O'Donel staff making a trek for a good cause

By Chris Lewis | May 27, 2021

These Mount Pearl teachers are trekking across the province - virtually.

Staff at O’Donel High School in Mount Pearl are doing what they can to raise money for a good cause, and are using a map of the province to do it.

Back in April, the staff were dealing with the same uncertainties faced by many in the province as the population scrambled in the face of a global pandemic.

Science teacher Joanne Power said they wanted to take on some kind of outdoor challenge. It was not uncommon for staff to go for walks on a daily basis, with some even tracking their mileage as they went along. Power said once they were introduced to the Candlelighters, the idea for a project started to blossom.

Candlelighters NL fundraises to improve the lives of children living with cancer.

After learning about the organization’s Camp Delight, Power said they knew this was where they wanted their efforts to go.

Now, the 20 or so teachers and other staff, are taking their mileage from their walks throughout the week and counting it up to see just how far they all would have gone on the map of the province. As of Friday, May 21, the group had managed to travel enough kilometres to cross the entirety of Newfoundland and to have just arrived in Labrador.

“We have a map of Newfoundland and Labrador in our main entrance, so every week our staff keep track of their kilometres, and every Saturday we tally them up,” Power said. “We started in St. John’s, and in the first week we got as far as South Brook … We’re almost in Lodge Bay now.”

Along the way, staff have been collecting funds to donate to Candlelighters NL and Camp Delight. As of Friday, they had collected around $1,900 through various fundraising efforts made by students, as well as through a direct link where people can donate directly to Candlelighters NL.

Teacher Ashley Clements noted there have been a couple of students at O’Donel who had gone through the Camp Delight program in the past, and the organization has always had a good relationship with the school; the decision to lend them a helping hand with this project was an easy one, she said.

“We really like to get involved with our community,” Clements said.

The project started on May 1, and staff hope to see it carry right on through until the end of the month, at which point they hope to have reached the other end of Labrador.

“The kids on our student council have been wanting to collect from fellow students, too. Like a loonie drive or something like that,” Clements added, noting that although there is no monetary goal with this project, they simply hope to help Candlelighters NL as much as possible.

The teachers are pleased to see such a positive reception for the project.

“It’s been fantastic, and I know everyone involved is really excited about this,” Power said. “Of course, these are much needed funds. Especially during COVID-19, when some of their fundraising opportunities have been lost because of that.”

The excitement in the project is felt across the school, with Clements adding there is usually a flock of people behind her when she goes to update the provincial map in the lobby.

Anyone looking to donate to the cause can find a direct link on the school’s website and social media platforms, where money is sent directly to Candlelighters NL.

Andie Winsor's 'Sonderless' takes senior music prize

By Chris Lewis | May 20, 2021

Music has long been a staple in the life of Andie Winsor of Mount Pearl who was recently recognized by the province’s Arts and Letters Awards Program for a three-part composition titled, ‘Sonderless.’

It’s not the first award for Winsor, who nevertheless said this latest recognition is an honour.

‘Sonderless’ won in the Senior Music category and netted as prize of $1,000.

Winsor is in the third year of a music degree at Queens University, and is an acoustic composition major.

Three piano miniatures are familiar territory for Winsor, who grew up playing the piano.

“I started exploring different styles of piano composition,” said Winsor. “The first miniature explores minor seconds and some kind of crunchy sounds, but the second one is more impressionistic. It’s more tonal, and easier to grasp, I guess. The third one is kind of a minimalist piece that uses six or seven notes that repeat again and again. It mostly focuses on articulation – how loud you play the note, how fast, how short or long – or if it’s for the full duration of the beat. It focuses on all of that to try and make the piece come together.”

Winsor admitted being nervous about applying to music school, fearing the long hours of study would ruin the idea of music and composition. But the experience has been just the opposite.

Winsor said music lets people express themselves without having to resort to words.

As a non-binary person, this was something Winsor found especially helpful in exploring.

“This piece showed me that I can do just that,” Winsor said. “It helped me kind of show who I am through nothing but sound. By composing and putting my art out there, I think it may be helpful for other trans people to see how they too can just go out and do what they love to do, be open about who they are, and be successful all at the same time.”

To see your name and work recognized provincially is something that makes you appreciative on a deep level, Winsor said. A musician’s confidence can vary at times, Winsor admitted.

“I don’t necessarily need awards to be confident in what I do,” Winsor said. “I think after composing those three miniatures, even before winning the award, I felt confident about them and felt like I had accomplished something. But to be recognized, that was such a compliment and such an honour.”

