Friends and Musicians Unite for Beloved DJ Lex Griffiths
A fundraising event is being held tomorrow to support well-known DJ and community volunteer Lex Griffiths, who is recovering from a recent stroke.
Friends, musicians, and supporters are coming together for “Together for Lex,” a full day of live music set for Sunday at two downtown venues. Performances will run from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. at Green Sleeves, and from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Loose Tie.
Organizers will also hold a Gift Card and Events Tree raffle filled with donated prizes.
Admission is $20 at the door, with all proceeds going to Griffiths as he continues his long recovery.
What’s a Wassail? Find Out at This Weekend’s Folk Arts Fundraiser
The NL Folk Arts Society is hosting its Holiday Wassail tomorrow at the Bella Vista in St. John’s.
A wassail is an ancient holiday tradition from the British Isles, usually involving revelry and merriment and hot cider made with spices, apples and sugar. In fact, you may already be familiar with the old Christmas carol ‘Here We Come-A-Wassailing.’
This year’s event, a fundraiser for the Folk Arts Society, is being billed as a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Board director with the NL Folk Arts Society, Jordan Grenke, admits he wasn’t familiar with the tradition when he first came to Newfoundland.
“It’s essentially a hot drink, it’s to represent revelry used for a…toast to someone’s health while singing songs, so definitely unique.”
The Wassail takes place Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Bella Vista on Torbay Road. Tickets can be purchased on the NL Folk Arts Society’s website.
Volunteer Firefighters Face Uphill Battle to Replace Decommissioned Truck
The Norman’s Cove-Long Cove Volunteer Fire Department is seeking help from the public as they raise funds to replace their tanker truck.
Their current truck, which was constructed by the department using a donated cab and chassis, has been in service for the last 15 years.
However, the department says the vehicle did not pass its inspection in September and must be taken out of commission.
To buy a replacement brand new would cost upwards of $800,000, a price “far beyond” what the department or town can afford.
However, they say it would only cost about $70,000 to buy a used cab and chassis, and to transfer over their existing stainless-steel tank, which is in good working order.
They say the vehicle is “essential” to their firefighting efforts and keeping people safe, and are asking for public support to make a replacement for their tanker happen.
Day of Remembrance: Reflecting on the Montreal Massacre
Today marks a grim anniversary in Canadian history.
It was on December 6th of 1989 that a gunman entered the École Polytechnique in Montreal, singled out the women and started shooting.
Fourteen women were killed and ten other women and four men were injured.
The NDP’s Sheilagh O’Leary says the young women were singled out solely because of their gender, and their loss serves as a stark reminded of the violence women continue to face in society.
She says at a time of shifting political ideology, particularly in the United States, it’s important for women and those who are gender diverse, to know that they deserve equal opportunity, and respect.
She’s calling on the provincial government to support and invest in programs and groups that fight to end gender-based violence, commit to diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of government, and deliver on pay equity legislation.
Provincial Government Websites Down for Weekend Maintenance
Provincial government websites, including the My Gov NL portal, may be down this weekend due to maintenance.
The maintenance is taking place today and tomorrow, and as a result the websites may not be available during those times.
Woman Charged with Impaired Driving After Conne River Crash
A 20-year-old woman is facing a charge of impaired after a single-vehicle crash in Conne River Thursday night.
The RCMP were first called about a vehicle off the road outside of a home in the town just after 8 p.m.
Police say the driver, who was not injured, showed signs of impairment, and they also observed open alcohol in the vehicle.
The woman’s license was suspended and vehicle impounded. She will appear in court at a later date.
UPDATE: Shelter-in-Place Order Lifted
The “shelter-in-place” notice which had gone out to a section of Torbay has been lifted.
It covered Torbay Road, Martin’s Lane, Doyle’s Lane, Davalan Place, Anstey’s Cove Road, Darryl Pye Drive and Ellard’s Lane. Torbay Road has now reopened.
The RNC will remain on the scene.
They have not revealed any details of what prompted the restrictions.
Police Seek Public’s Help to Locate Wanted Man
Police in central Newfoundland need help from the public as they search for a man on their wanted list.
