VOL. 4 ISSUE 51
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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, DEC. 21, 2006-JAN. 4, 2007
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‘Change with the times’
The Independent strikes youth panel to discuss Newfoundland and Labrador’s past, present, and vision for the future
STEPHANIE PORTER First of a two-part series.
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ncourage the flow of immigrants, skills and fresh ideas. Treat the fishery as if it’s dead. Offer free flights to and from the province. Take a risk and stay here. Create more graduate recruitment programs. Teach Canada about the new Newfoundland and Labrador. Teach young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about the new Newfoundland and Labrador. Talk about the good; embrace change; hold tight to our sense of community. Those are just some of the ideas — some serious, some not-so-serious, but all interesting — floated by The Independent’s youth panel in two hours of wide-ranging discussion. The nine young men and women met in The Independent’s offices for an open and frank afternoon of talk about this province: the past, present and future. They voiced thoughts on culture, immigration, education, Canada, the fishery and the survival of rural communities. And they had more than one piece of advice on how the province should move forward. Articulate, thoughtful, and open, the panelists came prepared to talk. In this issue, the conversation begins. On Jan. 5, The Independent will conclude the conversation — and focus on the panel’s recommendations for the future. Starting with the topic of out-migration, it wasn’t long before a theme quickly emerged: isolation, and how the province should overcome it. While all agree geography can take part of the credit for the development of a strong culture, “sometimes we feel defeated and enclosed before we go and do something,” as Nadya Bell said. Sheena Goodyear also blamed it for a “stifling of creativity” and closed minds. To combat insular feelings, the panel suggested more travel — leaving the province to
work or study isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if new skills and ideas come back. Just as importantly, they invite more immigration from other parts of Canada and the world. The panel also characterized Newfoundland and Labrador as resistant to change — which may in itself change as this generation grows up, believing in Canada, interested in their province, and not waiting around for the fishery to come back. “We’re in transition,” says Dave Lane. “Open the borders,” suggests Bell — to ideas, to people, to the rest of Canada. Fergus Brown O’Byrne talked about music, but he could just as easily have been speaking for the province as a whole when he said: “Like everything, if it can’t change with the times, then it just turns static and isn’t relevant anymore.” The panel was moderated by Independent editor-in-chief Ryan Cleary. Comments have been edited for clarity and space. Ryan Cleary: How many people hope to stay here, once they’re done with school? Sheena Goodyear: I hope to, but I don’t know. I don’t know how it works for everybody, but say if you come out with a pharmacy degree, or a medical degree, you don’t want to stay here because you’re not making as much as anybody else … I want to be a print journalist, there aren’t a lot of options … you’re really taking a risk if you decide to stay here and go for it. Cleary (to Scott Winters): You’re a businessman, you stayed here. Winters: When I finished school, I had a short stint on the mainland … you can get the bigger dollars away, but Newfoundland has quality of life. I think there’s opportunity here, but you really have to look for it. Luke Pike: I think there’s all this focus on what are the opportunities that lie here now, but we need to focus on going out, getting those skills, getting those ideas, and bringing them back. See “The experience”, pages 4-5 Introduction of panelists, page 4.
High-speed debate Opposition leaders, minister discuss fibre-optic furor; Taylor says public process ‘too long’ IVAN MORGAN
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he provincial government originally indented to buy fibre-optic strands as an insurance policy against a possible attempt by Aliant to regain a monopoly on the island, says Innovation, Trade and Rural Development Minister Trevor Taylor. Taylor tells The Independent government was worried it could invest $15 million to build the second network, only to have Bell Aliant buy out the consortium. “Then we are right back to square one and we
Rick Boland reprises his role as Premier Danny Williams in Rising Tide Theatre’s Revue ’06, coming to Arts and Culture Centres across the province early in the new year. Above, the mythological hero “Our Dan the Barbarian,” prepares to battle the foes of our fair province. Paul Daly/The Independent
QUOTE OF THE YEAR “We (should) just change the name baby seal to ice rats. People don’t want to club baby seals, but everybody wants to put down ice rats.” — Mark Critch. See pages 8-9
have $15 million flushed down the toilet,” he says. Government had no initial plans to use its assets — but to hold the strands to offer to competition if Aliant regained a monopoly position. “So that way we would open up to a competitive process,” says Taylor. Since then, he says, they have decided to use the strands for government communication needs. Taylor says he knew there would be political trouble over the move. But, he continues, government decided going through the public tendering process would take too long and would have essentially killed the deal. He says the consortium — Persona, Rogers and See “Persona’s,” page 2
Santa Grenfell . . . 11 Ray Dillon . . . . . . . 13 Noreen Golfman . 19 Talking turkey . . . 22
FEATURE 3 STYLE 21
’Tis the season for party dresses
Christmas in the bay, a story by Ray Guy SPORTS 29
Curler Mark Nichols on what ails him
LIFE 17
Susan Rendell’s not so silent nights
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photo courtesy karen chappell
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DECEMBER 21, 2006
10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
‘That’s the game’ Opposition leaders discuss the fall session; have no kind words By Ivan Morgan The Independent Opposition leader Gerry Reid blames Premier Danny Williams for the poor level of decorum in the recent session of the House of Assembly. Reid says, in his 17 years associated with the legislature, he has never seen behviour stoop to such low levels. He says the premier sets the tone of the House, and he is seeing MHAs behave in a manner that would not have been acceptable during previous administrations. Reid says the premier’s ministers and backbenchers take their cue from Williams on how to behave. “When you have the premier looking across the floor of the House of Assembly when the camera is not on you,” Reid tells The Independent. “Looking over and holding his two fingers together, ‘You have no money. You’re only a speck of dust.’ You know it is difficult to sit there and listen to that. “Brian Tobin — whatever you want to say about the man — behaved like a diplomat in the House of Assembly. He didn’t sink to that level.” He says premiers should be above those sorts of tactics. “If he sinks to that level, then he is going to bring everyone down to that level,” says Reid, adding that it’s difficult to sit there day in and day out and not respond. “And I am not saying that I am lily white. All I am saying that if the premier were leading by example, it would be far more difficult for us to be doing and saying what we are saying.” NDP leader Lorraine Michael says she does not think the process in the House is productive. “I personally do not like it when either side hits the personal stuff. I don’t think that is helpful at all,” says Michael. She says the debate should be an intelligent discussion on the issues that are on the floor, and personal remarks detract from the importance of what is being discussed. Michael doesn’t think she got answers to the direct questions she asked the government in question period — or if she did, she says, she didn’t like the answer.
As an example, she cites a question she asked the government regarding NAPE pensioners. With only four minutes allotted to her, she says she cannot get into much detail. The finance minister, who fielded the question, did not offer a direct answer, and in his response implied that she did not know what she was talking about. “I knew what I was talking about. I fully understand pensions. You know I am quite an intelligent person, highly educated. I understand how pensions work. He wasn’t answering my question. So that’s the game, it is not answering the direct question.” ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
Opposition leader Gerry Reid
Premier Danny Williams
YOUR VOICE Attempt to silence led to resignation Dear editor, At the end of Noreen Golfman’s Dec. 8 column, The arm bone’s connected to the …, she wonders “what finally drove such a fine thinker and arts activist as (yours truly) to quit the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council.” I thought my reasons were perfectly clear from my resignation letter (Independent, Nov. 17), but, for her benefit, I will briefly revisit them. Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Tom Hedderson was interviewed Nov. 11 on CBC Radio, where he gave the official government view of the arts council’s “arm’s-length” status. The arts council, he said, is “an arm of the government.” Were you listening, Ms. Golfman? You did a lot of hard theoretical musing about this issue in your column. It was, in fact, the only issue in my letter that you even attempted to address seriously, ignoring the major issues of arts funding and the economic status of the artist altogether. Here is how arm’s-length works, in practice, between the arts council and the Tourism Department, something Ms. Golfman, never having served on the arts council, would know nothing about. Government officials think it’s their right to ask the arts council to revise its annual report if they feel it’s too critical of government. The council actually did this on one occasion, and this sort of intolerable government interference is still going on. Council chairman John Doyle was personally called in and grilled about a draft of our most recent report, which the department asked to see in advance of its official submission. Is this a “healthy” relationship with government? Chairman Doyle has been well aware of my attitude toward all this for a long time. So why has
this “champion and proven honest broker of arts issues” publicly expressed disappointment, puzzlement, “honest surprise,” and declared my charges unfounded? I ask because Ms. Golfman makes a devious and offensive attempt to discredit the integrity of my stand and the substance of my criticisms mainly by employing an intellectual strategy that might be described as the offal of insinuation, resting upon the feeble scaffolding of a mini-hagiography of Chairman Doyle. I’m sure even he must be embarrassed by it. The sad truth of the matter, I firmly believe, having worked with Mr. Doyle for over four years, is that he actually agrees with most of my criticisms. But, unlike our fearless political leader, he is just temperamentally and politically disinclined to lower the flag, even when important principles are at stake. Finally, Ms. Golfman wonders, dropping names of “uncompromising personalities” as she goes along, why I haven’t received the backing of my fellow councillors, and why there hasn’t been an outcry from the arts community, in support of my letter. Isn’t it clear to you by now, Ms. Golfman, that the arts council’s silence on major issues and their attempt to silence me are what precipitated my resignation? I have, in fact, received numerous expressions of support from Andy Jones, Patrick O’Flaherty and Chris Brookes. Golfman’s negative voice, in fact, is the only one I’ve heard, and it is so obviously motivated by personal/political considerations, and so scornful of democratic dissent that it discredits itself and whatever complacent pocket of the arts community it purports to represent. Paul Bowdring (former co-vice chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council), St. John’s
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 11
LIFE STORY
working conditions at the construction of the new public wharf were severely deplored. — Speaker, Bay Roberts, Dec. 6, 1952 AROUND THE BAY Wife-Savers – Is that leaky faucet driving you daffy while you’re waiting for it to be fixed? Be kind to your nerves. Just tie a string to the faucet handle and under the tap, permitting the end to hang down into the sink. Though this won’t cure the leak, you’ll hear no drip as the water pours down the string. — The Labrador News, Dec. 21, 1964
Seasonal postcard artwork by Sir Wilfred Grenfell
Santa Claus of the North Coast Sir Wilfred Grenfell brought Christmas cheer — and food, and presents — to many isolated communities in Newfoundland and Labrador By Keith Collier For The Independent
W
e know all about Santa Claus’s reindeer and sleigh, but once upon a time in Newfoundland and Labrador, St. Nick arrived by dogsled. Most people are familiar with Sir Wilfred Grenfell and the work he did on the Northern Peninsula and coastal Labrador. But it is was also Grenfell who brought Christmas as we know it to those parts of the province. Sir Wilfred Grenfell was born in Parkgate, England, in 1865. After training as a doctor in London, he joined the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, and spent several years practising medicine amongst fishermen and sailors in the North Sea. Grenfell fell in love with the work. The son of a preacher and a deeply religious man himself, he believed that the highest religious calling was to serve your fellow man. The adventurous life of a frontier doctor was very appealing to Grenfell, and he found himself in the enviable position of knowing, from a very young age, what his life’s work was going to be. In 1892, Grenfell traveled to northern Newfoundland and coastal Labrador to determine the extent of services for fishermen and their families. The poverty and complete lack of medical care he found astounded him. The Newfoundland government had often appealed to the Mission for aid, but had been turned down due to lack of funds. Grenfell now saw that this was unacceptable. By the early 1900s, Grenfell had raised enormous amounts of money for the northern parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, opened hospitals, commissioned several hospital ships, and was treating patients by the thousands. He opened schools, co-operative stores, and business ventures to support the residents, and Grenfell quickly gained celebrity status.
Grenfell’s faith and charity were inspiring, and like most of his work, his Christmas gift giving depended heavily upon the charity of others, and he was rarely disappointed. When Grenfell arrived in Labrador, he was surprised by the lack of celebration at Christmas time. The people there were religious, but isolation and poverty meant that luxuries such as Christmas dinners and gifts were impossible, and Christmas day came and went virtually unnoticed by the people of the coast. Grenfell was disheartened by this. He understood that it was just as important to tend to people’s spiritual and emotional needs as it was to tend their physical needs. He realized Christmas could be an uplifting celebration in the midst of the harsh northern winter, and could do wonders to raise the people’s morale. Grenfell immediately set about organizing Christmas celebrations. He solicited donations of toys, books and clothing for gifts. He would have Christmas trees in the towns and bays, and the people would gather together to sing and socialize and enjoy Christmas treats. Each town would get a visit from jolly old St. Nick, who would distribute gifts to all the children. Grenfell’s enthusiasm was contagious, and soon the people of the northern coast were caught up in the magic of Christmas. He was determined that no town and no child should be overlooked, and enlisted the help of the doctors, nurses and parsons working with him to help with the holiday celebrations. These people, many of whom came from England or the United States, were used to such Christmas celebrations. But no
matter how lavish their previous Christmases had been, all were touched by the generosity shown to them and the spirit of the people. It was inevitable though, that circumstances such as weather and supplies meant that occasionally, a remote settlement might spend a winter without a visit from St. Nick. Grenfell, of course, felt just as bad about this as the affected inhabitants, and always went to extraordinary lengths to provide at least a minor Christmas celebration. When isolation and the weather prevented Santa Claus from arriving on or near Christmas Day, Grenfell and his colleagues weren’t concerned. It was a long winter, and the conditions of the coast meant that he was often unable to reach all the communities he tended to around Christmas. So, it was quite common that Christmas trees and Santa Claus would be making visits to northern communities well into January and February. Grenfell’s faith and charity were inspiring, and like most of his work, his Christmas gift giving depended heavily upon the charity of others, and he was rarely disappointed. Donations of toys, clothing, and money came from all across England, Newfoundland, the United States and Canada, from both organizations and individuals. Hundreds of the inhabitants of the northern coast were given their first Christmas gift by Grenfell, and his Christmas trees were usually the first they had seen. Christmas dinner was often the first time they tasted fresh meat or fruit. Today, it is sometimes hard to fully appreciate the importance of Grenfell’s work on the northern coast. But it is not hard to imagine the joy and wonder on a cold December day, when dozens of people, facing the deprivations of a northern winter, are gathered together singing carols around a simply decorated Christmas tree — only to be interrupted by St. Nick, bounding over the snow-covered hills on a dogsled laden down with gifts.
This Holiday Season our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. Happy Holidays!
YEARS PAST What about the Christmas cards? Have those any meaning? Yes, surely, they have a value far beyond their cheap price. Oh, what a number of people have to be thought of! There are nephews and nieces, sons in the Colonies, daughters in service, neighbours who have left the town, then there’s Uncle Henry (who is always ready with a tip!), Jack at sea, grandmother, who still appreciates a card, some fellow work-people, and many more, and the postage is really terrible. — The Free Press, Dec. 20, 1904 EDITORIAL STAND President Edgar Russell of the Federal Labour Union No. 24833, stated this morning that at a meeting of the Union held on Thursday night several lacking
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Sir – Observing in the “Ledger” of the 30th of November last, under the editorial head, an assertion charging me with being prepared to “wade kneedeep in Protestant blood.” I deem it my duty to the friends who supported me in my late Election – to my relations, and to my own character, to state that, that assertion is untrue, and that I never, either before, during or since my election, made use of any such diabolical expression, or any words of that purport – I am determined to leave it to a Jury of my country to say whether such outrageous attacks on private character are to be tolerated. Yours, George J. Hogsett — The Pilot, St. John’s, Dec. 4, 1852 QUOTE OF THE WEEK The truth is that Newfoundland farmers turn out a lousy product, and it is time someone said so plainly, in public. Since I seem to be the only consumer willing to speak his mind, and to hell with the consequences, it falls to me to say it: Newfoundland farmers are a pack of whining, complaining, incompetents, who expect us to eat the punk they offer for sale out of pure provincial patriotism. — Harold Horwood — The Examiner, St. John’s, Dec. 24, 1960
YOUR VOICE One size doesn’t fit all Dear editor, When Judge Marion Cohen banned a Christmas tree from her Toronto courthouse saying it was a Christian symbol “that might alienate people of other faiths,” she has sacrificed common sense on the altar of political correctness. When one speaks of a pluralistic society, it is never one’s intention to create a homogeneous society in which one size fits all. The prime principle in the concept of multiculturalism is that every culture has a right to broadcast its culture to the world if the aspects and practices of that culture are within the law governing that society. Not for one moment can I visualize anyone from the urban centre of Ontario demanding the removal of what is not even a Christian symbol, but is a peripheral addendum to the celebration of Christmas. But even if it was a Christian symbol, what difference does it make? The only possible problem I can see arising from such a situation would be if other religions were denied the same rights to display their religious sym-
bols. For example, in my small hometown of Grand Falls-Windsor, some churches play their church chimes on Sunday morning. Am I to complain about that? Of course not, but I must be willing to also allow the followers of Islam to do a public call to prayer from a minaret if they request to do so. If we continue to “sanitize” our environment by passing restriction after restriction until we all become eunuchs in all human endeavours, one will have to ask one’s self if life is now worth living. We must never allow the variety to pass from our multicultural Canada but we must attempt to truly and honestly celebrate our diverse humanity under one equal law for all. As well as one applied with wisdom and justice. We must not follow the American model. Our concept of a Canadian pluralistic society in which differences are celebrated is so much more mature and viable than the unworkable American melting-pot societal concept. Aubrey Smith, Grand Falls-Windsor
DECEMBER 21, 2006
12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
HAPPY HANUKKAH
Inbal Bahar and Sharon Koubi, with their son Noam, light a menorah to mark the celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light. Paul Daly/The Independent
VOICE FROMAWAY
‘I grew up believing in people’ St. John’s native Karen McGrath now CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario division TORONTO By Geoff Dale For The Independent
A
n upbringing that included a deep respect for individuals and an obligation to give back to the community at large is proving to be vital to St. John’s native Karen McGrath. As the chief executive officer of the Ontario division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), McGrath says beliefs that were instilled into her during her formative years in Newfoundland play an integral role in her current job. “I certainly grew up believing in people,” she says from her Toronto office. “I had a middleclass upbringing but my mom and dad never let me sit back on my laurels. I was brought up with the knowledge that I had an obligation to give back. “There is no question this has been very good for the kind of work I do. These are very transferable traits when it comes to my association with CMHA.” Born and raised in St. John’s, she is the eldest of six children — three sisters and three brothers. Her father John W. Mahoney, who died in September, was a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland. Mahoney, from a small family in Conception Harbour, had one brother. Still living in St. John’s, McGrath’s mother, Carmel Galway Mahoney, had eight sisters and one brother. “The notion of family was always strong for
me — both in my nuclear and extended families,” says McGrath. “After completing my early education, I went to Memorial University for the first time in 1975, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work. “I did post-graduate work at the University of Ottawa and then got my masters in business administration at MUN some 20 years later. While I lived most of my life in St. John’s, I was in Lewisporte for three years, just prior to leaving Newfoundland.” As a volunteer in the mental health sector for 25 years in Newfoundland, it’s clear McGrath has an inclination towards helping others. In 1980, she began work at the Waterford Hospital as a social worker, with a leaning towards community development. That year she began her involvement with the CMHA. “I moved up in the organization, from board volunteer to spending two terms as president of the board in Newfoundland,” she says. “After that I became the national president, a position I held for two and a half years. “From mental health at the Waterford, I moved to mental health planning with the health and community services board in 1994 and into senior administration with the organization. While I moved from mental health professionally, I always kept my volunteer commitment.” Resigning from her role as president, she moved to Thornhill to assume her new job as CEO of CMHA, Ontario. While her brothers remained in Newfoundland, she was now living in the same community as her sisters. As CEO, McGrath is at the helm of a non-
profit, provincially incorporated, registered charity that has one chief goal — to be the primary source of information about mental health, mental illness and policy in Ontario. “Every province is a division of the tri-level CMHA,” McGrath explains. “In Ontario there are 33 branches, all with executive directors. We have an association relationship with them. I work with a board of directors and a staff of 20 and relate to the provincial government.” As she makes abundantly clear, her Newfoundland background plays an integral role in both her professional and social lives. A self-described “proud Newfoundlander and adopted Ontarian,” she says Newfoundlanders have considerable intellectual capital that is being shared with the rest of Canada. “When I look back at my upbringing, how can I not be proud?” McGrath says. “My mom drove all of us to school in the family Volkswagen, but if she saw a senior citizen waiting for a bus, she would stop and pick that person up. We’d all be lumped into the back seat. “That kind of respect for individuals and obligation to give back to others bears well for me in the kind of work I do. Because I’m in my early 50s and only left Newfoundland a couple of years ago, I really don’t think I’ll ever leave Newfoundland. It’s still a huge part of me.” With lifelong friends, her mother and three brothers still at home, McGrath says she will never move on or away, particularly from the pride she demonstrates for her Newfoundland heritage.
INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2006-JANUARY 4, 2007 — PAGE 13
Ronald Gonzalez and Mark Hefferman of Studio 709.
Paul Daly/The Independent
Setting up studio By Sean Ridgeley For The Independent
T
ucked away in a cozy little spot between downtown and centre city St. John’s is a pale purple brick building that just might spark a new scene. It’s called Studio 709, and it’s currently the spot of production for a lot of work on the local film market. The dull exterior is overshadowed by the classy facility indoors. Paintings by local artist April Norman adorn the wall just inside the entrance, depicting characters from famous movie scenes, such as Tony Montana in Scarface, blasting everything in sight before his demise. The background is black and purple and bears the Studio 709 name in the top left corner.
Mark Hefferman plans to offer a one-stop digital media shop — including a state-of-the-art filming studio Deeper inside lies a fairly openstyle workspace. A large room branches off into a few other offices, a kitchen, and a shooting studio-in-progress (the studio, which will be one of the business’s main attractions, will be finished within weeks). Lively, casual, and generally cozy, it seems an ideal office environment — especially with the bathtub, “so if you want to take a bath, you can,” as employee Ronald Gonzalez says. Gonzalez, a native of California, laughs as he says “a studio like this in L.A. would cost $10 million.” While 709 is officially opening in early January, studio owner
Mark Hefferman says they’re doing quite well already — and aren’t going anywhere. “We have two full-time people, plus freelancers, and we’re blocked. And this is all with no advertising,” he says. To date, the studio has completed many projects, including a music video for Newfoundland Wrestling. Employees are now working on a bodybuilding show for NTV, starring Mr. Olympia, due to air in February. While there’s certainly no shortage of work for Hefferman and his studio, the opportunity to build the business came only after some
intervention. Hefferman was about to move out of the province to find work, when his father, a local businessman, stepped in. He assisted his son with the startup capital for the business — which Mark says was “huge, of course” — and donated the building, which was a business property of his for years. “He has a lot of faith in this project,” Hefferman says. Studio 709 is a multimedia studio, offering a wide variety of services. Hefferman’s plan is to offer as much as possible within the realm of digital media, since, so often, multiple services are required by a given client.
