The Mount Pearl Senior High Huskies edged the host Queen Elizabeth Pioneers in the championship game to win the 39th Annual Darryl Reid Memorial Tournament last weekend at the CBS Arena in Kelligrews. The members of the winning squad include, starting in the back row, from left: Gary Hayes, Mick Cutler, Marcus Wolfe, Thomas Hoddinott, Kethan Hooper, Jacob Coish, Ryan Burridge, Zach Earle, Noah Seymour, Ben Macdonald, AJ Simmonds, Denver Lacey, Grayden Bath, Ethan Collins, Cole Sweeney, Logan Power, Chris Druken, and Matthew Earle. In the front, from left, are: Kelley Button, Gavin Penney, Collin Silver, Riley Fahey, Kyle Button, Jordy Flynn, Ethan Jones, Mason Gaulton, and Matthew Bastow. Photo by Nathan Edwards
Council helps company put a better face on things
By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl council has approved a grant in the amount of $9,100 for Venture Fireplace.
The Topsail Road business had applied to the City’s façade improvement grant program. Through the program, businesses can receive up to 50 per cent of total project costs up to a maximum of $10,000.
Venture Fireplace is aiming to restore siding, windows, doors, and its front building façade to give the building a more modern look.
Council approved the grant unanimously during the October 15 public meeting.
The matter was originally on the agenda for the October 1 public meeting. Council, however, referred the matter back to staff for further information.
Haunting of Powers Pond
Travis and Jennifer Burke, along with Wesley, Ford, and baby Dawson, were among the hundreds to brave the Haunting of Powers Pond over these last two weeks. Ghosts, goblins, skeletons, wayward creatures, strange beasts, and famous movie monsters new and old made their home along the normally peaceful City trail, all in support of the St. Vincent de Paul food bank. The Haunting of Powers Pond ran from October 18-27, with special early afternoon hours for little ghouls and goblins. Members of council applauded the work of volunteers and staff during last week’s public council meeting, with councillor Mark Rice noting that he supported the City’s decision to close the trail outside of business hours — despite some negative pushback from some residents —to protect the over $40,000 worth of spooky decorations the City had purchased. Mark Squibb photo
City opts to keep it in the cloud
By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl council has approved a new cloud to hold its data, documents and information.
“The City has recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Laserfiche Cloud Services and Data Migration,” explained councillor Mark Rice. “This initiative aims to transition from our current on-premises Laserfiche installation to a cloud-based solution. The selected service provider will be tasked with delivering ongoing support and license management for the City’s Laserfiche Municipal Site License.”
The City received five proposals, which were evaluated based on technical and financial criteria.
Ricoh Canada, which has provided Laserfiche support to the City since 2012, was the lowest qualified bidder and also received the highest score.
“With the existing relationship with Ricoh Canada and their technical support team, the Department of Corporate Services anticipates that the transition to this service delivery model will be a seamless process given their knowledge of our Laserfiche environment,” said Rice.
The three-year contract will pay Ricoh $33,743 including HST for 2025, $34,755 including HST for 2026, and $35,798 including HST for 2027, for a total of $104,297, including HST. Contract extensions will be considered before the contract expiration date.
Mount Pearl extends dehumidifier service contract
By Mark Squibb
Breathe easy — the City of Mount Pearl will be keeping the air in the Summit Centre fresh for another year.
Councillor Bill Antle, during the public meeting of October 1, explained that in June 2021, the City finalized negotiations with Dehumidified Air Services for a sole source service agreement for the Summit Center’s Seresco unit. Council officially awarded the contract in November 2021, for an initial three-year term, with two, one-year extensions available if agreeable to both parties.
The first-year cost $21,735, HST included. The second and third years cost $22,164 and $22,613 respectively, due to a two percent annual cost increase.
“The Manager of Facilities Management consulted with Dehumidified Air Services regarding the potential extension, and they agreed to extend the contract for an additional one year at the same terms and conditions of the existing contract at the City’s discretion,” said Antle. “Dehumidified Air Services offered a discount over previous years —they gave us a deal — offering the same service for the one-year extension for a total sum of $21,850, HST included.”
Antle, at the recommendation of the planning committee, moved that council extend the existing sole source service agreement with Dehumidified Air Services for an additional one year for the period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, for the annual bid amount of $21,850, HST included, at the same terms and conditions of the existing agreement.
The motion passed unanimously without further discussion.
