Aker lays out City's plans at chamber luncheon

By Mark Squibb/June 2, 2022

For the first time in over two years, members of the Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce gathered in person for an annual Mayor’s Outlook lunch.

Last Thursday, Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker spoke to members gathered at the Mount Pearl Soccer Hut, highlighting some of the City’s recent achievements and future endeavours.

As was announced in its budget for 2022, the City is moving ahead with a new municipal plan. Aker also doubled down on the City’s commitment to the ‘Find Your Centre’ renewal plan — despite discussion in council chambers earlier this year as to whether certain aspects of the plan, mainly signage, were too large of an upfront cost. The City has contracted Mills & Wright and Fougere Menchenton respectively to design centre city zone-defining signage and multifunctional mobile kiosks. As a part of the renewal plan, Mount Perl hopes to establish a trail network connection point within Donovans.

Asker also restated the City’s commitment to developing Kenmount Hill, a plan that has drawn the ire of some residents along nearby Wyatt Blvd and a multiplicity of side streets of cul-de-sacs, who fear their quiet residential neighborhood will become a bustling mixed-zone.

“Kenmount Hill is the only remaining undeveloped land in Mount Pearl – and we are currently working through infrastructure design and capacity assessments to fully understand the untapped potential of this area, so we can make informed decisions and ensure strong, sustainable development for the future,” Aker said.

The development scheme for Kenmount Hill was announced in 2018, but was largely sidelined by COVID-19.

Looking again to the future, Aker said population growth is a large component of the new economic development strategy Mount Pearl is undertaking. He noted staff are busy participating in diversity and inclusion workshops and completing the Immigration Policies Certificate program to better welcome newcomers — including Ukrainian families – whom the City is extending a warm welcome to, in collaboration with the provincial Department of Immigration, Population Growth, and Skills.

Aker also touched on the City’s recent purchase of accessible playground equipment for St. David’s Park.

“The new equipment being installed this year will ensure youth of all abilities have an equitable opportunity to just be themselves as they play in a safe outdoor space designed to inspire imagination, enhanced with augmented reality features,” said Aker.

Aker also raised hope for a new civic centre.

“With public consultations on possible features of the new facility completed last year, community feedback is being considered and incorporated into plans for a proposed 18,000 square foot facility,” said the mayor. “The City is in the process of selecting an owner’s advisor for this important work, who will help us advance the RFP (request for proposals, or bidding process) for construction – we are hoping to start in 2023.”

Aker anticipates the centre will include theatre/performance space, dedicated space and storage for community groups, and the hottest municipal must-have of recent years — a splash pad, which will also function as a skating rink during the winter months.

Aker added that as a result of recommendations from the City’s Business Advisory Committee, in August Mount Pearl will begin hosting Thursday night events such as dessert nights or 5-kilometre runs.

Aker said the initiatives the City is undertaking to support the business community include video tourism content, Energy Efficiency grants of $5,000 to help businesses go green, and the Upgrade to Mount Pearl initiative, which the City hopes will attract both local and foreign investment.

To the question of climate change, Aker threw the City’s support behind the oil and gas industry, but cautioned that “as oil and gas is changing to adapt, with the industry focused on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, so must we.”

He reminded folks that in 2019, the city adopted a Climate Change Action Plan, with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 per cent by 2025.

“To help achieve that, we have begun the important work of upgrading lighting in city facilities such as the Glacier, Tennis Complex, and City Hall with LED lighting,” said Aker. “We will continue to replace all lighting with LED over time, which lowers our greenhouse gas emissions, and results in long-term cost savings to the City. With respect to the City’s fleet, investments have already been made in electric and hybrid vehicles. The City currently has one electric and five hybrid vehicles in its fleet. We have proactively installed electric vehicle charging stations at several city buildings and facilities including City Hall, the Summit Centre, the Glacier, and the Campia Gymnastics building. And, a free app called PlugShare can be used to check on the status of any of these electric charging stations at any time.”

He added that through a composting pilot program, the City was able to divert 1,100 pounds of waste from landfills last year, and that over 100 residents have expressed interest in the program this year.

Aker closed his address by highlighting upcoming events, including City Days, a City of Mount Pearl Tourism Opportunities Session on June 15, and— though it’s a ways off yet— the return of the Frosty Festival.

St. John’s South-Mount Pearl MP Seamus O’Regan presents Mount Pearl Senior High student Claire Dinn with the Youth Volunteer of the Year award during last week’s Focus on Youth award gala. Mark Squibb photo

Mount Pearl celebrated the contributions of its younger citizens to the life of the city during the Focus on Youth Awards last week. Among those on hand were, from left: Youth of the Year Isabella Burry, Mayor Dave Aker, Youth of the Year Jason Hunt, and Karen Rossiter, sister of John Rossiter, for whom the Youth of the Year Award is named. Mark Squibb photo

Recycling good for the environment, and for the bank balance

By Mark Squibb/May 26, 2022

We know that recycling can reduce landfill waste and prevent pollution, but it can also save you a few dollars too— in a couple of different ways.

During last week’s public meeting of council, councillor Jim Locke noted that the City had to pay over $43,160 in tipping fees for March alone.

