Hockey and fireworks on tap for Bay Roberts

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This weekend’s annual Light the Lamp mega ball hockey tournament in Bay Roberts will also light the fuse on a busy summer of recreational activities for residents and visitors to the town.

The province’s biggest outdoor street hockey tournament will take place June 22-23. 

“Thousands upon thousands of people are going to be coming into town,” Mayor Walter Yetman noted at last week’s public council meeting.

 Some 262 road hockey teams will compete in the tournament. 

“We’re very proud we can do this kind of thing and bring people into our town,” said Yetman. “It’s great for our businesses and it’s great exposure for the town.” 

This is Bay Roberts’ sixth Light the Lamp tournament.

In July, Cromwell Orange Lodge #81, which is located in Shearstown, plans to host a family-oriented Community Day at the playground in Butlerville.

The event is set for Sunday, July 14. In a letter to council, the Lodge promised its members will pick up any garbage left at the playground from the event. It asked council for approval to hold the event and permission to use the washroom facilities at the playground. 

The Lodge also asked council to send a Town official to the event to manage safety issues as it plans to set off fireworks in the baseball field that night. The lodge has also asked the fire department for help and to set off the fireworks as the firefighters have the proper personal protective equipment to do so. The Lodge also requested that firefighters bring the pumper in case the fireworks cause a grassfire. 

A motion was carried by council to approve the event. Councillor Dean Franey suggested that council should check that the Lodge has conferred with the Minor Softball Association to ensure there is no scheduling conflict.