Done, dusted and darned proud of it

Bay Roberts council celebrates ‘best Summer Games ever’

By Craig Westcott

Now that the latest incarnation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games are fading into fond memories for the thousands of young athletes and their families who participated, councillors in the host community of Bay Roberts are going on record with the assertion that these were the best Games yet.

After two of the busiest weeks of the summer, councillors finally had a chance to convene Tuesday to conduct the Town’s regular public business again, but before they got to the agenda, they had to acknowledge the Games.

Mayor Walter Yetman began by thanking the co-chairs of the organizing committee, Ascension Collegiate principal Neil Kearley and lawyer Judy Morrow, who led a large team of volunteers and town staff in pulling off the events.

Yetman noted that planning for the Games dated back to 2018 when Bay Roberts was awarded the Games with the organizers expecting to host them in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, forced the provincial government to postpone the Games until this summer.

Kearley and Morrow provided great leadership “for an amazing group of people,” Yetman said. “It was amazing, and the positive feedback just keeps coming. Bay Roberts will be put on the map and we are being commended and we are being recognized for another great job. So, thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody.”

Everything from the Torch Tour to the opening and closing ceremonies went so well, Yetman said, singling out Town Clerk Christine Bradbury, and Tourism Director Ron Delaney, among others, for playing crucial roles organizing those particular events.

“It was the first time we’ve had the Summer Games here, it was a regional thing, we appreciate the regional support that we got, it’s all about regional collaboration, and communities coming together,” Yetman said. “And as I said Saturday (at the closing ceremony) we’re not as far apart as we think we are. We are very close, say from Carbonear up to Bay Roberts, or Port de Grave, it’s a close area and when something like this happens you can see how willing the communities are to work together and partner. It’s a wonderful thing, and it made this Games successful. We had to use all their wonderful facilities and can’t thank them enough.”

Just about every community in Conception Bay North played a part in hosting events, housing athletes or helping out in some way.

Councillor Dean Franey, who like most members of council volunteered for various roles during the events, said it was especially gratifying to be the parent of a child who was competing in the Games in her home town.

“In terms of the Games and the volunteers and the staff, and the venues, I don’t think I can say enough, I’m not even going to try to mention names,” Franey said, “because I could never mention them all. But everyone knows who they are who did something.”

Franey said the organizers managed to feed many children and coaches and support staff.

“I heard someone say that at an event like that, the food can make or break you,” Franey said. “I can guarantee you, the food made us… Nobody was without food… Way to go everybody. We did ourselves proud, I’ve got to say. And congratulations to all the athletes. I spoke to a lot of them and they all had a good time.”

Mayor Yetman noted one of the meal suppliers, Harbour Breeze Catering, shared leftovers with O’Shaughnessy House in Carbonear, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse.

“We have to applaud them for that,” said Yetman, adding there was very little waste overall, and the Games themselves were one of the cleanest ever held, environmentally speaking.

“I’ve done a lot of volunteering, but by far, this was the most demanding piece I’ve ever done,” said Deputy Mayor Geoff Seymour. “But at the same time, the most satisfying, because to see such an event, that is so important to the province, go off without a hitch, and for the Town to do such an amazing job and the volunteers to have done such an amazing job, hats off to the Town, and hats off to the population, and hats off to the region, all those communities that got involved. I think it was probably the best Summer Games ever.”

Councillor Perry Bowering, who led the security, traffic and communications committee for the Games, thanked all the volunteers who made the events successful. “I’m not going to name anybody, because you always forget someone, but the volunteers who took part, even from outside of our town – we had volunteers from as far as Placentia, Dunville, Carbonear, Victoria, Harbour Grace just jumping in to help out,” Bowering said. “As a region, everybody can pat themselves on the back because it was a big, great event and I don’t think anyone is going to top it… We even had a group come out from St. John’s and the surrounding area from the RCMP Vets (association) helping out for eight- and nine-hour shifts, which was great.”

Councillor Ross Petten said it was fabulous how everybody came onside to make all aspects of the Games, including the accommodations, a success. “It was unbelievable to see, and it was a class act,” he said.

Councillor Frank Deering, who also volunteered for some events, said one of the highlights for him was watching a team of Aboriginal athletes cheering for the host side during the Girls gold medal ball hockey game. Visitors to Bay Roberts, he added, were “blown away” by what they saw during the two weeks of activities.

“The opening and closing ceremonies, those alone were absolutely amazing,” said Yetman. “And a big thank you to NTV for sponsoring us and helping us out. They took everything and showed it to the province, and we have so much to be proud of. There were so many comments on how well it was organized, and how well it went and how much the kids enjoyed it.”