2005-07-03

Aconsultant with the province’sEducation Department has beenworking under the title doctor

when, in fact, her PhD was obtainedillegitimately through a notoriousdegree mill, The Independent haslearned.

The consultant, a former president ofthe Newfoundland and LabradorAssociation for Adult Education,claims to have a doctorate in adult edu-cation from the University ofDevonshire, in London, England,which she obtained in 2001.

The University of Devonshire is oneof roughly 20 bogus institutions operat-ed by a large criminal organization withoffices in the United States, Romaniaand Israel.

The organization, which was shutdown by the U.S. Federal TradeCommission in 2003, is thought to havegrossed over $400 million through thesale of fraudulent certifications —

ranging from undergraduate degrees toPhDs. Services include a diploma, tran-scripts and letters from supposed pro-fessors from fake universities inEurope. The operation marketed itselfprimarily within Canada and the UnitedStates.

In a telephone interview with TheIndependent, the consultant with theEducation Department says she’s“shocked” by the news and had no ideathe institution was a degree mill.

The consultant has held a variety ofsenior positions in the province as anadult educator. She has legitimateundergraduate degrees in arts and edu-cation from Memorial University, amasters in adult education from St.Francis Xavier University in NovaScotia and has worked with theEducation Department since 2002.

She says she’s familiar with the con-cept of a degree mill, and whenresearching for a PhD program “inad-vertently” went into a website promot-ing one such institution, although shequickly realized her mistake.

She says she was then referred to theUniversity of Devonshire through theprovince’s Open Learning andInformation Network. She says sheeven travelled to London and visitedthe institution.

Allen Ezell, a retired FBI agent whoheaded an operation called DipScamthrough the 1980s and ’90s, says theUniversity of Devonshire is “102 per

‘Legal road blocks’Atlantic Accord clause may dampen hopes of second oil refinery

By Clare-Marie Gosse

The Independent

Danny Williams acknowledgesa provision within the AtlanticAccord could complicate the

province’s hopes to build a second oilrefinery, but he’s still intent on drum-ming up support.

Meantime, the provincial govern-ment is conducting a study intorefineries within North America tounderstand where Newfoundland andLabrador fits into the industry equa-tion.

“There is a question in the Accord,

whether that (a second refinery) can bedone,” he tells The Independent.”

The particular Accord provisionallows for another refinery in theprovince, but only if refineries in theMaritimes and Quebec are running ata maximum capacity — an amountdetermined by the federal government.

Williams says he has alreadyreceived a confidential expression ofinterest from a potential investor sincevoicing his intentions for a second oilrefinery recently at an energy confer-ence in St. John’s.

Adventure cruises may be agrowing industry for theprovince’s smaller nooks and

crannies, but new federal governmentregulations have led to at least onecruise line terminating its Canadiantravels next year, The Independent haslearned.

Clipper Cruise Lines, a Missouri-based company, has backed out ofCanadian waters for the 2006 tourismseason — which included stops inNewfoundland and Labrador —because of regulations demanding ves-sel crews be Canadian.

The company has been cruising inCanadian waters since the 1980s, butthis year Human Resources SkillsDevelopment Canada is refusing toallow cruises that begin and end inCanadian ports to sail without a fullCanadian crew.

Doug Bolnick, spokesman for ClipperCruise Lines, says the company had nochoice but to terminate its services toAtlantic Canada, starting next year.

The Clipper Adventurer is scheduledto make five stops on the coast ofLabrador this September, pumping an

estimated $40,000 into the localeconomies there. Other company shipswill also be pulled off Atlantic Canadiantours as of next year, Bolnick says.

“On the Nantucket Clipper and theYorktown Clipper, two of our ships,they’re U.S.-registered ships, which bylaw requires that we have an all-American crew,” Bolnick tells TheIndependent, adding the Adventurer’screw are on nine-month contracts andcan’t be let go because of union obliga-tions.

“For us to, first of all, fire the existingcrew and then hire a brand-new crew,train them and employ them … thatends up being about a two-week cruisefor us. It’s not that we don’t look to hireCanadian citizens — it’s just that toemploy a whole ship with Canadians, itjust isn’t practical.

“We would always consider return-ing. It’s not practical for us to come andamend the way we do our business fortwo weeks, however if this couldchange, we’d be happy to come backand look at it in the future.”

Dennis O’Keefe, spokesman for theCruise Association of Newfoundlandand Labrador, says federal governmentregulations are “strangling” an industrythat brings in millions of dollars to theprovince.

U.S. company cancels

2006 cruises; crews

must be Canadian

alisHaMorrissey

quote of tHe Week

“I detested his intestines whenhe lived and I’m still not surehe’s dead right now due to theabsence of a wooden stakeand a burial at a crossroads.”— Ray Guy on Joey Smallwood, page 3

See “Shortage of refineries,” page 2 See “Customs regulations,” page 2

Maryanne tucker of the anna templeton Centre models a grey dress by st. John's designer Barry Buckle. Her tiger-eye choker is by laura

Casey, copper bracelet by elly Cohen, and antique jewelry from the collection of Hope Clarke. Buckle and Heidi Wagner, another local

designer, are presenting a fashion show July 21, location to be announced. Paul Daly/The Independent

Vol. 3 ISSue 27 — St. John’S, newfounDlAnD AnD lAbrADor — SunDAy through SAturDAy, July 3-9, 2005 — www.theInDepenDent.CA — $1.00 (InCluDIng hSt)

opinion page 25 and 11Siobhan Coady stops to remember;John Crosbie’s hopes for Medicare

ColuMn 3Ray Guy picks his No. 1Navigator of all time

Senior consultant withprovince’s educationDepartment has fakedoctorate

road to Confederation . . . . . . 8

life story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

paper trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

in CaMera 20-21

Digging into history atthe Colony of Avalon

sports 36

Xtreme summer hockeywith the ryder brothers

Summer breeze

Clare-Mariegosse

Degree of fraud

See “Investigation launched,” page 2

2 • INDEPENDENTNEWS July 3, 2005

“What I’m basically saying to indus-try is this: ‘Look, we just can’t haveload and go here in the province, wejust can’t have bulk oil, and in thefuture bulk gas going out here withoutcreating some permanent employmentin the province.”

Williams has alsowritten to British bil-lionaire RichardBranson on the topicof building a refinery.

Branson recentlyannounced an inter-est in funding a newrefinery in the UnitedStates as a means ofreducing fuel costsfor his airline, VirginAtlantic.

Williams says he isunsure if refinerieson the country’s EastCoast are consideredto be at maximumcapacity.

“At this point in time I don’t (know)but we do know, worldwide, there is ashortage of oil refineries. We knowthat that shortage in capacity is basi-cally causing prices to increase, sotherefore, perhaps there’s an unevendistribution in North America … theymay be under capacity in some areasand over capacity in others.”

Williams points to the growing oil

industry in Nova Scotia. Besidesalready having natural gas pipelines,he says that province is lookingtowards developing liquefied naturalgas (LNG) terminals for gas storageand transportation, as well as develop-ing its petrochemical industry.

“If that’s all happening in NovaScotia, our oil playand our gas play issignificantly greaterthan Nova Scotia, so Ijust don’t want to seethese facilities movedto Nova Scotia, somein New Brunswick,Quebec … we want tobe on the front end ofthis.

“If there are somelegal road blocks thatget thrown at somepoint in time, we willdeal with those asthey come.”

Newfoundland andLabrador’s only oil

refinery is located at Come By Chanceabout two hours drive west of St.John’s. None of the hundreds of mil-lions of barrels of oil recovered fromthe Hibernia and Terra Nova fields hasbeen refined there, because those proj-ects harvest sweet crude and Come ByChance is designed to handle sour.

Oil from the Grand Banks is shippedout and refined, for the most part, inthe northeast U.S.

Shortage of refineries

Open call for nominations

To nominate an individual as the greatest

Newfoundlander and Labradorian ever, please

complete this ballot and mail to The Independent office

Nomination: _______________________________________

Submitted by: ______________________________________

Mail to: The Independent

P.O. Box 5891, Stn. C

St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X4

All nominations must be received no later than Friday, July 10

You can also submit your

nomination via telephone

1-888-998-4639 or by visiting

www.theindependent.ca/navigators

cent fraud.” He co-authored a bookcalled Degree Mills, which was pub-lished in January 2005, devoting anentire chapter to the organization thatoperated the University of Devonshire.

“National public radio even did astory and recorded their pitch,” saysEzell. “If I was the con man right now, Iwould ask you about your life experi-ence and in less than 30 seconds I wouldfind you qualified for a masters — not20 minutes, not an hour, but 20 someseconds — and in all probability, Inever went to college and I’m findingyou qualified for a masters?

“This operation is not slick. Youknow exactly, precisely what you’rebuying.”

Ezell himself negotiated with repsfrom the “university.” He says prices forfake diplomas started at $2,400.

“Everything starts at $2,400 with a$500 instant scholarship and then it’snegotiable. I’ve had it down to $400.

“The purchaser unequivocally knewexactly, precisely what they were buy-ing.”

An investigation conducted by InsideEdition, a U.S.-based television newsprogram, discovered the institution’sUK address was bogus and correspon-dence, although bearing a British returnaddress, had been shipped fromJerusalem.

The consultant with the EducationDepartment says she spent at least sixmonths gaining her PhD, which

involved sending proof of doctoratework she had already done through theUniversity of New Brunswick, disserta-tion work and completing a 33-pageexam. She says the process cost justunder $10,000.

As a result of the Internet, diplomamills have flourished over the last 10years. Ezell says some organizations goso far as to request a thesis (which isnever read), while others simply provideinstant diplomas. They also providetelephone numbers for employers to calland verify the qualifications of a poten-tial employee.

The consultant says her credentialswere verified by the EducationDepartment’s registrar of teacher certifi-cation.

Education Minister Tom Heddersonwouldn’t say if the consultant’s PhDhelped her land her position within thedepartment.

“In the case of private training con-sultants, we require a minimum certifi-cation of a bachelor degree, supplement-ed by curriculum development work.These consultants have all been with thedepartment at least three years.”

He says there have been no cases offraudulent certifications discoveredwithin the department in recent years, asfar as he is aware.

“As minister, I am unable to commenton allegations regarding an employeeuntil an internal investigation is con-ducted. But I can assure you that we takeany allegations concerning our staffextremely seriously.”

InvestigationFrom page 1

“We have everything that it takes tohave a viable exciting cruise shipindustry in this province and the onething we don’t need is obstacles thatare senselessly going to kill it,”O’Keefe says.

Three other adventure-cruise lines— Adventure Canada, Polar StarExpeditions and Voyages of Discovery— also travel the Labrador coast fromother destinations around the world.However, none of those companieshave complained, to date, about crewrestrictions in the province.

O’Keefe says customs regulationsare also hurting the industry.

The customs policy forces smallercruise ships in the 200-passenger rangeand travelling from Europe to sail pastthe very coast they’re out to see, clearcustoms in Corner Brook or St. John’s,and then turn around for the cruise toofficially begin.

A spokeswoman for the CanadaBorder Services Agency says a cus-toms official can, upon request, beflown to a rural area to clear a ship, butthe cruise line will have to cover theentire expense — which could amountto thousands of dollars and, dependingon the weather, take days to carry out.O’Keefe says a cruise ship travellingdirectly to Red Bay will have a cus-toms official meet it at a cost to thecompany of $25,000.

“It’s an issue that has to be sorted outand sorted out quickly because thecruise lines are planning their itiner-

aries for 2006 and 2007 right now andthey’ve let us know that if this issueisn’t sorted out properly and resolvedthen the likelihood is that they won’tbe coming back anymore,” O’Keefesays. “That means that the province ofNewfoundland and Labrador will losean awful lot of cruise ships.”

Four other cities in the Maritimeshave been identified by the CanadaBorder Services Agency to processcruise ships through customs, includ-ing Halifax and Sydney, N.S., SaintJohn, N.B., and Charlottetown, PEI.O’Keefe says the province, federalgovernment and border services inCanada have been trying to come upwith a solution before the provincegets branded as a difficult place tovisit.

“Newfoundland and Labrador has tobe seen as a place that is open and will-ing to embrace the cruise ship indus-try,” he says. “There are loads of portsaround the world looking for cruiseship business and any ones that are dif-ficult to access or difficult to come intothen there are other ports that thesecruise lines can go into.”

Adventure cruises have brought inmillions of dollars in tourism revenueto destinations like Rigolet, BattleHarbour, Red Bay and L’Anse auxMeadows. In fact, cruise ships arebooked to make 87 port visits aroundthe province this year.

Cruise ship visits to the provincegenerated $1.3 million in 2004 andprojections for this year suggest anoth-er increase in revenues.

Dennis O’Keefe Paul Daly/The Independent

From page 1

We know that that

shortage in capacity

is basically causing

prices to increase,

so therefore, perhaps

there’s an uneven

distribution in North

America …

Danny Williams

Customs regulations hurting industryFrom page 1

Jennifer HickeyFor The Independent

Marijuana activists claimthere’s nothing wrong withdriving stoned, although

police argue otherwise.Chris Bennett, a cannabis reform

activist employed by POT-TV inVancouver, a station that promotespot, admits to driving stoned on occa-sion, but doesn’t recommend it.

“I feel safe in a car with a stoneddriver, but I would never lobby for potdriving. It’s a factor which depends onthe individual,” he tells TheIndependent in a telephone interview.

Even when a person is under theinfluence of a soft drug, it’s hard toknow for sure. Police forces test formarijuana in the blood and urine,Bennett says, not impairment at thescene. He says the tests can’t tell pre-cisely when a joint was smoked. Testsdo not prove conclusively the personis impaired there and then behind thewheel.

As much as activists insist that driv-ing under the influence of pot is assafe as sober driving, Const. LesterParsons of the Royal NewfoundlandConstabulary argues otherwise.

“It’s like alcohol.” Parsons says.“Alcohol affects the brain. Two thirdsof alcohol consumed goes to yourbrain, and it’s no different than drugs.It affects your motor skills, and makesyou impaired.”

POT-IMPAIREDCriminal charges against a pot-

impaired driver would be the same ascharges laid against a drunk driver.The Criminal Code of Canada statesthat any driver influenced by alcoholor drugs is to be detained.

The difference is while a person canbe charged for failing a beathalizer,there’s no such test for pot smoking.

Parsons says the Constabularydoesn’t keep statistics on the numberof drivers charged in recent years withdriving under the influence of pot. Hesays the force only keeps stats underthe broader heading of impaired driv-ing — which covers drugs and alco-hol. There’s no further breakdown.

Constabulary officers are trained toobserve the flow of traffic to recog-nize the signs of impaired driving.The same signs exist for drugs oralcohol. An officer will look for errat-ic driving patterns, and upon pulling acar over, signs of impairment — notdrugs or alcohol specifically.

If the breathalyzer test is passed,but the driver still shows signs ofimpairment, further tests are adminis-

tered to test sobriety — includingtouching the nose, walking a straightline, and picking up keys.

“Being under the influence of alco-hol and drugs is basically the samething,” Parsons says. “You have thesame signs. If we notice that the per-son has slurred speech and bloodshot,watery eyes, but pass the breathalyzerwe can make the demand that theycome back here (to the station) forfurther testing.”

Although the highs from alcoholand drugs are different, they bothaffect judgment. Parsons says druguse does not facilitate safe driving.

The police officer is adamant instressing that getting in a car with a

drug-influenced driver, or drivingstoned, is highly dangerous.

“Comparing alcohol to drugs is likecomparing apples to apples. Theimpairment factor is the same. Mycomment is that if you are smoking ajoint, or having even one beer, don’tdrive.”

SAFER DRIVERSMarc Emery, a well-known mari-

juana activist and editor of CannabisCulture magazine in B.C., admits todriving stoned, saying drivers underthe influence of pot are safer drivers.

“I have smoked marijuana for 25years and have driven my car safelywithout incident for that entire time,”

he says. “Drivers that smoke marijua-na drive slower, are more patient, arenot in any way prone to road rage, andmore interested in the process of get-ting there rather than being goal ori-ented in getting to the goal or finaldestination.

“Marijuana influenced drivers areconservative, cautious and thought-ful.”

Emery has been arrested on manyoccasions for smoking pot in publicand leading protests for legalization.

Lawrence Avery, an addictionscounsellor with Health andCommunity Services, St. John’sregion, also says smoking pot isunsafe for a driver.

“When you talk about driving underthe influence of any narcotic, includ-ing marijuana, the levels of impair-ment are quite great, your reactiontimes, your ability to problem solve,”Avery says, adding the departmentdoesn’t promote pot driving.

“The more you use of any type ofsubstance, the greater the probabilitythat the risk will be there for gettingyourself into a situation where you’renot going to respond properly whilebehind the wheel.”

Jennifer Hickey is a journalismintern from the Bay St. George cam-pus of College of the North Atlantic.

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTNEWS • 3

In the summertime, nothing suitsyour average newspaper readerlike a bit of harmless slops.

Go ahead, let Dictator Dan run us tohell yet again in another handbasket.Let the perils of Oxycontin, the rigoursof deficit financing, the flummeries ofOttawa and the bestialities of Americantriumphalism go hang for a spell.

When it’s warm enough to sit outsidein your singlet, what you want is some-thing light. Or “lite” as the advertisinggeniuses would have it. Lite beer, liteopera, pizza lite, and lite heavy metal.

Of course, with some journals whatyou get is a year-round diet of harmlessslops. Not so with a weekly chronicleof consequence like The Independent,which you now hold in your eruditehooks. There you’ll find a carefulmeasure of lite only when lite is want-ed.

Which brings us to Our Navigators,a summer contest now running with thewhimsical aim of selecting the Top 10Newfoundlanders who ever were. Yes,I know. You find yourself getting lite inthe head already.

There, I’ve said it and I’m glad. Ithought it best to lay my cards on thetable. Because I got roped in as one ofthe judges for this gladsome enterprise.

I always wanted to be a judge, but Inever had the Latin for it.

It strikes me that judging is easy.Being a criminal — or a journalist —

now there’s what’s hard.And now here I am in the company

of other scriveners — ink-stainedwretches and one historian — prepar-ing for some summer-lite judging. Hohum. Stand out of my sun and peel meanother turnip, would you?

So please get to work and put yourbacks to nominating candidates forOur Navigators ... the Top 10. Theharder you toil the easier we load ofSupreme Justices will have it. Look atMr. Justice Clyde Wells, as he now is,a face still as unseamed as a baby’s bot-tom.

It was only minutes after my ownappointment to the bench that I real-ized I would surely face the problem ofthe Antichrist from Gambo. Little Joey,remember him? No, junior, JoeySmallwood was not the Kaiser ofGermany when the Great War brokeout and your parents had just returnedfrom the Napoleonic Wars.

This rising generation is the mostmuddled and ignorant I ever saw inrecent history. Tell them of a time whenNew Gower Street was famed for itswhorehouses and they ask if that’s

where City Hall now stands.I’m afraid our precious heritage is

pretty wispy with this lot.But we digress. Many of you will

nominate J. Smallwood. I detested hisintestines when he lived and I’m stillnot sure he’s dead right now due to theabsence of a wooden stake and a burialat a crossroads.

So could I be fair in the judging? Ofcourse I can. I will apply Joey’s ownstandards.

“Hitler, Adolph Hitler, was a GreatMan!” declared Premier J.R.S. on onenotable occasion.

“Not a great human being, perhaps,”Joey added by way of expansion. “Nota great personality, not great morally,not great spiritually ... but great in thesense that he brought great change, forgood or evil, to his country. Hitler wasa great man.”

Smallwood then went on to hold upthe dictators Mussolini of Italy, Francoof Spain and Salazar of Portugal asexamples of “great men” in the samewhimsical sense as he had defined dearAdolph. He made this capriciousspeech in the House of Assembly.

When the word reached the RoyalCanadian Legion, some toppled out ofwheelchairs with the shock, othersreadied imaginary bayonets, and not afew decided they might vote Tory thenext trip to the well.

If I had to pick 10 of our greatest

Navigators my summer would beruined. It would involve a few licks ofwork. That’s why I say the judging iseasy.

I would tend to choose the wholepopulation of Newfoundland at partic-ular times in history.

(Damn history, anyway. John Cabotshould have been shot. Pretty welleverything after that dozy slut was adisaster.)

But the first boatloads of settlers tocome to Newfoundland, overseas withmonsters in them to shores where othermonsters waited … I think them hero-

ic. Not the lace-collared ponces whoget all the credit in books. But thesniveling, scurvied, toothless, raggedrank and file who were dragged alongto make up the load.

A few centuries later there wasanother lurch from here to the west-ward. An emigration that, one way oranother, involved the whole popula-tion. The adventurers toward theBoston States ... from quiet nooks inthe rocks to the roaration of Boston,Philadelphia and New York.

And then, early in the 1900s, thepopulation of Newfoundland flunganother wave eastward across thewaves to a Europe terrible in mud andflames.

That Confederation business in 1949made Navigators if not heroes ofeveryone ... the half who elected tochance Canada as much as the halfwho chose to stand on the rock, allother ground being sinking sand.

So I would find it the devil of a jobto pick one or 10 persons out of wholepopulations at particular times.

Well, with a gun to the head, maybebrave little Tommy. No, not Rickettsbut Picco. Tommy Picco, 12 years ofage when he bested the hideous andmonstrous giant squid off PortugalCove, C.B.

We have heard tell of “Jack the Giant

Driving stonedHow do police tell if a driver is wrecked behind the wheel? And even if they are, is that a bad thing?

‘John Cabot should have been shot’RAY GUYA poke in the eye

See “We’re not afraid,” page 5

Adolph Hitler

4 • INDEPENDENTNEWS JULY 3, 2005

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

P.O. Box 5891, Stn.C, St. John’s,

Newfoundland & Labrador, A1C 5X4

Ph: 709-726-4639 • Fax: 709-726-8499

Website: www.theindependent.ca

GENERAL MANAGER John [email protected]

OPERATIONS CONSULTANT Wilson [email protected]

MANAGER, SALES & MARKETING Andrew [email protected]

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Surfing the campaign trailMunicipal election candidates reach out to voters via Internet

By Alisha Morrissey The Independent

Andy Wells admits he’s no “high-tech whiz,” but he knows thebenefits of electronic campaign

tools.The mayor of St. John’s says he took

a traditional door-to-door strategy whencampaigning in 2001, but also had awebsite for voters to peruse in their owntime.

At the end of the campaign, heremembers his site had between 3,000and 4,000 recorded hits — “which waskind of surprising you know,” Wellstells The Independent. “I didn’t thinkthat many people would log on to seehow the candidates stood on theissues.”

With only three months before theSept. 27 municipal election, campaignsigns are already starting to pop up ineast end St. John’s. They aren’t tradi-tional signs, however, with a candi-date’s face smiling above a campaignslogan.

Rather, the signs these days areaddresses to web pages likewww.ward4.ca

Ron Ellsworth, owner of the signs, isusing technology to his advantage instarting out early as a candidate in theWard 4 race.

“At this point there’s not a lot ofinterest in municipal elections so we’retrying to create a little awareness, tryingto create a bit of interest and exposeRon Ellsworth to the general public,”Ellsworth says.

He says the signs will hopefully gar-ner enough attention so people will tale

a look at the website at their conven-ience. He says he’s tracked about 50hits a day for the last seven weeks.

“The problem with print media, all ofus have a very short attention spanwhen we’re reading anything … at least

this way with the website they can reada little bit today and a little bit later.”

Ellsworth says he will use more tradi-tional campaign methods leading up tothe election.

This year’s municipal election in the

capital city will involve more technolo-gy than ever — scanners will be usedto count ballots and barcode readerswill read elections forms.

Mount Pearl Mayor Steve Kent hasbeen using technology — including a

longstanding website and e-mail-outs tocitizens — to promote himself since hisfirst election in 1997.

“Technology plays a greater role inour daily lives, regardless of what fieldyou’re in. Public life is no exceptionand a lot of residents’ concerns that Ideal with are through e-mail,” he says,including more and more senior citizenswho are becoming more computersavvy.

“In recent months I have probablyreceived more correspondence fromresidents through e-mail than any otherform of correspondence.”

In the end, Kent, who plans to runagain, says an election is won on leg-work.

“The bottom line is if you want towin an election in our community, youhave to get out and knock on doors andthat’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Conception Bay South Mayor RonSmith hasn’t officially thrown his hat inthe ring, but says it’s likely he’ll runagain this fall.

While he’s not sure how he will can-vass, Smith says it’s possible he’ll use awebsite or other electronic media tocampaign.

“One of the biggest things is gettingpeople out to vote and I think that we’rein a time when people are, unfortunate-ly due to other levels of politics, thatpeople are becoming complacent.”

He says it’s likely in larger centres ofthe province electronic balloting will bea reality in this election or the next.

“We won’t be doing it this time but Ithink, perhaps,, that maybe by the nextelection that may be standard in manyof the larger centres.”

Paul Daly/The Independent

Ancient treasures excavated fiveyears ago from the groundbeneath where The Rooms

stands today will eventually be dis-played in the building’s basement,where a permanent exhibit will be built,officials say.

Penny Houlden, director for TheRooms provincialmuseum, says theoriginal idea was forthe old fort to be anongoing archeologicaldig in the facility’sbasement — an ideainspired by a Mon-treal museum wherean archeological dig isongoing.

“When The Roomswere in the very initialstages of planning oneof the ideas was yes,wouldn’t it be won-derful to have anongoing archeologicaldig in the basement,” Houlden tells TheIndependent.

