Hall of Fame inductee Bennett had his own definition of winning

Gonzo Bennett accepted his induction into the Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association in the Builder category last month. He grew up playing hockey on the ponds of Stoneville in his youth, but found he was better suited to making things happen off ice. From left are Gonzo Bennett and President of the Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association Mike Kelly.

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Gonzo Bennet was inducted into the Mount Pearl Hockey Association Hall of Fame last month after spending 15 years building the sport behind the scenes.

Bennett began his journey as a coach in 2008 where he would spend eight years with house league and all-star teams. He would then go on to hold a list of executive positions within the association including both president and vice president of Mount Pearl Minor Hockey, co-chair of the inaugural Bantam Mega tournament, and inaugural president of the Don Johnson Hockey League, among a host of other roles.

Although he’s held many a role of influence, he maintains it’s never been about power and always about the children.

“Ultimately, that’s the goal, to make sure the kids are having a positive experience when it comes to the hockey rink,” Bennett said.

From the beginning, getting involved was a utilitarian move. Bennett could see where improvements could be made in minor hockey and decided to do something about it. Openness and transparency for parents was among his priorities. He also wanted to make sure teams were balanced, and that children across the board had an opportunity to succeed.

“Rather than sit in the stands and complain about things that I thought could be better, I decided to get involved and try to make a positive change,” he said.

For Bennett, it’s always been about respect: respect for players, parents and his fellow coaches.

Rather than big wins and trophies, Bennett said he is most proud of the impact he’s been able to make on his community after all these years.

“I felt that I was approachable in the rink so that any parent who had a concern could come to the association and feel their concerns were being addressed,” he said.

While being neck-deep in minor hockey, he also taught at Mount Pearl Senior High School where he retired in 2018. Teaching and coaching gave Bennett ample opportunity to make an impact on young hockey players.

“They do remember,” he said. “Treating kids fairly and with respect goes a long way to treating you with the same respect.”

Bennett got to watch many of the children grow up with the sport and follow promising careers in junior hockey, playing in such high profile tournaments as the Don Johnson Cup just this past weekend.

He said watching them grow up into not only good hockey players, but good people, is his main reward.

“I was less concerned with how we developed them as hockey players,” he said. “That was important, but I think it was just as important to develop them as human beings.”

Bennett acknowledges that very few players ever go on to pursue high profile careers in the sport, but that’s not the point. Creating players for life, no matter where they go on to play, is the goal.

“I always measure our success by how many kids are still playing hockey when they’re 35 years old,” he said. “That’s the true measure of success.”

Team Gushue grounds to get a spruce up

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Mount Pearl’s urban forestry plan is taking seed after a recent approval at council to spruce up the grounds at the Team Gushue Sports Complex on Arena Road.

Councillor Jim Locke told his colleagues last week that 18 deciduous trees, seven coniferous trees, and 68 shrubs will be planted to beautify the area. The tender also includes the supply of soil, mulch, stakes, and 14 months of maintenance.

O’Neill’s Gardenland of Spaniards Bay will supply, install and maintain the new greenery at a total cost of $49,450. The company was the lowest of five qualified bidders for the work.

Down towards the other end of Smallwood Drive, the Glacier Arena will also be home to some new purchases with the arrival of two battery powered ice resurfacers.

Engo Equipment Sales, the lowest of three bidders, will both supply and deliver the two machines for a total of $374,387.

Delivery of the two machines will be staggered with one arriving this year and the other arriving in 2025.

The City’s snowclearing fleet will also be bolstered next winter with the delivery of a brand new salt truck. Harvey & Company, the only bidder on the tender, will supply a 2024 or newer truck with a landscape body and salt spreading unit at a total cost of $214,123.

Council approves list of tax breaks

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mount Pearl council this week approved its annual list of organizations eligible for a break on business taxes.

Councillor Bill Antle brought the motion before council, which passed it unanimously.

Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a full exemption, totaling $797.

The Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce will also receive a full exemption worth $731.

Employment agency Visions Employment Inc., which helps find jobs and provides coaching for people with disabilities, will receive a full exemption to the tune of $5,987.

Co-Operator Housing will receive a full $1,406 tax exemption.

Co-Operative Housing Association, will also receive a full exemption at $4,739.

The Canadian Diabetes Association is set to receive a $1,880 exemption.

The Masonic Park and Mason Lodge on Mount Carson Avenue will both receive 60 percent exemptions at $10,152 and $24,699 respectively, while the Freemason Hall arm of the organization will receive a full tax break of $5,309.

