2007-08-10

VOL. 5 ISSUE 32

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ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2007

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WWW.THEINDEPENDENT.CA —

$1.50 HOME DELIVERY (HST included); $2.00 RETAIL (HST included)

BUSINESS 15

LIFE 21

Japanese fish market important to local industry

Nine families open homes to children from Belarus

‘Thousands at risk’ Company alleges feds negligent in offshore safety; seeks $800,000 in damages BRIAN CALLAHAN

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wenty-five years after the Ocean Ranger disaster, thousands of lives remain at risk due to Ottawa’s “negligence” and failure to fund and approve an evacuation system for vessels on the high seas, court documents allege. “(The federal government) has been careless and negligent in the implementation of an important policy that should have been given high priority,” reads a recent statement of claim filed in Newfoundland Supreme Court

by Seascape 2000 Inc. The company is seeking more than $800,000 in damages for “negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract,” as well as other damages and court costs.

Seascape claims it signed a contract with Transport Canada in September 2001 to build, test and fund its evacuation system. It consists of a hinged A- or H-shaped frame with a steel launching arm to support a lifeboat in a cradle, which can be dropped into the water 75 feet clear of the vessel.

A standard lifeboat was not deemed safe, however, so Seascape designed its own “life-rescue craft” which could also perform other functions.

The cost to build and test the system prototype was estimated at $1.26 million. It’s alleged Transport Canada agreed to pay $780,000, or 62 per cent of that, while Seascape, the province, and other partners would ante up the difference.

See “As a result,” page 2

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I was introduced in church Sunday as the Old Testament prophet Noah.”

— Pentecostal minister Jason Martin, on facing Chantal’s wrath the day after moving to Bay Roberts. See page 8.

STYLE 25

Hunting, fishing and camping: how to become an outdoors woman

All together again … almost. George Walker’s extended family gather in the Hanlon house for Norris Arm Come Home Year celebrations.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Coming home

Norris Arm celebrates come home year with 45 around the Hanlon table STEPHANIE PORTER FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES Norris Arm, Bay of Exploits pparently, the real picture was the night before. Tom Hanlon is sitting on the couch in his Norris Arm home, relaxed and laughing as chaos — in the form of children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, cousins and so on — reigns around him.

There are 45 members of the extended family in the Hanlon house, readying for a group portrait. More than half of them no longer live in the small community on the Bay of Exploits — but all took the call of the Norris Arm come home year seriously, arriving in full force for the Aug. 2-7 celebrations.

“We’ve got them in from everywhere,” Hanlon says, pointing to relatives from Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Brampton,

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Kitchener and Mississauga. He and his wife, Judy, saw their household grow to 14 from two almost overnight — and have been basking in the bustle, storytelling, laughter and madness ever since.

As if that wasn’t enough hullabaloo, the night before the photo shoot, the family threw a surprise retirement party for Hanlon.

“The cabin was full, she was blocked,” he says, still delighted. “There was music and dancing and carrying on … now that was a time.

There would have been some great pictures for you there, I’ll tell you that.”

It’s not easy to sort out the family tree gathered in the Hanlon living and dining rooms.

Eventually it emerges that the common link is George Walker, a longtime Norris Arm resident now living in a home in Lewisporte, unfortunately unable to make the trip home this summer.

Walker and his wife had 11 children — eight of whom were in Norris Arm for the week, accompanied by spouses, children and grandchildren. Judy Hanlon is one of the Walker girls.

The Hanlons certainly aren’t the only ones to

have a full house this week. It’s safe to say more homes than not are blocked to the rafters with family, friends and guests who have travelled from across the province, Canada, the U.S. and beyond to take in the festivities and reconnect with familiar faces and places.

While the year-round population of Norris Arm is 800 at best, it’s estimated to be more than 2,000 during the celebrations. More than 120 families pre-registered for come year 2007, with more showing up and signing up — or just showing up — every day since it began.

It’s tough to wrangle everyone around the small Hanlon dining room table for a photograph, but all are game to make the effort. It doesn’t happen very often, everyone in the same town — let alone the same room — like this.

••• Former premier Joey Smallwood declared 1966 a provincial Come Home Year — coining a new household phrase and a concept communities would take in years to come to make their own.

See “If only,” page 10

Floating condo project could employ 25,000

By Brian Callahan The Independent

SPORTS 33

Athletes prepare for this weekend’s St. John’s Triathlon Buy local . . . . . . . 18-19 Noreen Golfman . . . . 21 Movie review . . . . . . 23 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Woody’s wheels . . . . 29

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U.S. company says it is a step closer to leasing a Newfoundland shipyard to build floating luxury condominiums — and employing thousands.

Undersea Resorts, a subsidiary of Cala Corp. of Titusville, Fla., says it was in talks with the provincial government this week and will submit a business plan within two months.

An official in the Business Department who spoke to Cala confirmed both sides had spoken.

But a spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources cautioned it’s very early in the process.

“The department provided (Cala) with information on the province’s infrastructure and fabrication facilities, including the Bull Arm site,”

Tracy Barron tells The Independent.

“Government has not seen a proposal and considers this a very preliminary inquiry at this point. The information provided is part of the normal process of the Department of Business.”

Nothing has been signed, and there are no guarantees the plan will be accepted or the venture will become a reality.

You wouldn’t know that from speaking to company president J. Joseph Cala.

“I guess you could say we have a gentlemen’s (verbal) agreement at this point. But we had a good conversation, and pretty much laid out the road. It’s not going to be difficult. It’s going to be very easy,” Cala tells The Independent from his Florida office.

“What (your government) is asking is easy for us to produce. And as soon as we produce that, we will decide which shipyard we’re going to

take.”

The Independent has reported that Bull Arm was the site of choice. But Cala now says other shipyards in the province, such as Marystown and the NewDock yard in St. John’s, are in the mix.

“We are going to proceed in trying to choose one of those. The process is going to be very fast because the shipyards are there, and we want it.”

If the business plan is accepted by government, Cala says it will be full steam ahead, including the immediate hiring of about 3,000 workers.

The initial phase of work would involve the construction of a shipyard at Bull Arm for Cala’s specifications, or modernization at one of the other sites, he says.

See “Market is huge,” page 2

2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 10, 2007

‘Political philosophy be damned’ Liberal, Tory — Randy Simms asks if you can tell the difference

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hen it comes to talking politics in Newfoundland and Labrador these days one thing seems to stand out above anything else and it doesn’t really matter if you are speaking with someone in total blind support of the current government or someone who is totally opposed to the government — all sides seem to agree the difference between the two major political parties in this province are so minor as to be nonexistent.

In other words, we no longer hold to some kind of intrinsic set of political values, which we claim as our own.

We are more inclined today to concern ourselves with personality and policy over any kind of political philosophy.

To be a Tory in the modern era means absolutely nothing. To be a Liberal means just about as much.

So what is the difference between a Tory and a Liberal these days?

If we go back in our history we find that Tories were a strange lot, at least from the perspective of this century. If you were a Tory in the 17th century, for example, you supported royal

RANDY SIMMS

Page 2 talk authority over the rule of Parliament.

Tories weren’t your democratic types and they felt the King was the supreme decision-maker and his dictates should not be challenged. Long live the King, etc.

The original Tories blindly supported the British position during the American revolutionary war. That little skirmish ran from 1775 to 1783. I think we’re all glad the Brits lost that one. Some time around 1883 we got a name change. The Tories became Conservatives, yet even today the word Tory is in use.

In the modern era Tories or Conservatives are seen as the political party of business. They believe in small government, lower taxes and a more self-sufficient world. Those who oppose them claim the Tories are the party of the rich and powerful and sur-

vival of the fittest forms their basic political philosophy. Given the actions of the Progressive Conservative government in our province, is that view a debatable one?

Before there were Liberals there were Whigs. Yes it’s true, the two major political parties of the late 18th century were the Tories and the Whigs.

The Whigs can best be defined as those who opposed the Tories, especially on the American Revolution and the role of Parliament, though these soon-to-be Liberals were quite conservative in their approach to government. They were seen to favour reform and progress and for a long time dominated the British Parliament. They became Liberals in the 1840s. But a funny thing happened during the change over. The name Whig simply disappeared while the word Tory goes on forever.

In this modern era some people see the Liberals as the party of big government and big taxes. As one person recently described it, the Liberals are the Robin Hood of political philosophies. They take from the rich and give

to the poor via the tax structure. Now I ask you, is that a debatable point of view or what?

The bottom line in our world today is that political philosophy or entrenched ideas disguised as political philosophy can no longer be relied upon for electoral success. Political parties in our world today all seem to subscribe to the same political principles. They all support the rule of law, the democratic right of citizens to decide their own fate and the supremacy of the legislature to make the laws that govern us. After that it seems to be a crapshoot.

Political parties today have to be pragmatic versus philosophical.

Which is why the federal Conservatives can propose a major tax cut, while the provincial Liberals propose a major tax cut and the provincial Conservatives can claim to have delivered the biggest tax cut in our history. It isn’t political ideology being applied to public policy we see at work here. It is a practical approach to stimulating the economy and building public support.

‘Market is huge and so is this project’ From page <None> That’s one of the reasons Cala says he chose Newfoundland. The company was in negotiations with shipyards in New Orleans, Alabama and Malta, but Cala says yards there and elsewhere are designed to build one type of vessel and it would not be viable for them to change.

Cala confirms the company plans to build the entire floating “resorts,” not just the shells of the vessels, in Newfoundland.

He also says a government official was taken aback by his employment estimates.

“The only thing is, I told him that in about six years we might need 25,000 employees.

He told me there were only so many thousand people living there now.”

Cala insists he doesn’t want tax breaks but government grants “have been discussed.”

“Tax breaks, I’m not interested in because

I don’t believe in tax credits. We like to pay taxes. It’s good business …

“The good news is the shipbuilding industry is booming. This is not an industry that is going down hill. In fact, the grants are only initial. Because the customers, when they order their condo or ship, they have to pay in advance.”

Cala says he has “letters of understanding” with several high-profile potential buyers including hoteliers Hilton, Mariott, Four Seasons, Mandarin and Fairmont.

“I’m not B.S.-ing you. The market is huge and so is this project.”

And he says even the grants won’t be necessary after five years.

“We already have downpayments from potential (condo) buyers. After that, we won’t want a grant, because our profits will be there.”

Cala says it would take about three years to build the first floating condo ship, which

is designed to give tenants a view above and below the ocean surface.

He estimates each additional vessel will take a year to construct at a cost of between $250 million and $300 million (US).

After the boats leave the shipyard, they could be anchored at prime destinations around the world where ocean-front property is limited and expensive.

Each vessel will be approximately three football fields long, reaching 30 feet undersea and eight storeys above the surface.

For full-time residents, prices range from $2,000 a square foot or US $500 million for the entire ship.

It will offer about 300 suites, plus space for restaurants, shops, spas, nightlife and other amenities to complement a small community.

More information on the company, its history, president and its plans can be found at www.undersearesort.com.

But what of the third political party at work in our province? What of the NDP? Are they really that different?

Granted, the New Democrats have claimed the concept of social justice as their very own, but in truth even NDP governments in other jurisdictions have had to approach the development of public policy using pragmatic principles to guide them. Social justice is not the exclusive domain of this one party. How else to explain a Conservative government touting with pride their poverty-reduction strategy.

Modern voters tend to now say they vote for the person as opposed to the party. Today voters want to hear about policy initiatives and political promises. Political philosophy be damned.

Today, we have a harder time making choices when we go to the ballot box.

Maybe that’s one reason why voter turnout is dropping. Modern politics is not as simple as it once was.

Randy Simms is host of VOCM’s Open Line radio program. rsimms@nf.sympatico.ca

‘As a result, Seascape is no longer viable’ From page 1 But it’s also alleged Ottawa balked at providing its full share because written confirmation from other partners was not provided as required.

The testing was to occur at Fort Amherst, just outside The Narrows and St. John’s harbour, but sea conditions were not conducive.

A year later, the breakwater at Portugal Cove was chosen, resulting in increased costs of $1.13 million. Seascape says it was “actively encouraged” by Transport Canada to spend the extra money, and told Ottawa would still cover its percentage of the overall cost.

A month later, in September 2002, the feds allegedly said they were still behind the project, under “certain conditions”; they wanted cost breakdowns and confirmation of additional partner funding.

Seascape claims Ottawa continued to express support for the project “despite increased costs of the move to Portugal Cove.” “(Ottawa said) the original contract could and would be amended to cover its contribution … and that expenditures could and should be made by Seascape to get the project underway without any further delay,” reads the statement of claim.

“These expenses were incurred on the understanding that those funds would be replenished.”

Seascape says it completed all work and testing in May 2004, sending its final report to Transport Canada and the other partners. “Demonstrations … were performed to the satisfaction of the majority of partners who could attend.”

According to the court document, Ottawa was still firmly on board as late as Oct. 15, 2004, “consistent with its policy decision to do all that was reasonably required to assist and encourage development of a new and better evacuation system.”

That decision was made in the wake of the Ocean Ranger Royal Commission Report, which made two key recommendations: • That Canadian authorities consider the development of an evacuation system that will provide an adequate and safe means of escape in foreseeable emergency and storm conditions to be a matter of high priority, and that they encourage through every means at their disposal the earliest development and use of a safe system; • That government and industry, without delay, establish performance standards and initiate a joint major engineering development project to produce a safe primary evacuation system for offshore drilling rigs.

Those recommendations were made 13 years ago, in August 1994.

“Relying on Ottawa’s policy decision, Seascape’s efforts and spending have totalled over $3.5 million,” the company’s statement of claim reads.

“It was reasonably expected these funds would be recovered and profits generated. Seascape states this would have occurred if Ottawa had fulfilled its reasonable obligations.”

Seascape says the first signs of a problem came in January 2005, when the company was informed “unofficially” that there was approval for only $480,000. Shortly thereafter, Ottawa confirmed no more money would be forthcoming.

In April, it’s alleged, the federal Transport minister told Seascape the project would not be funded and “the promised contract amendment was never produced.”

According to the statement of claim, Ottawa said it required written confirmation from all partners when the proposal for funding was submitted in December 2004.

Seascape admits written confirmation from the other partners was not presented at that time, “as the situation with other funding partners was clearly known at all times by Ottawa’s project officials, and it had been discussed, in detail, with Ottawa’s officials at periodic meetings with Seascape managers.”

Further, Seascape claims Ottawa was “regularly informed” about partner funding and was aware the company would meet any partner shortfalls.

Seascape claims Ottawa owes the company more than $800,000 and that all attempts to resolve the dispute, get the money and put the life-saving project in place “have been largely ignored.

“As a result, Seascape is no longer viable … and the misrepresentations and negligence of the federal government have led to (the company’s) destruction as a going concern.

“More importantly, if (Ottawa) had implemented its policy in a reasonable manner, the people working offshore in Canada would be much safer that they are today.

“Thousands of lives are at risk,” because the evacuation system has yet to be used, added the company.

It is not clear if a defence has been filed. brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3

SCRUNCHINS

The Pink, White and Green was resurrected over the Southside Hills in St. John’s this week. The original was torn down and burned by vandals.

A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia

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crunchins begins this week with a detour to page 13 and a letter written 79 years ago by Joey Smallwood. A selection of quotes from the 1928 anti-Confederation letter to the editor of the Western Star ran in last week’s Scrunchins, but Independent readers asked to read the full unbelievable text. (My favourite line from the last living Father of Confederation: “Let us spurn this Confederation talk, fellow Newfoundlanders!”)

Old newspapers are always a pleasure to read, for the advertisements if nothing else. The “Handiest thing in the house” back in 1928 — the same year that a copper, lead and zinc mine at Buchans began production and the Newfoundland Coat of Arms was adopted — was a jar of Vaseline, because it “takes away the hurt.” (All our forefathers supposedly had to do with their bumps and bruises was cake them in petroleum jelly and they were good to go.) Another advertisement on the page listed the sailing times of the Newfoundland and Nova Scotia between St. John’s and Liverpool and back again. The ships were new oil burning steamers, boasting “splendid Cabin and Third-Class Accommodations.”

“Splendid” in reference to third-class probably meant a bunk, Bible and jar of Vaseline …

REWARD OFFERED Third-class ocean travel brings to mind the Titanic and the accommodations experienced by the majority of passengers who went down with the luxury liner off Newfoundland in 1912.

As it happens, Harland and Wolff, the company that built the Titanic, also built a lifeboat found aboard the SS Saganaga, the British steamship torpedoed off Bell Island on Sept. 5, 1942.

The lifeboat had a Harland and Wolff maker’s plate attached to its wooden stern — or at least it used to.

Ocean Quest, a Conception Bay South diving company, posted a Wanted notice on its website this week for the return of the maker’s plate, which was apparently stolen. “Over the past few days, it appears that someone with no respect for a shipwreck upon which 29 Allied sailors fell victim to German U-boats in 1942 has removed the maker’s plate from the remains of the lifeboat on the ship,” read the notice.

Ocean Quest is offering a 10-charter diving pass to the person who recovers the plate — ”so long as they didn’t take it and can prove it.” If and when the plate turns up it will be turned over to the provincial archaeology office.”

As for the thieves, they may need a tub or two of Vaseline to ease their hurt when Ocean Quest is through with them …

MOONDOG MEMORIES While on the subject of the sea, the second annual Sailor White Memorial Championship Tournament is scheduled for this Sunday, Aug. 11, at the CLB Armoury in St. John’s. Ed “Sailor” White passed on to that great wrestling ring in the sky on Aug. 26, 2005, succumbing to injuries he suffered months earlier when the taxi he was driving hydroplaned and crashed.

The pride of Shea Heights, Sailor White reached the pinnacle of his profession in 1981 when he won the WWF tag-team championship, wrestling under the name Moondog King with partner Moondog Rex. In 2000, Sailor ran as a candidate for the Canadian Extreme Wrestling Party in a federal byelection in St. John’s under the campaign slogan “Parliament needs a Moondog.” He finished last in a fivecandidate race.

Wrestling as Big John Strongbo in South Africa in the late 1970s, Sailor was quoted as saying he enjoyed killing baby seals in Newfoundland with his fists, but the fishery board insisted that he use a baseball bat. The main event at the Sailor White tournament will consist of a 25-man royal rumble; the last two men left in the ring will face off for the Sailor White memorial championship. Just leave the baseball bats out of it. Ding, ding …

SIC ’EM B’Y Newfoundlanders are a rowdy bunch of ranters and roarers, although our reputation is often overblown. A committee of federal MPs tabled a report in 1998 on fisheries management and the federal fish-aid program known as TAGS, The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy. TAGS followed The Package, the name of the very first program Ottawa put together to pacify our men and women of the sea once the destruction of their fishing grounds was complete. Fishermen and plant workers told the committee of MPs how offended they were by the Unemployment Department and its decision to spend $350,000 training staff how to handle violent demonstrations and sit-ins that were anticipated by the feds at the end of the TAGS program. It was felt the decision demonstrated “a lack of sensitivity and understanding.” If only we had more Moondogs …

AS THE CROWE FLIES Rumours recently swirled around Town that actor Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind) was spotted out and about. Crowe — a best buddy of Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle, who produced Crowe’s 2005 album My Hand, My Heart — dropped by St. John’s two years ago, performing an unexpected concert at O’Reilly’s Pub on George Street. Nat Hutchings, mayor of Petty Harbour, said Doyle played a gig in a

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

Soper, chief executive of Royal LePage of Toronto. The influx is making some locals uneasy, including Walter and Shirley Sharpe, lifelong residents of Twillingate. “You used to know everybody in town,” Mr. Sharpe was quoted as saying. “Now you don’t.

Who knows who’s up around here anymore? There could be criminals from the city who come to hide out.”

In other outports some Americans have built enormous homes that are “totally out of sync” with the area’s architecture and history. Sounds like the Castle of Logy Bay …

The late Sailor White

field in the community in recent days and rumours began circulating that Crowe was coming. Nat says the rumours were wrong. Crowe, who hails from New Zealand, apparently likes it here in the peace and Newfoundland quiet, where local paparazzi have been known to ask celebrities for permission to take their picture. “I’d move to Los Angeles if Australia and New Zealand were swallowed up by a huge tidal wave, if there was a bubonic plague in Europe, and if the continent of Africa disappeared from some Martian attack,” Crowe once told a reporter. What Russell didn’t say was how Newfoundland makes a wicked summer home …

NEW BREED The Wall Street Journal carried an interesting article this week on how more and more Americans are warming up to Newfoundland as a home away from home. “Up and down the rock-ribbed coast of Newfoundland in centuries-old villages like (Twillingate) Americans and Europeans are tak-

Paul Daly/The Independent

ing advantage of a warming climate and a struggling regional economy to buy seaside summer homes for the price of an SUV ($10,000 and up),” read the article.

The “new breed of seasonal Newfoundlander” began to buy up the outports after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. When the U.S. closed its airspace that morning 38 planes crossing the Atlantic were grounded in Gander, and nearly 7,000 passengers were stuck for most of a week. “The hospitality and kindness they enjoyed generated headlines around the world — and spurred them to consider coming back,” read the article, which went on to mention our temperature (warm enough), and accents (falling between Dublin and East London), and how some Americans are even beginning to flip properties. “New York artist Brian Byrne and his business partner bought a waterfront, six-bedroom home two years ago for $72,000. Now they’re asking $170,000,” the article read.

“Newfoundland has the best (real estate) deals in Canada,” said Phil

TEXAS TRUTH The Right to Life Association warned this week that a planned vaccination program for 2,800 elementary schoolgirls in Grade 6 over the next three years to protect against the HPV virus, which can lead to cervical cancer, will promote sexual activity unless students are taught to abstain from sex.

That led to a firestorm of debate. One point made on CBC’s local website was that in Texas, where schools have abstinence-based programs, they also have the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in America.

The latest issue of Newfoundland Quarterly has a timely article on “disease, vaccine and urban legends.”

According to the piece, the first vaccination in North America against smallpox took place in Trinity, and was conducted by Dr. John Clinch, on or about 1800. Add that to your trivia bank …

FLAG FLAP Finally this week, if you look way, way up over the Southside Hills in St. John’s, across The Narrows from Signal Hill, you’ll once again see a Pink, White and Green blowing in the Newfoundland wind. Sailor White would be proud of our fighting spirit … ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 10, 2007

Supersized C.B.S.

Big box developments leave vacant buildings in their wake MANDY COOK

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ith big-box developments already anchored in Mount Pearl, on Kenmount Road and in the east end of St. John’s, it’s hard to believe residents of the Avalon Peninsula would need another shopping park a short drive away in Conception Bay South.

But 100 acres of land in Kelligrews is getting the big-box treatment starting this fall, reports VOCM’s website.

It states businessman Derm Dobbin will complete the project in five or six phases.

As big box stores open, they leave behind a trail of vacant buildings in their wake — unoccupied eyesores such as the boarded-up Ropewalk Lane Dominion in St. John’s or the Dominion store on Elizabeth Avenue, rumoured to be closing shortly to make way for the 69,000-square-foot location opening on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake in September.

St. John’s Mayor Andy Wells says developers are responding to a perceived demand in the marketplace when it comes to putting up oversized grocery, underwear and pet supply stores. He also points out an increase in population density in the area.

“Forty-five per cent of the population of the province, I think, is now on

The vacant Dominion store on Ropewalk Lane in St. John’s.

the Avalon, so they’re responding to market potential,” he says.

Wells says companies that close up shop and leave the empty shell of a building behind have no responsibility towards its appearance, save for pay-

ing property tax and maintaining a certain level of upkeep.

“There’s a minimum level of appearance, and if it’s a life-safety issue we can deal with that pretty quickly if it’s a fire hazard or some-

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

thing like that.”

Architect Robert Mellin says he sees the empty buildings as a chance to reshape the urban landscape. He envisions areas like Ropewalk Lane transformed into “town centres” combining

residential and commercial properties, such as the centre city’s Churchill Park — a successful development Mellin says is studied by planners across North America.

“As people start to move out further and further … the opportunity is there to really reclaim these sites and perhaps use them for better purposes, maybe for seniors housing or infill housing or neighbourhoods that really have a kind of multi-use zoning.”

Mellin says the old buildings can be “recycled” if they are well-maintained and the site is carefully planned. He says the buildings could last a long time with some upgrading of the exterior cladding and roofing, and suggests community buildings such as recreation centres going into the sites.

Parking lots, which many cities around the world are trying to rid themselves of in favour of public transit, could be turned into residential housing.

While Wells says the market will take care of unoccupied sites, he acknowledges “you don’t want vacant buildings,” referencing the longtime empty Woolworths building on Water Street in St. John’s. Meantime, Mellin says the problem could be avoided with a little foresight.

“The question would be whether or not you could really get some inspired planning to redevelop these sites so they were done for more for the good of the public, rather than just expedient development.”

