Council pops the tab on new Pepsi deal

By Chad Feehan

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

November 10, 2023 Edition

The City of Mount Pearl has cut an exclusive deal with beverage producer Browning Harvey.

Until 2033, Browning Harvey, which bottles Pepsi and related products at its plant in St. John’s, will exclusively supply beverage products in all City-owned facilities and provide sponsorship for all City events.

The City clarified in an e-mailed response that all liquid refreshments sold and distributed by the company are included in the agreement including soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, energy drinks, and single serve juices and teas.

The company will pay the City $25,000 annually.

The motion to approve the agreement carried unanimously.

More legal fees rung up on Power and Ledwell case

By Chad Feehan

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

November 10, 2023 Edition

The City of Mount Pearl’s probe into Steve Kent’s conduct as Chief Administrative Officer concluded earlier this year, but the City’s payment register suggests the story isn’t fully over.
In an e-mailed response, the City clarified that $71,618 in legal fees slated for payment to law firm McInnes Cooper last week were in relation to an appeal filed by former councillors Andrea Power and Andrew Ledwell who were removed from council three years ago for allegedly communicating with Kent during his legal dispute with the City.

Kent had been dismissed – he maintains he quit – after a number of staff complained they were bullied.

McInnes Cooper represented the City against the legal action launched by Power and Ledwell. Last week’s bills cover a protracted period up to August 31, 2023.
The imbroglio between Kent and the City, and the associated actions involving Power and Ledwell, have cost Mount Pearl taxpayers some $500,000 in legal fees and professional services over the last four years.

Mount Pearl curlers happy to join the ‘family business’

By Chad Feehan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
November 10, 2023 Edition

A pair of brothers from Mount Pearl competed in the Ottawa Valley Curling Association Junior Superspiel last weekend.

Parker and Spencer Tipple along with teammates Jack Kinsella, Isaac Manuel, and coach Andrew Manuel played five round-robin games before losing to Team MacDougall from Ontario in the quarterfinals.

The event marks a series of firsts for Team Tipple.

While they’re no strangers to away games, having competed in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, the event was the first time they’ve made a trip out of the Maritimes to curl.

It was also their first time competing against an American team, though they would go on to lose that match as well.

Despite the losses, team third Spencer Tipple values the relationships they made over the course of the weekend.

“We made friends with a ton of new people up there,” Spencer Tipple said.

Skip Parker Tipple would chat with the opposing team’s coaches after every game, where they would share various tips and offer feedback with the young curler.

“I’ll take any input from anybody that will help me improve as a curler,” Parker Tipple said.

Chiefly among this imparted wisdom is the suggestion to keep the game simple, avoiding the wild gambits taken in professional tournaments like the Briar and Tournament of Hearts.

“You look on TV and they make it look so easy,” he said. “It’s a little bit deceiving.”

The tournament took place in four different curling clubs, which resulted in the team having to switch to another ice right after getting used to the last one.

Before moving to Mount Pearl from Bay Roberts, the brothers would watch their uncle Brad Gushue curl during his many, widely spectated television appearances.

This inspired them to curl, but given the lack of opportunities for curling in Bay Roberts, their dreams had to wait until the big move.

“When we moved out here we wanted to play,” said Spencer Tipple.

Last month they made it to the finals at the Harvest Spiel in Nova Scotia before losing out to Team Robichaud from New Brunswick.

Early next year the team has the Under 20 Junior provincial tournament to look forward to, which could propel them to the nationals in Fort McMurray in 2024. Here they would have another chance at competing with some familiar teams from last week.

Even with their recent appearance in the Canada Games still visible in the rearview mirror, Parker Tipple feels a sense of accomplishment from their recent performance.

“If someone told me that we were going to go into the quarterfinals of this superspiel with 16 teams of some of the best teams in Canada, I would have been really surprised,” Parker Tipple said. “I'm really proud of how well all of us played and how we composed ourselves on the ice.”

Skip Parker Tipple aims a shot at the Ottawa Valley Curling Association Junior Superspiel last weekend. He says getting off the island was a great opportunity to learn new strategies from a wider pool of talented curlers. Submitted photo

Halloween 2023

Thirteen-year-old pirate Charles Helmbold of Mount Pearl poses by a nautical themed set piece at the Admiralty House Communications Museum on Halloween night. In addition to fun props like this humorously sized skeleton hand, there was also candy and toys given out to prospective trick-or-treaters. Photo by Chad Feehan.

A witchy, hunchbacked Denise Hennebury teaches little Arthur Butler about spiders with the help of a makeshift web made out of rope. On the afternoon of Halloween, Hennebury and Sabrina Peddle took their River Rascals toddler play group out for a stroll through a wooded area in Mount Pearl. After playing and exploring through the freshly fallen snow, the little tykes were met with story time and a treat. In the background, from left, are, Peddle, Hilary Butler and Vivian Butler. Photo by Chad Feehan.

Safety Skeleton crew patrol streets

Danielle Greavette of the City of Mount Pearl municipal enforcement poses with a gaggle of trick-or-treaters on the annual Safety Skeleton Halloween run. The Safety Skeleton crew patrolled the streets of Mount Pearl to ensure the safety of those roaming the streets, while giving out treats like glow sticks along the way. On hand are, from left: William Ash, Danielle Greavette, Thomas Hollett, Lily Hollett, Samantha Ash, Michelle Filonenko, and Nicole Filonenko. Photo by Chad Feehan

Two public service groups and Employers’ Council get tax breaks

By Chad Feehan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
November 3, 2023 Edition

Three organizations will be exempt from 2023 business taxes in Mount Pearl after a unanimous vote at City council this week.