“This is for 566 tonnes of garbage,” said Locke. “We’ve spoken about this, Mr. Mayor, multiple times here, but we’re paying $82 a tonne for garbage at the Robin Hood Bay Facility and $22 for recycling. So, it’s much more cost effective if we can recycle all the items that are recyclable.”

He noted that the City has a diversion rate of about 13 percent (A diversion rate measures how much waste is not sent to a landfill, but is instead diverted to recycling plants or elsewhere) but that an optimal diversion rate, which can be achieved if more folks recycle, would be around 27 or 28 per cent.

“So, we’re paying $82 for recyclables when we could be saving $60,” said Locke.

He said that in years prior the City has run successful recycling campaigns, which helped increase the diversion rate and save the City some dollars, and that the City is once again considering that approach.

“We’re going to be looking at an education program to remind our residents not only the impact that recycling has on our environment, obviously, but that this landfill out there has a life expectancy, and the more we can keep out of that, the longer we can keep this waste management facility open, and then that of course will prevent us from having to find another site at another cost,” said Locke.

Councillor Bill Antle added that Mount Pearl pays the City of St. John’s roughly $500,000 annually in tipping fees.

Locke agreed with Antle’s assessment.

“Not only will it save the environment, but it will certainly save in our pocketbook as well,” Locke concluded.

Mount Pearl native Jack Ryall was raising money recently for the Canadian Red Cross in support of Ukrainian refugees. Canadian Red Cross spokesperson Gloria Warren Slade says Newfoundlanders have been generous in their support for the people who have had to flee their homes because of the war. Here Ryall mans his booth at Dominion Supermarket in Mount Pearl. Craig Westcott photo

City Days, other big events returning to the Pearl this summer

By Mark Squibb/May 26, 2022

The City of Mount Pearl is bookending July with two big celebrations.

The City will kick off the month with Canada Day celebrations on July 1.

“For the information of the public, plans for the annual Canada Day celebrations are underway,” councillor Chelsea Lane announced during the May 17 public council meeting. “After the past few years of not being able to have this celebration, I think I can speak for all of us and say that we are so excited.”

Further details will soon be made public, though Lane did note that the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 memorial ceremony and parade will go ahead, and that the City’s Family Celebration, with entertainment by The Fables, will also happen.

Next, councillor Bill Antle informed council that City Days celebrations will indeed be going ahead this year as well, running from July 21 until July 24. The festivities will begin with A Best in Mount Pearl Awards Night on the 21st. Other activities include an outdoor family movie, princess and superhero breakfast, block party, family art class, music concerts, a multicultural community market and more. The Great Benjamin Circus and Thomas Amusements will also be in town for the weekend.

Antle allowed he may not attend the early morning yoga session, though he is looking forward to helping with the Council Cook Up, where he promised councillor Isabelle Fry would be ‘frying’ burgers for all.

Like with Canada Day celebrations, more information will be made available in the coming weeks.

Mayor Dave Aker noted that one event in particular, the Rock the Pearl Concert, was being put off with Come Home Year funding.

Mount Pearl man among graduates of Royal Military College

Among the graduates of Canada’s Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario this week is Mount Pearl native Patrick Breen, who is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the Canadian Forces.

Breen successfully graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering to pursue a career as an Air Combat Systems Officer.

“I am grateful to those who mentored me during my formative years in Mount Pearl,” Breen said. “It meant a lot to have the support of my community on this path. Today, I am proud to have graduated from RMC, and I am humbled by the courage and virtue of my comrades here. I am filled with hope for the future.”

Breen was among some 270 students who completed a challenging academic program while meeting the highest military standards, and, according to Public Affairs Officer Capt. Jonathan Farlam, “is now well equipped to lead and excel in the profession of arms in the service of Canada.”

RMC graduates invest hundreds of hours in military training, all aimed at honing the skills needed in their coming careers as leaders, Farlam added. “The physical fitness training program develops lifelong health habits and skills and nurtures a sense of camaraderie and competition, while the language training brings graduates to a functional level in both French and English. No other program develops young adults in such a comprehensive way.”

The Royal Military College offers undergraduate programs in the Social Sciences, the Humanities, Science and Engineering in both official languages.

Mount Pearl pushing compost bins again

By Patrick Newhook/May 12, 2022

Mount Pearl City Council is encouraging people to become more eco-friendly when it comes to how they deal with their garbage.

 In June 2021 Mount Pearl, in association with the Multi Materials Stewardship Board, started a Backyard Composting Pilot Program.

The program aimed to reduce waste and collect information on waste diversion by offering interested residents two composting bins.

“In 2021, program results showed that 15 of 25 reporting participants were able to divert over 1,150 pounds of waste from the landfill, an average of 77 pounds per participant,” reads the media release.

 The program lasted from June to September. After the initial success the city is bringing it back for 2022.

 This year there will be different options for people interested, a standard bin is $25 and a tumbler bin is $50. According to the release ‘that fee will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the pilot for any participant who fully completes their program obligations during the reporting period.’

 The new program will also increase participants from 25 in 2021 to 50 in 2022. The selected members will also get a virtual course that will help guide them through the program.  Interested residents can sign up at the City’s website.