Belgian seal ban worries government U.S. passes bill condemning Canadian hunt

By John Rieti The Independent

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he start of the seal hunt is months away, but the Canadian government is scrambling to lift a seal product ban in Belgium it fears could spread to other European Union countries.

Belgium’s ban came into effect in April 2007. Canada plans to appeal the ruling through consultations with the World Trade Organization, claiming the ban is in violation of trade obligations.

Canada sends $5.4 million worth of seal products to Europe. A spokesperson for International Trade in Ottawa tells The Independent government’s efforts in Belgium are to send a “clear message” to other European Union countries considering banning seal imports.

The spokesperson says Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are debating bans, and the Netherlands ban could be

implemented as soon as September.

Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ union, says he has been keeping an eye on the situation and it is an area of concern for the Newfoundland and Labrador sealing industry.

“Obviously this is just more of the same thing we’ve been enjoying for years in relation to the seal hunt … it’s pretty exasperating,” McCurdy says.

He says the details are different, but the substance is the same — environmentalists are driving state policy.

“People who live an urban lifestyle seem to think that food comes naturally in cellophane trays wrapped in Saran Wrap. They don’t understand that the business of getting, preparing and providing food is not always the prettiest thing in the world.”

The sealing industry has once again come under attack by the U.S., which has banned Canadian seal products since 1972 when it established the

Marine Mammal Protection Act. The act overrules the North American Free Trade Agreement making it unlikely government lobbying could get seal products into the U.S. in the future.

On July 30, California Congressman Tom Lantos introduced a resolution urging the Government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt. It passed unanimously, with 30 votes.

The resolution was based on science from the International Fund for Animal Welfare and is contradictory to the findings of Canadian scientists who have declared the hunt humane.

In the resolution, Lantos, who also sits on the U.S. committee for foreign affairs writes: “Ninety-five per cent of the seals killed over the past five years were pups between just 12 days and 12 weeks of age, many of which had not yet eaten their first solid meal or taken their first swim.” john.rieti@theindependent.ca

Kelowna spirit alive in Moncton

By Ian Urquhart Torstar wire service

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he Kelowna Accord has been buried many times, both by the federal Conservatives and national media. But the premiers and the aboriginal leaders keep trying to breathe life back into it. Their most recent attempt came Aug. 8 at the outset of the premiers’ conference.

The accord was negotiated two years ago at a meeting of the federal and provincial governments with aboriginal leaders. It would have pumped almost $6 billion into improving native health care, education, housing and economic development in a bid to narrow the gap in quality of life between aboriginal Canadians and the rest of the country.

The deal was signed in the dying days of the Liberal regime under Paul Martin and was disowned by the Conservative government under Stephen Harper.

However, the premiers, some of whom (notably B.C.’s Gordon Campbell) invested considerable effort into the Kelowna Accord, have never accepted it is dead.

The issue was addressed again as the premiers met with aboriginal leaders. “I raised the question whether Kelowna was still part of our language, and the leaders here indicated … that it is,” said Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

The premiers seemed to be of the same mind. “All the premiers are committed to Kelowna,” said Campbell.

But after the two-hour meeting, there seemed to be some daylight between the positions of the premiers and the aboriginal leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the premiers as host of the conference, New Brunswick’s Shawn Graham said there was a consensus behind Kelowna, but added: “The federal government has

decided to move on another track. We respect that. We’re not going to get hung up on the branding of Kelowna.”

This could mean a new accord will be struck under another name to allow the federal Tories to save face. But there are no indications the Harperites are prepared to negotiate such a deal.

Graham’s ambivalent language could also reflect the fact that four premiers, including himself, are relatively new in office and did not participate in the Kelowna talks.

The premiers are not prepared to abandon the accord. Graham said they would continue to work with aboriginal leaders to forge practical solutions to problems in native communities.

Such co-operation between native Canadians and the provinces was envisaged by Kelowna, and it was welcomed Aug. 8 by the aboriginal leaders.

Missing from the equation, however, is $6 billion from the feds.

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 5

Flight plans

Astraeus pull out won’t hurt capital’s ability to attract direct flights: airport

By John Rieti The Independent

S

t. John’s International Airport won’t go out of its way to offer airlines the opportunity to service a year-round direct flight to London, U.K. after Astraeus airline’s decision to cancel its flights last week.

“We have no current plans to recruit another international partner to London … given the choices that the market has made this year,” Keith Collins, president and CEO of the St. John’s International Airport Authority, tells The Independent.

“We were all surprised by the market’s reaction to Astraeus … the public here had asked us to find a new year-round partner to provide service to London, and we did with Astraeus, but when the pub-

lic had a choice this year of what airline they would fly, they overwhelmingly chose to fly on Air Canada’s seasonal service, even though they understood that service would be over in September.”

Astraeus says they have no current plans to re-establish the flight, but may reconsider if market conditions change. A spokesperson says at the time of the closure the airline was losing about $375,000 each month.

Astraeus will continue its charter service to Deer Lake, which the spokesperson says is enjoying “healthy” passenger loads.

Collins is left to speculate what went wrong for Astraeus. He says Air Canada’s brand power, the ability to collect Aeroplan points and local travel agents who strongly recommended travellers fly

with Air Canada made it tough for the U.K. airline to succeed in Newfoundland.

Astraeus could have serviced the route with a larger plane — a Boeing 757 instead of a Boeing 737 — if there were more passengers, a move that would have also allowed them to transport more cargo. Collins says cargo makes up approximately 10-15 per cent of a flight’s profit.

Collins says 20 per cent more passengers flew to London this year than in the past, a growth he attributes to prices half, or a third of what they had been in the past.

“I think what we saw this year was the effect of having two airlines on that route,” says Collins. “If you were to remove one of those players and it returns to a single player serving that

route then I think the incentive for airlines to lower fares is somewhat reduced.”

Collins says airlines have learned that cheap prices drive traffic, so fares won’t skyrocket, but he says this summer’s prices — like $600 return, taxes included — will be uncommon next year.

He says Astraeus’ decision won’t affect the airport’s chances of attracting more direct flights.

“My sense is that this decision by Astraeus relates exclusively to the direct connection between St. John’s and Europe … it won’t affect anything in terms of direct flights to other destinations in Canada,” says Collins.

He’s currently trying to fill the market’s demand for a direct flight to Moncton — a void left by CanJet — and

Ottawa.

Adding a flight involves first identifying airlines that would be interested in the route and providing them with passenger statistics and historical data on the flight. Collins also arranges for airlines to meet with government officials and business leaders in the community.

WestJet is in the midst of running a trial flight between St. John’s and Calgary, and Collins says WestJet has been “pleased” with the passenger numbers. The daily flight started in late June and is scheduled to run until late October.

He says the most popular direct flights are to Halifax and Toronto. Flights to Montreal and Newark also continue to perform well. john.rieti@theindependent.ca

Turmoil and uncertainty Salmon counts down around the world; scientists can’t pinpoint exactly why

By Brian Callahan The Independent

Y

ou don’t have to be a scientist to know salmon are scarce. The lack of anglers on the province’s traditionally teeming rivers are a dead giveaway.

The troubling difference this year is that the low counts are widespread, says a senior federal fisheries scientist.

“The decline in salmon here and Atlantic Canada this year is fairly uniform,” Chuck Bourgeois, acting section head of salmonids with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans in St. John’s, tells The Independent.

“Numbers are down everywhere in North America and Europe, too. All this is going on amidst a lot of turmoil and uncertainty. To see variations in the salmon numbers … it’s not unusual to see a 50 per cent decline. Generally, we may see a drop on the south or northeast coast, but we have not seen such a universal drop in years.”

Counts had been good over the last four years, with salmon aficionados reporting high numbers of eggs deposited.

“But then (the smolt) go to sea and they don’t return,” Bourgeois says. “They went out last spring and we had a very good, early spring, with warm (water) temperatures. One would have thought the estuaries (between fresh and salt-water) were well set, because we know that’s a stressful point in their lives.

“It all looked very good, and to be honest we were quite hopeful for good returns this year. And lo and behold we get some of our lowest returns on record.”

Which begs the question, why?

The 27-year veteran of salmon science believes the overriding reason is marine survival, which can include everything from ocean temperatures and predators to a messy run-in with a boat propeller.

He does, however, acknowledge rumours of foreign vessels dragging the ocean surface with fivekilometre gillnets on the south coast.

“Yes, there is a fishery there. And I’ve heard some of the reports you’ve heard — no question. The fish have a vast area to travel between St-Pierre and the Burin Peninsula, and they also migrate south of StPierre, as well,” Bourgeois says. “But doing that inside the 200-mile limit? I can’t say some of that is not ongoing. But what goes on outside the 200, I can’t really say.

“The majority of vessels do have observers. I’m not saying on every one … but to suggest that highseas netting is a major cause of a decline in the abundance of Atlantic salmon is a bit of a stretch for me.”

There would also be some very telling and suspicious signs of such activity, he says.

“I know of no reports of Atlantic salmon appearing on European markets that are not of aquaculture origin.”

Overall, salmon counts are down this year about 30 per cent provincewide.

Here’s a snapshot: West coast/Bay St. George-Harry’s River, down 30 per cent; Torrent River, Western Arm Brook, down 30-35 per cent; northeast coast–Exploits/Cambellton and Gander, down 11-20 per cent; Middle Brook, Terra Nova, Northwest River and

Port Blandford, down 8-30 per cent; southern Avalon-Trepassey/Rocky River areas, down 38-54 per cent; Conne River, down 56 per cent.

Bourgeois says the Conne River numbers are at their lowest in 20 years.

“We’re talking almost a 50 per cent decline in places over last year on a fish that’s only out in the ocean for 12 months. You’d almost think a bunch of scientists could put their finger on something,” he says.

“But we don’t have, per se, a dedicated marine program for salmon. That’s not to say we’d get the answer if we did.”

DFO conducts five smolt counts around the island, one in Labrador, and several in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which point to marine survival as the culprit.

“They’re up against almost everything. And to be honest, our knowledge of salmon on the high seas is very limited. We have virtually no abililty to track them.”

Ocean water temperatures can be a key factor; three degrees is ideal but they’ll stay clear of cooler areas. And heavy ice can also restrict their movement.

Bourgeois has no qualms about predicting what this November’s stock assessment will say.

“I can almost guarantee you there will be a decline in marine survival. That in itself will more than account for the fish we lost. That there are other contributing factors, it’s certainly a possibility.”

Salmon numbers are down across the province.

A moratorium was placed on the commercial salmon fishery in 1991-92, just before the same fate befell northern cod.

Bourgeois doesn’t believe it was a coincidence.

“Since that time we’ve seen caplin come early, in the middle of year, spawn in April and September.

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

There has basically been a downsurge in most of the fin-fish species in North Atlantic,” he says.

“People have even used the term ‘regime-shift,’ with invertebrate numbers of crab and shrimp way up.” brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

6 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 10, 2007

Rock bottom P

olitics in Newfoundland and Labrador has never been more predictable, although the Pathetic Metre may soon blast off the chart.

Is there any doubt who will win the Oct. 9 provincial election?

No question, Dan’s the Guaranteed Man. He’ll win the battle almost single-handedly, too. Danny’s image will soon hang from the walls and ceilings of every Tory home in the land.

People won’t be voting for a local MHA so much as a store-bought Danny garden gnome, our own breed of lucky leprechaun propped up on so many district pots of offshore gold.

Forty-eight sets of lips will actually move when Danny speaks, a verbal swim of synchronized simplicity that, given our history and talent, should be considered for an official summer game. That and Harper Tossing, similar to Dwarf Tossing only with added tonnage and widespread public acceptance.

That’s not to pick on Danny, who didn’t ask to be God’s gift to himself.

John Crosbie made that request eons ago. The two may have it out yet over a university for Corner Brook, but

RYAN CLEARY

Fighting Newfoundlander odds are Jane will clothesline her husband before he climbs the ropes to deliver the mother of all Danny slams.

Gerry Reid and Lorraine Michael are all that stand in Danny’s way to a second term, meaning he’s free and clear to the finish line. The PCs will pretend as if they’re lagging behind in every seat, but that’s only for show.

The hangovers started once the Tory candidates were in place.

The Liberals and New Democrats know and quietly admit they don’t stand a chance of winning the election and they have done nothing to mount a defence. Which is pathetic, but it will get moreso.

At what point did our opposition melt into a cowering lump of shattered political dreams and broken backs? Did the rot start with Brian Tobin (who had nice hair, give him that) or has it always been there? Our political system is designed so that

individual MHAs fight for their own sliver of the provincial pie, and too few fight for Newfoundland and Labrador.

We can’t see what’s left of the forest for the clear-cut swaths.

The one unknown leading into the general election will be the impact of John Noseworthy’s report on MHA spending.

How will voters react?

That said, Noseworthy isn’t the auditor general he used to be — he’s gone soft. For starters, he no longer answers his own phone. Most of his messages to the media are redirected through a public relations filter. Long gone are the days when Noseworthy shot from the hip, when he levelled accusations with the cold, detached certainty of a hangman, without the hood.

Someone apparently told him to tone it down. Who was that, I wonder? There was a day when Noseworthy couldn’t be told. So who finally told him?

Noseworthy has promised to release his sweeping review of all constituency allowances — involving every MHA elected to office going

There seems to be little choice but to vote for Danny.

The absence of choice is the most pathetic cut of all. back to Clyde Wells’ day in 1989 — prior to the October election.

Will the new politically correct Noseworthy hold back in any way?

How will the public react when they finally see the receipts for what was spent at the trough? You know that’s coming as sure as Paul Dicks loves a decent wine catalogue.

Voters could hold their noses and vote, but for whom?

It’s not like people can choose not to vote Tory or Liberal or NDP over the other — all parties are neck deep

in the scandal. What kind of mandate will Williams have if voter turnout fails to reach 30 or 40 per cent? He won’t be able to tell Ottawa he has the support of the people. Certainly not the majority.

What kind of message will it send to mainland Canada if we turn our backs on our champions? There seems to be little choice but to vote for Danny. The absence of choice is the most pathetic cut of all.

We’re in our usual spot between a rock and a hard, hard place.

In these days of calm before the political storm, it’s easy to pretend that the world is black and white — that Danny is good and Stephen is not, that NL is the one true God’s country and that all is right in the land.

It simply is not.

There has never been a better time than now for a new political party — NL-First or Republic of NL or Pink, White and Patriotic. The fact that a new party has yet to surface means that we’re nowhere near Rock bottom.

Which is where we need to be. ryan.cleary@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE Something for folks upalong to think about Dear editor, If Danny Williams gets the clean sweep in October, perhaps we can follow Iceland’s example, move away from a partisan system, and try government by consensus. (We’d probably have to cut 30 seats, but hey, why not?) When someone (probably Danny) finally forms the Republic of NL Party to field candidates in the

next federal election, why not, in addition to the seven ridings in this province, run candidates in Fort McMurray, Grand Prairie, Brampton and other places where Newfoundlanders and Labradorians congregate? That would really give folks upalong something to think about.

Sheldon Brown, Stephenville Crossing

Hugh Parry, co-founder and managing director of Astraeus Airlines at a Feb. 21 press conference in St. John’s.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Astraeus should have stuck it out Dear editor, Further to Ryan Cleary’s article, ‘Use it or lose it’, in the July 20th edition of The Independent: unfortunately it came to pass that Astraeus did, in fact, decide there was not enough interest to keep flights going between St. John’s and Gatwick.

As a winner of the newspaper’s London Calling Contest, I am extremely disappointed that I have lost the chance to use my tickets, as I am unable to go before the airline cancels its flights in September. I will now have to purchase my tickets from Air Canada and fly via Halifax in order to get to England for my trip in October.

As someone who has family in England and was planning on using the airline more often, I find this very disappointing. Having had to fly Air Canada in the past, I was so happy to hear back in April that there would be another airline to choose from that would fly directly to England. The fact that they were also competitive made it that more appealing.

It is unfortunate that Astraeus did not give the people of Newfoundland and Labrador a chance to become

accustomed to the new airline. I understand they have a business to run and they can’t wait forever for ticket sales to increase, but waiting at least until Air Canada had again cancelled its direct flight probably would have given them a chance to see that yes, there was interest. It’s also an expensive trip, and you’ve got to give people a chance to save too.

I know that it takes time for word to get around. I know from speaking to people that many were not even aware of the airline. The fact that it appears that certain travel agents did not even recommend Astraeus as an alternate to Air Canada surely hampered the process as well. If the travel agents aren’t going to promote the airline, who is?

As for my trip to visit my family in October, I will have to first fly to Halifax and then back to Heathrow.

This is so very disappointing and very unfortunate. It’s too bad the airline didn’t wait a little longer before pulling out. I truly believe that it would have been a great asset for our province.

Andrew Wellsman, St. John’s

Hey Metrobus … speed up a little bit

Beware the Crocs Dear editor, Just to weigh in on the controversy over the shoes called Crocs. A friend of mine was wearing them on her patio after a light rain, and the Crocs proved so slippery she ended up falling on her face. Nurses could be at risk of slipping and falling while wearing Crocs in a hospital. If I was an authority in a hospital I would insist that people who wear Crocs sign a disclaimer.

Marg Osbourne, St. John’s

Dear editor, I have talked about this problem I have been using the Metrobus to the wonderful bus drivers who transit system since I came to live in drive the routes that I take and they St. John’s a couple of years ago. inform me that the actual bus drivers While it is far from convenient, I did or their union representatives were find it adequate for my not a part of the discusneeds. However, lately sions about route This new there have been some changes. When bus changes to the Metrodrivers inform their Metrobus bus schedule and it has supervisors that cusschedule is not tomers are complaining me wondering why. I thought that if the routes are too long an improvement the Metrobus system was they are told they are over the old one. being negative. going to be changed the routes would actually I cannot blame the be shortened so that those of us who bus drivers because they have to drive have to be at work at a certain time the very long routes and they cannot would get there in time without hav- help it if they are late when there is ing to take an earlier route. If I take traffic. the 9:15 a.m. bus I am not likely to This new Metrobus schedule is not get to work on time. If I take the 8:45 an improvement over the old one. If a.m. bus it is likely that I will be there anything, it is a worse schedule than too early. That’s OK while the the old one. weather is good; it is not good in the Al Duval, winter or on rainy days.

St. John’s

‘Nothing short of obscene’ AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

P.O. Box 5891, Stn.C, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1C 5X4 Ph: 709-726-4639 • Fax: 709-726-8499 www.theindependent.ca • editorial@theindependent.ca

The Independent is published

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

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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

Dear editor, Pass the gravy please ...

It just seems like yesterday but it wasn’t. It was about 30 years ago. Following behind a friend in the MUN cafeteria he ordered some French fries for lunch —15 cents a plate as I recall. “Would you like gravy on them ... it’s 5 cents extra,” the server added. “No ... no thanks, just the fries and a glass of water please.” I also ordered and we moved along to a table with others in what was then a smokefilled cafeteria, circa 1978.

A simple everyday event you may think, but there was a lot going on in that brief exchange which I only years later fully appreciated — the more so every time I see the ubiquitous honourary degrees being bandied about to highprofile people, deserved or otherwise.

The right hand of God awaits those who have the courage to refuse them, I’m sure.

That young man was a good student;

he slept in a closet, quite literally, and more often than not he was hungry and wanted the gravy. But he worked hard, persevered, and received his hard-earned undergraduate degree. There have been and remain thousands like him.

So in the midst of the current deification of David Suzuki and his 20 honourary degrees, I am reminded of that young man who couldn’t afford the gravy. I am reminded of all knights, lords, and other honourees who are indulged by powerful university brokers and politicians for profit and profile. It’s nothing short of obscene.

A recent local editorial (The Telegram, July 30, 2007) trotted out Suzuki’s honourary degrees as evidence of his superior intellect and ethically pristine character compared to the mayor of St. John’s.

I only see a television personality who probably hasn’t done any real science since the days of the above-mentioned gravy shortage. I see a man who simply

reads a teleprompter of other people’s science. And wasn’t this the same Suzuki who withdrew his financial support for a graduate program in Ottawa or some-such place because he didn’t approve of the science they were doing?

This is a man who, along with another beauty, Al Gore, burns more fossil fuels on 747s than most of us will use in a lifetime. Global warming my foot — it’s not science ... it’s science fiction. If you want to find a real scientist, search the dusty bowels of any physics or chemistry department, etc. You’ll find the odd one quietly making do with what they’ve got. And they’re doing it for its own sake, not to advance the commercial cause of some corporate entity.

No, I’ll take my young friend or the mayor any day over Suzuki, so hold the honourary degrees ... and pass the gravy please.

Robert Rowe, St. John’s

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 7

In praise of stodge With apologies to my colleague, Independent food columnist Nicholas Gardner

I

t’s not that I don’t appreciate haute cuisine. I am the sort of fellow who can spend an hour preparing a meal for myself. I love to cook, and love all the various foods of the world. I even like Newfoundland cuisine, which as comedian Mike Myers once said about Scottish food, seems to be based on a dare.

It’s just that sometimes I want comfort food. “Stodge that fills the hole” we call it in our family, usually as an answer to “what’s for dinner?”

I recently saw the movie Ratatouille, an animated Pixar/Disney release which is about, among other things, food. Without giving away a key aspect of the movie, there is a nice little thread on comfort food — food which, stemming from childhood, evokes a strong emotional response.

That’s where stodge comes in. I like stodge. Stodge, by my definition, is the kind of culinary creation designed to be

IVAN MORGAN

Rant & Reason shovelled into you.

Stodge is not a meal in the sense that turkey dinner is a meal. Turkey dinner has potatoes, turkey, a vegetable or two, gravy, partridgeberry jam and stuffing. Stodge is, by definition, one entity. All the previous may be found in stodge, but they would be parts of the whole.

For example: fry regular ground beef, boil macaroni, and throw them together in a sauce pan with whatever you have available: tomato sauce, vegetables cut small, spices, gravy, etc.

Heat thoroughly and drown in your favourite condiment. Mine is HP sauce, but I have seen ketchup, relish, soy sauce, salsa, or BBQ sauce used.

There is no place for chopsticks in the eating of stodge. Stodge is about shovelling it in as efficiently as possi-

ble. I have researched carefully over the years, and here is what I can report: forget a fork or spork, because you lose the gravy and face, at the end, a nasty, watery soup at the bottom of the bowl.

(Stodge is invariably served in a bowl, for reasons which I will discuss in a minute.)

A spoon is the stodge conveyor of choice. I experimented greatly with various spoons over the years, some too wide for the mouth, some too long, some too deep, many too small. I have settled on a traditional soup spoon that works for me.

Far be it from me to tell you what spoon to use. Seek and you too will find the perfect spoon. But be careful to secret it away from others when you find it, lest they lose the treasured implement. They may look at you funny when you retrieve it from behind the family Bible in the bookshelf, but best not to take chances.

Once upon a time I would have written about the waddle from the table to the TV, but I long ago forswore eating at the table. I can advise to sit upright

Stodge is about gorging, not eating and drinking.

The drink, like the spoon, is only to assist in the gorging, not complement it. on the couch in front of the tube while shovelling it into you — we don’t need any choking issues — and a bowl cuts down on gravy swilling onto you or the couch. A bib is also good, and by bib I mean old towel or dishcloth.

Stodge can be frozen in containers and made piping hot in a matter of minutes by microwaving. Freezer burn can be an issue; again I recommend HP sauce to mask the taste. If HP sauce doesn’t work I can recommend an Indian pickle whose name I can neither spell nor pronounce. E-mail me for where to get it if necessary. This stuff

could make ANYTHING palatable.

Stodge can have as its base mashed or hash brown potatoes too. Mashed-up dinner — leftover vegetables, gravy, meat and potatoes drowned in condiments and mashed into a paste — is another perennial favourite.

The issue of what beverage to serve arises. I recommend vast quantities of tap water or Diet Pepsi. Beer is OK, I suppose, but beer, in my opinion, should be saved for after gorging on stodge. And I think there may be a federal law about using wine. Again, save that stuff for later. Stodge is about gorging, not eating and drinking. The drink, like the spoon, is only to assist in the gorging, not complement it.

Finally, the issue of gorging. Gorging is the point of stodge. If you want a gourmet experience, get a cookbook or go to a fancy restaurant. Stodge is to be eaten in the privacy of the home, away from political correctness, calorie counting or (shudder) healthy people.

Bon appetit! ivan.morgan@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE ‘An accident waiting to happen’

Kelly’s Convenience store, Dunville suffered heavy flooding

Paul Daly/The Independent

‘A real morale booster’ Dear editor, Please afford me the opportunity to publicly thank, on behalf of our community, Premier Danny Williams and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for visiting our municipality, particularly the community of Dunville; our thanks also to their individual colleagues.

Their visits did a number of things, including: • They provided comfort and sensitivity to our residents in a time of need and in particular those who experienced property damage — it was a real morale booster.

• They, as our leaders, gained personal knowledge of the destruction and devastation Chantal brought to our municipality.

