Update: Royal St. John’s Regatta Back in Action as Winds Ease Off
Races are back on as the winds have eased just enough to let the boats back in the water. Both championship races will go ahead on time.
Earlier Story:
The winds are a little stiffer than expected so the races at Quidi Vidi Lake have been paused until they ease. They are from the southwest with gusts close to 60kmh at the airport.
Volkswagen St. John’s is the fastest women’s crew so far with a time of 5:07.73 in the first race of the day. Smith-Stockley (5:16.50,) All-Star Rebar (5:20.63,) Fine Strokes Plaster & Painting (5:22.92) and Gittens and Associates (5:34.03) round out the field.
On the men’s side, Fine Strokes rowed the course in 9:31.02 and Capital Home Hardware in 9:39.83.
The championships are set for 6:30 (women) and 7:00 (men).
Ward 5 Councillor to Hold Public Forum After Southlands Attack
The city councillor whose ward contains Southlands is going to organize some type of public forum following a frightening incident in the area in which a girl was pulled into a wooded area by a stranger while playing a game of spotlight Monday night.
RNC, who have put on extra patrols to try to find the male attacker, are asking anyone with electronic footage or who may have seen or heard something to contact them.
Ward 5 Councillor Donnie Earle is shocked and disheartened that such a thing happened. He told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that this is not the world that he grew up in. He says they spend a lot of money on the trail network, and it’s a place where people of all ages should feel safe.
“Unfortunately, we’ve created an environment for people to hang out and do bad things,” says Cllr. Earle.
“I wouldn’t want to be the person who walked upon this and saw this happening because I can assure you, I would leave my keys at City Hall and deal with it the way it needs to be dealt with.”
Councillor Earle says the problem with needles is getting out of hand.
“Why do I have a parent from the Goulds whose son was playing soccer near PWC Arena (Capital Hyundai) and they received a memo that said if the soccer ball goes out into the grass, do not go retrieve it because there may be needles in there that can cause an injury.”
Miles for Smiles Launches New Web Page Tracking Charges Laid in Crimes Against Children
An organization which focuses on crimes against children has launched a web page detailing the data – and the numbers over most of the last several months have been going up.
Miles for Smiles Foundation now has a section called M4S Court Data, a page detailing the number of charges laid and in which court those charges appear. Annual totals will reset at the beginning of each calendar year.
The foundation aims to make geographic and monthly trends easier to identify.
The number of cases in June and July of this year significantly exceeds the number over the same two months last year.
(via Miles for Smiles website)
Bev Moore Davis, one of the founders of Miles for Smiles, says there have been 2,667 charges laid in our courts from January 1 to July 31 of this year.
Moore Davis told VOCM Open Line with host Brian Callahan that the trend is disturbing.
She was at a shopping centre recently when she witnessed a possible situation in which a young person was being exploited. She took down detail, and reported it to police. She encourages others to do the same.
“This stuff is happening around us and we have to be mindful,” says Moore Davis.
“The case that I just referenced – the couple of hours made a difference.”
She says crimes against children are happening everywhere.
RCMP Arrest Man After Alleged Knife Threat During Elliston Disturbance
A man has been charged with assault with a weapon and uttering threats after an incident in Bonavista Bay which involved a group of people.
RCMP officers on routine roadside patrol in Elliston late Monday night noticed a disturbance within the group. After separating them, police learned that one of the men involved had flashed what appeared to be a knife while threatening to do harm to others.
Bonavista RCMP arrested a 29-year-old man after finding a knife in the area. He was released on conditions to appear later.
There were no injuries.
Cloudy Skies, Calm Winds Welcome Opening Races at Royal St. John’s Regatta
The first chunk of races at the Royal St. John’s Regatta is in the books on this cloudy but pleasant day with a few showers to come. It’s unlikely that winds, which are from the southwest, will be a significant factor at Quidi Vidi Lake as they are forecast to be virtually non-existent come this evening.
