SPARKS Literary Festival to Celebrate Emerging and Established Local Writers
It’s a weekend for writers and book lovers across Newfoundland and Labrador with the SPARKS Literary Festival on the go.
Set for Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the LSPU Hall, the event will celebrate the region’s literary scene.
Hosted by Memorial University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of English, SPARKS 2024 will feature a wide range of writers from genres like fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and theatre.
It’s an annual event and author and participant Allison Graves, who moved to the province ten years ago, sees it as a great opportunity to read with the old guard of Newfoundland writing. She says there’s also a lot of other cool stuff going on such as an events table where books are on sale.
Graves says live readings are important. She only wishes they happened more frequently. She says it’s very special to hear someone live read something that is new.
Province Mourning Loss of Athlete, Coach Michelle Healey
The province is mourning the loss of an accomplished Newfoundland athlete and respected coach and mentor.
Michelle Healey passed away on Tuesday at the age of 51.
Healey, a native of St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s Bay, was a star basketball player with the Memorial University Seahawks—being named All-Canadian in 94-95 and 95-96. She was known as the greatest shooter in AUS history, and was named AUS First Team All Star, AUS MVP, she played in the first ever AUS Championship for MUN, she was a CIS Academic All Canadian and was named to the Athletics Honour Society.
She was an athlete in the Canada Summer Games, and was involved in planning for the 2025 Canada Summers Games in St. John’s.
She also played football and soccer, and shared her knowledge and skills with countless developing athletes as a respected coach.
Healey previously served as Athletic Director at Memorial University and most recently as the Director of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Sport and Recreation Division.
The funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Mary’s Bay.
Licensed Insolvency Trustee Encouraging People to Spring Clean Their Finances
A local licenced insolvency trustee is encouraging people to spring clean their finances as a means to keep up-to-date on mounting debt and get rid of payments you don’t need.
Delinquencies are up dramatically across the country, and more so in this province as people suffer the strain of rising inflation and interest rates.
Host of Your Money on VOCM, Nancy Snedden of BDO says spring is a time when a lot of people declutter and clean up after a long winter.
She says many people are struggling and a lot are turning to credit to fill the gaps.
The latest Equifax Consumer Trends report shows that delinquencies—those are payments that are three months behind—are on the rise says Snedden. “It shows that non-mortgage delinquencies are also up, and here in Newfoundland, delinquencies have spiked by 15.25 per cent.”
She says with the rising cost of living, it’s a good time to give your finances the once-over.
“Especially when there is so much changing in regards to finances right now,” says Snedden, “so really looking at your budget on a regular basis and…figuring out…what do I need to do to get my finances in order?”
Restaurants Canada: Industry Still Struggling Following Pandemic
Restaurants Canada is looking for some form of relief from various levels of government to deal with the lasting impacts of the pandemic.
Restaurants were among the hardest-hit by public health measures that were imposed to prevent the spread of COVID.
During that time restaurants had to pivot, providing curbside pickup and other measures, but they lost a lot of employees as well who haven’t come back.
Jordi Morgan says restaurants are operating on razor-thin margins, with 62 per cent across the country just breaking even, or losing money while the rest are only reporting two to eight per cent margins.
“This is really the echoes of the pandemic that we’re dealing with,” says Morgan. That’s why Restaurants Canada is working with federal and provincial governments to find “some relief” against inflation, labour costs, and other pressures that are “really squeezing restaurants quite a lot right now.”
29-Year-Old Woman Arrested Following Disturbance in Capital City
A 29-year-old woman was arrested following a disturbance in the west end of St. John’s last night.
Around 10:30, the RNC responded to the report of an altercation between two women outside a home.
Police spoke to the two women when they arrived on scene, when one become combative. The woman then spit on the two officers.
The 29-year-old was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer.
She was held for court in the morning.
Supreme Court of Canada Will Hear Challenge of NL’s COVID Travel Ban
The highest court in the land will hear a challenge of this province’s move to restrict travel during the height of the pandemic.
The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to hear the case brought by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association on behalf of Kim Taylor. She was denied permission to travel to Newfoundland for her mother’s funeral in May of 2020, as COVID-19 was taking hold.
The province, in an effort to limit the spread of the virus, all but closed its borders on April 29th of that year. Residents were allowed to return while non-residents, like Taylor, who lives in Nova Scotia, needed special permission to do so.
(Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Newfoundland and Labrador, issued the travel ban being challenged at the Supreme Court of Canada.)
But she was refused, leading to court challenges at the province’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, both of which were unsuccessful.