However, the province’s archeologi-cal department suggested a full excava-tion rather than spot digs in placeswhere the building would come in con-tact with the fort below.

Excavation began in March 2000,and more than 200,000 artifacts werefound — including rare coins, clothes,

and cannon balls.The idea of spot archeology was

scrapped because the continuity of thesite couldn’t be determined withoutdigging the entire area.

“There were dozens, I think probablyabout 30 archeologists working at thetime … so all the archeology that’s

within the footprintof the building hasbeen undertaken, allthe recording hasbeen done,” Houldensays. “The stonefoundations were re-moved for restora-tion later on and thebulk of the archeo-logical restorationswere not impactedby the building andso we simply sand-bagged them forpreservation whilethe building wasunder construction.

“The next stage for us is to go backand remove the sandbags, consolidatethe archeological remains and preparethe area for exhibit development.”

For now, a small exhibit will beplaced in the fourth-floor lobby of TheRooms. Houlden says the basementwill eventually be turned into an exhibi-tion space showing off the former fort.

— Alisha Morrissey

Digging up the past Hard to come byFigures on foreign fishing citations aren’t for public consumptionBy Alisha MorrisseyThe Independent

The federal Department ofFisheries and Oceans and theorganization that oversees fish-

ing outside Canada’s 200-mile limit arerefusing to release a top-10 list of for-eign trawlers with the most illegal fish-ing citations.

Johanne Fischer, executive secretaryfor the Northwest Atlantic FisheriesOrganization (NAFO) secretariat, saysthe names of vessels that have had ille-gal fishing citations levelled againstthem are confidential.

“The member countries have verydifferent opinions on what’s supposedto be public and what’s not,” Fischertells The Independent from her office inDartmouth, N.S. “So as you can imag-ine, in such a case they always go withthe smallest denominator, which is byall means, keep the names of vesselsconfidential.”

Phil Jenkins, spokesman for DFO inOttawa, says there is no official top-10list.

“We do not have any most-wanted orworst offenders or any sort of gun-slinging terms like that,” Jenkins says.“I mean we pay attention to vessels —we pay more attention to the ones that

get cited more often — but we haven’tcreated a top 10 or a top 20 or anythinglike that. Anyone who is overfishing orbreaking some NAFO rules is of inter-est to us and not any one particular listof top 10 or top 20.”

A federal government website,www.overfishing.gc.ca, provides a listof citations against vessels by the datethe citations were issued, but only cov-ers the 2004/2005 period.

From that list, as well as anIndependent investigation, the vesselscited most frequently over the past twoyears include the Spanish trawlerPuente Sabaris and the Latvian vesselAtlas — each with four citations lev-elled against them in the past two years.The Spanish vessels Xinzo, MariaEugenia G, as well as the Lithuanianvessel Borgin and Portugal’s Aveirense,were each cited three times in the pasttwo years.

Ten foreign vessels have received 21citations to date this year for illegalfishing outside Canada’s 200-mile limit— surpassing last year’s total of 15.Five of the 10 vessels cited since Jan. 1are Spanish.

Under NAFO rules, Canada cannotarrest ships for breaking the rules.Rather, it’s up to the home country of avessel charged with illegal fishing to

follow through with court action. John Joy, marine lawyer and fisheries

advocate, says public light should beshed on fishing violations.

“I find that really weird that theywon’t provide that. It’s a public investi-gation by a public authority,” Joy says.“The thing is, it (NAFO) is an interna-tional mechanism to control overfishingand these are big boys, these are majorship owners, it’s million-dollar opera-tions and if they’re cited it’s somethingthat should be, should appear as publicinformation and you should be able toget at it.”

Besides serving as a deterrent to ille-gal fishing, publicity reminds DFO“there’s somebody watching” and keepsthe topic in the public mind, Joy says.

“In most criminal law I think that oneof the greatest deterrents is … whensomeone is convicted,” he says.

“To my mind it’s a big public-policyissue and it’s not like you’re invadingthe privacy of someone who’s beenshoplifting or something like that.”

Over the past decade, more than 300citations have been issued against for-eign vessels. Most of the citations wereissued without publicity, often againstboats that have been cited frequently,but face no penalty in their home coun-try.

“When The Roomswere in the very initialstages of planning oneof the ideas was yes,

wouldn’t it be wonder-ful to have an ongoing

archeological dig inthe basement.”

Penny Houlden


Killer.” Few of us are cognizant ofour own Tom. Not too many detailsare known except that one day in1873 “brave little Tommy” as he isinvariably called, was out offPortugal Cove in a fishing boat withtwo others.

Suddenly, two huge and terribletentacles encompassed that frailcraft and commenced to draw itdown toward that awful parrot-likebeak set between two pitiless staringeyes the size of dinner plates.

And did young Tommy panic?And did young Tommy cry? And didyoung Tommy drop to his knees andwail to a Higher Power to save him?

No, sir. Young Tommy did not.Young Tommy grabbed up an axeand hacked off two of the monstroustentacles shouting as the leviathan ofthe deep slunk away: “Tell the doc-tor a Bayman sent ya!” Or so I firm-ly believe in my heart that suchutterance was made.

That squid, children, was proba-bly the length of two school busses.When I was a reporter (a bit later inhistory) I saw one laid out in amarine lab. The sight was astonish-ing, the stench such, that I’ve been atrifle cross-eyed ever since.

One of young Tom’s tentacles fedthe Picco dogs for the winter. The

other was pickled by Rev. MosesHarvey and sent off to London. Somy Navigator would be Tom Picco.

He may stand for the rest of usbecause the rest of us wanly believethat Newfoundlanders are alwayslike that.

At the 2000 Millennium broadcastfrom the St. John’s waterfront, oneyoung kid was asked if he was afraidof a great worldwide computer crashand all that sort of thing.

“Naa,” said the little jeezler,prompted or not. “We’re Newfound-landers. We’re not afraid of nud-ding!”

And so we like to believe that ifthe devil in hell, himself, popped upthere’d be some one spring to thefore and say, “No, Sir. Not one stepfurther.” Viking berserk.

Look back in history and there’slots of proof that, in time of peril, theNewfoundland mind narrows won-derfully to the task at hand and theenergy and the fury becomes sofocused, the blinkers to all else socomplete, that other people canunderstand it no better than to call usstunned newfies.

Now, I must lie back in the sun,and contemplate the judging. Pleasepass me my drink. Please pass memy tasty judicial dainties. Calamarirings? No thanks. I say they’re squidand I say to hell with them.

From page 3

Political blood sportFederal and provincial politicians try to get along; it isn’t always easy

By Clare-Marie GosseThe Independent

Since the federal election a yearago, Newfoundland and Lab-rador has seen hot politics and

hotter political tempers, but one thingeveryone seems to agree on: it’s been ayear to remember.

Premier Danny Williams is stillsmarting from some of the verbal back-lashes he’s received of late, particularlyfrom St. John’s South MP LoyolaHearn.

Hearn, a federal Conservative,resoundingly criticized Williams forejecting Fabian Manning, MHA forPlacentia and St. Mary’s, from theprovincial Tory caucus during the recentcrab dispute.

“Mr Hearn basically stuck his noseinto provincial affairs,” says Williams,adding he was criticized for his govern-ing style and compared to past “single-minded” premiers.

“Mr. Hearn then came back and madecomments like, ‘If Mr. Williams contin-ues with that style of leadership then hewon’t have a caucus,’” Williams tell TheIndependent.

The premier says Hearn’s commentswere “untoward,” “improper” and theparty was “taken aback.”

On the other end of the scale,Williams says relations with PrimeMinister Paul Martin have “improveddramatically” over the last five monthssince the “hard-nosed” Atlantic Accordnegotiations.

Chris Dunn, a political scientist withMemorial University, says although theprovince has always had its fair share oftumultuous political years, “ever sincethe earliest part of 2004, it’s been quiteunprecedented.”

Relationships between the premier,his ministers, and the province’s federalrepresentatives have been colourful tosay the least. Mammoth issues, such asthe Atlantic Accord, tried the patience ofjust about everyone involved and someof the mud thrown hit hard enough toleave marks.

Ever since federal Natural Resources

Minister John Efford uttered the fatefulwords, “take it, or leave it,” verbal backand forths between politicians have keptthe public rapt.

Williams says he hasn’t seen or heardfrom Efford — who suffers from dia-betes — in months.

“Due to Mr. Efford’s sickness he’sbeen virtually non-existent. You know, Iplaced calls and I haven’t been speakingwith him … whether he’ll be continuingon, it appears that he probably won’t.”

As the province enters summer with afat Accord cheque in hand (possibly assoon as Monday), is all the sniping com-ing to an end? How important is it tomaintain strong provincial/federal rela-tionships?

Despite Hearn’s recent “verbal-runins” with Williams, he seems to havemoved on.

“Sometimes you get some pettinessinvolved and personalities getinvolved,” says Hearn. “A few timesduring the year there was some snipinggoing back and forth, but that’s OK,that’s part of it. It means you’re doingsomething, because the only people whoare not talked about and who never getinto trouble are those who do absolutelynothing.”

In May, Hearn and his colleague,Norm Doyle, MP for St. John’s North,were vocally criticized by Williams forsiding with their party in a House ofCommons vote against a budget bill. Ifthe bill was defeated, the action couldhave potentially brought down theLiberal government, jeopardizing theAtlantic Accord agreement.

The Conservatives voted for the par-ticular bill containing the Accord, how-ever, and Doyle and Hearn say there wasnever any danger of the Liberal’sfalling.

“Most of that was just, I guess, per-ception rather than reality,” says Hearn.

Hearn and Doyle stress the impor-tance of maintaining close relationshipswith the provincial government.

“I think the premier and the cabinetare doing a tremendous job for the peo-ple of Newfoundland and Labrador andwe support him in any way we can,”

says Doyle.Scott Simms, Liberal MP for Bon-

avista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor,says people should always come beforeparty affiliation.

Simms and Bill Matthews, MP forRandom-Burin-St. George’s, defiedtheir federal party and voted in supportof last fall’s opposition motion forNewfoundland and Labrador’s Accordrevenues.

Efford, along with Gerry Byrne,Liberal MP for Humber-St. Barbe-BaieVerte, stuck to party lines.

“The premier actually said to me onetime, ‘Partisan politics are for electioncampaigns,’ says Simms, “and I totallyagree, but not everybody does.”

He adds he and the premier have dif-ferent ways of operating — Williams isrenowned for his head-strong approach— but “at the end of the day we wantwhat’s best for Newfoundland andLabrador.”

Byrne, with almost 10 years ofprovincial and federal experience, saysthe issue of political relationships is atopic “he’s very glad to talk about.

“I quickly experienced that some peo-ple choose to make this a blood sport …really what this all boils down to is peo-ple have got to get along with people;personalities got to deal with personali-ties and egos got to understand egos.”

Byrne says having a Newfoundlandand Labrador office in Ottawa — which,until recently, was staffed by Bill Roweand is currently pending a replacement— was a “Godsend.”

Williams says replacing Rowe wastemporarily put off while the provincewaited to see if the minority governmentwas going to fall.

“That’s something we will now stepup as a priority,” he says.

Dunn says political relations seem tobe changing of late and in the absence ofRowe (“the paradox is the firstappointee and the only appointee so farhas come back a strongerNewfoundland nationalist than he left”),Williams is not only premier, but hasbecome regional federal minister aswell.

Lucid lobbying

The provincial Lobbyist Reg-istration Act was given royalassent on May 19 and the

Justice Department is in the processof creating an on-line registry to regu-late the activity of lobbyists inNewfoundland and Labrador.

Billy Hickey, department spokes-man, says by the fall all lobbyists willbe required to register.

“Right now we’re taking care of theadministrative pieces,” he tells TheIndependent. “We have to set up aregistry, hire a commissioner andundertake some public education.

“Basically it’s trying to make thewhole process of lobbying more

transparent, so people know who’strying to effect public policy and forwho.”

The act is aimed primarily at regu-lating lobbyists who are paid to advo-cate on behalf of a client seeking toinfluence how government collectsand spends public funds. People rep-resenting their own personal concernswill not be expected to register.

Lobbyists will be expected to oper-ate under a code of conduct, byreporting their activities and filingtheir objectives. “Significant penal-ties,” will be imposed against anyoneviolating the regulations.

– Clare-Marie Gosse

SHIPPINGNEWSKeeping an eye on the comings andgoings of the ships in St. John’s harbour.Information provided by the coast guardtraffic centre.

MONDAY, JUNE 27Vessels arrived: ASL Sanderling,Canada, from Halifax; Anticosti, Canada,from Sea; Atlantic Kingfisher, Canada,from Terra Nova.Vessels departed: Atlantic Hawk,Canada, to White Rose; NFLD Alert,Canada, to Fishing; Atlantic Osprey,

Canada, to Sea; Maersk Nascopie,Canada, to Hibernia.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28Vessels departed: Atlantic Eagle,Canada, to Terra Nova; ASL Sanderling,Canada, to Halifax.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29Vessels arrived: Maersk Placentia,Canada, from Hibernia; Leonard J.Cowley, Canada, from Sea; MaerskNorseman, Canada, from Hibernia.

Vessels departed: Cicero, Canada, toCorner Brook.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30Vessels arrived: Wilfred Templeman,Canada, Canada from sea; Jean Charcot,Britain, from sea; Atlantic Eagle,Canada, from Terra Nova; Cabot,Canada, from Montreal; Gulf Spirit 1,Canada, from Flemish Cap; Vizon DeEza, Spain, from sea.Vessels departed: Atlantic Kingfisher,Canada, from Terra Nova.

John Efford and Danny Williams Paul Daly/The Independent

‘We’re not afraid of nudding!’


OURVOICE

Time for the mice to roarA

fter pushing for months toget a good representation inprint of what happened toour Terra Nova oil benefits,

the response to our story on theTobin/Cheney meeting was under-whelming to say the least. Brian’scomments left on the newsroomanswering machine were entertaining,and Chuck’s letter in this issue does afine job of backpedalling, but the pub-lic response I personally got was morealong the line of “what do youexpect?” Well, I expect a lot more.

By the way, in defense of my editor,this was not a Ryan Smearyism (nicephrasing, Mr. Tobin). I pushed thestory myself. Thank goodness aboutseven years ago there was a lack ofseating at Greensleeves one lunchhour. Andy Wells sat down withCabot Martin and I as we ranted aboutthe province folding to Halliburtonand Petro-Canada on the Terra Novabenefits. That lunch led to Cabotbecoming the city’s oil advisor for atime and Andy launching the lawsuitthat challenged the giveaway. I know

all about that too — the action wasexecuted by Cabot and my partnerand lawyer, Chris Sullivan, for theprincely sum of $5,000, a fraction ofthe true cost.

We ate the rest of the cost becausewe were personally outraged at whathad transpired. Chuck says in his let-ter that “after weeks of intense discus-sions” the province agreed to back offthe move for “temporary jobs.”

Temporary jobs? Who did they have “intense discus-

sions” with for a few weeks? Lawyerson how to assume the development ifabandoned by Petro Canada? Otheroil harvesters who could take the proj-ect over with the province?

Note to bureaucrats: in business,once the party on the other side of thetable has spent hundreds of millions

on exploration and planning — youhave them over a barrel.

Not the other way around. But howcan you expect a group with no bot-tom line background to innatelyunderstand this. Thankfully, Dannyknows all about where the soft spotsare in a dispute or negotiation.

Sweet Jesus, I remember well at thetime pleading with the provincial gov-ernment at many levels to get someperspective on what they were doingin the fossil-fuel business. This was atthe same time the Taiwanese govern-ment was in the province trying to getsomeone from our government to taketheir offers of industrial investmentseriously. After being introduced tothe Taiwanese representatives by JudyFoote, and working with them for anumber of years (they remain ourlargest investors in the aquacultureindustry), I had a front row seat to thedebacle.

It took place as the complete lack ofperspective in our senior governmentofficials led to disaster after disasterin attempts to get some real invest-

ment and expertise in our industries. The whole Taiwanese story is a

much longer read, so I’ll save it forthe future and get back to the point.Suffice to say I became intimatelyaware of the deficiencies in our sys-tem of governance, namely a badcombination of ignorance and institu-tional arrogance — the old if-it-says-deputy-minister-on-my-door, I-must-know-what-I’m-talking-about syn-drome.

NOT BAD PEOPLEAs I bleated in a previous column,

the people are not bad people, but thesystem we have of letting politiciansand career civil servants make multi-billion dollar decisions is a very badone … destined for deals like TerraNova’s.

Once again, why can’t we look at asystem where people who actuallyknow what they are talking aboutmake the decisions — a smaller groupof ministers with expertise who areappointed and would not be con-vinced after “weeks of intense discus-

sions” to give away hundreds of mil-lions if not billions that had beenpromised in return for our oil.

My original column for this weekwas to be about the incredible menwho sacrificed themselves on July1st, 1916, and in doing so, I believeset a course for our country that led tobankruptcy over a decade later — gut-ted of our brightest and bravest,thanks to English hubris andNewfoundland honour. A turn in ourhistory we have still not recoveredfrom and a very unfortunate overlapwith Canada Day.

After seeing the lack of reaction tothe Petro-Canada story, I wonder ifthe terrible outmigration we had in themid 1990s is our generation’s versionof Beaumont Hamel … perhaps ourlions have mostly left. Doesn’t any-one get upset about this stuff? Or is itbetter to save it for the shed and moanover a few beers about the inevitabili-ty of it all? At some stage where dowe look to solve our problems if notin the mirror? When are the micegoing to roar?

These are angry times inNewfoundland. Anger drifts inthe wind, settling on TV clips

and newspaper columns like a lightmist, turning words cold and bitter. Thelilacs are in full bloom but even theycan’t lighten the paragraphs.

There’s no comfort here, not withHarbour Breton’s future fresh in thegrave. That isn’t quite right either;more like the community has beenburied alive. Its lungs are still drawingbreath, but eventually the air will runout. Until then, residents will scratchthe inside of their outport coffin andscream for dear sweet life.

No one hears them anymore, thesame way no one heard the fishes cry,and now they’re gone.

Sing the song of Harbour Breton, thetown’s been left to rot. How depressingis that?

And so the anger builds.The people of the once-great fishing

town will spend their end days sprucingup the community hall and patching thegovernment wharf. The make-workwill last as long as they do.

Make-work is all they have left, thebest governments can do. The poorbastards will at least have their stamps— their dignity will be gone, but EIclaims will be renewed. What a slap inthe face to Harbour Breton and fingerto the rest of us.

How is it we’re not rioting in thestreets?

But then any riot would have to beorganized enough to unleash at threedifferent locations simultaneously —Confederation Building, FPI headquar-ters, and the House of Commons. Andriots aren’t organized.

To re-phrase: how is it we’re not co-ordinating protests in the streets?

There are three guilty parties in thissordid tale. To Danny first, becausehe’s sensitive and, out of respect,shouldn’t be made to wait. There’s nodenying the premier’s success with theoffshore oil file, not when we need ashovel to deposit the Accord money inthe bank.

First things first. Williams is takingcare of the province’s money woes. Nodoubt the lower Churchill deal will gothrough soon enough, and natural gaswill come on tap after that. Our cashcrunch may be over for a spell, andwe’ll have Williams, the dealmaker, tothank for that.

But the real treasure isn’t the crude— it’s the quotas. It used to be thatNewfoundlanders saw cod jigging as abirthright. That was a lie. Turns out wedon’t own the fish in the sea either.

The fish are actually owned by com-panies like FPI. Take the fact it’s been13 years since the northern cod fisherywas shut down. Absorb this: FPI stillholds the rights to its northern codquota. It will apparently retain thoserights — like every quota holder — inperpetuity, forever and a day.

Not the communities, not theprovince, not the people — but thecompany.

If a fish plant, which is regulated bythe province, fails to operate for twoyears it looses its processing licence;not so with a fish quota, which fallsunder federal jurisdiction.

Williams should not have acceptedany deal involving Harbour Bretonuntil a fish quota was in his hand.What’s a fish plant without fish?

Williams, or a leader after him, willhave to take Ottawa to task for handingaway control of the fish — a commonproperty resource gifted to Canadawith Confederation. Theoretically,there’s nothing to stop a country suchas China or Japan or Russia or the U.S.from buying up every fish, born orunborn, on the Grand Banks.Newfoundlanders will never controlour destiny.

The province already set the prece-dent earlier this year by buying backquota for the Arnold’s Cove plant for$3.5 million.

That money should have never beenspent. At one time, principles such ashistorical dependency and adjacencycame into play with the awarding of aquota. Shouldn’t those same principlesbe applied to the decision whether acompany can keep that quota?

In the case of Harbour Breton,Williams could have forced Ottawa toturn over quota the same way he forcedthe feds to come up with a betterAccord deal. He chose not to — a mis-take.

No one can criticize Williams for set-ting up targets and knocking themdown, but how far down the prioritylist is the fishery? And will there be anyfish left when he gets to it?

The feds are guilty of a host of sins,including letting the quotas slip awayin the first place. As for FPI, it’s a busi-ness — it’s not supposed to have aconscience, which brings the blameback to Williams.

The premier is fixated on energy.Fair enough, but bring in competentlieutenants to handle the other battles.Regain the rights to the fish, take thebull by the horns, and find a way for thestocks to rejuvenate. Take control ofthe Banks and secure the future of ruralNewfoundland and Labrador

It’s not the oil that will ultimatelysave this place, but the fish.

Ryan Cleary is managing editor ofThe Independent.

[email protected]

Anger management

All material in The Independent is copyrighted and the property of The Independent or the writers and photographers who produced the material. Any use or reproduction of this material without permission is

prohibited under the Canadian Copyright Act. • © 2005 The Independent • Canada Post Agreement # 40871083

RYAN CLEARYFightingNewfoundlander

Williams should not have accepted any deal

involving Harbour Breton until a fish quota

was in his hand.

YOURVOICE

Dear editor,As a young person on the verge of

graduating from Memorial I believethat if Newfoundlanders and Labra-dorians, especially of my generation,do not fight to control this province’sdestiny we will lose it. What hasinspired this is my attempt to gainsome understanding of our province’spast.

Part of the reason I write has to dowith issues raised in the documentaryHard Rock and Water. I found thepremise of the documentary quiteinteresting and absolutely agree withLisa Moore that Newfoundland andLabrador has to be more economicallyself-sufficient. She maintains, quiterightly, that Newfoundland has astrong, distinct, and independent cul-ture that makes us a “nation.” Culture,however, is not the only aspect thatforges a nation. The notion of a sharednational past and collective memorymakes a huge part of any nation. Thecollective memory that Moore and theproducers wish to maintain is based onshaky historical pretenses and victim-ization.

Firstly, the impression I am given isit seems that at some point inNewfoundland’s history (excludingLabrador of course) we lived in anindependent “country” where roadswere paved with gold and gumdropsfell out of the sky. There still seems tobe a debate whether Newfoundlandwas an independent country or a self-governing dominion. So whenNewfoundland was the only “nation inhistory to vote away its nationhood …for a piece of bread,” they also fail tomention that Newfoundland was underthe control of a British-controlledCommission Government after it lostthe right to responsible government in1934, as our patriotic St. John’s politi-cal and economic elite ran us intobankruptcy and had no problem in giv-

ing our landward resources to foreigncapitalists. The only thing that New-foundland’s last prime minister,Frederick Alderdice, had to say aboutlosing our independence was to theeffect of we were now in the care ofBritain. There was no great uprisingwhen we lost our aforementioned“nationhood.” The only riots seenwere from people trying to get a pieceof bread from our “nation’s” elite justbefore the loss of responsible govern-ment.

Secondly, the history that they didpresent smacked of victimhood — notnationhood. I do not know of anynationalist who has presented theirpast as one of victimization. This long-ing for an independent Newfoundland,is a bit like crying over split milk. Ithink that we have to stand together asa proud nation in order to get our justdues out of Confederation and our nat-ural resources. Hence, I think thissense of “woe is us” is why we’vehardly any faith in ourselves as wethink the world has done us wrong. Sowe have to depend on the benevolentSt. John’s elite (i.e. Danny Williams)to lead us to the promised land. Whydon’t we examine people and organi-zations like William Coaker and theFishermen’s Protective Union, whowere mentioned briefly, to demon-strate that we can control our resourcesin a sustainable and co-operative man-ner? Instead it seems that not adoptingCoaker’s fishery reforms was anotherexample of “we screwed it up again.”

This is why I’ve seen Hard Rockand Water twice and enjoyed it. It rais-es very interesting questions concern-ing Newfoundland and Labrador’spast, but also to look to more success-ful islands like Iceland to stimulate asorrowfully needed debate on thefuture in Newfoundland and Labrador.

John Matchim, Paradise

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

P.O. Box 5891, Stn.C, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, A1C 5X4Ph: 709-726-4639 • Fax: 709-726-8499

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The Independent is published by The SundayIndependent, Inc. in St. John’s. It is an

independent newspaper covering the news, issues and current affairs that affect the people of Newfoundland & Labrador.

PUBLISHER Brian DobbinMANAGING EDITOR Ryan ClearySENIOR EDITOR Stephanie PorterPICTURE EDITOR Paul Daly

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BRIAN DOBBINPublish or perish

Fight for destiny — or lose itLisa Moore in Iceland.


YOURVOICE

What animal does Coat of Arms depict?

Dear editor,Once again we have the spectacle

of Newfoundlanders going toOttawa looking for “handouts,”which will be duly noted by themedia of central Canada.

While I give my full sympathyand support to the people of HarbourBreton, I must admit I am a bit per-plexed by the whole affair.