The SPCA is getting a full exemption of $5,309, while Metro Business Opportunities rounds out the list with a $3,483 tax break.

The total cost of the exemptions in this week's motion amount to 135,345.

Mayor Dave Aker said tax exemptions are one way the City offers help to volunteer groups.

“These organizations, they operate fundamentally using volunteers,” he said. “Our role as a city sometimes is to provide facilities and tax considerations. I think this is really good, this is a real contribution back from the City to our community.”

City to cut red tape, expand business attraction, Aker tells chamber

Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker presented his annual economic outlook to members of the Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce earlier this month. The Mount Pearl Soccer Hut had a full house for the event. Among those on hand were, starting in the back row, from left: chamber president Colleen Glynn, councillor Bill Antle, Mayor Aker, councillors Isabelle Fry and Jim Locke, Paradise councillor Glen Carew, and Justin Locke of TD Bank, which was the sponsor of the event. In the front row are Mount Pearl North MHA Lucy Stoyles and the chamber’s executive director Wanda Palmer. Submitted photo

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mayor Dave Aker addressed the Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce and the business community at large earlier this month in a speech that presented his, and the city’s outlook for the year ahead.

“The future of the city is something we must carefully and strategically consider,” Aker said.

Recapping some of the city’s recent accomplishments, such as the ongoing construction of a new community centre, selecting a consultant for the North of Topsail Road development, and renewing the municipal plan, Aker said the City has accomplished 90 per cent of the action items in the first year of its strategic plan.

As part of the revamping of the Municipal Plan, the City is recreating development regulations to help foster housing and business opportunities. Zoning for higher densities, infill development, and redevelopment will be looked at, as well as public transit, public parking, construction restrictions, and the provision of “people-centric” spaces.

“We are hearing from many of you that you have spatial limitations on your lots,” Aker said. “We want to make sure the future of the city matches your needs.”

Regarding the City’s initiative to attract and retain businesses and people, the Mayor acknowledged the lack of full-service restaurants in Mount Pearl and council’s plans to address it. By commissioning a market study, the City will seek to understand the landscape of the restaurant industry in Mount Pearl, and identify the demand, opportunities, and potential sites for prospective businesses. Lastly, it will promote the attraction of such businesses.

“We want to do as much of the work as we can to attract prospective restaurant owners,” Aker said. “We know our city is primed for another full-service restaurant and we will take the lead and do whatever we can to make it happen.”

Aker cautioned the intention is to complement existing restaurants, as opposed to creating more competition for them.

Focus on the city centre was also highlighted, with Aker pointing out the need for improved signage and new investments to create public spaces aimed at recreation and relaxation, retail sector growth, and promotion of “more active modes of transport.”

Aker spoke of creating a “people place” in the city centre by promoting mental and physical health, social, cultural, and economic enrichment, and the creation of new opportunities in commerce, recreation, and entertainment.

“The city of Mount Pearl has been planned from the outset,” Aker said. “We understand that people-centric design is key to fostering quality public spaces.”

The city’s extensive trail network is also coming in for attention. Following last summer’s successful mobile kiosk pilot project on Forest Avenue, which featured local treats, and the award winning T’Railway Sundown Series, which showcased musical acts, the mayor announced a plan to develop a second kiosk for the area.

“By clustering retail spaces together, we can create a destination for visitors and residents alike,” he said. “By capitalizing the appeal of our trails, we bolster the economic vitality of our city, benefiting businesses across various sectors and enriching the overall community experience.”

Aker also highlighted the creation of a new trail on the north side of the Waterford River. The design of the trail will begin this year. The work will be done with community partners including the Rotary Club of Waterford Valley.

“If you own property on the north side of the Waterford River, we want to work with you to make a new trail connection a reality,” said the mayor.

Addressing the business sector, Aker noted the City’s $5,000 tax incentive was limited to the craft, retail, and technology sectors. Now, it's making the incentive available to any new business that has opened within the designated city centre area within the last three years in an expansion of its scaled tax program.

The City is also talking to provincial and federal officials to “understand what types of opportunities lie in the supply and service chain” for renewable energy in the hopes of attracting investment to the city.

“There’s no city better equipped to help than right here in Donovan’s business park in Mount Pearl,” he said.

The mayor also touched on the $6.1 million the federal government announced earlier this year to boost housing construction in Mount Pearl. To promote high density residential development, he said, the City is working on incentives to reduce the cost of permit fees, and $500,000 has been dedicated to incentives that support development.