Winsor said there is also value in trying for awards, even if you don’t win.

“That way, they give you critiques on your work: what didn’t translate and what did which is always good to be able to see for any artist,” Winsor said.

Lower the speed limits, says Locke

By Chris Lewis | May 20, 2021

The crosswalk concerns of Mount Pearl residents are being heard, says city council.

Councillor Isabelle Fry raised the issue at Tuesday’s meeting, including a report of a close call involving a young boy and an oncoming vehicle at a crosswalk on Park Avenue.

That particular incident had sparked a petition.

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke said while the danger at some crosswalks can certainly be partly attributed to faded road lines in the spring, the bulk of the responsibility falls on drivers and pedestrians alike, and their individual levels of awareness.

“We have to realize that everyone takes responsibility here for this,” Locke said, noting traffic has increased significantly since the Team Gushue Highway opened and filtered mor traffic through the city.

Locke said traffic and speeding have been major concerns every election he’s been involved in. What he would like to see, he added, is a strategy to deal with speed limits along the city’s roadways, something that has been discussed at the committee level from time to time. Locke referenced a book, Vision 0, which outlines strategies for reducing pedestrian fatalities to zero.

“All the research with show that at certain speeds, like 40-kilometres an hour, if there’s a collision with a pedestrian, the survival rate is considerably high for the pedestrian,” Locke explained. “But as soon as you go up to 50-kilometres an hour, then your chance of survival drops significantly.”

Locke said the roads in Mount Pearl were never designed with pedestrians in mind, instead making vehicular traffic a priority. Vision 0, he said, introduces a new way of thinking where right of way is shared with pedestrians.

“I just wanted to throw it out there to let residents know (the concerns) are not falling on deaf ears,” Locke said. “We still have to look at the speed limits in our city. When you reduce the speed, the fatalities from pedestrian collisions go way down.”

The City’s Municipal Enforcement Superintendent, Blair Tilley, said the city faces more pedestrian traffic related issues this time of year.

“The enforcement team is out on a regular basis,” he said, adding it is an offence under the province’s Highway Traffic Act to not yield to a pedestrian who is in the crosswalk. “Those things are very important and are taken very seriously by our team, as well as the RNC.”

Councillor Bill Antle agreed with Locke’s notions, allowing that when the City lowers speed limits, the problem will be fixed.

Antle said many of the calls he receives about the issue ask why speed bumps are not more common.

Mayor Dave Aker, too, said lower speed limits would at the very least reduce fatalities even if it is not an immediate cure-all. He reckoned such a change would require major investments, as well as increased enforcement.

Locke said the speed bump is often the basis of many calls for action from residents in any municipality when it comes to speed issues, but the research does not support their usefulness.

“If you’ve got people coming into your municipality who is unfamiliar with where a speed bump is, that could also result in an accident,” Locke said. “They can contribute to accidents, so there’s issues with speed bumps. They are not the panacea cure-all. They may work in some areas, but I would not support putting them on, for example, Commonwealth Avenue. That would be like putting them on the Outer Ring Road to try to slow people down. The science says there are measures out there to manage traffic effectively. Part of that is the speed… There’s no reason - in my opinion - why any residential street should have a speed of 40 or 50 kilometres an hour. There’s no reason why anyone should be going 40 while coming up my street in Mount Pearl to get out onto Smallwood Drive Extension … I want residents to know we’re not ignoring this. It’s a complex issue that requires investigation.”

Locke recommended discussing lower speed limits at the committee level, though there was no motion to do that.

Fry, however, suggested she might support that plan.

“The reality is, if you have a speed limit of 40, people are going to go 50. If you have a speed limit of 50, people are going to go 60. So, I absolutely support reducing the speed limit,” she said.

New bus shelter slated for Park Avenue

By Chris Lewis | May 6, 2021

Mount Pearl transit riders will soon benefit from having another bus shelter.

Over the last year, the City of Mount Pearl has installed three repurposed Metrobus shelters around the city: at Smallwood Drive, Old Placentia Road, and Ruth Avenue.

The City also made plans in its 2021 budget for the installation of an additional shelter to be purchased and installed.

“The crew has installed some solar panels into those shelters,” Deputy Mayor Jim Locke reported to council on Tuesday. “They’re a great addition to our city for our bus riders.”

Regarding this most recent shelter that is in the works, Locke said the City looked into a number of potential locations. These were all determined through staff observations, with the final vote going to a spot on Park Avenue.

“There seems to be a cluster, or a high concentration of users in that area,” Locke said.