“We did some market research and based on that we thought Newfoundland could use a place like this,” he says. “We found that people want a one-stop kind of place, where if they want us to shoot some video for them, we can, but we can also get a website for their project online. It all kinda falls under the one umbrella.” Studio 709 also offers TV production, animation, visual effects, audio soundtracks, graphic design, and video restoration, among a seemingly endless string of other services. Gonzalez, the other full-time employee, is something of a righthand man to Hefferman. Though they both do a bit of everything, See “New scene” page 15
Amalgamation way to go M
ount Pearl Mayor Steve Kent has lost a considerable amount of weight over the last six months. While he may have been avoiding the dessert table of late, his appetite for a larger slice of the region’s municipal pie, and the reopened debate on amalgamation that has gone with it, may well see him biting off much more than he wants to chew. Hemmed in on all sides, the City of Mount Pearl has asked the province to assist in the redrawing of the border with St. John’s, transferring 340 acres of land in the Brookfield Road area from the capital city to Mount Pearl. Save for a few truly regional services that they have no choice but to co-
RAY DILLON
Board of Trade fund (water, waste and fire protection), Mount Pearl’s attitude toward the services provided by St. John’s could best be summed using the old saying “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” Considered a never-ending inequity by many a hardcore Townie, this blatant attempt at a land grab by Mount Pearl has re-energized the amalgamation debate, and the circumstance needed for success with this initiative may well be in
place to make it happen. In the early, high-growth phase of Mount Pearl’s existence their formula for success was easy to execute — price your mil rate 15 per cent lower than St. John’s, which in turn attracted a large share of those cost-conscious settlers fuelling the urbanization of the Avalon, and then let the incremental growth pay the cost of the incremental services required. This formula served the City of Mount Pearl well for 25 years. But now, tightly flanked by neighbours on all sides, slowing growth and aging infrastructure, Mount Pearl is finding it tough to maintain the deep discount mil rate status and still make ends meet.
Water and sewer. Fire services. Garbage collection. Roadways. These are the meat-and-potato services of municipal life. In an age of increasing costs and environmental awareness, it is no longer practical to provide these services on a community-by-community basis. Most recently, however, there have been disagreements over whose taxpayers will foot the bills for upgrades and construction associated with various pieces of critical infrastructure that are shared amongst the region. Conflicts over such items as regional roads, the Robin Hood Bay landfill, and, of course, the St. John’s harbour clean-up serve to demonstrate that the shared services model is becoming less
and less capable of meeting this growing region’s needs. The latest argument revolves around Mount Pearl’s proposal to the provincial government that it order St. John’s to cede a portion of land in the capital city’s west end to its neighbour city. But, it’s time to give up on this continual tug-of-war and face the facts that, together, we’d all be better off. The population of St. John’s proper is about 100,000. Mount Pearl’s population is holding steady at approximately 26,000, while Paradise, the fastest growing community in Atlantic Canada, is over 12,000 and counting. Service levels provided by each See “Cost-conscious settlers” page 15
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14 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
Prices rise even as growth stalls By Tara Perkins Toronto Star
P
rices in Canada and the United States are chugging upwards, despite slowing economic growth. Statistics Canada says Canada’s core inflation rate was 2.2 per cent higher in November compared to the year-earlier period, largely on rising shelter and food costs, though it was lower than the 2.3 per cent in October. The increase in core inflation — which excludes volatile items and is a measure used by the Bank of Canada to monitor broader cost appreciation — was higher than economists expected, and higher than the bank’s target of 2 per cent. With only December left to go, the bank’s estimate of 2.1 per cent average core inflation over the fourth quarter appears to be unattainable, BMO deputy chief economist Douglas Porter wrote in a research note. “The underlying theme here is that core inflation is proving stubbornly sticky above 2 per cent, much like its U.S. counterpart.” He added that prices for restaurant meals, dairy products, hotel charges and clothing, also rose. In Washington, the labour department reported that the U.S. producer price index rose a greater-than-expected 2 per cent in November from the prior month, its biggest
Executive Opportunity in the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service
jump since 1974. The jump was led by rebounds in the costs of energy and light trucks, the report said. Prices excluding food and energy increased more than forecast. However, analysts noted the rise came after two months of declines. Stewart Hall, a market strategist at HSBC Securities said while Canada’s inflation fell last month, “I wouldn’t strike up the band.” U.S. consumer inflation also ticked down recently, but “again, not really something to break out the band on.” The “whole thesis” of the Federal Reserve Board “is that with declining growth rates should come a more relaxed pricing profile, and as of yet we have really not seen that,” he said. Instead, quarter-by-quarter, as growth has slowed “we in fact saw that consumer prices had begun to accelerate, which certainly runs counter to what conventional wisdom would suggest according to the Fed thesis.” Also, a report by TD Economics said recent data suggest the Canadian economy may have stalled. Growth has slowed to a 1.9 per cent pace since the spring, with the weakness concentrated in the goods sector, the report said. Exports have been limping along due to a “perfect storm” of slowing demand from the United States, high resource costs and a high
dollar. That has left scars on the manufacturing industry, which has shed nearly 200,000 jobs in just over two years. TD expects the Bank of Canada to lower interest rates 50 basis points in 2007, with the first cut in April. “By the second half of 2007 and into 2008, a revitalized American economy should help lift the Canadian economy back to an average 3.2 per cent quarterly pace in late 2007 through 2008,” the report said. BMO’s Porter expects cooler economic growth to moderate core inflation trends next year, but notes that Canadians will be paying more for imports because of a weaker dollar. For now, “with core inflation still above 2 per cent, the Bank of Canada is going nowhere fast,” he added. The Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at 4.25 per cent at its last four rate-setting meetings. The next one is on Jan. 16. He said a body of thought is now developing that the expected rate cuts from the Fed and Bank of Canada in mid-2007 might not happen at all.” “It may very well be the case that sticky pricing levels in North America deter the Fed from cutting rates long enough that we may wind up just swimming through this slowdown, and come mid- to late-2007, you might see the economies once again pick up some steam.”
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is seeking a dynamic individual with a commitment to public service to join the Executive Team. This individual will possess strategic vision; strong leadership and motivation; proven senior management experience; professional competence; well developed communication and interpersonal skills and a desire for service delivery excellence.
Assistant Deputy Minister - Marine Transportation (Lewisporte) Reporting to the Deputy Minister of Transportation and Works, you will be a member of the Executive team working to provide sustainable public works and transportation infrastructure that meets the economic and social needs of the province. Specifically you will be a leader who will provide strong management for all aspects of marine transportation in the province. You will lead the department’s efforts in a vessel replacement strategy while maintaining existing operations. Operations include: operation and maintenance of vessels; maintenance of wharf infrastructure; and management of contracted services.
While ultimately responsible for all aspects of the operations, your role is to provide leadership and direction to professional staff responsible for day to day operations. The qualifications for this position would normally be acquired through the completion of a relevant post secondary program of study and extensive senior management experience, preferably in a marine environment. Remuneration will be in accordance with Government’s Executive Compensation Plan.
Competition #: PSC.ADM(MT).06024(IND)
Closing date: January 5, 2007
Please submit your application to the Public Service Commission either by mail at 2 Canada Drive, P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 or by fax at 709-729-3178 or by e-mail to blush@gov.nl.ca. For further information, contact Ann Chafe, Commissioner, Public Service Commission at 709-729-2659
Will farmed fish jeopardize wild stocks? Dear editor, The Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Federation has researched the reports of the auditor generals of New Brunswick and British Columbia, as well as other sources, in reference to the aquaculture industry and the potential impacts on wild stocks. The main concerns are: Escapes occur, and when they do, farmed fish have the potential to transmit disease and parasites to wild stocks, as well as compete with them for food and habitat. The waste beneath the cages, in the form of morts and uneaten food pellets, basically smothers benthic organisms and vegetation. DFO is both regulator and promoter of aquaculture in Canada, and had been accused of failing to uphold sections of the Fisheries Act. The use of pesticides and antibiotics is a concern. The interaction of wild and farmed salmon has also not been fully characterized. The endangered Bay of Fundy wild Atlantic salmon population may be impacted by aquaculture operations. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans appears to be trying to distance itself from accountability from our floundering wild fishery, as DFO appears to have fast-forwarded aquaculture in both New Brunswick and British Columbia without doing meaningful science. One argument for aquaculture is that the people of the world have succeeded in domesticating wild birds (poultry) and animals (cattle) for human consumption. The reason for moderate success rests with the fact that humans could and do farm sufficient food from the land to meet the needs of cattle and poultry. We do this on land, within our living environment, where we have full control. Domesticating creatures of the oceans presents quite different problems in that most food requirements for marine creatures must be grown in the marine environment. Will we be able to farm the oceans to supply the enormous food requirements demanded by the aquaculture industry? The answer is no. Simple research indicates that harvesting wild fish food, which is currently severely depleted, for aquaculture is not sustainable. In 2002, salmon aquaculture farming in New Brunswick grossed 38,900 tonnes. The food requirements (wild fish) to feed those few aquaculture farms was close to 200,000 tonnes depending on which food-to-fish formula is applied. Remember, New Brunswick is an infant in comparison to Chile, Scotland and Norway. Imagine the wild fish consumption in these countries. The loss of wild stocks — caplin and herring to mention some species — is scary. Is DFO abandoning its mandate to protect, enhance and conserve the wild salmon stocks in favour of aquaculture and industry? Sportsmen do not want farmed salmon for many reasons, the main one being the associated health risks with farmed salmon. Russia and the U.S.A. have banned the import of farmed salmon from Norway to their countries. There is a real possibility that large scale farmed salmon operations will limit local people’s access to our outdoor freedoms. The wildlife federation is concerned that our rivers have a high number of escaped farmed salmon in them. One has to look at the problem with rainbow trout in the Bay d’Espoir rivers, so to suggest that our rivers do not have a problem with farmed salmon is nonsense. Atlantic salmon have been detected in more than 80 rivers on the Pacific coast and as far north as the Bering sea. Figures obtained from DFO confirm that over 500,000 salmon have escaped from farms — mainly from tears in the nets — and major environmental groups claim that this number is much higher, possibly closer to over a million. There is no responsibility on farmers to report escapees. No fish farm will tell anyone how many fish they bought versus how many are sold. The difference is the number of escapees, possibly well in the millions. Yet DFO protects these fish farmers. Why? Isn’t wild salmon protection and conservation DFO’s mandate? The presence of farmed fish in our rivers will mean the quick demise of the wild salmon. Rick Bouzan, Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Federation
DECEMBER 21, 2006
Cost-conscious settlers From page 13 municipality are, for the most part, equal. But, the two smaller communities absolutely derive substantial benefits and cost savings from residents heavily utilizing the infrastructure and services owned and financed by St. John’s. Yes, in the case of the harbour cleanup, for example, the two smaller municipalities are paying a portion of the costs of that project (although there is even dispute over that now), but taxpayers in St. John’s are bearing the heaviest load by far. Costs of that project and related capital projects are soaring and homeowners and businesses residing in St. John’s are paying for it in the form of significantly higher water taxes and property taxes. That relieves a lot of pressure on the other municipalities and allows them to provide services at lower costs. Mount Pearl and Paradise are also able to set lower property mil rates than in St. John’s and, on that measure, can out-compete the capital city as a costeffective place to live and locate a business. We need to look harder at what is most fair and beneficial to the largest number of residents in the region. The fact is, amalgamation would likely result in a reduction in municipal spending and improved services in the region as a whole. A 2001 report on amalgamation in the region indicated that annual savings of about $2 million could be realized with the merger of St. John’s and Mount Pearl. Regional amalgamation would also result in a more fair and equitable distribution of the tax load between the municipalities. And, besides that, a merger would be beneficial to the larger region in other ways. It would allow better regulation of land use and infrastructure development and optimize development in the region overall. It would effectively standardize service levels, it would eliminate the duplication of administrative and infrastructure costs, and it would boost the region’s economic competitiveness within Atlantic Canada and beyond. The 2001 amalgamation report stated: “The Airport Heights, Kilbride, and Shea Heights areas acquired from Metro Board in the 1980s have benefited from substantial capital expenditures by the city to improve water, sewer, and road networks. Wedgewood Park, the best planned and most fully developed area that the City has taken in, has merged seamlessly with the municipality that once surrounded it. The current councillor for the Goulds describes the 1992 amalgamation as ‘the best thing that ever happened to the Goulds.’” We need to start coming together on amalgamation, rather than perpetuating the anti-cooperative relationship that dominates under the current structure. So, Mayor Kent, enjoy your trip to the municipal dessert table, but be warned: aggressive ordering off the St. John’s menu may have you biting off more than is comfortable to chew.
INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 15
‘I’ve got a really silly idea …’ From page 5
heavily subsidized by the French government and that’s a different attitude about the value of having people live in a place like that. Cleary: Some people say Confederation created a dependence on social programs. Do we need more of the entrepreneurial spirit? Bishop: I think there’s an insane spirit like that … but there has to be support. It seems to me that will isn’t there. There’s lots of ideas and there’s lots of innovative people but the other part of it isn’t there. It’s a fine line between a subsidy that keeps people dependent and a subsidy to encourage people to make something on their own. Maybe I’m idealistic, but I think, with the proper assistance and support, people can get motivated and then be independent. Pike: If you go and take a loan, take a risk and invest, you have something to lose. But if you have a government subsidy, what do you have to lose? I think it has a weakening effect. Bell: I’ve got a really silly idea. What about free airplane flights from Newfoundland to the outside world? I think sometimes we feel defeated
Bishop: Unfortunately, that’s what it is. There’s very low quality of life because people are holding out for the fishery to come back. People are just doing these make-work projects to get unemployment and it’s just a cycle. Nothing’s getting fixed, it’s just patch it up till the spring … McNicholas: My dad was born in Main Brook, which is up on the north coast, when he was born there, there were about 3,000 people, and now there’s 200. There’s a huge school there but they combine Grades 1, 2 and 3 in one room, with eight students. In some cases, they’re taking hour-long commutes just to get there. I don’t think that’s a fair price to pay for their education. Lane: We need to make sure we keep a portion of the population in rural Newfoundland, because that’s where we get this sense of community and that’s what makes us who we are. Bell: It comes down to how much the government is willing to subsidize the communities beyond the hubs. You look at St. Pierre-Miquelon … they’re
and enclosed before we go and try to do something … If we had free airplane flights, then more people would be coming in and more would be going out and we’d be less isolated culturally. As much as I think we should be an island, we would be more a part of the Canadian federation. And people would meet Newfoundlanders! And the ferry service is absolutely terrible and I think that’s a real drain on Newfoundland, it’s breaking the ties between Newfoundland and Canada that were never really formed to begin with. McNicholas: I think it’s idealistic to say that a Newfoundlander would move to Fort MacMurray and see all these wonderful projects being built and think, oh, I could move to Newfoundland, and start from the ground up … Cleary: So the isolation works for us — gives us a unique culture — but also against. Goodyear: I think it’s key, having more people come here … and mesh. Bell: Open the borders! Cleary: Should we open the immigration floodgates? Goodyear: I think it would strength-
en Newfoundland. Cleary: Is our culture in jeopardy? Lane: We’ve always adapted. Cleary: Are we a nation? Bell: The Conservative government is letting the provinces take care of their own social programs, so you’re going to start to see more differences between the provinces, and with this nation thing, people are identifying themselves differently — by their province first. Cleary: So our culture is safe. Bell: Safe? From Americans? Pike: To have nations within the nation … that weakens the country and sets up boundaries that aren’t necessary. I think it’s silly to go into this. Goodyear: There’s too much othering. Shouldn’t we be part of Canada and isn’t Canada part of the world? This sounds kind of lame, but aren’t we all citizens of the world? Lane: Yes, and then it becomes, well, how does Canada stand on certain issues? Do we realize how lucky we are to be part of the G-8? We need Canada to be united. And the only way to do that is to accept that we all want to be recognized as nations.
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New scene From page 13 Gonzalez specializes in animation and design, and has a strong background in programming. Hefferman’s primary workload focuses on the pure film aspects of the industry, such as shooting and editing. “We complement each other well,” says Gonzalez. Hefferman’s career was sparked years ago when Roger Bill — now editor of Current magazine — gave him “his break” shooting video for The Telegram’s website. Gonzalez has been involved with the technical aspects of digital media since the mid-’90s. He studied programming at university and has been employed at various media facilities around town for years. His contacts within the California market have helped get the studio some contract work there, also. The two met years ago on the set of a TV show. From there, they decided to work together on what they’re most passionate about. “We love what we do,” Hefferman confirms. “If I wasn’t doing this at work, I’d be doing it at home anyway.” He says his goal with Studio 709 is to make his kind of work a serious career choice for anyone in Newfoundland. “The province seems to have this stigma about it where jobs like this are regarded as dream jobs and not taken seriously,” he says. “If someone says they want to be a filmmaker, that’s great, but they’re like, ‘well, I have to be a chef too, to pay my bills.’ We want to take away that stigma.” For more, visit www.709studio.com
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1Personal TV offer ends February 7, 2007, is available to new residential customers and includes Standard-Definition Digital Box rental (currently $3.99/mo) plus 1 Digital Theme Pack (currently from $4.99/mo to $9.99/mo) for 1 year, after which the then-current applicable fees will be in effect. Digital Box remains the property of Rogers and must be returned upon cancellation of service. 100% digital and select programming may not be available in all areas. CRTC linkage rules apply. Services may vary by region. 2Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet offer ends December 31, 2006. Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet Ultra-Lite is available for $19.95/mo for the first 12 months. Other Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet products also available. Regular price for Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet Ultra-Lite is $21.95/mo, plus a monthly modem rental fee of $3.00. Price subject to taxes and a one-time System Access Fee of $4.95. Certain restrictions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other Rogers offer. Visit rogers.com for details. Not available in all areas. TMNorton AntiVirus is a trademark or registered trademark of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. 3Taxes extra. 4Discount applies to monthly recurring service fees for eligible services. Minimum 24-month term required for each eligible service. Go to Rogers.com/bundles for details. TMRogers and related brands/designs are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license or of Rogers Cable Communications Inc. ®YAHOO! is a trademark of Yahoo! Inc., used under license. © 2006
16 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTLIFE
THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21-JANUARY 4, 2007 — PAGE 17
Susan Rendell and daughter Jessica.
Paul Daly/The Independent
Not so silent nights In this season of heightened emotions, as Iris Kirby House celebrates 25 years, writer Susan Rendell marks a dark anniversary of her own In this dark space of the year, the earth turns again toward the sun, or we would like to hope so. — Margaret Atwood (from Solstice Poem)
C
hristmas Day is so close you can smell its sweet, bitter breath — frankincense and myrrh, the cradle and the Cross. See its gold coming to lighten the darkness of these stunted days, the children of a dying year, and nights that malinger shamelessly, with no respect for themselves or us. Soon the sun and the Son will be born, nature and religion drinking from the same cup. And the open palm of the season will raise itself, to bless and redeem. For some, that hand is a fist closed around drunken anger, and it will smash families, fracture lives. Split the dreams of children, most of whom sleep restlessly during the Christmas season, but not because the sounds of fear and rage send the sugarplums flying. Or because the bed is unfamiliar, or there is no bed, only the couches and chairs of a police station or a hospital. The children whose sleep is disturbed by
SUSAN RENDELL Screed and coke these things have battered women for mothers, and may be victims of abuse themselves. Iris Kirby is a House, not a home, but it can be the next best thing to one for the women and children seeking shelter there when the beer bottles and abusive words start flying this Christmas. Gail Tobin, administrator of the city’s refuge for victims of domestic violence, tells me about a little boy who cried for days because he didn’t think Santa Claus would find him at the facility. “My staff went out and bought a sign that said Santa Stops Here, and planted it firmly in the ground. And all those tears turned into one big smile.” Kirby House has 22 beds and eight secondstage housing units. “We’ve never turned people away,” Tobin says. “We always find other accommodations.” This year, as Kirby House celebrates its
25th anniversary, I am marking an anniversary of my own. Twenty-six years ago, my daughter’s father kicked me down a flight of stairs before Christmas. I was six months pregnant. But my child and I survived, and my back healed eventually. I left three years later. Packing like a zombie, coldly circumventing him as he stood there hitting his head against the bedroom wall, weeping and begging me not to go, not to take his daughter from him. I walked out of that house as if it was empty. But I cried for a year afterwards, the year I spent with my parents, getting back on my feet. My mother used to shake her head, saying what’s wrong with you, you’re so much better off now. It wasn’t that simple, as any battered woman can tell you. So many conflicting images and emotions: broken glass; an infant sitting in the corner of a kitchen wailing; bruises like clumsy tattoos, signifying the marriage of new love and old wounds. Fear, anger and shame squared off against love and pity. Him holding our daughter in Bannerman Park, both their faces lit up like the trees whose arms are bangled
with fairy lights there now, making the darkness a thing to desire. My daughter cried for a long time too. “He don’t mean it, you know,” she said earnestly from her car seat the night I told her we were going to live with her grandparents because “Mommy and Daddy fight too much.” No, he didn’t. He was an abused child, shuttled from foster home to foster home on the Cape Shore, worked hard and starved hard, hit and humiliated. He rarely remembered hurting me; he had blackouts even when he was sober. His mind couldn’t accept what he did, because it didn’t match what was in his heart. A good heart, a big one, despite the odds. I remember him crying one night over a litter of kittens his ex-girlfriend had drowned six years before, and no man was ever so pleased to have a child, or so protective of it. He’s dead now. That heart gave out before it was 50, from too much pain, too much alcohol, too many hits from street drugs. It’s a week before Christmas Day, and Tobin already knows there will be 17 beds See “Safe shelter” page 20
Picks of 2006 T
here was enough art produced, music released and books published in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2006 to fill many stockings and crowd plenty of trees. For those still looking for a lastminute gift idea (or a holiday treat for themselves), The Independent asked some local folks — politicians, artists, musicians, media personalities and businesspeople — to think back over the year that was. Below are the answers, a wide variety of art, songs, stories and creations that proved moving, memorable, or otherwise irresistible to these Independent readers.