• They provided leadership, commit-

Premier Danny Williams and Prime Minister Stephen Harper

ment and encouragement to the rest of us to get the job done.

• They brought national attention to our circumstances.

I must also express my resentment of the critic who flies in on her broom from other parts of the country to put her own political spin on something she

knows nothing about.

It would be much better if such critics came to visit the area and return to their respective jurisdictions with a resolve to push through the necessary financial aid to recover from this tragedy, lend their support and encouragement to Williams and Harper in their commitments.

I would also express my disgust with those insurance companies who are hiding behind “an act of God,” displaying rudeness and ignorance to policy holders who now need their help in the worst kind of way. They too do not bother to visit our area before they close their minds to what has happened in our town.

William P. Hogan, Town of Placentia

Holyrood cover-up?

Dear editor, Recently announced St. Lawrence wind power will replace just over seven per cent of the oil used at the Holyrood Thermal Generating Station.

Environment Minister Clyde Jackman says the Holyrood station may have been the fifth worst polluter in Canada in 2002, but its ranking improved greatly in 2005. What is not acknowledged is that in 2005 the highwater level provided more power from that source than normal. In 2007 the opposite is true as low water levels mean greater reliance on the Holyrood station. The result means we have the following that mostly occurs during

cold winter weather — big brown clouds over Conception Bay, and a purple haze over Holyrood harbour when the wind blows in a certain direction.

The 2006 Cantox report, as flawed and discredited as it is, contained the following recommendations: obtain minute-by-minute testing from the monitors, and test for all metals.

Neither recommendation has yet been implemented. Why? Is Hydro afraid that the recommended testing would show the station is frequently exceeding provincial regulations?

It is my belief that Hydro has been covering up for years. It is using Bunker C oil, the worst possible oil. To

the best of my knowledge this is the only station in North America using Bunker C, but it is still Bunker C. Can anyone doubt that if the station were being operated by private enterprise rather than the province it would have been ordered years ago to install scrubbers and particulate removal equipment.

We don’t hold Ed Martin, president and CEO of Hydro, and Premier Danny Williams responsible for Hydro’s past sins, but please do the right thing now.

Jack Swinimer, Holyrood,

Dear editor, When he came back around the path I I am a man who has lived in Bell was walking I asked him where his Island for a number of years. I love the helmet was and he said he could not natural areas here. I am upset about the find it. So there you have it — an mess that all-terrain accident waiting to hapvehicles (ATVs) are pen. making in our wooded I personally blame “I personally areas and natural paths. I the parents. They buy blame see children too young to these ATVs for the chilhave a driver’s licence dren, they buy the gas for the parents.” who are using their the ATVs and children ATVs daily. They never drive them. Children get off the ATV and go for a walk or a use them on regular roadways and they bike ride around the community. I are tearing up our natural areas or know one young person who is only paths. ATV use is destroying our 12 years old and he takes a little boy landscape and are being driven reckwho is only eight on the ATV with lessly. The children and adults drive him.

ATVs without helmets and without Also, far too many of these young regard for their own safety. people and adults who drive ATVs do Laws exist on the books but they not wear helmets. I remember just a are rarely enforced. Individuals who couple of weeks ago I met a child drive these ATVs don’t seem to take a around 10 years old on an ATV. He look at what they are doing until it is had no helmet on and he was what we too late. would consider driving the maximum Charles Barry, speed that the ATV could be driven.

Bell Island

AUGUST 10, 2007

8 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

Noah’s tale Flooding greets Bay Roberts’ new Pentecostal minister; government assistance ‘not an insurance policy’ BAY ROBERTS

By Brian Callahan The Independent

L

ess than a week after moving to Bay Roberts, Jason Martin already had a nickname.

“I was introduced in church Sunday (Aug. 5) as the Old Testament prophet Noah,” Martin, the new Pentecostal minister in town, tells The Independent.

Martin and his family moved to the Conception Bay North town July 31, arriving around 9 p.m.

The next morning he awoke to the sound of running water and, like so many others swamped by tropical storm Chantal, discovered more than three feet of water in his basement.

“I actually got up to answer the phone around 6 a.m. … that a family member had passed away,” Martin says. “Then I heard water running, ran downstairs, looked in my rec room, and I mean everything was just floating.”

If nothing else, it reminded “Noah” and his young family that God doesn’t play favourites.

If only he’d had an ark.

Martin and about 130 others affected

by Chantal’s deluge gathered at the local Bay Arena Aug. 8 for an information session on how to cope in the aftermath of millions of dollars’ worth of flood damage.

Other meetings were scheduled for Aug. 9 in Placentia, Aug. 10 in Harbour Grace and Aug. 11 in Whitbourne.

Martin described the Bay Roberts session as very helpful and informative, as did others.

So-called “flood kits” were available, as were representatives from relevant provincial government departments, including emergency measures director Fred Hollett, public health inspector Deon White and Tom Parsons of Human Resources Labour and Employment.

Between them, they had all the answers for both the obvious and more specific questions thrown at them.

Hollett noted the deadline for government to receive claims is Nov. 1.

“This is not the cut-off for the program,” he said. “It’s the deadline to get your claims in. And the quicker you get

it in, the quicker you will get a response.”

With that in mind, he advised people to spread the message to those who might be out of town on vacation or for other reasons.

“And this is not an insurance policy,” Hollett said. “It’s damage assistance … for essential items.”

For example, victims would be reimbursed for carpets, beds and structural damage before jewelry, furs, big-screen TVs and antique furniture.

That said, a washer and dryer would be covered, within reason, but insurance adjusters who are “on the ground already” will judge accordingly, Hollett says.

He also dispelled rumours that compensation would be delayed until federal money comes through in late 2008 or early 2009.

“That doesn’t affect you,” Hollett, also the province’s fire commissioner, told the patient crowd in the muggy, iceless arena.

In an earlier interview with The Independent, Municipal and Provincial Affairs Minister Jack Byrne made it clear the province will compensate everyone who qualifies for disaster relief up-front.

It’s then up to the province to be reimbursed by Ottawa, providing there is more than $500,000 in claims.

The province is responsible for that first $500,000. After that, federal funding kicks in on a pro-rated basis.

“Theoretically, the more damage, the more the feds will pay.”

Byrne acknowledged ongoing tension between the province and Ottawa, but said it won’t be an issue in relief funding.

“We are just going to follow the normal procedures, as we have done in the past, and we expect Ottawa to do the same,” he says.

The key advisory from the Bay Roberts meeting involved documenting the damage.

If you have to — understandably — remove soaked and smelly items from carpeting to Gyproc from a home, officials advise photographing or videotaping the damage beforehand.

In some cases, White noted, leaving

Bay Roberts residents affected by the flooding (top) receive disaster relief information from government officials (below).

such things in the house may pose a health threat. He also said government will provide free bacteria testing of wells where necessary. Bottled water will be distributed free of charge where water quality is an issue, he said.

Parsons said some families have already availed of assistance with clothing and temporary accommodations.

Hollett, meanwhile, would not put

timelines on when cheques would be cut.

“The first claim in is the first claim out,” he reiterated.

Martin, meanwhile, is in a more precarious predicament, having to file claims on behalf of his family and the church, which owns the residence where he now lives.

“So we’re kind of dealing with things

Nicholas Langor

on two levels because there’s a claim for our personal contents, and that’s separate from the church’s claim because it is the church’s property,” says Martin, a native of Buchans who had been preaching in Norman’s Cove before the recent move.

“Yeah, welcome to Bay Roberts, I guess.” brian.callahan@theindependent.ca

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 9

YOUR VOICE Danny’s way or the highway?

Dear editor, With the political success of Danny Williams winning the election in 2003 I had visions of a new era in Newfoundland and Labrador politics — the removal of political patronage, the end of political involvement, the end of broken promises and a chance to see the true responsibility of the government and the thought of the province moving forward.

A time when the increased revenue from oil production would allow government to increase spending on infrastructure and bring industry to the province through intense negotiations and to better establish the future economy of the province prior to the dry up of the offshore wells. The professional stature of the new premier and his success in private business had given the residents high expectations.

Over the past three years many residents have been appalled by his leadership, the expectations were too high.

The premier had become successful in business, but that success has been lost with his win in provincial politics — it’s now his way or the highway.

Government has completely failed to attract new industry and the creation of new employment opportunities, the failure of the new Department of Business and total destruction of the fishing industry, which Williams has shown no interest in. The handling of the FPI situation indicates a new approach to resettlement in rural Newfoundland.

The most recent political involvement comes as a result of interference in the operation of Grenfell College. The failure of government to produce employment opportunities on the west coast is forcing its hand and an opportunity to overshadow the failures — the recent closures of fish plants, factories and the shut down of a paper machine in the west coast city.

Is there a possibility that the breakdown in talks with Hebron and the miraculous timing of both sides to begin talking again has to do with an upcoming election? Has this been staged to garner support and have Mr. Williams reestablish his capability to negotiate with large companies?

Boyd Legge, Mount Pearl

On the road to pedestrian’s paradise Dear editor, Just came back from a long walk. I often walk around St. John’s and I usually enjoy it very much. I am a walker.

I commend the city for finally getting the walk lights updated in the downtown and centre town areas. It does make so much difference to me as a walker. I have heard positive comments about this from parents with their children as well.

It makes it easier to cross the

street with a couple of kids and their friends in tow while carrying a bag of groceries. No, we don’t have to wait forever to get across to the other side!

Finally it is safer for pedestrians to cross the street in this city.

Now if we could only get some improvement on snow removal from sidewalks in winter we would be in a pedestrian’s paradise.

Harry Street, St. John’s

‘Talk about toxic shock’ Dear editor, There’s all kind of information on how to protect and regenerate our planet — recycling, composting, etc. But what about things we are putting into our oceans besides the oil spills and bilge from ships. Pills are being flushed down toilets; add to that tampons. What does this do to a fish that ingests it while swal-

lowing a smaller fish? Talk about toxic shock. Imagine also what this can do to a fish that is spawning? Why take a chance on this until more research is done to find out the effects, if any, and stop blaming seals alone for the codfish depletion.

Marian Walsh, Conception Bay South

Time to rethink fisheries management Dear editor, A story appearing in the July 13 edition of The Independent highlighted major deficiencies in Canada’s commercial fisheries policies. John Rieti’s piece on the failed efforts of the Newfoundland Inshore Fisheries Association in 1990 to stop bottom trawling prior to the collapse of groundfish stocks endures as one attempt to change the direction of oceans management and implement rational fisheries conservation in the northwest Atlantic.

Unfortunately, almost 20 years later and after 15 years of a cod moratorium with little, if any, sign of ocean recovery, virtually nothing has changed on this front. The Canadian government and its Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) still hold to the notion that no fishing technology is inherently destructive — all gear types can have negative impacts depending how they are used. This, despite numerous independent research studies, both nationally and internationally, that conclusively demonstrate that technologies such as bottom trawling over fish targeted and nontargeted commercial stocks while destroying sensitive, diverse, highly-productive ocean habitat and non-commercial fish species. Such activity results in fishing down through the ocean food web destroying the integrity of various commercial stocks and non-commercial species. The outcome is overall long-term environmental degradation of large-scale ocean eco-systems.

Despite this ongoing situa-

tion DFO continues to cling to the notion that single-species, quota-based fisheries management programs — ones that exclude considerations of habitat protection from destructive fishing technologies — are sustainable. The catastrophic experience of the past 60 years has revealed the shortcomings of such management on northwest Atlantic marine environments.

The challenge now is for governments — both in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada — to re-think and revise their stance on fisheries management. This would mean recognizing the importance of protecting sensitive, highly productive areas from destructive fishing technologies that would permit the ocean habitats in to recover. Such measures would support the northwest Atlantic’s major strength — its capacity to renew marine life and the commercial fisheries that have served for centuries as the lifeblood for many of Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal communities. Establishing large offshore protected areas will not only assist in the recovery of ocean habitats, but also preserve migratory patterns for cod and other species.

Such protected areas existed off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador until they were made accessible through the introduction of highly intrusive and destructive fishing technologies over the past 60 years.

Fred Winsor, Chair, Atlantic Canada chapter Sierra Club of Canada St. John’s

AUGUST 10, 2007

10 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 11

IN CAMERA

AUGUST 10, 2007

Norris Arm Mayor Fred Budgell.

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 10

Games at the Norris Arm festival site.

The Shannonsiders from Ireland play during the Norris Arm come home year/Flying Boat Festival opening ceremonies.

If only everyone could stay From page 1 Part marketing and economic development tool, part effort to keep cultural and family ties strong, a well-organized come home year is no doubt a boost to the area that pulls it off.

While Smallwood’s move remains proof that moving away has been a fact of life for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for decades, come home years may be more poignant than ever now. As out-migration levels steadily rise, and the population of rural Newfoundland steeply declines, it can be bittersweet for communities to double and triple in size for a week — only to fall silent again when it’s all over.

At least 10 come home celebrations were planned around the province this summer, in Stephenville, Branch, Terrenceville, Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove, Codroy Valley, Buchans, Tilting, St. Bernard’s-Jacques Fontaine, Grand Bank and Norris Arm. Sometimes years in the planning, the events may last a long weekend, a full week or two — or more — depending on the community.

The days and nights are packed: garden parties and church services, music and kids’ games, parades, dances, dory races, softball tournaments, dart games, barbecues and beer gardens. And every place has its own special touch — whether it be the Halloween Dance in Codroy Valley or Branch’s Christmas (in summer) Santa Claus parade, complete with a round of mummers.

In Norris Arm, come home year 2007 piggybacks on another major community effort: the first annual Flying Boat Festival International, an event co-hosted with nearby Botwood.

••• Norris Arm Mayor Fred Budgell is hard to catch, but he finally takes a time out from buzzing around the festival site. One minute he’s chatting to a family on the lawn (in front of a duo performing a mix of classic ’70s rock and Newfoundland novelty songs); the next he’s checking on the crowd in the beer garden; the next he’s helping pack up leftovers at one of the concession stands. Not hard to tell he’s having a grand time, beaming with pride at every stop.

The Norris Arm Festival site, including a covered stage, landscaped lawn and concession stands, was built over the past couple of years. There’s also a new addition to the town’s war memorial, Budgell points out, and a just-opened flying boat museum in Botwood.

Budgell leads the way down to the water and the site of the former hangar where seaplanes came to overnight or for maintenance back in the 1930s and ’40s.

This inaugural flying boat festival marks the 70th anniversary of the first experimental commercial transatlantic flight, which departed Botwood and landed in Foynes, Ireland.

“We thought this was something we (Norris Arm and Botwood) could host together,” Budgell says. “We could celebrate the connections between Ireland and the Bay of Exploits … and

our shared aviation history.”

He admits partnering with Botwood was key to securing government support for the new infrastructure.

“This is the way it has to happen if rural Newfoundland is to survive,” he says. “Face it, the funding is just not there to give every community the same amount of money. But if we’re in close proximity and can share our facilities and work together, it can be good for all.”

The politicians took note, too: at the Norris Arm come home year opening

ceremonies, MHAs Tom Rideout and Clayton Forsey and MP Scott Simms were in attendance, as was an ACOA development officer. Culture Ireland also played a role, financing trips to Newfoundland for a contingent of Irish musicians, journalists and government representatives.

Declaring a come home year in 2007 ensured the first Flying Boat Festival would have a built-in audience.

“I feel we’ve done really well to pull together a festival of this magni-

tude. Those of us who are around, we can build from this.” He pauses.

“The only sad part is I feel the day of the volunteer is fast eroding for rural towns … after being a volunteer for 50 years, you just get burnt out. In the meantime, I am enjoying this immensely — though, to be honest, I get tired a lot quicker.”

This year’s festival committee included 30 volunteers — not bad, but Budgell says he remembers “the days when we had 50 or 60 people out for everything and people would be look-

ing for something to do.”

••• The Norris Arm Day parade starts 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Although there are advertised prizes for the three best floats, it’s hard to say the town takes the competition seriously.

Although there’s at least one “float” (two cars in a head-on crash with beer boxes draped around) and a couple of well-decorated pickup trucks, most of the participants are in emergency vehicles, cars — some are lovely vin-

Capts. Kathy and Jimmy Falldien, with daughter MacKenzie, lay a flower during the War Memorial Service, Aug. 5 in Norris Arm.

tage automobiles — RVs and trucks, beeping and filled with waving youngsters.

There’s not many to wave back, though; it seems most of the town would rather drive in the parade than watch it go by.

Not long afterwards, a quad grumbles up the road and to the corner store, loaded down with at least twodozen cases of beer bottles. Word is the storeowner thought ahead and ordered far more than the usual amounts for come home week, and no

doubt the business clips along faster than any other time this past year.

The afternoon’s entertainment at the festival site includes a bouncy castle, games of chance, cotton candy, moose burgers, cold plates … the beer garden is open and the bands are playing.

Norris Arm-native Annette Brown relaxes at a picnic table. Three of her four sons are back in town for the week and she’s happy — but sleepdeprived. “They’re on the go all the time, we’re on the go all the time, we’re using the dishwasher for the

first time in a year,” she says. “This has really turned into something.”

A couple of tables over, Betty Saunders, head of the come home year committee, and Karen Dunphy, Flying Boat Festival co-ordinator, also take a quick breather over hamburgers and chicken strips.

“Everything seems to be going smoothly,” says Dunphy, carefully.

“It’s an important event. The thing is, we do have a history here, and it’s something else for central Newfoundland during the summer months.”

All photos by Paul Daly/The Independent

“Well, my house is full,” adds Saunders. “It’s really nice to have so many around, and they’re all enjoying it. People who haven’t been here in years, haven’t been here in 20 years some of them. And they haven’t seen any of this before.” She points around the festival site.

“The only sad thing about this now is when it’s all over it’s dead around here. It’s a bit depressing until you adjust back to the quiet.”

Dunphy agrees. “But the more we build, the better we make this, the

more people are going to want to come home.

“If everyone could just come back to stay here, it would be better.”

••• The evening’s official entertainment is a boisterous Screech-in at the Valley Lounge. Ten come-from-aways don sou’westers and down bologna, hard tack, Purity peppermint knobs and Screech. They kiss a caplin, dance a jig, and are handed their honourary Newfoundlander certificates.

While the Valley gears up for a busy night, dozens of homes are hosting their own gatherings — garage doors are up, lights are on, patios are full, music trails out into the street. A dozen or so have gathered in Ross Rowsell’s garage for an informal get together over beer and snacks.

Not at all taken aback by strangers in their midst, invitations come quickly and easily from Rowsell and his guests — there’s a Sunday dinner the next day for the Irish contingent to drop by, and another party another night.

The clichés about Newfoundland hospitality ring true sometimes, faced with the warmth and openness of new acquiantances who are eager to share their history and stories. It’s been a weekend of reminiscing, says Rowsell — how could it not be, with everyone back again? In the garage alone are family and friends who have come from as far as Houston and Victoria and everywhere in between.

“Down at the festival grounds this afternoon it was like déjà vu,” he says.

“It was like you’d closed your eyes and you were back in 1987 again, everyone was around.”

••• Tina Saunders, now living in Brampton, Ont., is the son of Tom and Judy Hanlon, the granddaughter of George Walker, and the one who rallied the family together for the Independent photo shoot.

She laughs as she says one of her family members came in on a flight with 27 people from Norris Arm. Looking around the room, she estimates 90 per cent of those present “would be home if they could be,” but they’re kept away by work and, in some cases, new families.

“For now, it’s just really nice,” she says, perhaps speaking for all 2,000 in the town. “It’s just been a really long time since we’ve all been together.”

Her father would agree. “It’s great having them all home,” he says — though he admits, after providing food and beds for 14 individuals, he’s looking forward to some peace and quiet “for a while anyway.”

Then again, “come Friday it’ll be just the two of us again, Judy in one chair and I in another.”

Quite a change from 45 around the dining room table.

In part two next week, senior writer Ivan Morgan attends come home year celebrations in Kearley’s Harbour, which was resettled in 1963. stephanie.porter@theindependent.ca

Rose Canning and Eva Langdon by the concession stands.

Laura Higgins and Chris Henn, from Pickering Ont., dance a jig during the Saturday night Screech-in.

AUGUST 10, 2007

12 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

Milk money Dairy production possibility for central Labrador; potential market in Nunavut

By Mandy Cook The Independent

T

he secretary of the Lake Melville Agricultural Association says prime farmland like his 70 acres on a riverbed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is one of the reasons a proposed

dairy operation in Labrador would become the “cornerstone” of the agricultural industry there.

“I can’t find five rocks in it,” Frank Pye tells The Independent. “The farmers on the island of Newfoundland and even through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would give their eye-teeth to

have the kind of soil we have here.”

Pye says central Labrador has “excellent” conditions to grow hay and grain to feed cows and produce milk. He says milk is one of the three profitable commodities (eggs and chicken being the other two) farmers are surviving on in a time when many Canadian farms are

going bankrupt. Cows generate a “byproduct” which creates a lucrative spin-off product.

“My wife and I have been running for 16 years an organic farm which requires manure … you’re not producing milk (if) you don’t have the animals to produce manure (to grow hay).”

A feasibility study is underway to determine if milking cows and bottling the milk is feasible in Labrador. Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale says the study will consider whether the small population and remote location will be an obstacle to the proposed dairy operation’s viability. It will also flesh out distribution possibilities into the far north.

“The study is going to look into the economic feasibility of production, processing and marketing the milk in central Labrador, but it’s also looking at the potential of supplying dairy products to the Nunavut market,” she says.

According to the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador, the market is currently favourable for more milk.

The province was offered an additional milk quota in 2001 by the National Milk Marketing System because of high production in the late 1990s. Milk farmers in the province were invited to increase their production and are at the 50-million-itre mark, up from 34 million litres in 2001.

“We were given 15 years to take advantage of the quota,” says Harry Burden, the association’s executive director. “We have until 2016 to use that quota and if we use all the quota they gave us, that will effectively double the industry in Newfoundland.”

Pye estimates people in central, northern and western Labrador drink 1.5 million litres per year — “every drop” of which he says is shipped in from Quebec. He says preliminary figures indicate 200 milking cows, plus another 100 to produce calves, would cover off Labrador’s milk supply. Pye says his association has been asking the province for a feasibility study for six years and is confident dairy production — if given the green light — will be a major advantage in more ways than one.

“I am confident that milk production here in Labrador will increase the consumption of milk and will be a good thing in terms of the health and wellness of the people of Labrador.” mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

YOUR VOICE Don’t call me newfie Dear editor, I detest being called newfie and I also dislike the handles Townie and Bayman. Another paper in the local market recently carried a letter from a guy in Ontario asking why we Newfoundlanders are so infuriated by the term newfie? The writer, from Cambridge, Ont., was born in Newfoundland, but has been out of the province for more than 30 years. He contends he met many Newfoundlanders who, like him, have a terrific sense of humour and each is proud to be a “newf.” He went on to say: “The only ones that I feel are offended by the term newfie are the ones that shouldn’t be in the province in the first place.”

Some Newfoundlanders have grown to accept the term. They, like you, have succumbed to it, having been browbeaten and insulted so often (the number of times they could not possibly remember). Newfie slang is deeply implanted in the subconscious and perhaps will not be removed from the vocabulary in this generation. Hopefully it will in the next. It’s like a bad habit — easy to create but hard to get rid of. I want to assure our mainland writer that I am a very proud Newfoundlander who does not want to be called newfie, and I hope it doesn’t offend him because I’ve decided to stay here to the end of my days.

Bill Westcott, Clarke’s Beach

lives here.

It’s here in our community. Please make a difference by volunteering.

1-800-268-7582 www.mssociety.ca

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTNEWS • 13

AROUND THE WORLD The Newfoundland Premier, Sir William Whiteway, now in London consulting the Imperial authorities regarding the French treaty rights, has presented a strong argument for the consideration of the Home Government. Briefly summarized, Newfoundland’s case amounts to an explicit refusal to admit the validity of the French claims to exclusive cod fishing upon the French shore, the right to can lobsters and the right to fish salmon in the rivers.

— The Weekly Record, Trinity, Aug. 2, 1890

AROUND THE BAY A smart frost was experienced here on Friday night. We learn from various parts of the Bay that the potato crops have suffered severely; and much injury has been done to the fields of this invaluable root in the vicinity of this town.

— The Star and Newfoundland Advocate, St. John’s, Aug. 8, 1844 YEARS PAST The body of a man, name unknown, was found floating in the harbour Monday evening last, it was taken on shore and buried. From its appearance, it must have been in the water a considerable time, as the initials on a sheath knife were completely washed away.

— St. John’s Daily News, Aug. 26, 1869

EDITORIAL STAND The partnership of Newfoundland and Labrador must be cemented by a real physical transportation and communication link and that right soon. But if this does not occur, the majority of Labradorians watching the costly development of dual ‘first class’ systems between Port aux Basques and St. John’s (in effect from nowhere to nowhere) will with a justified vengeance turn to the West, embrace the rail and road facilities offered in that direction and say to Newfoundland, “Who needs you, anyway?”