Among other things, the challenge alleges that the travel restrictions were unconstitutional and violated Taylor’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The province’s Supreme Court ruled the legislation was constitutional, adding the decision to deny entry into the province did infringe her right to mobility, but that it was justified under the Charter.
The Court of Appeal then declined to hear the case, saying the arguments were moot because the travel restrictions were no longer in effect by the time the matter came before them.
The Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear only a small percentage of cases each year, weighing the importance of the issues to the public and laws of the land.
It could still be months before the case is heard and the court delivers its decision.
Registered Nurses’ Union Renews Call for Independent Health Sector Safety Council
The Registered Nurses’ Union says now is the time for an independent Health Sector Safety Council to be implemented in this province.
The call comes on the eve of the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been injured or killed on the job.
President Yvette Coffey says violence against health care workers is higher than in any other sector in the province.
She says every other day a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner makes an injury claim with WorkplaceNL, and if LPNs are factored in, a claim is made every day.
According to the union—they and the Federation of Labour—have been asking for an independent health sector safety council for several years.
However, despite the evidence presented, progress has been “glacial.”
Coffey says workplace injuries and deaths are “100 per cent preventable” and “there should be nothing preventing [them] from striving to reach that goal.”
Section of T’Railway Provincial Park in Clarenville Closed Due to Landslide
A section of the T’Railway Provincial Park in Clarenville has been closed due to a landslide in a retaining wall.
The park will be closed from Harbour Drive to Gardiner Place until further notice.
The provincial government says the landslide is being investigated.
Advance Polls Open Today for Paradise By-Election
The advance polls open up today for the by-election in the Town of Paradise.
The race is to fill the vacancy left following the passing of long-time councillor and former Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Laurie.
The advance polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Paradise Double Ice Complex and at the St. Thomas Community Centre.
There are four candidates in the running for the seat: Erin Furlong, Jennifer Hiscock, Tony Kelly, and Tommy Maher.
Election day is Tuesday.
Southern Shore Breakers Advance to Final at Allan Cup in Ontario
The Southern Shore Breakers are into the championship game at the Allan Cup senior hockey playdowns in Dundas, Ont.
The Breakers advanced by knocking off the Stoney Creek Tigers 4-1 last night in the semi-final.
Kris Hodge, Jeremy Nichols, Kevin Reid, on a penalty shot, and Stephen Oates scored for the winners, while A.J. Whiffen picked up his third win of the tournament.
The Breakers will face the hometown Dundas Real McCoys in the final this afternoon at 4:30 Newfoundland time.
The game can be seen on CHCH TV and streamed online.
Rogues On Verge of Postseason With Crucial Win Over Lightning
The Newfoundland Rogues moved a step closer to the playoffs with a 110-104 win over the London Lightning at the Mary Brown’s Centre on Friday night.
The Rogues need to win two of three games against the Lightning this weekend in order to advance to the Basketball Super League postseason.
Armani Chaney scored 38 points for the Rogues who outlasted the Lightning despite being undermanned due to injuries.
The Rogues can avoid a must-win situation tomorrow with a win tonight at Mary Brown’s Centre.
Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
Long-Haul Truck Driver From Stephenville Gone Missing in Ontario
A mystery is unfolding in Ontario where a Newfoundland long-haul truck driver has gone missing, leaving family members back home desperate for information.
Fifty-one-year-old Brian Lush of Stephenville reportedly parked his transport truck at a Petro Pass truck stop in Summertown, Ont., near Cornwall, on Wednesday, but he hasn’t been seen since.
Lush was captured on surveillance video that day, wearing a blue hoodie, jeans and a ball cap.
Family members have taken to social media in the hopes that someone has seen Lush and can provide information on his whereabouts.
Ontario Provincial Police with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry detachment also issued an advisory in the case.
Weight Restriction Continues on Pitts Memorial Drive During Construction
There is a weight restriction on Pitts Memorial Drive today due to ongoing construction.
The restriction will be in place from 8 a.m. today until noon tomorrow.
The maximum load limit has been set at 12 tonnes, or 15,000 kgs.
Highway enforcement Officers will be on site to enforce the changes. All trucks in excess of the weight limit will be told to use an alternate route.
Wakeham: Mackerel Bait Fishery Decision a “Slap in the Face” to NL
Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham calls the latest decision on the mackerel bait fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence a “slap in the face.”
Federal Fisheries Minister Diane LeBouthillier this week announced a 470-tonne personal use bait fishery in the Gulf despite reports from harvesters and the union that the stock is healthy.