From what I can see the people ofHarbour Breton do not want “hand-outs” or “dole” — all they want todo is go to work and earn their liv-ing in the same way they’ve donefor hundreds of years. Apparently,they are not allowed to do thisbecause FPI has their quota. Now letme get this right, FPI, a private com-

pany, has exclusive rights to theskeletal remains of theNewfoundland fishery. This, as theysay in the popular parlance, “blowsmy mind.”

In my mind, as I believe in anycivilized person’s mind, these quotashould be the sacred trust of the peo-ple of Newfoundland and Labradorand particularly the people of ruralNewfoundland and Labrador. WhileI sympathize with Premier DannyWilliams regarding the mess heinherited when he became premier,that these things go on in 21th centu-ry North America, I find absolutelymind-boggling.

Joe Butt,Toronto

Never discount the power ofhope. It makes us all do irra-tional things. It makes us do

human things — things that don’t defyreason, but transcend it.

I had every intention this week ofwriting about Steve Fossett and MarkRebholz and their replica VickersVimy. I was going to write about theinsensitivity of asking the brave menand women of 103 Search and RescueSquadron to be at the ready to risk theirlives to rescue these wealthy adventur-ers if their romantic pipedreams run upagainst the reality that is the NorthAtlantic. Should these people, whohave families, have to risk their lives sothat rich men can get their jollies?

I was going to write about all that. Then I saw it.I was lying on my deck the other

afternoon, half asleep, soaking up somemuch needed sun, when I heard an oddsound. Opening one eye, I listened. Itsounded like a roto-tiller. No.

Maybe a tractor?

But it was coming from above — aflying tractor?

Then she sailed over the trees intoview. The Vickers Vimy, in all herglory. My heart leapt. It is beautiful! Icould see the two pilots peering downfrom their open cockpit. I jumped up toget a better view.

As an inveterate plane watcher, Iknow you have to move fast. Blink andyou will miss the F-18s. I impatientlytold my friend to look. Hurry up. Shegot up. There was no need to hurry. Thecontraption flew about as fast as a trac-tor. It slowly, ever so slowly, drifted outover Conception Bay, hanging dream-like in the clear blue June afternoonsky. Then, banking lazily to the left, itgently glided out of view.

It took my heart with it. It fired myimagination. It made me think ofAlcock and Brown, who must havebeen impossibly confident and brave.They didn’t have 103 Search andRescue. It made me think ofNewfoundland in 1919, when, if thenewspapers are to be believed (andthose were dark times, when they did-n’t have The Independent), confidencein the future was a pervasive publicsentiment.

It made me think of Newfoundlandand Labrador today. It made me thinkof how much has changed. It made methink of how much hasn’t. We have anidentity crisis. We have three flags. Arewe Canadian? Are weNewfoundlanders? Why aren’t weIcelandic? We have amenities that ourancestors in 1919 could only dream of,yet we seem to have lost confidence inthe future. Where is the sense of adven-ture? Where is the hope? What hap-pened to our collective sense that weare all moving forward? Today we

think we are hard done by. The peoplewho watched Alcock and Brown takeoff were about to mark the fifthanniversary of the wholesale slaughterof their young men at BeaumontHamel. Our young men are healthyand strong and safe.

Yet we suffer from a collectivemalaise. We have hydroelectric powerwe don’t profit from. We have oil thatmakes others vastly wealthy. We have afish company that we paid for. It is nowquietly but purposefully dismantlingour fishing industry so they can engagethe help of Chinese labour to makethemselves rich. We spawn governmentafter government in hope, only to seethem spiral down into failure.

It’s pretty depressing.And then along come these two fools

strapped into what is, in reality, a kitewith a gas engine bolted to the front.And they want to fly across the NorthAtlantic in it.

My head told me to write everythingI mentioned at the top of this column.

My heart told me otherwise. The web-site for this adventure holds a quotesaying the Vickers Vimy replica is “avivid reminder to an often timid socie-ty that great adventure has always beenthe path to progress.” Heady stuff. Idon’t know if that is really true, but it isa great symbol of the kind of hope soci-ety once had, and can have again.

When Alcock and Brown lifted offon June 14, 1919 they represented theheight of technology. They were thespace shuttle. Fossett and Rebholz arenothing more than two dreamers whoclearly have more money than sense. Idon’t care. Good luck to those two glo-rious lunatics in their ridiculous quest.What they are doing comes close to theheight of folly. So be it. You can’talways let your head rule your heart.For the life of me I don’t know why, butI think what they are doing is worth-while, and I am glad they have come todo it.

Ivan Morgan can be reached [email protected]

Look, up in the sky… It’s a roto-tiller, it’s a tractor, it’s a Vickers Vimy

IVAN MORGANRant & reason

FPI has rights to skeletal remains of fishery

Editor’s note: Matthew McCabe, a 12-year-old Grade 6 student at MaryQueen of Peace in St. John’s, wrote thefollowing article for a public speakingproject.

Newfoundland has only been apart of Canada for 56 years.Before April 1, 1949, the day it

joined Canada, it had a long history ofindependence and self-government.Sure, it had some financial problems inthe early 1930s, but that was after thegreat stock market crash and during theGreat Depression. Everyone had finan-cial problems then. The vote forConfederation was very close, and thatwas before we knew how unfairly wewere going to be treated by theGovernment of Canada. Our fishery, forcenturies the greatest in the world, hasalmost been destroyed. Our power, fromChurchill Falls, is being sold by Quebec.We are not being allowed to use our oilfor our own benefit. I think Newfound-land should separate from Canadabecause we would be better off on ourown, we would look after our ownresources better than Canada does, andwe would keep our pride and our digni-ty. Some people in Canada make fun ofNewfoundlanders calling us “newfies”because we live on an island off themainland, and they think we are all poor,lazy and stupid. The people who think

that are the people who’ve never been toNewfoundland and probably neverintend to, but while we are part ofCanada and given so little respect by thegovernment of our country, it is easy foreveryone else to treat Newfoundlandersas their poor cousins. In fact,Newfoundland exports more per personthan any other province in Canada.Newfoundlanders contribute three timesmore to the Canadian economy thanQuebecers, and twice as much as eachperson in Alberta or Ontario or any-where else in Canada, for that matter.

Newfoundland was settled around thecod fishery. At the time of Newfound-land’s discovery you could drop a buck-et in the Atlantic Ocean off our shoresand come up with a bucket full of fish!Now we are not allowed to catch the fishin our own waters! The fish that led peo-ple to this land are now at risk of becom-ing extinct, because the federal govern-ment has allowed foreign countries tooverfish in exchange for something thatbenefits some other part of Canada. Thegovernment of Canada has given ourfish away, by giving foreign countriesthe right to catch three times as muchturbot, twice as much redfish, and 100times as much shrimp as usNewfoundlanders!

Labrador’s Churchill Falls is one ofthe biggest power sources in Canada,one of the biggest power sources in the

world, too. Hydro-electricity is in hugedemand but most of the profits go toQuebec. This bad deal for Newfound-land and Labrador was forced on us by aCanadian government who cared moreabout keeping the voters in Quebechappy than being fair to all parts of thecountry. If we left Canada, we couldregain control of this mighty resource.

Now we have another very valuableresource that the whole world wants –our oil. But the federal governmentwon’t allow Newfoundland to use ouroil to build industry in our own provinceunless nobody in the three MaritimeProvinces wants our oil for their indus-tries. We are accused of being greedyjust because we want to benefit from ournatural resources!

Newfoundland has a great history. Inthe First World War Newfoundland’sarmy became royal for its bravery at thebattle of Beaumont Hamel. Newfound-land has the oldest city, and the mosteasterly point in North America. Wehave beautiful landscapes, clear skiesand clean waters. We have every reasonto be proud. We are not the poor cousinsin Confederation.

In the Charter of Rights it says everyperson has the same rights as the nextperson, and that we’re all equal … butshouldn’t that be for provinces too?

Matthew McCabe,St. John’s

Should Newfoundland and Labrador separate from Canada?

Dear editor,Almost everywhere one looks

today there is evidence that the dyingembers of nationalism are beingfanned into flame.

Proper thing I say, especially con-sidering the unrelenting effort wagedby the feds over the past 50 years tostamp out the stubborn tenacity withwhich we Newfoundlanders cling tothis place. A good example of thisare the efforts made to give CanadaDay precedence over our ownMemorial Day. If there is anythingwe should insist on keeping as anessential part of the idiom of who weare it is this day.

There are some things, on theother hand, we might just as well berid of. Take, for example, the Coat ofArms.

In the May 8-14 edition of TheIndependent, Clare-Marie Gossewrote this of the Coat of Arms: “Theshield is flanked by two, war-cladBeothuk natives and is topped with acaribou crest.”

A mainlander might be forgivenfor mistaking the creature surmount-ing the arms for a caribou, but sure-ly not any Newfoundlander. Clearly,what it depicts is a moose. Honestly,go take a look at it! There is a logi-cal explanation for the “ellke” (elk)being incorporated into the original

1638 Coat of Arms, for the ancientherald would likely have know whatan elk looked like, but not a caribou.However, there is no such logicalexplanation for the faux pas in themodern and official version, otherthan that it was perhaps intended tobe some kind of joke.

Several years ago I tried to find outwhen and by whom this modificationwas made and authorized, but with-out success.

So here we are, a place where thenoble caribou is such a universallyrecognized symbol of our identity,with a mainland moose mounted inour Coat of Arms.

And then there is the flag! In-credibly, despite our rich store ofheraldic treasures, we have foistedupon us a “provincial flag” which,though it may have some artisticmerit, is totally devoid of any cultur-al, historical or emotional appeal. Itsmeaning, or what is declared to be itsmeaning, is so contrived that onewould need a handbook to interpretit. The old tri-colour with anauthentic rendition of our Coat ofArms against the white backgroundof the center pane would have beenthe perfect flag for us.

Lloyd C. Rees,Conception Bay South

Matthew McCabe Paul Daly/The Independent

Dear editor,I will start off by saying my knowl-

edge of the fishery is limited. Despite living in a town where the

fishery is by all accounts doing well, Istill have little knowledge of the sub-ject.

But let me give my feelings on theissue and the factthat revisions to theFPI Act passed inthe House ofAssembly on June24.

The benefits tothis deal, should itpan out, are good.There will be a newplant in Bonavistawithin three years, secondary process-ing will take place in Fortune, a plantthat had been rumored to be shuttingdown.

As it stands, the changes will nothave an impact on Burin. As for thenew plant in Bonavista, it’s somethingthe town needed.

The plants will stay open for thenext five years — granted, of course,the resource remains.

As for the unfortunate situation inHarbour Breton I really feel for thepeople there. I hope they get theirquota because that region will be goneif they don’t.

People have came out and said thedeal was a fix and that the premiervoted no just to look good. I don’tthink that, because a lot of people onthe government side voted for itbecause, should it pan out, it will begood for their communities.

People talk of dissension becausethe premier voted no,but the large percent-age of his caucusvoted yes. I can’t seeany of the members,who have commit-ments that their plantswill stay open for thenext five years, votingagainst the deal justbecause the premier

did.In closing, how would I have voted?

Well if I was a Burin Peninsula MHAI would have voted yes because it pro-vides new opportunity in Fortune. If Iwas an MHA in a district that didn’thave a fish plant I couldn’t tell youhow I’d vote. The deal is good onpaper, but I hope the deal is for realbecause, if not, we could see a lotmore Harbour Bretons in the comingyears and this province does not needthat. I look at this deal with guardedoptimism.

Tony Ducey,Garnish


‘Certainly not a trade off’Dear editor,

Sometimes when you do an inter-view, the message you intend to con-vey becomes clouded as it filters itsway through another’s lens. This wasindeed the case in the recent story —Tobin, Cheney trade off, June 19-25edition of The Independent. Therewas no trade off made by the provinceto forgo temporary engineering jobsin exchange for permanent jobs fromHalliburton in Mount Pearl.

I clearly made the point in my inter-view that when the Terra Nova projectwas sanctioned to proceed, temporaryengineering jobs were to be includedas a benefit. However, a number ofmonths later, the oil companies madethe argument to both levels of govern-ment that mobilizing 200 temporaryemployees for a four- to six-monthperiod to conduct some of the engi-neering work here in Newfoundlandwas fraught with a number of prob-lems: costs, temporary transfers, workvisas, etc. and that this could have putthe overall project in jeopardy.

After weeks of intense discussionswith the oil companies, and consider-ing the magnitude of this multi-billiondollar project, we reluctantly let themproceed. While temporary engineer-ing for a short period of time was lost,many other local benefits came fromthis multi-billion dollar project. Agreat number of Newfoundland com-panies and individuals benefited, andare still benefiting from the TerraNova project.

Months later, while attending theoffshore technology conference inHouston, then-premier Brian Tobinand I met with Dick Cheney in hiscapacity as CEO for Halliburton. Atthat time, Tobin argued strenuouslyfor more engineering and other work

for Newfoundland companies associ-ated with offshore projects. It was atthis time that Mr. Cheney offered todo better on future engineering workand he further committed to build anew Halliburton facility in MountPearl. This was certainly not a tradeoff. However, I do remember thinkingat the time that this was a form of con-solation — these were my thoughtsand mine only.

Currently, there are three major off-shore projects well underway on theGrand Banks and I remain very proudof the efforts our government made toensure these fields were developed.We wanted to do everything in ourpower to kick-start a new industry forNewfoundland and Labrador and wedid just that. And this, Mr. Editor, ismy unfiltered recollection of the trueevents of this story.

Chuck Furey,Former Liberal cabinet minister

Editor’s note: Furey’s commentsprinted in the story in question werenot “filtered,” but printed as quoted.The following is an excerpt from theinterview, which was taped by thereporter.

“We spoke with Dick Cheney, whois now the vice president of the U.S.We had a short meeting with him andcoming out of that, Cheney committedto build a significant facility out in theDonovan’s industrial park and it cre-ated, I think, over 150 jobs, if I recall,and it was a kind of trade off. ‘Look,we’re sorry we couldn’t do that one,let’s try this one.’

“It was kind of like look, here’s theconsolation prize, sorry we couldn’tdo that; we will make every effort inthe future to do it.”

Return to DemocracyA review of Newfoundland’s national convention (1946-1948)By Ryan ClearyThe Independent

In the newspaper business, it’scalled a brown envelope. The enve-lope — usually brown (of all

colours), and from an unknown source(always) — either appears at the frontdesk or is mailed minus a returnaddress. The envelope contains infor-mation that maps the direction to astory. Usually a good one.

Brown envelopes are always excitingto receive — ripped open, in fact, ingreat anticipation, a Christmas presentin July. Nothing in the pages can betaken as fact — all details must bechecked and double-checked — but it’sinteresting to see if the roadmap is cor-rect and where it ultimately leads.

Picking up a copy of The Newfound-land National Convention, 1946-48,was much like receiving a brown enve-lope — minus the anonymity factor(James Hiller and Michael Harringtonput it together), and the brown enve-lope (not that the 2,021 pages makingup the 20 pound, two-volume set wouldfit in one).

But the anticipation was just thesame. The books give the inside scoopon what was said and done leading up toand during the 16 months — September1946 to January 1948 — the NationalConvention sat. Simply put, the con-vention’s purpose was to decide what todo once Commission of Governmentwas done away with. (All that and morefor the low, low price of $250.)

First, a recap: by 1932 Newfound-land was on its knees, flat broke and upto its neck in debt. If that wasn’t badenough, the Great Depression enteredthe ring and kicked the economy in theface. At that point, the British andCanadian governments, distant rela-tives both, stepped in.

They paid Newfoundland’s bills untila report could be prepared on what todo about Newfoundland and its situa-

tion. Lord Amulree, the report’s author

(much of the report was said to havebeen dictated to him by the British gov-ernment, or so Harrington contended)recommended Newfoundland give upits democratic status.

In exchange for doing away withResponsible government, Englandwould restructure and guaranteeNewfoundland’s debt and set up a six-member Commission of Government.

The appointed commission wouldrule Newfoundland until it was back onits feet.

And so it was done. Commission ofGovernment took over in February,1934.

Only trouble was, the Amulree reportdidn’t breathe a word about what to doonce Newfoundland’s fortunes turnedaround.

How exactly would Newfoundlandreturn to democracy and responsiblegovernment?

Amulree’s recommendation read:“As soon as the island’s difficulties areovercome and Newfoundland is againself-supporting, responsible govern-ment, on the request of the people ofNewfoundland, would be restored.”

It didn’t say how to go about doing it.By 1942, Newfoundland’s economy

— thanks to the Second World War —had begun to turn around and talkturned to ending Commission ofGovernment, which was hated.

The idea of a “citizen’s council” orNational Convention was first raised inthe fall of 1943. Three years later it wasoff the ground.

The convention was convened fortwo purposes: to review Newfound-

land’s financial circumstances; and torecommend alternative forms of futuregovernment to be placed before theelectorate in a referendum.

Tempers flared from the get-go. A 1944 report pegged the cost of a

Newfoundland development/assistanceplan at $100 million. Britain gave thecash thumbs down, and Canada wasasked if it would lend a hand. TheCanadian government made it clear itwould not fork over the money to shoreup an independent Newfoundland —although Ottawa would considerConfederation, if Newfoundlandwished to do so.

The National Convention — accord-ing to the two-volume book — had tofit into the strategy of Newfoundlandjoining Canada.

Nationalists were outraged. In theirview, there was no need of a conven-tion. Newfoundland was self-support-ing and all that was necessary was avote on whether to return to responsiblegovernment.

“The insertion of a convention, atalking shop, and the possibility thatforms of government other thanResponsible government might be dis-cussed and voted on was nothing shortof betrayal,” reads the book’s introduc-tion.

And so the national convention wascalled to order.

Forty-five elected delegates gatheredtogether at the Colonial Building todecide Newfoundland’s fate. Over thenext several months, The Independentwill analyze that debate as outlined inthe pages of The Newfoundland Na-tional Convention. What was said anddone in the days leading up to the ulti-mate decision — to forego a return toresponsible government and join thecountry of Canada?

Next week: setting the scene — JoeySmallwod verses Peter Cashin, confed-erates versus nationalists.

[email protected]

People talk of dissen-sion because the pre-mier voted no. but thelarge percentage of his

caucus voted yes.

YOURVOICE

‘Guarded optimism’ over FPI changes

National convention

Road toCONFEDERATIONA N O N G O I N G S E R I E S

1600-1680?(Arrived Ferryland 1638)

By Stephanie PorterThe Independent

By the last half of the 17th centu-ry, Ferryland was firmly estab-lished as a British colony, built

on the fishery, with a few hundredinhabitants — who stayed year-round,in spite of the harsh winters and tenu-ous food supply.

By the 1660s, one of the top fishmerchants in the area — with morestages, boats, fishermen and fishprocessors that any other planter on theEnglish shore — was Lady Sara Kirke.

Lady Kirke, widely consideredBritish North America’s first femaleentrepreneur, “must have been aremarkable woman,” says Jim Tuck.

Tuck, chief archeologist at theColony of Avalon site in Ferryland —where Lady Kirke lived the last 40-oddyears of her life — has spent a goodchunk of the last 15 years literally dig-ging through the remains of the 17thcentury settlement, trying to get toknow the early settlers and their way oflife.

Although there is, still, little existingdocumentation about the life of LadyKirke, it is believed she was even moresuccessful in business than any of herthree sons: George, David, or Phillip.

“You certainly develop an interestand some ideas about these people,”Tuck says. “She ran the business end,after David (her husband) died, forabout 30 years I guess.

“And was the biggest planter … of

anyone on the English shore. So Iwould guess she was a pretty toughcookie.”

Sir David Kirke was the leader of anexpedition that captured Quebec in1629 and was rewarded with part-pro-prietorship of the island ofNewfoundland. Eight years later, heand his family moved to Ferryland,which became known as the PoolPlantation. “He came here, kicked thedeputy out, moved in himself, and tookover control,” says Colony of Avalontour guide Aundrea Morry. “He ruledvery differently, he taxed the people ontheir homes boats and fishing stage,sold tavern licenses, charged five percent tax on all fish being exported inforeign fishing vessels, whatever hecould do to make money.”

Eventually, Morry says, Sir Kirkewas recalled to England to account forhis proprietorship. He was chargedwith tax evasion, and by the Calvert(Baltimore) family for taking over thecolony. As a result, he was imprisonedand died three years later, in 1654.

Lady Kirke stayed on to run the fam-ily business, and did so with apparentstrength and fearlessness.

“That says something about the roleof women in the 1600s,” Morry sayswith a smile.

Lady Kirke’s sister Francis Hopkinscame to the Pool Plantation some timein the 1650s. Tuck and his team havefound some artifacts believed to belongto the sisters.

“One of those women collected thisreally fancy orange pottery … that’snever been found anywhere else in theNew World except for here,” he says.“Some of the gold rings (we found)

probably belonged to Lady Kirke orLady Hopkins or one of the Kirke boys’wives.”

Tuck has another tidbit. “One of theKirke fellows married Lady Hopkins’maid,” he says. “Which pissed off SaraKirke big time, marrying beneath him-self, but I guess he liked her.”

Memorial University business pro-fessor Robert Sexty, in a paper titledLady Sara Kirke: Canada’s first femaleentrepreneur or one of many? wrote:“… what can be pieced together indi-cates a woman of strong character andgreat resourcefulness.

“Lady Sara had lived through themany years of her husband’s overseasadventures and also the upheaval of theEnglish Civil War … she acted asKirke’s agent while he was detained inEngland. As his widow, she had com-plete control over the family enter-prise.”

Sexty suggests Lady Kirke may nothave remarried, in part, because herhigh social status meant the only malesin Newfoundland at an equivalent levelwould be her own family. Also, she hadthe role model of her own mother-in-law, Elizabeth — “who managed thefamily enterprises when her husbandwas away and, following his death,traded on her own account as a Londonwine merchant.”

Although much has yet to be learnedabout the life and times of Lady Kirke,her legacy lives on.

In 2001, St. John’s Mayor AndyWells, in conjunction with theCanadian Advanced TechnologyAlliance, announced the creation of theSara Kirke Award, to be given annuallyto Canada’s leading woman high techentrepreneur.

With no evidence Lady Kirkereturned to England, it is assumed she

lived out her days in Ferryland. Thereare indications she survived the Dutchraid of Ferryland in 1673, but diedbefore the French invasions in 1696.

Tuck says he expects to one dayunearth a cemetery, and, he hopes, thefinal resting place of Lady Kirke. A findlike that would provide more insight

into Kirke’s health, diet and life — andif any direct descendants are living inthe area.

“Sara was in her 80s when she died,”says Colony tour guide Judy Walsh.“That was a ripe old age for that time.

“She must have been a tough person,incredibly strong.”


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‘Golden days’ of caplinBy Alisha MorrisseyThe Independent

The month of June and its mauzyweather has come and gonewithout a single caplin rolling

on Newfoundland beaches, but yearsago the small, silvery fish wouldalready be in the garden or on the mar-ket by now.

Dozens of stories from publicationslong out of print tell stories of caplinseason beginning in late May or earlyJune. In recent years, the fish haven’trolled in to spawn until well into Julymonth.

“Fish Fertilize NewfoundlandGardens,” was the headline of a storyin The Country Guide’s January 1953edition.

According to the story, everyNewfoundland fisherman had three orfour small gardens scattered around

their villages with potatoes as the maincrop. The potatoes would only be inthe ground a couple of weeks when thecaplin would begin rolling on beaches.

The fish was caught and spread overgardens for use as fertilizer.

“Most fishermen never use commer-cial fertilizer — just their barnyardmanure and fish or kelp from the sea,”the article read. “And their crops areusually good.”

The October 1960 edition of theAtlantic Advocate, a magazine distrib-uted throughout the Atlanticprovinces, published a story aboutcatching caplin.

The story talked about how mostpeople used dip nets because it waseasier to catch the fish. That wasn’t theonly way.

“Greater dexterity is required inusing the circular throw seine, which ismade of netting with the peripheral

rope threaded through fine leadenballs,” the story read. “As both handshave to be used in tossing the net, theexpert caster usually holds the retriev-ing line between his teeth and in thisoperation he has to be accurate as wellas dexterous or run the risk of loosingsome of his teeth.”

The story also explained the mean-ing of the word “mauzy” as the foggyweather that usually accompanies thecaplin’s arrival.

CAPLIN WEATHER“Newfoundlanders have another

name for this weather regardless of thetime of year it occurs. A term of affec-tion understood by all — caplin weath-er.”

The fish had become a commodityby the 1980s and sold well in Japan. Infact, Japan took the majority of thecaplin caught in 1986, selling it in barsand restaurants as a snack food. Eightfish went for about $3 Cdn.

The June 27, 1987 edition of TheNewfoundland Herald declared a“solution to the caplin crisis.”

The story explained how there hadbeen an overfishing binge in 1975when landings peaked at 361,000tonnes. By 1980, only 4,800 tonneswere being caught.

The 1986 catch totalled 36,000tonnes — with Japan buying most ofit.

“Unlike us the Japanese eat thefemale — not the male fish — andthey only want those filled with theripest eggs just before spawning,” thestory read.

“The Japanese eat caplin almostexclusively as a snack when drinkingmuch the same way we eat chips.”

By 1990, there were even less caplinbeing caught and the Japanese demandcould not be met.

The June 24, 1990 edition of TheSunday Express carried a story basedon two weeks of “brutal” negotiationswith Japanese caplin buyers.According to the story, the negotia-tions did not lead to results.