Volkswagen St. John’s is the fastest women’s crew so far with a time of 5:07.73 in the first race of the day. Smith-Stockley (5:16.50,) All-Star Rebar (5:20.63,) Fine Strokes Plaster & Painting (5:22.92) and Gittens and Associates (5:34.03) round out the field.
On the men’s side, Fine Strokes rowed the course in 9:31.02 and Capital Home Hardware in 9:39.83.
The championships are set for 6:30 (women) and 7:00 (men).
Search Continues for Missing Man Perry Green, Car Found in Birchy Narrows
Police are working on new information as they search for a man who went missing en route to St. John’s from Port aux Basques.
Perry Green, who’s 68, left the southwest coast Monday morning but hasn’t been seen since. Police found his car in the area of Birchy Narrows, but there’s still no sign of him.
Perry Green was last seen driving a Blue Chevy Trax with Newfoundland and Labrador plate JWJ649 (via RCMP)
RCMP now believe that he was in the Chain Lakes Road area of Birchy Narrows as they continue the search with volunteer ground forces and others.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Perry Green is asked to contact RCMP or RNC.
Teachers’ Association Backs Early Grade Substance Abuse Education
Teachers in the K-12 system agree with the concept of introducing education on drug and drink as young as primary school.
The Child Death Review Committee in Newfoundland and Labrador made the recommendation in a recent report, and it’s something with which the provincial government agrees.
Nobody knows just what “age-appropriate substance abuse” education would look like as it’s way too soon in the game.
Dale Lambe, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, says if government does adopt such a program, they cannot do it in arbitrary fashion as it will have to allocate sufficient resources – that includes training for teachers.
“It can’t be something that’s done on a whim,” says Lambe. “it has to be deliberate and we have to be mindful of the students and that it’s age appropriate, meaning that as they move forward, they make healthful decisions.”
RNC Ready to Assist at Royal St. John’s Regatta
Regatta Day is a-go! And RNC Constable Steph Myers has some advice for lakeside safety during the event.
There will be extra police presence throughout the day, and Myers wants to remind people not to hesitate asking for help if needed.
If you are attending with your children, it may be smart to set-up a meeting point as well as equip them with an AirTag, as it will be busy.
“We want everyone to have a meeting spot planned in advance, I know a lot of people taking their kids down, it’s chaos down there, it’s fun, it’s loud. Make sure you have a meeting spot planned in advance in case you get separated from friends and family.” said Myers.
Motor Registration Issuing Final Licence Plates in J Series
After 13 years, the last few licence plates beginning with the letter ‘J’ are being distributed by Motor Registration.
Plates are issued in alphabetical order, with the final few combinations of JZZ now being assigned to newly registered vehicles.
In a statement to VOCM News, the Department of Government Services says there are no plans to recycle any old plate numbers and will instead be assigning plates starting with the letter K.
Some letters are already assigned to specialty vehicles – like the letter G which is reserved for plates assigned to government.
Unlike other provinces, Motor Registration in NL does not allow drivers to customize their plate.
New ER at Health Sciences Opens Saturday
The entrance to the emergency room at the Health Sciences Centre will move starting Saturday morning.
Starting on August 8, patients needing to present to the emergency room will be directed to their new ER, with construction completed late last month.
Signage will point patients to the new entrance, which is to the right of the current entrance near the newly-built ambulance bay.
NLHS says the new waiting room is a brighter, more modern space and will help deliver health care better to those who need it.
RCMP Respond to More Than 750 Calls Over Long Weekend
RCMP were kept busy throughout the long weekend across the province, with more than 750 calls for service between Friday afternoon and Monday night.
Police responded to everything from false alarms and missing persons to wellness checks and crimes against people and property.
RCMP nabbed six impaired drivers, including one who refused to provide a breath sample and one who was impaired by drug.
They also responded to about 30 traffic accidents throughout the weekend.
Missing Hikers Located on East Coast Trail
A pair of hikers are safe and sound after getting lost on the East Coast Trail last evening.