St. John Ambulance, the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, and Alzheimer Society NL all operate within the city and will receive 100 per cent exemptions.

The exemptions total $22,882 for St. John Ambulance, $8,665 for the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council, and $3,099 for Alzheimer Society NL.

Mayor Dave Aker described the tax breaks as “routine” for organizations of this nature.

“These are three valuable organizations that help not only our city but with our region,” he said.

Full business tax exemptions have been approved multiple times over the past year and have included the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, Heart & Stroke Foundation, and Co-Operator Housing. Masonic Park, Masonic Lodge, and Columbus Center were given 60 percent exemptions.

This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony especially poignant, says Locke

By Chad Feehan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
November 3, 2023 Edition

Mount Pearl’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony will run as usual next Saturday, November 11.

A parade will begin at Mount Pearl Intermediate School at 10:40 a.m. and will proceed down Ruth Avenue. Members of Branch 36 of the Royal Canadian Legion have organized a wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph in St. David’s Park.

At a recent council meeting, councillor Jim Locke said that while every year is important, the role of service men and women will hit home for him personally, given the state of current world events.

“In light of what’s on the go in the world today in Gaza and Israel in Ukraine and other areas of strife, it certainly brings home when you watch every night the devastation,” he said.

Locke also noted the increased number of residents attending the ceremony in recent years.

Stride Running Club, meanwhile, is holding its own Remembrance Day event that morning.

The club’s annual Run to Remember trail race will begin by Sobey’s in Paradise at 8 a.m. and will reach the Great Canadian Dollar Store on Commonwealth Avenue by way of the T’Railway before returning to its point of origin.

Due to the race, there may be traffic disruptions in the Donovan Industrial Park and Corisande Drive area.

Registration is closed due to reaching its event cap.

City helping O’Neill Group pretty up its façade

By Chad Feehan
Local Initiative Reporter
November 3, 2023 Edition

City council has motioned to approve a grant to a new business under its facade improvement grant program.

The program aids businesses in improving the look and feel of the buildings they operate in.

O’Neill Group / Countryside Farms Butcher at 969 Topsail Road will receive $9,700 under the program.

Councillor Mark Rice said the application had been “reviewed, scored, and evaluated by the judging and selection committee” which deemed it within the criteria of the program.

The program offers up to 50 per cent of total project costs to a maximum of $10,000.

Some improvements included in the program include doors and windows, signage, exterior lighting, patio and outdoor seating, and cleaning and painting.

To be considered, businesses must have no outstanding debts to the City, the proposed improvement must improve the aesthetic appeal of the building, and the economic viability and benefits to the community must be identified, among other criteria.

Ever After Bridal Boutique was approved to receive a grant under the program earlier this year.

New playground next to St. David's Park

The City of Mount Pearl unveiled a new smart and accessible playground next to St. David's Park last week. In addition to a variety of playground equipment with improved accessibility, it also includes gender neutral washrooms with improved lighting and an adjustable change table. The playground’s smart technology is meant to "inspire imaginative play" and track usage. The project received funding from the federal government. Melanie Mullaley's Grade 4 and 5 class from Morris Academy were invited to the event and made good use of the playground’s structures. "Our commitment always is going to be to offer inclusivity and innovation," said Mayor Dave Aker. "When it comes to accessibility, that journey is not just beginning today. It began a while ago and it will continue for a long time." On hand for the opening were, starting in the back row, from left: councillors Isabelle Fry, Bill Antle, Jim Locke, Mayor Dave Aker, Mount Pearl North MHA Lucy Stoyles, and Melanie Mullaley. In the third row, from left are: Isaac Lidstone, Jaden Situ, Jaxon Greene, Karina Savchenko; in the second row, from left: Kenzie Peddle, Faith Costello, Dasha Kindrat, Luke Crocker, Gabrielle Matchim, and Emma Butt; and in the front row, from left: Ayla Thornton-Horvath, Ella Drover, Mackenzie Whalen, Marcus Giangrande, Thomas Legge, Abel Rockwood, and Madison Marshall. Chad Feehan Photo.

Stuttering association praised for shedding light on poorly understood condition

By Chad Feehan
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
October 27, 2023 Edition

Mount Pearl City Council declared October 22nd as International Stuttering Awareness Day, welcoming Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association founder Greg O’Grady to shed light on the day's significance.

“There is still little known about stuttering, said O’Grady. “This is a day for celebrating and to create awareness, understanding and acceptance of stuttering.”

Stuttering is a minimally understood disorder that affects roughly one per cent of the population and approximately 350,000 Canadians of all ages and backgrounds.

Various councillors shared their experiences with people in their lives who have stuttered, all remarking on how far stuttering awareness has come over the years.

“Never doubt the impact one person can have,” said Councillor Isabelle Fry. “This is something that everybody needs to know about.”

Councillor Chelsea Lane recalled a classmate from her school years who struggled with embarrassment over the condition due to a lack of conversation about stuttering in the community.

Lane, who is a teacher, also spoke of the positive impact that public awareness can have on children who stutter.

“The work you’re doing makes people feel like they’re seen, they’re accepted, and they’re not alone,” said Lane.

Councillor Bill Antle mentioned O’Grady’s online presence and the educational benefit it’s given the council.

“I’m learning everyday more and more about stuttering,” he said.

The NLSA is going into its sixth year of operations this November.

“We’ve accomplished a lot but there’s still more work to be done,” said O’Grady.