Alcohol free tailgate party was big success, says Aker

By Craig Westcott/March 24, 2023

This past weekend's tailgate party at the Team Gushue Complex in celebration of Paddy's Day turned out to be so good, council may make it an annual affair.

"It was great, and I just want to send kudos out to our staff who organized it,' said councillor Jim Locke. "It wasn't a huge crowd, but it grew as the afternoon went on, and all the people were dancing. It was the children who warmed my heart the most with their dancing and making up their own fun. So, thank you to the staff... we received nothing but positive feedback."

Mayor Dave Aker agreed with that assessment and suggested the City take pointers for next year.

"The more people who showed up, the more they realized it was truly a tailgate party," he added. "There were people with barbeques and grills there. The weather was really great. I'm thinking we had about 200 people there, that's a guess. It was very well received in the community, it was an alcohol free even, family-oriented it was so Mount Pearl."

Councillor Isabell Fry congratulates Mount Pearl Lions Club Senior High Speak Out winner Anna Paterson (left) and runner up Ella Morecombe (right). Speakers were asked to speak on the topic of ‘fitting in’. Submitted photo

Mount Pearl getting compliments for its snow clearing, says Locke

It's been a tougher than usual winter, weather wise, but Mount Pearl's municipal workers are coping well with the challenges, according to councillor Jim Locke, who chairs the City's Public Works committee.

"They've been quite busy over the past couple of weeks," Locke reported to council last week. “ "Our crews have been and continue to work 24/7 to clean up from the most recent weather episodes."

The work includes widening streets and sidewalks in some areas with snowblowers, clearing snow from around fire hydrants, and removing the mini mountains of snow that sometimes get stacked in cul-de-sacs during storms. 

"We're received numerous compliments for the snow clearing operations from residents in various parts of the city," Locke said. "I know we had some hiccups when we had freezing rain and quick temperature changes, but they were quickly addressed. So, our crews have definitely been busy and we're pleased with the work that they're doing."

Locke said the department is also committed to keeping the City’s outdoor rinks operational. They were put out of commission for a while because of the mix of snowstorms mingled with spates of heavy rain that hit the Avalon in February.

"Our trail grooming is ongoing," added Locke. "I was out for a walk a couple of days back and had the pleasure of meeting one of our employees driving the groomer and again he mentioned the compliments he gets from all the walkers. They do a great job on the trails around the city."

Road maintenance is also ongoing as much as possible, Locke said.

"We're not doing any major road work, but with the freezing and thawing  we get these potholes that quickly appear," he said. "If there's some significant potholes brought to our attention, our crews will certainly be out working to repair those where possible."

And finally, Locke noted that thanks to the leak detection system the City implemented several years ago, Mount Pearl residents are among the lowest water users in the province and probably in Canada per capita. "We've been very aggressive with our leak detection," he said, noting a benefit of that is that it helps the water levels at the regional supply at Big Bulls Big Pond stay at a good height.

Mayor Dave Aker asked Public Works director Glen Dollimount to pass on the thanks of council for doing such a good job of coping with four seasons worth of weather in one month.

Must be February - Canada Post draws fire again

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

Councillor Bill Antle invoked the mantle of former councillor Lucy Stoyles in calling down condemnation on Canada Post during this week’s public council meeting in Mount Pearl.

With Stoyles now serving in the House of Assembly, it fell to someone else in the chamber to take up the annual winter campaign to remind Canada Post to play by the rules when it comes to snow clearing and other issues.

“Councillor Lucy Stoyles would always bring up Canada Post, and I think every one of us got a call this week about Canada Post not plowing their mailboxes,” said Antle, who asked Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount, who is also the City’s Canada Post liaison, to speak to the matter.

“We’re constantly back and forth with Canada Post with concerns over the snow clearing issue,” Dollimount admitted. “As recently as today I’ve received an e-mail from my contact with Canada Post. They’ve acknowledged that there were some concerns over the past snow events and they’re adamant that they’re going to improve the services on a go-forward basis. So, again, we’re trying to maintain a (good working) relationship with Canada Post.”

Dollimount said the end goal is for Canada Post to clear the areas around the super mailboxes correctly, as it is not the City’s responsibility.

He said any concerns should be brought to him directly, so that he can pass them along to Canada Post.

Antle said he’s seen operators pushing snow from around the mailboxes out into the middle of the public road.

“If a private resident did that, they’d be getting a ticket,” said the councillor.

The discussion arose out of a larger discussion, mostly positive, about the City’s own snow clearing efforts.

Councillor Chelsea Lane did point out, however, that she has been getting some complaints from people about their neighbours throwing snow into the street. Lane said that creates hazards for people, including seniors and children, who have to clamber over large icy blocks of snow that harden when temperatures go below the freezing point.

“I understand it can be difficult when you are shovelling to try to throw the snow high enough, especially when we have a large amount,” she said. “But we all have to be accountable. With snow clearing, while much of it is the responsibility of the City, you also have responsibility too to your neighbours and to yourself to make sure that when you are clearing your driveway that you are doing it properly. There’s no rhyme or reason for you to be throwing snow onto the sidewalks and into the roads.”

Brandon Mullins left, and Jeremy Schwartz, both with the City, prepare a warming pit for the residents and visitors attending the party. Craig Westcott photo

Stan Nochasak of Nain, Sophie Augnatok, also of Nain, centre, and Solomon Semigak of Makkovik opened the Winter Block party hosted by the City of Mount Pearl at Centennial Square last Saturday with some traditional Inuit drumming and songs. Craig Westcott photo

City pretty pleased with seniors group

By Mark Squibb/February 17, 2023

The City of Mount Pearl will continue to help fund a very active community group into the near future.

During last week’s meeting, councillor Chelsea Lane brought forward a motion to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City and the Mount Pearl Seniors Independence Group for the period January 1, 2023 until December 31, 2025. The MOU includes the provision of an annual operating subsidy in the amount of $50,000.

“We’re very proud of our Senior Independence Group here in Mount Pearl and we’re happy to continue to support them any way we can,” said Lane.

Council also approved a round of milestone event funding as the group celebrates 25 years of incorporation.

That funding, $10,000 in total, will be awarded to the group in two instalments of $5,000.

“This is something we do for most of the groups in our City when they celebrate 25 years,” explained councillor Bill Antle. “I think there are over 500 people involved in that group, and they’re quite active here in the City of Mount Pearl, and so I’m certainly proud to recommend this.”

Councillor Jim Locke said it’s hard to believe it’s already been 25 years since the group was formed and spoke to the value of the group to the city.

“We have upwards of 500 members, and I’ve been doing some reading recently on seniors and loneliness and social isolation,” said Locke. “Loneliness and social isolation have significant health impacts. I was reading in the UK that it’s the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It impacts your heart, it impacts your mind, in terms of dementia, it impacts heart attacks, strokes. It’s an issue that I think we need to turn more attention to.”

He noted, not for the first time in council chambers, that the UK back in 2017 instituted a Minster of Loneliness. He said Japan has done similarly.

Locke said what many seniors missed most during the lockdown was social connection afforded by group activities – such as bingo.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Locke. “The annual operating subsidy of $50,000 is good money spent on seniors who have built this city for us.”

Councillor Mark Rice echoed those sentiments, and Mayor Dave Aker added the group is involved in many Frosty Festival activities and its members are collecting donations for the food bank throughout the winter months.

“So, this is the least we can do to help a legacy group in the City of Mount Pearl who continue to give back to the community,” said Aker.

Both motions passed unanimously.