RNC called in Ground Search and Rescue to assist after getting a call around 7:30 p.m.
The two were located without injury.
No Word On When Roundabout Connecting Mount Pearl to Robert E. Howlett Will Open
There’s still no relief in sight for those who pass through Goulds, Mount Pearl and Southlands.
Work was expected to be completed by last weekend on a new roundabout, but crews have yet to finish paving and painting the site near Pitts Memorial Drive with the Robert E. Howlett Memorial Drive.
Government did not have a further update to provide when asked by VOCM News.
The construction has caused headaches along Southlands Boulevard and Ruby Line, with access to the Southern Shore Highway and Goulds throttled by construction.
RNC Pleading for Any Information After Stranger Hauls Child into Wooded Area
Police are warning parents after a young girl was allegedly pulled into a wooded area by a stranger while playing a game of ‘spotlight’ in a St. John’s neighbourhood.
RNC responded to the Southlands Community Centre on Monday night following the terrifying ordeal.
Police say extra patrols, including the mounted unit, are now scouring the neighbourhood for the male suspect.
RNC Constable Steph Myers is urging anyone with doorbell or dashcam footage from the area to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
“So information that we have at this time was that she was, it was actually a bunch of kids playing spotlight. She was near the tree line, pulled near the tree line, and then there was a struggle that happened, you know, near the wooded area of Southlands Community Centre, and the suspect fled from that point,” she told reporters.
Myers recognizes that there is a great deal of concern from parents and neighbouring residents.
“This kind of incident is rare. Public safety is the RNC’s priority at this time. We have a significant amount of resources into the investigation. We understand that the concern that this may cause in a community, but again, we do have a significant investigation. We have extra patrols for the coming days for that area, and officers are following up on any leads that they may receive.”
RNC Investigating Armed Robbery at Jewellery Store on Aberdeen Avenue
RNC is investigating an armed robbery at a jewellery store in the east end of St. John’s.
Police rushed to the business on Aberdeen Avenue around 1:30 yesterday afternoon after a woman presented a weapon and demanded an employee hand over jewellery. There were no injuries.
The suspect fled the scene in a dark blue Chevy Trax before officers arrived and could not be located thereafter.
Police are now turning to the public for help in identifying the woman, who they believe to be in her 60s.
She was wearing glasses, a sun hat, beige coat and was walking with a cane.
Anyone with footage from the area of Aberdeen Avenue between 1-2 p.m. yesterday is asked to get in touch with RNC at 709-729-8000.
Daily Fuel Prices for Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Drivers are in for some additional savings at the pumps today.
Gas drops 6 and a half cents – putting a litre below the $1.90 mark in many areas.
Diesel plummets nearly 10 cents.
The price of furnace and stove oil drops by about 8 and a half cents.
208th Royal St. John’s Regatta a GO
All things are a go at Quidi Vidi Lake this morning with warm temperatures in the offing with a sprinkling of showers. Regatta vice-president Shannon Brown made the announcement around 5:45 this morning.
The first oars will be in the water at the Royal St. John’s Regatta at 8:00 this morning with the Suncor Amateur Women’s Race.
The five crews in the first race are within 19 seconds of each other, meaning it will likely go down to the wire. Volkswagen St. John’s had the best time in the trials, 5:10, but Smith-Stockley and All-Star Rebar were only two seconds off the pace.
The first men’s race of the day goes at 9:00 but if the time trials are any indication, it will be a two-crew affair. Fine Strokes Plaster and painting rowed the trials in 9:15 but Capital Home Hardware did it in 9:17. The other three crews were over a full minute behind.
There are a total of 18 races on the docket, plus the two championship rows at 6:30 and 7:00 with the women going first.
What’s Opened, What’s Closed
With the Royal St. John’s Regatta officially a go, government offices across the capital city are closed for the day.
Mount Pearl and St. John’s City Halls and St. John’s-based provincial government offices are shut down to mark the historic sporting event.