The buyers didn’t want small fish,but year over year the caplin were get-ting smaller.

“The golden days are definitelyover,” processor Tom Woodman saidin the story.

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Jim Matthews of Goulds scoops caplin from the waters off Middle Cove near St. John’s. Paul Daly/The Independent

INDEPENDENTWORLDSUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 3-9, 2005 — PAGE 11

Here’s hoping we can finally heal MedicareIt’s time for a frank discussion about how more private-sector involvement can help

In the Supreme Court of Canada’srecent decision on Medicare, thejudges were split on the issue of pri-

vate health insurance — and whetherprohibiting it in Quebec (and the rest ofCanada) violated Charter of Rightsguarantees.

In essence, the question was whetherQuebecers who were prepared to spendmoney to get access to health care —which, because of waiting lists, is inessence not available in the public sec-tor — may be validly prevented fromdoing so by the state.

Four of the seven judges agreed that“where the government is failing todeliver health care in a reasonable man-ner, thereby increasing the risk of com-plications and death,” such a prohibi-tion is unreasonable. They did notaccept the argument that allowing

Canadians access to a private alterna-tive when their health is jeopardized bylong wait times would undermine thepublic system by siphoning away ener-gy and resources.

They found “the evidence in this casefalls far short of demonstrating suchjustification” and concluded “life, liber-ty and security of the person must pre-vail.”

The majority judges looked at otherwestern democracies with mixed pub-lic-private health care systems andfound their experience refuted any con-

tention that a prohibition on privateinsurance is needed to maintain qualitypublic health care.

Some, like France and Belgium, werefound to deliver medical services supe-rior to and more affordable than those inCanada.

As Chief Justice Beverley McLachlinwrote, “Access to a waiting list is notaccess to health care.”

This decision supports the reasonableposition that governments of Canadamust be forced either to guarantee time-ly care or, if they are not prepared to do

so, must allow Canadians to spend theirown money to take care of themselves.

We now have an opportunity to dis-cuss in a sensible and reasonable man-ner the health care system and Medicarein Canada.

The time is now to challenge thepolitically inspired attempts by PaulMartin and the Liberal party that thereis some tremendous virtue in the ideathat Canadian governments shouldforce all patients to seek care only

JOHN CROSBIEThe old curmudgeon

See “Time is now,” page 14

There may be a chance yetSupporting the wrong side for the right reason, MP Joe Comuzzi a role model for sorry minority government

OTTAWABy James TraversTorstar wire service

Hope arrives here at the oddest times,wrapped in the most surprisingpackages. It wasn’t until the final

hours of this sorry minority government’sfirst year that someone did somethingbrave, principled and inspirational.

What makes it more uplifting is that the“someone” is not much more than anobody in the federal pecking order andthat his fine gesture was for a lost cause. Asthe final same-sex marriage voteapproached, Joe Comuzzi, a hulking,friendly bear from Thunder Bay, resignedthe cabinet post he waited years to getrather than break the promise he made vot-ers.

History will eventually prove the nowformer minister for northern developmentwas on the wrong side of a controversynow settling, as it should, in favour ofhuman rights over tradition.

But by supporting the wrong side for theright reasons, Comuzzi bucked a damagingtrend that gained momentum in 1991 when

politicians publicly blamed bureaucrats forsmuggling into Canada Iraqi diplomatMohammed al-Mashat.

Nurtured by Jean Chrétien’s refusal tofire ministers or appoint an independentethics commissioner, official Ottawa snug-gled comfortably into the culture of avoid-ance. Its credo is foundin Shades of Grey,Bernard Shapiro’s aptlynamed report on theJudy Sgro affair, thatmanages to spreadaccountability so thinlythat blame for immigra-tion abuses that dimin-ish citizenship with par-tisan politics dribblesthrough the cracks.

By keeping his wordthat he would opposegay and lesbian marriages, Comuzziimplants a rare grain of sand in that culture.With a little luck and a lot more commit-ment to reducing the democratic deficit, itcould become the pearl of a parliamentarysession that has mostly convinced thecountry that politicians are all swine.

What other conclusion could reasonablybe drawn from the record of a governmentelected precisely a year ago this week?

A quick flip through the headlines findsthe serial horrors of money-stuffedenvelopes, taped deals trading party loyal-ty for personal gain, and one-off backroom

deals that drip acid onConfederation by pushingfederal dollars into thepockets of provinces thatscream loudest.

But Comuzzi’s gestureisn’t the only jewel buriedin the swill.

In a weak cabinet, acabal of ministers, includ-ing Bill Graham, DavidEmerson and the ever-steady Ralph Goodale, arestrengths. Paul Martin’s

beast of burden capacity, if not his abilityto provide clear direction, is astonishingand, while the job took too long, this gov-ernment finally has a rough frame forCanada’s place in the world.

Even more revealing is Ottawa’s newreality: this flawed and frail Liberal minor-

ity is learning to survive.That’s important for reasons that will

infuriate voters convinced the only fix ischange.

Rather than emerge as the government inwaiting, Stephen Harper’s Conservativesare reinforcing the notion they aren’t readyfor power and that, in turn, suggestsLiberals will, by default, extend their rulebeyond 12 years and four mandates.

If that’s the case, the country, led by asolemnly activist Supreme Court, deservesand demands better.

In warning the government that it can’tcollect taxes for exclusive programs — likepublic healthcare — that fall below mini-mum standards, the justices changed forev-er the local favourite game of loudly prom-ising everything while quietly deliveringnext to nothing.

True, that message is taking its sweettime penetrating the political cortex. Only ahandful of ministers seem aware cabinet ison the brink of losing control of public pol-icy.

To keep from toppling over the edge, the

Only a handful of ministers seem awarecabinet is on the brink

of losing control ofpublic policy.

See “His choice,” page 14

Paul Martin (right) embraces former Minister for Northern Development Joe Comuzzi after parliament approved legislation to allow same sex marriage. Chris Wattie/Reuters

12 • INDEPENDENTWORLD JULY 3, 2005

By Christopher HutsulTorstar wire service

The story was set in the future — the1990s to be precise. Canada, with itsrich natural resources, had become a

global superpower. From coast to coast,the Canadian way of life flourished.

But not all was good in the Great WhiteNorth; mobsters and rogue Communistcells threatened to topple the governmentand corrupt its people.

The sanctity of our frostbitten dominion,as the story went, rested in the hands ofTom Evans — known to foes and fans asCaptain Canuck. The red-and- white-cloaked superhero patrolled the Arctic onsnowmobile, described distances in kilo-metres, and whupped bad-guy butts withgood old Canadian knuckle sandwiches.

When Richard Comely launched theseries in 1975, Canada finally had a super-hero to call its own.

But the Captain and his creator soonlearned there was a huge differencebetween superhero and superstar.Ultimately, the comic was unable to makean impact on mainstream audiences or thecomic community. People remember thecomic — they just don’t remember itbeing good.

CLUNKY WRITINGThe writing was clunky, the art was stiff

and the stories were devoid of the campone might expect from a Canadian hero.Even Comely, who had no experience increating — or reading — comics, admitsnow he rushed into the project. But thefreelance artist, 24 years old at the time,had a hot potato of an idea in his hands,courtesy of fellow artist Ron Leishman,and couldn’t wait to get it out into theworld.

“I worked hard at it, and the only reasonI worked hard at it was because I believedin it,” says Comely, now 54 and living inCambridge, Ont. “I felt that’s what weneeded. There was a Captain America;why couldn’t we have something like thatin Canada?”

The first issue pitted a rigid CaptainCanuck and his sidekick Bluefox against aband of Communists seeking to take overCanada. On their way to the confrontation,they ride snowmobiles, wrestle a polarbear and get rescued by an Inuit namedUtak.

Captain Canuck then uses his super-human strength to create a makeshift

dogsled bridge out of an ice floe. About 10pages into the comic, Bluefox double-crosses Captain Canuck and sides with theCommunists (which has to be some kindof record for sidekick betrayals). Pistolsget fired, fists get thrown and missilelaunchers get disarmed. Just another dayin the Yukon, right?

Fans had to wait until issue No. 5 to readabout the origins of the mysteriousCommunist-crusher in the tight pyjamas.There we learned that Tom Evans was atop Mountie who was drafted into the fic-tional Canadian International SecurityOrganization — a government bodydesigned to defend Canada’s newfoundmight. While camping with scouts, Evansgets abducted by aliens who proceed toconduct a battery of tests on him, leavinghim twice as powerful and twice as fast.

“I feel that Captain Canuck had to takea strong view on Canada and nationalism,”says Comely. “I didn’t think of him as aninternational crime fighter. He was aCanadian, he belonged to Canada ... Hecould be involved in international affairs,but his devotion had to lie with Canada.”

This unwavering patriotism was theCaptain’s strength, but it was also hisweakness. Whereas other heroes were tor-mented and complex (think Batman,Spiderman, Wolverine), Canuck wasearnest to a fault.

“He’s a generic, straight-shooting,clean-cut hero, which may have been partof the comic’s problem,” says DarrenLatta, a Kingston-based freelance writerand creator of a Captain Canuck fan web-site. “He wasn’t that distinctive. He wasn’tneurotic ... He was just this unflappableguy.”

But Latta got a kick out of seeing adven-tures unfold in places he recognized.

“I read something referring to smog-rid-den Sudbury,” he recalls.

In 1976, just three issues into the series,

Comely was forced to put the project onhold. The comic was selling, but the pro-duction costs were greater than the rev-enues. He moved to Cardston, Alta., a bor-der town of 3,500 people, where hebecame the editor — and cartoonist — fora small newspaper while soliciting fund-ing to relaunch the series.

By the time he was ready to publishCaptain Canuck No. 4 in ’79, he’d shrewd-ly decided to hand the pencils and ink overto George Freeman and Claude St. Aubin,both skilled draughtsman, while continu-ing to write the stories. The new look waswell received by comic fans, but the fund-ing dried up in late 1980.

In the mid ’80s Comely moved toCambridge, where he worked as a free-lance writer and illustrator, drawing for adcompanies and gift card makers.

CANUCK REBORNIn 1993, Comely Comics presented

Captain Canuck Reborn. The new seriestold the story of Darren Oak — a mandetermined to bring down his older broth-er’s plan to create an evil global govern-ment, thereby spoiling Canada. It lastedthree years and four issues before beingshelved yet again.

The latest incarnation of the franchisesurfaced just last year. It may come as asurprise to many contemporary Canadianart fans that young darling Drue Langlois,formerly of Winnipeg’s lauded Royal ArtLodge art collective, and his brother Rielput out a three-part Captain Canuck seriestitled Captain Canuck, Unholy War.

Riel, a fan of the strip as a kid, says hewas looking for a way to break into thecomics world, and thought reinterpretingthe character would be a good way to doso. He wrote a script, enlisted his brotherto do the art, and teamed up with Comely,who served as editor on the project. Theresult is a handsome, well-drawn package.

Unlike Latta, Drue and Riel appreciatedCaptain’s lack of angst. They played thatup in their rendition of the character.

“We were both pretty sick of the darkcharacters, like Spawn ... how every-thing’s a drag and how being this super-hero is a burden, and how Wolverine is ‘Ijust hate myself,’” says Riel. “We werethinking it would actually be pretty fun tobe a superhero ... who didn’t pose onrooftops and brood all night.”

The creator, who’s now paying the bills

Captain Canuck clings to lifeAfter a couple of comic book resurrections, the all-Canadian hero may fly again — this time, on the big screen

“He’s a generic, straight-shooting, clean-cut hero,

which may have been partof the comic’s problem.”

Darren Latta,

creator of fan website

Stephen Harper’s senior communicationsadviser has quit after less than a year inthe job, and his departure signals the lat-

est in what many expect to be a summer ofchanges in Harper’s entourage.

Geoff Norquay, a Tory backroomer whoserved under former Prime Minister BrianMulroney, cited personal reasons for leaving.Officials also confirmed strategic communi-cations manager Yaroslav Baran, who has

worked on Parliament Hill in various capaci-ties since 1997, is leaving Harper’s office tojoin an Ottawa consulting and lobbying firm.

Rank-and-file Tories want an overhaul ofthe communications team to revamp Harper’simage, harness media seen as hostile, andavoid slip-ups like remarks this week on thelegitimacy of Bloc Québécois support forsame-sex marriage. Some chalk the problemsup to the continued influence of press secre-

tary Carolyn Stewart-Olsen. Her relationswith the national press, charitably, can becalled fractious.

“The guys who leave will carry the blame.Harper will get to say that he’s cleaninghouse. But the fact is he doesn’t listen to goodadvice,” groused one insider.

Chief-of-staff Phil Murphy is widelyexpected to join the exodus.

—Torstar wire service

Harper advisers begin exodus

See “Bona fide,” page 14

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTWORLD • 13

By Darcy MacRaeThe Independent

It didn’t take Krystal Pardy long to figure outshe was in a much different world when herplane touched down in Taiwan just over a year

ago. Walking through the air-conditioned airport,she and her boyfriend John Wilmott were anxiousto begin what they were sure would be an excitingadventure. They exited the sliding glass doors andtook to the street, walking into a blaze of heat.

“We walked through the sliding doors andthought it was a sauna waiting area. Flashinglights, traffic, the noise pollution was quite ashock,” Pardy tells The Independent.

While the climate took getting used to, Pardysays she soon began to enjoy her time in Tainan, asouthwestern Taiwanese city on the South ChinaSea. Working as an English-as-a-second-languageteacher, she enjoys her new job (Pardy worked inpublic relations before the move), and the perksthat come with it.

“There are so many things that are great aboutmoving to another country. Meeting other trav-ellers, learning about a new culture are two bigones for me,” Pardy says. “To be honest, the salaryis also nice and so is the status that comes with it.I have always lived cheque to cheque in Canadiancities. It’s frustrating to start in the red, with a stu-dent loan. Here, having money makes everythingconvenient.”

Travelling is nothing new to the Lewisportenative. Before moving to Tainan, she earned herpublic relations degree in Halifax and worked inCalgary — although living in Canada neveroffered any serious cultural differences.

In Tainan, the rules are a quite a bit more liber-al, with restaurants often set up in people’sgarages. Many such restaurants don’t have bath-rooms, a proper kitchen or even tables.

“I found it difficult to eat dinner on the side ofthe seat — literally,” Pardy says.

TIME IS MONEYFurther adjustment had to be made to the man-

ner in which Tainan citizens treat each other whiledoing everyday things such as walking down thestreet or entering buildings.

“I don’t want to be offensive, but now I knowwhat people mean when they talk about politeCanadians. Opening the door for someone, saying‘Excuse me’ when you want someone to move,waiting in line for your turn … the list is long.These concepts aren’t a part of the culture here.Time is definitely money and if you’re slowingme down, you’re costing me,” Pardy says.

Just getting down the street in one piece canoften be a challenge in the Taiwan city, since it isinhabited by close to 750,000 people — a far cryfrom the community of 3,000 in which Pardygrew up.

“It’s shocking. Walking anywhere at your ownpace is impossible, you’re always sweeping with acrowd,” she says. “I like my three feet of person-al space and here I try to avoid getting run over.Space is something I will never take for grantedagain”

One of the most surprising things Pardy discov-ered in Tainan was that the method of public trans-

portation greatly differs from what she was usedto. Gone were the days of riding a bus to work orschool — scooters rule.

“One of the most challenging things was learn-ing how to ride a scooter. Everyone here travels byscooter. I have never ridden a motorcycle, so that,coupled with the traffic, was very frightening,”says Pardy.

While she faces many cultural differences inTainan, Pardy insists she enjoys her new home.She travelled to Taiwan in search of new chal-lenges and experiences, and has been given plen-ty of each.

“I enjoy learning about the culture here,” saysPardy. “Tainan is the old capital of Taiwan andthere are many temples, old statues and buildings.

I also love hearing some of the old wives tales orsuperstitions that people believe in.

“Taoism and Buddhism are the predominantreligions here. It’s common to see businessesburning ghost money or offering food to their pastrelatives.”

PRETEND TIM’SPardy says she and Wilmott have become

friends with several other foreign travellers andsometimes socialize at North America-style barsand restaurants. She also enjoys hanging out at teastands (she pretends it’s a cup of Tim’s), workingout at a nearby gym, and takes pleasure in seeingthe progress of her students as they attempt tomaster the English language.

She misses her friends and family, and hopes totravel home later this summer for a month-longvacation. She and Wilmott are both anxious for aplate of Jigs dinner, a good feed of fish and chipsand a traditional barbeque (the steaks in Taiwanare razor thin).

But once their vacation is complete, it’s back toTainan for at least one more year. Despite the greatdistance, Pardy never feels too far away home.

“Wherever you are, you’re only a plane rideaway,” she says. “This is something that I reallywant to continue and unfortunately, I can’t takeeveryone with me.”

Do you know a Newfoundlander or Labradorianliving away? E-mail [email protected]

Streetsof TainanRiding a scooter to work and eating at restaurants set up in garages have become the normfor Lewisporte’s Krystal Pardy during her time in Taiwan

Diners eats at a toilet-themed restaurant in southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung. Food arrives in bowls shaped like Western-style toilets or Asian-style “squat pots.” David Lin/Reuters

VOICEFROM AWAY


through a publicly administered healthsystem — and prohibit them fromspending their own money if it failsthem.

Many experts in the health care field— think tanks such as the FraserInstitute, and people appointed to carryout public inquiries such as MichaelKirby and Wilbert Keon of the Senateand Don Mazankowski of Alberta —have concluded the delivery and fund-ing of health care can be reformedwithin the envelope of public finance.

This, by allowing greater involve-ment of the private sector and moreefficient allocation of resourcesthrough choice and competition, whilepreserving the “single-payer” model.

The Canadian government, throughits fiscal domination of the provinces,has forced all patients to seek carethrough a public-only health system,which is not working efficiently oreffectively — demonstrating the incen-tives in a public monopoly are so per-verse that it cannot be made to work.

When a system is forced to look onhospital beds and operating rooms as

drains on the limited budgets of gov-ernments rather than as revenue gener-ators — forcing you to choose to closebeds and operating rooms to savemoney — how can you have anythingbut lengthier waiting lists?

Canadian governments are nowspending far more per citizen on healthcare than they were 10 years ago. InOntario, 46 per cent of the entire budg-et now goes to health care, up 25 percent from 1985. Yet the system hasimproved little, if at all, particularlywith respect to waiting lists.

The time is now for a full and frank

discussion of all aspects of our healthcare system, particularly the need toremove the restrictions on access toprivate care.

Perhaps the Charter of Rights canforce Martin’s government to ceasescaremongering when any suggestionsof change are made. The present provi-sions of the Canada Health Act inmany ways are a barrier to our creatinga world-class health system in Canada,which we certainly don’t have today.More on this in my next column.

John Crosbie’s column returns July 17.

Time is now for a full and frank discussionFrom page 11

Prime Minister must stop trying toplease everyone and set clear priorities,make tough choices and, most of all,measure success against real-world,real time, milestones.

It’s 72-year-old Joe Comuzzi whoprovides the model. He not only saidwhat he would do and then did it; heput public interest ahead of his ownwhen the moment came to decide.

By stepping aside, by giving upsomething he cherished for an evenmore precious principle, Comuzziaccepted the uncompromising disci-pline of public service.

To understand what is fundamentallywrong here is to sift through the evi-dence and sadly conclude his choice isthe exception, not the rule.

Reversing that order is now up to thePrime Minister.

From page 11

‘His choice isthe exception’

as a video editor while writing for anAmerican video-editing periodical, iscurrently in talks with a productionhouse about the possibility of a three-part movie deal that would be followedby an animated series. Clearly, Comelybelieves in Captain Canuck as much asCaptain Canuck believed in Canada.

“I think people still feel that CaptainCanuck is the bona fide Canadiansuperhero,” says Comely. “There havebeen a few other attempts at Canadiansuperheroes, but none are rememberedbecause they didn’t get the mileage.

“I made some bad business decisionsback then. I didn’t exploit it as much asI could have ... Obviously, there’vebeen ups and downs … Right now, thebig prize after 30 years would be filmand TV.”

From page 12

‘Bona fideCanadian hero’

Ontario has already logged arecord number of smog daysthis year, the provincial envi-

ronment ministry says.And that pollution is killing dozens

of Ontario residents, a medical expertsays.

The last day of June marked the 29thday of 2005 when Ontario was under asmog advisory, surpassing the previ-ous high of 27, recorded in all of 2002.

For Toronto, it was the 27th day thisyear that a smog alert was in place.City residents have already sufferedfrom seven more bad-air days in half ayear than they endured in all of 2001,when smog choked Toronto for 20days, the previous record high.

“And this year it appears as if we’reheading for quite a number of (smog)days to come,” says David Yap, seniorscientific adviser with the ministry’sair quality department. “We have quitea few (warm weather) months to goand the outlook is for a hot and drysummer.”

Hot, sunny weather tends to pro-mote smog formation as the sun andheat cook the murky chemical soupthat hovers over the province.

Yap says the extended smog advi-sories are part of a trend that has seendirty air episodes lasting for longerperiods over the past 15 years.

But, he says it’s too early to blamethe lingering smog spells on globalwarming. Yap notes that last year thenumber of smog episodes was wellbelow those recorded in 2002.

He also points out this year's recordof dirty-air days could be the result ofnew technology that actually detectedfive days of pollution back inFebruary.

Until 2002, Yap says, the ministryonly recorded atmospheric ozone lev-els, which are almost always low in thewinter and jump in the summer sun.

According to Ted Boadway, execu-tive director of health policy for theOntario Medical Association, “there’sno doubt” that pollution has causeddozens of deaths across the province.

People “are rolling into emergencydepartments,” he reports. Boadway,whose association estimates that smogcauses some 5,800 premature deaths ayear in Ontario, says the bad air isespecially hard on the elderly andthose with pre-existing ailments.

It’s not just the elderly who arefelling the pain.

“This year really sucks, for lack of abetter word,” says Debbie Valentini, a43-year-old asthma sufferer. “As soonas I step outside the door my lungsactually tighten and it’s painful.”

— Torstar wire service

Smog days of summer

GUANGZHOU, ChinaBy Martin Regg CohnTorstar wire service

Yang Ailun opens the venetianblinds on her ninth-floor officeto reveal a curtain of yellowish-

grey haze descending over the city sky-line.

For the Greenpeace activist, the dailysmog is a red flag. Two years ago herenvironmental group set out to paintRed China green, but a booming econ-omy is pushing pollution into the strat-osphere.

“Normally you can’t even see thebuildings right in front of us,” Yanggrumbles, peering at the clogged road-ways and high-rises sprouting aroundher.

Second only to the United States inemitting the greenhouse gases thatcause global warming, China is des-tined to become the world’s biggestpolluter within 15 years. Demand forcoal-fired power plants that belch car-bon dioxide fumes into the air is soar-ing faster than environmentalists likeYang can catch their breath.

Seven of the world’s 10 most pollut-ed cities are in China, where filthinvades your eyes and coal dust clogsyour throat. Yet here in the southernprovince of Guangdong, which billsitself as factory to the world, conserva-tion is a hard sell.

Yang is one of 40 Greenpeacestaffers campaigning to raise environ-mental consciousness across China,where economic growth is surging bynearly nine per cent a year. Unlikeflamboyant Greenpeace activists else-where, she can’t organize publicitystunts or call public protests lest theCommunist government shutter heroffices.

“In China we’re just at the beginningstages of raising public awareness,” theyoung activist says diplomatically.

If China has been slow to wake up tothe fallout from its factories, the rest ofthe world is watching closely — andholding its breath. Foreign environ-mentalists always buttonhole Yang atconferences to demand China be more

accountable for its pollution.“It’s important for Westerners to

understand that there are no moralgrounds to just say, ‘Stop developing!’”Yang explains. “If you wag your fingerand tell us how to run our lives, Chinawill shut down the conversation andthat would be the worst thing.”

Yet the spotlight will be on Chinanext week when President Hu Jintaosits in on the Group of 8 summit ofindustrialized nations July 6 to 8 inGleneagles, Scotland. With its super-heated economy slated to quadruple insize by 2020 — and emissions ofgreenhouse gases likely to keep pace —Hu will be under pressure to do more tocombat global warming.

China has ratified the KyotoProtocol, which commits most industri-alized countries to reduce greenhousegases by 2012. But as a developingcountry, it is exempt from any commit-ments to curb pollution at home.

Moreover, Beijing has signalled it isin no hurry to accept any fresh obliga-tions when the second phase of thetreaty is due to take effect in sevenyears. Indeed, China is hedging its bets,waiting and watching to see whetherthe industrialized nations do more first.

“This is a very delicate question,”

Environment Minister Xie Zhenua toldreporters earlier this month. “We stillhave time until 2012.”

To date, China has vigorouslyopposed any voluntary or obligatoryreductions by developing states.Increasingly, Beijing’s negotiatingposition is that too much emphasis is

being placed on reducing climatechange — and that the world must learnto live with it — an unsettling stancefor environmentalists.

Environmental stewardship hasnever been a priority in Communist

China, whose Maoist ideology viewednature as a force to be harnessed in thewar on poverty. The environment wasmerely a battlefield, with pollutiontreated as collateral damage or wel-comed as a sign of industrialization.

With the embrace of capitalism andthe quest for prosperity, the country hasshifted from Communism to con-sumerism. Now, the middle classes andeven the masses aspire to have energy-guzzling electrical appliances at home.Government statistics show Chinamanufactures roughly 25 millionrefrigerators a year and twice that manyair conditioners — with most destinedfor the domestic market.