Some 2,000 homes are set to see construction over the next 10 years.

Developers will now have a single point-of-contact with the City, with the newly established economic development and housing team led by manager of economic development and housing Jeremy Schwartz.

“Whether it’s a question on permits, or implementing process improvements, we will remove red tape so you can focus on what's important,” Aker said.

Speaking of permits, they are about to get a little less tangly, with online permit facilities allowing for applications and tracking of approval processes.

Aker said more announcements on incentive programs will be announced in the coming months.

“Solving the housing challenge will be accomplished through collaboration between all levels of government and the private sector,” he said.

‘It’s amazing some of the stuff you can find’

The thrift store at Mount Pearl Senior High School is not unlike any used clothing shop you find yourself browsing through on a lazy Saturday afternoon, complete with organized racks and staff eager to help out. From left are some of the people involved in operating the store including Grade 11 students Jayme Coles and Jayda Baines, Grade 12 students Shelby Slade and Abigail Bellamy, and Grade 11 student Samantha Flood. Chad Feehan photo

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After Mount Pearl Senior High School ceased teaching Grade 9 within its walls, a couple of rooms connected by a door became empty on the second floor.

Not wanting to see a good opportunity go to waste, a group of students have made use of the space by opening a thrift store where all of the clothes are completely free.

Now both the rooms and the clothes are seeing new, fresh purposes.

“We have the space, students need clothes. There are people who can’t afford clothes and clothes are expensive,” said the store’s co-manager Shelby Slade. “We figured we’d start this little thing.”

The shop has been in operation since December and runs a few times a week, mainly during lunchtime hours.

Students can take up to three items per visit, which are folded and bagged by the attendant at hand. And just like your standard thrift store, the offerings can change from week to week.

For many students who work the shop, their hours spent amongst the clothes are an easy way to fill their quota of volunteer hours in their career education course.

Grade 11 student Jayda Baines was having trouble getting her volunteer time locked in, but luckily the lunchtime hours ended up being her saving grace.

“The school is helping me and I’m helping the students get whatever they want,” she said. “I like this because I can help people, but I’m also getting my hours.”

For attendant Samantha Flood, working in the shop is great preparation for work in retail outlets that are so common for young people.

“Especially as teenagers, we tend to go to these types of jobs,” she said. “Learning how to restock, greet customers and fold things, I think that really helps.”

Co-manager Abigail Bellamy appreciates how the shop serves as a solution for reducing waste in the textiles industry.

“It’s become so popular in the last few years because of the pollution caused by textiles,” she said. “It’s better so we’re not constantly buying fifty dollars on clothes every time we go to the mall.”

Even clothes with imperfections like holes or rips can be repurposed into DIY projects.

“We have some clothes in the back that have holes in them that we know some students will take and repurpose,” Slade said. “I’m after taking a shirt and cropping it. I even turned a shirt into a pair of pants once. Even clothes that are no good on a day-to-day basis we can fix.”

The team has had a solid 50 or 60 bags of donated clothes come through the doors since December, with groups of students perusing the racks every day.

“It’s been great to see people coming in and doing something with the school,” Bellamy said.

The shop is currently on the hunt for an additional rack that would house clothes for teachers and parents, as they often receive clothes that students might not wear.

As successful as the store has been, its future will be in limbo when Grade 9 is reintroduced back into the school, taking over the space once again.

Bellamy is hopeful they will figure something out, even if she will have graduated by that time.

As Bellamy talks about her passion project, she sorts through the growing piles of clothes that are to be washed and sorted, often spying garbs that she may pick out for herself.

“It’s amazing some of the stuff you can find,” she said.

Blades and Caps square off Tuesday in opening match of Don Johnson Cup

Mount Pearl last hosted the Atlantic Junior B hockey championships in 2003 and last won the cup in 1986. The 35th iteration of the Don Johnson Memorial Cup will be held at the Mount Pearl Glacier from April 23rd to the 28th. From left are Blades’ members Sean Rodgers, Lucas White, Andrew Stamp, Evan Kennedy, and Jacob Payne.

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After finishing the regular season in the St. John’s Junior Hockey League as the most winning team, the Mount Pearl Junior Blades are vying now for the top spot in the 2024 Don Johnson Memorial Cup as they fight for Atlantic-wide bragging rights on their home turf.

