2004-12-26

VOL. 2 ISSUE 52

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26-JANUARY 1, 2004

WWW.THEINDEPENDENT.CA

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Down with the flag

PUBLICATION DATES

Due to the holidays, next week’s Jan. 2 edition will be available on Dec. 31.

By Stephanie Porter, Ryan Cleary and Clare Gosse The Independent

have done “exactly the same thing” as the current premier. Like himself, Peckford says Williams is “cognizant of our history and quite independentminded. urious at having returned from Winnipeg “We are expressing an historic as well as a preswithout a deal on the Atlantic Accord, Pre- ent injustice to the province and to the people of mier Danny Williams has ordered the the province,” he tells The Independent from his removal of all Canadian flags from government home in British Columbia. buildings around the province.

“There’s no new ground to go over. Even though “The Government of Canada has turned its back I’m sure everybody outside of Newfoundland on the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” would say ‘Well what’s another week, or what’s Williams told reporters in St. John’s. “What a time another day or what’s another whatever,’ it is obvito get a slap in the face from the federal govern- ous … everybody knows the issues here.” ment.”

In 1979, then-premier Peckford made a bold The premier was furious at Ottawa’s failure to statement of his own. The day the Supreme Court meet his self-imposed Christmas deadline on a deal decision granting ownership of offshore resources to give the province 100 per to the federal government came cent of provincial offshore oil down, Peckford ordered mem“If we can’t get any revenues — a pledge made by bers of his government to wear satisfaction from the Prime Minster Paul Martin black armbands in protest.

June 5 during the federal elec“(These issues) go back 20 federal government of tion campaign. or 30 years and we’ve got to Canada within Canada Reaction was immediate and express our displeasure,” Peckthen we should be supportive. ford tells The Independent. taking some steps to “Proper God damn thing,” “My own knowledge … leads says Gus Etchegary, a fisheries achieve it outside Canada.” me to believe that obviously advocate and long-time critic the federal government is — Gus Etchegary of the federal government’s stalling, it does not want to management of the East Coast accede to the provisions that fishery. “If we can’t get any satisfaction from the the province wants. Again.” federal government of Canada within Canada then Following the Winnipeg meeting, officials with we should be taking some steps to achieve it out- federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale’s office side Canada.” said the federal government had increased its offer Williams didn’t mention the word separatism. to share the revenues from offshore oil and gas He deflected questions about the broader statement reserves. As it stands, Ottawa claws back about 70 the removal of the Maple Leaf will mean to main- cents of every dollar of revenues by reducing land Canadians. “That’s a debate for another day.” equalization payments. Federal Finance DepartHe mentioned how provinces like Ontario and ment officials said under the proposal rejected by Quebec can get what they want from Ottawa, but Williams that practice would end. this province can’t.

Continued on page 2 Former premier Brian Peckford says he would

F

LIFE & TIMES

Noreen Golfman on necessity of federal arts funding Page 23

BUSINESS

Rob Moore talks pizzas and The Keg

Page 16

Paul Daly/The Independent

A security guard removes the Canadian flag from the front of Confederation Building in St. John’s. Premier Danny Williams ordered the removal of all flags from provincial government buildings after failing to reach a deal with Ottawa on the Atlantic Accord by his self-imposed Christmas deadline.

INTERNATIONAL

Celebrating an Indian Christmas Page 19

Part one of a two-part series

By Susan Bourette For The Independent

T SPORTS

Andrew McKim on new job with Fog Devils Page 25

Quote Week OF THE

“Proper God damn thing.”

— Fisheries advocate Gus Etchegary on Premier Danny Williams’ decision to remove Canadian flags from provincial government buildings.

The last

he lights are up, the cameras are in place and a microphone is clipped to the sweater of the man who is at once mogul, mystic and prankster. Geoff Stirling is ready for his close-up. It’s the latest take in The Geoff Stirling Story, starring Geoffrey William Stirling, produced, directed, written and lived by the selfsame Geoff Stirling.

The show has been in production for almost a half century, ever since Stirling erected Newfoundland’s first television broadcast tower and began transmitting shows like Hopalong Cassidy.

Here in St. John’s, they joke that Geoff Stirling is four million years old and 17 feet high. But in person, he’s utterly human. Standing six feet tall, he’s thin, “all skin and grief,’’ as the locals say, and all the more so dressed in black save for the red bandana around his neck and a silver crop of bedhead that lends him the worn chic of an aging rock star.

At 83, Stirling knows the production can’t go on forever.

There’s only a decade or two left to tie up loose ends. The rushes have been seen only by friends and family—and by late-night viewers of Stirling’s NTV, the dominant station in Newfoundland and Labrador and an increasingly popular diversion elsewhere via satellite. In the episode filming tonight, the unwitting guest star is a freelance writer.

“Sit down right there, honey,” Stirling commands in a lilting voice, pointing to the chair next to his at NTV headquarters, a low-slung building on the edge of the Atlantic in east end St. John’s. “I hope you don’t mind the camera,’’ he says. Before I’ve had a chance to answer, he’s bellowing to the technician, “Mike, have you got her in the centre of the frame?”

I see my head bobbing in a monitor.

I can’t help noticing it’s not a flattering look — slack-jawed, eyebrows hoisted in italicized disbelief. “OK, we’re ready to roll,’’ he thunders.

Never an enthusiastic performer, I meekly ask, “Mr. Stirling, what are you planning to do with this?”

He leans in close with a wild-eyed stare and points to my tape recorder.

“What are you planning to do with this?” he asks with mock incredulity.

Then he stretches his mouth into a wide, sly grin.

It’s just another day at the NTV funhouse, a station unlike any other in the country, or perhaps the world. The corner office likewise is occupied by a media mogul unlike any other, one who diverts a conversation about corporate strategy into reflections on crop circles and reincarnation. At one point, Stirling declares, “I am whole. I am perfect. I am unlimited.”

But the singularity goes beyond the man’s passions and persona: Stirling is the last of a breed, the independent broadcasters who pioneered privately owned television in Canada. In a business now subsumed into a handful of media conglomerates, Stirling is a lonely lion in winter.

Continued on page 20

oddball

tycoon Geoff Stirling helped pioneer privately owned television in Canada In a business now controlled by a handful of media conglomerates, Stirling is a ‘lonely lion in winter’

Ned Pratt/Klixpix

Page 2

NEWS

Blind faith

Return with pride From page 1 Williams, for his part, said by year three of Ottawa’s proposed deal the province would receive less than 100 per cent of provincial offshore revenues.

Williams says the only happy person in Newfoundland and Labrador today is MP John Efford, Newfoundland and Labrador’s representative in the federal cabinet. The premier says Efford did not travel to Winnipeg either because he didn’t care if there was a deal, or knew that one wasn’t going to be reached. A spokesman for Efford’s office says it wouldn’t be “appropriate” for Efford to comment at this time.

Williams called his trip to Manitoba a “punishment” and “embarrassment.” He says he could have returned to the province with a big cheque but preferred to return with “pride.”

Tom Hickey, one of the leaders behind the new Newfoundland and Labrador First Party, a party that advocates separatism, says he’s delighted to hear about Williams’ move to remove Canadian flags.

“I must say, I’m proud to have a premier who’s finally going to stand up to the federal government,” he says. “The give-away days are gone, they’re over.

“I have a suggestion for him (Williams) — I think that’s a great move, he might want to consider replacing it (Canadian flag) with the pink, white and green.”

Kevin Aylward, a former provincial cabinet minister who describes himself as a Newfoundland nationalist, calls Williams’ move a “reflection of the sentiment of the people in the province right now — which is a sad state of affairs.

“I think it’s another misreading by the federal government as to the feelings of the people of the province.”

Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have long pressed Ottawa to revamp the way offshore oil and gas revenues affect equalization payments. The two provinces want to exclude royalty revenues from the equalization calculation, saying the clawback has prevented both provinces from shedding their have-not status.

The Independent, December 26, 2004

Premier’s financial picture clearer; retains shares in resource companies

By Jeff Ducharme The Independent

M

ore than a year after taking office, Premier Danny Williams has answered some concerns about his finances, but the majority of his holdings are still in limbo as blind trusts are finalized.

Two of the companies in question are major players in the resource-development game.

The premier lists TransCanada Corp. as one of his investments, a company that transports the bulk of Western Canada’s natural gas.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s natural gas industry is expected to take off over the next few years with the recent announcement by Geophysical Service Incorporated that it has found even larger gas deposits in Labrador than originally discovered there in the 1980s. The deposits are located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Makkovik.

Williams also lists Teck Cominco Ltd. in his stock portfolio.

According to the company’s website, the company “is a diversified mining, smelting and refining group; a world leader in the production of metallurgical coal and zinc; and a major producer of copper and gold.”

Voisey’s Bay — one of the world’s richest ore deposits, containing nickel, cobalt and copper — is slated to come online in 2005. A small-scale experimental smelter is being built in Argentia.

In central Newfoundland, Auk Resources recently announced a zinc and copper open-pit mine in Millertown. Auk is currently waiting on word from the province concerning funding for road construction and hydro lines. The province has called for proposals to reopen the coal mine on Bell Island because the price for coal has soared.

In the past, questions have been raised whether Williams’ natural-resource holdings put him in a conflict of interest —

Paul Daly/The Independent

Wayne Greene, Commissioner of Members’ Interests

real or perceived.

The province’s Commissioner of Members’ Interests, Wayne Green, admits there’s only one way for politicians to avoid accusations of conflict.

“The only way to avoid that is to fully divest,” Green tells The Independent.

The premier was travelling this week and unavailable for comment.

Williams has already sold his interest (he remains a creditor) in his law firm and a number of other companies. Both golf courses — The Willlows and The Wilds — are in a blind trust, as are his realty holding companies.

“The final piece is yet to be done and I’ll be completely satisfied once we get that third piece,” Green says.

The final piece includes putting

a number of investments into a blind trust. The premier now lists BCE Inc., New Island Resources, Torstar Corp., TransCanada Corp., Teck Cominco Ltd. and Pfizer Inc. as part of his substantial holdings.

“The complexity of (this) piece involves third parties because they are investments,” says Green, adding that many of these third parities, such as banks and brokers, aren’t interested in rushing to meet his deadlines.

“They obviously have to protect their own interests as well and that’s when delays take place.”

Williams, a lawyer by trade, sold his company Cable Atlantic to Rogers Cable for $232 million before throwing his hat into the political arena.

Williams’ wife also has a num-

ber of investments — Barrick Gold, Power Corp of Canada, Toronto Dominion Bank, Kemet Corp. and BCE Inc. — that will be put into a blind trust.

Williams is still a director of one of his numbered companies.

The premier has “been granted an extension by the commissioner” until a blind trust can be put in place. “(The premier) is currently signing off on that company as director,” says Green.

The blind trusts will allow the premier to maintain his vast financial empire, but trustees will make the day-to-day decisions with no input allowed from the premier. Trustees have the authority to buy and sell, but some have charged that the premier still knows what he owns and could make political decisions that would benefit his bottom line.

Williams’ statement disclosure — something every MHA is required to submit by April 1 of each year — is now available for public viewing at Green’s office.

The premier met the April 1 deadline, but Green had further concerns, which delayed the preparation of the public document. `Green asked that certain holdings be put in blind trusts and administered by trustees.

Green expects to have the final blind trust agreement in place by “early in the new year.”

But by the time the final blind trust agreement is signed and handed over to Green, the April 1 deadline for members to file will loom again.

“In his case, I suspect that it’ll be pretty much a perfunctory exercise because I’ve been kept up to speed on the status all along and I doubt very much is going to change in a month or two.”

The Independent, December 26, 2004

NEWS

Page 3

Paul Daly/The Independent

Program co-ordinator for Naomi Centre, Gail Thornhill, with one of the shelter’s residents.

‘Some pretty basic things’ Poverty levels, need for affordable housing, rising steadily in St. John’s

By Clare-Marie Gosse The Independent

S

itting down with one of the residents of Naomi Centre, it’s hard to imagine that just a couple of weeks ago, the young, pretty, 21-year-old arrived on the doorstep with a smashed-up face and four teeth missing.

Today, Rachel (her real name was withheld on request) smiles flawlessly, quick to praise the help she received from the women’s shelter in St. John’s.

“I fainted and I smashed out my teeth and I cracked them all off,” she says. “I came down here and the first thing they did is get me a dentist appointment and everything else, and they helped me out with $160. If they didn’t do that, right now, my teeth wouldn’t be fixed.

“I was so sad, I lost four … I didn’t want to eat in front of everybody, because I couldn’t eat right.”

ROCKY RELATIONSHIP Rachel came to the centre, leaving behind a rocky relationship with her boyfriend. Since leaving a difficult home situation at the age of 16, she has lived at Naomi Centre on several occasions. Rachel says she’s not sure what the future holds, but for now, she and the other seven residents of the centre are just happy to have a safe and secure place to spend Christmas.

Now part of Stella Burry Community Services, Naomi Centre has been an emergency shelter and short-term residence for young women between 16 and 30 since

1987. Located close to downtown return residents. Thornhill says St. John’s, the large, homey, Victo- Naomi Centre is always full and rian house offers support, guidance there’s often a waiting list. Christand security for up to eight women mas is particularly hectic because at a time, usually for a couple of the centre opens its doors to everyweeks to a couple of months. body.

Since starting work at Naomi “We might be full with the resiCentre six years ago, program co- dents but it doesn’t matter, you can ordinator and social worker Gail sleep on the floor Christmas Eve …

Thornhill says she’s watched nobody is going to call here on poverty levels rise Christmas and be steadily in St. told that they can’t “We might be full John’s, which come and spend seems to be the with the residents but Christmas with destination of us.” it doesn’t matter, you choice for many Thornhill says young people can sleep on the floor the centre keeps in across the protouch with a Christmas Eve … vince, due to the “huge” communinobody is going to availability of ty of ex-residents, community ser- call here on Christmas particularly those vices. and be told that they who are still strug“There’s a group can’t come and spend gling to make ends of us getting meet. Most of the Christmas with us.” young women that together next week — Gail Thornhill to kind of brainuse the shelter are storm around the between the ages number of young 16 and 20, and people that we’re seeing emerging many branch out and have families with some really complex issues,” of their own. she says.

With the help of local businesses “We’re just seeing a lot of young and organizations, the centre propeople in trouble, having a really vides Christmas gifts for residents, difficult time. That is definitely as well as supplies for the outside increasing.” community in need.