KEVIN COLLINS, SINGER Your Daughter Fanny: War Letters of Frances Cluett, VAD (edited by Bill Rompkey and Bert Riggs). “I really admired Ms. Cluett’s appreciation of simple life, always keeping true to her ‘Newfoundland character and nature.’ … Although sharing the horrors of wartime, she demonstrates outstanding strength and love. The striking truths she shared with her mom and sister by writing letters home during war times, are now being shared with the world. “She has caused me to have a new appreciation for the life we live today, and many times take for granted. We
all need to realize that a major price has been paid for our freedom, and we must keep all those involved in the peacekeeping missions in our thoughts and prayers daily. I definitely plan on visiting Ms. Cluett’s gravesite in Belleoram.” LORRAINE MICHAEL, PROVINCIAL NDP LEADER “I absolutely loved Audience of Chairs by Joan Clarke. I couldn’t stop reading it and the minute I finished I had to call her to tell her how brilliant it was.” FERGUS O’BYRNE, MUSICIAN
“Earlier in the year, Don Walsh and Jim Payne produced an interactive CD-ROM of Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports. Kenneth Peacock collected an enormous volume of traditional songs from 1951 to 1961. The original print version is no longer available, but for those interested in Newfoundland songs — and indeed our culture and history — the release of this CD-ROM allows enthusiasts to easily research these songs and singers again. “There are over 500 songs in the collection as well as the original introSee “Otherwise irresistible” page 19
Gasping for Breath, by David Sheppard
DECEMBER 21, 2006
18 • INDEPENDENTLIFE
GALLERYPROFILE
D
oug Clouston, a St. John’sbased glassblower and maker of delicately beautiful glass jewelry, is proud of what he says is a unique claim to fame for a Newfoundland male: his subscription to Bead Magazine. “All my female friends can come over and read my collection!” he laughs, sitting in his downtown apartment with a killer view. Clouston’s coffee table is covered in his immensely-popular mushroom bead necklaces — glass bubbles with tiny perfect toadstools inside strung on wax cotton or leather — hoop earrings, heartshaped pendants, female nudes, dragonflies and more. The afternoon sun streams through the picture window, glinting off the glass. When asked how he makes the mushrooms, Clouston mentions magic. It is a word he will repeat several times while describing his passion for molding molten glass into jewelry, goblets, and
DOUG CLOUSTON Glassblower perfume bottles. “It’s just like a magician, you give away your secret …” he trails off with a smile. He relents easily, however, and describes the technique: Clouston takes a pencil-sized clear glass rod, renders it malleable with his 1,500 degree Celsius blowtorch, pushes a coloured glass rod
into the clear one and “the glass just rolls inside out.” One piece is cool and the other is hot, and the clash of temperatures results in the little mushrooms in every colour of the spectrum. Clouston says it is — literally — an organic design. “Just like in many patterns in nature, it makes a mushroom shape, you can mix your miso soup up and it’ll make your little mushroom shape or an explosion will make a mushroom cloud. It must be some kind of physics,” he says. As much as Clouston enjoys crafting jewelry, he is eager to fire up his brand new kiln. It’s large enough to allow him to expand into glass sculpture and goblet making. He is chock-full of glassblowing ideas, ranging from demonstrations for school children to a summer jewelry festival to making reproductions of Venetian glass medicine jars unearthed at the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland. After more than a decade of learning
his craft — two summers spent at the fine arts college in Red Deer, Alta. and course work at the Kootenay School of the Arts in B.C. — Clouston is wellversed in the practice. He can explain the intricacies of creating form from hot glass without hesitation. “All the atoms in the glass are in a crystalline structure so all the atoms are lined up in an orderly pattern that gives it strength,” he says. “When you start manipulating the glass it turns into an anamorphous (distorted) structure so the atoms are moved, it’s not as strong. After you put it in a kiln … at 1,050ºC, then all the atoms line up in the crystalline structure and give it strength. It won’t break.” Once heated over the flame of the torch, the clear glass develops into a small ball. Clouston says it is akin to spinning honey on a stick. The glass becomes pliable, like taffy. Clouston then heats up a colour rod to push inside the clear ball or to “draw” on distinct
patterns as if with a pencil, like his clear icicle pendants with white lines in pleasing groups of three. Clouston envisions eventually selling his jewelry online on his soon-to-becompleted website and throwing regular home shows — the glassblowing version of Tupperware parties. He says he wants to be “more interactive” with the community, because of the response he’s received from public demonstrations. In B.C., Clouston started a co-operative glassblowing shop where people could wander in and watch the glass get made. He says once people watch the pieces take form, they become transfixed. “At the street festival in Nelson, B.C., by the third year we had the largest booth, doing demonstrations for 12 hours a day. At one point I was so squished by kids I could barely blow glass,” he says. “Like the moth to the flame, people are all attracted to fire.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTLIFE • 19
Ringing out … Noreen Golfman reflects on a banner year for artistic creation and government co-operation
T
his is the last Standing Room Only column for 2006 and so I am in a giddy, reflective mood. Assessing the year’s advancements in the arts is as pleasant as eating dark chocolate or listening to Ron Hynes (or Mary Barry, Janet Cull, Pamela Morgan, Colleen Power … see below). Yes, it was a very good year for anyone practising or participating in art, high and low, coast to coast, week to week, grant to grant. This is not to say things are perfect or ever will be, because who knows what that would look like? But the sheer level of professional artistic production, whether you like any of it or not, is so disproportionately wacky in relation to the amount of people living here that you can’t help yourself from bragging. Listing all my favourite arty things of 2006 would take me well beyond the limits of this column, not to mention end up offending those not mentioned. For all its successes, artists in this province can be pretty touchy, waiting to pounce like nervous cats at the first whiff, however imagined, of anything fishy. It keeps everyone on their toes, sure, but sometimes you just want to stand at ease. And so if you say the 2006 theatre
NOREEN GOLFMAN Standing Room Only season was especially notable for the riveting remount of High Steel and the irrepressible genius of Andy Jones’ Uncle Val you could be accused of favouring anything staged at the LSPU Hall. And that surely wouldn’t be fair to the recurring, fine accomplishments of the upstart Rabbittown theatre and its reliable string of hits, from Stones in his Pockets to The Story of Bobby O’Malley and everything else in between, just to name another company as an example. To be sure, therein lies the problem, because there are several other fine examples and you simply can’t see or cite them all, although it’s comforting to know they are out there and thriving on public good will and critical approval. Right Donna Butt? Robert Chafe? Jill Keilley? Danielle Irvine? And if you waxed fondly about the success of the provincial art gallery at The Rooms (Douglas Coupland, Chris Pratt, Mary Pratt, Michael Massie, The
Intangible Evidence show — all in one year!), you could be accused of pandering to the elite establishment over the not-for-profit operations like Eastern Edge, which continues to showcase the innovative work of emerging artists from here and all over the world, continually surprising audiences with fresh new signs and wonders. Right? Woe betide the poor columnist who singles out the rich black humour of Young Triffie’s Been Made Away With if she doesn’t also mention the winning, professional achievement of Above and Beyond, thereby inadvertently undermining all the other fine dramatic and documentary work cranked out by provincial film crews in 2006. Attention must be paid to all the good stuff. You know it when you see it, right? And let’s not even begin to think about what happens when you focus almost entirely on St. John’s, a geographical hazard more treacherous than the San Andreas Fault. In no time at all the galleries and theatre companies in Corner Brook, Trinity, and Cow Head are demanding equal time for all the underappreciated talent out there who are gamely, defiantly making a go of it. As for Labrador, it’s no wonder that
Otherwise irresistible From page 17 duction of the collection by Peacock. Just one particular feature … is the ability to actually listen to some of the original singers as taped by Peacock.” LORI DOODY, VISUAL ARTIST “My pick of the year is the new CD released by The Kremlin, it has fun surf guitar dance music with very clever titles like Proletariat Serf or Cuban Missile Crisis of the Heart.” ALLAN HAWCO, ACTOR “No. 1: Ron Hynes’s latest CD. Whether to buy a Ron CD or not is always a no-brainer, and this one is worth the purchase alone for Ron’s portrait on its cover. “No. 2: The discovery of an almost-artifact. It is a locally printed book, but some may not consider it a work of art. If you are at all a political junkie like myself you may want to head down to the Downhomer and dig around for a 1983 printing of Brian Peckford’s classic, A. Brian Peckford, The Past in the Present … I must admit I haven’t finished it yet … Great gift for the insomniac in the family … Or a conversation starter when trying to pick up a girl … chicks dig Peckford … “No. 3 is not a record, DVD or book, but a group. The Dance Party of Newfoundland is probably the funniest group of people I have ever seen assembled on a stage at one time. You can catch them 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at the LSPU Hall … I saw a show last year for the first time and it made me laugh for weeks. I think I even peed my pants a little.”
Will Gill’s bronze workboots
GERRY REID, PROVINCIAL LIBERAL LEADER “My favourite Newfoundland and Labrador CD has always been the Irish Descendants. It’s an older one with the green cover (Gypsies and Lovers). And when I am driving out the highway between here and Twillingate that one gets played at least once … And I haven’t read a local book recently.” ANGELA ANTLE, HOST OF CBC RADIO’S WEEKEND ARTS MAGAZINE “In books: Stan Dragland’s collection of Stuart Pierson’s essays, Hard-Headed and Big Hearted: Writing Newfoundland. It is a fascinating look at many aspects of contemporary Newfoundland culture, from Ron Hynes to Wayne Johnston. It is thought provoking and challenging and makes me wish I had known Stuart Pierson. “In the visual arts: Will Gill’s bronzed work boots and cloud stay with me as the most sublime art piece I’ve seen this year. The sculpture can be seen at The Leyton Gallery and to me it speaks of outmigration, the brevity of life and the demise of rural Newfoundland. I’d also like to recognize Craig Francis Power’s Art in Newfoundland blog (artinnl.blogspot.com) for its pithy writing and fearless critiques. I hope he keeps it up because the critical discussion it generates will help the visual arts mature in this province. “In music: Duane Andrews’ Crocus for its passion, authenticity and creativity. That man has uncovered our Latin sensibilities — bring it on!” EMMA BUTLER, GALLERY OWNER “For me it’s a tie between the fantastical papier mâché creations of Janet Peter and the funky children’s clothes designed and sewn by Shawn O’Hagan. In depicting traditionally mysterious figures such as mummers, mermaids and the Old Hag, Janet skillfully imbues her historical creatures with a sense of whimsy and charm that delights me. “Shawn creates colourful children’s fashion with luxurious vintage materials. Too tempting to resist for this doting grandmother.” SUSAN RENDELL, WRITER “Amelia Curran (and her new CD, War Brides). The rough grace of a fallen angel — one who landed squarely on her feet and went on down the road. “Michelle Butler Hallett’s collection of short stories, The Shadow Side of Grace. Butler Hallett
speaks with the tongues of men, women and angels — and occasionally herring gulls. “David Sheppard, brilliant young artist from Bishop’s Falls, whose talent for surrealism would make Dali sooky. “Andy Jones’ Uncle Val. No comment necessary.” RAY DILLON, PRESIDENT, ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE “Cheryl Hickman’s Christmas CD (On this Island) that was just released … An amazing clarity of voice that puts a unique sound to familiar, traditional Newfoundland Christmas music. “I also love Paul Daly’s coffee table book (Straight Shooter) … Images so strong and unique they have the potential to stay with you forever.” SEAMUS O’REGAN, HOST, CANADA A.M. “I was blown away by the Christopher and Mary (Pratt) exhibitions at The Rooms — for what was familiar and what was unfamiliar. More particularly, I was grateful to have my eyes stuffed with their works. It took my breath way. “Intangible Evidence was exciting because it drew upon the strengths of The Rooms as a multidisciplinary vehicle. Which is what we always hoped would happen if we stuck all these talented people under one roof.” stephanie.porter@theindependent.ca
every time the Creative Arts Festival rolls around you start to hear mumblings about secession. Yes, it’s a mighty wonderful challenge just keeping pace with this healthy arts scene. Not only does someone have to do it but there is so much to like and admire and remember fondly that you can actually get away with avoiding mentioning the crappy stuff, the stuff you discreetly tell friends to avoid, don’t bother reading, seeing, or listening to. Hey, you won’t find me mentioning any of that stuff here, no siree, not when it’s time to ring out the good old stuff in the hopes of ringing in even more good new stuff. It sure doesn’t hurt to know there’s a bit more money flowing into the community. You’d like to believe that artists will create regardless of the economics of struggle, but that would be too naive for words. After vainly trying to list all the accomplishments and noting the long rounds of applause, it has to be said that in 2006, money finally did the talking in the arts and culture communities. And the guy who started the conversation was Danny Williams, as shrewd an investor if there ever were one.
Williams’ very public, budget-friendly endorsement of the value of arts and culture and the popularity that attended to that support was obvious when he opened the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in October. Before a sold-out crowd at the Arts and Culture Centre, wearing a black velvet jacket that could have been stolen off a dead glam rocker, Williams effectively punched up the good vibes. Visiting filmmakers and broadcasters from as far away as Los Angeles, Britain, Ontario and British Columbia were simply stunned by what appeared to be a lovein between the government and the people. It’s pretty hard to imagine artists pumping their fists in the air for a Dalton McGuinty, a Tony Blair, or even for an Arnold Schwarzenegger. Candy is dandy but lucre is quicker. Happy holidays to all — and I do mean all — coast to coast, on and off island, high and low, established or emerging, or maybe just dreaming about being one or the other. Noreen Golfman is a professor of literature and women’s studies at Memorial University. Her column returns Jan. 12.
2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
‘You gotta love it’ Randy Simms picks the top stories of 2006
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elcome to 2007. Can you believe it? The next time I next put pen to paper 2006 will be a memory. The usual thing for political junkies and news hounds to do at this time of year is to ask the question: What was the top news story? Picking it should be easy. Most people would immediately say the scandal involving MHAs and constituency allowances. They might be right. Newfoundland and Labrador has not encountered such a scandal before. It involves all political parties and, sadly, a lot of current and former MHAs are implicated — either in overspending or questionable spending. While it’s reasonable to award the constituency allowance scandal or Baublegate, as some call it, top-story honours, there were others that could compete for the big-headline award. If the MHA scandal is No. 1, surely the Paul McCartney/Heather Mills visit to the ice flows in March has to be No.
RANDY SIMMS
Page 2 talk 2. I’m not sure we can’t argue that story should be No. 1. An international entertainment icon visiting our shores to protest the ever-popular seal hunt. It had all the ingredients of a great story. The media circus was something to behold. Not since the visit of French sex kitten Bridget Bardot has the province gotten so much attention. Here we had Sir Paul and his wife Heather appearing on Larry King Live to denounce the Canadian hunt and to do battle with Premier Danny Williams. By the way, I thought Premier Williams did a masterful job of defending the hunt, despite the lopsided format and biased opinion of Larry King himself. Pictures were beamed around the
globe of these two cavorting on the ice flows with white coats and calling for a ban on seal products. Sir Paul even wore a fleece with Canada embroidered across it. You gotta love it! If the measure of the top news story was based on the most attention it drew than the McCartney visit wins. The world was watching that one; the political spending scandal is only viewed by us locals. I doubt if any of our political people — or the auditor general himself — will be appearing on Larry King any time soon to discuss the implications of inflated MHA bank accounts. How about making an argument for a good news story as the top story of the year? In February 2006 the Brad Gushue rink curling out of St. John’s won Olympic gold in Italy. They beat the best the world had to offer to become the best in the world. Schools around the province even closed for the students to watch the game. Unheard
of stuff. The Olympic gold medal was the ultimate feel-good story of 2006 as far as I’m concerned. We celebrated for weeks, and for a brief, shining moment we were the talk of the town in Canada, the northeastern U.S., and Europe. If this story is not No. 1, surely it has to be in the top three. Picking the top story of the year may be a little harder then I thought. Where do you put the story of the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have fought and died in Afghanistan? This province provides a disproportionate number of her young men and women to the uniformed services. Sadly when something like Afghanistan comes along we also suffer a disproportionate share of grief. JEROME’S BEATING Lorraine Michael beats out Jerome Kennedy in the Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi byelection? It’s truly the first loss of the
Danny Williams government. Where does that story fit? Where does the firing of Joan Cleary from the Bull Arm Corporation rank? Where do you put the fibre-optic story? Fibre-optic — that’s all I have to say and you know of what I speak. That makes it an important item. How about the Max Ruelokke debacle? Here was a guy who had to take on some big people to get justice. Speaking of justice, where do you put the Lamer inquiry into the wrongful conviction of three men? There are just too many good stories and too much room for debate. Picking the top story is not a winner-take-all affair. Pick the one you like best and go with it. For me, the top story of 2006 is that we all made it to 2007. I’m looking forward to next year’s journey. Randy Simms is host of VOCM’s Open Line talk show.
‘Persona’s commitment to this is in excess — by a substantial amount — of the government’s’ From page 1
— which they do not want to do. MTS Allstream — was made up Reid wants to know what of the only groups that were realpercentage the other comistically capable of building the panies in the consortium network, so the public process are putting into the deal. would have been time-consum“If it is split three ways ing, expensive, and pointless. the other way, they all have “Why go down that road if to end up with something you are only going to end up less than 30 per cent. And with the same three groups in the we are going to receive no consortium?” asks Taylor. profits?” says Reid. “Are The Liberal opposition has we giving $15 million to made the Williams administrathe consortium to cover tion’s decision to invest $15 milPersona’s share?” lion in the consortium — which Taylor is clear on that. includes companies which “When the deal is finally employ former business partners inked, and my signature or of the premier Dean MacDonald whoever’s signature is and Ken Marshall — top of their required on this to make it agenda in question period during a legal document, you will the last sitting of the House. see that that is an absoluteThe consortium wants to build ly false accusation,” says a second $52 million fibre-optic Taylor. “Persona’s commitnetwork to compete with ment to this is in excess — Aliant’s — currently the only by a substantial amount — one on the island with a connecof the government’s.” tion to the mainland. At times the NDP leader Lorraine debate has become heated and Michael says a public personal, with the opposition process should have been demanding more details on the followed in putting this Paul Daly/The Independent deal together deal, and the government Trevor Taylor remaining tight-lipped. “I really don’t think there Reid says the relationship between tently,” says Taylor. “But the other side would have been a problem. Unless a the premier and the consortium is too of that is, must we continue to allow a lower bid came in,” she says. close. monopoly to exist?” She says once the Liberals were suc“You know the connection between He says government funds business- cessful in getting the auditor general to Persona? Who’s over there? And you es every day, and this is just another do a review, they should have stopped stick Brian Tobin in on top of that, and example. pressing the government on the issue Brian Mulroney. I mean Tobin is a lot Reid wants to know why the premier and waited for his report. closer to Danny Williams than he is to — who ended the Hebron oil field negoThe only thing all three parties can anyone in the Liberal party in this tiations over the province’s equity share, agree on is the difficulty in understandprovince.” and is calling for outright ownership of ing the technology behind the issues. Reid says the premier broke his gov- the lower Churchill — is content to see Reid and Michael both agree they had to ernment’s own department of Business no profits from the purchase of these work to get a handle on it. guidelines not to fund any company that strands. When Taylor started to deal with this will compete directly with another busi“We were being suckered into this as issue, he jokes, “I knew not much more ness in the province. far as I’m concerned,” says Reid. about fibre-optics than what you would “That is an important principle — so Taylor says if government took an find on a Christmas tree.” to speak — for government to adhere to. equity position, then they would be in And you got to try and apply that consis- the business of competing with Aliant ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
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DECEMBER 21, 2006
20 • INDEPENDENTLIFE
‘A cure is sorely needed’ From page 17 filled by then; former residents coming in for protection. But the biggest influx begins in the new year, she says. “Often, moms will stay in the home (over Christmas) for the sake of the family. But afterwards, when winter heat bills start coming in, and the Christmas bills … if there’s a history of abuse there, things can get really bad.” Besides offering a safe shelter, Kirby House conducts a weekly empowerment group for abused women, and another for children affected by domestic violence. The groups are open to anyone, not just residents. They provide support for women who are unable, for various reasons, to leave abusive situations. Last year, Kirby House received 826 calls on its 24-hour crisis line, and 9,900 other calls dealing with abuse-related issues. The women and children who find a safe haven at Kirby House are only the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of families are affected by spousal and child abuse in the St. John’s area alone — the figure is tens of millions worldwide. Emotional and physical battering crosses all racial, social and religious lines, and there are many theories about why it happens. Some blame men individually, some blame the sexism inherent in all societies. Some blame religion — Eve and the apple, and her cultural variants. Others maintain that chronic abusers are mentally ill. Statistically, men who witnessed or were victims of abuse as children are more likely to hurt others. Whatever the cause, a cure is sorely needed. Kirby House is not a cure, but it is part of the solution, and it wouldn’t exist if not for the efforts of women who worked at the St. John’s branch of the federal Status of Women Council in 1981. Last month, Stephen Harper’s government closed all but four of the council’s regional offices, including the one in St. John’s. If Stevie the Grinch had been prime minister when Kirby House first opened its doors, it wouldn’t have. How many women and children’s lives would have been trashed during the last two decades because there was nowhere to go, no one to turn to? The feds are crying fiscal accountability. Women are crying “Wolf!” “We don’t want that at all,” says Tobin, referring to the closure of the local Status of Women office. “We know they’re there, that we can call on them when we need to. We’re all part and parcel of the bigger picture — trying to end violence against women.” My daughter and I will have a peaceful and loving Christmas this year. OK, we’ll fight like opposing political parties over everything from wrapping paper to absolutely nothing, but that’s the season and that’s us; and anyway, the curses will ricochet off the Teflon skin of our love for each other, and there will be much gloria and hallelujah in between them. I hope the man who gave my daughter to me — and to a world in need of a good heart like hers, like her father’s — is at peace too. That in this dark space of the year, he has Light Eternal. If you’re in an abusive situation and want to talk to someone who wants to listen, call 753-1492. All calls are confidential. srendell@sympatico.nf.ca
For rousing entertainment, try Apocalypto TIM CONWAY Film Score The Pursuit of Happyness Starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith 117 min.
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n drafting the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson chose to exemplify his expression “inalienable rights,” citing life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The last of these has since served as the title of many a motion picture, two of which were adaptations of a novel and a play by the same name. Mr. Jefferson’s phrase is unlikely to gather dust or moss any time soon, although it does get re-interpreted, as well as misspelled, as a true story of a struggling father comes to life on the big screen. The year is 1981, and Chris Gardner’s bad investment in bone density scanners has put his family in a precarious financial position. His wife’s doubling up on her shifts at work had only slowed their slide towards the inevitable. Suddenly, Chris determines that he has found the solution to their economic woes: he would become a stockbroker. Despite his conviction, his wife has lost all faith in him, and, facing eviction from their apartment, she leaves. Having grown up not knowing his father, Chris vows that his son, Christopher, will not go through life the same way, and insists on keeping the boy with him. Child-rearing, for a single parent, presents its share of challenges, but in this case, the obstacles appear insurmountable. To pursue his goal of becoming a stockbroker, Chris has to assume an internship at a brokerage firm for six months, without pay, before he can qualify to write his licensing exam. Even then, he has to compete with 20 other individuals for one available opening. In a role where charisma is an important trait of the character, Will Smith handily slips into Chris Gardner. Acting opposite his own son, Jaden, probably serves his purposes as well as the film’s need to portray a rapport between father and child. As their circumstances worsen, it’s certain Smith often thought of what he would do or react in the same situation, and the presence of his own son must have brought a level of reality to bear. Consequently, his performance, nominated for a Golden Globe award, is nothing less than stellar. Unfortunately, the rest of the production does not shine as brightly. A story that is complicated only by a series of misfortunes wears on the audience after a while. Halfway through, we’re ready for some kind
of resolution. We’ve gotten the point, and there’s nothing that couldn’t be worked into a five-minute montage that’s going to surprise us. The film, however, is determined to spell out, in detail, every single “and then ...”. Chris Gardner’s story is an account of a unique, inspiring human being. He has faced adversity armed with little more than his own wits, and the love for his child. Aside from Smith’s performance, however, there is nothing exceptional in the way that The Pursuit of Happyness plays out on the screen. Apocalypto Starring Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, and Raoul Trujillo 139 min.