City recreation facilities are also closed.
However, the Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility remains open, and garbage collection will go ahead as scheduled.
Some shops may also choose to close today for the weather-dependent holiday.
NDP Calls for Transparency Over $244,000 in Consultant Contracts
The provincial NDP is crying foul after the government dished out roughly $244,000 to outsource communications consultants.
Three contracts were awarded to Enterprise Canada through a “limited call process”—a mechanism meant for situations where there is only one available source. This means the contracts were not publicly tendered.
The same company billed the province $53-thousand for services during the Bay du Nord expansion announcement earlier this year.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn says the government needs to be transparent about the issue, calling the lack of communication a “serious problem.”
He likens the situation to the hiring of Dr. Des Whalen, arguing the highly-paid consultant has not brought any meaningful improvements to the province’s healthcare system.
One Person Dead Following Fire in Cannings Cove
One person is dead following a house fire in Cannings Cove over the weekend.
The incident happened Sunday morning in the community along the Bonavista Bay.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and the provincial Fire Commissioner’s Office and the Chief Medical Examiner have been involved in the case.
Mounties say they will not be releasing any further information at this time.
Corner Brook Leisure Pool Takes a Leisurely Break
Those looking to take a dip in the leisure pool at the Marina Redmond Centre in Corner Brook will have to wait a few weeks.
Starting August 12, the leisure pool and water slide will be closed for 6 to 8 weeks to allow for repairs to the pool lining.
The city expects that the entire pool facility will be closed from time to time during repairs – something which residents will be alerted to beforehand.
The pool at the Marina Redmond Centre opened to the public in spring 2025.
Impaired Driver Attempt to Give Officers the Slip
Two men have been arrested after an impaired driver tried to give officers the slip Friday afternoon.
Police were contacted about a possible impaired driver in the Gambo area shortly after 4:30 p.m..
RCMP say they tried to pull over the vehicle, but instead it drove away at a high rate of speed, driving erratically through the community.
Officers caught up with the vehicle a short time later, where two men – both known to officers – fled on foot.
They seized the vehicle on the spot and later caught up with the pair at a business on J.R. Smallwood Boulevard.
Police say inside the vehicle they found drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The 38-year-old passenger was charged with possession of a controlled substance and flight from police.
The driver is facing the same charges, in addition to impaired and dangerous operation.
Both are scheduled to appear in court in December.
NL’s Top-Tier Soccer Championship’s Kick Off This Week
The playoffs for the province’s top-tier soccer leagues get underway later this week.
Action for both the Jubilee Trophy and Challenge Cup will take place at King George V starting Thursday.
Holy Cross sits atop the standings on both the men’s and women’s sides.
The women’s team has dominated the Jubilee League this season, boasting an undefeated 18-0 record and a massive goal differential of 96 to 5.
The championship finals for both leagues will kick off this Sunday afternoon.
Police Searching for Suspect After Girl Dragged Toward Wooded Area
Police are investigating a terrifying incident in St. John’s after a person tried to pull a youn girl into a wooded area.
The RNC was called to the Southlands Community Centre around 9:30 last night after a young girl reported that someone attempted to drag her toward the bordering tree line. Following a brief struggle, the attacker fled the scene.
The young victim suffered minor injuries.
RNC, with a dog, searched the area but the suspect remains at large.
Police are asking anyone who saw anything or who may have dashcam or cell phone video from the area to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
Government to Spend $700,000 to Strengthen NL Crisis Hotline Services
The federal government is spending $700,000 over the next five years to strengthen crisis hotline services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
The funding will be channeled through End Sexual Violence NL and the Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Crisis hotlines provide support for people experiencing gender-based violence with immediate access to information, safety planning, referrals, and emotional support.
The Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez says many organizations were waiting eagerly for the funding.
“Until we made this announcement, they were worried about what’s going to happen. So I think now that this provides them with the certainty, this provides them with the stability to be able to plan ahead. So I’m looking forward to finalizing those contracts,” she told reporters.