It’s especially noticeable this They also have a highly attended time of year. annual Christmas party, complete “Christmas is a tough time finan- with a visit from Santa. cially, but it’s a tough time emoFormer resident Abigail (real tionally as well … and for some of name withheld) attended this year’s our young women, Naomi Center party. Abigail has two children, is the only support or the only fam- aged eight months and two years. ily that they have.”

Although her boyfriend works fullMany of the young women are time at a warehouse, she says they

still “find it difficult” to get by.

Having moved from family to family through foster care since she was 10 years old, Abigail says she was relieved to break free when she was 16. But with nowhere to go, she turned to Naomi Centre.

“I loved it there,” she says, adding the most important thing for her was that she felt safe, because she’d never had that before.

“It’s a really good place to go if you have an abusive boyfriend or abusive parents or anything like that because it’s very confidential …that’s what I liked about it.

“I could be there, and not be afraid that anybody could find me, I’d just be there.”

HOUSING PRICES Thornhill stresses elevated housing prices are a huge problem in the city. Stella Burry Community Services is always looking to buy and renovate affordable housing, for both permanent and transitional accommodation.

As well as Naomi Centre, Stella Burry oversees other shelters including Emmanuel House, Carew Lodge and, most recently, Choices for Youth, a transitional home for young men between 16 and 30. Thornhill says Choices for Youth is also always full.

“The common thing with all these complex young women and men, is unstable housing and income,” she says.

“There’s something fundamentally wrong here … and it’s tied to some pretty basic things.”

Page 4

NEWS

The Independent, December 26, 2004

An independent voice for Newfoundland & Labrador

P.O. Box 5891, Stn.C St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5X4 Tel: 709-726-4639 Fax: 709-726-8499 www.theindependent.ca The Independent is published

by The Sunday Independent, Inc. in St. John’s. It is an independent newspaper covering the news, issues and current affairs that affect the people of Newfoundland & Labrador.

PUBLISHER Brian Dobbin NEWSROOM Managing Editor Ryan Cleary Senior Editor Stephanie Porter Picture Editor Paul Daly Senior Writer Jeff Ducharme Reporter Alisha Morrissey Reporter Clare-Marie Gosse Production Manager John Andrews Intern Jenny Higgins

Midnight mass

OPERATIONS General Manager John Moores john.moores@theindependent.ca Consultant Wilson Hiscock Manager Sales & Marketing Andrew Best Jackie Sparkes-Arnold jackie.arnold@theindependent.ca Circulation Representative Brian Elliott Office Manager Rose Genge Graphic Designer Steffanie Keating Reception/Circulation Assistant Stephanie Martin

E-MAIL Advertising: sales@theindependent.ca Production: production@theindependent.ca Circulation: circulation@theindependent.ca Newsroom: editorial@theindependent.ca All material in The Independent is copyrighted and the property of The Independent or the writers and photographers who produced the material. Any use or reproduction of this material without permission is prohibited under the Canadian Copyright Act. © 2004 The Independent Canada Post Agreement # 40871083

S

t. Joseph’s was a frightening place to pass by at night when out walking by yourself, with only a bag of potatoes from Coombs’ shop to protect yourself from the Mother of God if she came to life, and turned evil.

The likelihood of the Virgin turning her plaster head, leaping through one of the windows facing Fishermen’s Road and chasing you down like a dog on her plaster sandals was remote, unless you were 10 years old and believed such events were entirely possible.

A potato to the plaster head probably wouldn’t have stopped Her, but it felt reassuring, in case of supernatural assault, to be clutching a 10-pound sack when passing the church on a clear night.

Mother Mary stood on the alter dressed in pastel robes, hands risen slightly above her waist. Her bloodless heart may have been stuck, valves attached to Her breastbone, but the pose was still comforting. Unless it was at night, when shadows played with the plaster, and Mudder sent you to the shop for potatoes to boil for supper.

Then it was impossible not to search the Virgin’s face for a sign

RYAN CLEARY

LETTERS POLICY The Independent welcomes letters to the editor.

Letters must be 300 words in length or less and include full name, mailing address and daytime contact numbers.

Letters may be edited for length, content and legal considerations. Send your letters in care of The Independent, P.O. Box 5891, Station C, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X4 or e-mail us at editorial@theindependent.ca

of life.

The pull was impossible to break. St. Joseph’s was never passed at a leisurely stroll, but at a furious pace — eyes left and unblinking — to get by the building as quickly as possible.

There was always the choice not to look at the church, to turn your head the opposite way and face St. Joseph’s parish hall, which was far less intimidating as old buildings go. The hall had once been a school, but the classrooms shut down years before in favour of bussing students to the newer Catholic school in Harbour Grace.

The hall was where grandmudders went on Sunday nights to play bingo cards with sliding shutters and smoke Cameo cigarettes.

The grandmudders may have worn tight rollers and hairnets; their faces may have been cracked with fine wrinkles around their mouths like the sharp teeth of a comb — but their internal organs were at least tucked inside their chest cavities.

They weren’t so bad to stare at in the dark as you passed by on Fishermen’s Road.

St. Joseph’s church wasn’t nearly as unsettling in the light of a Riverhead day when mass was on

and the building was occupied.

Mass was mandatory at least once a week — either Saturday at four in the afternoon or Sunday morning at nine. Saturday was the mass of choice for the younger crowd, who sat together behind the fat pillars that supported the roof so that the priest couldn’t see who was giggling or asleep.

Alter boys had to arrive a little earlier to dress in their white robes and wooden crosses and have first dibs at serving — ringing the bell during the blessing of the sacraments or accompanying the father during holy communion at the head of the alter, catching bits and pieces of the body of Christ in the off chance they fell from the mouth of a hungry soul.

Broken statues were kept in a closet off the alter boys’ room — St. Joseph with his missing hand; Christ with the cracked skull.

Young alter boys were shoved in the closet by older alter boys for punishment when they rang the bell at the wrong time during the service or gave sauce to the older boys.

It was all in good fun until Joseph’s hand (held by an alter boy) poked you in the ribs from behind and the subsequent scream sent parishioners scurrying to determine the direction of the blood-curdling scream.

The old furnace at St. Joseph’s

moaned and groaned throughout the mass but didn’t actually produce heat until the last hymn had been sung and the priest was making his way down the centre aisle toward the back, alter boys trailing behind. The solution would have been to turn the furnace on earlier than five minutes before mass, but oil cost money, even in the 1970s.

The furnace was turned on earlier for midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The church was warm enough then to take your coat off and lay on the seat next to you, only there was no room for that.

Everyone went to midnight mass, the regulars and the once-a-year crowd.

Most men stood at the back, shuffling from foot to foot, leaving the building just after communion for a smoke on the steps. The church smelled of their cologne, perfume from the grandmudders who finally took their rollers out and put on a bit of make-up, and candles flickering on the alter.

Families sat together for once, facing the priest and the plaster family of the crucified Christ. Soft music rose from the choir as the community came together at that special time and place, to celebrate a Christmas around the bay.

Ryan Cleary is managing editor of The Independent. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

Letters to the Editor

‘Fight to the bitter end’ Editor’s note: The following is the copy of a letter forwarded to Premier Danny Williams.

Dear Premier Danny Williams, First, I would like to congratulate you on your strong stance on the Atlantic Accord, and I hope you fight to the bitter end. I am a supporter of many, if not most, of your mandates and am very pleased that we have a leader like you in government.

I do have one major problem with the actions of your government, however, and that is the reduction of teachers in the school system.

I can see the logic of cutting positions to save money, as well as reducing the number of districts/school boards. And perhaps there are other benefits to your course of action that I am not aware of. However, I am very concerned that you are making a

major error.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s most important and abundant resources are its people and culture. The culture is passed on — not only through families — but also through the school system.

Math and technology do not constitute culture, nor do they alone foster well-rounded, intelligent learning. We need to strengthen our artistic and cultural programs in our schools from the ground up.

I ask that you please put a renewed emphasis on language skills, critical thinking, and artistic expression before it is indeed too late. I am asking as an extremely proud and passionate young Newfoundlander that you look to our children as the key to prosperous and happy future for our province.

David Lane, Memorial University student

The Independent, December 26, 2004

H

NEWS

Page 5

Newfoundlanders not included in politically correct no-fly zone

ere’s something that really sticks in my craw. Like many of us, I have suffered under the scourge of ridiculous political correctness for almost 20 years. Political correctness was launched as an assault on the English language. I believe the original idea behind politically correct language was the belief that people’s biases were hard-wired into their language — and that by changing the words we should be able to change the way people think.

All for the better, of course.

So instead of the old-fashioned fireman we were told to use firefighter. Instead of policeman — police officer. Fair enough.

Yet like most good ideas, a few dim-witted zealots were soon leading us by the nose down the path to absurdity. Manhole cover became personhole cover or access hatch.

Fishermen (as I still think them to be) became the ridiculous “fishers.”

It all got pretty silly.

Rant & Reason IVAN MORGAN Fortunately, I think political correctness has run its course. A telltale sign comes from the next generation. Kids have adopted the blasphemous words of their parents as their favourite words — as kids always do. So to them now things can be “retarded” or “totally gay.”

Offended? That’s the idea.

Yet I have always been mystified by one thing. While the whole world seemed to be tiptoeing around the sensibilities of the most humourless of minorities, for some reason Newfoundlanders were never included in

the politically correct safety zone.

It has been, is now, and seems to continue to be acceptable to look down on, sneer and otherwise mock Newfoundlanders. Why weren’t Newfoundlanders ever included in the no-fly zone of political correctness?

SLIGHTS AND SLURS This paper is sensitive to the attitude of mainland Canada to the people of the province, and has provided numerous instances of the slights and slurs that we suffer. But it is always taken for granted that such is our lot. We rail about no more, but we never ask why?

I’m asking why?

Every minority I can think of has enjoyed the umbrella of political correctness, while we have had to stand out in the cold hard rain of contempt and ridicule. Paul Martin’s communications director, Scott Reid — a person who gets paid the big dollars to

know better, and does know better — felt comfortable taking the piss out of our premier. Why? Get serious. It’s only Newfoundland. Reid wouldn’t mess with the mayor of Toronto. (Not twice anyway.)

The Globe and Mail’s John Ibbitson took a shot recently at John Efford — not that Efford didn’t deserve a roasting. He did. It’s the nuances that put me off. First there was the accompanying picture of Efford. The Globe has a long tradition of using unflattering photographs of politicians it doesn’t like. Efford looked like he was going to burst into tears.

Deliberate? Absolutely.

But it was more than that; it was also the tone. Ibbitson made the crack: “John Efford loves his car and driver far too much to leave the government over gays tying the knot.”

I thought it an interesting choice of words.

To be fair to Ibbitson, he did nicely sketch Efford’s breathtaking political nosedive over the gay marriage issue. But that phrase still bugs me. Am I too sensitive, or is this snide Upper Canadian code for “who does he think he is?”

I can almost hear the theme from The Jeffersons playing in the background (Well we’re movin’ on up, to the east side …).

Imagine if Ibbitson had made a crack about a Sikh or Muslim, Jewish or black, gay or disabled MP clinging to his or her perks over his principles. Remember when Tobin made the fairly obvious remark about how alcohol abuse hurts the leadership of some of the aboriginal groups? They howled in outrage from the rooftops. Yet this is the remark Efford gets.

SO-CALLED PRINCIPLES Yes it’s interesting to watch Efford roast for his so-called principles. Yes it is fascinating to watch him paint himself into a political corner for no particular reason. Yes, it is interesting to watch the man twist slowly, excruciatingly, in the wind. But does Judy Sgro like her car and driver too much to resign? What about Sinclair Stevens?

Does he now get his car and driver back?

Why is it Efford who is supposed to be so enamoured of this particular perk?

Newfoundlanders seem to have missed the politically correct bus. Cracks about Newfoundlanders — snide asides, smarmy code phrases and other derogatory innuendo continue to appear to be fair game.

Most annoying of all is the fact that, thanks to Ibbitson’s snide remark, I was manipulated into the position where I felt I had to defend Efford by sounding like a Newfoundland nationalist.

That really ticks me off.

Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com

Page 6

NEWS

The Independent, December 26, 2004

Prima donnas on ice I

f the NHL needs any indication where game. our national game is going, they need The NHL only look around and notice the lack of began its downhill slide when a New York fan concern as the strike drags very close to lawyer, Bettman, was named league computting the locks on the season for good. missioner in 1992. The fact that Bettman We’ve already passed was a NBA executive what was said to be the before taking the NHL job point of no return — the is one of the reasons why dated death knell for this Lindros and his tantrums year’s season, the halfwere tolerated. As we saw way point. The owners recently with the antics of JEFF locked-out the players — the Indiana Pacer’s Ron DUCHARME the main issue, a salary Artest — jumping into the cap. stands to pummel fans — NHL Players’ Association executive the NBA is nothing more than a day-care director Bob Goodenow and NHL commis- centre for round-ball delinquents. sioner Gary Bettman don’t play well with Maybe the federal government, like late others. The pair should be told to put their prime minister Pierre Trudeau did with the heads down on their desks until they Constitution, should repatriate the NHL and promise to share their toys. make it a Crown corporation.

The only thing that could possibly be a CANADA’S GAME greater crime to the senses than no hockey this year is if CBC viewers had voted Don Once repatriated, they could take control of a number of teams and distribute them Cherry The Greatest Canadian. across the country and make the NHL CanaBut really, who cares.

Opinion polls have proven that most da’s game once again.

Bring our game home! Posters, buttons Canadians really don’t give a damn if the puck ever drops on the NHL season this and T-shirts should be printed.

For obvious reasons, the Liberals would year. Seemingly, the average Canadian is far more concerned about getting snow tires want the position of left wing removed and installed on the family car than NHL hock- replaced by two right wings — two rights can’t make a wrong. ey.

To increase the number of Quebecers in In 1991, Eric Lindros, who was hailed as “the next one,” was drafted No. 1 overall by the league, all NHL players will be required the Quebec Nordiques. Lindros, because his to follow federal bilingualism laws. Those numerous concussions had left him unable players already in the league will be grandto learn French or because he was just a fathered, but still required to take remedial spoiled brat, had made it very clear in his French courses. Canadian diva Celine Dion own monosyllabic way that he wouldn’t has agreed to teach the French courses and sing the national anthem play for the Nordiques in both official languages (now the Colorado before each season openAvalanche).

Opinion polls have er.