— The Labrador South Review, Forteau and Red Bay, August 4, 1978 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Mr. Editor — I refer to the proper reg-

‘Crazy talk about Confederation’ Editor’s note: Excerpts of the following April, 1928 letter to editor of the Corner Brook Western Star by Joey Smallwood were published in the Aug. 3 edition of The Independent. The paper has decided to print the entire text of the letter this week in response to reader requests.

I

n a recent issue you commented upon the current Confederation discussions, and asked: “Why shouldn’t Newfoundland confederate with Canada?” or words to that effect.

This Confederation talk is on par with the talk about reverting to Crown Colony status, and about Royal Commission rule.

All three of these schemes have a common denominator — they arise from the same causes. On the one hand you have people who sincerely believe that Newfoundland is not capable of governing herself well. These people have their eyes on the present economic, social and political conditions.

They say: “The proof is in the pudding is in the eating. Look at the state of affairs around us!

Have we not proved our inability to govern ourselves?”

They are sincere, if mistaken.

On the other hand you have a group of people who adopt their attitude for petty, prejudicial political reasons. These people are mostly anti-Liberal. To them the policies of Liberalism are anathema, and the name of Sir Richard Squires a hateful name.

They were narrowly opposed to Sir Robert Bond. They continued their hatred when Sir. Richard became Prime Minister.

They hounded Sir Richard Squires night and day, and great was their glee when Squires was forced out of office.

They swore that he should never again occupy the exalted position of Prime Minister of Newfoundland. They supported the present Tory party in 1924, and since 1924 they have had their innings. Their innings are rapidly coming to an end. The handwriting is on the wall.

They know that no effect of theirs can possibly keep the people from sending Squires back to the Prime Minister’s office with the greatest electoral and parliamentary majority every witnessed in this Island.

This infuriates them. Hence, all the crazy talk about Confed-

Joey Smallwood

eration, Crown Colony status, Royal Commission rule, etc.

They would almost rather sell Newfoundland to the devil than have Sir Richard Squires become Prime Minister.

I have traveled a great deal of Newfoundland, and while editor of the Daily Globe and the Labour Outlook I received daily a great quantity of correspondence from all parts of Newfoundland. I know that the people of Newfoundland do not favour Confederation. My grandfather, David Smallwood, now 90 years of age, fought for Confederation in that famous election. I would fight against Confederation in any shape or form, now or any time in the future.

Why should Newfoundland enter the Confederation with Canada? What possible good would it do us? Politically it would submerge us underneath a weight of strongly organized, well-knit Provincial groupings that know what they want and how to get it. In a Parliament at Ottawa which is bossed, controlled and dominated by the Western Bloc, the Ontario bloc, and the Quebec bloc, what earthly chance would Newfoundland have of being heard or of being given any attention? Under these conditions Newfoundland would be like the flea on Noah’s ark.

“Said the flea to the elephant, ‘Who are you shoving.’”

I do not mean to say that Newfoundland wouldn’t have big men to send to Ottawa as representatives. A Squires or a Coaker, or a Lloyd would not be dummies by a long shot. But in a parliament of hundreds of members from the Pacific eastward to Quebec, what could half a dozen

voters accomplish? Mr. Lloyd George is a big man. But in a British parliament as the spokesman of a handful what ice does he cut today?

Economically we would not benefit. What Newfoundland needs above everything else — apart from the supreme need of another era of the kind of statesmanship that gave us the Railway, Grand Falls, Bell Island and Corner Brook — is capital. It matters little whether it be Canadian or American capital — the dollar knows no flag!

If Canadian capitalists desire to invest in Newfoundland they will do so irrespective of whether Newfoundland is governing herself as now, or is a Crown Colony, or under a Royal Commission, or in Confederation with Canada. The same thing applies to the United States. The fact that Canada flies the Union Jack and flies it proudly, has not prevented the Americans from investing about four thousand million dollars in Canadian industries — about as much again as Great Britain has invested in Canada.

Let us spurn this Confederation talk, fellow Newfoundlanders! We possess the men of brains who can govern this country, and transform it into a happy, prosperous, developing Island, with its chin held high, its eyes unafraid, its heart beating rythmically. Have faith in Newfoundland, give the governing of the island over to our best sons, and we will very soon silence the calamity howlers and visionless croakers.

Yours sincerely, J. R. Smallwood, Corner Brook

ulating of Twillingate time. Now to strangers it would seem as if the Northside people were sometimes determined to be ahead of their friends.

And so vice versa. Now it is very annoying on the Sabbath day for persons living on the opposite side of the harbour to leave their homes for service, and to find on their arrival that they have miscalculated time by perhaps twenty minutes, or half an hour, and that they must make themselves troublesome by going in church after the service is commenced, or else forfeit it altogether. And also on week days we have first one merchant’s bell for one o’clock, and perhaps a quarter of an hour after another bell for the same hour, and after another spell comes in a third, but of course it is only one o’clock still. Now what I want to know is this: Is there any clock or signal

which we ought to recognize unanimously so as to make our arrangements and appointments in a business-like manner, and so avoid such a dilatory and unsatisfactory state of affairs?

Signed – Concord — Twillingate Sun, Aug. 12, 1880 QUOTE OF THE WEEK When trash is left on the ice by fishermen, when campers befoul public campsites, when hunters leave carcasses for the flowflies, the environment sustains a further degree of pollution.

And the fisherman and camper and hunter returns home and clucks his tongue with the nasty old industrialists who are despoiling his great outdoors.

— Burin Peninsula Post, Aug. 12, 1970

AUGUST 10, 2007

14 • INDEPENDENTNEWS

VOICE FROM AWAY

Persecuted, proud, perplexed After nine months in Quebec, Cape Broyle native Aaron O’Brien makes a few observations about La Belle Province

By Aaron O’Brien For The Independent

L

ast September I began work at a secondary school in Trois-Rivieres, a city about the size of St. John’s on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. As an assistant to the English teachers, I offered students the rare chance to interact with someone whose native tongue is English.

After eight months there, I moved to Chicoutimi, on the Saguenay River, for a five-week French immersion program. I moved to Quebec to learn French and experience an area of Canada that was, and still is, mysterious to me. I’ve returned with a better understanding of the place and its people — but I can also testify one needs more than nine-and-a-half months to comprehend the culture of Quebec.

Three main characteristics come to mind when I think of the people of Quebec: persecuted, proud, and perplexed.

Why persecuted? Well, because Quebec’s political association with English Canada was not chosen by, but forced upon, Quebecers. When France relinquished its claim to the territory now known as Quebec and ceded it to the British, most of the educated French elite returned to France, leaving the French peasants, who could not afford to return to the homeland, at the mercy of their new English overlords.

The peasants didn’t have the skills or power necessary to negotiate the terms of this new relationship in their favour. The English eventually allowed them to continue to be educated in French — thus maintaining their language and culture — but the economy of the territory became dominated by the English. In government, English was placed on an equal footing with French.

Consequently, many Quebecers feel their ancestors were made second-class citizens in their own land.

This is something I had to deal with whenever the issue of Labrador came up. Like many Newfoundlanders, I knew very little about Labrador — but I quickly realized that I would have to educate myself if I were to counter the arguments put forth by Quebecers covetous of the Big Land.

For many Quebecers, the decision by the British government in 1927 to give Labrador to Newfoundland is an example of their mistreatment.

Newfoundlanders, say these Quebecers, historically utilized only the coast of Labrador. They believe the British gave us far more land than we deserved, while Quebec was cheated out of the land it used.

I may have been convinced of the injustice had I not learned why the boundary between Quebec and Labrador was drawn as it is. The entire border, except the southern portion (which is a straight line running east-west), follows the watershed divide: all the water to the east flows to the coast of Labrador; all the water to the west flows into Quebec.

It was argued Newfoundlanders had not only

traditionally used the coast of Labrador, but also followed the rivers that empty onto the coast to the “height of land” to trap fur-bearing animals for cash.

Quebecers also express an indomitable pride in their identity — and they have good reason. They constitute an island of French in a sea of North American English. Promoting and fostering this cultural uniqueness is a priority. Quebec films and television shows are numerous and well funded.

The province’s music industry is thriving and eclectic, with a healthy portion of traditional music that would fit perfectly at our folk festivals.

Yes, Quebecers like the jigs and reels too.

They also like to know that Anglophones respect the primacy of French on their turf. Hence the importance of speaking French when you initially communicate with someone in Quebec.

Beginning a conversation with a Quebecer who you don’t know in English is a big faux pas. But if you adhere to this bit of etiquette, you’ll discover most Quebecers are interested in speaking and learning English. Many I met were far more skilled in their second language than I was in mine, which often made it difficult for me to practice French.

This leads to the final P of my three Ps: perplexed. Quebecers are to an extent perplexed about what direction they should take as a people.

On the one hand, they wish to maintain their uniqueness, which is dependent upon the maintenance of their language. On the other, they realize the near-necessity of English in North America and in a world where globalization threatens to dissolve Quebec’s distinctness. The province exerts itself to promote its local culture in the form of music, films, television and other types of media. But at the same time, Quebecers, like the rest of us, crave the music, films, and television of Anglo-American culture.

One might think Quebec’s efforts to maintain its cultural uniqueness are a mere pretense, like the unspoken obligation to begin a conversation in French. I prefer to think these contradictions are not a sign of equivocation on the part of Quebecers, but a demonstration of the conflicting realities that any distinct culture must face at the early part of the 21st century.

My time in Quebec allowed me to not only discover a new culture, but also reflect on my own identity as a Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

The similarities between the two provinces are more than superficial.

I think persecuted, proud and perplexed could just as easily describe our own collective consciousness. More Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should visit Quebec. It would serve us well to know our neighbours, and ourselves, a little better.

Aaron O’Brien currently lives in Cape Broyle, soon to be returning to his studies in philosophy at the PhD level.

Do you know a Newfoundlander or Labradorian living away? Please e-mail editorial@theindependent.ca

PM plots overhaul of cabinet

By Tonda MacCharles Torstar wire service

P

rime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to make significant changes to his cabinet next week in the lead-up to a major new agendasetting throne speech in the fall, government sources say.

The shuffle is needed because polling commissioned by the federal government shows the Conservatives have not succeeded in winning majority support for their priorities or overall performance in major urban centres like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, where they hold only a few seats.

Senior advisers in cabinet ministers’ offices were asked at the beginning of the summer to provide recommendations for new policy directions that could be written into a throne speech or into new “mandate letters” to cabinet ministers.

Now, with all cabinet ministers ordered to Ottawa for the week of Aug. 13, it is expected there will be a major shuffle, not just tinkering, a senior government source says.

Harper wants to rearrange cabinet responsibilities before his meeting Aug. 20 and 21 at Montebello, Que., with U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The government source says it is difficult to know how big the shuffle will be because Harper “holds the cards so close to his chest on these matters.”

“It seems to all revolve around (Defence Minister Gordon) O’Connor and (Revenue Minister) Carol Skelton, now that she has announced that she is not running again.”

Much speculation suggests the Prime Minister is not out to bring in new blood to the 32-member cabinet, but to broaden the skills of ministers already within his inner circle now that the government appears to be shifting gears and looking to a longer term in power.

But not all are willing to second-guess the boss.

“He’s got some good people not in cabinet right now who would be good cabinet members,” says a second senior government source. “(Skelton’s)

department is a good one if you’re coming in as your first portfolio.”

In fact, speculation has it that three other cabinet ministers may not run again in the next election — possibly providing Harper other openings.

They are: International Trade Minister David Emerson, who faces re-election hurdles in his Vancouver riding after switching from the Liberals; Immigration Minister Diane Finley, who is battling thyroid disease, but doesn’t yet qualify for a pension, having just been elected in 2004; and Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, first elected 10 years ago in his New Brunswick Southwest riding.

None has publicly announced his or her intentions.

Still, despite all the predictions O’Connor is headed for the door, three Conservative sources yesterday downplayed the chances Harper would move O’Connor out of defence — precisely because to do so would be seen as caving to pressure to oust him.

But if Harper does move to replace O’Connor, the two people considered possible replacements are Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, in part because they speak French.

Finally, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, once seen as among the cabinet’s most sure-footed performers, has stumbled in the past five months, says a Conservative source, citing Flaherty’s backtrack on a March budget measure to eliminate a tax break for corporations investing abroad.

As well, Flaherty’s plan to smooth over longstanding revenue-sharing disputes with the provinces left the Conservatives in a nasty showdown with Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald and Saskatchewan’s Lorne Calvert.

All that followed a firestorm of criticism that hit the Conservative government after Flaherty convinced Harper to crack down on income trusts last fall. Nonetheless, there is no sense around the federal finance department yet of an impending move to shift Flaherty out of the high-profile portfolio.

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2007 — PAGE 15

Tak Ishiwata holds a sushi dish at his restaurant Basho on Duckworth Street, St. John’s.

Paul Daly/The Independent

‘Food driven’

Japanese market important for NL fisheries diversification: minister

By John Rieti The Independent

I

n Japan’s Tsukiji fish market, a kilogram of Newfoundland eel can go for $3,000, a whole tuna sells for six-figures and sea urchins — whores’ eggs, as many fishermen call them — are a key part of fine cuisine.

“I’m sure if I went on a trawler or something and went through all the bycatch there’d be tons of stuff I’d like to use in the restaurant,” Tak Ishiwata tells The Independent.

Ishiwata is the owner and a chef at Basho, an upscale Japanese-fusion restaurant in downtown St. John’s. Ishiwata Trading Company, his father’s family business, has been successfully exporting Newfoundland and Labrador fish products to Japan for years.

Ishiwata now focuses on his restaurant, but says Japan is still a good destination for the province’s fishing industry to send their products, mainly because the Japanese love seafood.

“The food in Japan is better than anywhere else in the world,” says Ishiwata.

“Everything is food driven, everything is about food … it’s not just eating for the sake of eating.”

Ishiwata spent time cooking and training in Japan, working under world-renowned Japanese chef Nobu. Ishiwata remembers arriving at the Tsukiji market at five in the morning, its massive structure in the middle of Tokyo lined with hundreds of fresh fish, mollusks and other products, like seaweed, to choose from.

“Usually everything is fresh, I mean fresh as in live … the stuff that comes from other countries are usually fresh as in a day or two

old,” says Ishiwata.

An estimated $5.8 billion worth of seafood is traded each year at Tsukiji, making it the biggest wholesale seafood market in the world. To get a product like a bluefin tuna to market, Ishiwata would chill the fish down to three degrees, pack it in a huge wooden casket-like box and send it via air cargo. Ishiwata has seen 500-pound tuna sell for $250,000.

Tom Rideout, the province’s fisheries minister now and two decades ago, traveled to Japan in the 1980s to take in the country’s fishing culture. Today, he’s still blown away

by Tsukiji, and believes the market plays a big role in fishery diversification in the province.

“It’s one of the seven wonders of the world as far as I’m concerned,” says Rideout. “It’s a tremendous experience.”

He says the market gave him a lot of hope

for fishermen back home.

“One time when you mentioned fish in Newfoundland it was basically cod … who heard tell of Newfoundlanders fishing whelk back when I was fisheries minister in the ’80s? I doubt very much if anyone was at it.”

Now he says fishermen are exploring their trade options with Japan, and catching and marketing fish they never had before, like hagfish.

Ishiwata’s parents introduced surf clam to the Japanese market, a product that became very popular. In Fogo, the local fishermens’ co-operative has begun marketing their products directly to Japan.

“There’s a lot of other things (Newfoundland fishermen) could be getting into for sure,” says Ishiwata, citing whelks — See “Traditional,” page 16

The market has spoken Astraeus departure marks another opportunity missed, says St. John’s Board of Trade president

I

n a column I wrote back in March, I referred to the new St. John’s-toLondon direct year-round air service Astraeus Airlines was then getting ready to launch.

This new route and schedule was “a use it or lose it” deal, and local demand would need to be demonstrated if the route was going to succeed and stay in operation over the long run.

That proved to be true, given Astraeus’ announcement last week that the service would be terminated due to low bookings, only a few months after it started. It barely had the chance to get off the ground, but passenger bookings

CATHYBENNETT

Board of Trade on the flight were much lower than anticipated.

The bottom line is the vast majority of people continued to choose Air Canada. Astraeus probably figured that it would take some time for activity to pick up — it was a newcomer to the Newfoundland and Labrador market, after all, and competition from other

airlines is stiffest in the peak summer travel season. However, advance bookings for the fall — when Astraeus would have provided the only direct route between the province and Europe — were also very sparse.

Recall the outcry from people here when Air Canada decided to cancel its direct flight between St. John’s and Heathrow. That move left us with very little choice but to fly through Halifax to or from transatlantic destinations.

The additional time, money and hassle that detour cost us didn’t sit well at all.

As a place that relies so heavily on transportation access, we obviously

saw this as a major inconvenience to business and leisure travellers both.

So it was good news when another carrier announced it was moving in to give that direct St. John’s-London route a try. In fact, the added competition not only resulted in more options for the travelling public (with Air Canada already offering seasonal summer service to Heathrow), but also more attractive pricing — the new seat sales offered had many people pointing out it was never cheaper to fly to Europe from St. John’s.

But, when all was said and done, people travelling across the pond did

not choose to fly with Astraeus. What many people were saying — that another carrier was needed to fill that need — obviously did not convert into solid bookings, for one reason or another.

Perhaps people here are too firmly entrenched in their travel habits. We know the one or two main airlines operating here; that’s what we’re used to, and that’s what we’re sticking with.

Or is it that we just don’t have the numbers to drive volume consistently?

Maybe there just aren’t enough of us wanting to fly to Europe on a fairly regSee “Don’t count,” page 16

16 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

AUGUST 10, 2007

Rogers launches phone service; only in metro

R

ogers Communications entered the province’s home-phone market on Aug. 7 with service that offers free calls throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

But only residents of St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Goulds can get Rogers phones installed. A spokesperson for the company says the service area will expand to more of the Avalon in 2008, but was hesitant to put a timeline on when Rogers’ service will be available in rural Newfoundland.

Under the new plan users can make calls anywhere on the island and Labrador without dialing one and the area code, or incurring a long-distance cost, even when calling someone using an Aliant phone. The spokesperson says in New Brunswick, this type of deal has saved some people hundreds of dollars on their phone bill.

Rogers customers will also be able to call other Rogers home phones and Rogers or Fido mobile phones across the country without long distance fees. john.rieti@theindependent.ca Rogers Cable Communications Atlantic region president Ken Marshall.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Traditional diets changing From page 15 sea snails — as an example.

In Japan, many corner stores have a hot food counter that features small bowls of whelk stew that’s as popular as hot dogs or hamburgers in North America.

Although Japan is known for sushi, the country enjoys seafood in a variety of ways. Ishiwata says the latest trend is eel on rice — a serving in a restaurant will cost between $20 and $60.

Because eel can’t be raised through aquaculture, its value is soaring.

However, the rising Canadian dollar has slowed Japan’s buying power.

“Five to 10 years ago the yen was so strong that the Japanese could just come in and demand whatever they wanted here,” says Ishiwata.

He says America now captures the lion’s share of exports like snow crab, which is the biggest export from the province to Japan at the moment.

America is having another nasty impact on Japan. Ishiwata says more Japanese people are eating “McDonald’s and all that crap,” which is damaging their cultural foodways and their health. “There were never any fat people in Japan but now they’re getting bigger and bigger,” he says.

Rideout remains optimistic about the established seafood trade between Newfoundland and Japan. In 2003 the province launched a $10 million fisheries diversity plan, which provided money to many groups developing whelk and urchin fisheries. His department has invested a further $2.6 million in 2007.

“We’ve been marketing fish in Japan for decades, it’s an important market for us and we’re continuing to explore any and all possibilities in Japan to the greatest extent possible,” says Rideout. john.rieti@theindependent.ca

Don’t count on great seat sales From page 15 ular basis.

But I don’t think many would concede that. It has more to do with the fact that for every passenger who decided to give Astraeus’ flight a try, 10 others opted to fly to London with another airline.

Whatever the case, the market has spoken.

It ultimately comes down to choice.

Unfortunately, as a result of the cancellation, business and leisure air travellers can look forward to less choice and higher costs for flying. Starting in September, if you’re travelling to or from London, you won’t be going direct. And don’t count on great seat sales to Heathrow next summer either.

The hope now is the Astraeus cancel-

lation doesn’t turn out to be a big step backward in trying to enhance the city and province’s overall air access and service.

But one would expect the fact Astraeus couldn’t make a year-round flight work will likely hurt future efforts to attract new or established carriers for transatlantic and other routes based in St. John’s.

Why we weren’t ready to embrace another St. John’s-to-London direct year-round flight is up for debate. But unless we’re completely satisfied with the level of air service and access we have now, we certainly shouldn’t take these kinds of opportunities for granted.

Cathy Bennett is president of the St. John’s Board of Trade.

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 17

Board predicts NL growth, issues warning

By John Rieti The Independent

B

usiness from the oil and gas and mineral sectors have made Newfoundland and Labrador the fastest growing economy in the country, with 8.5 per cent growth in 2007, according to the St. John’s Board of Trade.

However, the board’s mid-year economic review, released Aug. 9, points out several things that worry the business community. The report warns that more oil exploration and finds will be necessary to benefit from the industry in the long term; and the provincial

government needs to release an energy policy and restart negotiations on Hebron soon.

Offshore oil production has jumped 30 per cent, and production is expected to hit close to 200 million barrels this year. The shipped value of minerals in the province has risen by 35 per cent this year.

Members surveyed for the report said a positive announcement about Hebron would increase their confidence in the economy. They also pointed to the tightening labour supply, high business taxes and government red tape as major challenges facing business.

In the labour force, provincial unemployment is expected to decline to 14.3 per cent, although population figures show a loss of 2,000 people from Jan. to April 1.

St. John’s has benefited most from 2007’s economic swell. Gross domestic product, the sum of all goods and services produced, in the capital is predicted to grow 9.4 per cent, or $7.8 billion, outpacing the rest of the province.

Townies have enjoyed an increase in wages and personal incomes, up 3.6 per cent, and almost half the companies surveyed reported an increase in spending. Retail sales are expected to rise by three per cent, although the

board says personal tax relief measures implemented by the provincial government on July 1 may boost spending.

The report issues a stiff warning to the city council — action must be taken to rein in spending, especially as the tax base shrinks along with the population. The board predicts further increases to property and water taxes will be the council’s next move.

Tourists continue to bring money to the province, and the convention and hotel businesses are doing well. The biggest area of tourism growth was on the roads, with six per cent more outof-province tourists driving around the island. Despite increases in passenger

traffic at the St. John’s International Airport, less tourists flew into the province than in 2006.

House construction in the city is slowing, however the board says renovations will be a popular investment in the coming years.

Only 18 per cent of businesses surveyed are enduring a less profitable year than 2006, with 49 per cent of businesses reporting they are heading toward a higher net annual profit in 2007. The board says there is a “likelihood” Newfoundland and Labrador will become a “have” province in the near future. john.rieti@theindependent.ca

Opportunities Clerk Typist II

(Temporary)

Senior Analyst

Labrador Affairs Division, 21 Broomfield Street, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES One (1) temporary position of Clerk Typist II with the Financial Services Division of the Department of Health and Community Services located in St. John’s.

DUTIES: The incumbent will be responsible for providing front desk receptionist duties for the Department. This involves fielding and directing enquiries from Public Service employees and members of the general Public; tracking the receipt of incoming and outgoing mail / correspondence and ensuring distribution to appropriate individuals, as well as monitoring to ensure timely responses. The incumbent prepares letters, reports, memos, and other correspondence. The incumbent is also responsible for scheduling meetings and appointments; and performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS: The position requires experience in administrative work and procedures including proficiency in the use of a variety of software programs such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Experience in administrative work, combined with effective communication, interpersonal and organizational skills is also required. These qualifications would normally be acquired through graduation from High School supplemented by the completion of a recognized Office Administration Program; or an equivalent combination of experience and training.

THE DEPARTMENT: The Department of Health and Community Services provides a leadership role in health and community services program and policy development for the province.

This involves working in partnership with a number of key stakeholders, including Regional Health Authorities, community organizations, professional associations, unions, consumers and other government departments. Employees of the Department are eligible for enrolment in the group health and insurance plans, as well as the provincial government pension plan.

The Department is proud to offer employees a scent-free work environment and the opportunity to request flexible work schedules.