Set on the Yucatan Peninsula about 500 years ago, Apocalypto tells the story of a young villager, Jaguar Paw, who is captured and brought to a Mayan city to be killed in a ritualistic ceremony. Spared from certain death, he must flee his captors and return to his village to reunite with his pregnant wife and son. At the core of the film is the concept of a powerful civilization in decline, and some of the ludicrous means by which those in charge attempt to maintain control of the masses. During a period of crop failure, raiding parties of warriors capture people from outlying villages to be used as slaves or sport, thus keeping idle soldiers from revolting, and disenchanted citizens, distracted. For the most part, however, Apocalypto is an action/adventure picture, and an occasionally violent one at that. Regardless of his highminded intentions, co-writer/director Mel Gibson does seem to gravitate towards humanity’s more brutal moments. This isn’t to suggest the gentleman revels in savagery, but here, as in his previous film, we find humanity at its worst. There does seem to be the constant reminder that while we are capable of wonderful things, we are likewise susceptible to abhorrent behaviour, terrible actions compounded in an environment of complacency. While there is some fuss regarding historical accuracy, that seems to be a bit of nitpicking — this motion picture obviously works hard to get most of it right while essentially striving for fast-paced action and thrills. There’s hardly a dull moment, for even when the action slows, there’s plenty to take in. As one would expect, the locations, sets, and costumes serve up a bounty of visual treats. Since the characters all speak Yukatek Maya, the dialogue is pared down to appease those of us who aren’t fussy about subtitles, and even
Raoul Trujillo is Zero Wolf in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.
Will Smith (left) and Jaden Smith.
the most cantankerous of us shouldn’t have much problem with them. Although none of the actors are household names, they’re all convincing and engaging. In particular, Rudy Youngblood as Jaguar Paw, and Raoul Trujillo as Zero Wolf, featured most in the film, handle the task with apparent ease. Perhaps Apocalypto doesn’t draw the strong parallel between sacrificing soldiers in Iraq and sacrificing villagers to distract citizens from hard times — as Gibson is attempting to do here — but it does offer us
a couple of hours of rousing entertainment, set during a time and place unfamiliar to most of us. It tells a compelling story in a splendid fashion, and while some of the details might not be accurate, the effort is there. If nothing else, maybe it’ll inspire some of us to seek out a little more information on the indigenous folk and their fascinating history. Tim Conway operates Capital Video in Rawlin’s Cross, St. John’s. His column returns Jan. 12.
INDEPENDENTSTYLE
THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21-JANUARY 4, 2007 — PAGE 21
COUNT DOWN, DRESS UP Gillian wears a peacock feather head piece, $46, provided by Twisted Sisters Boutik; Teenflo dress, $365, and Cleo earrings, $10, provided by Bellissima. Shot on location at The Fairmont, St. John’s.
By Mandy Cook The Independent
T
en, nine, eight, seven … the seconds are ticking down to 2007 and the search for the perfect New Year’s Eve frock is underway. Whether you’re braving the cold taking in the fireworks or
inside at a cozy candlelit dinner, finding the perfect dress is a must for most women on the year’s biggest night. And, like today’s fashion in general, anything goes. Short, long, formal or casual, local fashionistas say whatever your event — and your comfort level — there are several
New Year’s dresses are in high demand for that special end-of-year fête options to choose from off local racks. Ruth Steinhauer, owner of
women’s clothing store Bellissima, in Churchill Square, St. John’s, says “all of fall” is the store’s busiest season for dresses. In the lead-up to work functions, Christmas parties and New Year’s bashes, Steinhauer says women are snapping up flirty little cocktail dresses, floor-length velvet numbers and everything in
Paul Daly/The Independent
between — even dressy tops to go with designer jeans. She says it’s a matter of personal taste. “I just think that’s how the world is today,” she says. “(Women) live for today and do whatever they feel like. Years ago you wore what you See “Bling,” page 22
DECEMBER 21, 2006
22 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE
Stringing up the bird NICHOLAS GARDNER Off the Eating Path
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often get asked why we truss birds (or a roast of beef for that matter) before cooking. Trussing a bird keeps the bird tightly together and keeps the shape while cooking. As well, the trussing compacts the shape of the bird, bringing the mass closer together and helping with the evenness of cooking. Traditionally it was prepared that way so turkeys which were not so perfect could be contorted into a perfect turkey shape. If trussing is too difficult, you can simply tuck the wings under the joints to keep the wing tips from burning. But for those of you who want to truss your Christmas bird, here are the steps to do it. If you are stuffing the turkey, do so first, and secure the opening with a covering of tin foil to keep the stuffing in while trussing. The tin foil can be removed before cooking. Place the turkey breast up with the neck towards you. Tuck the first wing joint on each side behind the back. Press the legs down and towards the body. Pass the centre of the length of twine (about four feet total) under the hipbone just ahead of the tail. Bring the twine up and across the ends of the legs. Continue to pass the twine under the ends of the legs and pull tight. The legs should cinch tight. Bring the ends of the twine along the sides towards the neck of the bird, pulling tightly on the twine while pressing on the end of the breast with
your thumbs. Tie twine tightly and cut off any excess string. Now you have successfully trussed your turkey — how long do you cook it for? Some suggest starting the cooking process in a high temperature oven (450 F) for up to 30 minutes to get the skin brown and crispy. Others advocate a “slow and low” approach — lower temperature for longer time to ensure doneness and keep shrinkage at bay. I am a fan of the slow and low approach. I have always believed “good food takes time” — so take your time to make a fabulous feast. Searing at high temperatures is not necessary as the overall cooking will make a good brown bird. A moderately low oven temperature of 325 F and cooking for 15 minutes per pound results in a tasty turkey. A 12-pound bird should feed six to eight people handsomely with some extra meat for the next day. As well, remember that if you are stuffing your bird with that all-important savoury stuffing, allow an extra 30 minutes cooking time to ensure the stuffing and the bird are cooked all the way through. So you have trussed it, and cooked it. Is it done yet? This is an age-old question, which is important to be able to answer. Jiggling the drumsticks to see if they are loose? Peering deeply into the oven to read the turkey like a crystal ball? Carving a little piece off to “test” it? Not a bad solution, but I recommend an instant-read thermometre. A thermometre is your best friend. A turkey is done when it has reached 180 degrees in the joint space between the thigh and the breast. This is a notoriously difficult part of the bird to get heat and cooks slowly. But because this
year you have trussed your bird it should be perfect. Now take the turkey out and let it rest. Resting a turkey for up to 20 minutes after roasting allows the juices to stay in the meat and not run all over the carving platter. Your family will be impressed that you have made a succulent and tender turkey. The final tip is to enjoy the meal. Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself and spend time with family
were supposed to wear. Even with men, there’s black tie events, a lot of men will go in a regular suit and it’s not frowned upon.” On Gillian, previous page, is a three-quarter length Teenflo dress. Gillian describes it as “timeless.” It’s a sparkly, stretch tube gown, dressed up with a crepe halter that ties around the neck and flows down the front. Gillian says she would wear it out to dinner and to dance in. “I loved the detail,” she says. “It was something that was unique.” Bob Squires, manager of Le Chateau at the Avalon Mall in St.
John’s, says “black is always in,” but colour is hot with his clientele too. He lists solid reds and turquoises as big sellers, plus metallic dresses in bronze, silver and gold. Squires says matching accessories are flying out of the store. HEADBANDS POPULAR “Headbands, we can’t keep,” he says. “Gold and black headbands, lots of turquoise, plus earrings and necklaces to match.” Accessories are big at Bellissima, too. “Bling is in,” Steinhauer says. If you choose a simple black dress, she recommends dressing it up with a
Nicholas is a freelance writer and erstwhile chef now living in St. John’s
TASTE
‘Bling is in’ From page 21
that you haven’t seen all year. It is a time to relax in the warmth of the holidays — and share the wealth our family brings us. From my family to yours, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
long, beaded necklace or some elaborate chandelier earrings. If you decide on something more detailed — say a plunging v-neck clasped with a rhinestone brooch — steer clear of too much adornment. It will appear too “busy” to the eye and detract from the dress. Steinhauer says the holiday season is a fun time for anyone who likes to indulge in a bit of glamour, for at least one night. “The dress is still in and always will be because you feel like a lady in a dress — or a woman, I should say.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca
Fry the hole thing By Amy Pataki Torstar wire service
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udging by what’s appearing on dessert menus these days, the doughnut has shifted from Tim Hortons to très haute. Whimsical and ironic, these designer deep-fried goodies are turning up ever more frequently to tempt the beautiful people, with prices to match, starting at $8 for two. While buying a dozen is faster, making doughnuts isn’t that complicated. A yeast dough, which produces fluffy “old-fashioned” rounds, is simple to mix and knead; only the proofing takes time. A speedy bath in hot oil and you’ve got doughnuts, all the better when warm. The holiday season is a good excuse to try the following recipe. But any coffee shop regular will enjoy combining coffee and doughnuts in one delicious and playful mouthful. So get frying. It’s fun, even when it’s fancy. COFFEE-GLAZED DOUGHNUTS Adapted from Gourmet. For breakfast, make dough the night before and let it rest overnight in the refrigerator (8 to 12 hours). These are best eaten the day they’re fried. DOUGHNUTS • 8 g package active dry yeast • 2 tbsp warm water (105F to 115F) • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature • 3 large egg yolks • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • Vegetable oil for deep-frying
GLAZE: • 5 tsp instant coffee granules • 1/4 cup boiling water • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar • 1 tbsp light corn syrup or honey • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • 1/4 tsp salt For doughnuts, in small bowl, stir yeast into warm water until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about five minutes. In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, place flour, milk, butter, yolks, sugar, salt, cinnamon and yeast mixture. Mix at low speed until soft dough forms, about two minutes. Increase speed to medium-high; beat three minutes. Cover bowl with clean kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm place, free of drafts, until doubled in bulk, one-and-a-half to two hours. Turn dough out on to lightly floured work surface. Using lightly floured rolling pin, roll into 12-inch round (1/2 inch thick). Use three-inch cutter to cut out rounds; use one-inch cutter to cut hole in centre of rounds. Transfer to lightly floured baking sheet; cover with towel and let rise until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes (45 minutes if dough was refrigerated). Do not re-roll scraps; discard. Heat one-inch oil in deep, heavy pot until it registers 350F on candy thermometer. Fry doughnuts three at a time, turning occasionally with slotted spoon, until puffed and golden brown, about two minutes a batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. For glaze, dissolve coffee granules in boiling water in medium bowl. Stir in sugar, corn syrup or honey, vanilla and salt until smooth. Dip warm doughnuts in glaze, turning to coat. Set on rack placed on baking sheet to catch drips. Let rest until glaze sets, about 20 minutes. Makes about 12.
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTSTYLE • 23
Men return to Harbour Mille The husbands are back in their part-time lives, writes Pam Pardy Ghent, and the community has changed
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ur men are home. They have pitched, unpacked and settled once more into their part-time lives. The feel of this community has changed since testosterone levels have increased. Men, out washing the salt from their prized trucks and sporty cars, call for their women to “gussy up” so they can be taken for a spin. Quads, once shed-bound and quiet, buzz around our rural roads. Along alder-cleared ditches, wood is packed and piled and trailers become worn and weary carting knotty fuel back to toasty homes and to pot belly-stoved stores. Smokey chimneys puff-puff the news that their hearths, and homes, are full once more. Old-fashioned two-stories and their white picket fences glow at dusk with the latest in Christmas lights Marystown has to offer. The sounds of staple guns gone mental pock the quiet of the day, as those not long home prepare for the holidays. Air-filled snowmen and fat Santas wave to passers-by or pop in and out of vinyl chimneys on tiny, well-kept lawns. At times, the government wharf seems to have more ball-capped heads and flannelclad torsos than its shores could possibly hold. The kids have changed these past few weeks as well. They have become a little more housebound — perhaps getting their fill of Dad-in-the-saltbox. They hang around living rooms and doorsteps, needing to be prodded, poked and threatened to get out and get going. They know that, in most cases, Dad is here
PAM PARDY GHENT
Seven-day talk for a few short weeks and once the holiday stockings are packed away and the tree is tossed, Poppa will be on a plane and gone once more. Those “little charmers” are getting away with more — no one likes to yell and blare at a child so rarely seen, and mothers back off and leave the raisin’ to a father with patience to spare. The kids have an air of “can-do-nowrong” about them, and the salt air is filled with the fresh language of cocky lads and confident lasses. Us moms are a changed lot ourselves. We have been given our freedom from the stress of solo parenting, yet we leave our houses less now than we did when we were alone. Our homes are somehow more homey with whiskers in our basins and plaid boxers in our hampers. Blinds are closed at dusk as dads struggle with math homework and moms tidy up after a real suppertime meal. Grouse, duck, moose and rabbit bubble in pots and in roasting pans. Salt beef and pork are boiled and fried and bacon is no longer just for breakfast. Diets are tossed and briefly forgotten. At the post-office wicket, women complain — with cheeks flushed — about widening posteriors, yet no one is really that concerned. A little junk in the trunk is a small price to pay for the thrill of filling a hungry man’s grateful stomach and taste testing just must be done. Old fashioned? Perhaps, but in teeny outport towns like this one, families do their best to be their best for the little time they get to spend together over the holidays. Don’t fret if your own home isn’t as warm and fuzzy this Christmas season. This peaceful easy feeling won’t last long for us either.
For fathers who get to stay a little longer, the newness will wear off soon enough (if not sooner) and most will be lucky to get ketchup on a hotdog at supper hour come early February. If they want something better, they can damn well cook it themselves. Men will be handed a paintbrush and told to “paint something, for Christ sake!” They will get yelled at, they will be ignored, they will be in the way. Our kids will sass them once again and, eventually, playing “man of the house” won’t be such a glamourous role. It’s time (in some cases, past time) to get back to work “up along.” Besides having our hubbies home, Harbour Mille is getting ready for Santa in other ways. It’s almost time for our annual church Christmas play. Out-migration means there are fewer kids each year to fill the roles. In this year’s version of the nativity story, our Mary will be in drag. “Mary” moved away with her family to Nova Scotia, and since I am the writer/director, my son was strong-armed into the role at the last minute. I hope playing a pregnant virgin won’t scar him for life. He’s experienced worse. He still talks about the year the nametags got mixed up somehow and he gleefully ripped open a box of frilly undergarments meant for yours truly. He reminds us of that every year — probably in the hopes of it never happening again. I’ve decided not to tell hubby that Brody will play Mary. Let Blair experience it live at the concert like everyone else. Some things are best kept a secret till the last possible minute, don’t you think? Like Brody ripping into that gift-box of girl-drawers, Blair could use a little shock to his system once in a while to keep him on his toes. What’s the Christmas season without a surprise or two anyway? Pam Pardy Ghent writes from Harbour Mille on the Burin Peninsula. Her column returns Jan. 12.
DRINK
Making your Christmas merry Nicholas Gardner offers advice on the best drinks before and during your Christmas feast By Nicholas Gardner For The Independent
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nce again we return to the time of year where family comes together to celebrate a feast at Christmas. With family coming from all over these days, we must pause and reflect on the tastes of the season and how they fit into the plan of the family meal. We feel generous at this time of year — the bottles open and the wine freely pours into our glasses as we celebrate. Christmas is a jolly time for laughter and merriment and we all deserve time to relax and enjoy ourselves. So as family members gather, take time to plan the drinks in hand. The aperitif is a good place to start. Growing up, in my house it was a simple sherry. My mom always asks for Harvey’s Bristol Cream (NLC $14.45), and it has come to be one of the family’s Christmas staples. My dad and I would always have a toss up — the Whiskey Mac (1 1/2 oz whiskey and 1 oz Ginger Wine in a rocks glass — no ice) or a Port. Having gone to a very good port tasting earlier this year, I am more knowledgeable on the ways of the fortified wine. There are no rules any more. Port does not have to end the meal, it can start the meal, end it, or, as I found out,
could easily be paired with all sorts of foods — but that is another story. I prefer the Taylor 10-year-old tawny (NLC $36.25), with its amber colour and mouth-watering aroma. It is a warm way to get ready for the main event. Deciding what wine to have with the roast bird is one of the more difficult decisions one could have for a holiday dinner. There is so much to choose from, and with so many different countries producing exceptional wines, it is tough to make a choice. There are many ways to make a pairing. You could go for a classical pairing and seek out a white wine — this is a good conservative choice. I like sweet
wines for an afternoon meal and drier wines for evening meals. My afternoon choice would be Willem Gewürztraminer (NLC $17.61) with its spicy and high floral notes and a sweet taste of lychee fruit. Going in a different direction, no one can argue that red wine could also work. Peppery and lighter reds tend to work best with poultry. Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Shiraz grapes all tend to have those qualities. Bonny Doon Cardinal “Zin” (NLC $29.02) is a peppery full fruit red wine. I admit buying the wine at first for the label — but was taken with the wine. A different choice for those so inclined. For those of you who are thinking about something completely off the beaten track — a cranberry martini is the perfect solution: • 1 1/2 oz vodka • 1/2 oz triple sec (orange liquor) • 1/2 oz vermouth • 4 oz cranberry juice Add ingredients in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake until cold. Pour into a martini glass and serve. Perfectly crimson cocktails for dinner — this season, mix a few drinks and make Christmas merry. nicholas.gardner@gmail.com
How to have a green Christmas
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hey’re dreaming of a green Christmas. Sure, we’re an evil race and we’re killing the planet, but it’s not all doom and gloom this holiday season. Grassroots environmental group the Toronto Green Community have published the first Green Holiday Guide. “There’s always this image that if you want to be green, you have to give up so much. And it’s just not true,” says Cheryl Shoure, executive director of the organization. She says that by taking a few simple steps, you can help reduce your ecological footprint, whatever holiday you may be celebrating. For more on the community, see its website at ntgc.ca.
BUY THOUGHTFUL Don’t waste your time and money on something that the giftreceiver will never use. Ask friends and family what they need or want. Avoid useless knickknacks that will just be thrown out later. Also look for fair-trade or organic products. MINIMIZE PACKAGING AND WRAPPING Put this newspaper to the use baby Jesus intended — wrap gifts with it. Then recycle it on Christmas morning. Also look for gifts with minimal packaging. Avoid unnecessary frills like tissue paper. USE WHAT YOU HAVE Instead of buying a live Christmas tree, or a fake one that is not recyclable, use a potted indoor houseplant. Or, keep the tree alive and plant it outside after the holidays are over. SWITCH TO LED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Christmas lights. They last longer and use up to 95 per cent less energy than incandescent light bulbs. RETHINK DECORATIONS Use toilet paper rolls to make Christmas crackers. Melt old wax onto metal sheets, cut with holiday-themed cookie cutters and add a wick to make homemade candles. Make paper snowflakes from recyclable paper. Lee Valley sells a reusable ice lantern mould — pour water into it, freeze and light up. BUY LOCAL When you shop for your holiday feast, look for in-season and local meat and vegetables. You’re limiting the amount of carbon dioxide produced by transportation.
DECEMBER 21, 2006
24 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE
EVENTS Blair Harvey releases new CD
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lair Harvey’s freshly-pressed new album, GutterBeGutted, is the result of more than one Dominion Ale and du Maurier-fuelled late night tear on the town. You can almost smell the carousing off the lurid red CD, and if you can’t smell it you can certainly hear it in the raucous harmonica, driving guitar and drums and the singer’s raw but poignant vocal style. Harvey says he comes by the grit of a rocker’s life honestly. “It’s really hard to avoid the night life when you’re working in it,” says the Ferryland native. Gigging in downtown St. John’s five nights a week would have to get under your skin and into your psyche eventually. Harvey says his musical tastes gravitate naturally towards the slightly sinister. “I just like that negative side, it’s just as important as the positive side. I don’t think you can have one without
the other. When an invention’s made, the light bulb or something, everybody sees that success and that’s all they see but I’m sure behind that light bulb there’s probably 1,000 failures and all those failures made that success.” Harvey didn’t come anywhere near a 1,000 failures while recording his second album. He says he “banged out” 19 songs in four days and kept 15. The CD, produced by Mark Bragg, echoes of ’60s Dylan, the Clash, gospel, rockabilly, dirty Nashville, and any number of other influences. The songs are “all over the musical spectrum,” Harvey
admits — though the aim is, simply, to offer up “really good rock and roll.” Making music is something Harvey says he is compelled to do. “If I don’t do this then I’ll just probably go into a mental institution,” he says in all seriousness. “There’s nothing else I’m going to do. Ever.” — Mandy Cook Blair Harvey’s GutterBeGutted makes its live debut Thursday, Dec. 21 at Junctions. Mark Bragg and the Black Wedding Band and The Nordic Beat will open the show.