The Blades are hosting the Atlantic Junior B hockey championships this year which will bring the top teams from the four eastern provinces to the Glacier for some top caliber competition.

The Blades kick off the tournament on Tuesday night against familiar faces St. John’s Junior Caps, who bested Mount Pearl during the St. John’s Junior Hockey League Championships just this month.

Director of Media with the Don Johnson Host Committee Nicholas Hillier is hoping for a full house when the two hometown heroes square off on opening night.

“Mount Pearl and St. John’s were neck and neck in the regular season and seeing them two as the representatives (of this province) just goes to show the quality of hockey that the Don Johnson is going to put out,” said Hillier.

The tournament is named for a hockey organizer widely regarded as one of the key builders of amateur hockey in Newfoundland. The late Don Johnson was first elected president of the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey Association, the predecessor of Hockey NL, in 1966, and was president of the Canadian Hockey Association from 1975-1977.

Hillier said everybody from the Blades’ players to management and coaching staff are hoping to make good after getting knocked out in the semi-finals of the league playoffs this year.

“They’re hungry for a bit of redemption,” he said. “They put a good game of hockey on the ice all season… They had a bit of heartbreak, faced a bit of adversity. We’ll be looking to go home with a bit of hardware in terms of the Atlantic Junior Championships. The opportunity to host Don Johnson doesn’t come every year. Newfoundland and Labrador only gets it once every four years.”

Hillier has observed a spike in attendance at local junior games leading up to the cup, and hopes it continues for the Atlantics.

“A sold out rink on Tuesday night is going to be our number one goal,” he said.

Community awareness of the tournament is also top of mind for the host committee.

For those unable to attend the games, the action will be well documented with a strong presence by broadcasters, videographers and photographers capturing all of the excitement.

The games will be viewable online, and social media will be keeping up with all of the big plays.

“Our social media content is going to be really high quality, every goal is going to be on our social media, we’re going to be updating live the whole week,” said Hillier.

Two years ago, The Blades lost 2-1 in the semi-finals to the Kent Koyotes who would go on to win the cup that year. The Blades will get another chance for redemption when they face-off against the Koyotes on Thursday Night.

“That’s going to be a really fun game to watch,” Hillier said.

A member of Johnson’s family will be present to open the tournament on Tuesday night with a ceremonial puck drop.

“You're putting five of the best teams from Atlantic Canada on the same ice surface over a week,” said Hillier. “This is going to be the best hockey on the island right now. For ten dollars it’s going to be a great night out.”

The 2024 Don Johnson Cup will take place at the Glacier from April 23rd to the 28th.

Aker bringing agenda of topics to Urban Municipalities meeting

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker will be bringing a common message for government when he attends the Urban Municipalities Committee Meeting in Pasadena this weekend.
The committee is a subgroup within Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and represents towns and cities in the province with a population of over 3000 people. It meets quarterly.
Aker, along with the mayors of 22 of the province's largest municipalities, will be sharing with MNL their comments and concerns in hopes of directing the parent group’s lobbying efforts on their behalf.
Obtaining and maintaining an adequate workforce to deliver municipal services is among Aker’s chief concerns, as well as acquiring funding for City operations.
“We’re all looking for more funding, we need more funding to pay for operating costs which inflation has ultimately made very, very much more challenging,” he said.
A discussion about how MNL can support urban municipalities in new ways is also on the agenda.
Aker also intend to brief his colleagues on his city’s efforts to update the City of Mount Pearl Act. He said the years-old current Act is proscriptive in outlining what the City is able to do, and needs to be updated to enable more autonomy. That will require enabling legislation from the provincial government in the legislature.
“What we’re hoping is the new Cities Act will speak to legislation that enables larger communities like Corner Brook and Mount Pearl to do our business without having to go to Municipal Affairs and always consult,” he explained. “We have very good professional staff. We have enough scale that we can muster all the resources required, including financing, debt management, all of those things that make a municipality operate effectively.”
Mount Pearl’s recent acquisition of $6.1 million dollars under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund will also be discussed at the meeting.