DUTIES: This person reports to the Director of the Labrador Affairs Division with the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. The major duties of the position include: 1) provides a comprehensive review of government policy issues relating to Labrador from the general perspective and also in the context of social, economic and resource development; 2) reviews and analyses provincial policy on each issue and recommends appropriate modifications or initiatives to ensure policy consistency, relevance, and effectiveness; 3) provides liaison between the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs and relevant provincial departments and agencies on all issues respecting Labrador so as to ensure appropriate departmental input into policy formation as well as feedback on policy implementation; 4) prepares briefing materials on all relevant issues relating to Labrador as may be requires for conferences, meetings, etc.; 5) plans and conducts research that may be required respecting issues particular to social, economic and resource development; 6) communicates with stakeholders on issues related to Labrador; 7) monitor programming delivered by the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs.

QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge and understanding of economic, social, northern and aboriginal issues in Labrador and government policies and programs. Proven analytical, organizational, written/oral communication skills are required. Demonstrated ability to conduct research on social, economic and resource projects and to assess government programming as it relates to Labrador. A university degree is required. Knowledge and experience would have been acquired through proven work experience and post-secondly education in the social sciences, public administration, business administration or related areas.

SALARY:

$51,546 - $67,010 (HL-21) plus Labrador Allowance ($2,150 per annum – single; $4,300 per annum – dependant) COMPETITION#: EXEC.LAA.C.SA (p). 07/08/063-P CLOSING DATE: August 17th, 2007 Applications, quoting Competition No. should be submitted to:

SALARY: $ 27,409.20 - $ 29,848.00 per annum (GS-21) COMPETITION #: HCS.C.CTII(p).07.08.032-I CLOSING DATE: August 17th, 2007

Mail:

Applications, quoting competition number, should be forwarded via mail, fax or email: Mail:

Fax: E-Mail:

Recruitment Centre Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block, Confederation Building P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscsocialresumes@gov.nl.ca

Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date - late applications with explanation may be considered. For additional information on this position call (709) 729-2304.

Request For Proposals

Fax: E-mail:

Manager of Strategic Staffing Recruitment Centre – Public Service Commission 4th Floor, West Block, Confederation Building P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 (709) 729-6737 pscecresumes@gov.nl.ca

The competition is also open to the employees of the Public Service including those on layoff status, as specified by the applicable collective agreement or the Personal Administration Procedures, as well as, the general public. Applications should be received before the close of business on the closing date either by email, fax or mail. Late applications with explanation may be considered. For additional information on this position, please call Michelle Watkins, (709) 896-1780.

July 27, 2007

Tender

Public Service Commission

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & WORKS

Preparation of Non-Print Advertisements for Strategic Marketing

Tenders will be received up to the dates and times indicated below for the following projects:

The Public Service Commission is seeking the services of a qualified consultant or firm to prepare a series of non-print advertisements to promote awareness of the Public Service Commission as the recruitment agency of the public service and to increase the general public’s knowledge of emerging employment opportunities and the recruitment process utilized to staff same. Deliverables include providing a strategic plan associated with using this form of marketing media inclusive of an analysis and selection of the appropriate media based on identified target audience(s); advice and experience on the development of content (text, graphics, etc.) for such advertisements as well as appropriate advertising schedules.

A/ PROJECT CP #1 - Labrador West Health Care Center & College of the North Atlantic Campus Site Prepatory Work, Lab. City, NL. PURCHASE PRICE: $ 11.40 CLOSING DATE: AUGUST 27, 2007 @ 3:00 PM

The Public Service Commission (Commission) is an arms-length agency with authority under the Public Service Commission Act. The Commission’s core mandate as referenced in the Act is to serve as an adjudicative body to supervise the recruitment process. A number of other related lines of business are provided by the Commission.

Proposals should include information relating to the following: • Experience in the preparation and development of advertisements.

• Resources at your firm’s disposal.

• Estimated timeframe required to prepare such advertisements.

• Fee structure, and/or anticipated expenses related to the requested deliverable.

B/ PROJECT # 045-07TAR - Part “A” Rehabilitation of Makkovik Airstrip, Part “B” Supply Construction Material for Town of Makkovik, Part “C” Extension and Fencing of Freight Marshalling Yard, Makkovik, Labrador PURCHASE PRICE: $ 22.80 CLOSING DATE: AUGUST 28, 2007 @ 12:00 NOON Upon receipt of the purchase price indicated above, (NON REFUNDABLE, HST INCLUDED) plans and specifications may be obtained from Tendering and Contracts, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, St. John’s, NL. A1B 4J6, Ph# 709-729-3786, Fax # 709-7296729, the Regional Director, Transportation & Works, Building # 86, Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador, A0P 1E0, Ph# 709-896-7840, Fax # 709-896-5513, and viewed at the offices of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association. Tenders addressed to the Deputy Minister of Transportation & Works must be delivered to Tendering and Contracts at the address above and be submitted on forms and in sealed envelopes provided, clearly marked as to the contents. Tenders will be opened immediately after the tender closing time. The Department does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.

Proposals must be submitted to: Ann Chafe, Commissioner Public Service Commission P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 Fax: (709) 729-3178 Telephone: (709) 729-2659 Closing Date:

August 20, 2007

The Public Service Commission does not bind itself to accept the lowest fee quoted, nor any proposal and may cancel the Request for Proposals, without cost to Government.

Hon. John Hickey Minister Transportation & Works

18 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

AUGUST 10, 2007

U.S. immigration to Canada at 30-year high

By Tim Harper Torstar wire service

I

t was a popular vow of apprehensive Democrats in 2004, a pledge made in the heat of battle to move to Canada if George W. Bush was reelected.

Turns out, some of them did.

An analysis of immigration statistics done by the Montreal-based Association for Canadian Studies showed the number of Americans who moved to Canada in 2006 hit a 30-year high, almost double the number who moved north in 2000 when Bush was elected for a first term as U.S. president.

The analysis also showed the southward brain drain is being narrowed

somewhat, and most of the American migrants are highly educated people who may be moving to Canada for quality of life and social reasons.

The numbers were not huge — 10,942 Americans moved to Canada last year, far smaller than the influx predicted when bogus maps of the United States of Canada began hitting the Internet in the waning days of the 2004 campaign.

The day after Bush was re-elected president, there were 191,000 hits on Canada’s immigration website, six times its average traffic, most of it from the U.S. Websites sprouted explaining the mechanics of the Canadian immigration system, and Canadian women, tongues in cheek, offered to marry anti-

war Americans.

But the increase is symbolic, says Jack Jedwab, the executive director of the association that analyzed the statistics. “Given that most of these immigrants are university-educated or better, you can assume they can find work in the U.S., so the move must be based on other reasons,” Jedwab says.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada reported that 49.5 per cent of the Americans who migrated to Canada in 2006 had at least a bachelor’s degree.

Jedwab said anecdotal information points to politics, health care, social issues, possibly even the strengthening Canadian dollar as lures northward, he said.

For 34-year-old labour organizer Tom Kertes, the move last April from

Seattle, Wash., to Toronto was based on human rights.

“The words ‘human rights’ are foreign words in the U.S.,’’ Kertes says.

“They only apply to other countries.’’

He moved to Toronto with his partner Ron Braun and the two plan to marry, something they could not do in Washington state.

He also cited the war in Iraq and the torture of Iraqi prisoners by Americans — and the failure of the Bush administration to clearly disavow such practise — as contributing factors to what is a major decision.

“Moving countries is not done lightly,’’ he says.

He says he found the tolerance of Toronto welcoming and he thought

Canadians were proud of their reputation for tolerance.

The 2006 figure marks the first time there have been more than 10,000 American migrants to Canada since 1981 and was the highest since 1977.

Between 1967-75, a period marked by draft dodgers fleeing the Vietnam War, at least 19,000 Americans fled north each year.

While the number of Americans moving north jumped, the number of Canadians moving to the United States declined to 23,913 in 2006 from 29,930 in 2005. The net loss to Canada of 12,971 was the smallest since 2003 and slightly more than half of the loss suffered by Canada as recently as 2001 when 24,089 more Canadians moved south than Americans moved north.

Baby boutique Coo Chi Coo offers mothers and infants quality products they deserve

C

Michelle Lester, owner of Coo Chi Coo.

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

oo Chi Coo is one of a kind — a baby boutique located on Topsail Road in St. John’s. At Coo Chi Coo you can mommy like a celebrity without having to shop online or leave the province, says owner Michelle Lester of her store, which carries the same stroller that Gwyneth Paltrow uses for her two children.

Lester “conceived” the idea for her baby boutique while on maternity leave with her now two-and-a-half-year-old

son, Maxwell. “As a new mom I researched and educated myself on what was out there and there were so many wonderful products that were not available in the province,” she says.

Coo Chi Coo was “born” when Lester decided Newfoundland parents and their children deserved to have quality products available to them.

You can find everything from strollers and car seats to nursing accessories, toys, diaper bags, crib bedding and mobiles at

the store. Coo Chi Coo has a convenient baby registry for expectant mothers where they can select products that look great, are unique, useful and safe.

“Products like the Grobag (a creative baby sleeping bag that keeps baby warm and safe, with no loose blankets to kick free or become bunched on a sleeping face) are popular and are the biggest saviors to new moms … these are things you shouldn’t have to live without.”

For Lester, growing as a new mom in her business has been “incredible.

“I get to meet other mothers and we network and share stories on what works, what doesn’t and what is new on the market,” she says. That Lester or someone she knows has tested and tried out most of her products means far less worry.

“These are things I have actually used and am familiar with — not only as a businesswoman but as a mother — so I can feel confident in recommending products,” she says.

Lester also has the benefit of getting to know new mothers and babies who walk (or are rolled or carried) inside Coo Chi Coo. That makes product suggestion simple and personal, Lester says, adding that understanding the lifestyle of a family and the temperament of a child can lead to a fulfilling shopping experience for everyone.

Kids in Safe Seats — the only car-seat action group in Newfoundland — is an organization that Lester supports. She recently received her certification with the organization and volunteers her time making sure children are safe when they travel.

For Lester, offering local parents more options was important, and from the feedback she is receiving from her customers that choice is valued. “If you are planning a family, are pregnant, have a young family or know someone who does then come and check us out,” she says.

Visit Coo Chi Coo at 655 Topsail Rd. or online at http://www.coochicoo.net/ Make sure to enter your baby’s photos using products from Coo Chi Coo for your chance to win a $50 in-store gift certificate.

— Pam Pardy Ghent

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 19

Americans rethinking free trade

By Carol Goar Torstar wire service

C

anada entered the free trade era warily. Many residents still have doubts about the 19-year-old Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement. But most would rather live with it than lose it.

The continental market has become so highly integrated that it would be impossible to undo the free trade deal without wiping out millions of jobs and crippling the Canadian economy.

Canada sells 80 per cent of its exports to the U.S., reaping large annual trade surpluses. Last year’s $96.5 billion surplus with the U.S. was more than enough to counterbalance the country’s $43 billion trade deficit with

the rest of the world.

Canadian companies buy more than half of their machinery and equipment in the U.S. Without American technology, they’d have trouble maintaining their competitive edge.

But south of the border, free trade has lost its allure. That sentiment is reflected in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“The last thing we need is another trade agreement like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement),” said John Edwards, the most protectionist of the contenders, at a meeting of the United Steelworkers last month.

“Like anything, NAFTA had some positives, but unfortunately had a lot of downsides,” Hillary Clinton said at a forum sponsored by public-sector

unions in June. “Some of the highvalue work is going to Canada because of lower health-care costs.”

Even Barack Obama, the most moderate of the front-runners, has said American workers need better protection. “When we negotiate trade deals, we’ve got to make sure there are strong labour and environmental provisions in those trade deals.”

(The race for the Republican nomination has yet to come into focus. So far, free trade hasn’t been an issue.)

The presidential election is still 15 months away. The primaries haven’t even begun. But with the Democrats coming on strong, Canadian exporters are nervous and trade analysts are warning that Americans are in an isolationist mood.

Daniel Schwanen, director of research at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, thinks everybody should calm down.

To begin with, he says, none of the Democratic front-runners is actually threatening to withdraw from NAFTA. All Clinton and Edwards are proposing to do is renegotiate the trade agreement to strengthen labour rights and environmental safeguards. That could work to Canada’s benefit.

Moreover, Schwanen says, after a cursory cost-benefit analysis, any president would conclude that scrapping NAFTA would be a costly mistake.

America gets 16 per cent of its crude oil from Canada and 12 per cent from Mexico. Cutting loose its two largest and most reliable energy suppliers at a

Celebrating Newfoundland Living Planet makes its mark on T-shirts

D

ave Hopley, owner of Living Planet in downtown St. John’s, moved to Newfoundland from British Columbia eight years ago and says he has been observing Newfoundlanders and their culture closely ever since.

“I really love St. John’s and the vibrancy of the downtown area — just the whole sense of community is unique,” Hopley says.

It was his observations — combined with 21 years of screen-printing experience — that launched Living Planet. Hopley noted the absence of any locally produced T-shirts other than the standard souvenir fair. “I felt there was a place to use local resources — like local artists — and reproduce that on an original shirt,” he says.

Hopley started off using a row house design by local artist Tonya Macphail. That was seven years ago. Today there are many styles and statements to choose from. One interesting development, Hopley says, is that his shirts and their images are finding favour with locals and tourists alike.

Living Planet’s interesting I Club Baby Seals shirt has taken off. “I thought for sure that would be one only Newfoundlanders would buy, but it is one of our biggest sellers,” he chuckles.

Other T-shirt slogans include Free NFLD, Newfoundland Liberation Army, and Accordion Revolution. Each shirt has it’s own story. Hopley says the Free NFLD idea was born out of local graffiti he saw plastered around the city. “It seemed like a saucy tongue-in-check slogan that people seemed to warm to as a pro-Newfoundland statement,” he says. The Newfoundland Liberation Army shirt came from a comment made in his store one day. “Someone commented that Newfoundland would never be free because we didn’t have an army, so now we do.”

Hopley stresses that his designs are fun and meant to promote positive messages. “This is all about celebrating Newfoundland art and culture,” he says.

Living Planet T-shirts also have a conscience.

The company makes sure they produce shirts using the most eco-friendly processes available.

“We’re into cool T-shirts,” Hopley says, “but we don’t want to poison ourselves producing them.”

Dave Hopley of LIving Planet.

Nicholas Langor

Besides Hopley’s creative designs, Living Planet can create specialty products for local businesses, conferences, family events or reunions. In fact, he just finished a very busy week printing T-shirts for the 31st annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival this past weekend in St. John’s.

He also puts in time with local youth groups like Choices for Youth and Harbourside Studio — teaching young people the art of screen-printing by providing hands-on experience.

Hopley’s creative designs can be purchased in his store on 116 Duckworth St., but you can also find his T-shirts in stores around the island or purchase them online at www.livingplanet.ca.

— Pam Pardy Ghent

time of rising global demand, would jeopardize its way of life.

Even if the U.S. were to pull out of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, he points out, Canada would still be covered by its 1989 free trade deal with Washington.

“I’m not pessimistic,” Schwanen says. “In fact, I think a new president who has promised to do something about NAFTA has an opportunity to fix it. It’s quite a tired, old agreement.”

Strip away the Democrats’ campaign bluster, Schwanen says, and they’re recognizing a truth: Washington has to address the insecurity that pervades America’s industrial heartland.

“NAFTA is not the be-all and the end-all,” he says. “Let’s reopen it for the better.”

20 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTLIFE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2007 — PAGE 21

Nadya Antonevich from Belarus and Katie Pike play in Pike’s St. John’s home.

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

Bye-bye Belarus, hello Newfoundland Thanks to a Canadian relief program for Chernobyl victims, nine families across the province have welcomed children from Belarus into their homes this summer “Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.”

— W. Stafford, Compassion International

I

t’s a stifling hot afternoon, and the east end St. John’s cul-de-sac is silent as the grave: its enormous houses have the air of abandoned ships. The only life in evidence is vegetable — defeated grass (lawns), assorted non-domestic tame shrubbery, and a few reticent flower beds.

The entire suburb has the same eerie air — not a single soul on any of the streets, twolegged or otherwise. A few crows, black holes in the relentlessly blue sky, caw listlessly and infrequently.

As it turns out, this sense of being in a sterile, foreboding landscape is a case of life imitating art: it’s called foreshadowing in literature, and I’ve used it myself, but today, apparently, I’m just a pawn in the cosmic drama.

Although I don’t know it yet, the eightyear-old girl I’m about to interview is in Newfoundland for six weeks thanks to the Canadian Relief Fund for Chernobyl Victims in Belarus, which brings children from that country to ours for something called “a healing respite.”

Although it’s been 21 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster, Belarus is still in bad shape. The poison dust — 30 to 40

SUSAN RENDELL Screed and coke times the radioactivity of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki — that fell over a landmass the size of England has been particularly hard on the children of Belarus. They suffer from extremely high rates of birth defects, thyroid cancer, leukemia and mental retardation.

I’m in this cul-de-sac because my sister told me her colleague, Dr. Eric Pike, a radiologist at St. Clare’s, and his wife Jennifer (a.k.a. Dr. Stender, a local GP) had “a poor child from Russia” staying with their family for the summer. But I don’t hear the word “Chernobyl” until the middle of the interview.

Inside the Pikes’ big white house, sweet pandemonium reigns. There seem to be enough youngsters to fill an orphanage, although there are actually only four — the Pikes’ three children, Ben, Katie, and Nick, ranging in age from seven to 10, and Nadya Antonevich from Belarus. Phones go off like alarm clocks, doors slam, a dog barks.

And yet, it’s more peaceful inside the house than outside. Jennifer Pike’s calm, easy energy has a large radius.

Pike, a tall, slim blond woman in her early

40s, leads me to a living room couch. Nadya is brought in and seated on a chair next to it. A slight girl with long fair hair, brown eyes and golden skin, she’s wearing pink cut-offs and a T-shirt. She looks just like every middle-class North American kid her age. Not exactly what I was expecting.

Nadya’s translator, Olga Zolotova, a 25year-old from Minsk, the Belarusian capital, sits between Nadya and me. Black-haired, jade-eyed Zolotova is the picture of cosmopolitan chic. She tells me her winter job is “teaching putrid doctors English” at the university in Minsk. Putrid doctors? My sister is a putrid doctor, I say, just to see if she means “future,” but she doesn’t bite. Well, she does, verbally, sharp little nips if I’m slow at spelling a Belarusian name, or she feels threatened by a question.

But her face gets soft when she talks about walking by the ocean, picking up shells and pebbles to take home, a practice she and Nadya have in common. Both share a newly acquired love of the sea (Belarus is landlocked).

I ask Nadya the usual questions, which she answers briefly and sweetly through Zolotova.

Her age, what town she comes from, what grade she’s going into, what kind of pets she has, what kind of house she lives in; does she like it here, has she ever been out of Belarus before, is she homesick? (Eight, Smorgon,

Grade 3, a cat named Magus, an apartment, very much, nyet, not very much.)

Why did she come to Newfoundland? “She wants to study English,” Zolotova says. “And this is a healing program for Chernynobyl children. So they come here.”

She’s from Chernobyl? I look across the translator at Nadya, poised and glowing in her chair. I’m shocked, unable to relate this child to pictures I’ve seen of Chernobyl’s ill, malnourished children hooked up to IVs: she and Pike’s daughter could be sisters. (Indeed, Pike tells me later people have been asking if they’re twins.)

“No, she is not particularly from this region,” says Zolotova. Then why is she here?

“The majority are from that area (Gomel), but some children can be from the other cities and towns … maybe their parents moved not so long ago.”

I return to less difficult questions. What’s different here? “Nothing, the land and the food are the same.” Do you miss your friends?

“No, I have made new ones here.”

But I’m drawn back to the subject of Chernobyl. “Nadya doesn’t seem … disadvantaged to me,” I say to Zolotova. “What do you mean?” she says, jade gaze steady. “Just that she seems pretty healthy, pretty middleclass. She doesn’t seem to be …” “Sick, you See “It’s more,” page 24

All in the dysfunctional family …

Noreen Golfman calls for a graceful end to the spat between Memorial’s St. John’s and Corner Brook campuses

W

ith apologies to Leo Tolstoy, the current tensions between the St John’s and Corner Brook campuses of Memorial University prove that all happy families are happy alike, all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way.

The feud about the viability of the autonomy of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College aggravates a long-standing conflict between St John’s and the rest of the province. An academic might

NOREEN GOLFMAN Standing Room Only describe the whole unpleasant drama as being largely about St John’s and the Other.

What is the Other? To a social scientist or philosopher it is that cultural

unit that conveniently helps a community or group to identify itself. The Other serves the purpose of maintaining the privilege and power of the dominant group. The dominant group gets to state the terms in which the Other exists.

So it is that St John’s, whatever that designation actually means, constructs its identity in large part by seeing everything beyond the overpass as different from — and inferior to — itself.

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Whole areas of study are devoted to this theory, most notably Edward Said’s writings on Orientalism, in which he brilliantly exposed how Western nations rationalized the colonization of other peoples. Ray Guy writes about it all the time.

To be sure, there is a growing, rich literature on the history of Newfoundland as an Othered place, whether by Britain or Canada, to name the two most obvious offenders.

And as is the case with so many colonized subjects, in time and with the right mix of social circumstances and economic confidence, the Othered cultural unit starts to reclaim its own rights to define itself. The very existence of this newspaper is an obvious mark of this counter-movement.

It is tempting, and personally helpful, to keep these terms in mind when See “From Leo,” page 23

AUGUST 10, 2007

22 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

GALLERYPROFILE

F

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #18, Harbour Main, Conception Bay (2005)

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #8, Holyrood, Conception Bay (2006)

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #39, Conception Harbour, Conception Bay (2006)

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #4, Colliers, Conception Bay (2006)

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #40, Colliers, Conception Bay (2007)

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus #42, Conception Harbour, Conception Bay (2006)

or years, Scott Walden has driven Route 60 — the twisting stretch of highway between Holyrood and Brigus — entranced by the scenery, people and sense the area had experienced vast change in the past half-century.

“It seems just about every major event of the post-Confederation era affected, in particular, the Holyrood-Brigus region,” Walden says. “The closure of the mines on Bell Island, the Valdmanis industries (Alfred Valdmanis was hired by Joey Smallwood to oversee the largely failed industrialization efforts), building the Trans-Canada, closing the railways, the cod moratorium — they all seem to intersect there.”

Something else caught his eye: the many cavernous clubs and legion halls along the road, once bustling centres of social activity, now quieter gathering places for locals and seasonal visitors.

“You can’t help but notice these clubs,” Walden says. “They’re not franchise clubs, many are family-run … each one has a hand-made sign with a sort of idiosyncratic character to it. I was fascinated to look at them.

“One day we decided to stop at one,

SCOTT WALDEN Photographer went in, had a beer and really just enjoyed the atmosphere within the bar.”

With that drink, Walden decided he’d found the idea for his next project.

Toronto-born, New York-based Walden has made a name for himself as an academic and photographer, garnering particular notice for an ever-growing body of Newfoundland-based work. In 2001, he first exhibited Unsettled, a portfolio of abandoned communities, left behind during Smallwood’s resettlement programs.

Two years later, he published Places Lost: In Search of Newfoundland’s Resettled Communities, a photo-text book based on the well-received exhibition.

His follow-up, Informers (2004), featured portraits of three Newfoundlanders who made models of resettled communities from memory. New Industries (2005) included photographs taken at the sites of

16 industries started during the postConfederation industrialization program, including the Eckart Knitting Mills in Brigus, Newfoundland Tanneries in Carbonear, and Alder Chocolates in Carbonear.

Walden’s connection to this province came about by “happenstance,” starting 20 years ago, not long after graduating from Dalhousie with a master’s degree in philosophy.

He landed his first university job as a summer fill-in at Memorial in 1988. He arrived knowing little about the province; within an hour of breathing his first lungful of the local ocean air, he was hooked.

He’s been back and forth ever since.

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus is the result of a couple of years of visiting pubs and clubs, getting to know the people and the places.

During the summer of 2005, Walden made his first official visits. He would arrive at a chosen bar in the afternoon with his large-format camera and tripod, go in, explain who he was, and that he was photographing all the clubs along Route 60.

He’d ask to photograph the outside

and, “people being friendly that they are,” was inevitably given permission — and a few curious looks.

“Then I’d put the gear away, go in and have a beer, and make myself less of a stranger … then I’d go away,” he says.

“And come back a few days later with my handheld camera, and take pictures of details around the bar.”

That kept up throughout the summer.

The next year, “once I was more of a known quantity, in July and August I’d pop back out into the region. People over time became much more comfortable with me and would take me out and have me take their picture.”

The result is an unpretentious and raw series of photos, capturing characters and moments in businesses that, Walden points out, may not be around much longer.

Walden says there’s “sort of a twilight feel” about the bars these days — back when they were first open, in the postwar, post-Confederation years, the businesses were booming.

“A lot of folks were earning money over on Bell Island, or were working in the States and would come back and

spend money, and the fishery was going.