When Lindros decided proven that most While there won’t be a to spend the season poutCanadians really team in Newfoundland, ing, not playing until he all Newfoundlanders and got his way and was traddon’t give a damn if Labradorians will be ed, a very sour tone was the puck ever drops given a travel rebate so set. The NHL caved to on the NHL season they can make the trek to Lindros when they should this year. see the NHL East Coast have disciplined the team that will be located spoiled little brat or, at the in Halifax. An official in very least, ignored his temper tantrum and let him rot in lesser Prime Minister Paul Martin’s office has suggested that the travel rebate could simply be leagues playing for free drinks.

Lindros blazed the trail, turning the NHL written into the Atlantic Accord in a bid to save money — making both agreements into prima donnas on ice.

For years Marcel Dionne, one of the not worth the paper they’re written on.

American teams are welcome to remain in game’s greatest players, toiled in the obscurity of the purple and yellow Los Angeles the NHL or start their own U.S. league, but Kings’ livery. He scored at least 50 goals in any Canadians who choose to remain on six seasons while on a team with little or no American teams will be required to give up supporting talent. His 731 regular season their Canadian passport and return all Traggoals place him behind Gordie Howe and ically Hip CDs to the proper federal authorWayne Gretzky in the record books. ities.

He rarely complained. He just played the game. He played the game because he loved Jeff Ducharme is The Independent’s the game. senior writer.

Lindros loved to win — he didn’t love the jeff.ducharme@theindependent

Opinions Are Like...

Letters to the Editor

Multiple benefits of fixed link: Kierans Dear editor, Thank you for reporting recent comments by Tourism Minister Paul Shelley and Sid Hynes on our proposed Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link (‘La la land’, Dec. 19-24 edition of The Independent). Their statements indicate that they are unaware of, or do not understand, the multiple major benefits of our proposal for this province and for all of Canada.

These benefits include: • Substantial reduction in this province’s current debt load of over $12 billion.

• Direct access for all Newfoundland and Labrador road vehicles to North America.

• Fair and secure regulated income from all provincial hydroelectric resources.

• Elimination of current duplicate costs in our vital electric energy supply system.

• New long-term jobs for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Substantial reduction in harmful emissions from current fossil-fuel power plants.

• Enhanced tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Atlantic Canada.

• Substantially improved provincial, inter-provincial, and national unity.

• Full retention of this province’s regulatory control over its natural resources.

To gain the above benefits our proposal suggests two concurrent phases: A) The Newfoundland and Labrador government will select a qualified investor group (IG) to be sole authorized generator, distributor, and exporter of electric power in the entire province, under strict regulation.

In return, the selected IG must design, finance, build, and operate an al- weather

transportation and electric power fixed link across the Strait of Belle Isle. Newfoundland Power is a potential IG candidate.

The province will contract with the selected IG for about 50 years to allow the selected IG profitable capital-cost recovery on the Churchill Falls, Bay d’Espoir, Holyrood electric power generation and distribution assets bought from Newfoundland Hydro or Newfoundland Power, as well as for new Labrador power plants.

The IG will pay the province cash for hydro assets. The province will retain ownership of natural resources and lease to the IG those needed for approved work. The new IG will pay annual rent on all leases plus a tax on annual profits. For new Labrador hydropower, the goal will be maximum long-term jobs within the province.

The purchase of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s physical assets by the new IG will very substantially reduce this province’s long-term debt.

B) Ottawa, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador will jointly build a new northern Trans-Canada Highway to provide all North American road vehicles with all-weather land access to and from Newfoundland via the Strait of Belle Isle fixed link proposed above. The new TCH will include the now missing 350 km of Quebec highway 138, a Labrador connection to the new fixed link, and an upgraded Newfoundland highway 430 from the fixed link to the Deer Lake junction with the existing TCH. Tom Kierans, St. John’s

The Independent, December 26, 2004

NEWS

Page 7

More meaningful Christmas for cash-strapped Aliant employees; early retirement a popular option

By Alisha Morrissey The Independent

C

onnie Foley is in better spirits in the week leading up to Christmas than she was in early July. Back then, she was on strike and sitting in her car across the street from a picket line in front of the Aliant building on Allendale Road in St. John’s.

Now sitting comfortably in her living room, she says the five-month long Aliant strike was a terrible time for her and her family.

Foley spoke to The Independent in early July, 10 weeks into the strike. At the time, she said she was calling food banks for help and sending her two daughters — Sarah, 11 and Rebecca, 7 — to stay with their aunts in Nova Scotia for the summer because she couldn’t afford to keep the family going.

With nearly half of 2004 spent on strike, Foley says she and many others will have a smaller Christmas than usual.

“My children — two of the most wonderful — they don’t expect big things, they’re not materialistic, they’re so grateful for everything they have and they ask for nothing,” says Foley.

She says she and her two daughters have always focused on activities they can do as a family as opposed to the number of presents under the tree.

“If I don’t have any material things that’s fine. I have a family that’s devoted to me.”

The strike may be long over, but changes are still taking place at Aliant.

“

Paul Daly/The Independent

Connie Foley

The company has been offering an early retirement incentive package since the Oct. 28 release of third quarter results. Those results showed a dip in profit and rise in expenses — largely due to the strike. The company announced then that it would be offering packages to employees.

Spokeswoman Brenda Reid would

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release few details, although she does confirm packages were recently offered to management and union workers. The company anticipates up to 400 employees will accept a package, costing Aliant an estimated $40 million.

Ervan Cronk, spokesman for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ union, which represents Aliant workers, says he doesn’t have exact numbers, but a large group of employees in the Atlantic provinces have applied for the program.

“My understanding is there’s been a lot of interest expressed in taking an early retire-

ment … everybody just wants to get out,” he says. “I’d be lying to say that there hasn’t been a lot of difficulty, but it’s to be expected. It’s a brand new single collective agreement that replaced nine collective agreements.”

Cronk says his understanding of the retirement package includes four weeks of pay for every year of service and varying terms as to how pensions will be paid out.

He says it’s disappointing, but not surprising that the company has become so profit driven.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s not just the telephone industry that’s going through this — it seems that globalization has really come home to rest,” Cronk tells The Independent.

“That’s the new kind of approach of the bean counters. These days it’s just that they equate people to cost.”

As for having a smaller Christmas, Cronk says many Aliant workers will have it tough this season.

“I expect that some of them (workers) are having some difficulty, but you know some of them would be having some difficulty if we hadn’t of had a strike,” he says. “Like everybody else, we’ll all put ourselves in debt.”

Back at Foley’s quiet family home, her daughters talk about what they hope Santa Claus will bring them Christmas Eve. Rebecca wants a teddy bear that hugs you back and Sarah wants some new clothes — nothing extravagant, confirms their mother.

“Although the strike is over it continues to (have an) effect and it’s no secret some people are in thousands of dollars of debt, but we’ll get out of it,” she says.

“You’ve got to find other ways in your life to make Christmas — other than financial — and if people find that secret they’ll be OK.”

Page 8

NEWS

The Independent, December 26, 2004

‘Lovey dovey’ How exactly will the province’s relationship with Ottawa play out in 2005

By Jeff Ducharme The Independent

further closures to the cod fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence — a closure that even the federal govamed psychiatrist Sigmund ernment, he says, couldn’t justify Freud could write volumes with science. Grimes went so far on this province’s relations as to call for the Terms of Union to with the federal government. be renegotiated From former premier Brian Peck“You can’t just sit as the leader ford’s battle over Churchill Falls in this province and let that happen to Premier Danny Williams’ ongo- and try to be nice about it,” says an ing battle for oil revenues from the unrepentant Grimes.

Atlantic Accord, the relationship He eventually created a royal has more often than not been a commission in 2003 that reviewed dysfunctional one. the province’s place within ConWilliams spent much of his time federation.

Renewing and in opposition criticizing then-pre- Strengthening Our Place In Canamier Roger Grimes and the Liber- da took its show on the road and als for going out of their way to held hearings across the province, foster a confrontational relation- eventually releasing a public ship with Ottawa. report.

But Williams has adopted a sim“I knew I wasn’t very popular in ilar stance, storming out of a first Ottawa, but I wasn’t concerned minister’s conference in Ottawa about being popular in Ottawa and when he didn’t like the conditions I don’t think Mr. Williams is either. the feds placed on the Atlantic He’s concerned about trying to Accord. make sure that Newfoundland and Labrador’s case is heard and ‘HARD TO JUDGE’ understood, if at all possible.”

Stephen Tomblin, a political sciThe commission, headed by Vic ence professor at Memorial Uni- Young, recommended creating an versity in St. John’s, says its “hard Ottawa office to lobby the federal to judge” whether it’s an issue of government. The Ottawa office is timing or leadership when it comes now in place, with Bill Rowe actto brokering deals with the feds. ing as Williams’ pointman in the “But it does appear that the pre- nation’s capital. mier has succeeded in a way that Grimes contends that Williams was probably not the case for has missed the point and that the Roger Grimes in getting this on the premier “has sent Bill Rowe up national agenda, which I guess is there and dressed him up as if he an achievement,” Tomblin tells were more than the MPs” instead The Independent. of the lobbyist to deputy ministers “Part of it is luck. Part of it is and bureaucrats the commission context.” intended.

Tomblin says Prime Minister Governments come and go as Paul Martin’s minority govern- elections are won and lost, but the ment is probably the biggest single same bureaucrats remain, says contributor to Ottawa’s willingness Grimes. to listen — Grimes faced a strong “So (bureaucrats) will always majority and even stronger leader put options and scenarios before in that of Jean Chrétien. the prime minister and the federal Of the 308 seats cabinet that maxiin the House of mizes the position “There is an Commons, the from Ottawa’s Liberals hold 135 understanding and point of view and seats, the Conservminimizes any much sympathy atives 99, the Bloc gains for the for Newfoundland Quebecois 54, and provinces.” and Labrador and the NDP 19. NewTomblin says foundland and there does seem to much of that Labrador has a be a certain “congrand total of sympathy does come sistency” in some from places like seven seats. of the rogue mesGrimes says fossages being leaked Alberta who have tering a relationthe press — had difficulties with to ship with Ottawa is including last second-class status minute conditions “always overstated. up until the 1930s.” to the Atlantic “The only thing Accord leaking — Roger Grimes that has to happen from the prime is this: a premier in minister’s office or Newfoundland and Labrador, no the federal Finance Department. matter who it is, no matter what “If Martin (was) trying to the time is in the cycle, has to rethink the whole issue because stand up for Newfoundland and there’s pressure coming from Labrador,” says Grimes. many of the other provinces, While Grimes took serious heat which I suspect is probably the for his combative nature when case, it may require somebody else dealing with Ottawa, he says doing as opposed to the prime Williams has adopted the same minister,” says Tomblin. stance.

St. John’s South MP Loyola “The fact of the matter is that Hearn says the recent feud he’s already shown with his between the province and Ottawa actions that he would have been is fueled by a legitimate cause — just as strong, if not stronger, if he offshore oil royalties. was premier on the issues I was “This is not just a matter of dealing with.”

Ottawa bashing,” says Hearn.

In 2003, Grimes reached the end “If all you’re going to do is get of his rope when the feds made up and bitch and complain, people

F

Paul Daly/The Independent

Premier Danny Williams at a press conference Dec. 23. Furious at the failure of talks to amend the Atlantic Accord, he ordered Canadian flags removed from all provincial government buildings.

don’t listen to you. What you have to do is use every avenue, look at some of the problems (other MPs) are having and identify with them, show how they’re similar to yours.”

Grimes says having a “lovey dovey” relationship with Ottawa doesn’t move the province’s case any further ahead.

“This idea that you should be cozy and friendly and nice and that they’re going to treat you differently because of it — you get treated based on the merits of your case and not because you’re nice or because you’re a bit angry.”

Tomblin says regardless of a deal on the Atlantic Accord, this province may have already won.

“There is an understanding and much sympathy for Newfoundland and Labrador and much of that sympathy does come from places like Alberta who have had difficulties with second-class status up until the 1930s,” says Tomblin. “I think the best thing that’s probably come out of this is that we have an opportunity to tell our story.”

The Independent, December 26, 2004

By Alisha Morrissey The Independent

S

tart the countdown, try and remember the words to Auld lang syne and prepare to pop the cork.

Deciding where to spend the first hours of 2005 is almost as trying as coming up with a new year’s resolution that you can keep.

More than 2,500 are expected to take in the fireworks bursting over St. John’s harbour, and an expected 350 will dress up and party until the wee hours at the Fairmont Newfoundland’s annual gala ball.

On the west coast, Marble Mountain will host a New Year’s Eve bash.

“They say that citizens of St. John’s have been going to the waterfront for hundreds of years,” says Bernadette Walsh, special project officer for the City of St. John’s. “I think it probably may have stemmed (from) … a lot of the ships, that may have been out to sea, fishing or doing their merchant trade, probably would have returned back into port for the holiday season.”

Walsh says 2000 had the best waterfront attendance in recent memory, with an estimated crowd of 100,000.

“People will be down there with their kids — with everything from babies up to 99 year olds — I see every age group. I see people dressed in pajamas, I see mummers, I’ll see people dressed in furs and tiaras that are just after coming from one of the hotel ballrooms.”

Colin Kelly, a certified fireworks technician, will set off the pyrotechnics display from the city’s barge anchored in the harbour. He’ll fly in from Nova Scotia and collect a $10,000 cheque for the gig. Currently, there’s no one qualified in the province to conduct the show.

Kelly says the display should last a full 10 minutes with a grand finale of 50 shots every 30 seconds until all 300 shells have been launched.

“It’s an assortment of different

NEWS

Page 9

Happy New Year Revellers can start 2005 with a bang or in style

Paul Daly/The Independent

Memories Forever Limousine Service is going to be busy New Year’s Eve. Especially with their new 14-passenger SUV hitting the street.

effects — whirls and red starbursts — it’ll be certainly a wow-effect when it goes off,” he says.

The two major hotels in the downtown St. John’s area — the Delta and the Fairmont Newfoundland — will hold parties, which they do every year.

Heather McKinnon, spokeswoman for Delta St. John’s, says its gala ball was discontinued three years ago in favour of a smaller,

cheaper event. The entertainment remains the same with Billy and the Bruisers and special guest Barry Canning.

“Another $500 night just didn’t seem practical anymore,” she says.

The bands will perform at alternating hours in the ballroom starting at 10 p.m. The Eight Track Favourites will also be performing in Mickey Quinn’s — the hotel’s bar and restaurant.

“All the rooms on the harbour side are gone for the fireworks.

We’ve got a lot of families inhouse as well for New Year’s Eve that are doing their own thing as

well and going down to the fireworks,” McKinnon says.