The cost associated with this purchase, including materials and labour, came within the range of about $10,000.

“We have funding available in the 2021 budget,” Locke said.

Although this discussion came before council, Mayor Dave Aker said it did not need a motion.

“The consensus has been there, and I don’t get the idea that anyone is going to ask you to re-locate it. I think we’re good,” Aker said.

Mount Pearl boy wishes upon a note, piles up donations

By Chris Lewis | May 6, 2021

A Mount Pearl boy is putting his talents towards a good cause, again.

Alex Taylor, a 12-year-old Mount Pearl Intermediate student, is an avid musician. Often seen with a guitar in hand, Taylor’s love of music has recently turned into an ongoing donation to Make-A-Wish Canada.

Taylor has been involved in music for some seven years now, since he was only five-years-old. He says he likes to play a variety of music, but the genre that keeps his interest burning is one that can be seen and heard in just about every corner of the province: traditional Newfoundland tunes.

Although his instrument of choice is a guitar, Taylor’s interest in the province’s music scene has led to him picking up other instruments such as the accordion, piano, and most recently the banjo.

Taylor said his love of music is simple: he likes to play it and to listen to it, and that is all there is to it.

“I grew up around Newfoundland music, so that’s what I’m into mostly,” he said.

This passion for tunes is the basis of his most recent endeavour: a virtual concert, and an attempt to raise money for those who are less fortunate than himself.

‘Wish Upon a Note’ is the name Taylor gave to his concert, which was livestreamed to his Facebook page on Saturday night, May 1st.

“I wanted to do it for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and critically ill children, who should be able to have their wish granted,” Taylor said. “I know there are critically ill children out there who are not doing as well during this pandemic. There’s a lot of things going on right now; some people can’t see their family, can’t see their friends. It’s worse for certain people because of their immune systems, and I knew I could help them this way.”

Taylor’s concert, which saw him perform in his living room a number of songs Newfoundlanders would likely be familiar with, came with a monetary goal of $500 to be donated to the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

As of the following Monday, May 3, Taylor’s fundraiser had surpassed the halfway mark with $275, but is still an ongoing thing, he said.

Taylor’s fundraiser can be accessed via his facebook page, “Alex Taylor (Musician)” where a recording of his show can still be viewed, along with a donation link for anyone wanting to contribute.

“I think it went well; it was just me playing some songs like ‘Mussels in the Corner’ on my accordion, I did ‘Grey Foggy Day.’ Some things like that,” he said.

Although a virtual concert was a fun idea given the circumstances, Taylor said he is especially looking forward to a day when people can get together and enjoy live music performances again.

In that same breath, the young musician is hoping to turn this one event into an annual one, where he will host concerts – virtually or otherwise – to help raise funds for important local causes like the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Humble achievers

By Chris Lewis | April 8, 2021

The head of one of Mount Pearl’s oldest law firms was among the business leaders recognized at the Mount Pearl – Paradise Chamber of Commerce’s Best in Business Awards last week.

Some 10 different awards given out during the event.

Among them were two proud Mount Pearl residents: Kayla Wells and William

The Community Impact award for Mount Pearl went to Coleman’s Supermarket, while the Paradise version of the award went to Get Messy NL.

Landwash Brewery claimed the Best New Business Award, while the Innovation Award went to Kids Help Phone. Flowers with Special Touch won the Resilience award. The Communications/Marketing award was accorded to Heave Away Waste Management. The Outstanding Business Award for companies with 15 or less employees went to Rocket Bakery. The Outstanding Business Award for a firm with more than 15 employees went to BELFOR Property Restoration.

This was not the first time William Kennedy of William S. Kennedy Law Office was presented with an award, this one was a little more special – the Directors’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award.

The law firm can trace its roots in Mount Pearl back to the 1970s, under the name Mercer Spracklin Haywood. The firm played an instrumental role in Mount Pearl’s evolution from a town to a city and Kennedy was there as both a participant and an observer.

“We’ve been here a long time under various names,” Kennedy said of the firm’s deep history. “After a while, you get to know the local people, especially your body of clientele. We’ve always been reasonably active in the community, and people began to recognize us. They started coming here. Once you have your stream of business, you have no reason to leave. So, we stayed.”

While he was happy to learn he was receiving the award, Kennedy said like most other recipients, he didn’t get into his industry for recognition.

“We represented the City of Mount Pearl for a lot of years – over 30, actually,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy’s firm received the Best in Business award by the Chamber back in 2007 and the Norm Carr award in 2001.

