The Mount Pearl Floor Hockey Team are the 2023 Special Olympics NL Winter Games floor hockey champions. In the back, from left to right, are Shaughn Connors, Katie Cromwell, Megan Arnott, Nick Styles, Gavin Parsons, Mark Peddle, Taylor Hann, and Jacob Haynes-King. In the middle row, from left to right, Mike Beck, Dion Cantwell, Mike Mullaly, Josh Haynes-King, Andrew Hynes, Lyle Woodrow, David Wells. In front is Matthew Adams. The Games were held in Grand Falls-Windsor the second week of March. Submitted photo
Additional environmental assessment for new civic centre site
By Mark Squibb\April 6, 2023
Mount Pearl council during a public meeting of March 21 approved a request for an additional environmental site assessment for the site of the future civic centre, splash pad, and ice rink facility.
“A phase I and phase II environmental site assessment was completed to identify any hazardous materials on the site,” explained councillor Isabelle Fry. “In order to adequately understand the extent of hazardous materials and mitigation options, a phase III environmental site assessment is required. This will include additional test pit excavation and evaluation.”
The total cost of the additional test is $39,270, HST included.
“This is something that needs to be done, given that this property was in use for a number of years,” said Mayor Dave Aker.
The site in question is located at the Team Gushue Sports Complex.
Council first proposed plans for the new 18,000 square foot community space, which includes the community centre, splash pad, and ice rink in July 2021, and anticipates spending roughly $9 million on the project.
Once completed, the centre will replace the Park Place Community Centre as a hub of community activity.
U15 Girls Champions
The Mount Pearl Blades U15 Girls team earned a provincial championship banner this past weekend after going undefeated in round robin play. In the championship game against Lake Melville, the girls came roaring back from a 3-2 deficit at the end of the second and notched a 6-3 win. From left to right in the back row are assistant coach Charles Chatman, Gabby Chatman, Avaiah Churchill, Macy Sexton, Addison Abbott (A), Merisa Abbott (A), Anna Thoms (C), Mia Barrett (A), Rebecca McCarthy, head coach Ron Power, and trainer Krista Power. In the front, from left to right are Georgia Heffernan, Anna Heffernan, and Amber Power. Missing from the photo is assistant coach Dean McCarthy.
2023 U18 Tier 1 Champions
The Mount Pearl Blades U18 team are the 2023 U18 Tier 1 Champions. In the back row, from left to right, are Coach Chad Hart, Sam Henderson, Jacob Smith, Collin Martin, Jacob Payne, Tyler Gough, Tate Cullen, Jack Hart, and Zack Moyst. In the middle row, from left to right are Carter Pelley, Noah Carew, and Luc Brown. In the front, from left to right, are Jake Budgell, Cole Fitzgerald, Logan Holloway, Seamus Pinsent, and Phil Snow. Missing from the photo are coaches Trevor Budgell and Darryl Smith.
Glacier to get kitchen upgrade
By Mark Squibb/March 31, 2023
Mount Pearl council approved two contract recommendations from the Planning, Engineering, and Development committee last week that will see over $80,000 in upgrades to the Glacier Arena.
The first recommendation was for the supply and installation of replacement batteries as well as the supply of critical spare components for the two Uninterrupted Power Supply systems in the double ice surface facility at a cost of $53,176, HST included. Universal Power Solutions will take care of the work.
The second recommendation was for upgrades to the canteen.
“The project includes upgrading the wall behind and adjacent to the cooking appliances and fryers as well as to replace the adjacent countertop and cupboard with stainless steel cabinets,” explained councillor Mark Rice. “The ones there now are wooden, and looking at the way we cook up there, with those appliances, we need stainless steel ones.”
Three vendors bid on the work, and council awarded the contract to the lowest compliant bidder, Jenkins Power Sheet Metal, for the sum of $30,475, HST included.
Mayor Dave Aker said the canteen upgrades address both safety and hygiene concerns.
Both motions passed unanimously.
Depot's heating upgrade to cost quarter of a million
By Mark Squibb/March 31, 2023
The City of Mount Pearl is looking to spend about $250,000 to make the heating of the H. Neil Windsor Building, otherwise known as the City Depot, more energy efficient and climate conscious.
“The scope of work for this project includes the demolition and removal of the existing fuel tank, air handling and electrical systems currently used for heating the park shed,” explained councillor Isabelle Fry. “It will be replaced with energy efficient mini-split heat pump systems and ductwork. As well, all baseboard heaters will be replaced, thermostats and service panel upgraded, and the main service upgraded from single-phase to three-phase. Tenders for this project closed on March 9, 2023, and all three proponents that were approached as part of the limited call responded.”
Of the three bidders, Fry’s Planning, Engineering, and Development committee recommended council award the contract to the lowest compliant bidder, JMJ Holdings, for the sum of $254,641, HST included.