DECEMBER 21 • How the Grinch Stole Christmas, LSPU Hall, 7:30 p.m. 753-4531 for tickets. • Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol, adapted and performed by Aiden Flynn, 7:30 p.m., at Rabbittown Theatre, 739-8220. Continues Dec. 22 and 23. • Blair Harvey and The Dregs CD Release Party for the new album Gutter Be Gutted, with Mark Bragg Band and The Nordic Beat at Junctions, St. John’s. • Duane Andrews Quartet featuring Patrick Boyle, Steve Hussey and Dave Rowe, at the Ship Pub, 10 p.m. • Peter MacDonald Productions and the Colonnade present the Christmas Feast, a four-course meal and dinner theatre, 106 East Drive, Pleasantville, St. John’s, 690-9929 for reservations. Also Dec. 22 and 28. DECEMBER 23 • Trimmed Navel Beef, The Nordic Beat and Jody Richardson at The Ship Pub, 11 p.m. • Andrew LeDrew band, Fat Cat Blues Bar, George Street, 10:30 p.m. • Wallace Ryan’s School of Comix, a two-day cartooning class for the comic book enthusiast at the Anna Templeton Centre, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ages 10 and up. Continues Dec. 30, 739-7623. DECEMBER 24 • Avalon Unitarian Fellowship’s weekly service, 10:30 a.m., Anna Templeton Center, 278 Duckworth St. DECEMBER 27 • A Feast of Cohen: Vicky Hynes presents the songs of Leonard Cohen in the seventh Feast of Cohen with Tim Baker (Hey Rosetta), Mary Barry, Jenny Gear, Blair Harvey, Bryan Hennessey, Joel Hynes, Sean Hynes, Jill Porter, Colleen Power, Liz Solo, Des Walsh and The Beautiful Losers Band: Sandy Morris, George Morgan, Kelly Russell, Dave and Geoff Panting, at the LSPU Hall, 753-4531. Continues through Dec. 30. • Lindsay Barr CD release, Distortion, George Street, 10:30 p.m. • Uncharted Music No. 2 at Roxxy’s pub, with Jerry Stamp, Ian Foster, 10 p.m. • Jean Hewson and Christina Smith at Folk Night, the Ship Pub. DECEMBER 29 • Glenn Nuotio and band, White Tara, Ship Pub. • Liz Solo and Jody Richardson at the Rose and Thistle, Water Street. 10:30 p.m. • Wintersleep, Gazeebow Unit and Trailer Camp at Club One, George
Street, 10 p.m. DECEMBER 30 • Sound Symposium presents The Scruncheons percussion ensemble with The Black Auks and other guests in an exciting holiday concert full of surprises. Bring the kids — free admission, 3 p.m. St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre upper concourse. • The Novaks with special guests The Nordic Beat, Club One, 10 p.m. • The Firewires reunion show, Distortion, George Street. • Blair Harvey, Liz Solo w/Mike Kean, Jill Porter, The Pathological Lovers at the Ship Pub. DECEMBER 31 • Hey! Rosetta, Mark Bragg Band and DJ Lex, Junctions club, St. John’s. • Dance Party of Newfoundland present an evening of new comedy, LSPU Hall, 8 p.m., 753-4531. • Ron Hynes at the Rose and Thistle pub, Water Street. • The 30+ Friendship Club for singles New Year’s eve dinner and dance, St. Theresa’s Hall, Mundy Pond Road, 722-3060. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS • The Independent Artists Cooperative presents the Third Annual Rock Can Roll Independent Music and Video Festival Jan. 26-28, 2007 in St. John’s. The cooperative is calling for submissions of short films and videos from bands, and work from filmmakers and new media artists with rock-related subject matter, themes or soundtrack. Entry fee is $10, deadline is Jan. 15. Send submissions, preferably in DVD or mini DV format (VHS is also acceptable) to: Rock Can Roll Records, P.O. Box 2383, Station C, St. John’s, NL, A1C 6E7. Contact 754-6662 or indieartscoop@gmail.com. IN THE GALLERIES • Annual Christmas show at the Leyton Gallery of Fine Art, Baird’s Cove, St. John’s, 722-7177. • Thaddeus Holownia: The Terra Nova Suite, The Rooms, until Jan. 7. • Melt, an interactive video installation by Toronto-based Michael Alstad, at Eastern Edge Gallery, Harbour Drive, St. John’s • Kaleidoscope, annual group Christmas exhibition opens at Red Ochre Gallery, 96 Duckworth St. St. John’s. • Scott Goudie, The Tuscan Landscape, Christina Parker Gallery, until Dec. 22. • Simple Bliss: The Painting and Prints of Mary Pratt, The Rooms, until Feb. 7
DECEMBER 21 JANUARY 4, 2007
What’s new in the automotive industry
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SUPREMELY NIMBLE The 2007 Acura MDX was tuned on Germany’s Nürburgring — the toughest and most demanding race course in the world. It boasts a 300-horsepower, V-6 VTEC® engine, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™, an Active Damper System, the optional Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™ and real-time traffic, as well as the available Acura/ELS Surround® premium sound system with Dolby® Pro Logic® II technology. The 2007 Acura MDX, the driver's SUV. This vehicle is available at Tucker Acura, located at Topsail Rd., Mount Pearl. Photo taken at The Kirk in downtown St. John's by Paul Daly.
The moon mobile T
here’s a car on the moon, I ject over the following days, weeks and remember them putting it there. months so he could fully appreciate the It was a big deal at the time, but gravity of the situation. since then it draws no more He put several years of attention than any other car thought into the moon car and up on blocks in someone’s took pride one fine day in back yard. The only use for passing on the information to the old-car-on-the-moon his younger brother. Tearystory is to amuse my chileyed and heartbroken, my dren, which I’ve achieved youngest son came to me with great success. pleading for an explanation. A few years after my first “He says the moon’s not son was born, he absorbed made of cheese and there’s a MARK information at a rapid rate car up there.” WOOD and incessantly inquired I dried his eyes and calmed WOODY’S him down; obviously the subabout everything. Naturally, the topic of the moon popped was dropped on him WHEELS ject up and I seized the opportuniwithout warning (this would ty to dispense my wealth of require a delicate explanaknowledge on the subject and declare, tion). I’d have to give him full disclo“There’s a car up there.” sure. He was silent for a while, imagining I explained that the moon was so far his version of a car on the surface of the away and so unattainable that the whole moon, probably covered in dust with cheese rumour was used to generate the keys left in it. interest in the space program. But That was the whole point of the exer- before all that we had to invent everycise, to stimulate his imagination. That thing else first. kept my son going for a while and he We, as a human race, first invented asked for more information on the sub- fire, lived in caves, hunted with pointy
View of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) in its final parking space at Station 8 (Cochise Crater) prior to liftoff from the Moon, December 13, 1972. NASA Johnson Space Center
sticks and established a thriving fur industry. Fire technology improved, enabling
us to heat up rocks to form metals into simple tools. With these tools we were able to carve wood and stone so we
could experiment with architecture. This would put us in the vicinity of Archimedes and Pythagoras. These guys took a great interest in the moon and stars. Pythagoras was able to prove that the earth was round and calculate the height of the pyramids with a single theory. Archimedes took a bath and realized hydraulic principles, which eventually led to backhoes. Leonardo da Vinci had planes, helicopters and submarines all figured out too. These were clever fellows, in an age of thought that has never been equalled. We peaked intellectually a couple of thousand years ago. Ben Franklin invented electricity by flying a kite with a key attached in a lightning storm. It’s a wonder he wasn’t killed. Edison invented a light bulb so Alexander Graham Bell could stay up late and invent the telephone. It proved useless until he made a second telephone to talk to. Said Bell: “Watson, what are you at?” Watson: “Nothing, what are you at?” See “Space-inspired,” page 27
26 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT
DECEMBER 21, 2006
‘You win some, you lose some and you wreck some’ NORRIS MCDONALD HIGHLIGHTS HIS FAVOURITE QUOTES OF THE YEAR, BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK
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TRACK TALK
hope
Driver Tony Stewart waves the checkered flag after climbing up the flag stand as he celebrates his win with fans at the Bass Pro Shops 500 NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, Oct. 29, 2006. On climbing up to the starter’s stand after winning races, Stewart was quoted this year as saying: “I’m too old and too fat but as long as those people keep cheering when I get up there, I’m going to keep doing it.” Steve Schaefer/Reuters
eing in the newspaper biz, I’ve fires in fire trucks. I’ve knocked stuff always got my ear cocked for a over in bulldozers. I’ve qualified for the good quote. What people say, and Indy 500 and I’ve been out with a whole how they say it, often speaks more about lot of really good-looking girls. I’ve told something than any descriptive para- everybody I’m happy to die tomorrow.” The most significant quote graph or passage ever will. of the year came from the lips One of my favourites came of seven-time world champion from the lips of the late Michael Schumacher at NASCAR owner-driver Alan Monza in September: Kulwicki, who was asked if “At the end of this year, I’ve there was any difference decided, together with the between racing on Saturday team, that I’m going to retire nights as compared to the from racing. I’ve really loved usual Sunday afternoons. every single moment of the Said the Polish jokester: NORRIS good and the bad times. In par“It’s basically the same, only MCDONALD ticular, I should thank my famdarker.” ily, starting, obviously, with Dale Earnhardt Sr. once my Dad, my passed-away described stock car racing this Mum and obviously my wife way: and my kids who, at all times, “You win some, you lose supported what I was doing, and without some and you wreck some.” So here we go with this year’s roundup their support, without their strengths, to of great racing quotes. Although they are survive in this business and this sport, not in any particular order, this first one and to perform, I think would have been impossible.” is No. 1 — the quote of the year. Tiger Woods, when asked who was the Said Michael Waltrip, after viewing the front of Men’s Health magazine (that greatest sportsman of this generation, featured a photo of a “ripped” Carl replied: “It has to be Michael Schumacher. His Edwards): “I let Carl borrow my body for consistency does it for me. He’s perthat cover shot.” Close behind (for quote of the year, not formed year in, year out under immense physical fitness) was our own Paul Tracy, pressure. What he’s done is phenomewho had this to say after his fight with nal.” Not everyone agreed. Said two-time Alex Tagliani in the streets of San Jose, world champion Fernando Alonso: Calif., last July: “Michael is the man with the most “Never punch a guy when he still has his helmet on. My hand’s a bit sore right sanctions and is the most unsporting driver in the history of Formula One. now.” Not as funny, but certainly telling, was Even Zinedine Zidane (the head-butting this Tracy quote after he injured himself soccer player) retired with more glory so severely that he couldn’t compete in than Schumacher.” Kimi Raikonnen offers up this thought Champ Car’s last scheduled event in for anyone thinking of sending him a litMexico: “I’m sorry to say it (the injury) was tle something for the holidays: “The perfect Christmas present for me self-inflicted. I had a little too much to drink and thought it was a good idea to would be a jet. This would make travelgo out on an ATV and jump sand dunes. ling to overseas races easier. However, I would be happy with clothes, DVDs and Wrong — it wasn’t a good idea.” People who are angry often come up CDs.” Now, some guys seem to appreciate with the best quotes. Toronto’s Marty Roth let forth with a few zingers follow- what they get in life. Here’s Jimmie ing Indianapolis 500 qualifying last May Johnson after winning the Nextel Cup: “This is the most amazing day of my (after which some U.S. reporters had said some less-than-complimentary things life. I can’t thank enough people for this.” about his talent): Others don’t, apparently. Here’s Sam “Another guy crashed on Sunday, Sam Hornish. Didn’t hear any trash talk about Hornish after winning the Indy 500: “I had to stand around for three hours him. My car was a handful. It wasn’t working. I was white-knuckling my way while the photographers took pictures.” Are NASCAR races too long? Dale around that place. Hornish had a car that you could drive with your little finger on Earnhardt Jr. apparently thinks so. Here’s the wheel. There’s nothing easier to drive what he had to say on the subject: “There is that point in the middle of than a fast car. I had a slow car that I was trying to make go fast. I crashed, he the race where it’s sort of pointless. crashed. Nobody trashed him — and he We’re just cutting laps, basically, to get to the end.” trashed a good car.” Sprint car driver Danny Lasoski was NASCAR’s Tony Stewart is one of the best in the business when it comes to giv- confronted in the pits by his father after literally driving over his young nephew ing good quotes. On meeting President George W. en route to winning a preliminary round of the Knoxville Nationals last August: Bush: “I said, ‘Hi, boss,’ and he said, ‘What’s Screamed Danny: “Go ahead, then. Hit me! Hit me! Just up, dude?’ “ On climbing up to the starter’s stand like when I was a kid. Hit me!” I’ll end this with a quote from Helio after winning races: “I’m too old and too fat but as long as Castroneves after fellow IRL driver Paul those people keep cheering when I get up Dana was killed last March while practicing for a race in Florida. Said a philothere, I’m going to keep doing it.” P.J. Chesson is a sprint car driver who sophical Helio: “I wouldn’t say it’s fate, I’d say it’s had the time of his life last May in the destiny. It’s the guy upstairs. If it’s your runup to the Indianapolis 500: “I’ve flown in an F-16. I’ve gone to time, it’s your time.”
For every question there is an answer.
We’re here.
Hope through education, support and solutions. 1.800.321.1433
www.arthritis.ca
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTSHIFT • 27
Honda predicts record year for sales
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onda Motor Co. expects worldwide sales to rise five per cent to an all-time high of 3.55 million vehicles this year amid booming overseas demand. Honda — which makes motorbikes, robots and light aircraft, as well as the Odyssey minivan and Civic compact — expects U.S. sales to rise three per cent to 1.51 million vehicles in 2006, marking a sales record for the 10th consecutive year.
When my boyfriend had a Porsche W
hen I was 16, my boyfriend had a Porsche. A little yel- dreds. With roller-skating, it’s the opposite. That place was low 914, a starter Porsche. And no, he wasn’t some crammed for years, yet only 11 people ever admit to having 35-year-old creep trolling the high school. His father been there. worked in the industry, and there had already been a We used to go, in the Porsche. We’d wait until the fluid procession of cars in and out of his 18-year-old parking lot was empty, waving off friends and life. strangers, usually busting my curfew. When the coast Almost nobody had his or her own car when I was was clear, Ant’s best friend would have to give us a in high school. You knew you were going to be drivboost to get home. en in somebody’s Mom’s Vega or Pinto, and it was But my boyfriend had a Porsche. going to be some ghastly colour. Looking back, I If he pulled up in that car, my mother would sigh a shouldn’t be surprised; this was the era of kitchen little. She knew what was coming. My father used to appliances that could only be purchased in Harvest turn in around 8 p.m. We’d get home by midnight, Gold or Avocado Green. watch a little TV, and snog on the couch for half an LORRAINE If a guy had his own car, it meant he’d dropped out hour. Then I’d have to go wake up my dad to give SOMMERFELD of school to afford it, and so I wasn’t allowed to date Anthony a boost so he could get home. him. Or he was old enough to be working and living But my boyfriend had a Porsche. on his own, so I wasn’t allowed to date him. Or he was If he picked me up from school, he could never a rich kid whose parents just handed him everything, come in to get me. He couldn’t risk turning it off. He and thusly would never appreciate the value of a dolwould idle out front, nervous about stalling and lar, and so I wasn’t allowed to date him. silently begging me to hurry up and come out the doors. I’d pop It never occurred to me a guy might own his own car. into the seat, pretending the car wasn’t winking at me. Anthony was a nice kid, and as he’d come by the car in a way But my boyfriend had a Porsche. that slipped through all of my father’s loopholes, I was allowed If we had to reliably be somewhere, Anthony would have to to date him. What I haven’t mentioned is that the car barely mooch his younger brother’s downmarket Porsche — a VW started. beetle. That little baby always started, always ran. Eventually he But my boyfriend had a Porsche. got his own Bug, and the 914 was permanently parked in a little It had those headlights that pop up like little eyes when you patch of clover. turned them on. One of the motors was broken and it was too I drove in a lot of different cars that summer, courtesy of expensive to fix. You either had to drive only at night, or cruise Anthony’s dad. Anthony owns a dealership now — I swear if around in the day with a car that was oddly winking at everyone. you cut him, he leaks brake fluid. There will always be a soft But my boyfriend had a Porsche. spot for the little Porsche that couldn’t, and though the lad Remember roller-skating? Quit lying. When the Rolling dumped me, we’re still friends. Stones played a surprise gig at the Horseshoe in Toronto, 5,000 Guess everything gets traded in sometime. people claimed to be there. Even though capacity is in the hunwww.lorraineonline.ca
per cent to 310,000 units this year, and rising 13 per cent to 350,000 in 2007. To keep up with demand, Honda said it would boost output at its British plant to 250,000 units from 190,000 last year, lifting its European production to 300,000 units when combined with its plant in Turkey. In Asia outside Japan, Honda is forecasting sales to rise four per cent to 320,000 units this year and jumping 13 per cent to 360,000 vehicles in 2006, the company said. But business was sluggish in Japan, with vehicle sales expected to dip five per cent to 350,000 vehicles in 2006 amid tough competition in an automobile market that has been shrinking overall. Still, Honda’s robust global sales underline the bright outlook facing many Japanese automakers, including Honda and Toyota, which have been expanding and booking record earnings, while U.S. rivals such as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. battle sagging sales by closing plants and cutting production.
SOARING SALES Soaring U.S. sales of light trucks and sport utility vehicles, especially the Honda CR-V, led the overseas increase at Japan’s No. 3 automaker, president Takeo Fukui told reporters at a year-end press conference Tuesday. To meet demand, he said Honda’s Mexico plant would begin making CR-Vs in late 2007. The automaker plans to unveil a new Accord sedan and a next-generation sports car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. For 2007, Honda expects a further three per cent increase in sales to 1.56 million units in the U.S. Business was also brisk in Europe, where sales are seen climbing eight
— Torstar wire service
POWER SHIFT
Free car, after a million miles
T
ravelling salesman Peter Gilbert has been given a brand new Saab for free, but he first had to log more than one million miles on his old one. Last summer, Saab executives verified the mileage — equivalent to 1.6 million kilometres — on Gilbert’s old car and talked about exhibiting it in a Swedish museum but didn’t. Gilbert then donated the 1989 Saab
900 SPG to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the time he was a little disappointed he hadn’t got so much as a Saab T-shirt, much less a replacement auto. Once Gilbert’s story was told, the company decided to provide him with a new Saab 9-5 Aero and offer one to anyone else who put one million miles on a Saab as the original owner.
“We have no idea, frankly, how many cars that will be. At this point, we only know of Peter’s car,” says Jan-Willem Vester, a spokesman for Saab, which is a division of General Motors Corp. Gilbert is due to get his new car early next year. “I am on cloud nine right now. This is exactly the car I wanted,” he says. — Torstar wire service
An early ad for a Mercury Meteor.
Space-inspired and much desired From page 25
Eventually a guy took a shot out in space and came back. Then someone else took a spin around the moon and looked for a spot to park, just like the mall or something. (We’re guys; that’s what we do.) Then another crew landed on the moon, planted a flag, played a little golf and came home. The next crew that landed on the moon brought a car with them, drove around a bit, collected rocks, left the car up there and came home. My youngest son felt much better after that. I’ve always believed in telling him the truth.
Radio was invented with the same result, useless by itself but entertaining when more people had one. Television was invented shortly thereafter to much fanfare but lost its lustre — hundreds of channels with nothing on. One of the most stylish eras of the automobile occurred during the tender black-and-white television age. The cars back then were fashioned in a space-age theme — pointy, flameshaped tail lights, rocket nose-cone bumpers with names such as Meteor, Comet and Galaxy. We were obsessed with the space program and continuously fired research rockets.
Mark Wood of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s has a warped recollection of history.
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28 • INDEPENDENTFUN
DECEMBER 21, 2006
WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Sneers 7 Church instrument 12 Small purple plum 18 Face-pulling comedian 19 Guitarist Bachman 20 Elude 21 Grapevine product 22 Urge forward 23 Boundaries 24 Ruckus 25 Cockpit face 27 Centre points 29 “O Canada! Terre de ___ aieux” 30 Feeler 32 ___ Craig, Ont. 35 After expenses 36 Small case 37 Noisy drink 39 Middle East money 41 N. S. mystery ship: Mary ___ 43 Debt letters 45 Mongolian 47 N or S 48 B.C. lake where primordial meteorite landed (2000) 51 Food on a skewer 53 Gambler 57 Nfld. site of 16th-c. Basque whaling station: ___ Bay 58 Night in Normetal 60 Single-masted craft 62 Little Heart’s ___,
Nfld. 63 Joe Batt’s ___, Nfld. 64 Deck with swords and cups 66 January in Juarez 68 Draw on 69 Network 71 Russian revolutionary leader 73 Libido 74 Guided on the dance floor 75 Church council 77 Glacial ridge 79 Tastes (of) 81 Musician’s engagement 83 Vital fluid 85 Quebec cheese 86 Glacier-fed lake in Jasper Park, Alta. 90 First appearance 92 Where Van Gogh painted The Yellow House 96 Fencing item 97 Don’t just seem 99 Yemen’s capital 101 Fuel from a bog 102 Tonic partner 103 Nfld. painter Christopher ___ 105 Puts on 107 Ship’s heading 108 Not wholesale 110 Main artery 113 Narcotic 115 Eaves dropper?