Miles for Smiles
Members of the Miles for Smiles Foundation were at Mount Pearl City Hall last week as council proclaimed October as Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to the Foundation, which is a non-profit group dedicated to prevention of child abuse, raising support for victims, and awareness of the issue, one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Members say if you suspect that abuse is taking place, report it. From left are councillors Isabell Fry, Chelsea Lane, Jim Locke, Connie Pike, Bev Moore Davis, Tom Davis, Mayor Dave Aker, and councillor Bill Antle. Mark Squibb photo
Promise of new community centre now set in concrete
By Mark Squibb
Construction of Mount Pearl’s new community centre has begun.
Deputy Mayor Kieley noted during last week’s public council meeting that work is ongoing and the foundation for the new facility has been poured.
Kieley called the progress “incredible” and said the facility will be a pinnacle of the community.
The contract for the new community centre, valued at $15.5 million, was awarded to JMJ Holdings Ltd., earlier this summer, and a groundbreaking event was held in July at the Team Gushue Sports Complex, the home of the new facility.
The new community centre is poised to replace the aging Park Place facility, and will boast amenities such as a splash pad and ice rink surface and a multi-purpose space complete with stage and retractable bleachers. The centre will be capable of providing seating for 500 people or accommodate 1,000 people standing.
The centre was first announced in July 2021, and construction is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Foster Families Month
Lori Petterson with the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association joined members of Mount Pearl council earlier this month to proclaim October as Foster Families Month in Mount Pearl. There are currently over 900 children in foster care within the province, and, unfortunately, a shortage of foster families. Petterson said that one of the aims of Foster Families Month is to encourage people to consider fostering. Petterson said that the goal is for children to transition back home when it is safe to do so. From left are councillors Isabelle Fry and Jim Locke, Mayor Dave Aker, Lori Petterson with the Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association, and councillor Bill Antle. Missing from photo are Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, and councillors Chelsea Lane and Mark Rice. Mark Squibb photo
City asks residents to check radon levels
By Mark Squibb
The City of Mount Pearl has partnered with the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) to provide 400 residents with free radon test kits.
Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in Canada and often goes undetected.
The kits, which are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, will be made available to the first 400 residents to register at mountpearl.ca/radon-testing. Registration also includes information on the health effects of radon, and Health Canada’s recommendations.
“The Radon Test Kit Challenge is a great opportunity to help Mount Pearl families protect their health,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “With increased awareness of air quality, reducing radon gas is vital to lung cancer prevention.”
The Town of Conception Bay South recently offered a similar program, and just this week learned that of the 111 homes tested, 30 per cent were above Health Canada’s acceptable radon gas levels. According to the federal government, the average number of homes that test positive across Canada is only about seven per cent.
Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that results from the breakdown of uranium in soil.
'Please, please, please' report crime, Fry urges
By Mark Squibb
Mount Pearl City councillor Isabelle Fry is imploring residents to report crime to Newfoundland and Labrador Crime Stoppers.
“There has been an increase in (criminal) activity across the northeast Avalon,” said Fry during a council meeting earlier this month. “I was part of a meeting recently with the Northeast Avalon Joint Regional Council and there was a discussion on this, and one of the things that Sgt. Ryan Slaney from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said was that the justice system fundamentally depends on somebody else reporting the issue. If someone doesn’t report it, police cannot act on it.”
Fry acknowledged that some people are understandably hesitant to report crimes.
“I’ve had a number of parents speak to me within the last year or so, and one of the things that they have concerns over, which, I feel is justified, they say, ‘Look, I’m not going to call and report it. I’m not going to put a target on my kid’s head.’ And I get that, I understand that. And that seems to be the case in a lot of situations. People don’t want to get involved, they don’t want the hassle, they don’t want the repercussions.”
To that end, Fry said people can call Crime Stoppers to report crime anonymously.
“You will not be asked to give your name, and you will not have to testify in court,” said Fry. “Please, just share the information.”
Fry added that some people don’t report crime because they may feel that by the time police arrive, the criminals will be long gone.
“Perhaps,” Fry allowed. “But still report it. Call and report it, whether you call the RNC or, if you don’t want to get involved, call Crime Stopers, because at least the message is being reported, the statistics are being reported, and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary are aware of things that are happening. And so, I cannot stress enough — please, please, please, if you know of anything that’s happening, call Crime Stoppers.”
Councillor Jim Locke doubled down on the importance of reporting criminal activity.
“We’ve met regularly with our RNC, and if it’s not reported, they don’t see it as an issue,” said Locke. “The data helps dictate where resources may be put. And so, by reporting it — and as was said, there may not be an immediate response— but it goes into their data set, and if they notice a certain level of activity in a certain area, they will direct resources to that area.”