The railway traveled through several communities and that brought people and money in …

“And one by one, the industries went away. Then the Trans-Canada was built and that drew traffic away from the railway, then the railway closed and of course the fishery in the early ’90s, and one by one, the reasons for the clubs to be there went away.

“Now they just kind of hover.”

Thematically, Walden says All the Clubs “flows very naturally” from his previous projects in this province, all based around his desire to tell stories of post-Confederation Newfoundland history photographically.

“I like to focus on issues still close enough to be fresh in people’s memory — but there is some distance, so people can examine them without opening up all the old wounds.”

All the Clubs from Holyrood to Brigus is on display at Christina Parker Gallery, St. John’s, until Aug. 18.

— Stephanie Porter

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTLIFE • 23

Bourne fabulous TIM CONWAY Film Score The Bourne Ultimatum Starring Matt Damon, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, and Julia Stiles 111 min 1/2 (out of four),

A

lthough it bears the same title as Robert Ludlum’s 1990 novel, The Bourne Ultimatum is not so much an adaptation of the book as it is a sequel to the 2004 film The Bourne Supremacy. By now, the liberties taken when bringing The Bourne Identity to the big screen, compounded by further deviations in the sequel, have sent the third installment on a trajectory nowhere near the original source material.

Emboldened, no doubt, by the success of the Bourne films so far, the folks behind The Bourne Ultimatum are more brazen this time around. They’re not just liberating themselves from the text of the novel, but the restrictions of the previous film. So it is that almost the first two-thirds of this picture takes place prior to the very last scene in The Bourne Supremacy. Rather than labouring over some kind of clunky backtracking, the producers simply run with it, we figure it out, and somewhere down the line, perhaps, they’ll modify the ending to part two on some special home video version.

From the start, we’re aware that this isn’t a motion picture that’s going to get bogged down in exposition. The opening scene finds Jason Bourne being chased by two Russian police officers and cornered in a pharmacy washroom.

This initial pursuit is filmed using a handheld camera, with the cameraman running to keep up with the action. The result is somewhat disorienting, yet exhilarating. It’s so abrupt that we don’t get to make the conscious decision to begin watching the film — we’re pulled into it.

In jig time we’re bouncing around the globe, from Moscow to Turin, to Virginia, then Paris, where Bourne discovers a newspaper article that could lead him to answers regarding his past.

Although he’s still suffering from amnesia, he’s having flashbacks of a series of incidents that seem to be from a critical point in his life. If he’s to get to the bottom of things, he must head to London and find the reporter who wrote the article.

This isn’t a mystery movie, however, so events have to get dangerously complicated. Facilitating this aspect of the story is Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), in charge of a special CIA unit, and likewise interested in that same newspaper article, but for different reasons.

Since the reporter appears to be wandering into sensitive territory, potentially divulging top secret information, Vosen is more than curious about who the reporter knows, what he knows, and what he intends to do with this information. This is the scenario into which Bourne is about to enter.

For the most part, The Bourne Ultimatum is one long pursuit defined by three chase scenes. There are just enough story elements to glue the whole thing together, but the result is one fabulous, thrilling motion picture.

Essentially, the film takes what we have enjoyed most about the series so far, and gives us more of it. There’s no shortage of suspense and excitement, with the tension letting up long enough to let us catch a breath, and move on to more. By the time it’s over, just like the best amusement park rides, we’re a bit overwhelmed, but tempted to immediately give it another go.

Hot Rod Starring Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Jorma Taccone, and Danny McBride 88 min. (out of four)

Before joining the cast and staff of Saturday Night Live, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and director Akiva Schaffer were doing their own thing as The Lonely Island. As a group, they’ve been responsible for the digital shorts that pop up every now and again on the show, including the infamous Lazy Sunday rap video that featured Samberg and Chris Parnell.

This picture, however, was written with Will Ferrell in mind, and while there’s a chance he could have pulled off something entertaining, it’s unlikely he would have done much more with

Matt Damon and Julia Stiles star in The Bourne Ultimatum.

the material. Samberg’s goofy charm and the chemistry he shares with the cast serves the film well, but in the end, they all deserve a better script.

Samberg plays Rod Kimble, a 20something adolescent with two goals in life. The first is to carry on his late father’s legacy as a stunt man. The second is to beat his stepfather in a fistfight and thereby win his respect.

His second dream is jeopardized by

From Leo Tolstoy to Rodney King From page 21

hope

listening to the inflamed rhetoric around the issue of independent university status for Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

If you are a MUN employee working on the campus in the capital city, then you are either a little annoyed or very frustrated by government’s endorsement of separation. Some people have a let-her-go and hope-she-hangs attitude. If you are working in Corner Brook you are probably bound to feel even more certain than ever that St. John’s just doesn’t and never will get it.

No one is indifferent.

Like most family feuds, the articulation of opposing positions is informed by a fair bit of bad feeling and a weighted history of neglect and disappointment. The vast boggy geography between both campuses sure hasn’t helped the family get over its dysfunction, but the same history of Big Campus vs. Other Campus tensions characterizes many Canadian sites that are merely across the road from each other, such as UNB and St. Thomas, Waterloo and St. Jerome’s University, and the University of Western Ontario and Huron College.

Always hovering around those smaller campus cultures, even informally, is the troubling word “affiliated,” suggesting a not-quite-equal bond between blood relations.

It is worth recalling the announcement that a fine arts program would be established on the Grenfell campus in the mid-’80s. It was greeted on the east coast with a fair bit of grumbling, arguably a more muted version of what we are hearing now about the separation of the branch plant from the home office, or Other from Self.

Those who detested the idea in 1985 labeled it political because the government of Brian Peckford, who was representing a west coast electoral district, ordered it into being. So it is today that from the University Chancellor down and through some of the rank and file there is much decrying of the Williams-Marshall gov-

ernment for pandering to the interests of Humber Valley West and East respectively. It’s almost too easy to see it that way.

But since the Peckford government’s creation of the fine arts divisions of Grenfell, the theatre and visual arts programs have enjoyed at least a practical autonomy, since the St. John’s campus lacks full credit programs in either of these areas of study. For all intents and purposes there is no hard competition. Those of us who wished the fine arts divisions could be on the town campus, to benefit from the throbbing nearness of artists and their students, have learned to get used to it.

Indeed, the division has effectively been nurturing actors, directors, and visual artists ever since, sending them out into the world — even to St. John’s — to practice their craft, permanently changing the character of Newfoundland art. Moreover, many artists from St. John’s and way beyond have migrated to the west coast and its galleries because of the very existence of the visual arts program in Corner Brook. What once seemed to many of us to be a foolish idea has matured into a flourishing fact.

The example of the success of the fine arts division is at least some consolation to those of us who wished the university family could get along better. Skipping from Leo Tolstoy to Edward Said to Rodney King, from the sublime to the banal in one column, might be forgiven if we can admit our disappointment that things haven’t gone the way we would have liked, or think we all deserve.

Whether the other academic divisions of Grenfell can go it alone — or independently, if there’s a difference — remains to be seen. For now, at least, the Other is having its way with the dominant culture. The best way to go from here might as well be gracefully — that is, with a clean, not a partial, break.

Noreen Golfman is a professor of literature and women’s studies at Memorial University. Her

For every question there is an answer.

Hope through education, support and solutions.

We’re here.

1.800.321.1433 www.arthritis.ca

his stepfather’s failing health, so Rod steps up to the plate. He’s determined to organize and complete a major stunt, thereby raising the money for his stepfather’s heart transplant. Then, after his health has improved, Rod plans to finally fight him.

So, it’s an hour-and-a-half of foolishness that is occasionally funny, frequently amusing, and while there’s plenty of room for improvement, it’s

not nearly as bad as it could have been.

More a guilty pleasure than anything else, Hot Rod would have provided a great costume idea for this year’s Hallowe’en parties, only it’ll probably be long forgotten by then.

Tim Conway operates Capitol Video in Rawlin’s Cross, St. John’s. His column returns Aug. 24.

AUGUST 10, 2007

24 • INDEPENDENTLIFE

‘It’s more like a holiday’ From page 21 mean,” Zolotova says. Yeah. Sick or poor.

So was her family affected by Cherynobyl at all? “I don’t really know about this,” Zolotova says. “I don’t know everything about their families and where did they live at that particular time (of the disaster). The majority of children are from very poor families; they can’t afford to spend summers somewhere. She’s here for five weeks now, so she has a lot of clothes they (the Pikes) bought for her.” Zolotova seems bored, and slightly irritated.

Pike is irritated too. Not irritated: disappointed.

We’re sitting at her kitchen table while Nadya and Zolotova and Pike’s children are having their pictures taken in the living room. Pike is flipping through an article on Chernobyl in the April, 2006 National Geographic, showing me pictures of children I can barely stand to look at.

Twenty-one years ago, Pike went to study in Germany just after the disaster in Belarus. “The winds shifted and some radioactivity came our way. We weren’t allowed to eat the local produce or drink local milk. I said at that point if I ever had the opportunity to help the area I would.”

Last year, Pike read about a local couple involved with Chernobyl’s children through the Canadian Relief Fund for Chernobyl Victims in Belarus. She contacted the group, applied to take a child for six weeks and paid the fees (including nearly $3,000 dollars in airfare). She instructed her children on how to treat the wounded child who would be coming to live with them. “We had prepared them for one thing, and something else arrived. The boys went ‘Whoa! Why should we treat her special?’”

Why, indeed. Nadya, who lives approximately 100 kilometres from Minsk, arrived with a suitcase full of clothes. Both her parents have good jobs, and she has been outside Belarus before, to Italy. Pike hasn’t wrought the five-week miracle Zolotov hinted at, although she’s bought Nadya some clothes and filled her days with tennis, swimming, soccer and sight-seeing. And made her feel at home in a happy, affluent family.

“Most of the kids … are supposed to be from the region near Chernobyl,” Pike says, “but this year for some reason two of the nine children (in Newfoundland) who came are not. We thought we’d really be helping a needy child. But it’s more like a holiday.”

Pike lowers her voice, checks to make sure

Nadya and Zolotov are well out of range. “The children who have come other years have been extremely needy, have shown up with one change of clothes for six weeks.”

She tells me about a couple in Lewisporte who’ve been involved with the program for three years. Their first child, Pike says, “came malnourished; he had bruises and lived very close to Chernobyl. In six weeks he put on 20 pounds, and has remained basically healthy since. The little girl who came to them this year — from Minsk — came with a suitcase full of stuff, came with a cell phone. You have to wonder how they do their selections over there. This is not part of the mission statement; this is not what was supposed to happen.

“I’m sure there’s a needy child over there who would have benefited much more from the experience — (we) probably would have made a huge impact on his or her life.”

I agree. But, I say, doing something like this, even if it wasn’t what you intended — you never know, somewhere down the road, how it will bear fruit. Pike gives me a quick, bright smile and nods her head.

On the way home, I think of the malnourished kids I know in Buckmaster’s Circle; their white, pinched faces, their parents’ rotting teeth. And then I think of Nadya walking by the ocean for the first time, and I imagine a line of shells and pebbles along a window sill in a bedroom of one of those god-awful Communist state apartments.

In a week’s time, Nadya will return to such an apartment. Fifty thousand of them were built for Chernobyl evacuees in Minsk alone. That city had eight cases of thyroid cancer before Chernobyl.

Currently there are 2,000 cases, and some believe the number will reach 8,000 to 10,000 over the next few years. Besides physical disease, there are psycho-social problems associated with the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of people: unemployment, poverty, depression, stress-related disorders.

I don’t know Nadya’s real story. She’s a small enigma, a temporary refugee from a country that’s been kicked around for centuries — by the rich, by invaders, by wars, by Communism and most recently by defective Soviet technology and the apathy of the fat, spoiled West.

We should feel grateful for her company.

Maybe even ashamed. srendell@nf.sympatico.ca

Krista Hann as Nancy and Jonny Lewis as Governor Waldegrave practice from Mutiny of 1800 at the Quidi Vidi Battery.

Nicholas Langor/ The Independent

History in the (re)making Cornerboys Theatre — a.k.a. Mary Walsh and Rick Boland — stage two new plays in historical settings that inspired them

By Mandy Cook The Independent

R

ick Boland and his production partner Mary Walsh want audience members attending their new plays to travel back 200 years in Newfoundland’s history — so much so you might be passed a secret note by a furtive stranger while out minding your own business in the capital city.

Boland’s play is entitled Mutiny of 1800 — a historical interpretation of 19 Irishmen in the British army who took a clandestine oath of the Society of the United Irishmen to overthrow their superiors. Boland says his theatrical experience starts in the same spirit of secrecy.

“What we do — I love this, right — is go around to hotels and venues and events on the pier or up at the Tattoo and give people little notes that say, ‘A meeting of the United Irishmen is taking place at the regimental barracks in Quidi Vidi.

Equality it has been new restrung and shall be heard … meet liberty or death,’ and then the phone number (for the box office),” he says.

Writer and director of the piece, Boland says theatre-goers will be incorporated into the performance upon arrival at the performance site — the four-gun Quidi Vidi battery and barracks above the gut. Regimental soldiers in full dress playing fifes and drums will “recruit” people into the army and be marched into place.

While the actors play out the unsuccessful revolt — the plot was eventually overthrown and many of the solders hanged — the audience will be treated like any other recruit. They will be expected to chop wood and clean muskets, but will be rewarded with a meal of bread and cider.

Music and refreshments are also must-have ingredients that authentically set the stage of Mary Walsh’s Garden Party, which takes place at Commissariat House on King’s Bridge Road.

Walsh’s vision of actors playing out characters

from Newfoundland’s history on the house’s grounds sprung from a “somewhat childish” part of her imagination.

“Commissariat House is like a great big dollhouse, and in a way when you go through Commissariat House you kind of imagine all kinds of scenes and people in there in a way you did with your dollhouse — you open that door and move things around,” she says. “Now we are trying to make the dolls come alive.”

Walsh, writer and director of the play, says the interactive vignettes are based on historical and archival research, such as a heated meeting that takes place between Roman Catholic Bishop Fleming and the first governor of the colony of Newfoundland, Sir Thomas John Cochrane.

Patrick Morris, Prime Minister of Newfoundland, makes an appearance, as well as a host of other characters, such as a cook, groomsmen and a gossipy scullery maid who leads the tour of the house.

“The brilliant Bridget Wareham is playing Maisie the maid. We have no idea if there was anyone named Maisie, all the below stairs stuff is all imagined because nobody bothered to remember,” says Walsh. “Their history is not recorded anywhere.”

The show takes place in the year 1830, when Newfoundland was experiencing great change.

Colonial status had just been awarded five years prior and two more years of agitation would bring representative government. Some of the fledgling colony’s future would play out between the walls of Commissariat House — admired today as much for its historical relevance as for its architectural appeal, as Walsh points out.

“It’s a beautiful sort of jewel box of a place.”

Opening performances take place Aug. 11-12 and continue Aug. 18, 19, 25 and 26. For tickets call 729-6730. mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

INDEPENDENTSTYLE

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2007 — PAGE 25

Natural Woman

Becoming an Outdoors Woman program marks 10th year of nature know-how Raelene Thomas, avid salmon fisher and B.O.W. instructor on the shores of Long Pond, St. John’s.

By Mandy Cook The Independent

O

nly in this province can a woman look and feel like a million bucks suited up in head-totoe fishing waders. Dressed in the appropriate attire for a particular occasion — in this case, the 10th year since Lucy O’Driscoll of Salmonier Nature Park started an outdoors program strictly for women — the ladies of

Newfoundland and Labrador can now feel just as confident toting a shotgun in a camouflage vest as they can in the perfect party frock at a summer wedding.

Designed to teach women the ins and outs of shooting a rifle, outdoor survival skills and how to use a map and compass (the latest program will even feature GPS training), Becoming an Outdoors Woman is offered to female outdoor enthusiasts 18 years of age and older. The next session, scheduled for

Sept.14-16, will take place at Albert Lake, near Wabush.

O’Driscoll says you won’t find a better way to spend a weekend. You don’t have to be an avid hunter or fisherwoman to participate — even if you’re out picking berries it’s good to have, and be able to read, a compass in case you get disoriented.

The best part of the “life-changing” weekend, O’Driscoll says, is the way the program makes the participants feel

Nicholas Langor/The Independent

at the end of the three days.

“The empowerment and the confidence level … then the weekend itself there’s a lot of laughter,” she says. “It’s a real good combination — you feel like you’re accomplishing something, you’re getting life skills we need here on an island, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Kelli-ann Blackwood, originally from Port Union and now living in St. John’s, says even a broken leg couldn’t keep her from attending the June session at Burry

Heights on Salmonier Line. She says she always wanted to learn rifle basics and whether or not she was a good shot.

“It was a little scary at first as I am very accident-prone,” she laughs. “Once we actually had the guns in our hands then it was this feeling … we were taking over something that wasn’t necessarily our domain.

“Growing up, the men in my family See “The come in droves,” page 26

AUGUST 10, 2007

26 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

Rock the guac Offering respect to the mighty avocado

T

hey stare at me teasingly. Their pendulous shape beckons me to touch and caress them. They have a solid weight and a firmness which yields only slightly with a light touch — the Haas avocados at the grocery store are ready for eating.

I’m going through what can only be called an avocado craving. Over the last couple of months I’ve eaten a lot of them, and they are simply intoxicating when ripe. The flesh is flavourful and deliciously buttery. I am finding them hard to resist at the store.

Avocados are the Rodney Dangerfield of fruit — they don’t get the respect they deserve. Yes, they are fruit, the large seed in the middle tells us so.

But the avocado is getting a makeover, becoming the hot new “it” food. It has become big enough to grace the cover of Saveur Magazine, the GQ of food style.

The avocado originated in south-central Mexico somewhere between 7,000 and 5,000 B.C., with archaeological evidence revealing avocados were cultivated about 500 B.C., making them one of the oldest continuously cultivated fruits along with apples, peaches and pears.

Although we associate them with Mexican food, the avocados we love to eat year-round are from California.

California is the central producer of avocados in North America, producing over 60 per cent of the total yield.

Today, the most popular variety — 95 per cent of all harvested avocado — is the Hass. The mother tree of all Hass avocados was born in a backyard in La Habra Heights, California and it is still alive today.

From the outside at least, an avocado

NICHOLAS GARDNER Off the Eating Path lives up to one of its nicknames: the alligator pear. The common Haas has a thick, slightly pebbly, but easily peeled skin.

The best way to tell if a California avocado is ready for immediate use is to gently squeeze the fruit in the palm of your hand. Ripe, ready-to-eat fruit will be firm, yet will yield to gentle pressure.

The avocado is among the new super foods, as all varieties are found to be both sodium and cholesterol-free. The other reason is that they are packed full of fat — the good kind, which protects arteries from clogging.

The much-maligned fruit lends itself to many applications, all of them tasty.

The buttery texture of the fruit makes a silky sauce, perfect for dressing a salad or drizzled over fish. Try this rich avocado sauce: • 1 avocado, about 8 ounces, roughly diced • 2 Tbsp sour cream • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice • zest of 1/2 lemon • 2 Tbsp good olive oil • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste Start with a ripe avocado and cut it lengthwise around the seed. Twist the halves to separate. Remove the seed by sliding the tip of a spoon gently under-

neath and lifting out. Peel the fruit by scooping the avocado meat out with a tablespoon.

Using a blender or food processor, puree avocado until almost smooth.

Add oil, sour cream, lemon and lemon zest. Puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Since guacamole is the most traditional way of eating the avocado, try this noble, and as far as I know, authentic guacamole.

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, seeded

Short cuts Cropped locks denote confidence, yet many women still shy away from wearing their hair short

By Erin Kobayashi Torstar wire service

B

British model Agyness Deyn is a head turner. But it’s not her acidic House of Holland postpunk fashion sense that commands attention — it’s her head. Specifically, her signature short hair.

Deyn, 21, who sports a boy-short Billy Idol peroxide blond crop, is an anomaly on the fashion runways where long-haired models rule.

“It created a buzz,” says Trudi Tapscott, Deyn’s manager at DNA in New York. Deyn was sporting the unconventional style when she ventured into DNA’s offices just last year — and her locks became a short cut in more ways than one. It set her apart from the pack, and propelled her onto the world’s hottest runways.

Aggressive, androgynous hairstyles are not only a rarity on the runways but in everyday life. The style represents

strong, confident women, yet many still shy away from short cuts.

“Sometimes I say, ‘Maybe it is too short. Maybe I should go back,’” says Adele Freeman, a former architecture columnist, who has worn short hair since 1982. “As soon as it gets reasonably long, I cut it back because I do prefer it this way.”

With naturally thick, wavy hair, Freeman describes her short hair as easy to manage and says it also works well with her designer wardrobe based on pieces from Comme des Garçons which, coincidentally, translates from French to “like boys.”

“You are interested in the concept as much as the look itself,” Freeman says.

“Short hair is an idea about hair … short hair speaks to all of the fashion that I really enjoy, that I really like. I’m a minimalist.”

When Freeman relocated from Toronto to Seattle, she was on the hunt for a stylist.

British model Agyness Deyn

When she consults with hairstylists, she references the short hair of actresses Mia Farrow, Jean Seberg, writer Gertrude Stein and Canadian architect Phyllis Lambert.

“When I was looking around for a new place, I went to a woman who had never heard of any of my people,” she says. “Anyway, I had a terrible cut … she left these tendrils to make it soft.

Well, I hated the tendrils! So I had to go home and cut off the tendrils and keep looking.”

As Freeman matures, does she worry about her short hair exposing wrinkles?

“When you are getting older, you

• 1/4 tsp cumin, ground • 1/4 ripe tomato, seeded and diced • 2 Tbsp minced sweet white onion • 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro leaves • 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice • A hot pepper sauce like Tobasco, sea salt, white pepper to taste Cut the avocado in large chunks and mash lightly in a bowl with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and blend gently.

Don’t make a paste, some small chunks are fine. Taste and adjust seasoning with more pepper sauce, salt and pep-

per if desired. Serve with everything from corn chips to a grilled pork chop.

The only trick left is storage. If you only need half an avocado be sure to sprinkle all cut surfaces with lemon juice or white vinegar to prevent the fruit from going brown.

I love those other ways of eating them but right now I’m a bit of a purist.

I’ve been known to eat half an avocado, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, with a spoon. Go give the avocado the respect it deserves. I do. nicholas.gardner@gmail.com

don’t want your face to be exposed but on the other hand, what the hell? What are you hiding?”

When ballet star Karen Kain cut her long, dark tresses 20 years ago, hairdresser Ray Civello gradually cut it off over a period of two hours, terrified that she would be upset with the outcome.

“He would cut an inch off and ask me if it was enough or if I wanted to go shorter,” she says, happy to be rid of long hair that was damaged by constantly pulling it back in tight buns.

Kain loved the new short cut. However, she was not prepared for the reaction it received.

“The press went crazy,” she remembers. “I was surprised that they made such a big deal about it. I couldn’t understand why they were treating it like it was an act of rebellion against classical ballet. I had spent a lot of time in France and there were many women there with short hair cuts, including other ballerinas.”

Living in Paris at age 17, Zoe Centeno lopped off her thick, long hair on a whim, not something stylists recommend since regret can quickly follow. But Centeno, now 28, embraced her short hair, feeling it expressed and reflected her personality: liberal, easygoing and fun.

“A lot of French women have short hair. It’s more common than here,” Centeno says. “It’s more Anglo-Saxon and traditional in Canada. I don’t think younger women really think about cut-

ting their hair.”

Her dramatic new look attracted attention. “I remember the first few times when I cut my hair, I was concerned with gay women hitting on me and if I’d be able to deal with it,” she says. “It’s true, there is a stereotype that you associate short-haired women as gay.”

Dvora Zipkin, who wrote the paper The Myth of the Short-Haired Lesbian published in The Journal of Lesbian Studies, says that short hair is a signal for lesbians.

“There are myths and misconceptions that all lesbians have short hair,” Zipkin says. “Part of it is lesbians wanting to distance themselves from the male-imposed images of femininity and what feminine beauty is.” She adds that long-haired lesbians are often not taken seriously by the gay and heterosexual community.

Steve Zdatny, an associate history professor at West Virginia University who has written extensively about hair, says there remains a societal belief that women should have long hair and men’s locks should be short.

“I don’t believe that God mandated short hair for boys, long hair for girls — but I know a lot of people who do,” he says.

As for Deyn’s Joan of Arc hairstyle, it’s no fashion fluke: She’s worn her hair short since she was 11 years old.

Fashion, it seems, has caught up with Deyn’s boyish, yet feminine, style.

‘They come in droves’ From page 25

hunted; the women did not. Shooting it for the first time and feeling that slight kick and being told I hit the target — that was incredible.”

AWE OF LEARNING Blackwood says a lot of the appeal of the program is “getting to do things you wouldn’t normally do.” Her voice still reflects the awe of learning how to bake a cheesecake in the woods with tin foil and a cardboard box and making omelets in a pot of boiling water. She said the women in her session were eating “constantly.”

