Mount Pearl mystery played out through St. John’s library

By Mark Squibb | Mar. 18, 2021

Amateur sleuths who have already re-read all their Agatha Christie novels during the lock down and are looking for a new thrill, along with first-time detectives alike, might consider tuning into a Morrigan Mystery Evenings virtual murder mystery game.

The most recent game was hosted by A.C. Hunter Library last week and was accessible, free-of-charge, to anyone with a library card and an internet connection.

Participants get to watch the improvised drama unfold, as a host of characters accuse one another of the murder of a local man. Of course, everyone is a suspect, and everyone seems to have a motive. So, whodunit? That’s for the audience to discover, as they themselves interact with the characters, ask questions, and formulate a solution.

Because of the interaction between participants and actors, the drama is more interactive and less predictable than a typical staged production.

“We would have improvised scenes where we knew what the outcome had to be, but we didn’t know the path we would use to get there,” said Christine Hennebury of Morrigan Mystery Evenings. “While there may be some difference from performance to performance, a scripted play is just that — it’s scripted. And while a different director or a different actor may bring out different nuances, the order of how things are going to go is already laid out. In ours, what we have, is that each actor has been given a character and just a few elements that they have to include. They know whether or not they’re the murderer. And they know that they have maybe five pieces of information that they have to share during the course of the discussion. They can’t just come up to someone and say, ‘Jim over there used to throw rocks at people, and you’ll notice that the weapon was a rock.’ You can’t do that. So, they have to come up with a little story about Jim and the rock throwing and hope that the people that they’re talking to pick up on it. So, we’re leaving it up to the audience to connect the dots, and the actors have a lot more freedom in how they deliver these things.

“As long as it doesn’t contradict the basic storyline we’ve established, we can really run with things, because we never know what the audience is going to ask us. They’re wondering about things the characters’ mothers said to them or who they sat next to in Geography in high school. I’m always astounded by our audiences’ imaginations and where they end up with their information is amazing. They should all be working on murder mysteries.”

Hennebury’s own character for the night was created on-the-fly.

“My character was supposed to be completely different,” said Hennebury. “But because I had trouble with my internet and whatnot, I was frantic by the time I signed in. So, I was inventing who my character was as I was talking. It was a coincidence that I happened to lean too close to the camera, and I thought, ‘I look ridiculous— my character is going to do this the whole time,’ so, I just ran with it in that moment. She was supposed to be much more reserved and held back, but instead I decided to lean right into her weirdness that I accidentally started.”

The current incarnation of the Mount Pearl-based Morrigan Mystery Evening group started in 2010, but Hennebury said she has been putting off murder mysteries in one form or another for the past 20 years.

“People like to solve a contained problem,” she said. “There is an awful lot of things in the world, problems and issues and whatnot, and they don’t have easy solutions.

“People have great problem-solving skills, but it may not be enough to solve this bigger problem. I think there’s something relaxing about coming into a situation that’s all contained, and you know no one is in actual danger, there is no peril for a wrong decision, and all you have to do is focus on these pieces and put it together like a puzzle. So, you get to use these skills that you have, that you enjoy using. And the solution is fun to come up with. And also, it really doesn’t matter in the big picture.”

Morrigan Mystery Evenings has been putting off virtual murder mystery games, most of which are free, throughout the pandemic.

Like other artists and performers, they have had to adopt to the COVID-19 restrictions which have shut down theatres, bars, and other performance spaces.

“There are a lot of people struggling,” said Hennebury, who also serves as chairperson of the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl (AAMP). “Being able to do things through Zoom, or over the phone, or on Facebook Live, that’s one thing. But it is not the same as what they were doing before. People are struggling to do the things that are most satisfying for them. This is how they spend their lives, and it’s very jarring that there’s no way possible way to continue as they did before. And I think people are innovating and coping extremely well, but there’s still something missing, even as they do these things online.”

Hennebury suggested that, apart from buying art produced by local artists, those who wish to support the arts during the pandemic have a whole host of options available to them, from promoting artists, reviewing their work, offering to collaborate on projects, and supporting organizations that support the arts.

Meanwhile, the next mystery will be hosted in partnership with AAMP towards the end of April.

Coming together in prayer and faith

By Chris Lewis | Mar. 11, 2021

Mount Pearl’s ministerial community has gathered together to spread positivity and fellowship in the face of last month’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Noting that students and staff at Mount Pearl Senior in particular were facing a bit of a backlash from some people because much of the outbreak seemed to be based in the city, Mount Pearl’s ministerial community set out to put a balm on the negativity with some spiritual guidance and words of compassion.

Rev. David Burrows of the Anglican Parish of the Ascension said the leaders of the city’s eight different congregations tend to get together as a group around this time each year to put together a joint service for the annual Frosty Festival. The pandemic, of course, has nixed large social gatherings. But after seeing what was happening to the students and staff at MPSH, the church leaders became determined to find a way to move ahead, and so they recorded an online service that anyone in the community can attend “virtually.”

“We wanted to offer some prayer, some reflection, and a piece about hope for the high school community, and the whole of the city as well. There’s virtually nobody in Mount Pearl who has not been affected by this in some way,” Burrows said.

The nearly 20-minute video includes contributions from a number of figures in the city’s religious community as well as a handful of special appearances.  Some of the participants include Burrows himself, Rev. Barbara Boone of the Parish of the Good Shepherd, Father Wayne Dohey of St. Peter’s Parish and Mary Queen of the World Parish, Salvation Army Major Morgan Hillier, and Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker, all bringing words of kindness and positivity in their own way.