They say 48-year-old Jody Bishop is actively evading them.
He is wanted on charges of assault.
Anybody with information on Jody Bishop is asked to contact the authorities.
Ho Ho Hold On: Several Santa Parades Postponed Until Sunday
This was to be a busy Saturday in the metro region for the big guy in the red suit but Mother Nature had other plans.
The 70th Mount Pearl Santa Claus Parade was to go ahead today but that has been postponed until 2:00 Sunday. It will start at Mount Pearl Senior High and wind its way to Mount Pearl Square on Topsail Road. They’re accepting letters to Santa and donations for local food banks.
The Town of Conception Bay South was to have its parade this morning but that has been moved to 10:00 Sunday morning. Because of the change, the route has been reversed in that it will start at the town hall and end at Villa Nova.
Marystown’s parade has been postponed. Witless Bay was set to go at 11:00 this morning but they will do it at 10:00 tomorrow instead.
Portugal Cove-St. Philips launches the Christmas season with its parade this afternoon. It starts at 2:00 on Church Drive and proceeds to the Royal Canadian Legion.
The Town of Torbay is doing a nighttime parade tonight. It starts at 6:00 at Holy Trinity High and ends at Juniper Ridge Intermediate Letters for Santa will be collected as well as non-perishable food items.
Woman Robbed After Car Breaks Down on TCH
Police are looking for witnesses following a roadside robbery and assault in Brigus Junction yesterday afternoon.
The driver of a disabled vehicle on the westbound Brigus Junction exit of the TCH was trying to fix her vehicle around 3:00 when she was approached by two men who she did not know. They struck her, stole her purse, and fled.
The two have dark hair and may be in their twenties. One was dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans; the other was wearing dark-coloured sweatpants. They were driving a dark blue car, possibly a Honda Civic, last seen travelling westbound on the TCH.
The woman was treated at the scene for injuries not believed to be serious.
Holyrood RCMP are asking anybody who may have stopped or passed through the area between 2:30 and 3:30, and who have any dashcam footage, to contact either them or Crime Stoppers.
No Injuries in Early Morning Car Fire on TCH
The Whitbourne Fire Department jumped into action just after 6:00 this morning. This car was fully engulfed in the westbound lanes of the TCH at Ocean Pond. The westbound was shut down for about 45 minutes but the scene has since been cleared.
A car burns after catching fire in Ocean Pond. ((VOCM)
There were no injuries.
Strong Winds, Cold Temperatures Expected to Stick Around Heading into Weekend
It’s a cold blustery day across most of the island and Labrador today as the latest storm system hits the region.
The system is bringing high winds and cold temperatures to much of the island as well as snow to the west coast, southern Labrador and central Labrador.
Peak wind gusts of 90 km/h have been recorded in the St. John’s metro area and as high as 100 km/h in Port aux Basques.
As Environment Canada meteorologist David Neil says, those winds are only going to intensify this evening and remain strong overnight before dissipating somewhat tomorrow.
He says the winds will persist as the storm slowly pulls away from the island with winds expected to peak early this evening.
In the meantime, temperatures have taken a plunge with wind chills in the -20 range. Temperatures will remain well below freezing through to tomorrow although wind chills won’t be as great a factor.
FIRST Robotics Competition Happening in St. John’s this Weekend
Thirty teams from across the province are gathering in St. John’s for a major robotics competition at the Holiday Inn.
This year, students from ages 9 to 18 are working on ways to address challenges in the field of archaeology using robotics.
The executive director of FIRST Robotics NL, Andrew Troke, says there are two separate categories – one for kids 9 to 14 using Lego and the other for kids 9 to 18 using traditional materials and motors.
Troke says the winners in each category then have the opportunity to represent the province in the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston, Texas in the spring.
The event gets underway at 8:45 tomorrow morning with the competitions beginning at 1:00. All events are free and open to the public.
NL Business Leader Frank Howard Passes Away
A man who made his mark on the auto sector in Newfoundland and Labrador has passed away.
