Championship curler Laura Strong among five inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

Laura Strong (centre) was one of five people inducted into the Mount Pearl Sports Hall of Fame last Thursday. From left are Mayor Dave Aker, Mount Pearl North MHA Lucy Stoyles, councillor Isabelle Fry, inductee Laura Strong, Mount Pearl Sport Alliance chairman Roy Locke, and councillor Bill Antle. Submitted photo

By Mark Squibb

The Mount Pearl Sports Alliance inducted five new members into the Mount Pearl Sports Hall of Fame at an awards gala last Thursday at the Reid Community Centre.

Keith Smith, Mary Spurrell, Laura Strong, Patrick O’Keefe, and David Rogers were all inducted for their commitment to sports in the City of Mount Pearl.

Smith served with the Mount Pearl Soccer Association for 16 years, working on many sub-committees within the organization. He was instrumental in securing funding for both new lighting at the Middle Smallwood Field and a new field.

Spurrell volunteered with the Mount Pearl Tennis Club for over 30 years, including an 18-year stint as a facility and rental contact. Her many hours of volunteer work brought in both revenue and members, and to this day she is known for the delicious meals she prepared for special events and tournaments.

Strong was born and bred in Mount Pearl but as an adult moved to Saskatchewan for work. She has won 12 provincial curling championships. Only nine of the 662 curlers who have represented the province at national competitions have more provincial championships than Strong, with three of those being Brad Gushue, Gary Oke, and Mark Nichols.

Hockey player O’Keefe has played for the Mount Pearl Blades, O’Donel High Patriots, St. John’s AAA Maple Leafs, Grand Falls Cataracts, and the St. John’s Senior Caps, and other teams, culminating in a roster spot on the professional league team Newfoundland Growlers. He also earned a bronze medal with Canada’s World U17 team in 2005, the first time an atlantic team won the medal. O’Keefe has also had a successful ball hockey career and was awarded the Robert Mueller Memorial Award at the 2016 World Championships.

Rogers of Marks Work Warehouse has sponsored the Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association, Mount Pearl Blades, and Mount Pearl Soccer Association for over 27 years. All told, Rogers and his company have donated close to $180,000 over the years. Additionally, Rogers has volunteered his time as a coach, manager, and more over the years.

Aside from the four inductees, a number of people were recognized for their contributions to sport, including mother and son Darlene and Michael Johnson.

Darlene Johnson of Pearlgate Track and Field was named the Peter Halliday Executive of the Year. Johnson served with the club for a decade, and during her time both the coaching staff and membership tripled. She has held several key positions, including president, and retired last year.

Michael Johnson, also of Pearlgate Track and Field, was named Official of the Year. He is one of only two people in the province fully capable of running the club’s timing system to the capacity needed for a full track-and-field competition. Last summer, during his second-year officiating, Michael officiated five meets, each requiring between six and eight hours of work.

Denise Stirling was awarded the Dave Holloway Memorial Volunteer Working with Youth Award. Stirling is the NL Youth Bowling bantam division coordinator and coach and club treasurer. Her combined duties include coaching, budget building, travel organizing, scheduling, and more.

Lastly, back-to-back champions the Metro Property Management Knights baseball team was named Team of the Year. The team remained undefeated during the regular season, a first-time league accomplishment, and lost only one game during the St. John’s Amateur Baseball Association Intermediate Championship. Despite the loss, the team still captured the championship title for the second year running.

More change orders for Olympic Drive

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council this week approved two new change orders for the Olympic Drive resurfacing project, bringing the total number of change orders thus far to seven.

The first was for an increase of materials valued at $48,037, HST included.

The second was for the installation of four new traffic loops, which detect vehicles and are typically used at traffic lights, on Olympic Drive, as part of the current construction.

“The loops will require replacement prior to surface coarse asphalt and it’s within the scope of work, so it’s recommended we approve Change Order #7 and to supply and install four new traffic loops, at a total cost of $7,475, and that includes HST,” explained Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley.

The two change orders combined for a total of $55,512, HST included, and council approved both unanimously in a single motion.

The initial contract was awarded to Farrell’s Excavating Ltd., last July in the amount of $798,933, HST included, but approximately $250,000 in change orders has pushed the project past the million-dollar threshold.

Former change orders to the project have included the installation of a watermain valve to the Glacier ($22,425), supply and installation of ‘four-inch minus’ gravel ($51,390), and relocation of fire hydrants ($25,012).

City submits paperwork for new community centre

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council awarded JMJ Holdings Ltd., a $15.5 million contract for the design and construction of a new community centre earlier this month, and this week voted to submit a Capital Investment Plan to the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs for Canada Community-Building Funds in the amount of $2.28 million, plus HST, to help cover some of those contract costs.