“This is a move forward on the environmental front,” noted Mayor Dave Aker, before putting the matter to council for further discussion.
Councillor Mark Rice said the project was long overdue.
“I’m so glad we’re moving forward with energy efficient mini-splits and heat pumps,” said Rice, adding that he was glad the City would be burning less fuel. “We had a good bit of conversation at committee about this one, but I’m so glad to see that it’s moving forward.”
The motion carried unanimously without further discussion.
Best in Business
The Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce held its annual best in Business awards gala at the Paradise Double Ice Complex last week. Pictured, Adam Earle, Account Manager for Small Businesses with BDC, presents the Business Excellence +15 Employees Award to Pat and John Atkins, co-owners of JAC in Mount Pearl.
Mark Squibb photo
Local entrepreneurs collect awards at Chamber gala
By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023
Members of the Mount Pearl and Paradise business community were decked out in their finest last Thursday night for the annual Best in Business Awards ceremony, hosted by the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce at the Double Ice Complex in Paradise.
About 25 Chamber businesses were in the running for nine different awards, with many businesses receiving multiple nominations.
The first award of the night, the Innovation award, went to Pardy’s Waste Management. The Mount Pearl industrial service business has been operating since 1985. Steve Moores, Pardy’s general manager, accepted the award.
“Pardy’s has humble beginnings, but we’ve grown so much because of the increasing demand for responsible and sustainable waste management,” said Moores. “Our success can be largely attributed to the determination of our visionary founder, and owner, Mr. Derrick Pardy.”
Moores thanked the other nominees for the contributions they make to their communities, and for the Chamber for the support it provides businesses.
The next award was for Entrepreneur of the Year, which went to Roger Maunder of Up Sky Down Films. The company services the metro region based out of their St. John’s office.
“This is really unexpected,” said Maunder, who joked that he’s usually the one behind a camera, not in front of them. He complimented the business people present on sticking it out for the last number of years.
Maunder’s company was the one to put together the nominee video clips that played before each award presentation.
The next award of the night, the New Business of the Year award, went to Premier Sports Academy. The Paradise based business first opened its doors in 2020.
Ryan Sweeny, the company’s president, accepted the award, and thanked the Chamber, fellow businesses, the community, and co-founder Noah Anderson.
“We were a pretty new idea when we started Premiere Sports,” said Sweeney. “It took some time for people to believe in what we were doing. But the success we’ve had over the last couple of years with our athletes is really starting to show, and I feel like we’re just getting started.”
Next, the Chamber presented the Local Impact Award for Mount Pearl, which went to MUNN Insurance.
For a number of years, the company has raised money during the Christmas season, and last year donated over $50,000 to local charities. Commercial Manager Blair Campbell thanked the Chamber and sponsors for hosting the event, and the business community at large.
“We’re a company that is on the move, that is innovative, and participates in communities,” said Campbell. “We recognise the importance of giving back to communities and making a difference.”
MUNN Insurance operates out of St. John’s, Bay Roberts, Corner Brook, and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
The Local Impact Award for Paradise went to the Carpenter’s Millwright College.
Shawn Skinner, training director, extended thanks to the Chamber and to fellow nominees.
“What we do is very quiet work,” said Skinner. “We don’t promote a lot of the stuff we do. We have a great staff. We do a lot of stuff in this community, in Paradise, in Mount Pearl, in St., Johns, in the greater Avalon area, and we do it because we feel we owe it back.”
The next award of the night, the Business Excellence Award for companies with fewer than 15 employees, went to the Paradise-based youth programming and activity space, Get Messy.
Co-owners Joanne Newman and Jennifer Hiscock accepted the award.
“We are so surprised; this really means a lot to use,” said Newman. “We’ve worked really hard over the past few years. The pandemic really gave us a punch in the belly, but we got back up. Giving back to our community is one of our favorite things to do.”
The Business Excellence Award for companies with more than 15 Employees went to Mount Pearl based digital marketing agency, JAC.
Founder John Atkins accepted the award along with his wife and JAC co-owner Pat Atkins.
The Customer Service Award went to Paradise-based Catalyst Health Solutions. Founder June Tavenor explained the company’s approach to healthcare by way of a parable about a woman walking along a beach and tossing starfish back into the ocean. Though she could not throw every starfish back, the woman made a world of difference to those she was able to throw back.
The final award of the night, the Employee of the Year Award, went to Pam Evans of Easy Safety Training Services.
Evans thanked business owners Scott and Colleen Glynn, along with other colleagues who make her workday brighter.
Toilet price hike is a bum rap
By Mark Squibb/March 10, 2023
In a post-pandemic world, we’ve come to accept that everything costs more.