Frosty - the biography

Memories of the Frosty Festival is a breezy read while giving an informative look at the carnival’s 40-plus year history. Sports and competitions, pageants, food, volunteers, and even the face of Frosty himself are all given treatment within its pages. Chad Feehan Local Journalism Initiative Reporter photo

New book charts the history of Mount Pearl’s annual winter festival

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Frosty Festival has been uniting the community of Mount Pearl with entertainment, food, sports and dance since 1983, offering residents a nearly two-week long soiree during winter's coldest, darkest months.
Now, the story of the Frosty Festival has been told from its earliest beginnings in Memories of the Frosty Festival, a new book compiled and published by Admiralty House Communications Museum.
The trip down memory lane takes readers from 1983 to 2023, shedding light on the events that comprise the festival, the people who make it happen, and what it means for the people of Mount Pearl.
Frosty Festival Chairperson Megan Winter, who has been volunteering with the festival in some way or another since 2003, said the volunteers who make it happen often forget they are in the process of making history, which the book does a great job of preserving.
“To be able to produce a book that really focuses on the story of the festival going back to ’83, it really captures the essence of what the festival is,” she said. “For a lot of people, the festival is nostalgic. It’s full of great memories and it’s a source of great pride for the people of Mount Pearl.”
Memories of the Frosty Festival sets the scene by detailing the origins of the city itself, when it was just a tract of land given to Commander James Pearl in 1829. Jump to the early 1980’s, when engineer and politician Neil Winsor raised the idea of holding a winter carnival in the town.
A committee was formed soon after, and as can be read in the book, the rest is history.
From February 4th to the 12th, 1983, the first “Frosty” featured 43 events, and was sponsored by all the major community groups in the town, including the Cadets, Lion’s Club, Knights of Columbus, United Church Men’s Club, Mount Pearl Soccer Association, Ladies Auxiliary, and the Legion.
Since then, Frosty Festival has changed in some ways and stayed the same in others, according to the needs and wants of the community.
The vehicle parade of the 80’s would not last long, but would eventually become a nighttime pedestrian parade of lights at the festival’s 35th iteration.
Trivia night would balloon from a modest 12 teams to 45, and the annual Kentucky Cup hockey game between Mount Pearl Senior High and O’Donel High has a colourful interest all its own, so colourful in fact, that organizers had to scrap the contest.
“You look at your events, you modify them, always evaluating what the community wants and what the people want,” Winter said.
The festival's titular mascot Frosty has been through numerous incarnations, beginning with a visage curiously similar to Bonhomme of the Quebec Winter Carnival, before giving way to various other costumes throughout the decades.
Admiralty House Museum Manager Megan Webb has been working on the book since starting her role with the museum in January of 2023, taking over from previous museum manager Sarah Ryan. Webb said the book started out as an oral history but evolved into its final form after finding success in collecting stories, photos, and memorabilia from the community.
“There was such a wealth of information and so much interesting history to be celebrated that it was decided to compile it into a book so it could be enjoyed by many people,” she said.
For Webb, the book is a way to give back, and preserve individual stories from the festival that might not otherwise be told.
“A lot of the community of Mount Pearl, from my experience, really seeks that nostalgia,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons why people have been enjoying the book because it really embodies that sense of nostalgia.”
Memories of the Frosty Festival can be found at the Admiralty House Communications Museum in Mount Pearl.

Easter Bunny and Friends

Before he made his Sunday morning rounds, The Easter Bunny hopped his way into the Reid Centre on Saturday to treat neighborhood children to a special breakfast and brunch. In addition to a hearty feast, participants enjoyed an afternoon of Easter themed-games and activities. Sitting with the Easter Bunny from the left are Mia Baker and Summer Peach of Mount Pearl. Submitted photo

Chamber of Commerce celebrates top businesses

Golfshotz was one of nine businesses to win awards at the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce Best In Business Awards Gala last week. The indoor driving range and cocktail bar, which contains a virtual golf simulator, took home the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. From left to right are Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Luke Gibbons, and Golfshotz co-owners Tara O’Reilly and Trever Heffernan. Chad Feehan Local Journalism Initiative Reporter photo

Golfshotz takes Entrepreneur of the Year Award

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Reid Centre in Mount Pearl resembled the glitz and glam of a tinsel town ball last week when the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce held its Best in Business Awards Gala.
The Chamber, which opened its doors in 1985, holds the gala every year to encourage excellence in business practices.

Host Keith Power of Spirit of Newfoundland had the crowd laughing throughout the evening, while musicians Dana Parsons and Wade Tarling kicked off the night with a few musical numbers.
With almost 200 people in attendance, some 48 businesses were nominated for nine awards.
Chamber President Colleen Glynn told the guests it’s an exciting time to be in business.