A more extravagant event is in the making at the Fairmont Newfoundland. At $115 per head for the five-course dinner, the party will feature music by the Angela Warner Band and John Barela Trio.

For a more laid-back New Year’s Eve, George Street is hosting at least a half-dozen parties. CBTGs is charging $10 for the White Hags/Black Bags New Year; Birdie Molloy’s and the Celtic Hearth will hold a more traditional “extravaganza;” and for a touch of Mexican flair, Mexicali Rosa’s is still book-

ing tickets.

On the west coast New Year’s Eve looks to be a quiet one — unless you take a shuttle bus to Marble Mountain.

The City of Corner Brook isn’t holding any fireworks or community events because the bulk of partiers flock to Marble, according to Ally Johnston, the ski resort’s marketing manager.

The party has hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a classic rock band, and free shuttle service from Corner Brook — all for $30 a head.

“It’s a nice wintery, Christmassy, holiday kind-of-feel here with a 16-foot Christmas tree and lots of sparkling lights,” says Johnston “The lodge is just a beautiful warm, cozy place to be.”

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Page 10

NEWS

‘Mother of God, even in the bay’

I

f you want evidence that Newfoundland and Labrador’s way of life has changed, you need look, or rather listen, no further than the way we FRANK speak.

I’m not talking about our CARROLL accents. They have been watered down a bit in Corner Brook and 2003 from the previous year. VioSt. John’s, but you would still lent crimes increased by 1.3 per have to nuke them out of Port de cent; property crimes were up 4.5 per cent.

Grave or Roddickton.

I would hazard to guess that the No, I speak of a certain expression that crept into our lexicon property crime rate will have shortly after the arrival of cable increased even more substantially TV on these shores. You hear it on once we see the statistics for call-in radio shows and coffee 2004, perhaps even the number of shops throughout the province, armed robberies. But that still and it’s usually provoked by the doesn’t put us in the same class as latest news of a robbery or the Detroit. rare murder.

DEVIATION “My dear, it’s gettin’ as bad as FROM THE NORM Detroit!”

From watching or reading the Break-ins are up in St. John’s. news, you get the feeling that Luh, Little Detroit. crime is spinning out of control in Another Oxycontin addict.

B’y, soon there’ll be crack this province. Well, there’s somehouses from one end of town to thing very basic you have to remember about the news. The the other.

An armed robbery in Stephen- stuff that appears in your newspapers and supper hour broadcasts ville.

Mother of God, even in the bay! is, more often than not, a deviaNow, I realize that most people tion from the norm.

A few weeks ago, there was an aren’t talking literally. They don’t really mean we’re getting as bad armed robbery right in my neighas Detroit. They’re just using bourhood. A foolish 16-year-old exaggeration to make the point boy held up the local convenience store with knife. that certain crimes The incident made are increasing in this the news for several province. They can’t If the province reasons. It was drabe serious, can they? matic. It fed into the If the province was truly public’s growing was truly as bad as were as bad perception that Detroit, the funeral as Detroit, crime is increasing. business here would But mostly it made be booming. the funeral the news because it The latest crime business here was a deviation from stats I could find for would be the norm. the City of Detroit booming.

I can’t remember show there were 402 ever hearing about murders in the motor an armed robbery of city in 2002. Exthat nature in pressed as a rate, that’s about 42 murders for every Stephenville before, and it will 100,000 people. If we had the likely be a while before it happens same rate, there would have been again.

Depending on the way you look more than 210 murders in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2002. at it, it was a good news story — Actually, there were five murders not the fact that a robbery took in this province that year, only place, but that it happens so rarely.

So, tell me. If we were in two in 2003.

OK, so blood isn’t exactly Detroit, would this little robbery flowing through our streets. But make the news? what about all those drug addicts I don’t mean to diminish the holding up stores and breaking importance of this story, especialinto houses? ly to the woman who was held up.

What about the cheese mafia?

I don’t mean to diminish the There were 6,288 robberies in importance of any crime, espeDetroit in 2002. At the same rate, cially to the people whose homes we would have experienced about are violated by burglars or whose 3,300 robberies. Of course, we businesses are threatened by banwere nowhere near that figure. In dits. that same year, St. John’s had a The growing crime rate should robbery rate of 26 robberies per concern us. Of particular concern 100,000 people; Detroit experi- is the increasing number of home enced a rate of 653 robberies per break-ins in St. John’s and Gan100,000. der. These have the potential to turn violent. Equally disconcertCRIME INCREASING ing are the crimes related to OxyBut the gap between New- contin and other hard drugs. foundland and Detroit is no justiConcern, yes. Hysteria, no. fication for complacency. Crime We should be concerned about is indeed increasing in New- crime enough to address the foundland and Labrador, espe- issues underlying it. But we cially in the St. John’s area. By shouldn’t blow it out of propormid-November, there had been tion to the extent that we begin more than 1,000 break-ins on the living in dread. Then our way of Avalon Peninsula alone, up by life would really change for the more than 200 over the previous worse. year. Even towns such as Gander are experiencing an increase in Frank Carroll is a journalism burglaries. instructor at the StephenvilleAccording to Stats Canada, all campus of the College of the Criminal Code offences were up North Atlantic.

3.6 per cent in this province in frank_carroll_nf@yahoo.ca

West Words

The Independent, December 26, 2004

Letters to the Editor

‘Hidden sparks of hatred’ Dear editor, For a while now I have been considering subscribing to your newspaper because of its interesting articles and appreciable standard of journalism.

Imagine my dismay as I opened page 9 (Deportation wave, Dec. 19-25 edition of The Independent) to find a confused article containing obvious inaccuracies.

While the article is not a research piece, I was shocked by the lack of investigative analysis on the part of the reporter, who did not check easily verifiable resources and by the totally unsubstantiated declarations of Julia Reich.

First of all, the writer, Stephanie Porter, needs to understand and to help her readers understand the difference between a refugee claimant and an immigrant.

Immigrants go through the proper channels to make an application to move to another country. Refugees must prove that they have undergone persecution in their country of origin and that the authorities in that country are unwilling to help them. Reich is applying as a refugee and must prove her case in order to be accepted. For some reason — one

she is unwilling to divulge — she has chosen not to apply for immigration in the normal legal fashion.

Approximately one million refugees from the former Soviet Union were brought to Israel of their own volition, under the auspices of the Jewish agency, which is funded by Jews and non-Jews the world over. Many of these immigrants are non-Jewish spouses or close relatives of Jews who expressed the desire to leave Russia for the Jewish homeland.

They are given lessons in Hebrew, apartments, interest-free loans, employment and other assistance.

They are not asked to become religiously observant. This would be ludicrous in light of the fact that some 80 per cent of Israelis are quite secular.

SO-CALLED ‘REFUGEES’ If these newcomers leave as so-called “refugees,” they default on these loans and mortgages, often leaving co-signers with tremendous financial burdens.

As to the ridiculous assertion that the name Reich — meaning “rich” or “kingdom” in German — poses difficulties, one can easily check out the Israeli phone-

books. A quick online search of the yellow pages produces 87 businesses holding that name.

The white pages contain thousands. Israel is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious democratic country — the exception in that part of the world.

Upon reflection, the only name that might cause some raised eyebrows in Israel is the name Hitler.

The outrageous claim that Christian marriage cannot be performed in Israel will come as a great shock to thousands of Israeli and non-Israeli Christians who have married in that country. All religions have full rights in Israel.

Reich’s final point concerns army service in Israel. Any woman who is married, a mother or above the age of 24 is exempt from being drafted to the Israeli army. Jews the world over are experiencing a horrendous rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Israel diatribes. Articles, such as the one you just printed, serve to fan these hidden sparks of hatred, giving them life once more. Please check outrageous statements about sensitive issues before you print them; anything else may be construed as irresponsible journalism by many of your readers.

Claire Fränkel, St. John’s

December 26, 2004

IN CAMERA

Page 11

A taste of home Purity has been baking province’s traditions for 80 years

T

housands of families across the province will put out Purity syrup for Santa Claus this Christmas Eve — as they have been doing since the company opened 80 years ago.

It’s up to Warrick Pinkersen, Purity’s production manager, to make sure there’s plenty of syrup available to meet the holiday demand.

“Yesterday in one trailer we received 45,000

empty bottles,” says Pinkersen, wearing a white uniform and hairnet, like all of Purity’s 52 production employees. “When we’re in sur-production, that’s the rate we’ll be filling at. We do over 2,000 cases a week of 24.”

The empty bottles are put on a conveyor belt to be filled. As they move along, jets fill them with syrup, a machine slaps on the labels and, finally, a worker removes the bottles from the

moving belt, placing them into boxes that will be shipped to stores.

The air in the room is thick with the sweet scent of strawberry syrup — the flavour now being bottled — and the floor is sticky with spilled drink.

One floor up from the bottling room, the

PHOTOS BY PAUL DALY / STORY BY JENNY HIGGINS

Continued on page 12

Page 12

IN CAMERA

Specialty products From page 11 syrup is mixed. A few 5,000-gallon tanks hold water that will go through an elaborate filtration process before it is mixed with sugar and the other ingredients. The mixing is done in giant vats, and the worker who makes the syrup has to climb a ladder to reach the top.

About 80 per cent or Purity’s syrup sales occur around Christmastime, says Pinkersen. The two most popular flavours are strawberry and raspberry.

“Syrup is more seasonal, of course the season being Christmas,” says Pinkersen. “Cream Crackers, Lemon Creams, Jam Jams, Peppermint Nobs, these are our main lines of products.”

The candy being made this morning is Bull’s Eye, a brownand gold-striped candy that tastes like molasses.

Two workers stretch the sticky brown mixture on mechanical arms until it turns a bright gold. It then passes through a short conveyor belt where it gets shaped, cooled and cut into pieces. In a matter of seconds, the soft, pliable mixture turns into the familiar, rock-hard candy.

When Purity opened in 1924, says Pinkersen, it was primarily a confectionary, producing candy, jams and candy bars.

Since then, the company has broadened its range to include biscuits, cookies and bread as well as the candies and syrups.

Jam Jams, the company’s best selling cookie, are being baked this morning.

A mechanical cutter makes a repeated, loud clanging noise as it cuts out the circular Jam Jams. The cookies are placed on a conveyor belt that takes them through an oven, past some cooling fans and into an area where machines fill them with jam. Finally, workers package them.

Although Jam Jams are known for their soft, spongy texture, they are actually quite hard when boxed.

“What happens is it collects the moisture from the jam filling, so Jam Jams need to be made a day before you actually eat them because it takes a while for the moisture to get into the biscuit,” says Pinkersen. “This product that you’re looking at today, I’d say you’re looking at two weeks before it actually gets to the store.”

About 2,000 cookies a minute move along the conveyor belt.

That efficiency is necessary — soon, Jam Jam production will stop and another biscuit will be made.

“Now we have to change everything over and we’re into a different product this afternoon,” says Pinkersen. “This afternoon we’ll do Cream Crackers. They’ll spend four hours washing this machine before four hours of production.”

Purity also produces hard bread. Unlike the Jam Jams, which come off the production line hard and then become soft, hard bread has a soft center when it leaves the oven — it’s baked at 600 F, in 400-kilogram batches. The bread spends 24 hours in a sauna-like room before it dries out enough to be packaged.

While syrup may be part of the province’s Christmas tradition, hard bread is an important part of the province’s history and heritage. Without hard bread, there would be no fish and brewis — a traditional Newfoundland dish — and Pinkersen says he doesn’t know of any other company that makes hard bread.

Furthermore, this unique product has brought Purity some attention from around the globe, says customer service representative Joyce Brown.

“I had a call a little while ago from a gentleman in Switzerland,” says Brown. “He does a lot of biking and he wanted our hard bread — he found it on the Internet — because it wouldn’t spoil and would last forever.”

Brown says Purity products are shipped all over the world, including to troops working overseas.

“I’ve just sent a few cases of candy and Jam Jams to the Family Resource Centre in Gander to send over to the troops in Afghanistan,” she says. “We do it at least a couple of times a year. I had an e-mail back saying they really loved it — they sent us a picture of a Newfie night they had, and it showed them eating the Jam Jams.”

It’s that association that makes the company such a large part of Newfoundland and Labrador tradition, Brown says.

“Purity’s more of a specialty product. Jam Jams are a specialty to Newfoundland, and our Cream Crackers and our hard bread and our kisses and nobs that we make,” she says. “They love it so much they call us looking for products, all across Canada and the United States.

“Anything that’s a little taste of home, they love that.”

The Independent, December 26, 2004

The Independent, December 26, 2004

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Page 13

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The Independent, December 26, 2004

Gallery Ray Cox

W

hile some art is made purely for display, at Ray Cox’s home, his pewter bowls and plates are eaten off of and thrown in the dishwasher.

“It’s like a new car — that first scratch hurts and then it’s yours,” says Cox. “That’s the joke; you can take a bowl or plate and make it into something precious or …”

Cox says he’s stuck between the craft and art worlds — craft being skilled, handmade and often

practical work, and art being one-of-a-kind pieces, generally for viewing and collecting only.

“I sell the cheapest original art in town,” he says with a laugh.

Cox’s specialties are pewter bowls, plates, whale tails, mummers, and other Newfoundland-inspired images.

To make a bowl, Cox works quickly with the melted pewter, swirling the liquid metal around a large round mold.

The throwing motion gives each piece a one-of-a-kind texture and design. After the bowl has cooled, Cox will do additional work — etching, stenciling, etc. — to create delicate, subtle images on the surface.

Unlike other pewter work around, Cox’s

pieces involve a variety of vibrant colours, developed using a pewter-smithing process he developed — and is attempting to patent.

He says he knows of at least three other pewtersmiths who are working towards using colour into their metal.

“I wanted to patent the process so that I could kind of be public about it because it’s very simple,” he says. “This is kind of a byproduct that nobody really ever wanted to happen to pewter.”

But Cox says his lawyer has advised him to keep quiet about his trade secret. To patent the work would cost quite a bit, and Cox could potentially spend the rest of his life straightening it out.

Cox, born in Connecticut, first saw pewter works in a shop in California. He moved to this province in 1972.

He says he has no formal art training — and though he sometimes wishes he had, he is grateful for the kind of work that flows naturally from him.

Cox’s work is evolving, with the figures he creates becoming more realistic and less abstract. The turn of events has surprised even the artist himself.

“The work is image oriented, when in fact, I don’t want to be image oriented in a lot of the stuff I do,” Cox says.

