Fisherman's Road

The Narrows Group was officially formed earlier this year to protect, preserve and enhance the historic entrance to St. John's harbour. Both sides of the Narrows — the Battery side and the Fort Amherst side — are steeped in military and fishing history. How much work is there to do on  the Fort Amherst side alone? The below pictures tell the story. The Fort Amherst side of The Narrows, as seen from just outside the entrance. Signs and barricades attempt to prevent people from climbing down to the Second World War gun batteries on the Fort Amherst side of The Narrows. The view may be amazing — the City of St. John's to the left, Signal Hill and Cabot Tower across the The Narrows, and the North Atlantic to the right — but he gun batteries are in desperate shape. Plans to enhance and preserve Fort Amherst have been around for more than a decade, but there's been little movement.

The defunct weekly provincial newspaper, The Independent (2004-2008), carried out extensive research and investigation into the Upper Churchill. From the contract’s signing in the late 1960s, to the realization of its incredible lopsided nature towards Quebec, the shadow of the deal looms today over the potential development of Labrador’s Muskrat Falls. The following are a series of 12 articles published in The Independent .  Tracking the Churchill deal  — Power Struggle, Part 1 of 12. Newfoundland and 'what army'  — Power Struggle, Part 2 of 12. 'An Un-Canadian act'  — Power Struggle, Part 3 of 12. 'Do-or-die condition' — Power Struggle, Part 4 of 12. Power struggle — Power Struggle, Part 5 of 12. 'Hope' — Power Struggle, Part 6 of 12. A Canadian tragedy — Power Struggle, Part 7 of 12. Time right for an Upper Churchill summit: Vic Young — Power Struggle, Part 8 of 12. Confederation's 'greatest failure' — Power S...

Here is what the Nunatsiavut Governement Released today.... Media reports concerning recent teen  deaths ‘hurtful and disrespectful’ The Nunatsiavut Government is expressing concerns over media reports suggesting that the recent deaths of three Labrador teenagers represent a “new trend in the North”. “First of all, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people, as well to those who have lost loved ones in the past,” says Health and Social Development Minister Patricia Kemuksigak. “This is a very difficult time, and no words can take away the pain being felt by those who are touched by these tragedies.” Minister Kemuksigak says she is disturbed with particular comments made to the CBC earlier this week by Labrador MP Yvonne Jones, suggesting the recent deaths were different from those in the past in that “these young people come from very stable homes” and have “very supportive and loving family members around them”. The c...

My brother-in-law took these pictures this week on a tour boat off Bay Bulls, west of St. John's. I've taken the whale tour too many times to count, and it's still fantastic, spectacular, religious, inspiring, awesome ...

Witless Bay is home to the Puffin Patrol, a bustling crab plant (workers are brought in from around the province and housed at a former seniors' home), robust housing growth ("busting at the seams," in other words), and young families.  The town will soon be absorbed into the federal riding of St. John's South-Mount P earl (along with Bay Bulls).  I met with Mayor Derm Moran recently and had our picture taken on the highest point above the town and bay — a lovely outport within commuting distance to St. John's.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9 th , 2013   MP Cleary praises both sides of airport strike for tentative deal   Mount Pearl/St. John’s – New Democrat MP Ryan Cleary (St. John’s South-Mount Pearl) is elated that a tentative deal has been reached to end the more than 10-month strike at St. John`s International Airport. ``This labour dispute has had a huge impact on the economy of the northeast Avalon in terms of lost business and tourism opportunity,” says Cleary. ``Travellers have been inconvenienced, and in some cases safety may have been compromised. Now both sides – the airport authority and the union – can work on rebuilding their relationship.” In May, Cleary wrote Lisa Raitt, federal Minister of Labour, requesting the appointment of an independent mediator to help resolve the labour dispute between the airport authority and 85 striking workers, members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), a component of the Public Service Alliance o...