“We’ve announced our community centre, and now we have to try and find out how to pay for it,” quipped councillor Bill Antle, who explained the project will be funded through a mix of City and cost-shared funding.

Mayor Dave Aker allowed the submission was a routine piece of paperwork, albeit a big expense.

Councillor Antle joked it was the most money he had spent in a couple of months.

The new centre, set to replace Park Place, will span 24,500 square feet, and boast amenities such as a splash pad and ice rink surface and a multi-purpose space complete with stage and retractable bleachers. The centre will seat 500 and accommodate approximately 1,000 standing.

The centre was first announced in July 2021. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2026.

Shriners International Awareness Week

The City of Mount Pearl last week recognised June 4-11 as Shriners International Awareness Week. The society was formed on June 6, 1872, and clubs across Canada, like the one in St. John’s, support 27 hospitals and treatment facilities across the globe that provide care at no cost to families. The organization focuses on many specific health conditions including spinal cord injuries, clubfoot, arthrogryposis, hip dysplasia, and more. Shriner Ted Davis was in council for the signing of the proclamation. From left are councillors Chelsea Lane, Isabelle Fry, Mayor Dave Aker, Shriner Ted Davis, Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, and councillors Mark Rice and Bill Antle. Mark Squibb photo

City drafts list of engineering firms to have on tap

By Mark Squibb

A move approved by city council last week may help staff find solutions to traffic troubles faster.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley explained that staff had identified a need for traffic engineering support for intersection design, traffic control timing, traffic calming recommendations, accessibility requirements and other traffic engineering related concerns throughout the city.

To that end, staff issued a request for qualifications for traffic engineering services, and three companies – Harbourside Transportation Consultants, Englobe Corporation, and R.V. Anderson and Associates Ltd., -- submitted responses.

Kieley said the staff aren’t actually looking to tender any work at the moment, but instead curate a list of local companies for consideration when work needs to be tendered.

Mayor Dave Aker asked Director of Planning, Engineering, and Development Gerry Antle to elaborate a little further on the motion.

“This is about expediting some of the traffic engineering services that are common throughout the city,” said Antle. “When we have questions about particular developments of intersection challenges that we face, this allows us to utilize expert services that we’ve availed of through this RFQ, and when the time comes, if we need to avail of these services, we’ll seek proposals directly from one of these three, so it is expediting our work.”

Council voted unanimously to approve the three submissions.

Change order will let crews isolate Glacier in case of water shutdown

By Mark Squibb

City council last week approved a number of change orders for different projects across the city.

The first was a change order related to ongoing environmental remediation at the site of the old swimming pool off Stapleton Road.

Council had previously contracted Pinchin Ltd., to assess and remove hazardous materials, including oil tanks, at the site.

Staff had since requested Pinchin provide a quote for the remediation and treatment of contaminated soil, including sampling and the presentation of a final report. That quote came in at $35,086 HST Included.

Next, council approved a change order for the Carroll Drive upgrade project to address a watermain leak. The leak affected residents on both Hanrahan Place and Carroll Drive.

Dexter Construction quoted the work, which includes labour, equipment and materials to remove and replace the existing leaking watermain and valve at $24,720, HST included.

Council approved a third change order later in the meeting, this one for the Olympic Drive resurfacing project.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley explained the contractor, Farrell’s Excavating Ltd., determined that an improvement to the operation of the watermain in the area of the Glacier arena would require the installation of an additional valve at a cost of $22,425, HST included.

“This valve would enable isolation of the Glacier service, for example during a leak repair, and continue water service to the neighbouring facilities,” said Kieley.

The change order is the sixth for the project.

“I was a bit distraught when I saw another change order up on Olympic Drive,” allowed Mayor Dave Aker. “But the valve needs to be put in.”

The initial contract, awarded in July 2023, was valued at $798,933, HST included.

The total combined cost for all six change orders is $201,977, bringing the project to a total cost of about a million dollars.

Baseball lights to get a close look ahead of Canada Games

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Mount Pearl is taking a look at the condition of its light poles at the Team Gushue baseball field.

The light poles were manufactured by sports lighting company Musco, and will be inspected by St. John’s based engineering and inspection firm Tiller Engineering for the price of $14,053.

The structural integrity of the light poles and their concrete foundations will be assessed.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley said the work will be beneficial to players and their families who use the facilities, as well as a “very exciting” upgrade for next year's Canada Games.

“It’s great to see that development and work being done and I look forward to seeing what the analysis comes back with,” she said.

The inspection work is the most recent addition to a string of projects the City has approved for the Team Gushue Sports Complex in anticipation of next year's big event. A new outdoor scoreboard for the field was approved earlier this month, while new trees and shrubbery were approved for the complex in April.