The quota is being split between the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.
Wakeham accuses the provincial government of being “silent on another critical fishery issue.”
One Adult, Five Children Taken to Hospital for Smoke Inhalation Following House Fire in St. John’s
One adult and six children were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation following a fire at a home in the capital city last night.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the St. John’s Regional Fire Department responded to the blaze on Pennywell Road around 11 p.m.
Police say the home was filled with smoke when crews arrived on the scene.
Six residents were home at the time of the fire. The Canadian Red Cross assisted the family with emergency lodging.
The home was significantly damaged, and the fire remains under investigation.
Lotto Max Ticket Worth $100,000 Sold in Whitbourne
If you bought a lotto ticket for last night’s draw, you may wish to check your numbers.
A ticket sold in Whitbourne for the April 26 Lotto Max draw is worth $100,000.
The holder matched all six digits on the TAG portion of the draw.
The jackpot did not go, so that climbs to $31 million for the next draw, which is on Tuesday.
RCMP Investigating Theft of Pickup Truck With Plow in Gander
RCMP are investigating the theft of a truck with a plow from a commercial lot in Gander earlier this week.
The pickup was taken from Killick Tire and Automotive on Roe Avenue sometime between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
The truck is described as a 2006 rusty, grey single-cab Ford -350, with a red Boss snow plow, a back rack, and metal toolbox. The license plate number is COG750.
Thousands Await Lifesaving Transplants as Canada Marks Organ Donation Week
With over 4,000 people in Canada awaiting a lifesaving organ or tissue transplant, organizations across Canada are stressing the importance of signing up to be a donor.
This is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week across Canada. Barb Gibbons, coordinator with the Organ Donation Program in Newfoundland and Labrador, estimates that there are 60-70 people in the province currently on the waitlist, plus patients who need a heart or lung transplant have to move to Ontario if they are on that waitlist.
About 244,000 people in this province have signed up, but only roughly 5 per cent of those remain eligible at or near end-of-life stage.
To become a donor, you can sign up through MCP. Gibbons says, equally important is to have a discussion with family members so that everyone is aware of a person’s wishes.
Tragic Fishing Accident in Lark Harbour Marks Somber National Day of Mourning
The pain of losing loved ones to workplace tragedy will be fresh in the minds of people across the province this year with the National Day of Mourning on Sunday.
The day is marked each year on April 28th to commemorate those who have lost their lives due to workplace accidents and illness.
Earlier this week, the communities of Lark Harbour and York Harbour were stricken with grief after two fish harvesters lost their lives when the boat they were on capsized close to shore.
Provincial Cabinet Minister Gerry Byrne says a funeral for the nephew and uncle, who he identifies as Nick Skinner and Trevor Childs, was held this afternoon in Lark Harbour.
Byrne says he knows the extended families of the two men very well, and the service will be “very emotional.”
On the eve of the National Day of Mourning, Byrne says it serves as a reminder that workplace injury and death are in our daily lives.
He says Skinner and Childs were out trying to provide for their families, and calls it “very, very sad.”
Meanwhile, The call for an inquiry into fishing vessel safety is picking up steam in the wake of the sinking of a dory on the west coast which claimed two lives on opening day of the lobster fishery.
Lin Paddock, the PC candidate in Green Bay-Baie Verte, agrees with Merv Wiseman, a former official with the Coast Guard, that it’s time for an inquiry into the safety component of vessels used to prosecute the fishery.
Paddock says fatal incidents are happening all too frequently.
Labrador Man Charged with Child Luring Offences
A Happy Valley-Goose Bay man has been charged with child luring and invitation to sexual touching.
RCMP arrested 22-year-old Jayden Tuglavina yesterday following a search of his home involving numerous police agencies.
A number of items were seized including electronic items, which will be examined further.
The accused has appeared in court and has been released on numerous conditions, including having no contact with the alleged victim, no possession or operation of electronic communications devices, and no attendance at public places where people under the age of 16 are known to frequent.
Tuglavina will appear in court again on June 6th.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP at 709-896-3383 or Crime Stoppers.
Grand Falls-Windsor Man Claims VOCM Cares 50/50 Jackpot
One VOCM Cares supporter will soon have an extra $66,000 in their pocket thanks to the latest 50/50 draw.
The winning ticket was sold to Gary Power of Grand Falls-Windsor, who takes home $66,315. to be exact.
In total, $132,630 worth of tickets were sold for the foundation.
