Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival Receives Boost From Province
A recent push by the provincial government to extend what’s known as a “shoulder season” for tourism is welcome news for festival organizers on the west coast.
The Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival, which is happening in mid-October, is on the receiving end of $5,000 from the province.
The money is part of an initiative by the province to extend the tourism season by supporting events happening outside peak time.
Organizer Todd White says the support is great to see.
He says they moved their dates back in an effort to extend the season locally, which helps to bring more tourists in and keep people employed longer.
Choices For Youth Expanding Becket Hubs Across Province
Choices for Youth is expanding the number of its Becket Hubs available throughout the province.
Yesterday, the organization announced the opening of a new hub in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as well as two other sites. The locations of those have not yet been determined.
Becket Labrador will be operated by the Labrador-Friendship Centre, in partnership with Choices for Youth and NL Health Services.
It will provide a variety of free services to people between the ages of 12 and 29 and their families. It will open in the coming months.
Becket Integrated Youth Services, which is currently operating in St. John’s and Corner Brook, will have five total locations across the province by 2028.
NL Joins Others in Signing Deal Allowing for Purchase of Alcohol from Other Provinces
Newfoundland and Labrador has joined nine other provinces in signing a direct-to-consumer agreement that would allow alcohol sales to other provinces across the country.
The agreement, signed by all provinces except Quebec, allows people to buy alcohol directly from a brewery, winery, or distillery and have it shipped to their home.
Premier Tony Wakeham says the move will not affect any jobs.
“That gives us another opportunity for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and it’s all about the whole Team Canada (approach),” he told reporters.
“One of the things that has come out of all of these tariff discussions and the imposition of tariffs by the United States is an opportunity for Canada as a country to look both inward and outward.”
Free Admission to This Year’s Folk Festival at Bannerman Park
The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society is very close to releasing the lineup for this year’s folk festival.
The interim board has been trying for the last few months to find a way to make this year’s event happen, albeit with a scaled-back format.
Last night, the board met to nail down most of the final details.
While the lineup will be released soon, interim board president Jean Hewson reveals that the festival will happen in Bannerman Park on August 8, with a rain date of August 9.
It will start at 10 a.m. with workshops in the gazebo. Those will finish up at 1 p.m. and then the main stage will begin.
She says the stage will be smaller than the one used in previous years, and acts will run up until 9:00 that night. The event is free, and Hewson encourages everyone to go down and “enjoy a lovely day in the park.”
Fire Inspector Shares Backyard Fire Safety Tips
With the warmer weather finally here, the St. John’s Regional Fire Department is reminding residents that safety needs to be the top priority before you strike a match.
Fire inspector Jeannine Murphy says the first thing to do is to check your community’s rules on outdoor fires, because the regulations could change from town to town.
“Just because the fire ban is lifted doesn’t mean everybody has permission to burn; they still need to be checking the fire hazard map,” Murphy said.
She also says residents should make sure they have a cover for their fire pits to prevent sparks from flying, and have a bucket of water or hose nearby. As well, she contends that a propane fire might be a safer alternative to the traditional pits.
Murphy says never leave the fire unattended, make sure it’s on a stable, non-combustible base. If someone is buying a firepit, make sure it is CSA or ULC approved, and follow installation instructions. If someone is making one, it has to be made of masonry, brick, steel or heavy gauge metal.
Driver Clocked Nearly 100 km/h Over Speed Limit on Busy Corner Brook Roadway
Police hauled over a lead-footed driver in Corner Brook at 6:30 last evening zipping along at nearly 100 km/hr over the speed limit.
RNC radar clocked the man travelling 159 km/hr in a 60 km/hr zone on O’Connell Drive.
The Alberta driver was ticketed and lost their licence. The vehicle was impounded.
Man Ticketed for Excessive Speed in Gros Morne National Park
A man has been ticketed for excessive speeding after he was pulled over along the Great Northern Peninsula Highway Monday morning.
The vehicle was pulled over just after 10 a.m. after it was clocked at 132 km/h in an 80 km/h zone south of Rocky Harbour.
The driver, a 30-year-old man from Trout River, was ticketed, had his license suspended, and vehicle impounded.
Minister to Announce Fire Protection Equipment on West Coast
An announcement is coming today regarding fire protection vehicles and equipment.
Forestry minister Pleaman Forsey will be in the west coast community of Pasadena for the event.
St. George’s-Humber MHA Hal Cormier will also be in attendance.