CHUCKLE BROS
116 River through Rome 117 Threat 118 Softened 119 Playground item 120 Goes in DOWN 1 Food for Fido, often 2 Near the tail (anat.) 3 Gilded metal 4 One way to swing 5 Long-running quarrel 6 Middle Eastern country 7 Gordon Lightfoot’s hometown 8 Butter in the meadow? 9 Econ. indicator 10 Alta. town at U.S. border 11 Hose material 12 Took out 13 Garage sale tag 14 1900 15 Canonized ones 16 Clause in some agreements (2 wds.) 17 Loch Ness creature’s nickname 26 Broadcast 28 Present mo. 31 Moralistic person 33 Prov. with artificial mountain (Blackstrap) 34 ___ Grace (Atwood) 36 Out of this world 38 Nfld. site with oldest fossils of multicelled
life: Mistaken ___ 40 Island of wild ponies off N.S. 42 “Put a ___ on it!” 44 Like some suspects 46 Not a soul 48 Fox of note 49 Civil service function, in short 50 Employs 52 S. African colonists 54 Make watertight 55 Double curves 56 Kind of instrument 57 Alternatives to paper towel 59 Sounds 61 Ad 65 Ready for bed 67 Japanese port 70 Motherless calf 72 Nostrils 76 Excavate 78 Castro’s country 80 Ont. town with Diefenbunker 82 Like old tree roots 84 Alta. town with giant Ukrainian sausage 86 Migraine 87 Each 88 Pea-sized legume 89 Epoch 91 Eastern way 93 Quebec premier of “Quiet Revolution” years 94 Spring celebration
95 Takes the wheel 98 Les ___-Unis 100 Positive electrode
103 Heap 104 Labour 106 Senorita’s lang.
109 Pretend 111 Baseball stat. 112 Edward to his pals
114 Bank payment: abbr. Solutions on page 30
Brian and Ron Boychuk
WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) Sharing the joys of the celebrations that mark this next week with kith and kin can help reinforce your devotion to them. You’ll treasure the reaction you get in return. TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) Enjoy the parties and pleasures of this week with families and friends. A holiday romance could take you well into the New Year, and maybe beyond. GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) Your loved ones help make this week’s celebrations especially meaningful. Make time to do some serious thinking about the decisions you’ll soon be facing. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22)
Love of home and family is reinforced in this last week of the year. This could be your chance to open up about secrets you’ve held for far too long. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) Enjoy this week’s special round of merriment with loved ones who adore you, whether you’re roaring with delight at a party or purring with affection at home. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) This last week of the year is a good time to assess what you’ve done and to reassess how recent changes might affect your plans for the coming year. LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) Balance the festive aspects of this last week of the year with
honest reflections about relationships you truly value and those you think might have become irrelevant. SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) Celebrate the week’s festivities knowing that you’ll be able to invest what you’ve learned over the past year into the opportunities that await you in 2007. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) Share the merry moments of this week with those wonderful people who have loved you and encouraged you to realize your dreams. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) As this week of celebration moves into history, the sage Sea Goat takes his or her high place in the Zodiac to judge the past
and face the future. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB.18) Enjoy the last merry-making week of the year knowing that you’ve done well in 2006 and that you’re ready to confront the challenges of 2007. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) When you ultimately emerge from the celebrations of this week, you’ll find yourself with many new friends whom you’ll take into next year. BORN THIS WEEK You have a strong sense of self that makes people feel comfortable and confident in your presence. (c) 2006 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Fill in the grid so that each row of nine squares, each column of nine and each section of nine (three squares by three) contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any order. There is only one solution to each puzzle. Solutions, tips and computer program available at www.sudoko.com SOLUTION ON PAGE 30
INDEPENDENTSPORTS
THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21,2006-JANUARY 4, 2007 — PAGE 29
Marking his time Curler Mark Nichols impatient but positive as he attempts to return from injury By Don Power For The Independent
O
ne of Mark Nichols’ greatest strengths as a curler is the big throw. He can shoot that rock harder and straighter — and more accurately — than many of the top curlers in the game. It’s become his signature shot. Nichols is a straight shooter off the ice as well. So when the Olympic gold medallist is asked about sitting out games because of a stress fracture in his left leg, he doesn’t pull any punches. “It sucks,” he says. Nichols has been in pain for much of this season. The Labrador City native suffered a stress fracture in his left leg sometime after the Brad Gushue curling team — on which Nichols curls third — won an October spiel in Switzerland. Nichols figures he hurt his sliding leg working out in the gym, although the specifics of the exact time of injury are uncertain. What is certain is that Nichols’ season is on ice … or off ice, to be more precise. After playing through pain for several weeks, Nichols finally acknowledged the extent of the injury and pulled himself away. “Once it got bad enough that I had to take myself out of playing,” he says, “I wanted to figure out what was wrong as fast as possible. Man oh man, did it ever take long to see a doctor and get in to see a specialist, and get whatever tests were needed. It takes a long time.” Those tests are now complete, though. Nichols had a bone scan done Dec. 15. He’ll get his test results back Dec. 21, meaning Christmas could arrive a few days early. “I’ll know for sure then,” he says. Preliminary reports have Nichols needing six to eight weeks of recovery time. That means one of the game’s best thirds will be forced to sit behind the glass for another month. “I’m aiming for the last week of January,” he says. “If I can get back on the ice then, that’ll give me a week, week-and-a-half before provincials. I don’t want my first time back on the ice be the first game at provincials.” The test results will not only determine the level of the stress fracture, it will also provide Nichols with a concrete answer to the pain that has caused so much anguish. “I had a hernia operation a couple of years ago,” Nichols said earlier this week, “but that was different because I knew what was wrong. For the past month and a half, the only thing I’ve known is my leg is sore.” Should the news be worse than expected, Nichols could miss the remainder of the season and Gushue’s rink will be forced to find a replacement for zone and provincial play. It’ll also mean more time behind the glass for Nichols, a position he absolutely hates. “I don’t enjoy being behind the glass when I’m hurt,” he says, adding it’s more difficult when the team travels and leaves him home to surf the Internet looking for scores and updates. “If I was a fifth player, fine. But not when I know I should be out there See “There’s no,” page 30
Because of a stress fracture, Mark Nichols has to wear “that stupid walking cast, that boot, to take the pressure off my leg.”
Paul Daly/The Independent
All I want for Christmas … Is for local sports personalities to get what they deserve
E
arlier this week, as I prepared to write this column, a friend showed his tender, sensitive side with a bulk e-mail (he’s not that sensitive) wishing me and God-knows-howmany others a Merry Christmas. But the wish went further, and he wished me “just enough” — happiness, sadness, rain, pain, whatever. Supposed to make you appreciate what you have. Anyway, it got me to thinking — which I guess is the purpose of these things — about the Christmas season. Christmas has been in our house a few weeks now. With a nine-year-old boy bouncing off the walls waiting for Santa, it’s tough to avoid. He’s written his letter, received his reply (a hand-written note from Santa — nice touch!) and hounded us about putting up the decorations. The place is now festive, with a singing Santa, a stuffed Santa, a plastic Santa, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and a host of snowmen hanging about. And while my
DON POWER
Power Point son will receive more than enough Dec. 25, some people in the sports community need more help than even Santa can bring. So I jump into the breach to offer my services. (Forget for a moment about the grey in my beard and the big belly — red is not my colour.) Many local sports personalities need (want?) things. I’m not here to dole them out. I’m here to wish it for them. What they receive depends on whether they have been — I shouldn’t even have to tell you this — good or bad: Danny Cleary has been, by all accounts, very good this year. Reports out of Detroit have the Harbour Grace native playing extremely well for the
NHL’s Red Wings. He’s been sticking his nose and face in places he hasn’t before, which is the reason he needs his two front teeth for Christmas. I actually believe he needs four, but I’m not providing those. The team dentist will do that. I’m wishing Cleary continues to show the hockey world the player he can be. He’s proven himself defensively so far. And with 11 goals and nine assists, he’s on his way to his best offensive display since 2001 with Edmonton (14-21-35 totals). Here’s hoping he eclipses those. (And this is coming from a Leaf fan.) Daniel Ryder hasn’t been as good, apparently, at least according to the folks at Hockey Canada. Here’s hoping his exclusion from Team Canada spurs him onto great things in the second half of his season with Peterborough. Ted Patey is one of the all-time good guys in sport. But the original Badger Bomber has battled a crippling disease lately, and things haven’t been the best
for him. So Ted, old buddy, here’s hoping for a much better 2007. Pat Parfrey has been very good since landing in St. John’s a couple of decades ago. Now the good doctor has taken his genuine interest in sport past the boundaries of rugby (where he’s done tremendous work) and is spearheading the new provincial training centre. Here’s hoping Parfrey gets that done on time and on budget, and then manages to find time to get some new hockey rinks built for the capital city. Brad Gushue probably had his Christmas wish answered Feb. 24, 2006 when he and his team won Canada’s first men’s curling gold medal at the Olympics. However, if Gushue were to have a wish you can bet it’s that Mark Nichols recovers from what ails him. Because even Gushue will tell you, that curling team goes nowhere without Nichols in the third position. Rick Babstock has continuously produced players as the coach and director
of operations for the St. John’s Midget Maple Leafs. Sometimes, players may be developed to the detriment of others in Newfoundland. So this year, we’re hoping that Babstock and his team get enough money to make a trip to Bonavista to play Tri-Pen in a pair of games. This excuse about scheduling and having to stay overnight is bull. Do what’s right for Newfoundland and Labrador hockey, and let the fine folks in Bonavista (who have produced some of the top talent in the province in the past decade) a chance to watch their midget talent in their own arena. Is that too much to ask? Perhaps, but there it is. Clayton Welsh is another good guy, even if you can’t understand some of what he says. The chef de mission for the Newfoundland and Labrador team at the 2007 Winter Games in Whitehorse is See “Too much,” page 30
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3
SCRUNCHINS A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia
A
ll that glitters may be gold for Newfoundland wonderboy Brad Gushue (or diamond, in the case of his Diamond Design endorsement), but his old Olympic partner Russ Howard isn’t faring so well when it comes to his gold card. The Globe and Mail reported this week that Howard, the 50-year-old Ontario native (the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal) who helped a youthful Gushue team to victory in Turin, hasn’t exactly cashed in on his celebrity. The Bad Boy of Curling, a name Howard landed for his charismatic yelling through the 2006 Winter Olympics, is still trying to pay off the debts he racked up at the Games — $24,000, most of which went to bring his wife and two kids along to Italy. The Globe writes that while speed skater Cindy Klassen has reportedly signed endorsement deals in excess of $1 million, “Howard’s team” (not Gushue’s mind you) has only landed a single arrangement that won’t even net each player $10,000. “I guess that’s curling,” Howard said. “We’re just not sexy enough.” That quote is strikingly similar to Brad Gushue’s quote of the week in the Dec. 15 edition of The Independent. Gushue said he’s in favour of making the game a little sexier, “Maybe change some of the clothing and just promote it that way.” I can’t see Howard in Spandex and a muscle shirt. Maybe a toll on the Team Gushue Highway would raise a few bucks … ROCKY DWYER I went through the old Books of Newfoundland for a tidbit on the sport of curling but I couldn’t find any reference, other than a brief mention of how expensive it was (hockey was cheaper). I did come across, in Paul O’Neill’s 1975 book, The Oldest City, The Story of St. John’s Newfoundland, a mention of Johnny Dwyer, the Townie who became the professional heavyweight boxing champion of North America. According to O’Neill, the title match took place on May 8, 1879 “in Canada.” Jimmy Elliott, the defending champion, was knocked out in the 12th round by Dwyer, who retired soon after as undefeated champion. The Cyber Boxing Zone, an online boxing website, lists John J. Dwyer as five foot nine and a half inches, and weighing 175 pounds. Dwyer was described as a “skillful boxer and hard hitter. In addition, he was tough, courageous and possessed good boxing savvy.” What do you know? Our own Rocky … PORTABLE TVS While on the topic of a good knock up the side of the head, a television was stolen from the Village Mall earlier this week when thieves walked out of Sears in the Village Mall with a HD plasma television. Nothing usual about that, except for the fact the set was 42 inches and the theft happened in the middle of the afternoon (not to mention the television was being raffled off as a fundraiser for the Boys
and Girls Club of St. John’s). The robbery brought back memories of a 2005 Independent story (‘I am a dead man’) on the life of Randy Druken, who was wrongfully convicted of the 1993 stabbing death of his girlfriend Brenda Young. Druken said unless he kicked the habit drugs would take him down. There was a time when he was injecting “10 Oxy 80s a day” at a cost of $50 a pop. He remembers wandering into stores like Dominion and brazenly walking straight back out with large screen TVs to help pay for his habit … OXY FOXY Of course those days are done for Druken, who was recently awarded $2.1 million in compensation by the provincial government. In a Dec. 15 front-page story in The Globe (written by none other than The Independent’s managing editor Stephanie Porter), Druken said he had been addicted to opiates and OxyContin for years. “You’d rob clothes, anything to sell for the oxys,” Druken said. “So here it is now, I’m past all this, there’s no charges on my file. If I had my time back, I would have gotten out of it years ago.” The money should help with the transition … SCREECHING HALT The January/December of Our Canada magazine features a 2007 todo list — one task a month in each province and territory. This year I resolve to … January, Go sliding in Quebec City; February, Ski the Big 3 in Alberta; March, Become an honourary Newfoundlander: Get Screeched in. Does this place have no more to offer? They couldn’t even get the ceremony right — it’s not a codfish the “victim” is forced to kiss (there aren’t any cod to spare), but a puffin’s arse …
Christmas in the bay
BETTER LATE … Brian Tobin may have been appointed a senior fellow to the Fraser Institute in early December, but it’s never too late to take a shot at our fifth premier. That’s the same Tobin who was quoted in 1999 with the following gem: “Michael Walker (the institute’s retired executive director) and the Fraser Institute are the most rightwing, Looney Tune institute (or) think-tank that has ever set foot on the soil of Canada.” Tobin joins former Ontario premier Mike Harris as a senior fellow at the institute. As it happens, Tobin and Harris were both mentioned in Scrunchins earlier in December — they’re each buying properties at a high-end condo development in Victoria, B.C., with prices ranging from $400,000 to $3 million. Maybe the two will compare government pensions …
Editor’s note: the following story was published in the 1975 book, You may know them as sea urchins, Ma’am, by Ray Guy. Reprinted with permission.
I
n the last week of Advent the house smelled like a forest. Behind the kitchen stove, stacked as neatly as books on library shelves, was a wall of firewood. Some junks of dry and weathered rampikes but most of sappy spruce and balsam fir with turpentine bladders and green twigs sticking off. The heat from the stove brought out the smell. Out in the porch there were firewood reinforcements. The woodbox was full; it was piled high and at both ends. In all, there was enough firewood in the house and ready to do, along with a few scuttles of coal, for twelve days and twelve nights. Some say the artificial Christmas trees are disappointing because there’s no smell on them. In the midnineteen-forties, Christmas trees were still uncommon out around the bay but you wouldn’t have noticed the smell of one anyway for the aroma off the twelve-day’s supply of firewood. The kitchen stove was the only source of heat in the house. It was allowed to die out at night and was relit each morning with splits and shavings. Indeed, people passed every night of the winter in uninsulated houses with no fire, no storm windows. If it was ten degrees out of doors, by morning it could be ten degrees in the bedrooms. They kept warm on mattresses stuffed with the feathers and down of chickens and wild birds, covered over with quilts and comforters stuffed with wool. Now we have a fuel crisis and great countries are plunged into distress because thermostats have to be turned down to sixty-eight degrees. Christmas lasted a whole twelve days then. It was the most remarkable celebration of the year. Even weddings did not come close to it.
THE WINNER IS Finally this week, Ella Strong of Mount Pearl is the winner of an Independent T-shirt for correctly naming the SS Glencoe as the longest serving steamer in the Alphabet Fleet. Congratulations Ella, Independent shirts are priceless … ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
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But people said, “Oh, well, ’tis Christmas, you know.” It was just not done to even recall in July that these stern old greyhairs had danced so wild in the reels on St. Stephen’s Day. The turkey wasn’t invented yet but there were rabbits in the bakepot and turrs in the oven. There were fowls stewed tender with onions and stuffing and the carcass of a lamb or pig hanging down in the store over the water where it would keep. There were ducks and geese and venison and salt water birds. There were herring and potatoes and bread. There was jam yesterday, today and tomorrow. There were candies and brew and brandy from St. Peter’s. And there was rum washed out of rum puncheons and wine in bottles from Madeira. There was lots of church, and the poles with the kerosene lamps on them on both sides of the aisle were wrapped in evergreen boughs and tissue-paper roses. If there was snow there was lots of coming down hills on all sorts of slides in the nights when the moon was bright as day. There were all the men and boys playing football with a blown-up pig’s bladder covered over and stitched with sail canvas. There was everything. There was everything for everybody. And the old ladies said, well, perhaps they would, since it was Christmas, have just a little stain, just a little small stain for their stomach’s sake and … Oh my it made them right giddy-headed, ha, ha. On New Year’s night the church bell would ring and all the guns fired off just like at a wedding because, I suppose, they were taking another New Year for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health … And Old Christmas Day was almost as good as Christmas Day except a little smaller and it was said you could go up to the stable at twelve o’clock in the night and hear the beasts talk. Then that was it for another year and it was a good thing.
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Everything possible was done to see that work was cut to a bare minimum during these twelve days. Enough firewood was in and the water-barrels in the porch brimmed full of water from the well. All the laundry, baking, scrubbing, butchering, brewing, polishing, mending, patching and cleaning had been done until seven days into the New Year. There was little work to be done in Christmas except to shovel the drifts from the door in the morning and feed the hens, sheep, horse and cow in the evening. Christmas now is a glorified weekend. People then apparently determined to give themselves the whole twelve days because they knew they needed it. It was not coincidence that a hard-working people gave themselves the longest break of the year at such a time. It is the darkest time of year; the long, hard winter stretches ahead. So why not shatter the darkness and gloom with a glorious bash that was the highlight of the year in those times and would be impossible to achieve in today’s society. Considering the circumstances, Christmas then was a heroically defiant thing, a blaze of light hurled by puny men against the longest night; a brazen riotous celebration to say that in the midst of darkness the Saviour was born and the people would live through the cold, both in body and soul. It was a most positive and optimistic thing. During those twelve days people would do things they wouldn’t dream of doing during the rest of the year. For instance, they got drunk. Well, not “drunk” as the word means today, but they had “a drop in.” Respectable, stern, sober pillars of the church had to be helped home once or twice through Christmas along the slippery roads by boys holding them up and they beaming happily and misplacing their feet as they were the very lords of misrule.
30 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
‘There’s no bitterness’ From page 29
playing and helping the team. “It’s harder to watch because you don’t feel like you’re doing anything.” Ironically, the team just recently parted ways with fifth Mike Adam – one of Nichols’ best friends and hometown buddy from Labrador City. Adam, who stepped aside last year for Russ Howard to play second en route to winning the Roar of the Rings Olympic Trials and Olympic gold, is in school and unable to compete at the same level Gushue, Nichols, Jamie Korab and new team member Chris Schille can. “It was very difficult,” Nichols says of Adam’s departure. “We need someone who is available to play and who has been playing all year. With Mike’s situation with school, he hasn’t been able to practise. That’s how we made the decision that he wasn’t going to play the rest of the year. “It was tough … But it was a curling decision, not a friendship decision. He and I are still good friends. “There’s no bitterness. We’ve talked about it. Obviously he’s very disappointed; we all are because we’ve been through so much together. It was a curling decision and that’s it. Whatever happens in curling doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.” In the meantime, Nichols will head home for a week at Christmas, returning to St. John’s Dec. 29. He’s also burdened, he says, with a fibreglass boot — similar to a cast — designed to relieve
the stress on his leg when he walks. Doctors have actually prescribed nothing but rest for Nichols, who has taken up swimming in an effort to retain some form of conditioning for when he does return. But he remains upbeat, although the game is on his mind all day. “I’m trying to remain as positive as I can, which is difficult to do because I’m sitting at home … I’m a pretty positive guy. I try to look at it in the most positive way I can. I realize what’s going on. I’ll be able to play again, whether it’s this year or next year, I’ll still be able to curl again. It’s not like I’m done my curling career.” What’s most disappointing for Nichols is not being able to help the team realize its 2006-07 goal of winning the Brier, Canada’s men’s curling championship. He says the gold medal put a large target on the team’s back for every game they play. Nichols wants to be on the ice to keep that target from being hit. “You can see the competition’s eyes light up when they play against you, even last year,” he says of local players. “I’m sure it’s going to happen even more this year and I want to be part of that. “If a (Newfoundland and Labrador) team wants to get to the Brier, they want to go through the best team — or they want to beat everybody in Newfoundland. We’re one of those teams. “I want to make them beat us, and to beat us with me playing.” donniep@nl.rogers.com
Too much to ask?
Solutions for crossword on page 28
hoping for solid representation from the more than 300 team members early next year. Here’s hoping our team returns home with a bag full of medals, and the respect of the nation. Real Paiement’s year has been hectic to say the least. The coach-GM of the Fog Devils needs help, or more hours in the day. So, I’m asking Nicholas Bachand to go cut down a real tree for his coach this Christmas season. He’s already got the axe; let’s see if he really knows how to use it. Doug Partridge’s women’s basketball was
good in 2006, perhaps surprisingly so. He’s hoping they’re better in 2007. So are we, because MUN will host the Canadian university championship at the Field House. We’re also hoping basketball fans turn out in droves to support the Sea-Hawks during that tournament. More importantly, here’s wishing MUN enters the nationals as the AUS representative, and not just as the host squad. As for myself, all I can hope for is a Leafs’ Stanley Cup victory. However, I also fully understand that Santa brings gifts, not miracles. Merry Christmas. donniep@nl.rogers.com Solutions for sudoku on page 28
From page 29
You can’t buy a Christmas goose with money PAUL SMITH
The Rock
Outdoors
I
’ve been reading about hunting and fishing as long as I can remember. Famous writers like Lee Wolf and Jack O’Conner have certainly had their influence on my own hunting, fishing and writing. They are the classics of the outdoor world. But among the volumes of books and stacks of magazines I’ve consumed over nearly 40 years of reading, one article by an obscure author whose name I can’t recall stands out in my mind. I’ve scoured the Internet for reference to the article, but found nothing. My next step will be to e-mail the editorial staff of Outdoor Life and Field and Stream. I’m relatively sure the article ran in one of those venues sometime in the mid-’70s. I had contracted chicken pox just before Christmas 1978 and was rendered housebound for most of the festive season. Christmas rabbit catching had been cancelled and I was in great distress. My cousin, Reg Smith, gave me a stack of hunting and fishing back issues to lessen the mental burden of my convalescence. The piece I remember so well after nearly 30 years was A Christmas Goose. The man writing the story was in later midlife and was recalling his first solo goose hunt. His father had taken him goose hunting every fall since he was capable of chasing over rocks, stumps and bushes. They hunted a river valley that bordered the rear of their family farm somewhere in the Midwestern U.S. At 16, the author was to get his own shotgun and hunt alongside his Dad. But tragic illness altered his hopes and dreams, taking his father from him before they ever had the chance to hunt side by side. The first Christmas without his father was nearing, and there was little money for gifts or food. They raised turkeys on the farm, but had to sell them all to make payments owed to the bank. Their father had always shot a wild goose for Christmas dinner, but this year there was nothing. On Christmas Eve, early in the morning, while the younger children and my obscure author’s mother were fast asleep in a cold house, a young hunter sat shivering in the kitchen, staring at his father’s shotgun. It hung on the wall over the wood stove, atop a battered deer rifle. It was a massive waterfowl piece, his father’s most prized material procession, a double-barrel Belgian-made side-by-side 10 gauge. He walked over, reached up and took the beast off its rack. At 10 pounds or more, the firearm felt heavy in the young man’s arms. It was the first time the gun had been touched since its owner’s death. The receiver was worn and shiny from years of handling, but not a hint of rust had managed to take root on its well-oiled surface. The bore was shiny and ready for hunting. It was a well-used, never-abused firearm. The young man cradled the shotgun and sat at the kitchen table peering out the window. The morning was dull and ominous. Storm clouds raced across the sky from the north. Nasty winter weather was brewing. The geese would be on the move before snow set in and the river might still be open. There would be a goose for Christmas dinner.