In addition to baseball at the Team Gushue Sports Complex, Mount Pearl will also host wrestling at the Glacier Arena.

Council awards contract to build new community centre

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council this week awarded a $15.5 million (plus HST) design-build contract to JMJ Holdings Ltd., for construction of a new community centre at the Team Gushue Sports Complex.

The building will span 24,500 square feet and boast such amenities as a splash pad that can be transformed into an outdoor ice rink during the winter months, and a multi-purpose space complete with stage and retractable bleachers. The centre will offer a seating capacity of 500 and standing room for approximately 1,000 people.

The need for a new community centre was first proposed in the City’s 2019 Recreation Master Plan, and the centre itself was first announced in July 2021. The provincial government allotted $3.6 million for the building in November last year.

Councillor Bill Antle said he was proud and pleased to bring forward the recommendation to award the contract.

“It’s a proud day here in the City of Mount Pearl,” said Antle. “We’ve been looking at this for a long, long time… This building is a replacement for our Park Place Community Centre which was slated for replacement in 2014 after a condition assessment which outlined many, many issues, such as accessibility, limited parking space, our HVAC system, our electrical system, and other conditions, and so we certainly needed to replace Park Place.”

Each councillor took a moment to speak about the need for a new centre and the work that has gone on behind the scenes since the City announced it would build one.

“Our council recognises the importance of community and sees the new community centre as a significant step forward in solidifying Mount Pearl as the premier place to live on the northeast Avalon,” said Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, who commended both the location and accessible design of the new building. “Inclusivity is so important, and I believe this centre will be a place that all generations can come together, connect, and thrive.”

Councillor Mark Rice applauded staff for the work they’ve put into it.

“I commend our senior staff and corporate service staff at coming up with a plan and really working hard behind the scenes,” said Rice. “There was a lot of work that went into this from a lot of people, and I just wanted to thank Planning, Engineering, and Development, Corporate Services, and even our Public Works committee.”

Rice added the construction of the centre represents a “significant investment in the economic development of Mount Pearl.”

Councillor Chelsea Lane said the centre will be a huge asset to the city, but more importantly, to the community.

“By investing in cutting edge infrastructure that meets the evolving needs of residents, Mount Pearl demonstrates it’s dedication to enhancing the quality of life for community members, and ensuring a vibrant, forward-thinking future for all of us,” she said.

Councillor Isabell Fry said the centre will provide a focal point for the community and provide a versatile space for a wide range of activities, including theatre productions. She also applauded the inclusion of an atrium which will allow panoramic views of the splash pad/ice rink.

“I am just picturing so many events taking place here, especially at Christmas time, and it’s just going to be a wonderful place for our community to gather, and I’m so pleased with this,” said Fry.

Councillor Jim Locke took a moment to thank not just staff, but his council colleagues.

“This was not just something we flippantly decided,” said Locke. “There were many debates, many discussions, many meetings about this. As councillor Rice said, we wanted to make sure it met the financial capability of the City, and I’m confident that it does.”

Locke referred back to the Recreation Master Plan and said the new facility will meet many of the needs identified in that document, including a need for theatre space.

Mayor Dave Aker echoed several of the sentiments expressed by his fellow council members.

“I think we were courageous enough to build a plan, so that we’re not just talking about the Mount Pearl of the past, we’re talking about the Mount Pearl of the future,” said Aker.

He added that as the contract is a design-build contract, council is less likely to face hidden costs down the road than if two different companies had been contracted to complete the work.

Construction is expected to be complete in early 2026.

Traffic congestion, community gardens raised at Mount Pearl forum

The City of Mount Pearl held a public forum at the Soccer Hut late last month to discuss resident’s priorities as consultants work on updating the Municipal Plan. Mayor Dave Aker, far right, said the feedback is important. Chad Feehan photo

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Mount Pearl is refreshing its municipal plan with transportation being a key focus, and held a public forum at the Soccer Hut late last month to discuss it and gain insights from its residents.

Anna Myers from Tract Consulting and Roger Boychuck of Fathom Studios are spearheading work on the updated municipal plan and integrated transportation plan, and also led the evening’s discussion.

Myers noted the aim is to make sure land uses are consistent and effective, and enhance the lives of residents. The Municipal Plan will also be adapted to meet changing conditions locally, regionally, nationally and internationally such as housing and climate change.

Myers quoted statistics that will be considered in the plan, such as that 40 per cent of the city’s household incomes are over $100,000, and 45 per cent of the population is able to get to work in 15 minutes or less.

“You want young families to come into your community in order to add vibrancy to your community,” Myers said.

In addition to meeting with residents, the planners will meet with special interest groups who want a say in how the city is planned.

“There are groups of interest in your community that we need to talk to to find out what it is that they need in the city of Mount Pearl,” Myers said.