He’s moving away from making bowls for the time being.

They sell slowly, he says, because there is already a commercial pewter bowl maker in St. John’s selling through tourist shops. Cox is waiting to get proper packaging — his choice would be old hat boxes — to help promote his bowls in other markets.

— Alisha Morrissey

The Independent, December 26, 2004

BUSINESS

Page 15

Photos by Paul Daly/The Independent

The Gallery is a regular feature in The Independent. For further information, or to submit proposals, please call (709) 726-4639, or e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

December 26, 2004

BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Rob Moore

Page 16

Paul Daly/The Independent

Home-grown success The Keg franchise in St. John’s isn’t Rob Moore’s first business, but it may be his most profitable

By Clare-Marie Gosse The Independent

I

t’s been a good year for St. John’s businessman Rob Moore. Not only has his newly opened downtown franchise The Keg broken sales records across Canada since its Nov. 22 opening, but his other service industry ventures are pushing to keep pace.

“We struggled for a long time in finding a niche market for Klondike’s (Klondike Jakes in the Village Mall) and we just went into our fifth year and just finished our most successful year there,” he tells The Independent. “A lot of that has to do with being debt-free.

Once you get those massive loans paid off things become a lot easier.

“Fog City became debt-free last year also and every single month at Fog City it’s been going through the ceiling sales wise. I don’t know where it’s coming from.”

The Keg Steakhouse and Bar franchise is owned by Moore and his brother Wayne, along with Leo Power. The three partners also own Fog City, the highly popular bar and restaurant in the Avalon Mall.

SMOOTH SAILING Moore says it was a long six years waiting to set up the steakhouse — there were some issues with location and The Keg almost opened on Stavanger Drive in the city’s east end. It’s been smooth sailing since construction began last spring and now the restaurant — which employs 132 staff and seats 265 inside and 150 outside — is part of the Pier 7 retail/entertainment complex.

The tasteful, two level building has a impressive ocean view, and marks the completion of the St. John’s Port

Authority’s five year, $20-million port a half for your pizza in St. John’s. revitalization plan to provide a pleasant “We used to be regulars — after our public space on the harbour front. late night sprints downtown — at Mr. Moore is probably best known for Jim’s Pizza on Freshwater Road. That beginning the pizza chain, Pizza was many, many, moons ago.”

Experts, which he began with brother Moore was only 22 at the time, but Wayne 24 years ago. Now he owns a after seeing a vacant space in Churchill host of other St. John’s businesses, Square, he and Wayne decided it would including Rumpelstiltskin’s and M&M be an ideal spot to supply students at Meat Shops. He’s also searching for a Memorial University. location for a new, “We were pretty historically styled green I’ll tell you. hotel, which he “Most people are out We had pizza makhopes to build in the ers that knew more of business before downtown area withabout the business in the next five years. they learn how to make than we did and Although Moore there was quite a any money in this says he would never learning curve. industry and it is a live anywhere but There were times in Newfoundland, he the first year when tough industry. It’s and his family we wondered if we not one I recommend were going to surmoved when he was just nine years old. for the family life …” vive at all.”

His father, a printer, That was in 1981.

— Rob Moore By 1989, the did the “Newfoundsmall outlet had land thing” and left expanded to six difthe province to work in Bramley, Ontario when The Daily ferent locations under the name Pizza Experts. That same year, the brothers News closed.

Moore says the family didn’t want to sold the bulk of the franchise to Pizza leave. In hindsight, however, he’s glad Delight.

“We’ve been very lucky … a lot of it for the experience.

“My entrepreneurial spirit came is to do with survival. Most people are from that town,” he says, adding that out of business before they learn how many local families had their own busi- to make any money in this industry and nesses, and he became intrigued with it is a tough industry. It’s not one I recommend for the family life either.” the lifestyle.

Moore jokes that over the years his Moore used to vacation almost every summer back home in Newfoundland five children have hardly seen their and as soon as he and his brother fin- father. He and his first wife Debbie are ished high school they returned perma- divorced, although they still have a nently. Unsatisfied with dabbling in good relationship and she runs university and trade school, they even- Rumpelstiltskin’s bar.

He looks somewhat sheepish as he tually approached a local pizza company for a franchise, at a time when explains his eldest son Robbie is fol“you’d fall asleep, waiting an hour and lowing in his father’s career footsteps.

“My oldest son now is right here at The Keg. He just invested in it and he’s working here and this is what he wants to do, so it couldn’t have been too bad.”

Moore attributes the successful start of the restaurant to a solid management team, consisting of some former Keg staff members from across the country, and experienced locals.

COMMUNITY CRITICISM Although there has been some community criticism in response to a mainland company operating such a profitable business in downtown St. John’s, Moore says it’s completely unfounded.

“We’re a mainland franchise, totally owned and operated by Newfoundlanders. There’s certainly some perception out there that it’s all run by somebody else, somewhere else, which is certainly not true. Out of the 132 staff members that are here, I’d say 120 of them are Newfoundlanders so it’s very much a home-grown, locally owned and operated concept.”

It’s a concept that’s clearly caught on. As the interview wraps up it’s barely 11:15 a.m. and although the restaurant isn’t open yet, there’s a line-up waiting to take a seat in the warm and comfortable décor.

Out of all his businesses, Moore says The Keg is bringing in the highest sales, and he predicts it will finish ahead of every other restaurant in Atlantic Canada this year.

“We’ve been at this 23 years. We know the marketplace, we knew what the void was and we knew The Keg name across the country is going gangbusters from Halifax to Victoria. We wanted it and we thought it was the only niche that was missing, and sales levels have proven we were right.”

The Independent, December 26, 2004

BUSINESS

Page 17

Facing barriers Fifty-five per cent of new businesses last year were started by women

By Alisha Morrissey The Independent

C

athy Bennett remembers negotiating a six-figure loan over the telephone with her bank manager before opening her business. Her son, Connor, was sitting on her lap eating Arrowroot cookies and drooling on the loan agreement.

In spite of the distraction, Bennett got the money she needed. And, in 1999, she became the official owner of nine McDonald’s franchises in St. John’s — nearly 20 years after being hired to work behind the counter at the Torbay Road location.

It’s a sign of the times, Bennett tells The Independent.

“When I was a manager back in the late ’80s I was probably one of only one or two female managers. Now it’s the exact opposite … In the last 10 years there have been more and more female operators that have been successful in purchasing restaurants.”

Women currently account for 34 per cent of entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador. Statistics indicate that number could be on the increase: 55 per cent of the new businesses started in Atlantic Canada during the 2003-2004 fiscal year were launched by women.

Bennett, like many women, struggled to find a way to balance job and home. Her husband, Doug, offered to become a stay-athome dad.

“That really does allow me the flexibility to be the crisis management person in my restaurant,” she says. “He’s the crisis management person at home and it really works well for our family.”

Last year the couple had their second child.

“It was very nerve-wracking as a businesswoman to think about taking some time off to actually have a baby,” Bennett says.

“But the reality of it is, when you’re a business owner, when you’re the only person who is able to make some decisions … it’s often times difficult to allocate.”

Bennett, who says compassion at work is one of her strengths, admits to hiring more women for management positions than a male counterpart might.

Nena Abundo, executive director of Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE), says things are getting easier for women in the

Paul Daly/The Independent

Cathy Bennett started working behind the MacDonald’s counter 20 years ago. She now owns nine franchises.

marketplace.

Women are starting businesses at a faster rate than men in Atlantic Canada. In fact, Statistics Canada reports that women start businesses twice as often as men.

“There’s more assistance available to

women to help them overcome the barriers and challenges,” says Abundo. “But I’m very cautious when I say that, because the barriers are still there.”

Females still face the stereotype that they don’t have the skills to make a good businessperson.

Unfortunately, says Abundo, one of the challenges facing women today is many do lack business knowledge in

some areas.

“Women as a whole tend to have less business management training, less business skills than their male counterparts.

And those are things like financial management, human resources management, sort of looking at strategic planning of the organization.”

Other challenges for women include making contacts, moving into sectors that generate large incomes, and accessing funding.

“Women are being approved for loans as often as men, but they’re not applying as often … Women sort of look at it as, a lot of women are less willing to take risk, less willing to take on a lot of debt,” says Abundo.

One member told Abundo that when she was trying to expand her business she was turned down for a loan to build a bigger building.

“She actually had bank staff say to her, ‘It would have been different if you were a man.’ And in rural parts of this province there still exists that mentality,” Abundo says.

“It’s that age-old sort of idea that if a woman is strong she’s a bitch and if a man is strong he is just a good businessman.”

Siobhan Coady, owner of Newfound Genomics and Bonaventure Fisheries, says she faces the old boy’s club cliché.

“They went to school together they grew up together and they play together,” she says. “We still don’t have the same networks that men have.”

Coady’s advice for women is to get out there and use their natural social skills to their advantage.

Labour Minister Joan Burke, whose portfolio includes women’s policy, says women seem more interested to move into selfemployment, but are sticking to “traditional female roles” such as retail and personal services, which generate significantly less income than growth industries like the resource sectors.

“It comes down to an overall plan that we need to implement as a government that makes sure that young women, young students, are aware of the opportunities in what we consider non-traditional economies,” she says.

Burke says the current government is committed to making women more prominent in the business community and making medium and small business the backbone of the province’s community.

“We still need to make sure that we advance the status of women and that we achieve equality in all aspects of society.”

Phone: 729-4712

Fax: 729-4754

December 26, 2004

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

A Greenpeace activist, dressed up as George W. Bush, dances in a simulated rain while listening to the song Singing in the Rain at the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change, held in Argentina.

Flap of a butterfly’s wings That could be the worldwide impact of the Kyoto Treaty on Climate Change, which comes into effect mid-February NEW YORK hanks to the United Nations’ apparently limitless ability to create silly acronyms, last week’s conference on climate change in Buenos Aires was called COP10. The initials represented the “International 10th Convention of the Parties,” but COP10 more closely resembled a cop-out.

The most productive result of the meeting that brought together 6,000 delegates from 194 countries in the capital of the Tango was to put the Kyoto Treaty on Climate Change back in the headlines, after a long, blank season in which politicians — mostly in North America — paid more attention to getting elected.

Now we are all waking up to the fact that the Treaty That Politics Forgot comes into effect two months from now — on Feb. 16 — with so few of the festering issues resolved that its total impact may be as consequential as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings.

Some poetic-minded environmentalists might be reminded of the adage that so much of the planet’s ecosystem is interconnected that even a butterfly’s wings can affect climate, but it doesn’t work in the coarser realm of politics.

The Kyoto Protocol’s original goals seemed maddeningly simple when they were worked out in 1997: cut greenhouse gas emissions by a modest five per cent (based on 1990 levels) by 2012. Nevertheless, what seemed easy on paper became a sticky problem in the global policymaking world.

T

The emissions targets didn’t apply 20 per cent more emissions than to some of the major developing 1990 – making any hope of reaching nations like China and its promised six per cent India, whose black-smoke reduction a pipe dream. factories were considered Similar backsliding has crucial to economic develoccurred in other Kyoto opment. participants, such as Japan, In the mature industrial whose emissions are up 12 powers, particularly Canaper cent. da and the U.S., the targets Instead of addressing were considered the failure of the world’s inequitable and unenforceleading polluters to operable — and an unjustifiate in the Kyoto frameable burden on economies STEPHEN work, the conference waststill tied to carbon fuels.

HANDELMAN ed its energies trying to Only Europe, which decide how to negotiate pushed for the treaty in the new targets for the second first place, considered Kyoto achiev- round of emissions cuts after 2012, able — under a system of “credits” when the present treaty ends. “A lot in which polluters could borrow and of people are afraid of discussing the trade off other nations future,” said Pieter and industries with van Geel, the Dutch cleaner records. environmental minEuropeans contin- The U.S., which never ister who headed ued to defend the the European signed the treaty, goals last week, even Union delegation. in the face of evi- continues to insist it’s But how could dence that few other they do that if unworkable; and regions are happy they’re not even with the way things agreed on the preCanada (which has have worked out, and signed on) is producing sent? even fewer have a The U.S. has 20 per cent more realistic chance of been the easiest and achieving Kyoto’s emissions than 1990. biggest target for purpose. protesters. With the Poor developing re-election of nations claim that George W. Bush, they have been shut out of promised any hope of Washington accepting aid to help them adjust to the eco- the premises of emissions cuts for nomic burdens. The U.S., which the next four years is effectively never signed the treaty, continues to gone. And American negotiators insist it’s unworkable; and Canada believe they are on the right side of (which has signed on) is producing history anyway.

According to Harlan Watson, the U.S. climate negotiator, the U.S. considers the answer to climate change is more research and better technology. “We match or exceed what any other country is doing to address the issue,” Watson insisted, noting that Washington has already earmarked $5 billion US on developing technologies to develop cleaner fuels, and store and manage carbon dioxide.

In a number of other industrial countries, including Canada, the view that imposed targets are unworkable has been quietly gaining ground. Ottawa policy-makers in particular say that the U.S. refusal to join Kyoto puts Canada at a competitive disadvantage with its major trade partner if it tries to fulfill the letter of its commitment.

That’s one reason why Prime Minister Paul Martin, mindful of his minority government status, has resolutely avoided providing details of how Canada will meet its targets.

What all this suggests is that Kyoto — a bold idea for its time — may not after all be the most effective instrument for addressing climate change. We need to go back to the drawing board.

Declaratory environmentalism sounds good, but it’s hard to legislate nations into doing the right thing.

Stephen Handelman is a columnist for TIME Canada based in New York. He can be reached at shandel@ix.netcom.com. His next column for The Independent will appear Jan. 9.

Page 18

The Independent, December 26, 2004

Santa saturation?

SANTA’S VILLAGE, Finland British family caused a fuss this month by complaining they spent a fortune to come to Santa’s village on the Arctic Circle, only to be given the brush-off.

Hilary Hughes, who brought two daughters and four grandchildren to visit Santa, claims they were told he was too busy, then he finally received them in a cluttered, dirty dining room.

Finns, highly sensitive about their nation’s image, were horrified, and tabloid newspapers passionately bemoaned the damage to Santa’s prestige. “This was most unfortunate, and we can only apologize profusely,” lamented Jyrki Niva, manager of the firm that arranged the trip.

But the flap may be just a symptom of a deeper concern that the Christmas spirit is getting lost as the Santa industry gets bigger.

The Finns have always claimed a special relationship with Santa, and since the 1960s the idea Santa’s home is in Lapland has been strongly promoted by travel agents, the government and Finnair, the national carrier.