The young man stepped out of the house dressed in his warmest coat and boots, carrying his father’s heavy gun across his shoulder. He headed across the empty fields into a chilling northerly wind that quickly numbed his cheeks. Twenty minutes later, he reached the river and although ice was forming along the banks, the main channel was mostly clear. He found his father’s old goose blind, loaded a shell into each barrel, and settled down to wait for the geese to appear. Huge blotches of wind driven snow were falling and gusting about on the riverbank. The wind whipped the open water into a fury. He prayed for a shot while he could still see though the intensifying snow squalls. He didn’t have to wait long. Four big honkers were heading straight toward the open water just below the bend in the river, directly in front of his hiding spot. The location of his father’s blind was no accident. Just before the birds hit the water he stood and pointed the big double just like his father had taught him. His finger pulled the trigger and the mighty shotgun roared, setting the slender lad on his heels. This was a man’s gun that belched black smoke and spared not the shooter. But it launched a ponderous load of lead shot that wrecked havoc upon whatever stood or flew in its path. The lead gander folded and crashed into the water — dead upon impact. The others banked and ascended quickly in the strong wind. By the time the young hunter recovered his wits, the surviving three geese were well out of range. He unloaded the shotgun and splashed out into the river to retrieve his family’s Christmas dinner. Wet and cold, but warm inside, he navigated as best he could across the fields towards the farmhouse, where his mother was worried and watching for him though the frosted glass. She had noticed her husband’s gun missing and discovered her son’s empty bed. She knew where he went, and why. All she could do was wait and worry. She lit the stove to make tea and warm the house for his return. The cracking of kindling made her feel a little better. The successful hunter smelled smoke before he could see his house through the snow. His father had taught him to keep the northerly wind on his right cheek when returning in a storm, and he made it home safely. The proud young hunter bolted into the warm kitchen and laid his Christmas goose on the table. His mother hugged him with tears of mixed emotions in her eyes. The man cleaned his father’s gun and returned it to its place above the stove. That’s more or less how the story went — time has a way of editing details. The author of the story was a lifelong waterfowler and hunting was very important to him. In later years, he could certainly afford to buy a turkey for Christmas dinner but he always preferred a wild goose. I don’t think I need to explain why. Many people in modern society find hunting offensive and don’t understand why anyone needs to hunt when there is plenty of good food available at the supermarket. But you can’t buy a Christmas goose with money. Paul Smith is a freelance writer living in Spaniard’s Bay, enjoying all the outdoors Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer. flyfishtherock@hotmail.
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTCLASSIFIED • 31
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4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
The experience of youth: ‘Really From page 1 We have to be aggressive with importing ideas and skills. Even if it is difficult to stay and try to create something, that’s the only way things are going to get better. Cleary: What do you mean, that people have to go away and come back? Nadya Bell: You need to get outside Newfoundland to see what people are doing around the world. We don’t have all of the ideas here. Pike: Starting off, you’re a young individual without any experience, you need to work and survive — go out there, get the experiences, and in 10, 20 years time bring those things back. Dave Lane: Do you think people are afraid to come back though? I mean, come back to what? To a place where it could be three years until you have a satisfying job again? I love Newfoundland and I had to make a decision after I graduated whether to go to California for an excellent job but I decided to stay here … I’m almost afraid to go away because if I go away and see how great it is in Italy, or just even Halifax, I might not want to come back. I want to make a foundation here first. Goodyear: I don’t know if that’s a good reason not to leave. I don’t think you should be afraid. Winters: The experience factor is discouraging. I came out of university and it took me a while to find something … I’d like to see more graduate recruitment programs. Cleary: Some people say the
biggest thing that has to change in Newfoundland and Labrador is the attitude. Christine Rose: Having lived away (at boarding school) … there’s such a condescending attitude towards Newfoundlanders, kind of like the little sister who cuts her leg because she did something stupid. It’s not good and it has to change. It’s way better here. Bell: There’s a sense of solidarity in Newfoundland for sure, you want to buy products that are made in Newfoundland. Cleary: Luke, you’re from Grand Bank. Do you want to go back? Pike: It would be difficult … I want to do research in medicine. I could see maybe retiring there or working there in later years. Cleary: Do you expect to work in Labrador, Sheena? Goodyear: I hope not (laughs)… I mean, there are attitude problems in Newfoundland, in a lot of smaller communities like the community I come from, where it’s very insular and there’s a very, sometimes there’s a real stifling of creativity because you’re not supposed to step outside of certain lines … we talk about being welcoming, but sometimes there’s a real sense of outcasting people from away. People get on MUN’s case a lot for recruiting heavily from outside, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think Newfoundland should be really welcoming to all these international students and students from across Canada who are bringing all these ideas, and their culture without necessarily threatening ours. It could be multicultural here.
Scott Winters, 27
Christine Rose, 17
Danielle McNicholas, 17
Luke Pike, 22
Lesley Bishop, 23
Dave Lane, 24
Nadya Bell, 24
Fergus Brown-O’Byrne, 21
Sheena Goodyear, 21
Panelists: St. John’s native Scott Winters, 27, currently employed by MedicLINK Systems Ltd. for international business development; Christine Rose, 17, Grade 12 student, Gonzaga High School, St. John’s; Danielle McNicholas, 17, Grade 12 student, Prince of Wales Collegiate, St. John’s; Grand Bank native Luke Pike, 22, completing a bachelor’s degree in science at Memorial and the province’s 2006 Rhodes Scholar; Lesley Bishop, 23, a Torbay native in her fourth year of a social-work degree at Memorial; Dave Lane, 24, from St. John’s, has bachelor’s degrees in commerce and science and is working as a web developer and musician; Nadya Bell, 24, of St. John’s, currently in the final year of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Journalism program; Fergus Brown-O’Byrne, 21, St. John’s musician in his fourth year of philosophy at Memorial; and Labrador city native Sheena Goodyear, 21, currently completing her bachelor’s degree in history and the news editor of The Muse (Memorial’s student newspaper).
Winters: These are people that might build businesses here. Goodyear: It could enrich here.
Cleary: How do we fit in the Canadian equation? Lesley Bishop: It’s a binary thing.
And it exists within the province too — there’s the rich and the poor and there’s the people from town and the
‘There needs to be a house cleaning’ Critics/proponents battle over proposed new fisheries act By Ivan Morgan The Independent
T
he proposed new federal Fisheries Act terminates the public’s right to fish and grants sweeping new powers to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, reducing Parliament’s ability to oversee its activities, critics charge. They say the legislation is an attempt by fisheries bureaucrats to secure more power. Foremost among the critics is British Columbia Conservative MP John Cummins, who served as DFO critic when the Conservatives were in opposition. Cummins says the new legislation would give the department the ability to take certain actions without coming back to parliament for authority. He says the new act gives that authority to
the minister and undermines the ability of the public to challenge that. “They’re sliding this though — or trying to — in a very inappropriate way,” Cummins tells The Independent. “I am really upset I don’t mind telling you.” Phil Eidsvik, spokesperson for the British Columbia Fisheries Survival Coalition, says the loss of the public’s right to fish is a serious issue. Although his organization is primarily concerned with fighting the creation of what they call a “race-based” fishery with separate fishing rights for aboriginal people, Eidsvik says these changes should also be of concern to fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador. He says the act expands DFOs powers by reducing parliamentary, cabinet, parliamentary committee and court oversight of the department.
“Why would you want to give more power to a department that has proved itself unable to manage the fishery?” FFAW president Earle McCurdy says the B.C. fishery is different. It doesn’t have an owner-operator policy or a fleet separation policy, and has outside investors who “dabble in these things like they were futures in pork bellies. “Quite frankly we are not interested in having a fishery like that here,” says McCurdy. “For those who want a privatization of the fishery, as opposed to the type of fishery we have here, then that change might be antithetical to them.” He says his understanding is there is nothing in the new wording that would change the current situation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Randy Kemp, parliamentary secretary to Fisheries minister Loyola Hearn (and also a B.C. Conservative MP)
agrees with McCurdy. He says the criticisms are not accurate, and the new legislation only reaffirms the practices and approaches in the old act. He says the old act gave the minister absolute discretion on just about everything. “I don’t know how you get more power than that,” he says. Responding to Cummins’ — a member of his own government — criticism of the proposed legislation, Kemp says, as Cummins gets a little more comfortable with the intent of the act, he will appreciate better what they are trying to accomplish. “John has been vocal about issues in the past and we understand John — beyond that I am not going to comment.” Cummins says the new legislation — similar to legislation the Chrétien
stories from here
Liberals tried and failed to introduce three times — is reflective of a department interested in gaining more power. He says the problem isn’t the legislation, it is the department. He says fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador should be very concerned. “You’re damn right. Have you ever met a fisheries bureaucrat that you can trust? Look what they did on your coast to the cod. Did anybody go down for that? Did you ever hear of anybody losing their job? We’ve had about four catastrophes in the last dozen years on the west coast here with the Fraser River sockeye. Has anybody lost their job over it? They get promotions. “There needs to be a house cleaning, there’s no doubt about it. These guys are bad, there are too many of them who are not fish people, they come from everywhere else in the government service, they haven’t come up through the ranks in the department, they don’t know a fish from a football and they are making decisions that are affecting the livelihood of thousands of people on both coasts. “It’s bloody outrageous.” A spokesperson for the provincial department of fisheries says they have received the act and it is currently under review. ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
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DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5
taking a risk’ to stay here
Paul Daly/The Independent
people not from town, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, that’s the way we think. And that’s the way we think about Canada — we exist within Canada, but we’re not part of Canada. Winters: There’s a misconception and an ignorance from the mainland … Cleary: Are we a drain on Confederation? Lane: My friend from Ottawa says she grew up telling newfie
jokes before she knew what a newfie was or where Newfoundland was. It’s just something that exists. Should we struggle to get rid of that? I don’t know … The attitude here in the province is one that resists change. You’ve got someone like Danny Williams who is almost dragging us, kicking and screaming into the future. And I think it’s a good thing (to take our time), it forces us to look at what is happening in the province and the
world and adapt. Maybe we go a bit too slowly at times, but … we’ll still retain what makes us special, which is I guess the community and the discussions. Give it another 10 or 15 years. (Canada is) going to find out about us eventually … Cleary: I guess everybody loves the new logo. Winters: In the schools across Canada, they don’t really learn what Newfoundland is. That needs to
change … the branding campaign, all jokes aside, I think it’s a wonderful idea. Goodyear: I had a warped vision of Newfoundland even growing up in Labrador. I thought it was tiny villages of 40 boring old people. I didn’t want to come here (St. John’s) to go to school … then I came here and realized how ignorant I was and how many energetic and creative people are here. Lane: But what do we know about Labrador? Or the Northwest Territories? It’s the same thing. Danielle McNicholas: There are so few youth around, and that is why change comes so slowly. Rose: There should be a crash course education in culture. The Grade 8 course, I’m tutoring a kid in it, and he’s not retaining the information. Mostly because the concepts and the pride you have for Newfoundland is not something you inherit until you’re older — not much older, but maybe Grade 10 or Grade 9 would be better. The course should have more of the aspects of new Newfoundland and where we’re going … Fergus Brown-O’Byrne: I don’t know if this is shared through other parts of the culture, but there are two groups in the traditional music community. You’ve got a group of younger players who want to take the music, evolve, do it, do whatever they want to it, and another who wants to play it just like Rufus (Guinchard), Emile (Benoit), etc. — no change whatever. But it needs to be able to evolve. Like everything, if it can’t change with the times then it just turns stat-
Child dies of SIDS; ‘not seeing as many cases’ as years ago By Mandy Cook The Independent
deaths in Canada went from 385 in 1989 down to 138 in 1999 due to Back to Sleep. “We know the Back to Sleep program is important and lthough the statistics have yet to be released for has had a big impact,” she says in an interview from Ottawa. 2006, there is at least one infant death being attrib- “Now we have to keep it up. Most new parents know babies uted to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in should sleep on their backs. This needs to be reinforced.” the province this year. Grenier says on average there are still three incidents of A child died of SIDS in St. John’s last SIDS deaths a week in the country each week, hospital officials confirm. Sudden year. Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden and SIDS: Newfoundland and In addition to putting babies to sleep on Labrador 1997 through 2005 unexplained death of a baby under one year their backs, both doctors say there are sevof age. Traditionally, it has been known as Count eral other “protective factors” parents or Year of Death crib death, or cot death. A SIDS death typicaregivers can do to guard against SIDS. 1997 cally occurs between two and four months 1 Most important, says Grenier, is for moth4 1998 of age. ers to breastfeed, as research shows it is 2 1999 Dr. Rick Cooper, clinical chief of pedi- 0 another protective factor. Not smoking 2000 atrics with Eastern Health, says it is a “terri- 5 around a baby and ensuring the crib is free 2001 2002 ble, terrible tragedy,” but says the number of 3 of pillows, heavy blankets and toys are also 2003 SIDS deaths in Newfoundland and Labrador 2 considered essential. 3 2004 is decreasing. Once a child’s death is deemed unex3 2005 “I’ve got to say though, we’re not seeing plainable, an autopsy must be performed to as many,” he tells The Independent. Statistics provided by Simon Avis, Newfoundland rule out any other possible causes leading “There’s two things that have happened. The and Labrador chief medical examiner to the death. Cooper says an autopsy usualincidence of SIDS … is down because of ly shows some minor features but nothing Back to Sleep (an awareness program) … and the other is very obvious — some subtle hemorrhages that fit with the that the birth rate is down in this province. When I came diagnosis of SIDS. But he says the overall message is here in the late ’60s it was 16,000 (births) and now we’re there’s “very little” to find in an autopsy once a child dies of down to between 4,500 and 5,000 a year.” SIDS. Back to Sleep started in the 1980s after research showed “I’ve been a pediatrician now for 33 years and I’ve seen fewer babies died of SIDS if they slept on their backs. It is at least 33 theories or more about why (babies) die. But the credited for a significant drop in SIDS deaths since the cam- bottom line is we’re still not sure what causes SIDS.” paign’s inception. Dr. Simon Avis, the province’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Danielle Grenier, medical affairs officer with the was not available for an interview. Canadian Paediatric Association, says the number of SIDS mandy.cook@theindependent.ca
A
ic and isn’t relevant anymore. Cleary: When it comes down to our culture, what do people think? I would think it comes down to fish. Is the fishery dead? Lane: The fishery is a hugely important industry, and it’s part of who we are … but we’ve also got to — I know this has been said a million times — diversify our economy. Maybe we’re just in transition, what about the kids who aren’t fishing, their parents are still doing it, and it’s just sort of petering out … Let’s start talking about what’s good here, not just business opportunities, start talking about the culture … there’s so much besides the fishery which is falling apart. That’s something we still have to keep an eye on, but let’s move on. Cleary: So your answer is … Lane: We should treat (the fishery) like it’s dead. Because if we don’t, and we’re like — oh, I just saw a fish over there, let’s get the boats out again … then it will be dead. Goodyear: But who are the young people that are sad about that? Who is like, I can’t wait to get out of university to start fishing? Pike: I don’t think the fishery is dead, first of all. There are a great number of resources we can tap there … however, there’s too much emphasis on it. We do need to diversify. What you see happening is two companies with a finite number of positions and people fighting for scraps. Cleary: What about beyond the overpass? Is it survival of the fittest? See “I’ve got,” page 15
6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
The power is ours F
ighting Newfoundlanders are always at it, but it’s not usually our crowd that starts it. We’re an easy going people, just don’t get us going. But then that’s the trick — how do you rile Newfoundlanders to the point they riot in the streets? The cod fishery’s slow torturous death didn’t do it. Neither did the fact Ottawa stood by and watched it die. The feds give us a smack in the head a couple of times a year, to see if there’s any life left, and there is. Make no mistake: Danny is a heavyweight contender. He must expect to be challenged … My question is this: if there’s going to be a fight — and there’s always one on the horizon — why don’t we deliver the first punch for a change? Why don’t we bring the fight to them that got it coming? Why aren’t we bolder in terms of our demands? It’s time to bust the box wide open and think outside the cardboard walls. In that light, I enter the upper Churchill ring … Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is currently pricing the cost of transmitting power from Labrador’s lower Churchill to markets in Canada and the U.S. The most obvious route — and rumoured cheapest — is through Quebec. But the corporation is also looking at
RYAN CLEARY
Fighting Newfoundlander the so-called Maritime route, bypassing Quebec transmission lines altogether by laying power lines on the floor of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Independent interviewed an economics professor from Laval University in mid-December who said undersea transmission is untested and probably too expensive. The Independent was criticized for the story — because the professor is from Quebec, meaning, the critics say, he’s on their side. As for the professor’s assertion that an undersea route isn’t viable, sub-sea hydro links already connect Norway to Sweden, Germany with the Netherlands, and Sweden to Poland. In other words, the technology’s proven. (Good thing The Independent’s in the business of getting both sides of a story.) In fact, the sub-sea hydro cable that connects Norway and the Netherlands is 600 kilometres long, further than anything Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro would need to export power to the Maritimes or the U.S.
The Maritime route is certainly an attractive option, but then the thought of dealing with Quebec in any way, shape or form is downright ugly. Think upper Churchill contract and the between $1 billion and $2 billion a year Quebec rakes in, compared to our few dozen million in pocket change (less than two per cent of the profit). There are critics who say the upper Churchill contract can never be reopened. A deal is a deal, they say. But then The Independent also carried a series of stories late last year on a Memorial University study that found the 65-year deal was signed as the result of a last-minute, gun-to-the-head nonnegotiable demand by Hydro-Quebec. In other words, shady things went on in the 1960s. Jim Feehan, one of the professors who worked on the report, said the circumstances that led to the signing raised questions of business ethics — “if not law.” It didn’t help matters that two of the lead negotiators were killed in a plane crash not long after the deal was done. But I’m not heading down the conspiracy-theory path. At the very least there’s a moral case to be made for undoing the upper Churchill contract. At the very least we could shame Quebec into reopening the
deal. So here’s my idea … In January 2005 I wrote a column headlined Flick the switch. At the time, I wrote there’s only one possible way to reopen the upper Churchill contract: shut the turbines down and fade to black … we’ll have the world’s attention then, when half the eastern seaboard can’t boil the kettle, vacuum a carpet or watch Oprah. People have to be made to care that Newfoundland and Labrador is getting royally screwed. But first we have to get the world’s attention. What a sight — George Bush on the phone with Steve Harper bawling him out by candlelight. To take that idea a step forward … How about if the Maritime transmission line included — not just power from the lower Churchill when it eventually comes on stream — but hydro from the upper Churchill as well. Factor that into the price of an undersea power cable. In other words, follow through on flicking the switch on the upper Churchill, and then redirect the power back down our way — wiping our hands of Quebec altogether. The Maritime route would be more economical then — with almost 8,000 megawatts zipping over the line. Bottom line: Quebec will never give
us a break until we force their hand. And which side do you think Harper or Stéphane Dion will be on when push comes to shove on the lower Churchill development? Us or Quebec? I rest my case. We have this universal philosophy that as long as we’re dry and warm and fed that we’re good to go. That must change. Which brings me back to my initial question: How do we rile Newfoundlanders to the point they riot in the streets? The Independent carried out a special project this past fall, assembling a high profile, 10-person panel to discuss ways to push this place forward. The panel was criticized as being made up of too many old people with old ideas. So we assembled another panel in December of young people under 30 to tackle the same topics. The goal was to spur debate, to challenge the status quo, to raise awareness of the problems that plague us, to make people care enough to fight harder. The answer, I’ve concluded, isn’t to expect riots so much as a gradual awakening. Here’s to 2007 and the fight ahead. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca
YOUR VOICE ‘Fort Mac is not quite the monster I had been led to believe’ Dear editor, Fort McMurray is a hard-drinking, crime-ridden, drug-infested boomtown where people live in the streets and lives are shattered. That’s the impression some people have of this town. Heck, I thought that of this place before I moved here a year ago from the sweet confines of my rented flat in east end St. Johns. I remember getting my first call from a recruiter about a contract opportunity here in the oil sands capital. “Yeah right” was my initial reaction. Being the open-minded individual that I am I decided to listen to the person on the other end of the phone and do some investigating for myself. I researched the history of this little northern Alberta town and the socalled oil sands, which revealed that this place potentially was not what I had been led to believe. I accepted the interview and lo and behold was offered the position working with one of the world’s largest oil and gas organizations, a far cry from the maand-pa shop where I had been working in St. Johns, the only job I could find after completing my commerce degree almost two years earlier. Just over a year ago I jumped in my vehicle and headed west, not really knowing what was in store for me. I visited many old friends on my way across the country at the traditional Townie relocation spots — Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton, all of them giving me the same reaction, “You’re moving where, that place is crazy.” Upon arrival I sought out my prebooked hotel and checked in, called home to say I had arrived safely and went to bed. Since that day things
have gone incredible for me. My girlfriend (who works in the health field) joined me here two months later and landed a great job immediately, along with our dog (who does not work, for the record). We managed to find a rental accommodation in a short time, although expensive, and within six months had purchased our first home, something we were struggling to do back on the Rock. As it turns out, Fort Mac is not quite the monster I had been led to believe. In reality the place is quite scenic, nestled in a valley located at the junction of two of the largest rivers in northern Alberta — the Athabasca and the Clearwater. Sure it has its challenges, like any town that has doubled in population in six years would have. But there really is a great sense of community here. While there are problems here, are there not problems in every city? The difference here is that the problems are a result of prosperity and opportunity. Very different problems than those I am used to as a born and bred Newfoundlander. You need to be prepared before you move here or you will end up homeless with a jaded opinion of this place. Fort McMurray can be a great place if you have the skills and experience in demand here. If you don’t have the skills and experience — don’t come. To those of you considering the move feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have questions/concerns and I will do my best to get you the correct information. Cory Lester, Fort McMurray coryandaimee@telus.net
A calculated move Dear editor, I write in reference to Carol Harris’ letter in the Dec. 15 edition (Connecting the dots) regarding the cuts to literacy programs and the withdrawal of government funding for status of women offices. I not only agree with her observations but maintain that this calculated move from the Stephen Harper government was made in order to neutralize any opposition from the “peasantry” and to
ensure that the “regular Joe” remains silent and without resources. I just hope we will remember and judge on social performance at the next federal elections. Raymond Cusson, Councillor, Town of GlenburnieBirchy Head-Shoal Brook
AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
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Vive la Newfoundland and Labrador libre!