She also enjoyed Memorial University professor T. A. Loeffler speak about her quest to scale Mount Everest — another male-dominated area.

While O’Driscoll says the $160 registration fee covers accommodation and meals, she recommends picking up waterproof footwear and synthetic layers to keep you dry and warm. Other than that, just bring yourself. Other women, she says, are sure to follow.

“Most people say, ‘I’ve got to get my mother here, I’ve got to get my sister here.’ A lot of mother and daughter and sister combinations. They come in droves.”

For more information, contact Salmonier Nature Park at 229-7888.

Scholarships are available for single mothers and students. mandy.cook@theindependent.ca

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTSTYLE • 27

Fishing on Can’t Tell Pond

T

he fishing season can be painful for me. Watching fellas go off for a day together on the water or seeing a set of buddies trouting on the side of the road reminds me of what Blair never had a chance to do with his baby brother Brian.

Brian was the youngest of the six Ghent children. He was born the year Blair turned 11 and the age difference prevented them having a close relationship beyond the basic day-to-day family interaction. Brian was 11 when Blair and I married and left Newfoundland for Ontario and with his crazy tradesman’s schedule, Blair didn’t make it home much over the years.

When Brian turned 20, the brothers started a relationship over the Internet and they began instant messaging and emailing the years away. They spent hours each evening planning the fishing trip they would take together — to a secret place they would only refer to as Can’t Tell Pond.

That I was in the dark and dying to know the location of Can’t Tell Pond (it could have been anywhere from Alaska to Newfoundland) only added to their

PAM PARDY GHENT

Seven-day talk enjoyment. I soon learned this was one secret Blair would never share, and I eventually gave up asking.

Brian was in school and money was tight; Blair had a busy work schedule, a huge mortgage and a small child. The date of the fishing trip remained as mysterious as the location. Two years passed and the trip still hadn’t materialized, but planning it consumed many online hours and the brothers grew quite close.

Thursday, Oct. 12, 2002 started like any other in our busy Mississauga lives.

I woke early, walked the dogs, then headed home to wake my boys with a quick kiss and cuddle before I headed out the door with a promise to pick Brody up at noon for our regular lunch date.

I brought Brody to my office for lunch that day and he coyly invited one

of the young girls from my office over to play when she got off work. “My mom won’t mind,” he assured Melissa, “will you, Mom?” I agreed of course and offered to celebrate his “play date” with pizza.

I called Blair and told him Brody had his first date.

Melissa came by at 6 p.m. and I was expecting Blair shortly after. The pizza showed up — but no Blair. I could always set a watch by my husband.

While he was rarely early, he was certainly never late, especially when it came to coming home after work.

I tried his cell and couldn’t reach him.

I left a message at his office. I was worried.

Brody and Melissa were playing in the rec room when Blair finally called.

His words were a jumble in my ear and my brain fought to make sense of what he was saying. There had been an accident and Brian was dead.

I struggled to stay calm. I remember asking Blair if he was OK to drive home. He told me he was parked outside work and was focused on just breathing in and out. He would come

DETAILS

Images from www.katharinehamnett.com

Slogans serious and frivolous T-shirts are the ideal billboard to announce your political beliefs or just have fun with witty words

By Derick Chetty Torstar wire service

N

o other piece of apparel can be used so fashionably as a billboard than the simple T-shirt.

Its sandwich-board expanse is the perfect canvas to pledge allegiance to a logo, a sports team, a band or a political viewpoint. Curiously, it was the protest tee that became a fashion statement.

In 1983, British designer Katharine Hamnett launched a series of slogan Tshirts, some of which proclaimed to Choose Life, Save the Whales and Preserve the Rainforests. You could say she was an earlier eco-warrior. The iconic T-shirts — long white tees with oversized san serif block type — were

a huge hit, garnering tremendous media coverage.

Bands such as Frankie goes to Hollywood and Wham! adopted them and it became a defining moment in fashion in the early ’80s.

While the designer today is fighting for ethical cotton farming, even changing her label to Katharine E Hamnett, with the initial E standing for ethically manufactured, the graphic style slogan tee she pioneered is making a comeback.

But while hers still bear environmentally charged messages, another British designer, Henry Holland, a one-time fashion writer, recently launched a line of neon bright, large font printed tees under the label House of Holland.

Fashionistas are scrambling to get their hands on them.

But his messages are not politically charged; they are more fun, with rhyming word plays on fashion designer names. Cause me pain Hedi Slimane, Harder Harder Miucci Prada and Do me daily Christopher Bailey are just some of the slogans fashion groupies are proudly sporting. Come fall, Holland will put his prose on models with Wham bam thank you Stam and I’ll show you who’s boss Kate Moss.

They are not yet available in Canada but the hype over House of Holland tees has fuelled the inevitable lookalikes at chain stores.

This summer, it appears to be chic to get something off your chest.

home when he could.

I hung up, struggling to cradle the cordless properly. I couldn’t because I couldn’t see it. I wasn’t crying — I was too stunned at that point — but it was like I was peering through a veil of thick cotton. I felt pain in my chest and stomach, as if I had been kicked and punched at the same time, yet I couldn’t feel my limbs. Melissa knew something had happened and offered to stick around, or take Brody out if I needed.

She and our little boy continued their pizza party.

I called my mother and shared my first of many tears. There was not much else to do.

I had been part of the Ghent family since Brian was a lad of eight and he became my kid brother as well. That he was gone seemed impossible and how he died seemed so unfair.

Brian was headed back to his apartment in St. John’s from Portugal Cove.

He was making a left hand turn on Major’s Path — before the turn signal was implemented — and was hit by a dump truck going straight on through.

He died instantly. He was 23.

Of the many things Brian would never have the chance to do, most painful for me was that there would be no fishing trip. The dreaming, the planning and the scheming ended that day.

Can’t Tell Pond was never mentioned again in our home.

The last time Blair came home from Alberta he took Brody off fishing and what was supposed to be a one-nighter turned into a three-day trip.

When Blair called home the second night, I asked why they weren’t on their way back. It was getting late, I told him.

“We’re not coming back yet,” he said.

The fish were biting and they weren’t quite ready to pack it in.

“Where are you, anyway?” I asked.

“Can’t tell,” he chuckled.

I was about to launch a protest when it hit me.

My husband had taken our son on the fishing trip he had planned with his brother.

My boys were fishing on Can’t Tell Pond.

Pamela Pardy Ghent lives in Harbour Mille on the Burin Peninsula. pamelamichpardy@yahoo.com

AUGUST 10, 2007

28 • INDEPENDENTSTYLE

EVENTS

Submit your events to Kayla Email: kayla.joy@theindependent.ca Phone: (709) 726-INDY (4639) Fax: (709) 726-8499

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 • Makkovik Trout Festival, until Aug. 11.

• The Seabird Theatre Festival presents The Gill Dinner Theatre and a Show, Episode 53, The Theatre, Newtown, 7 p.m. until Aug. 11, 1-866NLPLAYS, info@seabirdtheatrefestival.ca.

• Brigus Blueberry Festival, until Aug. 11, www.brigus.net.

• Films on the Go 2007, Princess Sheila Nageira Theatre, Carbonear, 7 p.m., until Aug. 11, 1-866320-7060, www.womensfilmfestival.com.

• Brimstone Head Folk Festival, Brimstone Head Park, Fogo, until Aug. 12.

• Bakeapple Folk Festival, nightly entertainment, crafts and displays, Forteau, until Aug. 12.

• Ramea Rock Island Music Festival, until Aug. 12, www.RameaIsland.com.

• Thomas Amusements, The Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, until Aug. 12.

• Burin Heritage weekend, Burin Heritage grounds, until Aug. 12 • Mussel Bed Soiree, recreation complex, Lewisporte, until Aug. 14.

• Soldier’s Heart, Stephenville Arts and Culture Centre, 7:30 p.m., also playing Aug. 16 and 23.

• Tuckamore Festival, chamber music in Newfoundland, St. John’s, until Aug.19, www.tuckamorefestival.ca.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 • Farm Field Day, Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre, 308 Brookfield Road, St. John’s.

• Amelia Curran sings at Winterset in Summer, Eastport, Somewhere in Newfoundland tour, 8 p.m., until Aug. 12.

• Ramea Paddle Festival, celebrating Ramea and kayaking with interpretive tours of the island, lessons, food, and more, until Aug. 13.

• South Coast Arts Festival, St. Jacques, until Aug. 13.

• The New Curtain Theatre Company presents the final showing of It Had to be You, a quirky offbroadway romantic comedy, 8 p.m., 466-7966.

• First View of the Sea, Tramore Productions, Cuslett Art Center, 8 p.m., 337-2104 • Craft Council Clay Studio’s Annual Beach Firing and Sale, firing, 10 a.m., sale, 1 p.m., Middle Cove Beach, 753-2534.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 • Films on the Go 2007, Gander Arts and Culture Centre, 7 p.m., until Aug. 13, 1-866-320-7060, www.womensfilmfestival.com.

• Goose Cove Garden Party, annual evening of fun and entertainment.

• Festival of Friends featuring top Newfoundland performers of traditional and Irish music, Kelly Park, Outer Cove, 12-9:30 p.m.

MONDAY, AUGUST 13 • Drawing and painting class with Julia Pickard and bookbinding class with Tara Bryan, Anna Templeton Centre, St. John’s, until Aug. 17, 7397623.

• Music and reading at The Ship Pub, St. John’s, featuring award-winning writers George Bowering and Edward Riche, music from Sherry Ryan, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 • Films on the Go 2007, Phoenix Theatre, Grand Falls-Windsor, 7 p.m., Aug. 14-15, 1-866-3207060, www.womensfilmfestival.com.

• Thomas Amusements, The Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, until Aug. 19.

• Lloyd Bartlett and Brian Burton at Sounds of Summer Concert Series, Majestic Lawn, Corner Brook, 7-9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15

Emilia Bartellas, violin, and Michael Collins, viola perform a free lunchtime concert Aug. 8 at The Kirk as part of this year’s Tuckamore Festival, running until Aug. 19. For a full schedule of events, visit www.tuckamorefestival.ca.

Paul Daly/The Independent

• Heave Away, Stephenville Arts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m.

• The Mountains and the Trees at Folk Night, Ship Pub, St. John’s, 9:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 • Rising Tide Theatre at Arts Under the Stars, Elizabeth Swan Park, Clarenville, 7:30 p.m.

• Street Symphony at Sounds of Summer Concert Series, Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, 7-9 p.m.

• Opening of The Holloways: Newfoundland’s First Family of Photography, The Rooms, level 3, St. John’s.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 • Mount Pearl Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music Festival, Glacier Arena, Olympic Drive, until Aug. 19, 748-1008, www.mountpearl.ca.

• Heritage Folk Festival, music, dance, and recitations, until Aug. 19, Newman Sound Outdoor Theatre, Terra Nova National Park, 533-3145.

• Charlottetown Shrimp Festival, traditional breakfast, boat tours, children’s games, and more, Aug. 17-18.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 • 24 Hour Art Marathon, Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Drive, 12 p.m., products from the marathon to be auctioned off following the event, 1 p.m., Aug. 19.

• 120s tournament, bring your own cards and baskets, two teams per table, three players per team, Anna Templeton Centre, 7 p.m., 739-7623.

• Films on the Go 2007, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Theatre, Corner Brook, time TBA, Aug. 1819, 1-866-320-7060, www.womensfilmfestival.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 • Gala Broadway – Black ‘n White, Stephenville Arts and Culture Centre, 7:30 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS • Voices from the Past – Remembering Days Gone By, Bell Island dinner theatre, St. Michael’s Hall, Town Square, 7 p.m., Aug. 25, 351-2013, islanddinnertheatre@hotmail.com.

• Introduction to Zine Making, workshop with Craig Francis Power, St. Michael’s Printshop, 72 Harbour Drive, St. John’s, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Aug. 25, 754-2931.

• Viking to Vinland Half Marathon, L’Anse aux Meadows, Sept. 2., 623-2018, www.valhallalodge.com.

• Newfoundland Equestrian Association Show, provincial horse show, Sept. 8, and 22-23, St. John’s, 726-0826, free admission.

• Bridget Mulrooney Memorial Golf Tournament, in aid of the Children’s Wish Foundation, 2 p.m., The Wilds, Salmonier Line, Sept. 14.

• Big Land Fair, annual fall harvest festival, E.J. Broomfield Memorial Arena, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Sept. 15.

• CLB Band Reunion, CLB Armoury, Harvey Road, St. John’s, Oct. 11, 747-5701 or 579-4800.

ONGOING: • Easter Seals seeking clothes donations, including overalls, rubber boots, fleece jackets, pajama bottoms and tops, wigs, mannequins, and canes, and volunteers over 16 years of age for Harbour Haunt 2007, contact Amanda, 754-1399, or apply at www.easterseals.nf.ca.

• Little Hooping Harbour, interactive musical for children, Majestic Theatre, St. John’s, Wednesdays to Saturdays, 2 p.m. throughout summer, 579-3023.

• Sinatra on the Rocks, The Wilds at Salmonier River, doors open 6:30 p.m., meal service 7 p.m., 579-3023, 1-877-661-3023, Tuesday nights.

• East Coast Trail Group Hikes, weekends throughout summer, www.eastcoasttrail.com.

• The Rooms, St. John’s, free admission Wednesday nights, 6-9 p.m., www.therooms.ca.

• Family Canoeing, Power’s Pond, Mount Pearl, Wednesday evenings, 6-8 p.m., throughout summer.

• Historic walking tours Tuesday and Friday mornings, 75 minutes, Fairmont Hotel, Cavendish Square, St. John’s, call 364-6845 for reservations, www.boyletours.com • Roller skating, Mile One Centre, St. John’s, age 18 and up, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-10 p.m.

• When Larry Met Sally the Girl From the Bay, dinner theatre, Wednesday - Friday throughout summer, Majestic Theatre, 390 Duckworth Street, St. John’s, 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.

• Signal Hill Tattoo Historic Military Animation Program, Signal Hill National Historic site, St. John’s, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., until Aug. 12.

• The Comedy of Errors presented by Shakespeare by the Sea, Cabot 500 Theatre, Bowring Park, St. John’s, Sundays and Mondays, 6 p.m., until Aug. 13, 743-7287.

• Basic Digital Photography Course, The Studio,

272 Water Street, St. John’s, above Auntie Crae’s, 6 Wednesday evenings, until Aug. 15, 7-10 p.m., 7390346, www.shanekellyphotography.com.

• Butler’s Marsh, Robert Chafe’s Governor General’s Award-nominated production, Fridays and Saturdays, 9:30 p.m., Pippy Park Headquarters, Mt. Scio Road, until Aug. 18.

• Shakespeare by the Sea’s Macbeth, Cabot 500 Theatre, Bowring Park, St. John’s, 6 p.m., until Aug. 18, 743-7287.

• Rats in the Walls/Cask of Amontillado presented

by Shakespeare by the Sea, Cabot 500 Theatre, Bowring Park, St. John’s, Sundays and Mondays, 8:30 p.m., until Aug. 20, 743-7287.

• A.N.D. Company Summer Theatre Festival, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, Royal Canadian Legion, Queen Street, Grand FallsWindsor, 6:30 p.m., until Aug. 23.

• Doors Open NL, until Aug. 26, www.dooropendays.com for schedule of participating communities and additional information.

• Summer activities, Cochrane Street United Church, tours, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., lunch, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., organ recitals, 1:15 p.m., bridge or auction, 24 p.m., Thursdays, until Aug. 30.

• Sounds of Summer Concert Series, Corner Brook, until Aug. 30.

• Arts Under the Stars, series of free performances, Elizabeth Swan Park, Clarenville, 7:30 p.m., Thursdays until Aug. 30.

• Free lunchtime outdoor concert, Murray Premises Courtyard, every Friday until Aug. 31, 12:30 p.m.

• Live! On the Lawn, depicting outport life and arctic adventure, Hawthorne Cottage, Brigus, 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays until end of August.

• Tramore Festival of the Arts Theatre, 8 p.m., Saturday nights until Sept. 1, 337-2104 for reservations. Also storied walks and special picnics, Tuesdays through Fridays, 1-3 p.m.

• The Capital Project, exhibition of 28 paintings of St. John’s, 1850-1950 by Realist Artists Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s City Hall Lobby, throughout summer.

• Gros Morne Theatre Festival, Main Street, Cow Head, until Sept. 15, 1-877-243-2899, www.theatrenewfoundland.com/gmtf.html.

• Wartime St. John’s Oral History Project, sponsored by the Paul Johnson Family Foundation, will result in a book tentatively entitled Occupied St. John’s. Interviewees needed, contact 747-4113, or email k_ohare@alcor.concordia.ca.

IN THE GALLERIES: • Newfoundland a Place Called Home, clay sculpture exhibition depicting life for a Newfoundland family before Confederation, second floor Heritage Shop, 309 Water Street, St. John’s, free admission.

• Photographs from The Blithe Country by Steve Payne, Victoria Manor Shoppes and Gallery, 25 Victoria Street, Harbour Grace, 2-4 p.m., showing until Aug. 18.

• Catherine Beaudette and Pearl Van Geest, new paintings showing at The Flower Studio, 124 Military Road, Pouch Cove Gallery, 14 Grushy’s Hill, until Aug. 24.

• Conception Bay Museum, 1 Water Street, Harbour Grace, displaying an Amelia Earhart exhibit and film, fisheries exhibit, camera and radio equipment and antique furniture, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, until Aug. 30.

• Building a Boat Before Your Eyes, Jerome Canning’s construction of a Rodney from stem to stern, The Rooms, until Sept. 3. Schedule available at www.therooms.ca/museum.

• Natural Energies by Anne Meredith Barry (1931–2003), including 90 works created since 1982, The Rooms, until Sept. 30.

AUGUST 10-16, 2007

What’s new in the automotive industry

FEATURED VEHICLE

THE DRIVER’S SUV Introducing the new 2007 Acura MDX — the driver’s SUV. Tuned on Germany’s famed Nurburgring track, the MDX features a class-leading 300-hp, 3.7-litre V-6 VTEC® engine, curve conquering Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™, available navigation system with real-time traffic and seven-passenger seating.

It also features an available 10speaker Surround™ Sound System, tri-zone automatic climate control system with air filtration, numerous cargo configurations with an adjustable, flat-folding second and third row seatbacks and a power tailgate for convenient access.

The 2007 Acura MDX is available at Tucker Acura located at 915 Topsail Rd. Photos taken at the Johnson GEO Centre, Signal Hill Road, St. John’s,

by Nicholas Langor.

Unsung hero MARK WOOD SAYS THE 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA IS A VEHICLE THAT HE ACTUALLY NEEDS

O

n the second week of my vaca- and could have cried. He’s actually in tion I slept in. At around noon I the middle of a sports car test-fest and sent my gentleman persona and dealerships have paraded out their my teenage alter ego out to remedy the finest, most lavish and most competilack of turbo-whistling roadtive automotive finery, espester in my driveway. Much cially their topless little cars like a modern day Don or muscled rockets. My genQuixote with his trusted sidetleman persona completely kick Sancho Pas, the swelterunderstood the present situaing afternoon became another tion and drove what was quite twisted adventure as I (we) possibly the perfect, most attempted to contribute to sensible motor carriage on perhaps the only full page of the road these days. local automotive content east This is the huge grey area MARK of Ontario. It’s the only of style, performance, and WOOD pressing matter on my plate economy — where adolesWOODY’S cent fantasy and adult reality these lazy, hazy days other than barbecued delicacies.

There was no cruise WHEELS intersect.

I was scheduled for anothon the highway, no twisty er turbo — mission accomroads on this good eve, but an plished. A Subaru WRX STI with vari- overwhelming desire to pick up the able (front and back) traction control. wife and kids and get groceries. It’s Solid metallic blue, 300 hp, and with easy to write about cars with huge perthe biggest, kick-ass wing on the back sonalities, the quickest, fastest, coolest — year after year it wins international machines that few of us ever get to rally racing championships. I was even drive. The most difficult vehicle to hoping for a rainy day so I could go to write about performs all the daily, traction heaven. Instead, they gave me unsung tasks that the weaponry are the keys to the newly designed 2008 incapable of.

Subaru Impreza station wagon with 2.1 The Subaru Impreza is a vehicle that km on the odometer and a full tank of I actually need. First of all, besides the fuel. My teenage alter ego turned on the whole family/grocery thing, I put 50 air conditioning, cruised up the road km on it and the fuel gauge didn’t even

Subaru Impreza

move. It doesn’t sip fuel so much as it’s used as an odometer lubricant and the wheels are powered by a smug sense of economic satisfaction. I did, however, find a small, exotic four-cylinder engine up front, but in a flat-four configuration. With two opposing pistons on each side this is also known as the Boxer engine because it throws out left and right opposing piston-punches. My

Mark Wood

backyard mechanic teenage alter ego admired the simplicity of the boxer engine. In about 10 years the alternator could possibly expire and you wouldn’t even have to roll up your sleeves to pluck it out. It’s right on top of the engine, as is the starting motor, and the timing belt is completely accessible in front. The new Impreza is actually the biggest thing from Subaru in the past

10 years, built on their dependable reputation and the same solid drive train.

The sharp looking, newly designed body is larger and roomier than before.

The only indication of vanity on this otherwise humble craft is the fashionable use of LEDs on the rear lighting ensemble. I did notice the rear hatch button is an electronic keypad and almost identical to the door handle of an exotic sports car I recently reviewed.

I also had to research the Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive system to fully understand the concept. It’s an extremely efficient use of equal length drive-shafts and a computerized system that transfers traction proportionally to either of the four wheels. This could be under a variety of scenarios such as accelerating and cornering in any kind of road condition or (my favourite) no road whatsoever. It’s easy to forget that it’s the family version of their rally race car and there’s a single reminder on the lower left side of the dashboard. A button to disengage the traction control for the teenage alter ego in all of us.

Mark Wood of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s utilizes an “all-we’ll-write” system whereby multiple personalities contribute under diverse conditions.

30 • INDEPENDENTSHIFT

AUGUST 10, 2007

What to do when the air con goes Y

our car is eight, maybe 10 years drive home all sweaty, and do the only old. Leaving work one day, the thing that makes any real sense. You humidity hangs in the will get in your car the next air as you drop all the winday, and try it all again. dows to let the heat escape.

Because it just has to work.

At the same time, you crank Nobody wants to deal with up the air conditioning and broken air conditioning. wait for the temperature There’s a good reason we transference to take place. don’t want to deal with it. It’s Only it doesn’t. Hot air expensive. It can be time conblasts out at you. If you’re suming. And it’s often fruslike me, you will knit your trating. But if your system is LORRAINE SOMMERFELD brow quizzically, and try blowing hot air, it’s because another setting in case it’s you have a leak. Your freon just the “high” setting that’s has escaped, and like a bike wonky. Maybe you’ll tip the tire, there is no point filling it little vents another way, in up without finding, and fixcase the cold air is just ing, the leak. And unlike a blocked or something. bike tire, it’s not just air escaping, it’s a When none of this works, you will gas that wrecks our environment.

POWER SHIFT

Your air conditioning system is made up of three main parts: a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. They are connected with a system of lines and hoses. The challenge is locating where the leak is, but it’s not a challenge in a good way.

I spoke to air conditioning expert Mark Bench, of Burloak Car Clinic in Burlington. He explained the only way to find a leak is to pressurize the system with nitrogen, a first step diagnosis that is the only way to find the problem and begin to fix it. He charges about $30 for this basic test; check around, but use a licensed technician. Forget waiting a year or three. Moisture will set in and lead to corrosion.

In a best case scenario, your technician can tell you where the leak is —

sometimes it’s as easy as using a soapy solution and looking for bubbles. It’s fixed, and your system is recharged with R134A, the governmentally regulated freon that’s been in use since 1994 to replace the older, less ozone-friendly R12.

If a leak isn’t easily detected (after charging, there is no discernable drop in pressure), he may recharge the system but put a dye in the freon. As it leaks out slowly, again, you come back and the dye will let him see where the leak is.

The compressor and condenser are fairly easy to access if a leak is detected. The evaporator, on the other hand, requires the entire dashboard to be pulled out. Labour costs money, and seeing the innards of your car on a shop

floor can be a little distressing.

But let’s say all goes well and your system is doing a happily ever after on the first go. It’s probably still a cost of about $500 to $700, on average. These sealed systems are expensive to repair.

The problem? If a leak was in your compressor, there is nothing to prevent a leak a month later in say, your condenser or your evaporator. All the parts are the same age. Bench says many people are tempted to shoot the messenger.

I forked out $1,000 several years ago for a car that still has no air conditioning. Sometimes it’s easier just to put down the window.

Get your initial diagnosis. Then consider carefully. www.lorraineonline.ca

2008 Camry Hybrid

Hybrid sales gain traction

By Tony Van Alphen Torstar wire service

S

Skate • Snow • Style

hahin Alizadeh noticed it for the first time at his two auto dealerships in the fall of 2005.