INTERNATIONAL

‘Rajesh the reindeer’ Newfoundlander SheriLynn Barrett experiences Indian Christmas: exploding coconuts, watermelon juice and rows of twinkling clay lamps

A

SANTA PARK Tourism took off in 1985 when Santa’s first workshop opened here, 840 kilometres north of Helsinki, the capital.

Since then, millions have flown in to sit on Santa’s knee, ride reindeer sleds and snowmobiles, and visit the husky farms that dot the snowy landscape. Some 600,000 are expected this year, with more than 250 chartered flights this month alone arriving — 25 per cent more than last year.

Has the Santa business gotten too big? No one will say so on the record. But privately, some are worried. One waitress fears that “Santa saturation” will ultimately cause a backlash.

In his quiet, cozy grotto, Santa won’t be drawn into the debate.

His real identity is a secret and he won’t answer questions about himself. His message is the well-being of children.

“It’s nice that children can have lovely presents, but the most important thing is that they should be made to feel secure and happy,” Santa said. “In this way, we can all have a better, safer world.”

— Associated Press

Page 19

Voice from away

By SheriLynn Barrett In Mumbai, India

I

f there is one thing I have learned living in India, it is that people in this country really know how to party. At no time of year is this more evident then Diwali, the festival of lights — or as I have often heard it referred to, Indian Christmas.

Diwali is actually a celebration of the Hindu New Year, usually taking place in early November.

Houses are decorated with fairy lights, gifts are exchanged and everyone comes home to spend time with family.

Diwali is called the festival of lights because of the clay lamps or diyas that are lit in the household at this time of year. Diwali translates to “row of diyas.”

Today, along with the beautifully crafted diyas, fairy lights decorate buildings and streets alike. The sun sets, the lights come on and the city is transformed. Strolling down a street beneath a canopy of twinkling lights in a city you can rarely see the stars in is absolutely amazing.

Along with strings of lights, another tradition of Diwali is setting off fireworks. For the week leading up to the festival you can’t pass a street corner without seeing a cart of fireworks — no permits required.

The fireworks and firecrackers on sale aren’t so bad, it’s the exploding coconuts that make my head spin. Yes, you read it correctly … exploding coconuts.

Pack a coconut with gunpowder and a fuse, and I can guarantee the explosion will stand your hair on end and leave your ears ringing. Not the safest activity, but that doesn’t stop anyone. Neither does the 11 p.m. noise curfew imposed by the city. For three days the explosions are pretty much non-stop. Every other house seems to have a full stock of fireworks, and children in the street lay out lines of firecrackers that seem to stretch on forever. Everyone likes to join in the fun.

There is certainly more to the celebration once you enter the

AFP Photo

Visitors flock to the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s most holy place, lit up for the Diwali festival in Amritsar in Punjab state. Diwali celebrates the return of the Hindu god Ram and his wife Sita to Ayodha after the defeat of the demon Ravana.

home, but indoors the traditions ribbons and bows and I have are very personal — every fami- heard a carol or two from the ly has their own. The fireworks church around the corner. In our and lights grab your attention and neighbourhood there is one street leave a very lasting impression. that seems to be dedicated to Christmas in India, on the other every commercial item associated hand, is a different matter alto- with Christmas. gether. I could tell Just after the you about ChristDiwali festival, mas trees and Santa when the diyas I saw one hotel Claus, the things are put away advertise imported until next year, that don’t really change — or do turkey at 30 dollars a the street stalls they? I have seen start to pile up kilogram, cooked Christmas lights on with everything stalks of bamboo and delivered to your from tinsel to and angels crownstockings and home. Give me ing potted palms. everything in Sometimes, I guess, between.

My coconut chutney, it’s about working favorite Christa dosa or paneer with what you’ve mas card came got. I’ve heard from Hill Road. tikka any day. street children sereOn the front was nading people with a child’s drawJingle Bells, only ing of a reindeer they sing “Santa Cruz” instead of and the caption read “Rajesh the Santa Claus. They are singing in reindeer.” Move over, Rudolf. a language they don’t understand It is a little difficult to get a tra— Santa Cruz is a suburb in ditional turkey, they just don’t Mumbai, while Santa Claus is stock them at the local meat marunknown. ket. I saw one hotel advertise There is a imported turkey at 30 dollars a C h r i s t m a s kilogram, cooked and delivered you would to your home. Give me coconut r e c o g n i z e , chutney, a dosa or paneer tikka though. Shops any day — I can live without decorate their turkey for a little while. windows with It is fun heading to the pool.

That’s when I really feel like I am far from home (where the swimming hole is frozen over) and having a bit of adventure.

I also love the fact we are nine hours ahead of Newfoundland.

My brother always woke up first on Christmas morning, but now I call him to report what’s under the tree when he is putting his kids to bed — I finally get to be first.

There may not be snow, but I decorate my tree (courtesy of Hill Road), I visit friends and I open parcels from home that contain peppermint nobs. I may look out my window to see palm trees, but I close my eyes and see spruce.

There may be watermelon juice in my glass but it almost tastes like syrup. I may be more worried about mosquitoes nipping at my ankles than Jack Frost nipping at my nose but I know it is Christmas. I may not be at home to celebrate this year but I will celebrate where I am and raise a glass to family and friends.

SheriLynn Barrett, from Sandy Point, Newfoundland, is currently living in Mubai, India.

Do you know a Newfoundlander or Labradorian living away?

Please e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

December 26, 2004

LIFE &TIMES

Page 20

The Geoff Stirling Story Media mogul got his idea to start The Newfoundland Herald while hunting gators in Honduras Part one of two From page 1 For decades, Stirling ruled as if the island were his personal media fiefdom. He didn’t enjoy a monopoly, to be sure, but Stirling was the dominant player, with major outlets in print, radio and television.

Today, he serves as chairman of the privately held Stirling Communications International — an enterprise he oversees from his ranch in Arizona when he’s not in St. John’s. His holdings include a printing business (Stirling Press) and three province-spanning platforms: NTV, rock radio station OZ-FM and The Newfoundland Herald, a once-scrappy tabloid that is now largely a television and entertainment guide.

His television station is the only one in Canada with deals to broadcast both CanWest Global and CTV programming, much of the former imported from the U.S. Indeed, although Stirling fulminates about protecting Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural sovereignty, he’s made his fortune by broadcasting American shows such as Survivor, The Apprentice and The Young and the Restless.

TRAILBLAZER Still, there’s no denying him his reputation as a trailblazer. His TV station was the first to broadcast 24 hours a day in North America, and he is credited with revolutionizing the FM radio dial in the late ’60s. A 1974 documentary in which he costars, Waiting for Fidel, is a cult classic, credited as the first “stalkumentary,” an influence on the likes of Michael Moore.

“Geoff Stirling’s been a visionary,’’ says Rex Murphy, the CBC broadcaster and fellow Newfoundland native. “In many ways, he was a somewhat awkward anticipation of Moses Znaimer.’’

A visionary is bound to run into static and interference, and these days the noise is coming from all sides for Stirling. He’s in the fight of his life with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which is demanding NTV produce more Canadian content than ever before. OZ-FM, meanwhile, faces fiercer competition for rock listeners. And The Newfoundland Herald is losing eyeballs to on-screen TV-listings services: its circulation has tumbled by more than 50 per cent since 1997, to 20,000 across the province. He’s also confronting bigger powers in TV who would love nothing better than to fold Stirling’s profitable venture into their own empires.

He’ll wage those quixotic battles in due time.

Meanwhile, there are hours of programming to fill.

That’s why, in the early morning hours a week after our meeting, my phone rings. It’s Stirling, informing me that my interview with him —

Geoff Stirling in his 20s.

largely unedited and including more than a few cuss words and testy exchanges — will be beamed across the province at 3 a.m. Talk about reality TV. I didn’t even sign a waiver.

The Geoff Stirling Story has played out in episodes like the one I wandered into — vignettes captured almost surreptitiously, aired late in the Newfoundland and Labrador night and then immediately archived for “the time capsule” (Stirling’s term). The story stretches back to the time before television.

Reel 1. Establishing shot: wide angle of Stirling in his early 20s, lying on an embankment beside a swamp in the Honduran jungle. It’s 1946. He’s dressed in hip waders and has a rifle at the ready.

“He’s always been a free spirit and a freethinker. Somebody once said that while people typically have two or three voices going on in their head, Geoff must have eight or nine.’’

— Scott Stirling He’s a long way from home, fresh out of university, doing an improbable thing for the sportsstar son of a St. John’s restaurant owner. But it was here, in Honduras, that he had the vision. It came down from the sky while he was hunting alligators — stacks of tightly-bound newspapers. Stirling wondered: if The Miami Herald can get all the way to readers in the Central American jungle, why can’t I get a newspaper to the outports of Newfoundland?

Stirling didn’t much like shooting gators for the

Photo courtesy of NTV

shoe-and-handbag trade anyway. He headed home with a scheme to launch his own tabloid. He’d already developed a taste for journalism, having worked as a stringer for Time and the Chicago Tribune while studying pre-law at the University of Tampa.

COLLECTIVE SNEER Back home, his plan met with a collective sneer.

Among the most vocal skeptics was the journalist and politician Joey Smallwood. How could Stirling succeed, Smallwood pressed him, when his own paper had folded? Stirling told him: “Joe, you’ve got nothing but politics. I’m going to have ghost stories and comics and all kinds of stuff.”

With a start-up fund of $1,000 that he’d saved from working at his father’s restaurant, Stirling purchased 60 tonnes of newsprint from Smallwood’s defunct paper and launched The St. John’s Sunday Herald, a striking alternative to the St. John’s dailies, the Evening Telegram and the Daily News. For the first four years, he wrote practically everything in the 100-page weekly save the letters to the editor. To build readership, he had the Herald air-dropped onto the ice floes where sealers toiled for long stretches during the winter hunt.

“I think the Herald’s beginning says something about the cornerstone of Geoff’s thinking,” says his son, Scott, who, although he took over the operational reins at the company 15 years ago, still relies on his father as counsellor and corporate persona. “He’s always been a free spirit and a freethinker. Somebody once said that while people typically have two or three voices going on in their head, Geoff must have eight or nine. He just sees things that other people can’t. He’s not afraid to try something everyone else believes will fail.’’

The Independent, December 26, 2004

LIFE & TIMES

Page 21

Confederation and liquid gold injections The Herald hadn’t been around long when Stirling waded into a debate over nothing less than Newfoundland’s destiny: should it become part of Canada or not?

He and the Herald joined forces with some of the island’s most prominent businessmen —led by Ches Crosbie, father of future federal minister John Crosbie — in an anti-Confederation crusade. To the anticonfederates, the best option for Newfoundland, which had been reduced to a virtual ward of the Crown by years of hardship, was economic union with the United States. Stirling threw himself into the cause: when he wasn’t lobbying Senators in Washington, he was proselytizing in the Herald.

It was a battle his side nearly won. Newfoundland became the 10th Canadian province in 1949, but with just 52 per cent of voters having opted to join Confederation.

A NEW BEGINNING Reel 2. Establishing shot: medium shot of Premier Joey Smallwood sunk in a red leather chair. Seated beside him are his friends Don Jamieson and Geoff Stirling.

They raise a glass in a toast to a new beginning.

It’s the early ’50s. Stirling has licked his wounds and put behind him the bitterness over his beloved Newfoundland’s fall into the embrace of the Canadian federation.

Although he’d worked to defeat Joey Smallwood and his plan, the two men bonded thanks to their shared love of their newly minted province.

It was a time when politicians and journalists freely associated with each other and made common cause when their interests coincided. Along with Jamieson, another vehement anti-confederate who would serve as political minister for Newfoundland in Pierre Trudeau’s cabinet in the ’70s, Smallwood and Stirling formed a powerful triumvirate in Newfoundland’s new era. In a place that had long been ruled by a few merchant-class family dynasties, the three men were eager to exploit the power shift that came with Confederation.

Stirling and Jamieson, the latter wellknown in the province as a radio announcer, dreamed of a broadcasting empire.

They planned to bring their own radio station to the province (which had only the CBC and some small religious outlets on the air), to be followed by a television station a few years later. Smallwood smoothed the way with federal regulators so that Jamieson and Stirling were granted their licences for TV and radio, both with the call letters CJON. Stirling then went to CBS-TV in New York, cramming an in-house, two-year television course into six weeks. By the summer of 1955, his station was on the air; Jamieson was featured as news anchor, seeding his political popularity. Nationally, CJON joined the loose band of independents that would

Photo courtesy of NTV

Scott and Geoff Stirling with Captain Canada.

eventually form the CTV network. Stirling’s monopoly lasted until 1962, when the CBC was granted a TV licence.

He spent two decades building his empire, picking up radio stations (or sometimes contracts to run them) across Ontario and Quebec. In the mid-’70s, his TV station took the novel step of broadcasting around the clock. Night-owl viewers didn’t know what to expect — they might catch licensing hearings or the company Christmas party, or one of the heated dialogues between Stirling and Smallwood, often on the same themes as their National Film Board documentary, Waiting for Fidel. (The two never do get to interview Fidel Castro; while they’re waiting, they

talk.) In these wee-hours exchanges, Stirling, the free-enterpriser, took the rightwing position; Smallwood, the onetime socialist, the left. Spurred on by a few bottles of Blue Nun, they would often debate till dawn.

Stirling’s outlets championed whatever cause inspired their proprietor. Still sniggering over Stirling’s claims to have been cured of rheumatoid arthritis by liquid gold injections, few Newfoundlanders paid attention in the early ’70s when he got on his hobbyhorse about gold again, urging them to buy the stuff, as he’d been doing. Stirling says he’d got an insight from talking to a man in Tahiti: prices had to go up. True. The price of an ounce of

gold sank as low as $35 (US) in 1970; by 1980 it had soared as high as $892 (US).

Stirling made a killing.

Memorial University business professor Dan Mosher says Stirling’s attempt to share the wealth says something about the man. “Any other individual might simply worry about amassing more for himself.

But [Stirling has] always tried to help improve things in his own way for the people here.”

This story originally appeared in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. Printed by The Independent with permission. Part two will appear in next week’s edition (Jan. 2).

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Page 22

LIFE & TIMES

The Independent, December 26, 2004

Magnolia strives for commercial success

By Alisha Morrissey The Independent

T

o hear singer Judith Morrissey tell the story, meeting her bandmates only happened after a series of missed chances and bad timing — they knew of each other, just never managed to be in the right place at the right time.