I
believe Newfoundland and Labrador has every right to be considered a “nation within a nation.” What I don’t believe is that Newfoundland and Labrador should get the distinction. Quebec shouldn’t have received it either, as was recently decided in Parliament. Newfoundland and Labrador entered Confederation as its own distinctive self, after an arguably democratic process. Before joining Canada, small, independent communities grew along the island of Newfoundland’s rugged coastline. For generations the outports were rarely visited by people from the outside world, their slow-to-change values and lessons passed down through song and story. The First Nations peoples, particularly those in northern Labrador, had been sustaining a way of life that originated long before the first European visitors. Their language, values, and even way of life are clear evidence that they are distinct peoples. Quebec also has its language and history that distinguishes it from the rest of Canada. Quebecers have dealt with a strong identity crisis for many years. WHY NATIONHOOD? There are powerful arguments for a sovereign Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the most important implications for nationhood is the potential for self-control. The fishery — one of the strongest components of our history and heritage — might not have declined had Newfoundland and Labrador been in control. There is little doubt that some bad decisions would have been made along the way. But it is important to
DAVE LANE
Guest column remember that we’ve heard many voices through the years warning us and begging the federal government to step in and make the right decisions. Nationhood would have given more power to the people directly affected. So why shouldn’t Newfoundland and Labrador file for divorce from Canada? Aren’t we tired of mainland ignorance towards our province? Hasn’t the constant fight with Ottawa for basic Canadian standards of living gone on long enough? Didn’t The Independent do a study that determined Canada takes more from the marriage than Newfoundland and Labrador? Yes — we’re tired of the newfie jokes, but the ignorance is slowly being addressed (thanks in large part to our terrible rate of sending provincial missionaries to the mainland). The fight for equality within our own country is exhausting, but we are making strides in the right direction. And while these problems still exist and must be continually addressed, we must think strategically. Canada has not saved Newfoundland and Labrador from the dire straits it was in before Confederation. Our condition has simply been misdiagnosed by unfamiliar physicians who continue to prescribe weak or useless remedies. As we try and make up for the deficiencies of our relationship with the mainland, one option is to look outside
the country. There are small and medium-sized businesses that sell products and services to nations overseas. We’re marketing our province to potential tourists all over the globe. Even the Danny Williams government took a worldwide approach when tendering requests for the lower Churchill project. We are diversifying our economy (and continue to try with the fishery) to include trade with other countries. As a small province with few people, we have little say in the affairs of these countries. What small voice we do have is through our parents in Ottawa. Canada as a nation, however, has a remarkably powerful voice through organizations like the World Trade Organization, NATO, and the exclusive G8 committee. To separate ourselves from Canada would be to greatly weaken our potential to protect our interests and values. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have become the people they are today by adapting to extreme conditions against terrible odds. It’s time for us to take advantage of the strengths we have as a people, but remain a place within a place. Our best bet is to let the rest of Canada debate whether Quebec is a nation while we focus our attention on improving our own place in Canada. We must lay a strong foundation now that involves an improved economy and a good working relationship with Ottawa. By doing that we’ll gain the independence we will need when the question of nationhood becomes a serious one. Dave Lane is a musician and web developer living in St. John’s.
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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
Maximum exposure Dear editor I would like to thank The Independent for such a great writeup on our company last week (‘Broader vision’, Dec. 15 edition,
by Mandy Cook). I sincerely appreciate that you chose us to profile, rather than a larger corporation that is perhaps already in the news every day. We have had numerous companies
locally contact us saying they heard about us through the article. This has certainly helped our local exposure. Keep up the great work! Jonathan Brett, St. John’s
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7
Christmas on the Taverner I
t started with me chain-sawing 70 Christmas trees into firewood. Having made a fortune on Christmas trees the year before, my buddies and I had worked doubly hard that year and lost our shirts. On Christmas Eve I arrived at our tree lot to find people stealing our trees — Mom, Dad and the kids booting it out of the lot with one of our trees in their trunk. Way to save $15 — Merry goddamn Christmas. My then fouryear-old daughter sat in the car and watched me cut them up. She is now 24, just finished her second degree. She claims it is one of her earliest memories. That’s me — Father of the Year. I had chores to do, and I had told the crowd I would catch up on the revelling. That was proving more and more difficult — especially with a child increasingly worried about getting her stocking hung by the chimney with care (OK … we were living in a basement apartment, it was hung by the groundlevel window with care). In any case, wife and friends seemed to have revelled themselves into a par-
IVAN MORGAN
Rant & Reason allel universe. I could not find them. I was near giving up when someone suggested the Taverner, a coastal boat in dry-dock downtown. Don’t ask. Suffice it to say it was worth a look. Bingo. The holly and the ivy, and the barnacles and rust … With child clinging grimly to my neck, I scaled the ladder in the rainy inky dark from the keel to the deck, and peered up over the gunwales to hear whooping and laughing emanating from the bridge. I climbed aboard, pushed the door to the bridge open and everyone looked up in surprise and delight. Yay! I was here! Terrific. It must have been the look on my face that prompted my dear friend, murderous on dark rum, to fall upon me fists flying. I think I got a punch in before we were pulled apart. I hope he doesn’t
YOUR VOICE Memorial takes exception with word ‘censor’ Dear editor, I write in response to a Dec. 8 letter to the editor (How Memorial’s ‘dominant male culture’ manifests itself) by Memorial University history professor Robert Sweeny. Dr. Sweeny suggests that the report of Dr. Shirley Katz for Memorial University was censored. The word “censor,” as it is commonly understood, is a loaded word that suggests information was withheld without legitimate cause. This is an incorrect characterization of the university’s actions. By necessity, the Katz report had to be reviewed for compliance with the law — notably the Access to Information and Privacy Protection Act. This work was undertaken by an independent expert and sections of the report were “redacted” or “severed.” The university was under legal obligation to do this and did it in the most impartial way possible. The review was conducted by Brian Bowman, a lawyer from Manitoba who has no personal or previous professional connection to Memorial University. Mr. Bowman has provided a thorough explanation of the process he followed in undertaking this important task. The primary direction given to him from the university was to review the
report with a view to releasing as much of it as legally possible — not to limit the release of information as Dr. Sweeny implies. The redacted report Mr. Bowman provided to Memorial University contains as much information as can legally be released given these strictures. Dr. Sweeny also questions the university’s response to the recommendations contained in Dr. Katz’s report. To follow up on the 12 recommendations made in the report, the university has established action groups. Their members include some appointees and some volunteers from the faculty, staff and student population. In fact, when the actions groups were established, the university president solicited interested volunteers to serve in this important capacity and many came forward. It was also made clear that the action groups will report to and are ultimately responsible to the university community. Memorial University remains committed to fostering and maintaining a respectful learning and working environment. Peter Morris, Associate director (communications) Memorial University
‘Where is the world heading?’ Dear editor, I think we have gone too far. We have become so politically correct that we are afraid our traditions and history may be offensive to others. Christmas trees offending other religions and questions such as should Christ be kept in Christmas? What’s going on here? Where is the world heading? Are we now starting to condemn ourselves for spreading goodwill to man? I certainly do not believe in making anyone feel uncomfortable, but I fail to see how a beautifully decorated Christmas tree could cause anyone to be offended. If you don’t believe in the religious aspect of the
Christmas decorations just enjoy the beauty. Most recently I heard on the news the question, “Do you think Christ should be kept in Christmas?” Well to remove Christ from Christmas would be to crucify Christmas and I for one do not want bloody hands. Christmas is a time for love, peace and joy so whether you are a Christian, or otherwise, we all should be able to appreciate and benefit of those. To all races and religions have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year and please do not be offended by my wishes. Dean Sullivan, Torbay
Political presents Dear editor, The province’s rambunctious day-care center will be closed until spring. Fortyseven kids (one has run off) are now running wild, squandering what remains of their allowances. I hope Santa brings behaviour modification toys for the attention-deficit brats. A scrabble game requiring children to spell pension, hypocrite, jail, rings, investigation and audit should create classroom harmony. Colouring books with a grinning auditor general, police
chief, Peter Easton, and Stephen Harper for slower kids, approximately 35; Legos for Loyola, Tom, Yvonne, Calvin and Danny with instructions to build scaffolds, police cars, and dungeons. Guaranteed to curtail outbursts. Rattleboxes, more musicial than banging desks, and less damaging to taxpayers’ property and greasy hands, for question period, available in red, orange and blue only, will emphasize valid points, and will do no damage if bounced off a colleague’s noggin. Might wake them up.
read this. My daughter looked on wide-eyed. There’s that good parenting thing again. There was an awkward moment whilst we were both held by the scruff of the neck and lectured on the rules of civilized behaviour by the skipper, a bear of a man who could have killed us both with his bare hands. Yes sir. Sorry sir. He made it simple. They were all drunk and I wasn’t. He gave me 30 minutes to change that. They didn’t look like they were going to stop, so in the spirit of the season (pun intended) I poured a tumbler of straight rum. In my youth that line of thinking sounded reasonable. I don’t like rum. What the hell, it’s Christmas. Down it went. Let me paint the scene an hour later — a Christmas pastiche, if you will. My delighted four-year-old daughter was tearing about the boat in her new Christmas present — an honest-to-God real captain’s hat. She sat in the captain’s chair and turned the wheel. She played with the radar. I hope CN isn’t reading this. The guests included two drunken Russian sailors whose greasy
smiles could not mask the fact that they were clearly wondering if they could slit our throats, rob us and get away with it. The first mate sat alone in the corner, a half-empty 40 of Lamb’s in his hand; the grainy picture of a woman in the other. Apparently she had left him during the ship’s last run up the Labrador. He kept pulling his hand over his face in grief. “I loves ya, Tina. I know’s ya run off, but I loves ya,” he’d say to the photo, over and over and over. From time to time he’d look up to the rest of the room, and say to no one in particular. “I still loves her. I’d still have her back.” The two Russians would nod and smile just a little too cheerfully. “Da! Da!” Did they have the sweetest clue what he was talking about? Nyet. We didn’t hear him. We were all too busy rewriting the words to Christmas carols at the top of our lungs so they were pornographic. The engineer and I decorated a bare branch one of the deckhands had broken off a tree in the park. We hung beer caps and cigarette
butts on it with garbage bag twist ties. One of them made a cool decoration out of the used plastic tips of Old Port cigars. Currier and Ives it wasn’t. When it was time to go — at three in the morning — we all had to face the climb over the side and down the rickety aluminium ladder to the dark, smelly dry-dock pavement a good 20 feet below. In the pouring rain. Loaded drunk. With a small child. I hope child protection isn’t reading this. Then back to our place. I dimly recall paying someone’s teen son to wrap all the presents we had bought, so that later that Christmas morning we had absolutely no idea whose present was whose, and we were too hung over to care. I can’t remember for sure, but I believe my little daughter wore her captain’s hat to Christmas dinner. You wouldn’t believe how much ice cream it took to convince that kid to give it back. I sure hope my Mom doesn’t read this. ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Musicians Rex Goudie and Ray Johnson listen to a fellow panelist during a youth forum on out-migration in St. John’s Dec. 20. Paul Daly/The Independent
A prayer for Canadians in Afghanistan Dear editor, they are their enemies. I applaud the courage and integrity Shame on those sanctimonious offiof the young hockey player who cials who took this action against a refused to sign the flag for the troops young man for exercising his right to and sacrificed his express his conchance to play hockey Wasn’t that Shame on those science. by doing so. what so much blood One cannot condemn was shed for in the sanctimonious the war and at the same two world wars? I officials who took wonder if any of thetime commend the warriors, even the pawns ses narrow-minded this action who carry out the orders individuals will be of their warlords. I pray participating in the that every young Canadian who is Christian celebration of the birth of serving in Afghanistan comes home Jesus in the upcoming week? I wonsafe and sound. der if they would have let this I also pray that they refuse to sum- peacenik play on their hockey team? marily execute young Afghans Glenn Edward Stockley, because some politicians tell them St. John’s
Something special for Kevin O’Brien, the MHA for Gander and perpetual nodder, always in synch with a friend’s speech. Gerry Reid should receive a feel-good jack with a red handle showing numbers (Reid can refer to it as a poll) that will rise to 39 per cent from nine per cent with a push on the handle. Will eliminate political depression; Gerry will be high on the pole if not in the polls. A great gift for opposition leaders. The two bad boys, Wally and Randy, will have to read to the class a storybook about two hangashores from Labrador who got their paws jammed in the cookie jar.
Harvey, the Speaker, with a limited vocabulary (mainly order, welcome and House) will have his highchair equipped with an electronic gadget. Press one: “Order! Order! Quiet!” Press two and Trevor Taylor repeats “the fact of the matter is” 50 times. Danny, the favourite kid, will be able to play with a map of the province. A miniature bus with fibre-optic wheels will enable students to travel to communities not visited in three years. Outports will be identified with U-haul and brushcutting logos. A dartboard shaped like Harper’s skull will be blazoned on each corner of the map. Darts not included.
Darfur forgot Genocide, we sore ignore, no peril here, they’re black and poor; but if were rich in oil, or white, we’d fight to join them in their plight! Good Samaritan, just so far, we couldn’t possibly help Darfur; as ethnic-cleansing’s near-complete, we wipe our hands and keep them neat! Such massacre isn’t mourned so bad, by those who practice the Jihad; the Janjaweed, an evil seed, are making Africans flee and bleed! This blood-let serves to blot the face, of semblance of a former race; Ruanda taught us nothing yet, that Westerners cannot soon forget! Bob LeMessurier, Goulds
The final behaviour-controlling toy will be a polygraph test administered by pages prior to each session. Questions will include: Did you overspend your allowance? Did you falsify a travel claim? Do you deserve an inflated pension without adequate time served? Of course, there’s a halo for Lorraine, the only kid with an angelic voice and glow among the little rascals. Jim Combden, Badger’s Quay P.S. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to The Independent staff. A wonderful paper.
DECEMBER 21, 2006
8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS
DECEMBER 21, 2006
INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9
IN CAMERA This week, The Independent reflects back on the year that was — as related through the front page quotes selected every week by editorial staff. The quotes are drawn from the pages of the paper, and are memorable, humourous, or controversial — but always topical. The pictures are from Rising Tide Theatre’s own annual look back, Revue ’06, which will be touring Arts and Culture centres across the province starting in January. All photos taken by Independent picture editor Paul Daly.
JAN. 1 “I disagree with that (the Gomery Inquiry), I think public inquiry causes too much discussion in public.” — Former federal cabinet minister John Efford, quote of the year 2005 JAN. 8 “Obviously we’re getting ripped off, so why not take another look at it?” — Shannon Hillier of the Green Party on the upper Churchill contract JAN. 15 “She died a few years ago and she was buried with her knitting needles and the NONIA knitting she was working on.” — Judy Anderson on the late Jesse Chaffey JAN. 22 “Money, really, thrown at a community when their one industry is taken away, doesn’t work … our people were in denial and it took years and years and years to realize that Fishery Products wasn’t coming back.” — Rita Pennell, former mayor of Trepassey JAN. 29 “True, the scoundrels got tossed out, but they managed to land very near the door.” — Columnist Michael Harris FEB. 5 “I love every note of what I’m playing. And the Chopin piece … it’s so sublime, so beautiful, the most hardened criminal couldn’t listen to that and not be moved.” — Averill Piers Baker, concert pianist FEB. 12 “I really get surprised at the negativity that just creeps in out there, you know. Why can’t people in Newfoundland and Labrador accept a good news story?” — Premier Danny Williams on reaction to Bill Barry’s plan to take over Harbour Breton fish plant FEB. 19 “On a night flight, you’d fly about an hour offshore and all of a sudden the horizon would light up with a city of lights. It wasn’t something you’d expect. The Russians would have over 200 ships there, just raking the sea bottom and the Grand Banks … I was not aware of the extent of foreign fishing, it’s a big business.” — Col. Peter Drover of flying maritime surveillance missions over the Grand Banks
FEB. 26 “This interview is making The Independent the same status as the National Enquirer in my view and I don’t think it is doing your paper any service to try and dream up potential conflicts when there are so many real items going on.” — Liberal leader Jim Bennett on a possible conflict of interest MARCH 5 “They’re starving in Africa, dying in Iraq, and (Paul) McCartney makes his stand on Iles de la Madeleine doing photo ops with seals. On the other side of Strawberry Field, (John) Lennon must be cringing.” — Columnist Michael Harris MARCH 12 “… the parties agree to devise a formula whereby Newfoundland would receive a fair and equitable return.” — 1984 Hydro-Quebec statement of intent regarding redress of the upper Churchill contract MARCH 19 “What’s the point of us looking gorgeous if a mom can’t even feed her kid?” — Kim Winsor, co-owner of Johnny Ruth, St. John’s shop selling sweatshop-free clothes MARCH 26 “No, our expectations (with the Terms of Union) were not met, because we were not allowed to negotiate.” — The late Gordon Winter, signatory of the Terms APRIL 1 “Over the years I’ve had, I don’t know, 10 or a dozen horses shot out from under me and … I’d really like to offer some cheer to people at The Independent who figure all is lost and this is it. I know how they must be feeling. Who was it said ‘I feel your pain.’” — Ray Guy, on the week The Independent shut its doors APRIL 16 “I want people to work 60 or 70 hours a week instead of trying to scrape up enough hours to get enough weeks (to qualify for E.I.).” — Jim Bennett, Liberal leader APRIL 23 “I think Harold would like to be remembered as somebody who fought the good fight for the rest of life on earth, not just for human
beings.”
Words to remember — Author Farley Mowat on the late Harold Horwood
APRIL 30 “I hope they’re not doing it for the paycheque because my God, I’d rather flip burgers than flip dead bodies out of a pickup truck.” — Luc Levesque, Gulf War veteran, on Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan
AUG. 6 “Flash not around thy fridge magnets and thy knicknacks. Keep the whoredoms, idolatries and fornications down to a dull roar.” — Ray Guy
AUG. 13 “My disability is not a challenge, it’s another door that’s open to me.” — Teenager Brad Evoy reflects on his stay at Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp
AUG. 20 “We have no official sports teams, but we do have late-night spotlight games and peddle bike gangs. There are no clubs to belong to, but everyone is welcome to the cabins the boys build in the woods.” — Pam Pardy Ghent on life in Harbour Mille
AUG. 27 “They are never going to make it to be truly middle class.” — Al Antle of Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Counselling Services, on student debt
SEPT. 3 “Because of all I’ve discovered, the people I’ve met, and what I see every day in the arts, economy and life here, I know Newfoundland and Labrador is about to enter a phase of bright horizons.” — Reporter Clare-Marie Gosse says good-bye
SEPT. 10 “One of the things, looking back now, five years later, is the threat of this happening again is still there.” — Gander Mayor Claude Elliot, on the 9/11 terrorist attacks
MAY 7 “The problem is this, people have an impression that the fish is ours and the oil is ours and the company FPI is ours …” — Premier Danny Williams MAY 14 “I’ve got to see what happens with Mr. Williams. He’s going right off the deep end with ‘It’s going to be our project.’ He can’t forget Quebec. He can’t do it without Quebec.” — Dave Hunt, a past president of the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce
OCT. 6 “We stepped in in 1992 to help out, but we have no need to invest in this kind of project. We’re in the business of taxation and spending those taxes to benefit Canadian citizens.” — Federal Natural Resources critic Roy Cullen on the federal government’s stake in Hibernia
MAY 21 “There are times when I really love it, and I’m really proud of it and there are times when I feel like I just want to leave.” — Anita Best on her home province MAY 28 “When I asked to be invited to the fishery summit I was told no … they almost said I’m not a stakeholder after 35 years in the business — that struck me like a ton of bricks.” — Don Graham, Aquaforte plant owner
OCT. 13 “I don’t know if he ever asked for a loan so much as he invited the banks to participate in the honour of being of service to Craig Dobbin.” — Harry Steele in a eulogy to his friend OCT. 20 “It’s no spot to try and cheat on your husband.” — Principal Brenda Roberts on life in Black Tickle, Labrador
JUNE 4 “A recent review … noted that while 50 per cent of columnists concentrated on how to fix the world in three easy steps, the other half writes about nothing but the pimples on their own arses.” — Columnist Ray Guy
OCT. 27 “If I was a Newfoundlander and I had $5 billion dollars, why wouldn’t I have bought the North Atlantic refinery? … I think if I had the money I would have bought North Atlantic and I would have expanded it.” — analyst Bill Simpkins
JUNE 11 “There was nothing there except bones and homes, and folks left the bones in the graveyard where they belong and most took their homes to places that had roads and schools.” — Gordon Baker, former resident of resettled town of Femme
NOV. 3 “Springdale must be an empty place right now.” — Rhonda Hurdle, an Alberta recruiter
JUNE 18 “A few conversations have ended with folks telling me if I don’t like it I should get back to Newfoundland. My answer: as fast as I can peddle, buddy.” — Doug Bird
NOV. 10 “It was 13 years ago — I can’t remember what I spent last month … I thought I lived within the standards; and if I didn’t, I wasn’t wearing a mask and I didn’t have a gun in my hand.” — Placentia mayor and former MHA Bill Hogan, on the auditor general’s investigation NOV. 17 “Rather than us concentrating our effort on fighting for our members, we’re spending too much time fighting with each other.” — Chris Henley, candidate for NAPE president
JULY 2 “We as a province have to do better at … giving nurses a reason to stay and work here, when there is so much available to them elsewhere.” — Debbie Forward, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union
NOV. 24 “She says, ‘Run Mommy, run!’ and I can’t. I can’t even carry her. If something was to happen … I worry.” — Margaret Rideout, 29, a mother living with MS
JULY 9 “(Bill Murray) felt as if he was doing the work of six people … constantly being hounded by the MHAs. Even on Christmas day he’d get phone calls, calling him at home, wanting to process a claim.” — Lawyer Averill Baker
DEC. 1 “If anybody tells you that stepping into the chair of an international corporation, the most successful helicopter company in the world, is not challenging is either delusional or not being honest.” — Mark Dobbin, chairman of the board of CHC
JULY 16 “This is the most offensive interview I’ve ever had to do.” — Premier Danny Williams to The Independent’s Ryan Cleary
DEC. 8 “This guy has worked until 6 a.m. laying flooring and I know one job he went to where the owners barred him in the house and wouldn’t let him out till he was done …” — Edith Clarke, Marystown Paint Shop employee
JULY 23 “The fact that Canada was party to such an inglorious act is something of which Canadians everywhere have little reason to be proud.” — The late Walter Carter, on Confederation JULY 30 “Ten years ago hot tubs were not common items; now they are like backyard couches.” — Greg Butler, owner Bubba’s Tubs A baby seal saves Newfoundland and Labrador from Heather Mills McCartney (Berni Stapleton).
SEPT. 22 “Everybody else ended up at the end of a rope, or drowned, or with their big rusty blade in their back. Peter Easton died … with his big pot of gold.” — Author Jason Crummey SEPT. 29 “I know how well I am doing against my competitors every day of the week. I look at the paper and I will see someone resting comfortably at a competitor’s and can gauge every week if we are doing well.” — Geoff Carnell, of Carnell’s Funeral Homes
JUNE 25 “I think I eat the healthy stuff on weekdays so I can live longer to hunt, fish, and eat bologna sandwiches on weekends.” — Outdoor columnist Paul Smith
Our Dan the Barbarian (Rick Boland) takes a bite out of Stephen Harper (John Sheehan) before the Harper takes a bite out of equalization.
SEPT. 15 “We (should) just change the name baby seal to ice rats. People don’t want to club baby seals, but everybody wants to put down ice rats.” — Mark Critch, guest column
Danny Williams and his cabinet test out the new emergency communications system. Clockwise from top left: Rick Boland, John Sheehan, Berni Stapleton, Glenn Downey, Jim Payne and Petrina Bromley.
DEC. 15 “I would try and make the game a little sexier, I guess. Maybe change some of the clothing and just promote it that way. For some reason, we curlers seem to wear the most boring clothing you could ever imagine out on the ice.” — Gold medalist Brad Gushue, on how he would improve his sport of choice