“I certainly wasn’t aware that I had been nominated for anything (this year), so to receive that accolade, well, it’s great,” Kennedy said of the latest honour. “It’s a great feeling to be recognized by people that you’ve known and worked with for a long time.”

That sense of humility was shared by another of the evening’s winners, Kayla Wells of Karma’s Kreations in Mount Pearl, who was named the Outstanding Employee Award winner.

“It feels so good to be recognized like that, and to see all the nice messages from people that have been coming in since,” Wells said. “You don’t really think about that kind of thing when you’re working, but it really does feel great, especially when you’re working for a small, local business like this. This is a first for me. I’m shocked.”

Karma’s Kreations specializes in custom athletic wear, with a sister company called Mama Bear Designs with a focus on customized giftware. Wells and her colleagues had spent a part of the day watching the awards live online, and celebrating when Wells’ name was announced.

Mount Pearl is not Wells’ original hometown. She moved to the Pearl about a decade ago and now wouldn’t live anywhere else.  

“I love Mount Pearl, I find it’s almost a little bit like it is around the bay, where I’m from,” Wells said. “It’s close to St. John’s, but the people here are so nice to each other, just like they are out in the bay. I love it here.”

Busy year for public works

By Chris Lewis | April 8, 2021

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke is pleased with the work being done by the City’s public works staff in the face of challenges posed by an unprecedented year.

“Despite COVID-19 and everything that’s been thrown at us, our staff hasn’t skipped a beat,” Locke said Tuesday. “There’s tenders being awarded, and tenders soon to go out, and other work being planned.”

Among the projects being undertaken are crack sealing, materials testing, street marking, laying of the St. David’s Avenue project’s top layer of asphalt, work on the Glacier Arena’s HVAC system, and street upgrades on Badcock Place.

As for some tenders that are waiting to be finalized, Locke said the St. David’s Park accessible playground work will get underway sooner rather than later.

“We had to get an easement finalized with Newfoundland Power,” Locke explained. “Then, on April 12th we’re going to review the package and we’re hoping to get it to tender by the week of April 19.”

The Kenmount Hill and Topsail Road storm outlet upgrades will be tendered the same week. City Hall is also on the list for roof and heating ventilation upgrades.

“A lot of work planned. We’re going to have a busy construction season, so that’s great to see,” Locke said.

Frosty's food drive exceeds expectations

By Chris Lewis | April 8, 2021

This year’s food drive by the Frosty Festival committee and the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance was one of the most successful yet, despite the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

That’s according to Frosty Festival chairperson Robert Hayes, who like dozens of other Mount Pearl volunteers, braved the damp, cold weather conditions Saturday to man reception points for donations of food and money from the city’s citizens. All week leading up the event, members of the city’s business community showed up early to make their contributions too.

Hayes admitted the success of this year’s food drive was slightly unexpected, given as how the past year has been a rough one for many people and small businesses.

“It went really well … One of the best ones we’ve done yet I would say,” Hayes said, noting that although they had yet to do a proper tally of all the food and money received, it was clear it would be well over what they had anticipated.

“This was a rough year, and we know that some of the people who had been donating for a long time now find themselves needing the food bank’s services,” Hayes added. “Food banks play a very important role, and right now the number of people making use of them is even more than it was a year or two ago. That’s why things like this food drive are so important right now.”

Hayes said that under normal circumstances, the donations from the food drive are kept and sorted at some local churches or schools but, since it would be difficult to get people in and out of those buildings, Hayes’ employer, Old Dutch, stepped in to provide the space needed. For the time being, that is where the food donations will be held while they are counted up for a final tally before being sent out to the food banks.

Hayes anticipates the final numbers will be ready by this weekend.

Some local businesses came forward with donations upwards of $5,000.

“Really, it was great to see it do so well this year,” said the Frosty chief. “Like I said, we all know the food banks need some extra help these days, and that’s what this was all about.”

Stoyles hits the ground running as Mount Pearl North's new MHA

By Chris Lewis | April 1, 2021

Lucy Stoyles spent over 20-years on Mount Pearl city council. Now, she has stepped up to the role of MHA.

Stoyles, a familiar face to many residents of Mount Pear after first stepping into city politics about 25 years ago, announced late last year she would not be running again in the upcoming municipal election.

As Mount Pearl residents soon found out however, that did not mean she was stepping away from politics.

Stoyles announced herself as the Mount Pearl North Liberal candidate for the recently concluded provincial election, an affair that spanned some 10-weeks.