“We’re all about meeting people and wondering why you meet them — why you meet in life,” says Morrissey, lead singer of the foursome now known as Magnolia.

Curtis Perrin, Shaun Churchill and Vince Neville were “on a quest” for a singer for over a year. Morrissey, tired of a solo career, had been looking for a band for months.

“We had the ability to record all this stuff, but we didn’t have the ability to get out there and meet people … this is where Judith came in,” bass player Perrin says.

“She was more into the gigging scene — didn’t have the luxury to record. So it was a match made in heaven.”

When they finally did meet up in a “chance encounter” last August, everything came together quickly.

In their four months together, the band has played all over downtown St. John’s, put together a demo, and performed a Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador showcase.

Morrissey describes the band’s style as a healthy blend of old and new pop cultures.

The singer, from Cuslett on the southern shore, comes from a traditional background — but learned about popular music from local radio stations like VOCM and cable

Curtis Perrin and Judith Morrissey

music channels MTV and MuchMusic. It’s this market the band wants to crack.

“We always grew up loving what was socalled commercial so that’s the kind of music we create,” Morrissey says.

“Some people will hear that and say ‘oh no commercial sell-out kind of thing,’” adds Perrin, from Conception Bay South.

“That’s a little bit close-minded … you’re going to put in elements in your music you want people to like.

“You’re not going to obviously compromise. You won’t play something you never would play just to make somebody happy.”

When Morrissey moved to St. John’s, she did her research by seeking out those in the music industry she admired. Along the way,

Paul Daly/The Independent

she picked up a large collection of local CDs from all types of artists in all genres of music.

Barry Canning, Sandy Morris from RASA, and Liz Pickard of the Lizband became some of her mentors and friends on the local music scene.

‘GETTING INVOLVED’ “Mostly what they can teach is you book your shows and you play, but I found that you learn more about the industry by getting involved with the music industry association,” Morrissey says.

Established as a live act, the next step for the band is the release of their debut CD, which they plan to do by next summer.

“We’ve been told that we’ve got to have a CD or else you’re going to fade away,” Perrin says. “You got to have a product … you want (the audience) to take something home and learn the songs and show up singing them.”

A graduate of a recording arts program, Perrin has a home studio where the band will record its album.

“We definitely wanted to take the do-ityourself approach … we wanted to cut out some of the expense of going into a studio … you know, that many zeros we can’t afford right now,” Perrin says.

“We can take a really big-time, big-studio, professional approach, but do it on a small-studio scale and the results we get are usually good.”

The band isn’t busy enough yet to make a career out of music so all members continue with day jobs as well.

Perrin is a gas station attendant by day; Morrissey works at a call center; Neville is a teacher just back from a semester in Labrador; and Churchill takes breaks from his final semester in his psychology major to play the drums.

“Everybody’s got that Clark Kent/Superman sort of thing,” says Perrin with a laugh.

“By day they go work … and after being drained from eight or nine hours have to try and find the energy to go make music.

“You have to work really hard to get out there and make the time to practice and play at shows … I mean it’s fun, but there’s still some work to it.”

Magnolia open for Two-13 at Club One, St. John’s, Dec. 26.

Local performer takes break from Christmas show to look at busy year ahead

By Jenny Higgins For The Independent

P

rofessional clown Beni Malone is juggling a number of projects this holiday season.

He’s staging his annual show, The Sights Before Christmas, and is talking to the Department of Education about putting circus arts in the school curriculum.

He’s also creating a new, oneman show for next year and his circus school will start another session by the spring.

Malone says he enjoys the variety that comes with having so many

tricks in his hat.

“I’m lucky that I have a bunch of different shows that I do,” Malone tells The Independent. “I love them all. When I was starting, I heard of people who did shows again and again, and I thought that must be hell. The ones I keep doing are the ones I love doing.”

One of the shows Malone keeps doing is The Sights Before Christmas. While he can’t remember the exact date this one-man show debuted, Malone says he’s been doing it for about 10 years. Sights is a whirlwind show that features a young boy, a troupe of mummers

and a gift-toting elf — all played by Malone.

“It’s pretty wild — a great aerobic workout,” he says. “I have a coat tree set up. I go to the tree and change right there. I’ve got layers of costumes on, so I just rip off one, put a mask on and grab a prop.”

The show is about 40 minutes long and is generally booked in advance for parties or events. It’s a mix of juggling, unicycling, acrobatics, mummering and clowning.

Malone says he’s been doing it for so long now it’s become a part of his own Christmas tradition.

“Christmas things are great

because they become Christmas traditions and you only do them for that month, so that keeps it kind of fresh,” he says.

While Sights is a seasonal show, Malone has plenty of other projects to keep him busy throughout the rest of the year, including his circus school, which operates out of a space on Aldershot Street in St. John’s. The school will begin another six- or seven-week session in the spring.

“We do clowning and makeup, plate spinning, diabolos (a plastic prop spun and thrown by a string attached to two sticks), devil sticks,

unicycling,” says Malone. “We had people from five to 24 years old in the last one. The response we got was incredible. It was almost like a religious experience for the people who did it.”

Malone says he’s also gone into schools to teach circus arts and hopes it will eventually be a part of the curriculum.

“We’ve done it in school for years and we’re working on putting it into the curriculum of the physical education programs,” he says.

“We’re working with the DepartContinued on page 23

The Independent, December 26, 2004

LIFE & TIMES

Page 23

When tomorrow means one year F

Beni Malone

Paul Daly/The Independent

Juggling acts From page 22 ment of Education to turn it into a curriculum component.”

Malone is also developing a new show called All Fool’s Day that’s set to debut next year.

Although he’s a well-rounded performer with 32 years of experience under his belt, Malone’s got a new prop to try for All Fool’s Day — puppets.

“This is a brand new show, All Fool’s Day, and it will be interesting and terrifying because it’s new stuff, it’s for adults and I’m using puppets to a degree I’ve never used them before,” says Malone.

“So I’ll have a different reaction doing that than I will to this show (Sights).”

His new show will run on April

Fool’s Day and the weeks around it. Like Sights, it’s a one-man show (excluding the puppets and backstage people), but it explores more mature subject matter.

“It’s a clown who’s fallen into the gutter and he’s trying to get out, reflecting on his life and stuff and how he got there.”

Malone says one of the things he likes about his work is that there are always new projects to stage and new skills to learn. He says he draws his inspiration from everything around him, and has no plans of slowing down.

“I’ll do it as long as I can move,” says Malone. “I’ll start working on really old, creaky, cranky clowns later on. Luckily I’m a still an old dog learning new tricks.”

or the last few months the leaders of the arts community in this country have waged an aggressive fax, letter, and e-mail campaign aimed at guaranteeing the continuation of a Department of Canadian Heritage program called Tomorrow Starts Today.

Every time you opened your inbox there was another e-mail exhortation, sandwiched between the spam for low interest mortgage rates and virtual sex with partners from anywhere in the animal kingdom. The campaign worked. Thousands, maybe millions, of Canadians eloquently badgered their MPs and key federal government representatives, urging them to invest in arts and culture.

LAUNCHED WITH HOOPLA And so Tomorrow Starts Today — again. This implausibly named program was launched with much hoopla in 2001 by Jean Chrétien and his loyal Deputy, Sheila I’mNobody’s-Baby Copps. Ah, the good old days, when tomorrow actually meant three years. It was a huge $560 million cultural investment, reaching deep into communities across the country, many of them here in Newfoundland and Labrador. It generated jobs, trained young people, launched a blizzard of festivals, encouraged the music and book industries, produced new cultural spaces, and gave a lot of people very good breaks.

In Newfoundland many of our cultural industries have been thriving because of it. If there is an irony in all this it is that local events and activities benefited greatly from a reliable stream of federal gifts, helping to establish an even more autonomous cultural identity from the one manufactured by central Canada. But why not? That’s what art should do: keep things — and the hand that feeds you — shaking.

At least two factors made the program seem desperately vulnerable. It was set to expire in March 2005 and the Official Opposition, smelling minority government opportunity, recently grilled the Heritage Minister Liza Frulla in public hearings about the nature of her department’s arts-spending practices.

It is no exaggeration to say that without renewed funding the effects in this country would be catastrophic. With Paul Martin awkwardly tiptoeing around eggshells and Stephen Harper even more awkwardly trying to break them, people have been

Standing Room Only NOREEN GOLFMAN worried. Like any struggle over natural resources, it’s all about politics.

If you are involved in the cultural sector in this country you cannot help but be touched by this program. Your very paycheque might depend on it. If you are a citizen you benefit merely by attending a show, a recital, a gallery, and so on. If the government’s financial commitment stopped and, say, the Canada Council, like parts of Africa, went dry and dusty, we would all be starving for art pretty quickly.

Artists would be unable to compete for grants. Organizations like the LSPU Hall, NIFCO, the music industry association, and Eastern Edge Gallery, to name some close to home, would either shrink to the size of a bus shelter or else disappear altogether.

Perhaps it takes a special sort of artistic imagination to endure like this, madly creating and organizing as if there were no tomorrow …

Perhaps only artistic types would tolerate low, if any, wages, impossible hours, scarce resources, and the steady drumbeat of uncertainty.

The thriving festival industry, whether featuring films, choirs, plays or berries, would vanish overnight. Forget the burgeoning new dance sector. Don’t even talk about books. Imagine this phenomenon multiplied across the country: we would not even hear the sound of one nation clapping.

There’d be nothing to applaud.

And so to the good news: Liza Frulla is tough, held her ground in the public hearings, and seems to have both the PMO and creators from all across the land on her side. Where Copps was tough, Frulla is tough and charming and smart and persuasive. We’d love to see John Crosbie try to take her on.

Last week many long frustrated letter-writing creators got their year-end wish as the Heritage

Minister finally announced a new investment of up to $192 million in arts and culture for 2005-2006.

This means the Tomorrow Starts Today program and the diverse activities that fall under its comprehensive mandate can be taken off life support. The bad news: the funding is for only one year and there is no guarantee of survival after that. If you are in the arts you simply cannot plan for the longer term.

While it is terrific that committed work can now continue without violent interruption and that the plays, exhibits, concerts, and performances scheduled for next year can be carried through, it is impossible to think beyond that 12-month schedule. How can any arts organization honestly develop a future when no future exists?

YEAR-TO-YEAR Well, it is not as if the cultural sector isn’t used to this sort of year-to-year lurching. Many involved in this sphere have grown accustomed to pretending a future in the arts really shall come to pass. It helps rationalize getting up in the morning and taking your vitamins.

Perhaps it takes a special sort of artistic imagination to endure like this, madly creating and organizing as if there were no tomorrow, let alone one that started today.

Perhaps only artistic types would tolerate low, if any, wages, impossible hours, scarce resources, and the steady drumbeat of uncertainty.

But, really — it’s no way to live, and no way to nurture your culture. It burns people out, leads first to the bottle and then to chain smoking, and even then to more repetitive whining than the Ancient Mariner on his worst day.

At best it compels people to take up odious professions like law or accounting, at worst it drives them to places like Alberta.

As the calendar flips over to 2005 and we weigh the past and hope for the future, we should feel grateful to Frulla and her colleagues and relieved for all of us that Tomorrow Starts Today, sure.

But let’s hope that the key policy makers are making their New Year’s resolutions with stable long-term arts and culture funding in mind. The provinces want it; the artists and our own cultural welfare depend on it. Otherwise Tomorrow is just another euphemism for Sometime.

Noreen Golfman is a professor of literature and women’s studies at Memorial. Her next column appears Jan. 9.

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Page 24

LIFE & TIMES

The Independent, December 26, 2004

‘Front-door client assistance attitude’ CORNER BROOK

By Connie Boland For The Independent

proper meal.

“After all day treating others I got a bit selfish,” he says. “I got to the house where three children uring Christmas there is where still in diapers and I realized always an 11th hour this was a young family. I came phone call. A family in back up the road still sucking my need. Children with no food, toys thumb so to speak, but when I or warm clothing. walked into our house the aroma Major Ross Bungay, divisional told me something had changed.” secretary with the Salvation Army A neighboring family had sent in Corner Brook, has answered around a pot of stew prepared as many such calls. One in particular, part of their traditional Christmas late at night many years ago, Eve meal. “As the mother was changed his perspective. about to eat she told her husband “Coming from a family of seven she felt he had to take the pot of boys we often had needs, but it was stew over to the Bungays. That around hockey gear and things like changed my front-door client assisthat,” he tells The Independent. tance attitude,” the major says, “When I went from a life of serv- voice cracking with emotion. ing self to serving others, I had pre“You never know until you conceived ideas of receive. I didn’t need what I would be in a strong sense, but “When I went doing.”

I did need at that from a life of Bungay took those moment. More than I serving self to ideals to a small outneeded the meal I serving others, I needed the lessons port community where, during Christ- had preconceived that come with mas, he set up a sysputting yourself aside ideas of what I tem for donations of and serving others. toys, food and other would be doing.” Every time I go to a items that would be client it’s the same delivered to needy families in kind of feeling.” seven surrounding communities.

Bungay has been with the Army In the days before Dec. 25 he for 26 years. This is the busy time asked several residents to deliver for members and volunteers. In those Christmas packages. After Corner Brook the six kettles that so making their deliveries the volun- many people associate with Christteers visited with Bungay and his mas have been standing since Nov. wife, Brenda. “After they left, 18. Those kettles reflect 154 twoBrenda and I began preparing for hour shifts. The average donation our own Christmas. But there’s totals roughly $1,000 a day. always that one call that comes in “The good graces of people keep at the midnight hour,” Bungay us going,” Bungay says. “I think says. “A man with six small chil- people support the Salvation Army dren had been hoping his EI for a variety of reasons. The Salvacheque would arrive that day. He tion Army goes way back to when finally broke down and called.” the Army served soldiers in the As Bungay prepared to leave his trenches in the infamous wars of home, packages in hand, Brenda our time. When the soldiers came called out that they would have back home they spoke to family tinned sausages for supper. and friends about the Salvation There was no time to make a Army’s efforts and we continue to

D

INDEPENDENT CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Wound souvenir 5 Refuse abruptly 9 Cruising 13 Keep ___ on someone 17 Decline 18 Pelvic bones 19 Dawn faceoff 20 Muscat’s country 21 Mace, to nutmeg 22 Certain trade agreement, for short 23 Confused struggle 25 Like the ABC’s 27 Storage shelter 29 Informal greeting 30 Green or black drink 31 Takes the wheel 33 Actor Peterson (“Corner Gas”) 35 Otic organ 36 Class 37 People in general 39 The same (Lat.) 41 The Tragically ___ 43 Some cards and tags 46 He wrote “O Canada” in English 48 Norway’s patron saint 50 Canadian Morse Robb’s invention: electric ___ 54 Faucets 56 Internet part 57 George Bernard ___ 59 Parched 60 Bolt and hitch 62 Interviewer Gabereau 65 Not strict 67 Tomato variety 69 Debt letters

New to the Salvation Army in Corner Brook is the Adopt-a-Family program that asks donors to help a family in extreme need — they may have lost their house in a fire or have undergone a personal tragedy.