Frank Howard, the President and Founder of the Capital Auto Group, lost his battle with cancer yesterday.
From humble beginnings and a single dealership, Howard built what became Capital Auto Group, a team of more than 500 employees across 10 automotive brands, and The Howard Group, which oversees the Howard Properties real estate portfolio.
He received countless honours over the years, including the CADA Laureate Award for Ambassadorship and, most recently, induction into the JANL Business Hall of Fame.
His family says Frank believed that the greatest success in business was the ability to give back to the community that supported him.
In lieu of a wake and funeral, a celebration of life to honour Howards memory will be held in the near future.
Howard was 68.
(Howard in a 2023 photo via Capital Auto Group Facebook)
High Winds Contribute to Power Outages Throughout Province
High winds are being blamed for power outages in a number of areas of the province.
Numerous regions have been affected as a result, including the Lawn, Lord’s Cove and Point May area of the Burin Peninsula, the Clarenville, Sunnyside and Bonavista Peninsula region, and Cottrell’s Cove and Fortune Harbour in Notre Dame Bay.
Residents are encouraged to check Newfoundland Power’s website for the latest on power outages.
VOCM Cares 50/50 Winner Takes Home Over $120,000
Sophia Slaney of Conception Bay South has received quite the early Christmas gift. She bought the winning ticket for the VOCM Cares 50/50 draw which comes with a prize of over $120,000.
Slaney got the call on Your VOCM Mornings earlier today.
Slaney says she never thought about actually winning the prize when she bought her ticket because she has never won anything like it before, noting that she did it to support the work of the foundation.
When asked what she will do with her winnings, Slaney said she’ll be giving back.
She says she gives money to charity every January in memory of her brother, so this year they will be getting more from her.
Meanwhile, Alicia Whitten won the second prize of a one-year lease on a CRV Hybrid from Steele Honda, and Gordon Butt won the third prize of a shop-and-stay package worth $1,200 from the Avalon Mall and the Capital Hotel.
National Unemployment Rate Down in November
The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points nationally to 6.5 per cent in November, following a 0.2 per cent decline in October.
The unemployment rate had previously trended up through most of 2025, reaching 7.1 in September.
There were 1.5 million unemployed people in November, a decrease of 80,000 from the previous month.
The youth unemployment rate fell 1.3 percentage points to 12.8 per cent in November, following a decline in October.
Health care and social assistance recorded the largest employment increase (46,000) across industries in November.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, unemployment went up to 10.4 per cent in November from 10.1 the month before. Employment rose in Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.
Opposition Questions Transparency Surrounding Recent Court Disruptions
Opposition justice critic Pam Parsons calls recent abrupt changes to the provincial court system an erosion in access to justice that requires greater transparency.
The justice minister yesterday announced the creation of a working group to address what she calls systemic issues in the province’s court system.
NAPE President Jerry Earle believes recruitment and retention is at the heart of the recent adjournment of civil and traffic court matters as well as the suspension of circuit court in Baie Verte and Port aux Basques.
Parsons says the most recent budget included $3.4 million to bolster staffing in the justice system.
She says money was allocated to hire six Crown attorneys, 14 new deputy sheriffs and a manager of court security in Labrador, as well as 32 new correctional officers.
“With a number of those services moved abruptly, I didn’t get an explanation as to why that’s happening, but we need to know…what is the plan, what is the interim plan?”
Shielagh O’Leary speaks with reporters at Confederation Building (VOCM News)
NDP wants to know why frontline workers are not in working group
The NDP is raising concerns after sheriff officers were not included on the working group formed to address staffing shortages and inefficiencies within the court system.
Helen Conway Ottenheimer announced the formation of the working group which includes judges, lawyers and government officials.
The NDP’s Sheilagh O’Leary is also concerned about how long the process will take. The working group is slated to report back in mid-February.
“We need to know a little bit more definitively who’s going to be at that table, are unions going to be represented? And also what’s going to happen to those individuals that are going to be in the waiting game for an extended period of time?” she asked.
Weapons Seized During Break-In on Campbell Avenue
A 42-year-old man is facing numerous weapons-related charges after he was found hiding inside a home on Campbell Avenue early this morning.