With transportation planning on her mind, resident Erin Skinner wondered if schools are among the groups that will have a say. “We have such a large subset of children in our community compared to other regions in the Northeast Avalon,” she said.

Myers said they weren’t planning to meet with schools due to them being under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

Mayor Dave Aker agreed with Skinner’s concerns.

“Erin makes a good point. Our plan could lead to their plan,” he said.

Skinner reiterated the presence of children moving through the community, whether on the city’s trails or along its roads, should be in the conversation.

“You will see many children biking to school and families walking to school,” she said. “From a transportation and active mobility perspective, I think that is worth considering.”

Boychuck noted that whether or not schools are a formal stakeholder group in the conversation, it remains an important piece of the conversation.

Skinner also wondered what sort of influence the City has with Metrobus to get better service in the area.

“Is the point moot at the end of the day?” she asked. “What is council's level of authority over that regional transit? And if it’s not significant, should we be looking at other alternatives?”

Aker acknowledged that public transportation needs to be examined.

“We may have to be bold, or through the feedback just like you’ve given, and say that there needs to be a true regional transit system, as opposed to little spikes connected to a St. John’s transport system,” he said. “And I mean that respectfully to St. John’s. There’s been a huge evolution from here to Seal Cove in the last 25 years.”

Boychuck affirmed the consensus seems to be Metrobus service in Mount Pearl needs improvement.

“There’s probably something that should be done,” he said. “The demands of the transit system have really significantly changed in the last five years.”

Resident Christine Hennebury raised her own transportation concerns, including intense school zone congestion at peak times in her area, and a lack of access to trails and crosswalks in winter due to snow.

“My street gets really crowded as people don’t want to go on Munden Drive to drop their kids off at St. Peter’s Junior High, or they park next to the stop sign at the end of my road so it looks like somebody is stopped at a stop sign,” she said.

During the course of the meeting, pro-Palestine protestor Emma Martin stood quietly at the edge of the room with a sign that read, “Free Palestine. Land back.” She asked if there had been any “indigenizing or decolonizing lenses” added to the plan.

“I do think it’s important for a land-use meeting to acknowledge the land that we’re on,” she said.

Myers explained the planners’ process.

“When we start the plan we send in a notice to the Provincial Government, and it goes to Indigenous Affairs and they apply that lens and let us know if there is anything of concern,” she said.

Resident Mary Elizabeth Furlong asked about the possibility of incentivizing community gardens or designating more places for them. “Especially in regard to rising food costs right now,” she said.

“Anna is going to go through re-writing the zoning bylaws to make things happen here, and to be able to enable them,” he said.

Aker welcomed all the resident feedback.

“It’s nice to know what the community wants,” he said. “I don’t think families know now how food is produced.”

Myers said that while half the comments she gets in similar planning surveys are not able to be worked into the plan at hand, they remain important messages to council.

“Councils want to hear what the people are saying, and are taking the time to write,” she said.

Mount Pearl okays urgent care centre permit

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl City council this week approved the construction of a new clinic at the intersection of Blackmarsh Road and Topsail Road.

Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley explained the City was in receipt of an application from Morgan Enterprises Ltd., to subdivide the parcel of land at 835 Blackmarsh Road, which sits at the intersection of Topsail Road and Blackmarsh Road, and construct a two-story building. The main floor will accommodate an urgent care clinic, while the second floor will be leased out.

A discretionary use notice was published, and a public briefing session held in May, following which the planning committee recommended approval of the construction of the care centre.

Councillor Mark Rice was the first to speak to the motion.

“It’s certainly important to have something like this in our city,” said Rice. “Not having to travel a long distance for an urgent care facility is very important to the residents of this city, so I certainly support this 100 precent, and I’m glad that the provincial government and the NL Services has decided to use the City of Mount Pearl as a space to put one of their urgent care facilities.”

Councillor Bill Antle also threw his support behind the motion and praised the proposed centre’s location.
“I think this is a great thing to have in the City of Mount Pearl, and I think it will be accessible, as it’s right here on Topsail Road and Blackmarsh Road,” said Antle. “It’s going to help our residents and make Mount Pearl even more appealing. It’s a good news story all around.”

Councillor Jim Locke, who attended the meeting via teleconference, said the centre will certainly play a role in attracting new residents to the city.

“I commend government and healthcare services for bringing urgent care services from the city centre itself, St. John’s, into the broader Avalon region,” said Locke. “It can only lead to more efficient and better health care for all the people in the region, and certainly for our residents in Mount Pearl.”

Council expects the clinic will be open within a year.

No further details on what services will be provided at the new clinic were specified during the meeting.
The Morgan group has built and leases out facilities to Eastern Health on Major’s Path in St. John’s and in Holyrood.