’s decision to vacate their seats, a by-election cannot be held until the matter is settled.

“The matter is now going through the courts,” Lewis said. “We have reached out to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and received approval to defer the election, either until the appeals are heard and gotten a decision there, or a year since the seats were vacated, which was June 30.”

Beyond that, Lewis could not provide any further information.

Mayor Dave Aker said the City secured legal counsel as it made its way through the court process, but did not know whether this would be considered fast or slow for a usual court appeal.

“We can speak as to what has happened in terms of the timelines and where it’s going, but in terms of any decisions that are forthcoming down the road, we can’t speak to that,” Aker said. “We await the results of the proceedings.”

Councillor Lucy Stoyles noted that Mount Pearl was not the first municipality to experience this kind of situation.

“Until everything is set, we cannot have a by-election and fill two seats,” she said. “That’s up to the courts to decide if those two councillors could win their case and come back. So, that’s why we cannot just fill a seat. We don’t know yet what a judge is going to say about if the seat is vacant or not.”

Lewis noted the matter is scheduled for court on Thursday, February 3.

That, Deputy Mayor Jim Locke added, is when they hope to set an actual date to hear the appeal before the court.

Young musician uses talents to spread some cheer

By Kyle Reid | Dec. 22, 2020

Alexander Taylor just wanted to do a little good over the holiday season, and the best way he knew how was through music.

Taylor, 12-years-old from Mount Pearl, held an online Christmas benefit concert called ‘Merry and Bright’ on Sunday, Nov. 28 in support of the Gathering Place. The young musician, who has began playing since the age of five on the piano, performed a few Christmas classics for viewers on Facebook who were more than happy to donate for his effort.

As of Friday, Dec. 4, donations were still rolling in to the Gathering Place, which continued to tally the contributions, meaning Taylor isn’t quite sure how many donations he has yet. But, every bit helps the good cause, he said.

“(The Gathering Place) was really happy for me doing this and they appreciated everything,” Taylor said.

Taylor was just as happy to be able to help out.

“It felt really good,” said Taylor. “It makes me feel really good inside to help others.”

Normally, Taylor said he would volunteer to perform live music for charity events during the holidays. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, Taylor decided to host a virtual concert this year.

The effect of the pandemic on charitable organizations was a major motive behind the concert, Taylor said. He noted that he chose to support the Gathering Place simply because he felt the organization’s work is important to the metro community.

“I like what they’re doing — their work for the less fortunate,” said Taylor.

And while the Gathering Place will be able to make good use of Alex’s fundraising ability, he hopes that his music can bring all people a little bit of cheer over the holidays.

“Music and stuff, it helps the soul be happy,” said Taylor. “When I play music, I feel like others are happy.”

Taylor’s concert can be viewed on his Facebook page, Alex Taylor Music, and can still donate to the Merry and Bright fundraiser by calling 709-753-3234 ext. 211.