Police were called about a break-in at the home around 1:55 this morning.
Officers arrived to find a man hiding inside, and they seized two weapons.
The accused is facing charges of two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, careless use of a weapon, and breaches of court orders.
Police remain on the scene as the investigation continues.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court today.
Work Almost Complete on Pitts Memorial Drive
Crews are in the final stages of doing repairs and upgrades to several sections of Pitts Memorial Drive – projects which seem to have been on the go forever in one sense or another.
Work on the Cloverleaf Overpass has been completed and the contractor is clearing out.
Work on the CN Viaduct downtown is expected to wrap up tomorrow.
Construction on the bridge structure on Pitts Memorial above Blackhead Road is scheduled to continue until December 13. Once that project is done, traffic will be free flowing into and out of downtown St. John’s.
Tony Wakeham’s First Approval Rating at 41 Per Cent: Angus Reid
Premier Tony Wakeham has a 41 per cent approval rating just one month into his mandate according to the latest numbers released by the Angus Reid Institute.
The online survey was conducted from November 26th to December 1st, encompassing Wakeham’s first six weeks in office.
(Angus Reid Institute)
Breaking down the numbers even further, 15 per cent say they strongly approve of Wakeham’s performance, 26 per cent moderately approve, 19 per cent somewhat disapprove, while 12 per cent strongly disapprove.
Meanwhile, 28 per cent were not sure or couldn’t say what their opinion was.
In March, then-premier Andrew Furey had the highest approval rating of all premiers, at 68 per cent.
Police Investigating Theft of Utility Trailer in Lewisporte
RCMP are turning to the public for information after a utility trailer was stolen from the Rod and Gun Club in Lewisporte last month.
Police were called about the incident just after 2 p.m. on November 10th.
They say sometime overnight the window of a Jeep Wrangler was smashed out, and the trailer attached to the vehicle was stolen.
The trailer is described as a Make Easy Haul 10-foot utility (VIN: 2SPUSB14AN041604) with an NL license plate of TJE 256, a wooden deck and ramp.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
Four Arrested Inside HV-GB Home They Allegedly Broke Into
Four people, arrested and charged with breaking into a house in Happy Valley-Goose Bay were still inside when police arrived at the scene.
RCMP were called to a home on Mesher Street shortly after midnight Tuesday, and learned that the suspects were still inside.
Four people – two men and two women – were plucked from the house without incident.
All four suspects – including 45-year-old Jesse James Hennessey of Happy Valley-Goose Bay – were charged with break and enter with intent and being unlawfully in a dwelling.
Forty-three-year-old Anton Boyce Russell of Rigolet faces additional charges of failing to comply with a probation order, while 37-year-old Natasha Arlene Pottle of Rigolet, who was wanted on an arrest warrant, was also charged with failing to comply with probation and release orders.
Thirty-two-year-old Lorraine Obed of Happy Valley-Goose Bay was charged with resisting arrest and failing to comply with a release order.
Lots of Interest in Season Passes at Marble Mountain
More snow came down last night on the west coast and another 5-10 cm is expected today – maybe not great news for everyone but certainly for one of the region’s tourism draws.
Sales of season passes at Marble Mountain in Steady Brook have been fantastic so far according to general manager Richard Cormier.
It’s a few weeks early for the hill compared to most recent years, but Cormier says it’s all about getting kids and families out and enjoying winter.
Marble is down to one lift from three but Cormier says there’s is still plenty of capacity with short waiting times to catch a ride back up top.
At many resorts, you have to wait 45 minutes but the lift here can accommodate 2,100 people an hour, so you’re waiting time might be 5 or 6 minutes,” says the GM.
Health Canada Issues Recall on FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Glucose Monitors
Health Canada has issued a recall on some continuous glucose monitors under the FreeStyle Libre brand.
Some FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors are being recalled due to the risk of inaccurate blood sugar readings.
There have been seven deaths and hundreds of injuries in the United States related to the faulty sensors, however there have been no deaths in Canada.