“After all these years, everyonewants to enjoy the good life — luxuryis a good thing to them,” says FengWang, a volunteer with the environ-mental group Global Village of Beijing,which is trying to curb overuse of airconditioners.

China’s mentality of “developingfirst and preventing and controllingpollution later” has been blasted as“absolutely wrong” by the country’smost vocal environmental official, PanYue.

As deputy director of the StateEnvironmental Protection Administra-

tion, he warned this month that “thepollution load of China will quadruplein 2020” unless attitudes change andthe economic trajectory eases up.

In prosperous Guangdong province,the local environment bureau isweighed down by an economy thatgrew by a staggering 14 per cent lastyear, placing extra strains on coal-firedpower plants. Sulphur dioxide emis-sions jumped by seven per cent and thenumber of vehicles on the road climbedby 12 per cent.

Guangdong is one of 10 provincesexperimenting with the concept of“Green GDP” statistics so the perform-ance of bureaucrats will be judged onthe overall impact of their policiesrather than economic development atany cost. The program is in its infancy,but state media have reported that GDPwould have been cut by two per cent ifenvironmental costs had been consid-ered.

“We’re trying to deduct the environ-mental pollution loss from economicperformance,” says Chen.

Most funding for China’s environ-mental programs comes from overseasdonors, including more than $64 mil-lion from Canada since 2000, making itone of the biggest contributors.

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTWORLD • 15

China currently accounts for 14per cent of the world’s green-house gas emissions.

• Most Chinese factories and powerplants are not only dirty but grosslyinefficient. By comparison, energy con-sumption per unit of GDP is seventimes higher than in Japan, six timesgreater than in the U.S. — and nearlythree times higher than neighbouringIndia, another developing economy.

• Yet China’s massive population of1.3 billion has the effect of reducing itsper capita energy consumption to bare-ly one-fifth of Western levels — but-tressing its argument that the onus is onindustrialized countries to cut backfirst.

• Chinese are fast seeing the falloutfrom sulphur dioxide emissions that areblanketing one-third of the country —and two-thirds of its cities — in acidrain. Environmental damage from acidrain costs China about $18 billion ayear.

• More than 20 million tonnes of sul-phur dioxide is discharged into the airannually — well above the target of 18million tonnes set for this year.

• Developed countries have trans-ferred much of their heavily pollutingindustries to China.

• It is the world’s biggest consumerof coal and consumption is projected todouble by 2020.

—Torstar wire service

Some of China’sindustrial woes:

China will be world’s biggest polluterSecond only to U.S. in greenhouse emissions, conservation a hard sell; economic boom taking toll

Smog envelopes the horizon as vehicles crawl in traffic along a major road in Beijing. Reuters/Claro Cortes Chinese shepherds tend to sheep grazing amongst plastic refuse in a suburb of Beijing. Andrew Wong/Reuters

“If you wag your fingerand tell us how to runour lives, China will

shut down the conver-sation and that wouldbe the worst thing.”

Yand Ailun

Bill Rose grew up in the 1950s and ’60sin Freshwater, Placentia Bay, when theAmerican military base at Argentia was

in full swing — the economic generator for thetown and a source of fascination and influencefor the young artist.

“There were Americans everywhere, theylived on the base, in apartments, we had fivehouses we rented to Americans, it was sort ofnatural,” says Rose, who lived in Freshwateruntil age 17.

“I thought every community hadAmericans.”

Although it was the Beatles’ appearance onthe Ed Sullivan show that first got Rose to pickup a broom and try out his air guitar, his firstreal bands played hits from the States.

“I was playing in bands on the base when Iwas 14-15 years old,” he says. “We were play-ing James Brown and stuff like that becausethat’s what the servicemen wanted. We used togo down with a tape recorder and tape thejukeboxes.

“I guess all that affected me visually also.”Rose’s admitted fascination with pop culture

is seen in much of his work over the years —sometimes satirical, sometimes critical: hisAndy Warhol-influenced reproductions ofcereal boxes; his clever and biting paintings offlags; or his work involving that very U.S.icon, the hamburger. (One piece features aglistening bacon cheeseburger on a silverbackground. The phrase, A brief history oftyranny, is stenciled, in white, across the mid-dle.)

Rose’s latest exhibition Heroes, Villains,and the Heartbeat of America continues to

explore and expand the theme. The centerpiece of the show is, without

doubt, Rose’s portrait of William S.Burroughs. The face of the beat writer andone-time heroin addict was painstakinglypainted onto a canvas completely covered withTylenol tablets — almost 7,000 of them.

Rose applied for a grant for the project, andreceived enough funding to purchase 10,000Tylenol pills (the remaining 3,000 havealready been glued to a board for anotherpiece).

After a few coats of careful varnish — anymoisture would ruin the work — Rose spenttwo months painting each tablet in black,white and grey.

As he has for 25 years, Rose uses a grid: heworks from a picture divided into the samenumber of squares (or, in this case, tablets) ashis canvas.

“Then I go at the piece block by block,” hesays. “If there’s grey, and a little bit of black inthe square, then I paint it grey, and the blackgoes in the middle. I’m sort of taking every bit

INDEPENDENTLIFESUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 3-9, 2005 — PAGE 17

LIVYER

‘This is where I always work’By Alisha MorrisseyThe Independent

Strains of I’se the By’s and theKelligrews Soiree honking andhissing from an accordion float

up and down Water Street in down-town St. John’s.

Moving towards the music, andcloser to George Street, a family offour comes into focus, dancingaround, while an elderly lady with hergranddaughter looks on.

Don Tucker’s fingers push buttonsand his hands squish and release thebody of the old squeeze box he’s beenplaying for years.

Tucker, who’s unemployed, says hiscorner, near the intersection of Georgeand Water, is ideal for carrying soundand attracting attention (ideally thetype that drops money in his accordioncase).

The accordion itself is somethingdifferent from the usual buskers whopick guitars, Tucker, 48, has beenplaying in the same spot for eightyears. In fact, he’s been playing theaccordion since he was seven yearsold — minus those teenaged yearswhen Deep Purple and OzzyOsbourne made him feel the accor-dion wasn’t cool.

“It’s a good spot to come down andmake some money,” Tucker tells TheIndependent. “If it’s a nice day out, I’llpop down mostly four or five days aweek.”

Tucker grew up in St. Philip’s, butnow makes St. John’s his home. Hesays growing up there was music inhis household and his father was asinger.

Other than the accordion and har-monica, Tucker says he can’t play anyother instruments.

“You don’t need any amplification,you got your own. Lots of people withguitars you got to get up real closebefore you can hear it.”

In his spare time, Tucker says heplays accordion, watches movies andlistens to the radio, but when money’stight he’ll wander down to his regularspot where, on a good day, he canmake up to $100.

He tells a panhandler to go away —he doesn’t have any cigarettes.

“I’m in the same boat they’re inright, ‘Do you have a cigarette?’ No, Idon’t have cigarettes. If I had ciga-rettes I’d be home.”

He says he’s often asked for changehimself because panhandlers thinkhe’s making more money than theyare.

Tucker says he loves the commentshe gets from tourists.

“People don’t even know what it

(the accordion) is. They come downfrom way down in the States and say‘What do you call that thing, what’sthat called?’”

He says the oddest experience he’s

had since his busking career beganwas when a cruise ship docked in St.John’s with more than 200 passengers

Don Tucker Rhonda Hayward/The Independent

Heroes, villains and TylenolBill Rose delves into Americanpop culture — and finds new,intriguing ways to showcasefamiliar images

Bill Rose with Gentleman Junkie (Wm. S. Burroughs), acrylic on regular strength Tylenol tablets. Paul Daly/The Independent

See “Locals are the,” page 22

STEPHANIEPORTER

See “Lines, dots,” page 24

18 • INDEPENDENTLIFE JULY 3, 2005

By Alisha MorrisseyThe Independent

Owning an original, large-scale piece of artis a dream for most people. But the open-ing of The Rooms is a subtle reminder that

every Newfoundlander and Labradorian alreadyowns a painting by Gerry Squires, a print by DavidBlackwood and a sculpture by Jim Maunder —even if they can’t take them home.

The permanent collection of the provincial artgallery — formerly located at the St. John’s Artsand Culture Centre and now open at The Rooms —includes work by some of the province’s mostfamous artists.

Most of the work was purchased by the provin-cial government; other pieces were donated by thefederal government and artists themselves.

“We have over 7,000 works in the various collec-tions that we have ... and this is just a small sam-pling, not even one 500th of what we actually hold.We’ve tried to give a little bit of the range of what’sbeen produced here over the past 40 years,” GordonLaurin, director of the gallery, tells TheIndependent.

While several areas of the gallery are segregatedinto large-contemporary works, historical piecesand portraits, the large number of pieces availableto the gallery allow for a change in the displayevery couple of months.

Laurin says he’s hoping to bring in some histori-cal works from private collections around theprovince.

“A lot of people will be seeing most of the workfor the first time or maybe in reproduction … butI’m really looking forward to getting feedback frompeople,” he says.

One piece that people wouldn’t have seen isMisty Afternoon in St. John’s, Newfoundland byMaurice Cullen.

Cullen was a Newfoundland painter who spentmuch of his professional career in Montreal. Thepiece was an official gift from the federal govern-ment when the province joined Canada in 1949 anddepicts the cityscape from Signal Hill. Laurin saysthere have been many jokes about the empty spacenext to the Basilica’s two towers and who will beresponsible for painting in The Rooms.

Currently on display, it’s the first time MistyAfternoon in St. John’s Newfoundland has beenexhibited in the province.

The painting couldn’t be housed in any of theprovince’s art galleries until now because of a lackof a temperature-controlled space and security.

Laurin says the gallery is a testament to the dedi-

cation and resilience of the province’s artists whoface even more challenges (isolation, to name one)than artists in other areas.

He commends government for acquiring art forthe masses and thanks the artists who have donatedtheir own pieces.

He just hopes people like the gallery.“They can walk in here with the knowledge that

this is the most diverse and largest collection ofNewfoundland and Labrador work and … givingsome indication of what artists have been up to overthe past four decades.”

GALLERYPROFILE

THE ROOMSPermanent gallery

Helen Gregory’s Skeletal Study with Bird Wings-Triptych

Harold Klunder’s Corner Brook #1 Self Portrait Sid Butt’s Lorne Home From Ontario

John Hartman’s St. John's Harbour (Triptych)

Maurice Cullen’s Misty Afternoon, St. John's,Newfoundland

Ann Bowman’s Steaming Bodies

Mary Pratt’s Eggs in Egg Crate

The Gallery is a regular feature in The Independent. For information, or to submit proposals, please call (709) 726-4639, or e-mail [email protected]

By Stephanie PorterThe Independent

Justin Simms and the otherfounders of the Nickel Indepen-dent Film and Video Festival start-

ed out with modest goals.“The fondest wish was that it could

just happen every summer,” saysSimms. “And eventually, that therewould be some kind of infrastructure inplace that it wouldn’t be such a strug-gle.”

With the festival now in its fifth year,the first part of Simms’ wish seems tohave come true.

As for the infrastructure? It’s comingalong, he says, though it’s still an annu-al challenge to fundraise, round up vol-unteers, and promote the festival out-side the province.

The “whole point” of the Nickel,Simms continues, is to focus on qualityindependent films made in the province— and to encourage the local audienceto come watch.

Over the four previous festivals, 140films have been shown, with 60 beingfrom this province. This year’s festival,kicking off July 5 at the LSPU Hall inSt. John’s, features 13 locally producedfilms.

“More and more people are gettinginto it each time,” Simms says. “Thenumber of local films that get madeevery year, that’s ultimately what keepsthe Nickel going. If there was a yearwhen there was no local films, I don’tknow if there would be enough pas-sion.”

The King Hunt, written and directedby Simms, will show on the festival’sfinal night. The 19-minute short fol-lows a chess grand master on the wayto Budapest to play his archrival. Atone of his stops along the way — whichhe makes to play chess events andhawk his biography — he meets ayoung fan who challenges him to agame.

“A real kind of cat-and-mouse psy-chological thing ensures,” Simms says,careful not to give much away.

Other local films at this year’s Nickelinclude Gerry Rogers’ award-winningPleasant Street and Anne Troake’sinsightful look at her family’s sealingconnection in My Ancestors wereRogues and Murderers.

Simms credits the NewfoundlandIndependent Filmmakers Co-operative(NIFCO) for fostering a healthy cre-ative environment. The first-time film-makers program, which Simms hasbeen co-ordinating for the past fouryears, allows interested people to learnthe ropes — and basically “make ashort film for three per cent of the cost

of making it somewhere else.“In four years, we’ve made probably

25 short films,” says Simms. “I’d sayhalf of them were really, really good,have gone on and done well at festivals,been purchased for television.

“To be churning out films is onething; but for them to be really highquality is another.”

Simms, with a number of successfulshort films under his belt, has done hisshare of travelling to festivals aroundCanada and beyond, and says he’s“constantly shocked” no other placeseems to be producing the kind of shortfilms happening in Newfoundland.

That’s why Simms says his decisionto move back to Newfoundland aftergraduating from film school was thebest decision possible.

“St. John’s is really filmmaker-friendly,” he says. “If you’re into mak-ing independent short films, this is thebest environment in all of Canada.”

And though Simms modestly says he“didn’t really have a plan,” coming outof school, he seems to have found theright track.

Most recently, Simms found out he’sone of six peopleselected to take partin the Canadian FilmCentre’s feature filmproject — designedto help first-time fea-ture filmmakers.

Still “in shock”over the news,Simms will head toToronto in a coupleof weeks to live forsix months of inten-sive training and net-working opportuni-ties.

It’s a major opportunity for Simms,who has a few projects “in the works”with his production company —

Newfound Films, which he operateswith his partner Anna Petras. The majorfeature he’s working towards is the filmadaptation of Joel Hynes’ book Downto the Dirt.

“I’m hoping … theearliest the filmingcould happen is nextsummer,” he says. “Itwill be an interestingwinter leading up tothat.”

While the bustlingproduction industry inNewfoundland isgreat news — and thisis a particularly busysummer already, withthe filming of Aboveand Beyond, Legends

and Lore and Hatching, Matching andDispatching — there is a small down-side being felt by the Nickel’s organiz-ers.

“The bulk of the volunteers we haveare filmmakers themselves,” Simmssays. “And this has been a crazy busysummer so pretty much everyone’sworking.

“Which is excellent for people … butwe haven’t had as many people avail-able as usual.”

Simms smiles, acknowledging that’snot a bad complaint to have.

“My theory is that Newfoundland isan inherently artistic place — theatre,literature, painting, sculpture, music,”he says. “If you give us the resources,we will make art.

“I think film has finally caught upwith the rest and will hopefully carryon.”

The fifth annual Nickel IndependentFilm and Video Festival runs July 5-9at the LSPU Hall in St. John’s. Forschedule and more information, visitwww.nickelfestival.com.

Big Hollywood star Jack Wyatt’smovie career has gone down inflames. His last movie’s claim

to fame is being the only motion pictureto have been released on DVD andnever selling a single copy. In an effortto turn things around and re-build hisimage, Jack entertains an offer to co-star in a television situation comedy,playing Darren in a revival ofBewitched.

Considering that when Dick Sargentreplaced Dick York on the originalseries, no one seemed to care, Jack hashis work cut out for him if he’s to usethis role to reignite his career.

In what is supposed to play as satiri-cal commentary on the entertainmentindustry, he successfully leverageswhat’s left of his star power to convincethe show’s producers to reformat theshow to focus more on him than hisleading lady. Furthermore, he insiststhat the actress playing Samantha mustbe an unknown.

An exhaustive talent search turns upnothing, until one day in a bookstore,Jack notices an attractive woman

twitching her nose in much the sameway that Elizabeth Montgomery didwhen playing Samantha. The next thingwe know, she’s doing a screen test forthe role.

What Jack doesn’t know, is thatIsabelle Bigelow, his newfound co-star,shares more than a nose twitch with heronscreen character. She is a witch whois trying to make a go of it in the realworld, and when Jack happened along,she was keeping her eyes open for aparticular kind of endearing mortalscrew-up, the complete opposite of themales in her usual circles.

Directed by Nora Ephron, who co-wrote the screenplay with her sister,Delia, Bewitched is as frothy as theycome. While this duo seems to enjoy acredibility born out of early success andan occasional box office hit (You’veGot Mail), their participation in duds ismore numerous (Lucky Numbers,Hanging Up, Michael).

While this film is the kind of thingthat draws more fire than it deserves,

simply because it’s such an easy target,looking at other Ephron projects, thiscould have been a whole lot worse.

As a matter of fact, there’s a lot tolike about Bewitched. The TV serieswithin a movie is a nice twist, as isJack’s attempt to avoid the pitfall ofplaying a character that could be playedby anyone.

Will Ferrell, as Jack, brings hiscomic talent to the project, and NicoleKidman manages to take Isabelle fromsome kind of Marilyn Monroe interpre-tation to something a little more con-temporary and believable.

In addition, a cast of talented charac-ter actors in supporting roles, featuringMichael Caine and Shirley MacLaine,leaves us with solid performances thatoften rise above the material.

Bewitched is charming, sporadicallyfunny, and for the most part, entertain-ing. When the film tries to be smarterthan it needs to be, the result is oftenmessy, while opportunities that wouldwelcome more intelligent lines and sit-uations are left wanting. Then again,the same could be said for many sit-coms.

What it comes down to is thisBewitched pays a fair tribute to the tel-evision program that inspired it, offersa few laughs, and works its charms onthe viewer. It’s a pleasant experience

that leaves us thinking more highly ofthe film than it deserves.

In a year of remakes, prequels,sequels, an abundance of horror films,anointed masters trotting out their latestprojects, and Australians hooking upwith Newfoundlanders, it’s only fittingthat we find George A. Romero dustingup zombies after a 20-year hiatus, tomake life difficult for Simon Baker andRob Joy.

Romero, considered the father of themodern zombie flick, has alreadyremade his seminal Night of the LivingDead, while Dawn of the Dead wasremade last year. This time out, heagain takes the reins, in Land of theDead.

A further extension of the previousfilms, this one finds the undead slowly(do they do anything quickly?) devel-oping consciousness, while raiding par-ties are sent out from a protected urbancompound to gather supplies. Withinthe walls of this city-fortress, calledFiddler’s Green, the rich are richer thanever before, while the poor are evenworse off.

While some of the gore is gratuitous,and the allegory regarding America’sincreasingly insular attitude and behav-iour is a bit thin, the film offers a goodblend of action adventure, comedy, andhorror.

While no big names light up thescreen, solid performers more thanmake this work. Simon Baker (TV’sThe Guardian) makes for a good every-man hero, while Robert Joy, playing hisbest friend and sidekick, steals almostevery scene.

Supporting work from JohnLeguizamo, Asia Argento, and DennisHopper makes a big difference, andTony Nappo (we can claim him as aNewfoundlander by now) fits inamongst them like a finger in a glove.

An all-round competent productionthat doesn’t add anything more horrificthan its predecessors, Land of the Deadis violent, somewhat intelligent, andoccasionally funny.

It’s a B-movie done well enough tobe mistaken for something more, andconsequently could draw criticism sim-ply for being what it is, a great zombiemovie.

Tim Conway owns and operatesCapital Video in Rawlin’s Cross, St.John’s. His next column appears July17.

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTLIFE • 19

TIM CONWAYFilm Score

Gory zombies deliver; ‘frothy’ witch doesn’tBewitchedStarring Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman

(out of four)

SSwwoorrddss aarree ccooooll......TThhee SShhaakkeessppeeaarree BByy TThhee SSeeaa FFeessttiivvaall pprreesseennttss

HHeennrryy VVJuly 8 - 31

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 6pm - Rain or Shine

Topsail Beach Amphitheatre, CBS

For more information, visit www.nfld.com/~sbts or call 834-2099

‘St. John’s is really filmmaker-friendly’Justin Simms says the quality — and quantity — of local independent film productions keeps the Nickel Film Festival going

Filmmaker Justin Simms Paul Daly/The Independent

“If you’re into making independent

short films, this is the best environmentin all of Canada.”

Justin Simms

Land of the DeadStarring Simon Baker

(out of four)


Last week, archeologist JimTuck unearthed a goldring, decorated with enam-el scrollwork, still holdingfive of the nine stones once

set in the metal. The ring, from thefirst half of the 17th century is, headmits, “a pretty neat thing.”

A few days later, a member ofTuck’s dig team found a lead DavidKirk token, the second ever discov-

ered, the oldest piece of money evermade in Canada, for use in Canada.

As Tuck says, “there’s not too manydull days” at work excavating theColony of Avalon. Hundreds of arti-facts are found every day, and newwalls and structures are constantlydiscovered.

Not just an archeological goldmine,the Colony of Avalon has become amajor tourist draw along the Southern

Shore. Located in Ferryland, about anhour’s drive from St. John’s, theColony features an in-depth interpre-tation centre, 17th century gardens,guided tours, gift shop, archeologicaldig and conservation laboratory — allopen to the public.

In terms of the quantity and preser-vation of buildings and articles, this isone of the richest and most fascinatingarcheological sites in Newfoundlandand Labrador.

Tuck, a professor of anthropology atMemorial University as well as thechief archeologist at the site, says hedug his first hole near Ferryland in1968. He came back again in the mid-’80s, for more exploration.

In 1992, the Ferryland projectreceived federal-provincial funding,and there’s been a full season of dig-ging — around 30 are employed in thedig and laboratory — every summersince.

Although there’s only been steadywork on the Colony for 14 years, Tucksays the site itself has never been a

secret.“There’s a description from 1622,

that says (the Colony) is on a piece ofland that’s almost an island, and couldbe made an island, at the foot of aneasy, ascending hill at the southeast,and defended on the northwest by ahigh hill,” Tuck says. “You’ve got tobe pretty stupid not to be able to standhere and know where you’re at.

“Besides which, when the tide goesdown, you could pick up all sorts of17th century pottery and parts andstuff … It wasn’t a big discovery.”

What has been surprising, though, isthe things Tuck and his team find are“bigger, better-built, better-preservedthan anything I’ve ever come across.”

In the late 1500s, Ferryland provid-ed a base for migratory fishermen whowould come to Newfoundland fromEngland every spring. In 1620,George Calvert (who later became thefirst Lord Baltimore) set up the firstpermanent colony there, which hecalled Avalon. By 1625, there wereabout 100 permanent residents.

Calvert died in 1932, though hisfamily pressed on — until 1637, whenSir David Kirke, awarded co-propri-etorship of Newfoundland for his rolein wresting Quebec from Samuel deChamplain, took control. Avalonbecame known as Pool Plantation,which it remained until the Frenchinvasion of 1696. There, the archeo-logical history of Ferryland virtuallyends.

Over the years, Tuck and his crewshave unearthed a number of buildings,walls, cobblestone floors, fireplaces, abrewery, well, bakery, and privy (oneof the most useful discoveries, it turnsout, given the bones, seeds and eggsof human intestinal parasites found).

“There’s much more than I expect-ed,” Tuck says. “We didn’t knowabout these buildings at all; didn’texpect so much stone architecture …nowhere in British North America didpeople use stone as extensively asthese people.”

Tuck walks over a make-shiftbridge, and gestures down into the

Colony of dreamsINCAMERA

An hour’s drive from St. John’s lies one ofthe most significant and well preservedarcheological sites in British NorthAmerica: the Colony of Avalon, wherehundreds of artifacts are unearthed daily.This season’s dig got underway last week,led for the last time — officially, anyway— by Dr. Jim Tuck. Photo editor

Paul Daly and senior editor Stephanie Porter took advan-tage of a rare sunny day, and headed to Ferryland for a tour.

Cataloguer Marilyn Wilcott

Archeologist Jim Tuck


building currently being unearthed. “This is going to be something,” he

says. “(Tourists) will be able to walkthrough here, the walls will be eight-and-a-half feet high, up over yourhead, so it won’t take a hell of a lot ofimagination to figure out for yourselfwhat this looked like.”

Tuck will be retiring from his postat Memorial University Aug. 31. He’shanding over the reins as chief arche-ologist this week to Barry Galton, whohas worked with him for 14 years.

“But I’m not giving up,” Tuck says.“I’m just going to stop getting paid forit … as long as I can walk and carrystuff and dig, I’ll be here.”

Tuck is not the only one to volun-teer his services. Ellen Foulkes, theprevious archeological curator at theColony, retired last year. But this sum-mer, she’s still in the lab — maybemore than ever before — cleaning,sorting, conserving, identifying andcataloguing artifacts.

“I guess I’ve been here since thebeginning of the project,” says

Foulkes, holding a ceramic shard. “Iwasn’t as hands-on at first, I wasdesigning the database and so on, andI would come out here from time totime.”

The conservation lab is just a fewminutes walk from the dig site.Foulkes says there are over 503,000pieces in the current artifacts database— and probably three times that haveactually been collected.

“Some people may have expectedthe site to be this big, but I never did,”Foulkes says with a smile. “It’s justunfolding and unfolding, … it’s kindof unwieldy, it kind of got away fromus.

“We keep going and we’ll get thejob done. I think there’s work here foryears and years.”

Most of the artifacts are ceramic orglass, with plenty of nails and bits ofpipe thrown in.

Cathy Mathias, a conservator fromMemorial University, is carefullyreconstructing a ceramic cup;painstakingly cleaning pieces and fit-

ting them together — she readilyadmits she loves puzzles.

The Colony of Avalon building isthe official repository for the artifacts,Mathias says, which is “unique, sortof, worldwide … very few artifactsusually stay on site.” With the properfunding, she adds, everything could bekept there — and the lab could operateyear-round.