The centennial of the Royal Canadian Legion will be celebrated at the Lieutenant Governor’s annual Garden Party in St. John’s today.
The Legion was founded in 1925, and was incorporated via a special act of parliament in 1926 – which is recognized as their anniversary.
Lieutenant Governor Joan Marie Aylward says a special ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Legion will kick off the event.
She says the office of the Lieutenant Governor has always had a strong relationship with the Legion.
She says the Blue Puttees would gather in the area, and the Lieutenant Governor also serves as the honourary colonel. “And so there’s a very strong link between the military, those who serve, and Government House. It’s a longstanding tradition, and one that we’re very proud of.”
National Legion president Berkley Lawrence and local command president Janis Boone will be in attendance.
The event takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. at Government House.
Residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay Feeling ‘Unsafe, Frustrated’ Due to Continued Inappropriate and Criminal Behaviour
The town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is once again urging the provincial government to take action on public safety issues in the town.
The town has been voicing concerns about public safety issues for years.
Nearly two years ago the provincial government of the day completed a public safety review for the area, complete with recommendations on ways to address some of the long-standing issues. However, the problems persist.
The town cites recent issues involving intoxicated people, aggressive behavior, harassment, and other inappropriate actions in public spaces that have left people feeling “unsafe, frustrated, and upset.”
They say some of the incidents have been shared on social media, and are not isolated. Rather, they believe it reflects “a pattern of behavior” that has been seen for years.
The town stresses that while homelessness, addiction, and mental health are all complex issues that need coordinated responses, public safety needs to be a priority.
The town is making a number of calls to the province, including for enhanced policing and municipal enforcement resources, expanded mental health and addictions supports, appropriate detox-related resources, and a public safety strategy tailored to the unique needs of the town.
Liberals Pressing Government for More Updates on Churchill Falls Negotiations
The opposition Liberals are pressing for more information from the PCs on the status of negotiations on the development of Churchill Falls.
Yesterday, Quebec Premier Christine Frechette told reporters that a deal is imminent between the two provinces, while Premier Tony Wakeham says his negotiating team is still working on the file.
Opposition Leader John Hogan says government is not being transparent enough on the file, saying people from this province “shouldn’t have to rely on updates from Quebec to find out what’s happening.”
Hogan says Wakeham is ”hiding behind closed doors” on the deal.
Bell Aliant Working to Restore Service to Four Cell Towers
Bell Aliant says crews are working round-the-clock to restore service after four of its towers were damaged by fire.
RNC is investigating a string of fires at telecommunications towers and poles in the metro area. Police believe the fires at six different sites since Saturday are connected.
In a statement issued last evening, Bell says four of its sites have been damaged as a result, which is compromising cell coverage for customers.
Bell is working to get the sites back up to full capacity as soon as possible and is working alongside law enforcement as the investigation continues.
Rogers has also confirmed that one of its towers at Beaver Pond was targeted on Sunday. Crews with that company are working to restore service back to normal.
Anyone with information on any of the fires is asked to contact RNC at 709-729-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
(1/3)Over the weekend, four wireless sites in the St. John’s area were damaged in targeted attacks. This criminal activity has impacted network infrastructure and reduced wireless coverage and capacity in parts of the region.
‘We Need to Hit ’em Tariff to Tariff’: Canada’s Trade Relationship with U.S. Dominates Day One of Premier’s Meetings
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it’s time for Canada to stop letting the United States be the “bully” when it comes to tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to slap a 50 per cent levy on a variety of goods by next month has been the talk of the First Ministers Meetings in PEI this week.
Premier Doug Ford says reciprocal tariffs are needed if CUSMA is not renewed.
“We need to hit ’em back as hard as we can,” said Ford. “I’m tired of the bully trying to take our lunch money all the time. We always seem to be on our back heels – we need to be on the offence – not constantly on the defence with President Trump. We need to stand up to the bully and we need to hit ’em tariff to tariff.”
We can’t roll over and we won’t back down.
Team Canada needs to be united, standing up to President Trump and hitting back tariff for tariff until we get a fair trade deal. pic.twitter.com/4elxAlp7D2
One of the things that has ruffled Trump’s feathers is provincial bans on the sale of American booze. Premier Tony Wakeham says he has no plans to put U.S. liquor back on NLC shelves, but doesn’t believe tariffs from either side are the way to go.