(VOCM News)
Those who use the device are asked to check the lot number of their sensors to see if it is included in the recall. If it is, users should call the company for a replacement.
The recall does not include FreeStyle Libre or Libre 2 sensors.
Health Canada says inaccurate readings may lead to incorrect treatment which could lead to other issues or death.
Minister Expects Group Formed in Response to Courtroom Closures to Report Back by Mid-February
The provincial government is going to take some time to try to fix the justice system – namely the closure of courtrooms and reduction of services across the province.
Staffing shortages have been a problem for years according to unions, lawyers and others but the problem reached new heights this week.
Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer is creating a working group to analyze and address issues within the court system. She says she “could not have acted faster” to resolve the issue.
She’s expecting the working group, consisting of judges, lawyers and department officials, to report back by mid-February.
“It’s so important that people have confidence in our justice system and that the rule of law is paramount here. And I think that all partners involved here are willing to work on this to make improvements. So that’s why we’re here and that’s why we’ve taken these swift actions.”
NAPE President Jerry Earle (VOCM News File Photo)
That response is laughable to NAPE President Jerry Earle, who represents many in the system, including sheriff’s officers.
Earle can’t believe that frontline workers were excluded from the working group.
They have been raising recruitment and retention concerns for some time says Earle and “it should not be a surprise to this current minister that sat in opposition and heard these concerns. And then…to talk about a working group, that excludes these very frontline workers…is unacceptable.” He says NAPE will be “reaching out in the strongest fashion possible to express that to this minister.”
25 Per Cent of Performance Audit Recommendations Between 2018 – 2022 Not Implemented: Auditor General
The province’s auditor general says about one quarter of all recommendations made in performance audit reports between 2018 and 2022 have not been implemented.
The report, which was released yesterday, indicates that 15 recommendations have not been implemented, and half of those are over five years old.
They span across the departments of education, justice, tourism, and transportation, as well as recommendations from a 2022 Nalcor Energy report – which now falls under NL Hydro.
According to the AG’s office, an analysis of the recommendations indicates that there are areas where those entities could improve and find efficiencies – and as a result find more savings.
As an example, they say the Department of Justice has not implemented six out of the seven recommendations made to them.
AG Denise Hanrahan calls the findings “concerning” because if recommendations aren’t implemented then the issues have not been corrected.
Of particular concern, she says, is how some entities continue to have low implementation rates years after recommendations were made, such as in a 2019 audit regarding provincial wellness priorities made to the department of Tourism, and a 2020 recommendation to the Department of Justice regarding conflict of interest.
The full report can be found online.
Corner Brook Man Charged After Violent Break-In at Stephenville Home
A 31-year-old Corner Brook man has been charged after what police are calling a violent break-in at a home in Stephenville on Wednesday.
The incident happened just before 11:00 Wednesday morning.
The suspect, whose face was covered and who was carrying a weapon, confronted the occupant inside, and fled before police arrived.
Thirty-one-year-old Spencer Bell was located by RCMP and arrested without incident.
He’s been charged with break and enter
Price of Most Fuels Drop Overnight
Filling up on most fuels comes with a bit of a break for the pocketbook this morning.
Diesel is down by 4 and a half cents per litre on the island and in Labrador West.
Furnace and stove oil drops by 4 cents.
Gas is down by a cent. There’s little movement in the price of propane.
Temperatures to Plummet Across Island as Another Wintry System Passes Through
Some schools off the Avalon are closed this morning as another nasty weather system makes its way across parts of the island.
Schools from the west coast through to Clarenville are closed after a dumping of snow overnight.
The snow should taper off in most areas later this morning but the western portion of the island is in for another 5 – 10 cm.
Environment Canada meteorologist Wanda Batten says there’s a wind warning covering pretty much the entire island which means blowing snow is a real concern.
Winds will be intense with gusts between 80 – 100 km/h for most areas but even stronger along parts of the coast as the system begins to depart later this morning and this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the island and Labrador will feel like a deep freeze today as the mercury plummets and the winds howl.
It will drop to minus 9 in metro this afternoon but it’ll feel like minus 20 with the wind chill.