Valdez said her department will look into specifics in how the money will be used in the weeks to come.
Man Arrested in Relation to Two Serious Stabbings in Downtown St. John’s
A man has been arrested after another was found downtown St. John’s a month ago – unresponsive and with life-threatening injuries.
The victim was found in the area of Garrison Hill on the night of July 9th.
RNC charged 27-year-old Logan Crane with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and breaching court and probation orders.
The same man was charged in relation to another violent offense in the capital city two weekends ago.
A man was found inside a home overnight that Saturday with serious injuries inflicted by a weapon. RNC determined at the time that Crane had entered the home and assaulted the man inside while demanding money.
The suspect is in custody going through the court process
RCMP Advise No Concern to Public Safety After Sudden Death in Labrador
A man in central Labrador is dead after what the RCMP are categorizing as “sudden.”
Police aren’t saying where the body was found, but they are aware of commentary making its way through social media circles. They assure that there is no need to worry about public safety in relation to the situation.
The coroner is part of the investigation.
Break-and-Enter Crime Rates Down in NL
It is one of the most frustrating and irksome crimes in the book, but in Newfoundland and Labrador, the number of break-and-enters has dropped considerably over the past 30 years.
Statistics Canada says the number of such incidents in the province hit almost 4,500 in 1999, however, in 2025 the number totaled fewer than 1,800. Nearly 250 of those were considered to be unfounded.
Moreover, that 4,500 in 1999 was the peak. The incidence began dropping in subsequent years and continues to go down. The last time the number even hit 2,000 was in 2019.
The number of people charged with the crime is just under 300 province-wide.
UPDATE: Police Release More Images in Hopes of Finding Missing Man
Police have released new surveillance images of a 68-year-old man reported missing yesterday.
Perry Green was travelling from Port aux Basques to St. John’s. He left the southwest coast around 8:00 Monday morning. His family reported him missing when he did not arrive as expected. His car was found abandoned near Birchy Narrows around 6:00 this morning.
An extensive search of the area failed to turn up any sign of Green.
(Via. RCMP)
The missing man is 5’7″ tall and 155 pounds with blue eyes.
New images show Green wearing a navy blue shirt with blue jeans.
(Photo via RCMP)
He was driving a blue Chevrolet Trax, licence plate number JWJ649.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Perry Green is asked to contact Deer Lake RCMP at 709-635-2173 or any police detachment.
Perry Green (Photo Via RCMP)
Safe Viewing Places Available to Watch Grounded Baltic III Pulled to Shore
Operations to move the bulk carrier the Baltic III from Cedar Cove where it’s been grounded for more than a year are moving into high gear and drawing a lot of attention.
Resolve Marine, which has been involved in major salvage operation all around the world – including the disaster involving bulk carrier that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore – has been tasked with pulling the vessel to shore where it will be cut into pieces and scrapped.
Project Manager Mara DuVernois says they’re using massive chains to pull the vessel to shore and the activity is drawing the attention of locals and visitors alike.
While they’re asking people to stay clear, there are areas where people can gather to view the operations safely.
“There’s a lot of people interested, and we know that” said Duvernois, “it’s brought a lot of eyes to the area and there’s actually a hiking trail right there where you can walk out and have a beautiful view of the wreck…off to the side. So the public can safely view the wreck removal operation from a safe distance without getting into the construction zone.”
Drunk Driving Results in 3 Car Collision in Corner Brook
A woman who went too heavy on the bottle before getting behind the wheel didn’t get too far in her attempts to get away from police last night, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.
RNC in Corner Brook tried to pull her over at about 10:00 after seeing the vehicle zooming down Grenfell Drive at a high rate of speed, but the driver had other plans. A short while later, she collided with three parked cars on Philip Drive.
The 35-year-old, who has been charged with drunk driving, lost her vehicle and licence.
Police are asking anyone who saw something or who has electronic footage to contact them at 709-637-4100.