The video can be found via YouTube, titled “Ministerial Prayer Service.”

The goal, Rev. Burrows said, was to lift people’s spirits during a time when many are feeling the negative effects of lockdown. He noted that even during a pandemic, and perhaps especially so, he and the province’s other religious leaders need to stand as people of hope.

“With various mental health issues and anxieties going on during this pandemic, people can sometimes find themselves in a state of hopelessness or depression,” Rev. Burrows said. “So, we wanted to reach out to folks during this time and say ‘Yes, this is bad, but there are always things that we can be hopeful about.’”

Rev. Burrowns said he hopes the words in the video serve to remind people that, despite how it may feel to some, this pandemic is only temporary.

“Unfortunately, this can be a pretty dark and chaotic time for people if they choose to wallow in it, but I think, even when we can’t do things that we once used to do, there are so many things that we can do. (This prayer service) is about being appreciative of the small things in life that we may not have paid attention to in the same way before the pandemic,” said the minister.

Scary stuff

By Mark Squibb | Mar. 11, 2021

The Woman in The Attic, a psychological thriller by Mount Pearl author Emily Hepditch, has been voted this year’s NL Reads contest winner.

“It’s been my dream to be a writer since I was a little girl,” said Hepditch, an O’Donel High School graduate. “So, just having the book published is the biggest dream completed. To be nominated for NL Reads was the win for me. To be alongside the amazing writers who were also up for the award, I felt so honoured and humbled. That was a win alone, a win in and of itself. And then to win, on top of that, I was completely mind blown.”

Other authors up for the title were Gemma Hickey, Douglas Walbourne-Gough, and Séan McCann with Andrea Aragon.

Hepditch, an avid fan of psychological thriller writers such as Lisa Jewel and Gillian Flynn, describes the novel as a traditional psychological thriller set in Newfoundland, inspired in part by road trips around the province.

“One of the things that really struck me the summer I wrote it was how haunting the geography is in Newfoundland,” said Hepditch. “You can go to any kind of abandoned or resettled community and see these salt box homes that are left there to rot. And I thought, ‘What a perfect setting for a thriller.’ Because honestly, it’s creepy, but still so hauntingly beautiful. I thought that the setting could be a character in and of itself.”

The genre could be described as a psychological narrative, largely dealing with a character’s innerworkings and understanding of the world as it appears to be, in a thriller setting. They often share elements of mystery, Gothic, and horror fiction, including murder, paranoia, and family secrets.

“I think everybody likes a good scare from time to time,” said Hepditch. “I think it was a book that appealed to a lot of readers, young and old. It’s a book people can pick up and feel the thrills.”

The story revolves around a young woman who returns home to help her mother transition into assisted living and discovers that her mom, and maybe even the very home, hold dangerous secrets.

Written in August of 2019 and published in April of 2020, the novel was released just as Newfoundland and Labrador was entering its first COVID-19 lockdown — and looking for books to read.

“People have told me that it’s been a distraction,” said Hepditch. “People, over the course of quarantine, have said, ‘This has been a nice break from my current reality.’”

Hepditch, who has since released a second novel, a thriller that follows four friends on a hiking trip that turns dangerous, shared some advice for those interested in pursing a career in writing.

“The best thing to do is build your network,” said Hepditch. “So, we have an amazing network, the Writer’s Alliance of Newfoundland. I strongly encourage anybody to join, even if you’re at the very earliest stages of your writing career, because it really does provide you with a support system. Because other writers want to support each other.”

She also recommended that aspiring writers be willing to step outside their comfort zone to make their voices heard.

“It’s a long road to get published. And, it can be very lonely and very scary, but at the end of the deal, if you have a story you feel compelled to tell, you’ve got to fight for an opportunity to tell it, so don’t give up,” said Hepditch. “Everybody who has a story to tell deserves the opportunity to share it.”

Mount Pearl-Paradise Skating Club celebrates another win

By Mark Squibb | Mar. 11, 2021

Perry Dalton is a staple of the Mount Pearl-Paradise Skating Club, but that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, he jokes heartily about his start at the club.

“I started out many, many years ago by bringing my daughter to the rink to learn how to skate, and I started to move some tables and chairs when need be, and someone said, ‘Sure, he’d be good on the executive if he can do that,’” said Dalton.

“I must have moved that table to the right spot.”

That was 18 years ago. Today, Dalton is club treasurer and director of registration (but will still move tables and chairs if he has too) and is a recent recipient of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, an award which recognises exceptional volunteers across Canada.

“I’m very honoured to have been nominated by my peers at the club,” said Dalton, who has been the receipt of numerous awards over the years, including, recently, the Skate Canada Volunteer of Excellence - Newfoundland and Labrador Award.

“I’m only as good as our club. I accepted this award, and I’ve accepted many awards, always on behalf of our club, on behalf of our cultures, our other executive members, our parents and our skaters.

Dalton, who hails from Cape Broyle originally, says all volunteers are an integral part of the community.

“We need a rink, we need coaches, and then we need a volunteer group,” he said, using the skating club as an example. “If people like us, the parents, don’t volunteer, then there won’t be anything there for our kids to go too. I’ve always felt that everyone has to do something. If everyone did a little bit to pitch in, it makes it easier for everyone.”

Dalton’s tips for anybody looking to start volunteering is just that; start volunteering.

“I started moving tables and chairs, that was pretty simple,” he said. “And then someone said, ‘Well, maybe he can help with this, or maybe he can sell some tickets, or maybe he can be in the door to guide people when they come in.’ At the end of the day, it’s about being friendly, being polite and being always there to help.”

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.