Mount Pearl City council found out this week that that includes toilet paper.
“In January 2023, the vendor supplying the City of Mount Pearl with washroom paper supplies advised that they were no longer able to continue to supply these products for the tender price bid in 2020,” councillor Bill Antle explained to his colleagues at their public meeting Tuesday. “The vendor informed the City of the required increases per case for paper towels and toilet tissue and have provided a guarantee to maintain these prices until December 31, 2023. An estimated increase of approximately $34,000 to the annual budget. Current pricing was sought from two other local vendors; however, their pricing was higher than our existing vendor’s newly submitted pricing.”
The agenda identified the exact price increases per item. For example, the price of a case of toilet paper rolls is increasing from $39.20 to $52.67.
“The committee recommends approval to accept the price increases of the lowest bidder, Chandler, and amend the existing contract to reflect the same and to notify the vendor that the City will extend the existing contract until December 31, 2023,” said Antle. “The committee further recommends that a new tender for washroom paper be completed in Fall 2023 seeking a new three-year contract.”
The usual situation called for further discussion, beginning with Mayor Dave Aker, who clarified the motion.
“So, in the middle of a contract, a vendor has asked for a price increase,” said Mayor Aker. “And it seems that they’re still the lowest in the market.”
Aker asked Director of Recreation and Community Services Jason Collins for further clarification.
‘’We could re-tender now,” said Collins. “But the thought is, if we wait until December, we could get better prices because we’re further out from the pandemic.”
The issue, though small in the grand scheme of things, did set off some alarm bells for council.
“We’re only taking a fairly small amount, but we’re really not when you’re talking about a tight budget,” said councilor Isabelle Fry. “And I’m just wondering if when we have a contract, do we have any legal standing to enforce that contract? Why do we have to adjust our prices?”
To that point, Aker, who also allowed he had some concerns with the motion, noted that if council was to switch toilet paper providers, it would end up costing even more.
‘So, I guess we’re making the best of a bad situation,” said Aker.
Deputy Mayor Nicole Kiley noted it’s not just about the toilet paper.
“We have had this come up time and time again, where we have been quoted, and then two to three months down the line, there are additional costs,” said Kieley. “That is just the volatility (of the market), and I think that is concerning as we see this more and more.”
Councilor Mark Rice also shared his thoughts on the matter.
“I do have some concerns with this as well,” said Rice. “Are we setting a precedent here? If we award tenders and contracts, can companies come to us in the middle of their contract and, just because it’s not making enough profit, cancel it?”
Like Fry, he wondered what legal options are available to the City if more companies begin requesting increases mid-contract.
“There was a lot of price gouging that happened during COVID, and there’s still a true reflection of that happening now in the industry,” said Rice.
Like Fry, Rice noted the City is working within a limited budget.
“This could be precedent setting thing here, with companies bidding on these tenders, so I just wanted to bring that to the table,” said Rice. “Because that’s a concern that I have.”
Councilor Jim Locke said he appreciated the concerns expressed by his fellow councillors, but also understood the rationale of approving the increase.
“It’s not a nice situation to be in,” said Locke. “But again, the rationale used was that we could cancel this contract and go to market. But, before we did that, we tested the waters of the market, and with the $34,000 increase, it’s still a better bang for our buck then if we drop the contract and go to the marketplace for another contract. So, the hope is that by December 31, 2023, the market may come back down once supply chains get built back up again.”
Councilor Chelsea Lane said the decision was not an easy one to make, but that cancelling the current contract and re-tendering was not a viable option.
“Even with this $34,000 increase, this is the best financial option for the City at this time,” said Lane.
The conversation circled back to Fry, who said she understood the predicament, but still expressed unease at the motion.
“$34,000 (more) is a lot of money for toilet paper,” summarised Fry,
Following the discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
The original contract price when the tender was awarded in April, 2020 was $34,419, meaning the price has since doubled.
Mount Pearl Streetfriends
Activist Leigh Bursey formed the Mount Pearl Streetfriends shortly after moving back to his home province in 2021. Bursey was at the Ross King Memorial Library this past Saturday to collect stories for a written submission to the Federal Housing Advocate to help better address homelessness, eviction, and inadequate housing. “It creates an opportunity, when you have these kind of community outreach sessions, for people to understand that their voice is important,” said Bursey. “We want to amplify the voices of people who have been left behind, or who have fallen through the cracks, or people who have had bad experiences with existing legislation.” Bursey says that sometimes even ‘well-intentioned,’ polices can be flawed, saying that he knows one person who was recently exempt from receiving the federal government’s one-time $500 top-up intended to help low-income earners with their rent payment because the person earned $12 above the annual income threshold. Bursey hopes his submission will help address issues such as this. While working on the submission over the next month or so, he hopes to host more ‘pop-up’ events.