Premier Tony Wakeham (CPAC)
“Well the challenge is that tariffs don’t work for anyone. They don’t work for the people of the United States. They don’t work for the people of Canada.”
“Canada and the U.S., we have more that brings us together than we do separates us. So tariffs are not effective for anyone.”
Daily Fuel Prices for Wednesday, July 22, 2026
There’s little movement when it comes to gasoline, but all other fuels are a bit more expensive today.
Diesel increases by nearly 3 cents per litre. Furnace and stove oil are up by just shy of 2 and a half cents.
Gas is down by a fraction of a cent.
Two Fishermen Dead Near Small Community on Baie Verte Peninsula
Two fishermen are dead after running into trouble off the Baie Verte Peninsula.
The two perished near the small community of Harbour Round yesterday afternoon. Another person was rescued.
Area MHA Lin Paddock says the loss resonates with those right across the province.
In a post to Facebook, Premier Tony Wakeham says his thoughts are with residents and family members of the deceased, as well as the survivor.
Man Charged With Sexual Assault Following Investigation in Metro
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a sexual assault earlier this year in St. John’s.
The RNC were called on April 11th to reports of a sexual assault at a home downtown.
On Monday, 42-year-old Daniel Morrissey was charged with sexual assault, making harassing phone calls, and breaching a court order.
The accused was held for court.
RCMP Confirms Death of One Man in Workplace Accident in Springdale
The RCMP has confirmed that a man has died following a workplace accident in Springdale earlier this month.
Emergency crews were called to the scene on July 3rd.
One man was taken to hospital, and the RCMP has since been advised that he has died.
The provincial government’s Occupational Health and Safety Division is the lead investigator on the file, and the RCMP is assisting them as needed.
No further details are being shared at this time.
Quebec Premier Predicts Churchill Falls Hydro Agreement Will Come ‘Very Soon’
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette says an agreement on Hydro development on Churchill Falls will come “very soon.”
Canadian Premiers are meeting this week in PEI and are set to speak with Prime Minister Mark Carney this afternoon.
Premier Tony Wakeham says his negotiating team will continue to work with Quebec, while Frechette believes the deal will come sooner rather than later.
“I will get the opportunity to meet with Premier Wakeham in order to discuss the agreement, current agreement that is being negotiated and I’m pretty confident that we will get to a conclusion of this agreement pretty soon,” she told reporters.
RNC Confirms Six Communications Infrastructure Fires Are Connected and Suspicious
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says fires involving communications infrastructure at six different sites around the metro region are connected and suspicious in nature.
The fires began in Shea Heights on Saturday, with others being lit on Sunday and Monday as well.
The RNC held a news conference earlier this afternoon to address the string of fires.
Police say the incidents are concerning, and the suspect remains at large.
Constable Steph Myers says the evidence gathered so far strongly suggests the fires are linked.
“The RNC has put a lot of resources into this investigation,” she told reporters during a news conference at RNC Headquarters.
“The fire investigators with the General Investigation Unit, based on their findings at the scenes, they are able to say that they are related. It is still a very active and ongoing investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC or Crime Stoppers.
Applefest and Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival to Receive Funding this Fall for Tourism
Two events being held this fall will receive money from the province in an effort that government says will help grow the tourism season.
Applefest in Port Blandford and the Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival will each receive $5,000 towards their respective events.
Applefest, which will be held from September 25th to the 27th, celebrates the local apple harvest and features outdoor entertainment and vendors.
The Rocky Harbour Storytelling Festival, meanwhile, will happen from October 15th to the 17th and will showcase local and professional storytellers, artists, and musicians.
Government Allocates $1.2-Million to Fund Medical Flights to and from Labrador
The provincial government says it has allocated about $1.2-million to fund additional medical flights in and out of Labrador through September.
Last week, the government announced the pilot project, which has already funded 117 seats for medical appointments over the last month.
Health Minister Lela Evans believes the program will save the government money in the long run.
“We discovered in actual fact we should be accessing much more federal dollars to offset the cost. So in actual fact when we look at the increased capacity this should have been in place years ago,” she told reporters, “In actual fact the federal government had funds there that we weren’t availing of. And so for us, as we’re going to go back now, so in actual fact it may not cost anything to the provincial government.”
Rogers Confirms One of its Towers was Damaged in Recent Rash of Fires
Rogers has confirmed that one of its communications towers was damaged during the recent rash of fires targeting such infrastructure in the metro region.