Tuck also takes a moment to alludeto his concerns. There’s decades leftof work to do, he says, and no short-age of vision for the site and the com-munity.

But funding is always a concern;never knowing how many people theColony will be able to employ in agiven year.

“The way for this place to reallyoperate would be to get an endowmentor something for $10 million,” hemuses. “You need to know that nextyear, you’re going to have somemoney. We never know, year overyear.”

But there are plenty of bright spots

— like the woman from New Mexicowho visited Ferryland a few years ago.She was so taken with the dig and theworkers that, every year since, she’ssent a cheque to the Colony of AvalonFoundation.

“She and her husband come backevery year,” Tuck says. “The workerstreated them like everyone else and loand behold, they provide salaries fortwo people. That’s pretty damn nice.”

Tuck turns the conversation again tothe future. He’d like to see the entiresite excavated, and a town plan devel-oped, to study how the colony evolvedfrom the time the first migratory fish-ermen landed, through the Calvertperiod, and on through the Kirkes’time.

The work will involve movingpoles, roads, and even digging underhouses.

“There’s so much we don’t know,”Tuck says. “And once in a while wefind out something that no one everknew before.

“That’s the most fun of all.”


There was perhaps no piratemore admired in the early partof the 17th century than Peter

Easton. Once a British privateer underQueen Elizabeth I, Easton turned topiracy after England’s peace settle-ment with Spain, plaguing shippingroutes in Newfoundland, theCaribbean and as far east as theAzores.

Among his many exploits, Easton issaid to have freed the legendarySheila “Nagueira” from a Dutch war-ship (whereupon she married thepirate captain’s young navigator andsettled in modern-day Bristol’sHope).

In Easton, Paul Butler takes PeterEaston’s historical kidnapping ofRichard Whitbourne, fishing admiralin charge of the fleet in St. John’s har-bour, as the starting point for his fic-tional narrative. Having landed with10 armed vessels in the harbour,Easton forces Whitbourne and ayoung English captain named GeorgeDawson to accompany him on a tripto the Indies, during which he intendsto convince them to petition for hispardon to the king of England.

Whitbourne maintains a level headthroughout the voyage; Dawson isimpetuous and quick to anger. “Canwe not at least fire a cannon across hisbow to show we will be nopushover?” Dawson pleads just priorto their joining Easton on The HappyAdventure. The answer from hisdiplomatic elder is an unequivocal

“no.”Though the early part of the

novel is narrated fromWhitbourne’s third-person per-spective, the viewpoint soonchanges to that of Dawson. Thereason for this shift is clear: whileWhitbourne holds a tolerant, evenkindly view of Easton and con-sents to campaign for the pirate’spardon, Dawson, with the help ofa slave woman who has been wit-ness to various depredationsaboard the flagship, has begun tosee Easton in a clearer light; as abarbarian playing a gentleman,one who will not hesitate to killany who stand in his way, whetherhis cause be just or not.

While Easton appears a roguishcharmer and a gracious host, his“calm and tolerant smile” betray-ing no hint of annoyance atDawson’s varied insults to hishospitality, clearly, Dawson seesthe pirate as a traitor to the throne.

“A few days ago Easton was apirate,” Captain Dawson musesnear the halfway point of thenovel, “Now he seems like awicked monarch (…) a politician,executing his enemies while keepinghis righteous tongue.”

Therein lies the difference betweenDawson and Whitbourne. Dawsonbelieves in a black and white justice,punishment for the wicked, protectionfor the innocent; Whitbourne operatesin the grey world of politics andappeasement.

“If you wish to serve England,” heinstructs Dawson, “indeed, if youwish to see her shores again, you willbelieve what you must believe.” In

other words, Dawson must conscious-ly forget all evidence he has seen ofthe destitution of Easton’s moral fibre.There is no place for truth in thisworld, only for that which benefitsoneself and the Crown.

Though Butler’s style is generallysimple and unadorned, it is also capa-ble of striking phrasings. In contem-plating Easton’s slave Jemma as apotential love interest, Dawson comesto the pragmatic conclusion that herlowly social status, in relation to his

own, “would be a rustynail in the finest of silks, abawdy song in a churchservice.” The developmentof Dawson’s feelingstoward Jemma, particular-ly the conflict between hisbigoted notions of herAfrican origins and agrowing affection for her,is one of the more interest-ing parts of the novel.

Subtle and striking,though, are not terms onemight often apply toEaston.

Butler goes through a bittoo much trouble todemonstrate the evil of hispirate captain, levelingcharges of cannibalismand ritual decapitation ofvictims to ensure Easton’svillainy is never in anydoubt in the minds of read-ers.

What with the politicalintrigue and moral levitythat anchors the plot, thenovel comes off a littlemore seriously than one

might at first expect. You wouldn’texactly call Easton a swashbucklingadventure (no sword fights, alas noteven a plank-walking scene or a seashanty), but it is satisfying for what itis and will no doubt feed well into theauthor’s follow-up novel, EastonReturns, slated for release later thisyear.

Mark Callanan is a writer andreviewer living in Rocky Harbour. Hisnext column will appear July 17.

The dread pirate EastonEastonBy Paul ButlerFlanker Press, 2004

on board and all he made was 30 cents.“I was sittin’ here playin’ away, playin’

some of my best stuff. I was playin’ everynote right and 200 people passed by me.When they got passed me I had anAmerican nickel and a quarter,” he says.

“It was only later on I found out every-one was deaf and the ones who probablydid give me money probably felt sorry forthe poor foolish feller there playin’ away.

“It was interesting in a way.”The locals are Tucker’s bread and but-

ter — and his particular corner is the best.“This is where the people are. You got

people who live here and the tourists andthe people up there drinkin’,” he says,motioning towards George Street.

“I don’t know what I’d do withoutthem,” he says of weekend partiers.

“Five or six loonies or something, ortwoonies, and then they’ll ask you to playsomething their grandmother used tosing,” Tucker says, laughing hard.

“‘Can you play that song my grand-mother used to sing?’ And they’ll stopand I’ll look at them. How am I supposedto know what you’re grandmother used tosing unless you tell me?

“’I wants to hear that song, that nice oldsong, my grandmother used to sing.’”

While most people know the accordionman with a baseball cap and longishbeard and hair, Tucker says other buskersoften take his spot, but he doesn’t botherfighting for it.

“I just leave them alone. I’ll come backin an hour or so and they’ll be gone,” hesays.

“This is where I always work.”

From page 17

Locals are the ‘bread and butter’

Chasing the dogcatcherLocal drama/documentary sure to draw tears and cheers at Nickel FestivalBy Stephanie PorterThe Independent

Christian Sparkes intended for hisfirst work after film school to bea comedy, but A Foot of Rope

inspires more tears than giggles.Last year Sparkes met up with an old

high school friend who, he wasintrigued to learn, was working as adogcatcher in Torbay.

“It’s such a visual kind of job,” hesays. “At least for the images it con-jured up in my mind. I thought it wouldbe really funny to do a short film, acomedy about a dog catcher who hastrouble catching dogs and the kids don’tlike her in the neighbourhood …”

Sparkes enlisted his friend and fellowfilmmaker Matt Tucker on the project.The two began research for the film —travelling around with the dogcatcher inthe truck for a few days, discussing thepros and the cons of the job.

“I realized it was a lot more seriousthan I thought, there’s a really unfortu-nate side to it,” says Sparkes, a St.John’s native.

“A lot of people maybe think when adog goes to the SPCA it’ll be OK, or ahome will be found for it, but it’s notthat way.”

The piece began to evolve, into adrama/documentary about a dogcatcherand the emotional and ethical quandaryshe faces after becoming too attached toa neglected beagle.

“It turned into a much more kind ofemotional story that I expected in thebeginning,” says Sparkes. “It’sextremely sad.”

Sparkes and Tucker have screenedthe film twice at Memorial University,

and have already sold between 100 and150 copies of the DVD. It’s beenaccepted by the Nickel Film Festival,and will close out the July 7 eveningprogram.

“After the screenings, people werecrying and I almost felt bad,” he says.“But that’s a good response, if it affectspeople.”

Over his nervousness at publicscreenings, Sparkes is looking forwardto the Nickel. “It’s a great opportunityfor people doing first films, it’s good tomeet people who are interested in thesame things you are,” he says.

“You don’t always want to hear peo-ple tell you what’s good or bad about(your film), sometimes it’s better tomeet people who are inspired by it, ormaking films themselves and just to talkabout maybe working together, or justgetting excited about the common

knowledge you have.”Sparkes, who graduated from the

Nova Scotia College of Art and Designin April 2004, is keeping busy workingwith Pope Productions, the Newfound-land Independent Filmmakers Co-oper-ative, and on his own work.

One of the pieces he’s developing is afive-minute film he plans to enter in aHalifax-based competition for shortdocumentaries.

“This one is about two guys whothink they’re being hunted by a demon,and so they’re going to kind of counter-act it and hunt him instead … and sothey get this mixed tape of heavy-metal,and they make all these slingshots,” hesays. “(Eventually) they find out he’sjust a man and they’re the ones with theproblem.

“This one is going to be a comedy, adark comedy. Hopefully.”

A still from A Foot of Rope.


OPENING CEREMONIES

After years of anticipation, discussion, debate, planning, construction — and a one-year delay — The Rooms officially opened its doors to thepublic June 29. An estimated 2,000 people (top) took advantage of the sun — and a stiff Newfoundland breeze — to watch the lengthy open-ing ceremonies, featuring a number of Newfoundland and Labrador artists, musicians and spokespeople. Master of ceremonies Rick Mercer(middle) came face-to-face with Joey Smallwood himself (as played by Kevin Noble). And Premier Danny Williams (bottom) cut the official rib-bon and declared the provincial museum, archives, and art gallery open. Admission is free for the public until July 4.

Rhonda Hayward/The Independent

EVENTSJULY 3Festival 500: Sharing the Voicesbeginswith an evening concert at theArts and Culture Centre, 8 p.m.Afternoon and evening programmingcontinues through the week. For sched-ule, information and tickets visitwww.festival500.com

The Signal Hill Tattoo, two showsdaily, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Signal Hill,call 772-5367.

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ CraftMarketplace, at the former Wal-Mart atThe Village Mall, 10 a.m.to 5 p.m., torent a table call 368-5437.

JULY 4Caricatures and cartoons day campwith Julie Whalen, Anna TempletonCentre, 1-4 p.m., until July 8.

The Music Studio presents StageRight!, an intensive two-week work-shop in musical theatre performance,until July 16, call 579-4626.

JULY 5Healthy Garden Workshop: Preven-tive Health Strategies for your garden at

the MUN Botanical Garden, 7-9 p.m.

JULY 6Nickel Independent Film & VideoFestival, LSPU Hall, admission $10.00per night, until July 9, call 722-3456.

Erin’s Pub presents Dave Panting

Stones in his Pockets featuring AidenFlynn and Steve O’Connell. RabbittownTheatre, 7:30 p.m. Call 739-8220

JULY 8Psychic Fair at the Holiday Inn, 2-10p.m., admission $5.00, senior $4.00.

Lunchtime Concert Series, a tradition-al group performing at HarboursidePark, free admission, 12:30 p.m., call691-5480, or 754-CITY

Neil Diamond Dinner Theatre, star-ring Peter Halley, Shelley Neville,Darrin Martin and Steve Power; 7 p.m.,at The Majestic Theatre, 390 DuckworthSt. call 579-3023, tickets $51.50 + HST.

JULY 9Psychic Fair at the Holiday Inn, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., admission: $5.00,

senior $4.00.

Floral Art Show at the MUN BotanicalGardens, free admission.

Murder Mystery Cruise, St. John’sHarbour front, 7 p.m. call 834-6663,tickets $67.95 + tax and gratuity, alcoholbeverages not included.

IN THE GALLERIESCraft Council of Newfoundland andLabrador’s Annual Member Exhibit,until Sept. 3.

Nature: Looking at looking behind,first solo exhibition of Eileen Gear-Bragg, and new works, by Tina Riche,Victoria Manor Shoppes and Gallery,Harbour Grace, until August 4.

An exhibit of artwork by Pat HaydenRyan on display at Balance Restaurantuntil July 11.

Heroes, Villains and the Heartbeat ofAmerica, the solo exhibitions of recentworks by Bill Rose will be on display atthe Leyton Gallery of Fine Art, untilJuly 17.


of information that’s in that block andmoving it to the centre.”

Up close, Burroughs’ face is littlemore than a series of nonsensical blobsof paint. Step back a few paces, and theportrait emerges — startlingly detailedand haunting.

Although that is the most ambitious,time-consuming, and heavy (about 40pounds, Rose estimates) painting, otherpieces in the show are just as striking.

The Michael Jackson face, for exam-ple. Rose used a tiny stamp in the shapeof Mickey Mouse ears in each gridblock, some lighter, some heavier, tocreate the portrait.

In another piece, he uses an eyelinerpencil to fill in blocks for the unmistak-able image of Marilyn Monroe’s eye; inanother, pink lipstick for her lips.

A tiny dollar-sign stamp was used tocreate Jimmy Swaggart’s face (writtenacross the bottom, in pencil, is aSwaggart quote: “If I do not return tothe pulpit this weekend, millions ofpeople will go to hell”). That piece is

titled Banking on Jesus.There’s a couple of pieces on South

African freedom fighter Stephen Biko,a large portrait of executed Americanchild murderer Albert Fish, a smallerportrait of Andy Warhol. There’s ascene from man’s first steps on themoon (Live at the Apollo), and fromKennedy’s assassination.

Then there’s the Beatles work. “I’m aBeatles nut,” admits Rose.

He painted a grid, and then GeorgeHarrison’s face right onto his copy ofthe famous White Album, creating akind of a sealed time capsule.

There’s also an image of JohnLennon and Yoko Ono, standing side byside on a gold platter — in this case,Rose’s canvas is the tray that was underhis sister-in-law’s Christmas yule log.

Perhaps most disturbing is a piececalled You have a spot on your dress,Louise. The left third of the canvas is aJohn Lennon’s face. The right two-thirds features a giant gun, pointing atLennon’s head.

With the exception of Marilyn’s lips,the works in the show are black and

white.“Last October, I just stopped doing

colour and started doing the black-dot-ted things,” he says.

“My mother died last summer, and Iwas still painting, painting colour and Ididn’t think much of it. Then inSeptember I got really sick of it … Idon’t know if the two are connected.”

Although Rose has used a grid

throughout his career, sometimes thelines have been almost invisible underpaint. Other times — as with the currentshow — they’re as much a part of theworks as the lines, dots, blobs, stampsor scribbles that fill in the boxes.

“I like the way it (the grid) breakseverything down into more manageablepieces,” Rose says. “I like to look at onelittle section. Once that one is done, you

move on to the next. It’s kind of likethousands of little paintings.

“A big canvas, that would drive menuts. I wouldn’t know where to start,it’s like putting a kid in a candy storeand saying, ‘go wherever you want.’”

Now that this exhibition is finished,Rose is going to take a few weeks offpainting, and get back to writing andrecording music.

Some of the pieces in this show willbe travelling on to Germany for exhibi-tion this fall. Rose will attend the open-ing, and plans to leave himself open tothe influences and sights of that country.It may provide fodder for new work, ora new perspective on North Americanculture to bring home with him.

“I’m not always critical of the U.S.,but I guess when you’re that big andpowerful, you have to be open to criti-cism,” he says. “Obviously, there’s a lotof things I like about the U.S., like AndyWarhol and so on.

“And I like the music.”Heroes, Villains and the Heartbeat of

America is on display at the LeytonGallery of Fine Art, until July 17.

Lines, dots, blobs, stamps and scribblesFrom page 17

Bill Rose Paul Daly/The Independent

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God guard theeThe long weekend brings much

wanted time spent with familyand friends enjoying the great

Newfoundland and Labrador outdoors.It should also bring to mind the greatsacrifices we have made to enjoy thispeace and freedom.

While celebrations of Canada Dayare in full bloom, my heart rests withthose who gave us the opportunity toexperience the happiness of a weekendin peace. We mark the anniversary ofBeaumont Hamel, a time not so longpast when sons, brothers, fathers and

husbands left Newfoundland to help theworld in her time of need. On the morn-ing of July 1, 1916, 801 men from the1st Newfoundland Regiment wagedbattle and 733 lost their lives. Therewas hardly a home on the island thatwas not affected by the carnage of that

day. Their contributions made a markon Newfoundland’s soul, and today weshould remember.

My father was born in FortuneHarbour, Notre Dame Bay and if yougo across the harbour to where the oldsaw mill once was you can followthrough the trees to find the graves ofthose who came before me. Whatreminds me of them today is that fromthat vantage point you can look acrossthe bay to the church and to the monu-ment in front of it dedicated in the hon-our of Sam Gillespie who lost his life in

the First World War.July 1st is a national holiday — for

some the celebration of our nation, butto us Newfoundlanders it is a day thatmarks a great contribution to worldpeace and a loss of so many that wereNewfoundland’s future. Today, I willremember Sam Gillespie who died in1918 at the age of 21. I will alsoremember my maternal grandfather,James Delaney of Placentia, whoenlisted at age 20 on June 25, 1917. Iknow you have someone in your fami-ly to remember.

Consider the impact toNewfoundland of so many men leavingto serve in the war. The economic andsocial toll was tremendous. Familiesleft without breadwinners, children leftwithout fathers, aging parents left with-out support, a country left withoutfinancial opportunity. Did this weigh inthe decision to join Canada?

According to the exhibit on theRoyal Newfoundland Regiment in thenewly opened Rooms, the First World

SIOBHANCOADY

The bottom line

INDEPENDENTBUSINESSSUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 3-9, 2005 — PAGE 25

See “Shoulder to shoulder,” page 26


Quidi Vidi Brewing Co. may have anew beer and a new label, but itsattitude is definitely the same.

“Our goal is to make our brands theAlexander Keith’s of Newfoundland,” saysDavid Rees, co-owner of Quidi Vidi, refer-ring to the Nova Scotia beer that’s extreme-ly popular within its home province. “Wewant Newfoundlanders to have a beer theycan proudly call their own.”

Since starting up in August 1996, Reesand fellow co-owner David Fong haveenjoyed great success in the province’s largecentres — St. John’s, Mount Pearl andCorner Brook — but have struggled withsales in smaller, rural communities. Theirgoal has always been to obtain a four percent market share in the province, but thusfar have stalled at one per cent.

Rees hopes the launching of Quidi Vidi’snewest beers — QV Lager (five per centalcohol) and QV Light (four per cent alco-hol) will catch the fancy of rural drinkersand help the company reach its goals.

“We know all Newfoundlanders like thistype of beer because we tested people fromSt. John’s to Port aux Basques, all the way toSt. Anthony,” says Rees. “People have said‘This is the type of beer we like to drink.’”

While Quidi Vidi is already known forquality specialty beers such as 1892, Eric’sRed, Honey Brown and Honey BrownLight, Rees says they need a successfulmainstream beer to achieve the desired mar-ket share. Northern and Northern Light, the

company’s old labels, are being replaced bythe new QV and QV Light.

The new beers closely resemble the oldbrands in terms of taste, but they differ justenough, according to Rees, to take themmainstream, a beer to compete with tradi-tional favourites from Molson Coors andLabatt.

“The response here has been fantastic,”Rees says from the deck of Etomic, theGeorge Street bar where the new beer waslaunched on June 29. “People are drinking itfor the first time and saying they love it.”

Quidi Vidi began brewing QV and QVLight last August, and tested it on con-

sumers until December. One month laterthey received a letter from a brewing com-pany in Ontario informing them they had tostop using the Northern name due to copy-right infringement. At that point, Rees andFong opted for a complete re-launch, puttinga new name and label on their new beer.

The new labels feature an ocean wave,which Rees thinks will attract new drinkers.

“We wanted to come up with a label thatNewfoundlanders could look at and say ‘Ican relate to that,’” Rees says. “This isn’t atownie beer or a Corner Brook beer, it’s abeer that anybody in Newfoundland canlook at and say ‘The ocean is all around us.’

And Newfoundlanders love the ocean.”Quidi Vidi Brewing has always marketed

itself as being part of the province, not just acompany that operates here. That line ofthinking is integrated into every aspect ofthe business, including their location in theheart of Quidi Vidi village in east end St.John’s.

“Our location has really helped usbecause when tourists come to St. John’s,they like to come to Quidi Vidi village andget a tour of the brewery,” Rees says.

From the start, Rees and Fong wanted tobrew beer that would mean something topeople from the province. The first beer theyproduced, 1892, is named in memory of thefire that destroyed much of St. John’s thatyear.

When Rees and Fong were doing researchprior to the launching of the beer, they founda photo taken of St. John’s just prior to thefire of 1892, and put the photo on the label.In the background of that photo, the compa-ny’s name “Cliff Wood” is visible. As it hap-pened, Cliff Wood imported malt beer intoNewfoundland prior to the fire of 1892,which gave Rees and Fong the idea for thename and flavour of their first beer.

“We thought why don’t we go one stepfurther and make it a European-style beer?”says Rees. “We wanted it to be like a beerNewfoundlanders would have drank prior tothe fire of 1892.”

The original beer produced by Quidi Vidi,1892, is still its top seller, followed closelyby Honey Brown.

[email protected]

‘AlexanderKeith’s ofNewfoundland’Quidi Vidi brand popular enough in St. John’s and Corner Brook, but still catching on in rural areas

The newly branded QV Light comes off the line at the Quidi Vidi Brewery. Rhonda Hayward/The Independent

By Antonia ZerbisiasTorstar wire service

The two best big-screen movies Ihave seen so far this year wereboth made by Canadians.

Paul Haggis’ complex Crash, whiletechnically a Hollywood flick, is afilm for grown-ups. True, a carexplodes — but it’s not just for show.

The other, Michael McGowan’sSaint Ralph, is a beautifully craftedfamily film. Smart, sentimental,funny, inspiring.

The former is enjoying an extendedrun. That’s because of a detonation ofbig-budget bombs from the south,making Crash cinematic manna forthose who discuss movies withoutsaying “That was awesome, dude!”

As for Saint Ralph, well, blink andit was gone — it never did go muchpast downtown Toronto.

But if Canadians want a crap trap,there is always that Hilary Duff vehi-cle, The Perfect Man, at theatreseverywhere.

It was shot here, part of the $1.46billion film production industry,which employs thousands of

Canadians. But only 20 per cent ofthat — $296 million — went to makeCanadian films, most of them in theFrench language.

As for ticket sales, last year’s totaldomestic box office was about $875million. Canadian films accounted for4.6 per cent — thanks to French-trackmovies. They were 70 per cent of theCanadian take.

It’s easy to credit Quebec’s lan-guage barrier for that success.

But the fact is the province hasmuch more going for it, includingpowerful star-making machinery thatputs local celebs on the infotainmentshows and magazine covers. English-language movies don’t get that mediacoverage — and they don’t have themillion-dollar marketing budgets thatHollywood movies have to buy iteither.

What’s more, decades ago, theQuebec government enacted legisla-tion that protects its distributors.

All of which means Quebec film-makers have better access to Quebecscreens while English-track movieworkers are largely hewers ofHollywood backdrops and drawers of Perrier water.

Now, with this month’s acquisitionof Famous Players theatres fromViacom Inc. by the Onex Corp.-con-trolled Cineplex Galaxy, a Canadiancompany is back in control of most ofthe country’s multiplexes.

By the time the federal Commis-sioner of Competition divestmentrequirements are met, the newly-merged chain will boast 132 theatreswith 1,300 screens from Ontario toBritish Columbia, about 63 per cent ofthe exhibition business.

A very big deal. A $500 million dealthat has shareholders applaudingstripped out management costs, bettercontracts with popcorn and soda sup-pliers, renegotiated rents and otherbottom line benefits.

But what’s in it for Canadianmovies?

“Unless the sale triggers a move toput more money into the production ofgood Canadian movies and increaseaccess to Canadian films in the the-atres, this is just another businessdeal,” says Maureen Parker, executivedirector of the Writers Guild ofCanada.

Parker wants to know what EllisJacob, president and CEO of CineplexGalaxy LP, means when he crows themerger is a “cultural coup,’’ as herecently did. “If Ellis Jacob wants tomake a real contribution to this coun-try’s culture, he should commit toopening up his wallet and his theatrescreens to films that speak to us asCanadians,” she says, adding that

even a small move, such as showingmore trailers for Canadian films,would help.

Not everybody is so pessimistic. “Iam not naive; it’s a business,” saysWayne Clarkson, executive director ofTelefilm Canada. “(Jacob) has got tosell more tickets, and sell more pop-corn. But I think he will take morerisks.”

The thing is, Clarkson wantsCanadian films to double their boxoffice receipts, to 10 per cent of thetake. But, unless something gives inthe movie houses, that will never hap-pen.

“The dialogue has begun,” he saysreassuringly. “I find that my phonecalls over the years have been morepromptly returned from the Canadianhead office of a Canadian companythan they have from the head office ofan American company in New York orLos Angeles.”

Some members of the culturecracysay the government should haveimposed conditions on the merger, theway they do when a broadcaster takesover another.

UNREGULATED INDUSTRYBut the movie business is not regu-

lated — there’s no mechanism forsuch conditions, at least not federally.

According to the report of theStanding Committee on CanadianHeritage on the Canadian FeatureFilm Industry, released earlier thismonth, “the licensing of films for dis-tribution and exhibition of films inCanada is a matter of property andcivil rights and as such falls whollywithin provincial jurisdiction.”