After five years of sputtering along, the Toyota Prius hybrid sedan had finally started to show some real consumer interest. It came at the same time when global warming and gasoline prices began attracting serious public attention.

Those issues didn’t go away, instead gaining greater prominence. Consumers responded in numerous ways, notably in the choice of autos they drive.

Today, demand at Alizadeh’s dealerships is outstripping supply of hybrid autos, which combine a traditional internal combustion engine with electric batteries and rechargeable energy systems to provide power. They also improve fuel economy and significantly reduce emissions.

At his Downtown Toyota and Toyota on Front stores, it’s hard to find a hybrid.

Buyers have to wait 60 to 90 days for delivery of the Prius and 30 to 45 days for the Camry hybrid.

“I have no Priuses and one Camry at the two stores,” he says, adding that it won’t be there much longer.

Hybrids still represent less than one per cent of car and light truck sales in Canada but they now have traction in the market for the first time. Their popularity is accelerating.

“There is certainly a heightened public awareness,” says Chris Travell, vice-president at Maritz Automotive Research.

Until 2004, sales totalled less than 1,000 a year. In the two-year period between 2004 and 2006, annual hybrid sales leaped 300 per cent to just under 9,000.

In the first half of this year, hybrid volumes jumped to about 6,500, which represented a 90 per cent increase from the same six months in 2006.

To date, five automakers offer about a dozen hybrids, with Toyota dominating the field with six entries. Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, also account for more than two-thirds of sales.

But competition will jump in the next few years. The number of players and entries will double, which will give shoppers more selection and should boost sales, Travell says.

Furthermore, sticker prices between conventional models and their hybrid cousins have narrowed significantly in recent years.

For example, the base price for the Camry LE with a four-cylinder engine is $25,900. The tag on the hybrid version with more features than the LE model is now $32,000 before the federal ecoAuto rebate of $1,500 and Ontario’s sales tax refund of $2,000.

Since its inception in 2000 until the second half of 2005, Alizadeh says the public had generally viewed the Prius, the country’s first hybrid, as an expensive niche vehicle with unproven technology.

Only committed environmentalists would buy it.

But the emergence of global warming and automobiles’ contributions to the problem made consumers reconsider.

And climbing prices at gasoline pumps forced many look for automobiles that guzzled less gas.

Suddenly, the Prius attracted more than a showroom glance. Shoppers stopped and asked questions. Although the Prius cost several thousand dollars more than its competitors, much higher gas prices meant the hybrid would save more over time. A driver would recover the extra cost of the car quicker.

Alizadeh says in the early years of the Prius there was also considerable apprehension about hybrid technology, its reliability and costs down the road.

That has slowly changed as automakers began offering hybrid versions of their mass-market models a few years ago.

Ford introduced a hybrid Escape, its popular compact sport utility vehicle, in 2005. Toyota unveiled a hybrid version of the Highlander sport utility vehicle in 2005; the Camry, its hot selling mid-size car, in early 2006 and three Lexus models.

General Motors is now selling the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura cars in hybrid versions and will extend the choice to the Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks next year. Honda and Nissan offer hybrid versions of their popular Civic and Altima models, respectively, and plan more. Ford’s Fusion hybrid is coming next year.

Those entries have shown consumers that the risk and experimentation has disappeared because automakers are willing to tie a hybrid version to big-selling models.

“There’s certainly a higher level of comfort and confidence in terms of investment in a hybrid vehicle when it’s with a mainstream nameplate like Camry,” Alizadeh says.

Earlier this year, the Camry hybrid started regularly surpassing the Prius in Canadian sales on a monthly basis, noted Stephen Beatty, the company’s managing director. In July, Camry hybrid volumes represented 24 per cent of the model’s overall sales.

Beatty says the company has also seen signs of growing interest in other areas of the marketplace such as taxi cab owners, who are particularly sensitive to galloping gas prices.

In its pursuit of hybrids, Beatty says Toyota found it is more than a transitional technology to other auto power alternatives.

“It took a while for us to figure it out, but the hybrid really is a platform you can build other technologies on,” he says.

Several automakers are working on technologies such as electric plug-in cars that improve fuel efficiency or other projects that give consumers alternatives to meet their needs.

GM and Chrysler already offer deactivation technology that seamlessly shuts down in highway driving.

“The bottom line is there needs to be a multiplicity of technologies for consumers to choose from depending on their needs and driving habits,” says Stew Low, director of communications for GM of Canada.

AUGUST 10, 2007

INDEPENDENTSHIFT • 31

32 • INDEPENDENTFUN

AUGUST 10, 2007

WEEKLY DIVERSIONS ACROSS 1 Native prairie grass: blue ___ 6 Periodical, for short 9 ___ Lanka 12 Cave-dweller of myth 17 Capital of Morocco 18 Enrico’s one 19 Bill 20 Knot again 21 Hockey venue 22 Cellular letters 23 Continuous 25 What Tommy Douglas gave us 27 Slight amount 28 Eject 29 Movie scene 30 Conservative 31 B.C.’s tree: western ___ cedar 32 Cooking smell 34 Prov. with most thunderstorms 35 Car’s use of gas 39 One-cell organism 40 Black Sea fish now in L. Erie: Round ___ 42 Notch 43 Conception ___, NL. 44 Opera star 45 Electrify 46 Top 47 Picture 49 Impersonal pronoun 50 First Nova Scotian and first black Canadian to win Victoria Cross:

William ___ 52 City with highest average air pressure 54 Que. site of summer music festival (Eastern Townships) 56 French bag 57 Locust 59 Snowiest city in Canada (2 wds.)

61 ___ and kin 62 Natural resource 64 Mentor 66 N.Z. parrot 67 Ferguson of “Air Farce” 68 Indigo plant 69 Equal: prefix 70 ___ apple 71 Pâté de ___ gras 72 Underhanded type 73 Beginning 76 PC cousin 77 Decorates moccasins 78 Old bit of cloth 79 Barrel 80 White metallic element 81 Jollity 83 Cry of discovery 84 Not having any restrictions (2 wds.)

88 Not honest 90 Whole: comb. form 91 Dwarfish legendary creature 92 Nostril wrinkler 93 Unlock, to Browning

CHUCKLE BROS

94 Business letter abbr.

95 ___ Ababa, Ethiopia 96 Style 97 Mongolian yurt 98 Umpteen’s ordinal?

99 Lives on DOWN 1 Small metric weight 2 Underdone 3 Not up 4 Red River province 5 World’s driest place: ___ Desert, Chile 6 NL seabird 7 A Brontë sister 8 Tibetan gazelle 9 McLean of “Vinyl Cafe” 10 Guitarist Bachman 11 Inuit Broadcasting Corp.

12 Go places 13 Live 14 Auricular 15 What dryers trap 16 Chair part 24 Out of this world 26 Shortened alias 27 An Esposito 30 Hamlet’s infinitive (2 wds.)

32 Type of acid 33 Return to a former condition 35 Alta. town with giant teepee: ___ Hat 36 Forsaken

37 Joke 38 Stare at 39 Uproar 40 Orang specialist: Birute ___ 41 Manitoba’s provincial bird: great gray ___ 42 Vitality 46 Quebec lake 47 Scratch activator 48 Giant N. Z. bird, once 50 Don’t lose ___!

51 Handsome prints?

52 Possesses 53 Bed (Fr.) 55 Not prov.

56 The bounding main 58 Opera highlights 60 Skippered 61 Japanese carp 63 Only fenced-in national park: ___ Island, Alta.

64 Musician’s engagement 65 Function 67 Wharf 68 Biggest snake 70 Snake’s ___, NL 71 Burkina ___ 72 Its capital is Dakar 74 Error (Fr.) 75 Literary ridicule 76 “The Song of the Earth” composer 77 Propose a price 79 Pouce ___, B.C. 80 None

81 Ancient Persian 82 Important cultural figure

84 Is obstinate 85 Seed containers 86 Spew

87 Loch ___ 88 Coton de Tulear, e.g.

89 NL cover, often

90 Female lobster Solutyions page 34

Brian and Ron Boychuk

WEEKLY STARS ARIES (MAR. 21 TO APR. 19) Someone who knows you to be courageous and generous asks for help in getting through a crisis. Be prepared for some difficulties, but be assured that you’ll overcome them.

TAURUS (APR. 20 TO MAY 20) Music and merriment dominate at this time. Go ahead and have fun — you’ve earned it! Meanwhile, don’t be surprised if a Leo is there to share the good times with you.

GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) Believe in yourself, and your intrepid nature will win out over any lingering timidity that has you wavering over taking that new job.

Then go out and celebrate.

CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22)

Forget about people who are ungrateful despite all you’ve done for them. Reward yourself for being the fine person you are. Buy something wonderful and have fun.

LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG.22) Someone you thought had the same warm feelings for you as you do for him suddenly turns cool. Don’t press for an explanation now — that will come later.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) A new path opens as you work your way through a difficult problem. Friends and family will be there to walk with you. Things begin to get brighter soon.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) Your need for stability is evident as you face some unsettling choic-

es. Weigh the pros and cons of each on a one-by-one basis until you know enough to make a decision.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) A family situation continues to tax your patience, but it’s soon resolved. Stay with it. Meanwhile, someone is waiting for you to follow up on some promises.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) That long-awaited career move finally gets started. Meanwhile, a family member’s health problem causes some concern, but a doctor has a reassuring diagnosis.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) A personal relationship will continue to be tense and troubled until you surprise everyone by making that rare (for you!) first move to

smooth things over.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) Most folks perceive you as a serious, no-nonsense type. But surprise them by revealing that funloving side of yourself. An Aries has romantic ideas.

PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MAR. 20) A new relationship grows stronger, but don’t be pushed into a commitment before you feel you’re ready. It’s better to tread water than to dive in over your head.

BORN THIS WEEK You have a gift for balancing fun and function. You also have a deep sense of loyalty that makes you a wonderful friend. (c) 2007 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 34

INDEPENDENTSPORTS

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AUGUST 10-16, 2007 — PAGE 33

Amy Newhook at Healey’s Pond, site of the St. John’s Triathlon.

Paul Daly/The Independent

Total body workout St. John’s Triathlon swims, cycles and runs into action on Sunday, Aug. 12

By John Rieti The Independent

A

my Newhook scrambles along the edge of the pack of triathletes splashing into the cool water of Healey’s Pond. Within 20 strokes she has found her place at the front of the pack and gotten into her groove.

On Aug. 12, Newhook is scheduled to race her fifth straight St. John’s Triathlon. Event organizers expect 200 competitors ranging in age from 13 to 60 to test themselves on the Olympic-length 57-kilometre course that consists of a swim, bike and run, just outside of St. John’s. There is also a popular sprint version of the triathlon, half the Olympic length, which Newhook participates in.

Competitors can also choose to race as teams, with one person completing each section.

The fastest racers — Stephen Dyke is favoured to win the men’s race while Caroline McIlroy and Jenny Harris are expected to vie for the women’s title —

can complete the full course in just over two hours. The average time is around two-and-a-half hours and beginners can set goals around the three-hour mark.

After volunteering at the triathlon as a lifeguard, Newhook, a former competitive swimmer and currently a full-time yoga teacher, decided to train for the following year’s race.

“Your first one is always about just completing it and the atmosphere and just knowing yourself that you can do it,” Newhook tells The Independent.

Triathletes say first-timers either race once and never try again, or get addicted.

The physical demands are intense.

Many triathletes find swimming the hardest part of the race as it’s a total-body workout and its technique is the most intricate of the three sports. The cold, open water creates another challenge.

The first muscular burn of the triathlon is in the shoulders as athletes stretch and pull themselves along the 1,000-metre loop of the pond.

While in the water, Newhook says she

SWIM: 1000m “You just get into your groove, you breathe.”

BIKE: 23km “I focus on trying to keep my heart rate up, pushing myself just a little bit further.”

RUN: 10km “By the time I make it to the end of the run I’ve got a second wind and a little bit of adrenaline.”

focuses on evening out her breathing and establishing a comfortable pace at the front of the pack.

Transitioning between sections is one of the most challenging aspects of triathlons.

“The transition is the most difficult part because when you swim you get into a rhythm, but then when you get out of the water and run to that transition area, making your legs to run rather than kicking is very difficult,” says Newhook.

“You just have to power through … try to breathe and tell yourself ‘It’s OK, in

five minutes time I’ll be warmed up.’”

Newhook works on her biking everyday — it’s her primary mode of transport in the city. The expert bikers in the field reel her in during the ride, but often provide helpful tips and encouragement as they fly past.

“I focus on trying to keep my heart rate up, pushing myself just a little bit further,” says Newhook about the bicycle portion of the course.

Newhook says she mainly competes with herself, trying to establish new personal bests each year.

As calves begin to tighten and sweat pours, Newhook sets small goals for herself — “I just need to make it to that tree, just that curve in the road” — knowing she’s got a 5 km run coming up.

“When you get off your bike your legs feel like jelly,” says Newhook, who admits running is her least favourite part of the triathlon. There are moments of suffering, but she manages to keep going.

See “Everybody,” page 34

Building a Foundation St. Francis boys rowing team accomplishes a lot in 15 minutes of rowing

T

he rowing crew slid easily into the dock last Aug. 2, grinning from ear to ear. Friends and family members were gathered around, awaiting their heroes’ emergence from their racing shell. Hugs and high fives were the order of the day, and the crew members soaked in the revelry.

Crosbie Industrial Services after their record setting championship race time of 8:51.32? No, although that scene was very similar, except magnified tenfold.

This was the St. Francis Foundation/The Independent juvenile boys rowing crew. And while Crosbie’s recordbreakers were resplendent in their matching uniforms, the St. Francis kids had no uniforms, save for their black Independent T-shirts. But there was uni-

DON POWER

Power Point formity in another manner for these kids.

However they got there, they are all part of the St. Francis Foundation.

It’s not a spot one chooses to be. It’s out of necessity in most cases that these teenage boys end up together, but alone.

Even the initial thought of putting a team in the Regatta drew caution. How would these kids, most of whom have had to fight single-handedly for their own survival, work in a team environ-

ment? One that, perhaps more than any other team sport, requires everybody pulling his oar in the same direction, literally and metaphorically.

There was no need to worry. Although they didn’t have enough training to be truly competitive, last week’s Regatta was just the tip of the iceberg.

The crew did finish their juvenile boys race on Regatta Day. Although their time of 15 minutes 13.83 seconds was slow enough that Crosbie Industrial and women’s champs O’Dea Earle could have finished a tag-team race before the St. Francis boys crossed the finish line, it didn’t seem to matter.

What did matter was these kids had participated in another Regatta, had a great feeling of self-satisfaction and

accomplishment, and were proud of their effort.

“This was their first time rowing the full course,” St. Francis Foundation worker and team coxswain Paul Power said afterwards. “Just being part of it, and finishing the race. They got out of the boats and their parents were there, and they were surrounded by people who were proud of them.

“That’s a big change for these kids, who for the most part have had people look down on them for making some bad decisions in their lives.”

Rowing in the 2007 Regatta was not a bad decision, for the kids or Power. The veteran sliding seat coach was a busy man last Thursday. His women’s team, O’Dea Earle, rowed a day’s best 5:05.28

in the first race of the day, and concluded the day with a championship win in a time of 5:06.16.

Yet Power received as much satisfaction — albeit a different kind — in leading St. Francis to the finish line, regardless of the time.

“It is a different feeling,” said Power, who is in St. Catherine’s, Ont., for the Henley Regatta this week with the province’s top sliding seat rowers. “For those young athletes, it was more important to finish that race I think than it was for the (O’Dea Earle) girls to win the championship.

“Being involved with these kids brings me back to the grassroots of rowSee “It’s why you row,” page 34

34 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS

AUGUST 10, 2007

My first mussels

There’s nothing like shellfish plucked from the ocean’s floor by your own hands

I

’ve loved eating mussels as long as I can remember. My earliest recollection is from a driftwood-strewn rocky beach somewhere on the Burin Peninsula. My parents would know the exact location, but this is just another of life’s details that escape me. I should have taken notes.

I know we talked about that day many times. It’s so peculiar how parents can recall details of their children’s lives that the kids themselves soon forget. Goldie and I often talk about details of clothing and rubber boot style that Megan or Allison wore on this or that camping trip. The kids themselves more often than not have no idea.

Anyway, back to a land-wash somewhere within a Sunday afternoon’s drive from Marystown. My father was supervising the construction of the Mooring Cove fish plant and we were living in a trailer park near the job site.

It was nothing like Sunnyvale and I recall no characters that bore the least resemblance to Bubbles, Ricky and Julian.

We had no family to visit in the area so each weekend was filled with trouting, swimming, touring around, beach boil-ups and the like. There was no Internet, cable or video games.

When not on outings with our families, us kids in the trailer park played outside: hockey, sliding, softball, cowboys and Indians, snowball fights or whatever tickled our fancy. On rainy days we played board games and ate hotdogs in one of the trailers. Come to think of it, trailer park life was just fine.

Back to the beach again. My parents

were boiling jigs dinner on the Coleman stove while I amused myself skimming flat rocks on the cold salty water. The sun shone with a vengeance, toasting my bare arms and legs. I reached way out with my toes at the water’s edge and picked up a particularly skimmy looking rock that lay a few inches beneath the first few feet of the North Atlantic.

Clinging to my prize were tiny creatures with shells coloured a myriad of shades from blue to white. Interesting!

“Dad, what are these things?” I asked “Mussels, the bigger ones are good to eat,” came my father’s reply.

“Max, get your long rubbers out of the truck and get some,” my mother chimed in, while straining off the first boiling of the salt beef. “I’ve got an extra pot and I’ll boil them up on the second burner.”

My mother loved food till the day she died. The rougher the better — no white wine was necessary for the steaming of her mussels, and shellfish as an appetizer to salt beef and cabbage would be no problem.

Dad and I fetched our thigh rubbers from the trunk of our ’64 Pontiac and pulled them on. We were always prepared. Out into the water we went, hand in hand. I was a little unsure but my father steadied me with his tight grip.

Dad reached down into the greenish

Solutions for crossword on page 32

Solutions for sudoku on page 32

PAUL SMITH

The Rock

Outdoors

abyss and pulled up a much larger version of my tiny mussel. He plopped it nonchalantly into the beach bucket that I held in my free hand. I was intrigued that we could actually eat these things. I spotted one by my left foot. Feeling more confident, I pulled free from my father’s hand and reached for it. The water was icy cold and stung my sun-reddened forearm.

But there was no turning back now; I was a hunter-gatherer.

My fingers gripped the mollusk and pulled it free from its fleshy anchor. I looked up at my father. He appeared pleased, proud I imagine, and pointed out another to me. In less than five minutes the bucket was full and we returned to shore.

My mother was sitting on a log of grey driftwood tending two bubbling pots. She was adding a blueberry pudding to the jigs dinner that smelled so tantalizing in the salty summer air. But I wasn’t too sure about this mussel thing.

Shells and all they splashed into the steaming pot of seawater. The bubbling subsided with the addition of the crusty sea creatures, but the pot soon bubbled with renewed vigour. In no time Mom pronounced them ready and dumped them out on a serving plate.

Their shells were gaping open, revealing a brownish gooey substance inside. This was no hotdog. I don’t recall the terms appetizer or hors d’oeuvre being mentioned — just eat them before dinner.

Mom chucked off an upper shell and scooped out the jiggly mass of flesh with a well practised finger. Her nail

severed the circular sinew that keeps the soft juicy creature attached to its protective shell. She sucked it into her mouth and smiled at me. I could only suppose it was tasty so I gave it a try. A hunter and gatherer must eat the fruits of his labour.

I picked up a mussel and ate it. Boy oh boy, was it ever good. I was hooked for life. If a restaurant serves mussels I have to try them.

Last week I visited my daughter, who is nearing the end of her culinary training in PEI. I had to give PEI mussels a try. I picked up a couple of pounds at a roadside seafood market where inciden-

tally I gave raw oysters a try for the first time — excellent stuff.

That night, my daughter steamed the PEI-cultured mussels in white wine, garlic and shallots, a tad fancier than my mother’s cuisine. We ate them with the hedonistic pleasure that comes from eating food close to the earth or sea. My mind drifted back to a beach near Marystown.

Paul Smith is an avid outdoorsman and freelance writer living in Spaniard’s Bay. flyfishtherock@hotmail.com

‘It’s why you row’ From page 33 ing. It’s why you row. We get so caught up in going fast sometimes we miss the point of the competition, the sport of it all.

“That’s what those kids got out of rowing.”

Power said going from a serious, competitive, championship-ready crew to a group of fledgling rowers was interesting, and provided him some unique perspectives leading into Regatta Day.

Maybe that’s where we all get lost. It’s not about stopping the clock, necessarily.

Sometimes it’s about just getting the clock started. It’s about being there on the day when thousands of people surround the pond and some of them even watch you perform.

It’s about the race, not the finish.

With the taste of competition his guys had this year, Power says he’ll have no problems convincing the team to prepare harder next year, put in more training, and try to improve.

Whether they’ll ever make a championship race time, he says, is not important.

“Probably for the first time in their lives,” Power says, “they have a sense of self-esteem, a sense that they are good at something, a sense that all the stuff that’s happened to them in the past is in the past, and they can do great things. That’s my point. Do you know what I mean?”

Absolutely, Paul. Absolutely. donniep@nl.rogers.com

‘Everybody has their groove’ From page 33 On the running course, racers double-back toward the finish line. Seeing competitors on the way towards the finish keeps runners motivated and creates a sense of camaraderie praised by both racers and organizers.

“By the time I make it to the end of the run I’ve got a second wind … whenever you hear that crowd cheer as you’re approaching the finish line

you get that extra boost of adrenaline that takes you right to the finish,” says Newhook.

When she tells people she’s a triathlete, Newhook says people are often awed. She says people shouldn’t be intimidated, and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with just finishing an event is worth it.

“Everybody has their groove,” she says. john.rieti@theindependent.ca

Dalembert welcomed to Team Canada Sworn in as a Canadian in the morning, Sixer practises with national squad in the evening

By Doug Smith Torstar wire service

E

very new Canadian brings a set of skills with them when they gain citizenship but it’s not too often those skills revolve around shot-blocking, rebounding and the ability to run a basketball floor like a 7-foot gazelle.

Sam Dalembert, sworn in as a Canadian on the morning of Aug. 7 and officially a member of the national men’s basketball team at practice that night, hopes to parlay those skills into a key role for a program that sorely needs some success.

The 26-year-old Haitian-born, Montreal-bred centre who spent two years of high school, two years of college and five years as a NBAer in the United States, represents a key addition to the national team that begins the qualification process for the 2008 Beijing Olympics later this month.

“This was the first country to give me residence, the least I can do is give something back,” Dalembert said last night. “I’m just happy to be a Canadian now.”

If Dalembert’s happy, national team coach Leo Rautins is ecstatic at the prospects of having a skilled big man at his disposal. Dalembert, who averaged 10.7 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Philadelphia 76ers last season, provides the prototypical international-game big man, a quick, shot-blocking presence under the basket and an athlete able to get out and run the floor.

It remains a tall task for Canada to qualify for Beijing this summer — only two of the 10 teams at the tournament in Las Vegas gain Olympic berths — but Canada now has a solid shot at earning a berth in a last-chance tournament next summer, where three berths will be at

stake. The teams that finish third, fourth and fifth in Las Vegas earn spots in next summer’s tournament.

“What a Dalembert does is level the playing field just a little bit,” Rautins said. “He’s extremely athletic, he runs the floor like a deer.

All you have to do is spend five minutes with the guy and talk basketball, he’s got a tremendous IQ, he picks things up extremely well, he sees things on the floor and he wants to be a team guy.

“Defensively, it just allows us to do more things. Whether you’re playing zone or man-toman, a Sam Dalembert gives you lots of options with his length and athleticism and IQ back there.”

Dalembert says he considered going through the time-consuming process of becoming a citizen early in his career but he never found the time and missed the chance to play for Canada in the qualification event for the 2004 Athens Games because he was injured.

When the chance presented itself again this summer, he took it. “My mom always told me to get my citizenship,” he says. “I never really got around to it but when I talked to (Rautins), everything kind of took off.”

Dalembert gives Rautins an anchor for his defence and a big man who can finish around the rim and also represents the lone NBAer on the squad. While Rautins said he still hasn’t heard a “firm no” from Toronto’s Jamaal Magloire, the chance of the New Jersey Net centre playing for Canada for the first time is virtually non-existent.

And two-time NBA most valuable player Steve Nash has ruled out this summer although Rautins says there’s a “very slim chance” Nash might play for Canada next year.

AUGUST 31, 2007

INDEPENDENTCLASSIFIEDS • 35

friday through thursday, august 31 TO SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 — PAGE 36

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