People come forward with Christmas meals, toys for children, gifts for mom, dad and even the family pets. The true depth of peo-

ple’s giving is unbelievable, Bungay says. “When you deliver things to these homes the response is uplifting. You never forget that,” he says.

“There will always be somebody who will walk through any system, and there are times when I’ve had to play the role of policeman,” he adds. “I’ve seen much, but I’m not turned off — I’m turned up.”

Shipping News

Paul Daly/The Independent

Keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the ships in St. John’s harbour. Information provided by the coast guard traffic centre.

MONDAY, DEC. 20 Vessels arrived: Sibyl W, Canada, from St. Pierre; Maersk Placentia, Canada, from Hibernia; Algo Scotia, Canada, from Nova Scotia; ASL Sanderling, Canada, from Halifax; Maersk

Norseman, Canada, from Hibernia; Maersk Chignecto, Canada, from White Rose; Burin Sea, Canada, from Terra Nova.

Vessels departed: Algo Scotia, Canada, to Lewisporte; ASL Sanderling, Canada, to Halifax.

TUESDAY, DEC. 21 Vessels arrived: Mokami, Canada, from St. Augustin; Shoshin Marso, Japan, from sea.

Vessels departed: none WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22 Vessels arrived: Astron, Canada, from Bay Roberts; Tony Mackay, Canada, from Glovertown.

Vessels departed: Maersk Norseman, Canada, to Hibernia; Atlantic Eagle, Canada, to Terra Nova; Maersk Chignecto, Canada, to White Rose; Ollie J, Canada, to Wesleyville.

Solutions on page 26

70 Conservative 71 Agitate 74 Come by 77 Canadian mining figure: ___ MacMillan 80 Darn!

81 Poet Roy ___ (Surrender, 2002 GG) 83 Bloom-to-be 85 Pitcher 86 Principle 88 Swimmer, first across L. Ontario (1954) 90 Autocratic ruler 92 Whopper 93 Small amount 95 Sudbury-born Trebek of “Jeopardy” 97 Egg-shaped 99 Moose Jaw attraction 102 Hit high 104 Slangy assent 106 Self-centredness 110 Infant food 111 First ed.

113 Patella site 115 Go along 116 Mistaken 119 Grad 121 Trot or canter 122 Analogous 123 Bullets, briefly 124 To say in Soissons 125 Sicilian smoker 126 Chest rattle 127 Lacking: suffix 128 Wife, in old Rome 129 Go for a spin?

DOWN 1 Mops

stand on that. I often run into the 17 or 18 year olds who give because their grandfather served.”

Perhaps more than that, people love to help others at this time of the year, he says. “People are generous at Christmastime. They look up from themselves. They look on the greater community and there’s a sense of brotherhood, responsibility.”

2 A stone may have one 3 Sambuca flavouring 4 Heave a sigh of ___ 5 Large 6 Word of lament 7 Supple 8 Mohawk saint Tekakwitha 9 Classifieds 10 ___ a Long Journey (Mistry) 11 Causing goose bumps 12 Migration of Jews to Israel 13 Stompin’ ___ 14 Noted violin maker 15 Roll with a hole 16 Underhanded type 24 “Super ___” Lemieux 26 Brag 28 Founder of Carthage 32 Killed 34 Fahrenheit relative 38 Ukraine’s capital 40 ___-jong 42 ___ Oyster (pop group) 43 Mineral: suffix 44 Indian lentil 45 Kilt accessory 47 Baseball stat.

49 ___ d’Or, Que. 51 Alias of English conservationist 52 Department of E France 53 Summer time in St. John’s 55 Spied 58 Soaking ___ 61 Down Under bird 63 Courteously

64 Japanese carp 66 Poppy mo.

68 Sofa part 71 B.C. summer time 72 Before, of yore 73 Best ___ and tucker 75 Inuit network 76 Canadian geophysicist: ___ Wilson 78 Pacific neckwear 79 You ___ here 82 N. Zealand parrot

84 Actor Thomas 87 First Intendant of New France: Jean ___ 89 Vichyssoise ingredient 91 Madras melody 94 Of the North 96 “In ___ did Kubla Khan ...”

98 Lumberjack 99 Most easterly point of N. America: Cape ___, Nfld.

100 Jacket 101 Time for a shower 103 Ecological community 105 Spiral 107 Fuming 108 Parisian’s river 109 Lead or tin 112 Tooth foundations 114 New currency 117 It’s next to nothing 118 Mayday!

120 French sea

SPORTS

December 26, 2004

Andrew McKim

Page 25

Paul Daly/The Independent

Back in the game Andrew McKim retired from hockey four years ago; Q has brought him closer to the ice than ever

By Darcy MacRae For The Independent

A

ndrew McKim has reason to smile.

Last week he was named the very first employee of the newly formed Fog Devils St. John’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. Four years after his career as a professional hockey player came to an abrupt end, McKim tells The Independent it feels great to be back in the game.

“Being part of a team again is the most exciting thing,” McKim says from his office in St. John’s. “I’ve missed the camaraderie, the challenges, the characters you meet and the competitive nature of the game. That’s what drives me.”

DELIGHTED FANS Hockey fans in the provincial capital are already familiar with the native of Saint John, New Brunswick. McKim delighted fans with his speed, quick moves and soft hands during his lone season with the St. John’s Maple Leafs in 1991-92 — the club’s inaugural season in Newfoundland and Labrador. McKim’s 93 points that year were tops on a club that featured the likes of Yanic Perreault and Mike Eastwood.

In recent years, he has teamed with local hockey icon Randy Pearcey to operate Extreme Hockey, a year-round hockey school aimed at improving the skills of players from all ages and talent levels. He has also become a well-known media personality in both television and radio, having worked on Baby Buds telecasts with Rogers, as well as delivering daily sports news and opinions on Coast 101.1 FM. Over that time McKim has developed a reputation as a solid hockey person, one who knows the game inside and out. But as strong, an impression as he has made on local sports fans, he insists the people of the province have made a stronger impression on him.

Upon retiring from professional hockey in 2000, McKim and his family quickly settled

in St. John’s, thanks to the memories from by locked out NHLers suiting up in Europe his season with the city’s AHL club. (both Toronto’s Brian McCabe and Atlanta’s “The people here are fantastic,” says Marc Savard have been cut by European pro McKim, who married a Newfoundlander teams) is no surprise to him.

(He and his wife Leanne, from St. John’s, “The hockey is a very high calibre and have two children — Emily, 6, and Matthew, very demanding. Some players don’t under4. stand that you can lose your job overnight if “Their generosity is outstanding. People you don’t come to play everyday, and that’s are willing to help you at any time. When I happened to some NHLers already,” he says. was with the Leafs, I went on road trips and “The fans are absolutely great. They are as when I got back someone had ploughed my passionate watching a game of hockey as driveway for me. People used to invite us they are watching a game of soccer.” over for dinner. You don’t always hear about Given his success on the ice, it appeared these things, but that’s just McKim would have a how Newfoundlanders are. long, productive That’s why I live here now.” career in Europe.

The “I’ve missed the After leaving St. John’s at bigger ice surfaces camaraderie, the the conclusion of the 1991suited his speed-ori92 campaign, McKim suited ented, offensivechallenges, the up for the AHL’s Providence minded game just characters you meet Bruins and Adirondack Red fine, and he was still a Wings and appeared in 38 young man. But it all and the competitive NHL games with Boston came to an end in nature of the game. and Detroit over three seaSwitzerland during sons. After starring for That’s what drives me.” the fall of 2000, when Canada at the 1995 World McKim was levelled — Andrew McKim Championships in Sweden, with a blind side hit he received many offers to that sent him crashing bring his game to Europe, a head-first into the move that saw him play in both Germany boards. and Switzerland.

He lay on the ice, unconscious after the hit Throughout his days in the QMJHL, the — with fans, players and coaches worried AHL and the now-defunct International about his condition. He spent the next five Hockey League, McKim was an electrifying days in hospital recovering from the blow to offensive star. his head, and when he was finally able to go He frequently led his teams in scoring and home he was hit with another bombshell. rarely averaged less than one point per game.

Doctors told him that because of the The trend continued when he played in injuries he suffered, he would probably never Europe, as he used the big ice to his advan- be able to play hockey professionally again. tage and excelled in both the German and For the next year-and-a-half, post-concusSwiss elite leagues. sion syndrome not only took him off the ice, His time in those circuits taught McKim a but also prevented him from even working lot about the game. He says coaches overseas out in the gym. stress technique in every aspect of the sport, “It was a trying time,” McKim says with while the players are much better than many a hint of sadness. “I probably had five or six North American fans give them credit for. years left. I feel I could still be playing hockThe quality of play was so high that McKim ey now, I still have the drive. But the seversays the recent trials and tribulations suffered ity of the injury made it clear that the deci-

sion was final. It’s frustrating and disappointing. I have a son who will never get the chance to see me play hockey.”

With his recent appointment as director of player personnel for the St. John’s major junior hockey team, the 34-year-old can now finally say he’s back in the game, full time.

His day-to-day activities include meeting with potential coaches, taking a look at prospective players and daily discussions with head scout Bob Johnson.

McKim’s goal at this point is to simply identify players who can help the team next year.

“You have to look for the positives in every kid,” McKim says. “My philosophy is to take the players’ positive attributes and work with them.”

IDEAL CANDIDATE There are many aspects of McKim’s hockey background that mark him as an ideal candidate for a position in the team’s hockey department. His experience at the junior and pro levels cannot be ignored, nor can the fact that at 5’9, he was a small man who thrived in a big man’s game.

“Being a small player, I had to think the game more and learn to read and react. I had to understand where it was safe to go and where it wasn’t,” he says.

Through his work with Extreme Hockey, McKim has also had ample opportunity to aid in, and watch, the development of some of the province’s top young hockey players.

He feels his experience with some of the most talented 16 and 17 year olds currently residing in Newfoundland and Labrador can only benefit the city’s newest hockey team.

“There are kids in this province who could be playing major junior, but they either had a bad break or were in a bad situation,” he says. “A lot of guys are already playing junior hockey in Quebec, Ontario and in the United States. There’s plenty of talent.”

Darcy_8888@hotmail.com

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The Independent, December 26, 2004

You pay, you play I

Bob the Bayman BOB WHITE ship — such as the one being proposed by Parfrey et al — will cost the provincial coffers a lot less than a government-funded facility.

At the same time, could this whole scenario set a dangerous precedent — one that could be likened to the privatization of health care?

As is my understanding, government will not run the facility if and when it opens. Any revenue generated will go back into the operation and maintenance of the building.

As Janes said, “government doesn’t have a need to have a role” in running the facility. If the group can operate without government, so be it, as long as the needs of all sports groups are met by the use of the facility. That would be government’s only stipulation.

“Our main goal is to make sure the training needs of the athletes are looked after.”

In the end, government saves money, and the athletes pay for the use of the facility.

What happens to any extra revenue?

Who knows?

Crossword Solutions from page 24

t’s great to see some movement on the construction of a new provincial training centre in St. John’s.

Todd Martin, executive director of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, said recently the group — fronted by Pat Parfrey of rugby fame, and backed by Martin’s group — has been working on the case since last year.

If not for the situation the Danny Williams administration has had to endure (finances, layoffs, strike, Atlantic Accord, etc.) since taking power in the fall of 2003, Martin says something could have happened sooner. With government, timing is everything.

In Martin’s words, “something is better than nothing.”

From my perspective, it’s nice to see the group take matters into its own hands and jumpstart the process by using the powers at its disposal.

I hope they achieve what they set out to do — provide a proper facility where our elite athletes can train. It’s needed, badly.

Question is, why did it have to come to this? Why hasn’t government granted a new facility?

Money, of course, or lack thereof.

Sure, there was a subsidy for athletes and teams to pay rent for a place to train, but that was a BandAid solution, applied to a gaping wound.

Vic Janes, assistant deputy minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, said there had been two other proposals submitted in the past. One of them — from the City of St. John’s and some partner groups — was discussed by the province, only to be turned back because of the associated price tag.

There were also some internal proposals put forth by Tourism, but they were also unsuccessful.

We all know government paints a bleak financial picture, and perhaps it’s justified. But if the latest group is successful in getting the project off the ground and a facility eventually gets built, government will have to kick in some major dollars.

In the long run, though, government will have saved money because a private-public partner-

Janes, however, is pleased to see groups take an active role in addressing problems such as the absence of a training centre.

“In a perfect world, if government had whatever money it needed at its disposal, we would have had a new building. This way, taxpayers save money and that is a good thing.”

Not everybody is an elite athlete, nor do they aspire to be, which is why it is sensible to have a user-pay system in place for sports.

Now health care — that’s another matter.

Everybody, at some point in their life, will need access to quality health care, regardless of how much (or little) money they have.

In the past, government money ran the Torbay training centre, and it continues to run similar centres in Stephenville and Happy ValleyGoose Bay, as well as various other sporting venues.

This new project should be successful in St. John’s, if only because of the players behind the proposal. We’re talking money, impressive reputations and, perhaps most importantly, contacts with private business for sponsorship. This will add up to a new facility near the present Swilers Complex.

But what happens outside of St. John’s, where corporate money is much harder to come by? Eventu-

Pat Parfrey

ally, there will be a need for upgrades, major repairs, even new buildings. Does government foot the bill, or does it simply say “follow in the footsteps of those fine folks in St. John’s?”

In future, will government put the onus on private groups to do all the work?

If the trend continues, and we see more private-public partnerships unfold, there is another ques-

Paul Daly/The Independent

tions that begs asking — why even have a government department dedicated to the delivery of sport?

Just set up an office for someone to cut the cheques and hand out government’s share. The groups will run the show, just give ’em the dough.

This way, everybody pays the price to play.

Bob White writes from Carbonear. whitebobby@yahoo.com

The Independent, December 26, 2004

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