“So every province would have toget behind a quota system — and goodluck on that,” says Parker, adding thatboth the Writers Guild and theDirectors Guild want a five per centtax on all film and video distributionrevenues, with the proceeds directedto making Canadian features.

Even better would be beefed-upmarketing budgets, subsidized by thattax. But, with a night for two at themovies, including popcorn and pop, inthe $35 range — without transporta-tion or babysitting — there’s littlechance of that.

So all that’s left for Canadian film-makers is faith that the management ofthe new mega chain will see that theirmovies can be just as good, if not bet-ter, than the blow-em-up-real-goodAmerican product.

Judging by the script so far, that willtake some really special effects.

26 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS JULY 3, 2005

Shoulder to shoulder with other nations

War cost Newfoundland an enormousprice. The economic cost left thecolony with a war debt of over $13 mil-lion, a significant factor in its nearbankruptcy and the suspension of self-government in 1934. There was also agreat social cost as Newfoundland hada high volunteer rate, with 5,046 volun-teers serving overseas. Tragically, theregimental volunteers had a fatalityrate of over 26 per cent and a casualtyrate of over 70 per cent. “A large part ofa generation of young men were lost oradversely affected by the war,” theexhibit reads.

A few short years later, during theSecond World War, another 10,000

men from Newfoundland went over-seas, many never to return. Newfound-land also contributed financially to theSecond World War by giving Britain a$12 million interest-free loan.

Today marks for me one ofNewfoundland’s shining moments. Atime not so long ago when we stoodshoulder to shoulder with other nations,as equals, on a battlefield to protect ourfreedom and our home. As a countrywe suffered greatly — almost everyNewfoundland home lost someone inthe World Wars. How wouldNewfoundland have progressed if wehadn’t lost so many?

It was a sacrifice of our future — onewhich we should all remember as weenjoy this long weekend in early July.

On a headstone of one of my forefa-thers, across the bay from SamGillespie’s monument, it is written

Stop friend as you go bySo as you are so once was IAnd as I am so will you beStop friend and remember meLet us stop for a moment to honour

those who gave us our many opportuni-ties and to the Dominion of Newfound-land that sacrificed her future for worldpeace.

The bottom line is that the impacts ofthe war on the growth of Newfound-land both economically and sociallyand our decision to join Canada maypossibly be traced to the loss of thesemen.

Stop and remember.

From page 25

Hey, Cineplex,show us someCanadian flicks

A scene from the Canadian film Saint Ralph: smart, seminal yet short-lived at the Cineplex

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 27


Ireland may be the Celtic Tiger,but the country certainly doesn’tpussyfoot around when it comes

to tourism. The industry there is worthmore than $8 billion a year, employ-ing 12 per cent of Ireland’s popula-tion.

“It is a very significant industry forus. It makes an enormous contributionto our economy,” says JohnO’Donoghue, Ireland’s minister forArts, Sports and Tourism.

O’Donoghue was in St. John’s June30 for the unveiling of theComharsana Beal Dorais (Next DoorNeighbours) exhibit at The Rooms’provincial art gallery. He also touredthe east coast during his visit, andsays the province is very much likehis homeland. During a drive aroundthe Irish Loop, he noticed Irish tradi-tions and culture in people’s stories,

music, dance, and of course, accents.“The similarities are striking,”

O’Donoghue tells The Independent.“This is something I find quite heart-ening about. It is clear people haveremained true to Irish traditions andidentity. One could feel as home inFerryland as one might inWaterford.”

Despite the similarities (climate isanother), the province fails to attractnearly as many tourism dollars asIreland — bringing in $800 million ayear, 10 per cent of Ireland’s industry.While the reasons can be debated,there’s no questioning how Irelandattracts the world to its shores.

“We accentuate how we are differ-ent,” O’Donoghue says. “Since 1990,we have doubled the number of visi-tors coming into Ireland from all ofour international markets.”

When promoting their island tomarkets around the world, the Irishemphasize their history, culture, her-itage, monuments, songs, dance, andGaelic language. O’Donoghue saysthe Irish also push their “people, paceand place,” showing off their stunningshorelines and using their reputationas a warm, welcoming people to theiradvantage.

With the exception of Gaelic, thisprovince has the same qualities.

“In terms of ecology and the envi-ronment, this place is quite simplystunning,” says O’Donoghue. “Theseare products you could use to sellNewfoundland.”

O’Donoghue says the provincecould easily become a global destina-tion. He says much of the world’spopulation lives in “large, soulless,concrete jungles of cities” and theywant to get out into open spaceswhere they can experience somethingdifferent.

“Very few European visitors wouldhave seen whales, so they’ll want tocome and look at whales, make nomistake about it,” he says. “This ishow you accentuate the difference.”

The Irish minister says when hiscountry begins a marketing strategy toattract visitors, they think big. He saysNewfoundland and Labrador shoulddo the same and send word of its peo-ple, heritage and scenic beauty aroundthe globe.

“You should sell yourselves to theworld; the world is becoming a muchsmaller place than it was ever before.”

[email protected]

Centre for Management DevelopmentSt. John’s, NF A1B 3X5Ph. (709) 737-7977 Fax: (709) 737-7999http://www.mun.ca/cmd/

Faculty of Business Administration

The Centre offers client-specific seminars on these and many otherbusiness and management related topics. For registration or furtherinformation, please contact Jackie Collins ([email protected]).

Professional

Development

Seminars

2005

SEPTEMBER12 Interpersonal Negotiating: Techniques and Strategies to

Handle Disputes, Complaints and People Challenges $195

13 The “WOW” Factor in Customer Service: Meet and Exceed Customer Service Expectations $195

15 Hiring the 'Right' Person: Learn and Practice Selection Processes to Hire the Right Person $195

OCTOBER3 Priority Time Management and Workload Balance:

Improve Productivity by Prioritizing Your Work in a Time Management Plan $195

4 Budgeting: Develop a Basic Working Knowledge of Translating Business Operations into Financial Statements $195

6 - 7 Writing Dynamics®: Writing Clearly, Concisely and Persuasively - An Advanced Writing and Editing Seminar $495

13 - 14 Planning and Goal Setting: Control the Direction of Your Organization by Implementing an Effective Planning & GoalSetting Process $390

17 - 21 Supervisory Management Skills Program, Module III:Supervisors and Team Development $895

24 Transformational Leadership: Inspire Performance, Commitment and Creativity $195

25 Human Resource Planning: Plan for Future Staffing Needs as it Relates to Organizational Strategy $195

NOVEMBER2 - 4 Business Requirements Process for Business Analysts:

Understand the steps in the business requirements process -from customer identification to customer satisfaction $1295

8 - 9 Fundamentals of Project Management: Explore the issues of people, planning, and control in effective project management $450

17 Performance Coaching for People & Teams: Practice effective coaching techniques that focus on the employee'scurrent level of performance and future development needs $195

24 - 25 Managing and Adapting to Change: Learn profitable change management strategies so the organization, manager, and employee can survive the stresses of change $390

28- Dec.2 Supervisory Management Skills Program Module I:Supervision and The Organization $945

DECEMBER5 - 7 + Train the Trainer: How to Maximize Training Effectiveness:13 - 14 Develop, implement, and evaluate effective training sessions $1295

9 Stand & Deliver: Presentation Skills Present yourself in a clear and professional manner by preparing, planning, and delivering an effective presentation $195

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Executive Development Program September 18 - 30

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NB Liquor lowering markup to encourage growthProvince will also prominently display their productsFREDERICTONBy Kevin BarrettTelegraph-Journal

Aprovincial government pricingchange could result in a$120,000 boost for New

Brunswick’s micro-brewing industry.Today, government officials from

Business New Brunswick and AlcoolNB Liquor will unveil details regardinga reduction in the mark up they applyagainst products produced at micro-breweries in New Brunswick

“It’s hard to say a tax break is bad,”says Sean Dunbar, owner of theFredericton-based Picaroon’s Tradi-tional Ales.

“It is the most significant thing thathas happened in the small brewingindustry ever. It is not all about moneyalthough money is a big part of it. Themain thing is that small brewers arerecognized as part of the industry.”

Picaroon’s and the Moncton-basedPump House Brewery are the two main

players in the province’s micro-brew-ing market.

Beginning last week, the provincedropped its markup for craft brewersthat produce less than 10,000 hecto-liters of beer per year.

There won’t be a break for con-sumers, but the additional savings willallow Picaroon’s to move to a newfacility and triple its staff while PumpHouse officials will likely reinvest thecapital for upgrade purposes.

For example, the markup on a sixpack of Pump House beer will drop to$2.49 a case from $3.01.

In addition, the province will promi-nently display products from its micro-breweries in corporate stores with sig-nage showcasing the respective beer.

Both breweries lobbied the provinceto reassess its margins for micro opera-tions, citing arrangements in NovaScotia between that province and itsmicro-brewing industry that gave thoseoperations a competitive edge.

“The change puts small brewers in

New Brunswick in step with theircounterparts across the country andallows our producers to remain com-petitive,” says BNB minister PeterMesheau.

Dunbar says the recognition is a keyelement in future growth.

“It is kind of nice from a small busi-ness point of view to be included inwhat appears to be an overall macropolicy,” he says. “Obviously theprovince and NB Liquor have decidedthat small brewers are a good thing andthat it is an industry that is worth sup-porting.”

Picaroon’s currently employs threestaff and Dunbar says the operationproduced approximately 1,200 hecto-liters a year, well below the 10,000hectoliter standard.

Paul Harpelle, a spokesperson withAlcool NB Liquor, says products frommicrobrewers represent a growth areafor the corporation and doesn’t expecta drop in total revenue as a result of theinitiative.

‘Accentuate the difference’

Ireland’s Tourism ministersays province could makebillions from industry

A LITTLE OF YOUR TIME ISALL WE ASK. CONQUERING THE

UNIVERSE IS OPTIONAL.Think it requires heroic efforts to be a Big Brother or Big Sister?

Think again. It simply means sharing a few moments with a child. Play catch.Build a doghouse. Or help take on mutant invaders from the planet Krang.

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John O’Donoghue, Ireland’s minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism. Paul Daly/The Independent

28 • INDEPENDENT SPECIAL SECTION JULY 3, 2005

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENT SPECIAL SECTION • 29

By Neil Brooks and Linda McQuaig Torstar Wire Service

One thing right-wing economistsdo very well is invent gim-micks.

Remember the “debt wall” back in themid-1990s? Many Canadians — includ-ing senior government officials — gen-uinely believed that Canada was in dan-ger of crashing into this imaginary barri-cade and becoming a beggarly underde-veloped country.

A few years later, it was the “braindrain.” Unless taxes were slashed, neo-conservatives warned, Canada’s achiev-ers and innovators would decamp, leav-ing a nation of struggling second-raters.

One of the right’s most enduring cre-ations is “tax freedom day.” Every year

at about this time, the Fraser Institute,Canada’s bastion of capitalism,announces with great fanfare that tax-payers have finally reached the point inthe year when they can start working forthemselves, liberated from the yoke ofgovernment servitude.

It is an ingenious device, one thatreduces the complexity of publicfinances to a simple image, combines allthe levies and fees that Canadians pay tovarious governments into a single meas-ure and has a patina of scientific credi-bility.

Last week, on cue, the Fraser Instituteissued its annual press release.“Canadians celebrate Tax Freedom Dayon June 26,” it declared.

This ritual, which has been going onfor almost three decades, drives left-

wing economists nuts. They rail against the Fraser Institute’s

methodology. They write earnest treatis-es pointing out that taxes are the pricecivilized people pay for good schools,safe streets and high-quality medicalservices. They scold the media for giv-ing “tax freedom day” unwarranted pub-licity.

“Even if it were useful to informCanadians how many days they had towork in order to earn enough to paytheir taxes, the information the FraserInstitute presents about the tax system isflawed, misleading, seriously distortspublic knowledge and hinders rationaldebate about the tax system,” said NeilBrooks of Osgoode Hall Law School inthis year’s critique, released by theCanadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

It is a fine essay, but the wrong tactic.The way to discredit “tax freedom day”is not to subject it to learned analysis. Itis to show how silly it is.

Fortunately, the task is not hard.• Why would anyone celebrate “tax

freedom day”? Employers don’t stop deducting

income tax payments from people’spaycheques. Storeclerks don’t stop col-lecting the GST. Gasoline prices don’tdrop. Licence fees don’t go down.

It is hard to imagine who (outside theFraser Institute and its echo chamber,the Canadian Taxpayers Federation)would care about an artificial constructwith no relevance to their lives.

• How believable is the FraserInstitute’s research?

Six years ago, the think-tank

announced ominously that “tax freedomday” had fallen on its latest date ever:July 5. Now it says this year’s “tax free-dom day” — June 26 — is the latestever.

The reason for the discrepancy, sayseconomist Niels Veldhuis, is StatisticsCanada brought in a new database. Thatmeant the Fraser Institute had to reviseits “tax freedom day” calculations backto 1992. Suddenly the bad old days did-n’t look so bad.

It’s hard to get exercised about abenchmark that bears no relation to thepast and could soon be revised out ofexistence.

• What would it take to push “tax free-dom day” back a week?

A severe recession would do it. A dropin employment, earnings, profits andretail sales would all reduce the amountof taxes the average Canadian pays. Butit certainly wouldn’t be good for thecountry.

A Torontonian could do it by movingto Charlottetown where “tax freedomday” occurs a week earlier because somuch of the province’s income consistsof federal transfer payments, whichdon’t generate taxes.

The option the Fraser Institute is pro-moting — a tax cut — would also do it.But it would have to be a whopping one.To move the marker back seven days in2001, it took a $100-billion package offederal tax cuts plus hefty reductions inOntario and Alberta.

It is interesting to note that “tax free-dom day” falls a day later this year thanlast. One might think this slippage is dueto Ontario’s new health premium, therun-up in gasoline prices or the surginghousing market. It is none of thosethings. It is just that 2004 was a leapyear. In short, “tax freedom day” is notvery reliable, is easy to manipulate andof little practical use.

It is clever though. At first glance, italmost seems sound.

30 • INDEPENDENTBUSINESS JULY 3, 2005

‘Tax freedom day’ a silly exercise

By Derwin GowanTelegraph-Journal

People learning the language canlose it altogether trying to makesense of spoken English.

Paul Bryan discovered this teachingChinese students in Perth-Andover inthe early 1970s.

Students told him, “You have the lan-guage in the book there, the dictionary,but you don’t use that.”

So, he began collecting clichés,metaphors, double entendres andidiomatic expressions that make up thelanguage we speak every day.

“I started in 1972,” he says.DreamCatcher Publishing Inc. of SaintJohn published his 33 years of work asThe Other Dictionary in electronicbook form on March 1.

It has something like 11,000 listedalphabetically and crossed-referenced.He says it would fill 1,200 pages as aregular book printed on paper. The eco-nomics of the publishing businessforced DreamCatcher to issue it as an e-book.

You can buy it on a disc for $15, ordownload it from www.dreamcatcher-books.ca for $9.95.

DreamCatcher spokeswomanElizabeth Margaris says the Universityof New Brunswick in Saint John,Rothesay Netherwood School, theNational Archives of Canada and theHarvard University all bought copies.

She says one copy went to Beijing tohelp students struggling with English.YTV plans to feature The OtherDictionary in a program, Cool Idiomfor Back to School, in September.

Margaris says DreamCatcher cannotafford to print The Other Dictionary inbook form right now — but would liketo.

“This is not going to make anymoney, real money, until it is printed,and it will cost an absolute fortune tohave it printed — it’s a quandary,” shesays.

Bryan still collects expressions. “Ialmost feel like a stalker - you go intoSobey’s and hear two ladies talking,and that’s the richest thing . . . I’ll tellyou what’s painful, it’s not having penand paper.”

‘The OtherDictionary’

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTBUSINESS • 31

WEEKLYDIVERSIONSACROSS1 Sticky mess5 Dwindling sea of cen-tral Asia9 An Esposito13 Prov. half coveredby forest17 Author Carrier18 Prescribed amount19 Asian Bigfoot20 Citrus hybrid21 Prefix for “self”22 College on theThames23 Curved end of ham-mer head24 Guitarist Liona25 Ungenerous28 Dot follower30 Fervent31 Drop the ball32 Opaque watercolour36 Region of Italy39 Abuse40 Speak without notes43 Toward the stern44 Scheme45 Between gigs46 Gator’s cousin47 Russian space sta-tion (to 2001)48 Null and ___49 Proposal joints50 Bill51 Tuber made into poi52 Chapter in history53 Not be straight54 Need in Nomes

56 West Coast summertime57 Painter Harris(Group of Seven)60 Last page61 Japanese ___ cere-mony62 Poet Roy ___ (2002GG)63 Ram65 Deep, lustrous black68 “King Kong” actress69 Twilight, for short70 French leather71 Pros and ___72 Tropical wood73 Originally74 Hoity-___75 First word of AliceMunro’s 2001 title77 Impulsive one79 Swear like a ___80 Fleur de ___81 Elaborately adorned85 Scandinavian rug86 Excessive move-ment89 Singer K.D.92 Skier’s pick-me-up?94 Receive wages95 One year in a trunk96 Sicilian smoker97 Longtime caretakerof Parliament Hill cats:“the catman” ___Chartrand98 Single entity99 Rim

100 Harbinger101 Souffle ingredients102 Fail to hit103 A couple of bucks,say

DOWN1 Native prairie grass:blue ___2 To rent in Rimouski3 Group of eight4 Showing the pronun-ciation5 Experts6 French roast7 Hebrew zither8 Not strict9 Author of Lost Girls10 Pay attention to11 Mineral: suffix12 First black CabinetMinister (1979): ___Alexander13 Underwater crewmember14 In the past15 Roguish16 Young goat26 Rebuff27 Attempt29 Not in stock32 Kind of tidings33 Surrender posses-sion of34 Hearty’s partner35 Summers on theSaguenay37 Stone monument

38 Hairdo of the 60’s39 Pelvic bones40 Play the part41 Colourless42 Piercing place44 Any ___ in a storm47 Domestic48 May 8th, 194549 Flightless N.Z. bird51 An Esposito53 Meech or Emma55 Nose, e.g. (2 wds.)56 Highest point57 ___ of Girls andWomen (Munro)58 Needle case59 Night in Normetal61 Snare62 Encounter64 Inquire nosily65 Authentic66 Male swine67 Aware of (a trick)68 Author of O Canadain English: RobertStanley ___70 Trapped72 Play’s domain73 Tiny gnat74 Rotate76 Secret agent77 The Tragically ___78 Brownie ___80 Harp-like instru-ments82 Actor’s remark tothe audience83 Shade

84 Keen86 Suspend

87 Indian princess88 Malay dagger

89 Sign of summer?90 $ dispenser

91 Wind dir.93 Ask for alms

ARIES: MARCH 21/APR. 20You’re feeling hot under the col-lar, Aries, and it's not justbecause of the sultry weather.Someone close is pushing yourbuttons and your temper is onfire.

TAURUS: APR. 21/MAY 21You’re experiencing cold feet inregards to an important matter,Taurus. It's better if you justclose your eyes and take theplunge. Expect support fromfriends.

GEMINI: MAY 22/JUNE 21In a bind with a family situation?Don’t add fuel to the fire by raising arguments. Just keepyour opinions to yourself, and this will blow over in notime.

CANCER: JUNE 22/JULY 22Your finances keep spiraling outof control, Cancer … and it’s not your fault. Unforeseen cir-cumstances are the cause of

the situation. Accept all the helpyou can get.

LEO: JULY 23/AUG. 23Someone you live with isbecoming impossible to dealwith, Leo. Instead of just lookingthe other way, put your footdown and deal with the situationat hand.

VIRGO: AUG. 24/SEPT. 22You’re up in the air over a bigmove you've been hoping tomake. The fact is, your potentialroommate has backed out of thearrangement, leaving you highand dry.

LIBRA: SEPT. 23/OCT. 23It’s nothing but success, success,success at work, Libra. You cando no wrong in the eyes of youremployer. Now is the time to gofor that big promotion.

SCORPIO: OCT. 24/NOV. 22Multitasking will be your main-stay, Scorpio. However, don't

bite off more than you can chew.If the going gets tough, cry outfor some help — and don't beashamed.

SAGITTARIUS: NOV. 23/DEC. 21You have been trying to makeamends with a family member,but this person just won't hear ofit. You've burned too manybridges in this area already.

CAPRICORN: DEC. 22/JAN 20Creativity is the name of thegame this week, Capricorn. Put itto good use by whipping up atasty treat or throwing a themeparty for friends and loved ones.

AQUARIUS: JAN. 21/FEB. 18You’re placed in a new role thisweek, Aquarius, and it's not onethat you relish. Don't fight what'sunavoidable — just go with theflow and make the best of it.

PISCES: FEB. 19/MARCH 20There’s more to that great oppor-tunity than meets the eye, Pisces.

Keep your wits about you beforeyou plunge ahead.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

JULY 3Tom Cruise, actor

JULY 4Geraldo Rivera, reporter

JULY 5Huey Lewis, singer

JULY 6George W. Bush, president

JULY 7Michelle Kwan, athlete

JULY 8Kevin Bacon, actor

JULY 9Tom Hanks, actor

POET’SCORNERREGRET (Dedication from Dad)By Lillian Palfrey

With fond regret,I saw your boyhood days slip by, and yetMy heart was proud and glad of you,For you held all the dreams I knew.You’d enter the gate of my fairyland;You’d be the other “me” I planned;You’d scale the ladder for me too high;In you I’d have another try.Your childhood ways I must forget With fond regret.

With deep regret,You joined the ranks of men, and yet,My head was higher the day you went,To fight for freedom and a world content.I see you now in your Sailor Blue,Proud of the job you had to do.The message is blurred, though steady

my hand,It reads—(Oh, I hope you know and will

understand,You have reached the highest goal I set)—

“With deepest regret …

A 1944 poem from the book, Poems of Newfoundland,edited by Michael Harrington.

WEEKLYSTARS

Solutions page 32

32 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS JULY 3, 2005

A LITTLE OF YOUR TIME ISALL WE ASK. CONQUERING THE

UNIVERSE IS OPTIONAL.Think it requires heroic efforts to be a Big Brother or Big Sister?

Think again. It simply means sharing a few moments with a child. Play catch.Build a doghouse. Or help take on mutant invaders from the planet Krang.

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Solution for crossword on page 31

learning experience, hoping to pick upa few tips from current pros likeMichael, Ryan Clowe and HaroldDruken.

“Playing with guys who’ve playedin the pros before and know what ittakes to get there will be a great expe-rience,” Daniel says. “Listening tothem around the dressing room, seeinghow they handle themselves on andoff the ice — every thing helps whenyou’re trying to move up to the nextlevel.”

Michael agrees that up and comingplayers such as his younger brother,Ted Purcell and Wesley Welcher canlearn from guys who’ve been in theirshoes before. He says the league —featuring the who’s who of hockeyplayers from the province — alsohelps guys like himself who need to beready for action if and when the NHLlockout ends.

“It’s a league for us to get on the icein a pretty competitive atmosphere. Ithelps us get in shape and get a feel forplaying hockey again before trainingcamp,” he says. “I don’t know howmany fans will show up, but if they dothey’ll find it entertaining. Thereshould at least be a lot of goals.”

As for when the NHL lockout willend, Michael insists he really doesn’tknow much more than regular fans.

“You probably know more thanme,” he says with a laugh. “All I knowis what everybody is seeing on TV.”

If the lockout continues into the fall,Michael says he will most likelyreturn to Leksands IF. Daniel’s futureis much more certain, as he headsback to Peterborough in late Augustfor his third season with the Petes.

[email protected]

‘A great experience’From page 36

By Doug SmithTorstar wire service

Some day soon,when the stress ofthe NBA draft has

dissipated and thefatigue caused by end-less meetings and video-tape sessions has finallyleft him, TorontoRaptors’ head coach SamMitchell will sit downwith pencil, paper andthat creative mind of hisand start scribbling, try-ing to figure out how tobest make use of book-end Raptor big men.

Just not right now.“Can you give me a

day? Do I have to thinkabout it right now?” anexasperated Mitchelljokes when the pressingissue of the team is pre-sented to him, when he isasked and asked andasked again how he’llmanage to use ChrisBosh and CharlieVillanueva on the bas-ketball court at the sametime.

“A day, that’s all I’masking for,” he implores.

Sorry, Sam. Inquiring,and confused, minds want to know.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Vil-laneuva, chosen seventh in the NBAdraft on June 28 and trotted out for themedia at the Air Canada Centre the nextday, sent the minds of fans racing aboutjust what role he’d eventually play.

Along with the 6-11, 235-poundBosh, one of the league’s emergingyoung stars, the Raptors now have twoplayers with much the same skills andit’s going to be on Mitchell to eventual-ly make it work.

But for now, all the coach wants todeal with is the fact he’s got double thenumber of promising youngsters he hadwhen the 2004-05 season ended.

“They’re both basketball players,players,” the coach says. “I think that’sthe goal, isn’t it? To get basketball play-ers.”

That is the goal, and that was one ofthe glaring deficiencies in the roster

than ended the season in Raptor uni-forms last April. Toronto had bits and ithad pieces but it didn’t have enoughplayers and if Mitchell has two, well,for him that’s nothing more than a goodstart.

“Both of them can step outside, bothof them can play inside, both of themcan guard people a little bit bigger thanthem, both of them can put the ball onthe floor, both of them can shoot it,”Mitchell says, rattling off the skillsassociated with Bosh, and nowVillanueva.

