Morrow and Kearley grateful for Bay Roberts backing in making Summer Games a success
By Olivia Bradbury/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The co-chairs of the recent Newfoundland and Summer Games visited the Bay Roberts Town Hall earlier this month to present council members with a thank you gift.
Lawyer Judy Morrow and Ascension Collegiate principal Neil Kearley attended the October 8 meeting of council to thank the Town of Bay Roberts for all of its support during the Games, which ran from August 10 to August 17. Bay Roberts was the official host of the Games, and as Mayor Walter Yetman noted last month, was grateful to be able to draw upon the support and resources of its sister municipalities across Conception Bay North to host events, athletes and visitors.
Mayor Yetman praised Morrow and Kearley for restarting the process to host the Games, which were supposed to have happened in 2020, but were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“That’s dedication and commitment,” said Yetman, who again thanked everyone who made the 2024 NL Summer Games possible, including the co-chairs, committees, and volunteers.
Morrow, in turn, thanked the town council for its involvement in the Games. She said that while she was happy the Games went so well, she missed everyone once they were over.
Morrow also express her thanks to the volunteers involved in the games, whom she described as “running the whole show” and making the co-chairs, host committee, town, and province look good. She also thanked the councillors who were involved with the events, particularly councillor Perry Bowering and Deputy Mayor Geoff Seymour.
Kearley echoed Morrow’s sentiments. He credited the volunteers for their efforts, and also spoke of friendships made and rekindled while organizing the games.
“It’s what you do get out of it, I’ll say,” said Kearley.
He added that he and Morrow were appreciative of the town council’s support and had often mentioned it during interviews. He noted the population of Bay Roberts is “somewhere north of seven thousand,” and that there were over five hundred volunteers involved in the 2024 NL Summer Games.
“Do the math on that,” said Kearley. “The community spirit you folks work on through your efforts as town council is second to none in terms of what we’re able to pull off here.”
Following their address, Morrow and Kearley presented the council with a framed set of NL Summer Games medals —gold, silver, and bronze. They also presented council members with NL Summer Games aprons as thanks for hosting a barbecue for the NL Games host committee.