The other half of the money will go toward Lions Clubs and other charities across the province.
Power plans to share some of his winnings with his son and daughter who live in Alberta, and will hold onto the rest “for a rainy day.”
That said, he says he will splurge a little on a bite to eat from his favourite pizza shop, Greco Pizza.
Power says it’s the first time he has won anything substantial, other than $20 on lotto tickets, but says “this is the biggest thing I’ve ever won.”
Instant Sellout: Nickelback Fans Quick to Grab Tickets to Churchill Park Show
It’s shaping up to be one of the busiest summer concert seasons in recent memory, tickets for the Nickelback show at Churchill Park now sold out.
Tickets sold out in about an hour, with a waitlist now opened should additional tickets become available.
The Canadian Music Hall of Famers will take to the stage on Friday, August 9th with openers James Barker Band and the Arkells.
The following weekend of Churchill Park will see the main theme shift from rock and roll to country with Shania Twain headlining three sold out back-to-back shows.
For that weekend, Lindsay Ell and Alan Doyle are the confirmed openers for Friday night show, Talk is opening on Saturday, and the opening acts for Sunday have yet to be announced.
Churchill Park is one of numerous summer concerts taking place in metro this summer. Iceberg Alley and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival also have a full slate of performers coming in.
RNC Responding to Potential Weapons Offence in Downtown St. John’s
There is a significant police presence in the area of Livingstone street at this hour as police respond to a potential weapons offence.
An area of the street has been cordoned off with police tape and the RNC says a home has been contained.
People are being asked to avoid the area, and nearby residents are asked to obey the directions of police.
One week ago police responded to a report of shots fired on the same street, as well as a weapons offence on nearby Casey Street.
VOCM News will have more information as it becomes available.
Tent City Protesters Insist They’re Helping, Not Hindering, Homeless
Tent city protesters are scoffing at suggestions that they’re talking homeless residents out of accepting housing options from government.
Jude Benoit, who was living in a tent at Colonial Building herself until recently, says she and other volunteer protesters are there to fill the gaps not covered off by the province.
She was responding to comments by Housing Minister Fred Hutton who suggested the protesters are impeding rather than helping the situation.
Jude Benoit at tent city on the grounds of Colonial Building in St. John’s. (VOCM News)
Nine months after the tents moved from Confederation Hill to downtown St. John’s, Benoit says people are still there because the housing options they’ve been offered are inadequate.
Benoit says in the interim, Tent City For Change supporters have been doing what they can to help the homeless residents by offering tents, raising funds and offering food, as well as propane “to keep them warm and from freezing to death.”
But she flatly denies telling the homeless not to accept homes.
“We, as the volunteer protesters, are there for them. If they find a place and they want to move in, we help them move in. If they need furniture for that place, we help them find the furniture. We bring them food, we check in on them to make sure they continue to be as safe as possible,” she said.
“We form those relationships even after they leave tent city. But we certainly don’t encourage them to stay if they don’t want to stay.”
Benoit notes some have availed of shelters offered by the province, but many have returned citing dirty and dangerous living conditions.
Hogan Seeks Criminal Code Changes for Bail in Domestic Violence Cases
The province’s Justice minister wants Ottawa to amend the criminal code to make it harder for people to get bail while facing domestic violence charges.
John Hogan sent a letter to his federal counterpart, Arif Virani, on March 13th, focusing on changes in the code which he believes would strengthen bail provisions for people facing charges of intimate partner violence.
The onus is usually on the Crown to prove why someone charged with a crime should be denied bail and remain in custody, given the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Proposed changes would require the opposite — referred to as “reverse onus” — where the burden of proof lies with the defence, or the accused, to show why they should be released.
“So it flips the onus on who has to prove the case for release,” said Hogan.
Currently, the reverse onus only kicks in when the accused has a prior conviction for domestic violence. Hogan is asking for that condition to be removed, automatically putting the onus on an accused charged with domestic violence.
Hogan acknowledges the recent death of a woman in Outer Cove was “an impetus” to look at how things could be handled differently in the courts.
The victim’s ex-husband, Ibrahim Alahmad, has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.
He was already facing numerous domestic violence-related charges involving the woman and her children when she was killed
Hogan says he has not yet received a response to his letter from the federal Justice minister.
Husky Slapped With $2.5-Million Fine For Province’s Largest Oil Spill
Husky Oil has been fined a total of $2.5 million in connection with the largest oil spill in this province’s history.
The joint submission from the company and the Crown was endorsed and imposed in provincial court this morning.