The first award of the night, the Innovation Award, went to Genoa Design, a production design firm in Mount Pearl specializing in 3D modelling services to shipbuilding and offshore industries in the province.
“Feeling like being at the Oscars,” said Luke Joyce, director of communications and marketing at Genoa Design. “Thank you to the chamber for the award, it’s greatly appreciated. We are very proud to be a company in Mount Pearl. We have two locations and almost 200 people working here, and we really appreciate your support, and we love supporting the community.”
Golfshotz, an indoor driving range and cocktail bar took home the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Golfshotz opened in 2019, and soon after navigated the trials and tribulations of running a new business during a pandemic.
Co-owner Trevor Heffernan cited 2023 as very likely the most stressful year of his life, but appreciated the recognition nonetheless.

“This is one of the best feelings that I’ve ever had,” added Tara O’Reilly, the other half of Golfshotz. “Both Trevor and I have had a really strong work ethic instilled in us since a very young age. It’s nice to be recognized and have an award that represents that.”
The New Business of the Year Award went to Advantage RV Repair Services, founded and helmed by Curt MacKenzie who was visibly moved by the recognition.
“Just to be nominated… it’s completely unexpected,” he said.
After congratulating the other nominees in the category,  MacKenzie went on to detail the difficulties of Advantage RV’s first year of business.
“We opened March 1st, 2020, with one employee,” he said, pausing for a row of laughter from the audience. “What happened 16 days later? The world shut down.”
Since then his company has grown substantially in both profit and personnel, citing participation in the chamber as a boon to his success.
The Local Impact - Mount Pearl Award went to the Mount Pearl Soccer Association, a household name in local sports for over 50 years.
President Lisa Inkpen was there to accept the award, who like many winners that night, said she was simply honored to be nominated, noting that many people in the room have likely been touched or involved in MPSA in their lifetime.
“As a longstanding not-for-profit, we feel that it’s always been about community and our volunteers and the City of Mount Pearl,” she said. “We’re so honored to be a part of the community and we’re grateful for everybody’s contribution.”
Ray’s K&D Grocery in Paradise took home the Local Impact - Paradise Award. The store has been very involved in community work as of late, including working with Food First NL to battle hunger, supporting a community group garden, and helping with plans for a soup kitchen on the horizon.
Kim French accepted the award, stating it was time to give back to the community after 43 years in business.
“Even in a world of big business domination, us little guys are still very relevant,” she said. “We’re actual street reach and are important regardless of what’s going on with all the big players out there.”
The Customer Service Award went to Coleman’s Mount Pearl, with communications coordinator Sasha Persaud accepting it on behalf of the company.
Persaud sang the praises of her co-workers and their dedication to customer service.
“Our team creates a natural, family-like atmosphere, always willing to listen and striving to improve our customer service,” she said.
Persaud dedicated the award to Ed Hannaford, a Colemans employee who died just this month. Hannaford, she said, exhibited the qualities being saluted by the chamber and was vital to the store’s “warm and loving culture.”
“This one’s for you,” she said.
Employee of the Year bragging rights went to Olha Rabchevska, a pastry chef at Coffee Matters in Paradise who emigrated to the community from Ukraine just last year.
She appeared with co-owner Scott Hillier, who praised her adaptability and willingness to learn many duties within the business.
Rabchevska was elated upon receiving the award, mentioning how much she enjoys working with the team.
“After leaving my home in Ukraine I now have all of my family in Canada,” she said. “Newfoundland is a wonderful place with very good people. Newfoundland is now my home.”
The second last award given out was the Business Excellence Award for Companies with less than 15 Employees, which went to Up Sky Down Films and accepted by owner and operator Roger Maunder.
Up Sky Down is a prolific film studio based in Mount Pearl with an extensive portfolio across the province, including the nomination videos showcased at the gala.
“The thing about having a production company is it’s different every day,” said Maunder. “This recognition underscores our commitment to exceptional work and strong relationships. We’re thankful for the trust of our clients and partners which pushes us to surpass expectations and build meaningful connections.”
Next month, Up Sky Down will be airing Forgotten Warriors on CBC, a film about nine people from Conne River who took on the government.
At the awards show's end, Landwash Brewery took home the Business Excellence Award for Companies with more than 15 Employees. A very elated co-owner Christy Coady accepted the honour and thanked her entire staff one by one for the company's success.
“Thank you to the judges, thank you to the Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce, and congratulations to the rest of the nominees,” she said. “You’re all awesome and excellent.”
TD Bank sponsored this year’s installation of the business awards. The Paradise Double Ice Complex will hold the show in 2025.