Although Stoyles said the election went on for longer than she or likely any other candidate had expected, she was feeling good about her success.

Stoyles came out on top against incumbent PC candidate Jim Lester by only 109 votes, with the Liberals claiming 46.69 per cent of the ballots cast while the PCs notched 44.6 per cent. The other votes went to Jennifer McCreath of the NDP with 337, and 136 votes for the NL Alliance’s William Neville.

Stoyles’ initial estimate, she said, was that she had about a 50/50 chance of winning. According to the numbers following the election, her guesses were fairly close to reality.

“I mean, this has been a strong Tory district for a number of years. It’s only been myself and Eric Gullage to have turned it over,” Stoyles said of her victory, noting that she had actually helped Gullage with his own political campaign back in 1987. “It’s a difficult district to win in … I worked very hard, day and night, and then spent all my days home on the phone when the lockdown hit.”

Having won and lost elections throughout her career, Stoyles was proud to have won the vote of the people this time around. Aside from the work put into her campaign over the course of the election, Stoyles said her name was a recognizable one around Mount Pearl by this point and she was happy to see that play a role in her success.

Stoyles said she is confident in her new role and eager to show the constituents what she can bring to the table as a Member of the House of Assembly.

“They’ve given me a chance to represent them. Helping people is what it’s all about, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing – that’s why MHAs were put in place,” Stoyles said. “I’ve spent my lifetime doing just that, and I continue to do it now. As I always say, that’s what I’m good at.”

Although it has not yet been a week since Stoyles was elected, she has already begun some of the hard work. The former executive assistant to Mount Pearl – Southlands independent MHA Paul Lane, who managed to get re-elected, said she has been on the phone with people since the result, trying to set up meetings with higher level government officials to discuss the needs and wants of the people of the city.

“I’ve served on city council for 25 years, so now I’m in the middle of arranging to get (MP) Seamus O’Regan to come in and have a meeting with them, to talk about some possible funding and other ways that we can work together with the federal government,” Stoyles said. “Hopefully, in the next two weeks, I’ll be sitting around the council chambers again in one of those meetings, just this time as their MHA.”

Stoyles said she has also been in contact with a number of community groups around the city, such as the various churches, to let them know about her new role and to discuss possible funding and other opportunities that she might be able to help with.

“I’ve already started working … I’ve done this job in a different capacity, working with Paul Lane over the years, so it’s not all that new to me,” Stoyles said. “It’s all about getting in touch with people in a timely manner, and doing what you can to help them out.”

City makes provision for mail-in voting... if necessary

By Chris Lewis | April 1, 2021

Provincial elections just clewed up this week, but municipal elections are right around the corner. And Mount Pearl is getting ready.

The 2021 municipal elections across Newfoundland and Labrador are scheduled for Tuesday, September 28. During the most recent meeting of council in the City of Mount Pearl on March 23, councillor Bill Antle said he hopes the majority of the province’s population will have received a COVID-19 vaccination by then, with public health guidelines in place to allow for in-person voting.

Ultimately though, he said the impact the pandemic will have on municipal voting turnout is still largely unknown.

Given that uncertainty, Antle said, there has been consideration given to alternative voting methods.

“The Municipal Elections Act allows for vote by mail subject to resolution of council,” Antle noted.

He proposed the City take what he described as a hybrid approach this fall to allow for traditional in-person voting as well as voting by mail.

Antle said in order to conduct an election by mail, regulations will have to be drafted for council’s consideration and approval, with further approval required from the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities.

“The Act also requires the appointment of an alternative returning officer,” Antle added.

The councillor presented his colleagues with two resolutions for their approval. The first was to see the Director of Corporate Services, Cassie Pittman, be appointed to the position of returning officer. The second was for approval be granted by council to authorize voters to vote by mail in the September election.

Mayor Dave Aker said the resolutions were highly motivated by COVID-19, and saw it as a good move for the City to be prepared.

Councillor Isabelle Fry said the resolutions were a requirement in municipal legislation, given the City had not had these alternative voting methods in place in the past.

“It’s something we had to consider given the current situation we are in,” she said. “It might be a viable option moving forward from here, too.”

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke supported the changes and highlighted the effects the pandemic have had on the provincial election this past 10-weeks or so.

“The provincial election has been thwarted and delayed, unforeseen. I think this is just due diligence, and if it can encourage people to vote with another opportunity to cast their vote, I see no downside to this,” Locke said.

Put to a vote, Antle’s motions passed unanimously.

Ultimately, the motion in favour of approving these resolutions was met with