In a statement to VOCM News, the company says one of its towers near Beaver Pond in St. John’s was set on fire Sunday morning.
It says equipment was damaged, resulting in the tower going offline and reduced capacity for those in the area.
Crews are assessing the damage and possible next steps.
Rogers says that it, and other companies, are seeing a “troubling rise in vandalism to network infrastructure across the country,” which can have a serious impact on public safety.
Authorities Requesting Help From Public for Information on Communication Towers Fires
Authorities are urging anyone with information in relation to a rash of fires at communications towers in the metro area to come forward as soon as possible.
Since Saturday, crews have responded to numerous fires at towers throughout the metro region – the latest blaze was last evening near Pippy Park. The RNC is investigating the fires as suspicious.
Platoon Chief Mike Hall of the St. John’s Regional Fire Department pulls no punches in saying that these incidents are going to stop.
He says whoever is responsible is targeting critical infrastructure which could have safety implications for the general population.
“We’re going to find who’s doing this. It’s going to come to a stop. We’re putting all our resources that we have at our disposal to find and stop what’s going on.” Said Hall.
Providers say the fires may be impacting cell service for some customers.
Police are urging anyone with information or video footage to contact them at 709-729-800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Impaired Driver Arrested in Codroy Valley
A 41-year-old man has a date with the court for getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink.
RCMP on patrol in the Codroy Valley became suspicious after witnessing a car crawling along late Saturday night.
Officers noticed signs of impairment from the driver who ended up failing the roadside screening.
He was arrested and taken to the police station in Port aux Basques where he provided breath samples above the legal limit.
He was released to appear in court in September. His license was seized and vehicle impounded.
Choices for Youth Announcement Coming Today Regarding Future of Beckett Hub
An announcement is coming from Choices for Youth today regarding the future of Beckett – a hub which offers a number of health and social supports for young people.
Becket facilities offer integrated health, housing, employment, and community supports for those who need them.
The event will reveal “what’s next” for the program in the province.
It is taking place at the Labrador Friendship Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay at 12:30 island time (noon in Labrador). It is also being livestreamed on Facebook.
VOCM News will have more information as it becomes available
Doctor Warns of Potential Health Impacts from Severe Wildfire Seasons
Severe wildfires are becoming more common across the country, and that has healthcare professionals worried about the potential long-term impacts on people’s health.
Dr. Regan Bergmark is a sinus specialist at Mass General Brigham in Boston.
She says wildfire seasons are getting worse because of climate change, and people need to be prepared for what that could mean.
She says wildfire smoke, and pollution in general, can have long-term health effects on the heart and lungs due to cellular damage.
Taxpayers Federation Seeking Breakdown of Costs Associated with NL’s Equalization Court Challenge
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the provincial government to release the costs associated with its equalization court challenge against Ottawa.
The former Liberal government launched the court action, believing this province is getting the short end of the stick when it comes to payments from the federal government.
The PC government dropped the court action earlier this year.
The federation says the Department of Justice and Public Safety denied an access to information request on the matter, arguing that the documents are protected by solicitor-client privilege.
Atlantic Director Devin Drover says that rationale doesn’t make sense because the previous government did release some of the information. He says they revealed which firms were hired, and that a Montreal-based lawyer was charging $920 an hour. Drover says the government’s contracts to the law firms stated that access to information laws may require disclosure of the terms.
Drover says they will be filing a request for the privacy commissioner to have a look at the situation.
Police Searching for Wanted Natuashish Man
Police in Natuashish need help finding a man wanted on a number of serious charges.
RCMP say 34-year-old Matthew Dicker is facing charges of assault, assault with a weapon, and failure to comply with a release order.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police at 709-478-8900 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.
Injured Hiker Airlifted Off East Coast Trail
Crews jumped into action to rescue a hiker who ran into trouble on the East Coast Trail last evening.
RNC, paramedics, the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department, along with Rovers Search and Rescue were called after a hiker suffered an injury on the trail near Brocks Head Pond.
The helicopter rescue team was deployed to hoist the patient to safety.
They were taken to hospital for treatment.
RCMP Rolling Out New Vehicles This Summer
For the first time in over 30 years, RCMP cruisers are getting a fresh look.
The Mounties say the new design will improve visibility and provide a modern, distinctive appearance.
The new vehicles will begin appearing later this summer, but the transition will be gradual.
Current vehicles will remain in service until there are enough new cars for a complete fleet replacement, and they will operate side-by-side during the transition period.