The penalty is for spilling about 250,000 litres of crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean in November of 2018.
It happened when an underwater flow line became disconnected due to a series of technical issues near the SeaRose FPSO.
(An image of a flow-line connector which failed, triggering the 2018 spill.)
Court heard that while the problem itself could not have been foreseen, there were mistakes made as crews tried to restart operations before the issue was identified and resolved.
In the end, Husky — which has since been acquired by Cenovus — pleaded guilty to three charges in exchange for three others being withdrawn.
The fines fall largely under environmental protection laws, including the Migratory Birds Act, with proceeds going to organizations that promote spill prevention, safety and cleanup.
A total of 17 oiled birds were spotted near the spill, with seven captured. Two of them were released, two were dead, while the other three either died or were put down.
Husky Oil has 30 days to wire the $2.5 million to the court.
Four months before this incident, Husky was fined $600,000 for another spill in Saskatchewan.
Impaired Charge Laid After Van Takes Out Fence in Clarke’s Beach
A 77-year-old man was arrested for impaired driving following a crash in Clarke’s Beach Wednesday afternoon.
RCMP were called to the scene after a van slammed into a fence.
No one was injured.
Police say the driver showed signs of impairment, and subsequent breath samples registered above the legal limit for alcohol.
The man was given a future court date and released from custody.
His licence was also suspended and the van was impounded.
Seniors Poverty Strategy Part of Budget’s ‘Well-Being’ Plan
The provincial government says its poverty reduction plan for seniors will not be released as a single document.
Rather, they say the plan is contained within the 2024 budget.
The idea of a specialized plan focused on seniors was announced when the province brought forward its new poverty reduction plan last fall.
Earlier this week, PC Opposition critic Craig Pardy questioned the minister responsible for seniors, Paul Pike, about the status of that strategy.
But Pike failed to reference any timelines, and instead talked about other items included in the budget.
Officials with Pike’s department, meanwhile, say the strategy is included in the budget as the Seniors Well-Being Plan.
It includes $10 million for home repairs and modifications for seniors, support for caregivers of seniors with complex needs living at home, grants for low-income seniors living at home for things such as snow-clearing and grocery delivery, enhanced influenza vaccines for people over the age of 65, food and heating support for seniors in coastal Labrador, as well as expansion of the 211 community support line.
Cole Remembered For Vocals, Vocation By Leaders and Players Alike
The loss of Bob Cole continues to reverberate throughout the province and hockey circles around the world.
The St. John’s-born broadcasting legend died Wednesday night at the age of 90, surrounded by his family.
Premier Andrew Furey says he got to know Cole on a personal level while he was a patient of his some time ago.
As well, he says they spoke just last year while firing the pistol to start back-to-back races at the Royal St. John’s Regatta.
“He was an incredible man, an incredible voice,” Furey told reporters on Thursday. “Not just for hockey across our great nation, but for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Hearing him call games allowed us to dream, allowed us to realize that we could achieve great heights.
“You could hear it, you could see him, you could feel it, a Newfoundlander on the world stage — this could be us.”
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen says Cole gave of himself every time the city came calling.
“Whenever we needed something, we’d go to Bob, and he was always willing to help out,” says Breen. “I remember when we were trying to get the 2017 Brier here, and we were raising awareness, and Bob was there, he’d come out, and that fantastic voice. That will never be forgotten in this province.”
Former Premier Danny Williams was running the St. John’s Ice Caps when the Bob Cole Media Centre was officially named and unveiled at the former Mile One Centre, now the Mary Brown’s Centre.
“He was right up there with the Danny Gallivans of the Canadiens and the Foster Hewitts of the Leafs,” Williams said.
“I think he’s recognized coast-to-coast and indeed right across the continent. A big loss for the province but Bob certainly gave us a lot of very good notoriety, a lot of goodwill, and he put Newfoundland and Labrador on the map from that perspective.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed sadness over news of Cole’s passing.
And former Leaf great and captain Doug Gilmour had this to share:
Funeral arrangements for the late, great Bob Cole have yet to be announced.
Cabbie Assaulted By Passenger Who Refused To Pay, Police Say
A St. John’s man spent the night in jail following a dustup with a cab driver.
Police say the 24-year-old refused to pay his fare after arriving at his downtown destination on Duckworth Street.
It’s alleged he then assaulted the driver before leaving the scene.
Police tracked down the suspect and charged him with one count of assault and failure to pay his fare.
He was held at the lockup overnight pending a court appearance today.