“Nobody screams and yells aboutwho’s going to play centre and who’sgoing to play (power forward) whenRasheed (Wallace) and (Antonio)McDyess are out there for Detroit,” thecoach adds.

“I always thought it was our job to getthe best, most talented players and letthem play.”

Villanueva, who willhave to shake off a repu-tation as a great talentwith little confidence andwork ethic, is equallyuninterested right now onhow he’ll fit in with Bosh,who late last seasonemerged as the team’sbest player and mosteffective offensive force.

The 20-year-oldVillanueva says heexpects to learn a lot fromplaying alongside the 21-year-old Bosh.

“I think we can reallycomplement each other,”he says.

Raptors’ general man-ager Rob Babcock, whogot his coach almosteverything he could havein the draft with a big man(Villanueva), an athleticswingman (Joey Graham)and a young point guard(Roko Ukic), said thecharacter of bothVillanueva and Boshshould make the job ofmeshing easier.

“If they were both self-ish players, you mightworry,” says the generalmanager. “But they’re not,they’re both unselfish

players, they’re team guys so they’llfigure out how to complement eachother, and Sam will figure out how toput them together.”

Villanueva will have to figure outhow to silence the critics who’vedogged him for years, questioning hisdesire and his level of confidence. Buthe says he’s not worried because he’sbeen maturing ever since he decided itwould have been foolish to go rightfrom high school to the NBA draft andwent to Connecticut, where he played inone of the NCAA’s most successful pro-grams and for a coach, Jim Calhoun,who wouldn’t abide slackers.

“I think two years in college definite-ly helped me a lot,” he says.

“I was a kid coming out of highschool who thought he knew it all butdidn’t know how to work hard. Eachyear, I’ve been getting better and Ibelieve in myself.”

By Dave FeschukTorstar wire service

The Toronto Argonauts spentmost of the past couple ofyears telling the world they

desperately need a new stadium.And when you thought about thealternatives they were dangling —a move from their old concretecanyon to more intimate digs, firstat the historic site of VarsityStadium, later at York University— it was hard not to buy what theywere selling.

Which sports fan didn’t get a lit-tle giddy seeing head coach PinballClemons standing among theweedy ruins of old Varsity, wear-ing a pastel-blue pinstriped suitand waxing eloquent about thesoon-to-be-built sanctuary of sportat Toronto’s intersection of acade-mia and commerce?

It wasn’t as simple as aesthetics,of course. And after the Argospulled out of the York deal, thisafter the Varsity plan fell apart,selling a new season in an old sta-dium doesn’t seem so simple,either.

At the domed monstrosity downby the lake, after all, almost every-thing’s the same but the name, theRogers Centre, which replacedSkydome in the winter. And all thetweaks in the world — the knee-friendly new turf, the sharperjumbo video screen, the giant tar-paulins, printed with images ofArgo greats from Dick Shatto toDoug Flutie, that now cover ninesections of the nosebleed 500 leveland look a mite better than emptyseats — can’t change a design thatsimply doesn’t work for football.

All that mattered little to theannounced crowd of 30,712 at lastweek’s season-opening tilt againstthe B.C. Lions, a rematch of lastyear’s Grey Cup that attracted thelargest gathering for a home open-er since 1992. “It’s awe-inspiring,”Clemons says of the RogersCentre. “It’s a remarkable facility… I think we’ve been downplay-ing it in the past. I think it’s back.”

For the size of throng, give theArgos credit. Outside the dome, inthe pre-game lead-up, there weredrum troupes pounding and rockbands riffing and an atmospherethat said, “Game Tonight.” Insidethere were smoke machines andlaser lights and pre-gamepyrotechnics, exploding on theoccasion of the unfurling ofToronto’s 2004 Grey Cup champi-onship banner.

Never mind that the actual play-ing of actual football, to the stadi-um’s architect, was an after-thought. Never mind that even thefans who pay for the best seats,considering the vast no-man’s landbetween the sideline and the firstrow of seats, need laser eye surgeryto read a jersey.

Never mind that while the cheer-leaders shake their pom-poms inhalter tops and miniskirts, themajority of the crowd needs a tele-scope to get excited about it. Butsome of the building’s flaws arerendered moot by a crowd and itsbuzz and its noise. The trick is tokeep the big gates coming, and it’snot that the Argos aren’t trying.There were nice touches last week.Long-time season-ticket holders,for instance, were on hand to helppresent some of the players withtheir Grey Cup rings. One of them,Michael Regan, was representing afamily that has owned Argos seatssince 1940.

Not that anyone would havebeen thinking about the club’s pairof false-start pack-ups if it weren’tfor last week’s gentlest ofreminders.

There was that prominent ad,blaring over the speakers and blast-ing from the video screens, for amoving company. And then therewas that promo from a certain pur-veyor of subdivisions — “TributeCommunities. A Better Place ToLive” — providing the power ofsuggestion.

A better place to live? The Argosstill need one, even if they’re sud-denly telling the world they mostdefinitely don’t.

Toronto Raptors' forward Chris Bosh (4) is fouled by Atlanta Hawks' forward AlHarrington during their NBA game in Toronto, March 11, 2005. REUTERS/J.P. Moczulski

Argos find themselves still in no-man’s landDomed monstrosity by the lake doesn’t work for football

Raptors ponder roles for draft picksMitchell certain Villanueva, Bosh will mesh on court

By Chris ZelkovichTorstar wire service

One might assume, given thesheer volume of words spewedout by sports analysts on an

average weekend, that there would beenough quality comments to fill sever-al editions of Bartlett’s FamiliarQuotations.

Sadly, this is further from the truththan the Toronto Raptors are fromwearing championship rings. What wewretched viewers are normally servedare several helpings of the obvious, aside dish of lame attempts at humourand a dessert comprised of mealy-mouthed excuses.

Take, for example, the commentmade during the June 27Confederations Cup game as aMexican player prepared to take apenalty kick: “He won’t want to miss atthis juncture of the penalty shootout.”

At which juncture would anyonewant to miss, exactly?

This was in the same league as CBCfootball analyst Chris Walby’s com-ment on June 25 as Toronto Argonauts’receiver Arland Bruce was beinghelped off the field: “He does not likebeing carried off the field. Nobodydoes.”

Thanks for the clarification.That’s why we can all rejoice when

analysts do make strong or entertainingcomments.

Walby redeemed himself after B.C.quarterback Dave Dickenson took hissecond straight hard hit. “We’re talkingabout whether (backup QB) CaseyPrinters will get in the game,” Walbysaid. “He’ll be in this quarter ifDickenson keeps running like that.”

The NBC tennis crew of TedRobinson, Mary Carillo and JohnMcEnroe shone as Serena Williamswas upset at Wimbledon.

“I’m shocked at how unprepared andout-of-condition Serena is,” notedMcEnroe, who seldom sheaths hissword.

Robinson humorously underlined themagnitude of Jill Craybas’ defeat ofWilliams. Noting that Craybas had$800,000 in career earnings, Robinsonquipped, “That’s an endorsement dealfor Serena.”

NBC analyst Johnny Miller, asalways, was quick to call a spade aspade during the U.S. Women’s Openon June 26. This is unusual in golf,where the words “bad break” are whis-pered reverently after somebodyshanks one.

Here’s what Miller said about LorenaOchoa after she blew a chance at victo-ry by hooking her drive into the wateron 18: “I hate to use the word choke butthat’s what that was. She probably has-n’t hit one like that since she was six.”

When young Morgan Pressel strug-gled, Miller told viewers, “She’s got theRoberto Duran hands of stone right

now.”Some might consider that cruel, but

Miller was right. The problem withbeing fearless in commentary is thatyou’re eventually certain to say some-thing stupid, as Miller did after BirdieKim made an improbable bunker shotto win.

“Morgan Pressel just got robbed,” hesaid, as if somehow the youngAmerican was destined to win. Hiscomment looked even dumber whenPressel bogeyed the 18th, makingKim’s miracle shot unnecessary. But atleast Miller and the good analystsaren’t afraid to make strong statements.

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTSPORTS • 33

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Analysts talk lots, say little

By Richard GriffinTorstar wire service

Although he claims to value the role,Vernon Wells is still not the teamleader the Toronto Blue Jays

expected after Carlos Delgado left town.But cut him some slack. Even though theGold Glove centre-fielder has four years ofservice, he’s still a rookie at the art of club-house responsibility.

“I say things when things need to be saidand I try to keep this clubhouse as light aspossible,” Wells says in describing his ideaof leadership. “We have a good time inhere. We have a young group of guys. It’s amatter of keeping everything in perspec-tive. Go out and play the game the rightway and whatever happens, happens.”

It’s easy to talk the talk, but when itcomes to walking the walk of a real leader,

the 26-year-old Texan stumbled badly twicein recent weeks. The first negative incidentcame on June 22, an episode that promptedJays’ general manager J.P. Ricciardi, on theFAN radio, to criticize Wells for a per-ceived lack of hustle tracking down a hit tocentre field that Baltimore’s Miguel Tejadalegged into a double.

“Whether you’re swinging the bat or not,you still have to go and play defence,”Wells says, in denying discombobulation orlack of effort. “That’s something I takepride in even though I guess, nobody wantsus to make any mistakes out there.”

The other failure was more subtle —unless you were in the dugout. DuringToronto’s June 25 defeat, Frank Catalanottofailed to stretch a single with his team trail-ing by four. He was excused because theJays were struggling and needed to beaggressive. Okay, we’ll buy that.

But earlier in the same game, whenaggressive running by Wells would haveserved as a shining beacon to fire up histeammates, he came up 90 feet short. WithWells on first and nobody out, SheaHillenbrand beat a ball into the ground, justinside third base. Wells broke as the ballheaded leisurely for the corner with thebounding rhythm of Pepe LePew chasingCherie the cat.

The hit caromed off the padded wall andout into deep left field, where Marlon Byrdfired to the infield. Instead of being onthird, Wells was inexplicably on second. Anacrobatic outfield catch and another hitlater, the Jays failed to score and were ontheir way to a loss. After the game, evenJays coaches were baffled by the lost 90feet. Young players need to see effort fromtheir leaders.

By June 26, Wells seemed to be back in

sync. On a hit to right, he sprinted hardaround the bases. With a runner on secondin the ninth, he lined a single and, momentslater, advanced when a pickoff throw hithim in the back and bounded away.

“We’ve got to win, that’s the bottomline,” Wells says of the schedule betweennow and the all-star break.

This guy is an enigma when it comes toleadership. It has become apparent that forthe last two seasons, Wells was not merelydeferring leadership to the more seniorDelgado, he was happily pushing awayfrom the captain’s table.

He wants to be there, but leadership is notmerely about being most talented. It’s abouthow you use that talent to make your teamand teammates better. He has special abili-ty but as the Jays spin their wheels, that isnot enough of a contribution from theirbiggest star.

Toronto Blue Jays centre-fielder Vernon Wells dives to catch a single hit by Baltimore Orioles batter Chris Gomez during the first inning of their American League game in Toronto, June 21, 2005. Orioles baserunners Miguel Tejada andSammy Sosa scored on the play. REUTERS/Mike Cassese

Wells has yet todeliver as leaderJays need a lot more from their big star

34 • INDEPENDENTSPORTS JULY 3, 2005

For me, last Saturday night (June 25)was just about perfect. I was sitting on acomfortable couch — hot piece of pizzain one hand, beer in the other, and infront of me a big screen TV featuringweek one of the 2005 CFL season.

I know the CFL is not the most elitefootball circuit in the world, but it is theonly second-tier league that is actuallymore entertaining than the one rankedabove it — in this case the ever boringNational Football League.

In the spirit of throwing some muchdeserved praise toward the most under-rated league out there, I present the topfive reasons I’m excited about the 2005

CFL campaign. No. 5: Damon Allen. He’s almost 42

and a grandfather, and is still one of thebest quarterbacks in the league. A livinglegend if I ever saw one.

No. 4: The battle for top spot in theeast. Montreal and Toronto have sluggedit out for Eastern Division supremacy ineach of the past three years. This seasonwill be no different and should be evenmore fun to watch.

No. 3: The great quarterback contro-versy — part one. The Eskimos alreadyhad a fine quarterback in Jason Maasbefore Ricky Ray returned from theNFL.

Now they have two legitimate No. 1s,and it’s only a matter of time before

something hits the fan in Edmonton. No. 2: The battle for top spot in the

west. Edmonton, B.C., and Saskatche-wan all have what it takes to win thewest, so watching who comes out of thisthree-team dance will certainly be must-see TV.

No. 1: The great quarterback contro-versy — part two. If you think Edmontonhas a quarterback battle on their hands,take a look at B.C. As of week one, lastyear’s league MVP Casey Printers was abackup to 2003 MVP Dave Dickenson.Neither man will be happy as a No. 2, sothere could be fireworks in B.C. beforethe season is over.

[email protected]

Second-tier league is more entertainingFrom page 36

X-posure vs.cash at GamesBy Jason AbelsonTorstar wire service

For anyone who makes their living riding an air-borne board or bike, ESPN’s X Games stilldominate the growing action sports calendar.

Eighteen hours of live coverage on ESPN and ABCtransform teenagers into household names and week-end afternoons into prime turf for advertisers eagerto tap into the mother of all demographics, the 12-to-24-year-old male.

But with the popularity of these athletes growingwith the TV revenue generated by their sports, grum-blings are emanating among thekick-flipping and tail-whipping eliteabout the distribution of purses atthe X Games, which this year runAug. 4-7 in Los Angeles.

According to the network, estab-lished events at last year’s X Gamesfeaturing fields of 10 athletes (i.e.skateboard vert) paid $50,000 (allfigures U.S.) to the winner, $16,000for second and $11,000 for third.Newer or smaller events (i.e. FMXStep-up) paid $25,000 for first,$12,000 for second and $10,000 forthird.

Winners walked away withabsolutely no complaints. But forsome of those not on the podium,past X Games expenses far exceeded what ESPNdoled out as purse minimums. As recently as 2003,some events had minimum payouts of only $250.

“Considering how valuable a property the XGames are, ESPN should be better compensatingthese athletes … The purses are so insignificant inrelation to $30,000 appearance fees that these guyscan make,” says Rich Swisher, who represents sixfreestyle motocrossers slated to appear at the XGames.

“Don’t get me wrong, ESPN does a phenomenaljob and produces great television, but they’ve neverbeen forced to pay these guys properly, so theyhaven’t.”

ESPN, which has yet to announce its 2005 XGames prize pool, sees it differently.

“We work closely with our sport organizers andmonitor prize money offered at other events to set ourpurse appropriately,” ESPN spokesperson MelissaGullotti says of the $1.2 million awarded at the 2004X Games.

Even with NBC’s upstart Dew Tour offering com-petitors a purse of $3.5 million — money that isspread over five four-day events — the X Games stillgives away more money than any single action sportscompetition.

But according to a former X Games champion whowishes to remain anonymous, the Dew Tour is farmore equitable when it comes to distributing its

money.“The Dew Tour really stepped it

up with the type of money they’vecome up with,” the source says,“and they guarantee that everybodyreceives $1,000 per event.”

What the X Games does, howev-er, is give these athletes exposurethey can’t get elsewhere, which,according to 10-time X Gamesmedallist Brian Deegan, is morevaluable than purses.

NOT SEEING ‘BIG PICTURE’“These guys aren’t seeing the big

picture,” Deegan says. “I’m going tobe able to retire off the X Gamesbecause what they’re giving us is

media exposure. If you’re just riding for the purses,you’re not taking full advantage of what the X Gamesis offering.

“Exposure means endorsement deals, licensingdeals, shoe deals, toy deals, video games. I mean, allthat is out there, you just have to go out and get it.”

ESPN has released the list of invited athletes forAugust’s X Games. Leading a small but powerfulCanadian contingent is Montreal vert skater Pierre-Luc Gagnon, a seven-time X Games medallist.

Joining Gagnon is Burlington-born street skaterMark Appleyard, Thrasher Magazine’s 2003 Skaterof the Year and a fourth-place finisher at his first XGames last year, and two wakeboarders: RustyMalinowski of Humboldt, Sask. and Chad Sharpe ofSurrey, B.C.

CAPTAIN MARIO

Team Canada captain Mario Lemieux leaves the ice following Canada's 3-2 World Cup victory over Finland at the final of the World Cup of Hockey in 2004. Late last week, Hockey Canada invitedLemieux and 35 other NHL players to its Olympic team orientation camp, which takes place Aug. 15-20 inVancouver and Kelowna, B.C. If he is healthy enough to play, Lemieux will captain the Canadian squad,just as he did at both the World Cup and 2002 Olympics. Mike Blake/Reuters

“If you’re just riding for the purses,

you’re not taking full advantage of

what the X Games is offering.”

Brian Deegan

JULY 3, 2005 INDEPENDENTSPORTS • 35

‘Thrill of the sport’Touch football is popular with women; six teams take to the field in local league


To the surprise of many, football isquickly becoming one of themost popular sports in St. John’s

— for women.Touch football to be exact, there’s no

hitting. “Every time I tell someone I’m play-

ing football, they’re like, ‘Do you meansoccer?’” says Pamela White, vice-pres-ident of the Coors Light St. John’sTouch Football League, and four-yearmember of the Renegades.

The local touch football league began

in 1981, but the women’s division didn’tstart until 11 years later. These days ithas six teams full of women with athlet-ic backgrounds as impressive as theirmale counterparts — and just as com-petitive.

“The men’s division and the women’sdivision do not differ in the amount thatthe people want to win,” White tells TheIndependent. “When we take the field,we want to win. It’s recreational, but wewant to do well.”

The women’s division attracts itsshare of elite athletes, such as MichelleHealey, a star player with the MUN Sea-Hawks basketball team in the early to

mid 1990s. She joined the touch footballleague six years ago, and last year ledHickman’s to the women’s divisionchampionship.

Healey was in fine form duringHickman’s season opener June 26 ver-sus the Heat, showing her skills as quar-terback. After using three consecutivelong passes to get her team in scoringrange, Healey took the snap and imme-diately saw two Heat defenders racingher way.

Not one to panic, Healey kept hercomposure and began bobbing andweaving her way around her opponents,buying herself enough time until she

could heave a pass toward the end zone,where it landed in the waiting arms ofreceiver Sue Hickman for a touchdown.

“That’s part of the thrill of the sport,”Healey says.

The former Sea-Hawk’s grace at quar-terback would lead you to believe shehas played the position all her life. Butshe only became a quarterback whenthere wasn’t anybody else on her teaminterested in the spot.

“Being a basketball player that alwaysliked to have the ball in my hands in thelast couple of minutes, quarterbacksounded like a good position to try,”says Healey, who now works in

Memorial’s athletic department.The touch football league is popular

with former basketball players sinceboth games rely on similar skill setssuch as running, catching, and throw-ing.

“Defence in basketball can be com-pared to football — watching otherplayers’ movements to tell what’s goingto happen — especially if you’re play-ing one-on-one or zone,” says SueStratton, the Heat’s quarterback.

With so many quality athletes play-ing, many games are close and are oftendecided by just a few points. With ros-ters so similar in talent, the outcome ofeach game is often dictated by who callsthe best plays.

“A lot of the teams have been playingtogether for a while and are getting sim-ilar in terms of the calibre of talent ontheir team,” says Melissa Struthers, whoplays for the Renegades. “The gamesare a lot closer, and that’s where strate-gy comes into play.”

Strategy was clearly on the minds ofthe Heat during half time of their gamewith Hickman’s. Rather than sit downand rest, the team huddled together andwent over plays to try and make acomeback against Hickman’s. Althoughthe new plays didn’t work — they lost38-6 — their pursuit of victory is con-sistent throughout the league.

“Everybody is out there because theyhave team spirit and they want to win,”Stratton says

Once the game is over, players fromboth teams are quick to shake hands andwish each other well. Much like themen’s division, they often grab a drinktogether before heading home, addingto the ever popular social aspect of theleague.

“It could be as simple as hangingaround on a Saturday to watch anothergame after your game is over,” saysStratton.

Many of the women playing in theleague are married and have children.Quite often their husbands and kidscome to watch them play, and are usual-ly impressed. For the players, they’remore than happy to show that football isclearly not just for men.

“It’s just so much fun,” White [email protected]

Elaine Doyle of The Heat Rhonda Hayward/The Independent


The Ryder brothers may be at dif-ferent stages in their hockeycareers, but their paths are cross-

ing this summer in St. John’s. Michael and Daniel Ryder are team-

mates for the first time as they suit up forTeam Blue Star (a squad comprised ofplayers from their hometown ofBonavista) in the Xtreme SummerHockey League, an opportunity both arevery much looking forward to.

“It’s nice. We’ve only played shinyhockey together before,” Michael Rydertells The Independent. “It should be a lotof fun this summer.”

Michael, 25, and Daniel, 18, playedtheir first game together on June 28 whenTeam Blue Star challenged TeamBudweiser at Feildian Gardens. Theydemonstrated instant chemistry, teamingfor several nice plays throughout thegame, including a pair late in the second

period. The first play saw Michael receive a

long pass at the opposition’s bluelinebefore instantly chipping the puck direct-ly to the stick of his younger brother, whowas skating at full throttle. Daniel carriedthe puck as far as the faceoff circle beforehitting Michael with a picture perfect,no-look drop pass that the eldest Ryderone-timed with a powerful slap shot.

Although goalie Dan Lacosta got a padon the shot to make the save, he couldn’tstop the Ryder brother’s second high-light-reel play a few minutes later. Thistime Michael corralled a bouncing puckat his team’s blueline and turned sharplywhile holding off a defender with onehand and controlling the puck with theother. He then spotted Daniel at the farblueline and hit the streaking centre witha tape-to-tape pass that sent the 18-year-old in all alone on Lacosta. Daniel thenbeat the Team Budweiser netminder witha quick deke, scoring his second goal ofthe game.

The brothers were quick to celebrateafter the goal, reminding those in atten-dance that there is indeed a special bondbetween the two.

“It’s going to be a good experience forboth of us,” says Daniel.

The Ryder brothers are coming off suc-cessful seasons, although they were liter-ally miles apart. Due to the NHL lockout,Michael suited up for Leksands IF in theSwedish second division, leading histeam in scoring with 48 points in 32games. The club also qualified for place-ment in the Swedish elite league nextyear, a fact that made the season all themore special for Michael.

“It was a good experience. I reallyenjoyed it,” he says. “The team treatedme really well. The guys on the teamwelcomed me right away, they were agreat bunch. I’ll never forget the experi-ence.”

Daniel completed his second seasonwith the Ontario Hockey League’sPeterborough Petes, picking up 82 points

in 68 games. His performance landedhim a spot in the Canadian HockeyLeague’s prospects game in Vancouver,and caught the attention of hockey scoutsaround the globe.

“I was pleased. I want to get betterevery year, that’s my goal,” Daniel says.

The younger Ryder is eligible for thisyear’s NHL draft, which will take placeas soon as the current labour stoppageends. Should the draft eventually goahead, Daniel is expected to be a second-round pick. According to his older broth-er, he has all the skills to make it in thebig leagues.

“He’s already really good and he’s only18 — he’s still got a lot of room to devel-op and improve,” says the older Ryder.“Hopefully there is a draft and he gets thechance to show what he can do at anoth-er level.”

Daniel plans to use his time in theXtreme Summer Hockey League as a

INDEPENDENTSPORTSSUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, JULY 3-9, 2005 — PAGE 36

It takes a lot more than talent to get tothe top. Sure, every elite athlete andteam has plenty of it, but to be truly

successful, it takes something more. What I’m talking about is passion.

Take a good look at any successful ath-letes, and I guarantee passion plays a bigrole in their achievements. For furtherproof we need not look any further thanour own backyard.

Rod Snow is the first who comes to mymind. At almost six feet tall and weighingabout 270 pounds, the Mount Pearl native

had the size and talent to be a successfulpro rugby player for more than 10 years.But, believe it or not, there are more thana few people out there with similar sizeand talent and they never played a profes-sional sport.

What separates Snow from the rest ishis drive to be the best player possible.

I wouldn’t blame anyone for askingwhy I’m so confident in saying that, con-sidering I never saw Snow play pro rugbyin Wales. But after just one look at the bigman at a Rock practice last week, it wasobvious Snow is a passionate athlete.

I’ve seen other retired pro athletesreturn to the amateur side in the past. Inmost cases, they showed little or no emo-tion once they took the big step down.But judging by the way Snow hustled

around Swiler’s Field recently on twoaching knees, it’s clear he intends oncompeting to the best of his abilities forThe Rock.

After so many years as a pro, Snow hasnothing to prove in the world of rugby.But the passion that made him a pro is thesame passion that drives him to give it hisall in practice when his body in no doubttelling him to take it easy.

Snow isn’t the only athlete from thisprovince with that kind of passion. Othersinclude Darren Langdon, Mark Tobin,

Amanda Hancock, Michael Ryder, RonBoland, Jason King, Michelle Critch andJoey Smart — all of whom have over-come hurdles of some sort en route topersonal success.

Athletes from this province are defi-nitely not short on talent, and judgingfrom what I’ve seen in the three yearsI’ve lived here, their abilities are out-shone only by their dedication and pas-sion for the game.

No shortage of passion here

See “Second-tier league,” on page 34

Ryding highRyder brothers Michael and Daniel take their summer hockey to the Xtreme

See “A great experience,” page 32

DARCY MACRAE

The game

Michael (front) and Daniel Ryder Paul Daly/The Independent

2005-07-03

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Transcript of 2005-07-03