Family grateful for support when they really needed it

Members of Mount Pearl City Council were joined by former Candlelighters President Wendy Chaulk and son Andrew Chaulk on September 17 to proclaim September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Former Mount Pearl resident Wendy Chaulk served as president of the organization for a decade following her son’s cancer diagnosis in 1997.Chaulk said she was overwhelmed by the support her family received during her son’s cancer treatment. From left are councillors Isabelle Fry, Chelsea Lane, Jim Locke, Mayor Dave Aker, Andrew Chaulk, Wendy Chaulk, Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, and councillors Bill Antle and Mark Rice. Mark Squibb photo

‘Mount Pearl is the very best community in the province for community spirit’

By Mark Squibb

Former Mount Pearl resident Wendy Chaulk can still vividly remember the day her son Andrew was diagnosed with cancer.

“When a doctor looked at me and told me that my son had a sizeable brain tumor, and that he had a 50 percent chance of living, it was jarring, it was shocking, and it was scary,” said Chaulk. “And for many parents, this is their reality.”

That was in 1997. Andrew was a student at Park Avenue Elementary and member of the Mount Pearl Blades hockey team, a regular kid facing an imposing foe.

Andrew, now 38 and cancer-free, joined his mother Wendy, who served as president of the Candlelighters Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for 10 years following Andrew’s cancer diagnosis, in council chambers earlier this month to help the City of Mount Pearl proclaim September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“We are so grateful that we were residents of the City of Mount Pearl because let me tell you, it took about three or four months to get through the meals in our freezer,” said Chaulk. “And that’s important… I’ve never gotten that community feeling in St. Johns, which is where I grew up… I think Mount Pearl is the very best community in the province for community spirit.”

Chaulk’s presentation resonated with Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, who was struck by a vehicle and severely injured last May.

“My journey did not include cancer, but it certainly included a day when, like you said, everything stopped,” said Kieley. “And you don’t realize the support you need from your community until something is right at your doorstep.”

Kieley along with other members of council, commended Chaulk and her family for not only enduring their hardship, but for helping others endure hardships through their many years of volunteering with the Candlelighters Association.

Councillor Jim Locke, who taught Andrew in high school, also spoke highly of the family, and of Andrew in particular.

“Andrew never asked for special treatment,” said Locke. “He worked his buns off. He didn’t want to be acknowledged and didn’t want to stand out. He was just a regular student in class. He persevered. He asked questions when he needed to. And I remember him having a wry sense of humour.”

Chaulk recalled the various challenges her family faced during Andrew’s treatment, including the impact of treatment on his overall health.

She said in some instances, the cure can also be a curse.

“As they age out of the Janeway and into the adult system, they have special needs, because the radiation and the chemo cause damage,” said Chaulk. “The radiation affects cognitive ability and reduces it in some areas.”

Chaulk, who with her husband also helped run the Children’s Cancer Camp during their tenure with the Candlelighters, recalled meeting with members of school staff, such as Locke, ahead of each new school year to discuss Andrew’s condition.

“I met with the teachers and with the school every September until Andrew graduated, and every year they took time to sit with me and give me a path,” said Chaulk. “We focused on the areas he was strong in and as a community we got him through. And so, these are the little things that don’t seem that important, but they really are.”

As per the City’s proclamation, there are about 10,000 children living with cancer in Canada today, and each year about 1,600 new cases are diagnosed, over 25 of which are children living in this province.

Despite a nearly 75 percent cure rate, childhood cancer is responsible for more deaths among Canadian children than any other disease.

Declaration in support of Indigenous Peoples

Members of Mount Pearl City Council this past Tuesday signed a declaration in support of Indigenous Peoples. Part and parcel of the declaration was a commitment to help implement the 42 Calls for Change as articulated in the First Voice Community Action Plan, Our Shared Vision. Members of First Light Justin Campbell and Heidi Dixon were in attendance for the signing of the proclamation. Members of council spoke at length as to their support of the proclamation. From left are councillors Isabelle Fry, Chelsea Lane, Jim Locke, First Light Director of Programs Heidi Dixon, Mayor Dave Aker, Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships Justin Campbell, Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, and councillors Bill Antle and Mark Rice. Mark Squibb photo

Mayor says senior walking program a success

By Mark Squibb

Over the summer, members of Mount Pearl’s municipal enforcement division have been meeting with seniors every second week for a guided walk along the city’s trailways.

This Thursday past marked the final Safe Seniors Walk of the season.

“The initiative has been a great success,” said Mayor Dave Aker. “We’re targeting seniors and anybody who may feel a little uncomfortable walking the 70 kilometres of trails in the city.”

Aker said as many as 30 people, many of whom are members of the Senior’s Independence Group, attended each event. They met at a different location each session to mix things up and cover as much ground as possible.

“It’s nice that we can make the trails more accessible to more than just your typical, average walker,” said Aker. “It encourages physical activity, which, at the end of the day is good for people’s mental health, and it’s been great for those dealing with loneliness, because you’re going out with a small crowd. There are so many health benefits. I can’t praise our municipal enforcement division enough.”

Organizers also hosted special mug ups, complete with coffee, tea, and snacks.

Following this inaugural season, Aker said organizers will gather feedback to try and make next summer’s program even better.

Seniors, meanwhile, can join the Mount Pearl Senior’s Independence group or register for a senior fitness class at the Summit Centre.

Adult play day set for the Annex

By Mark Squibb

Elaine Marie Dunphy of Nia on the Rock and Ageless Grace and Pamela Martin-McDonald of Meridian Health & Wellness are inviting adults of Mount Pearl and beyond to come and play at the Annex.

“We’re trying to get the word out to as many people as possible and let people know how important play is for your brain, and for your overall wellness,” said Martin-McDonald. “Adulting doesn’t have to be so hard all the time. You can add in a little play.”

The duo will host an all day PlaySHOP at the Annex Saturday, October 5.

It will be a day of gentle movements, play, yoga, a scavenger hunt and rest, along with prize giveaways and snacks, and more.

“It’s a permission slip for adults to come out and do something different, something out of the norm,” said Martin-McDonald, who added adult play helps release stress, improves brain function, and stimulates creativity.

Martin-McDonald said that as folks grow older, they become more and more concerned with how they appear to the outside world, and that there is a stigma attached to play.

“Imagination is something that we tend to lose a little bit of a connection with as we grow, but the imagination is what allows us to compensate for the stress that comes with responsibilities,” said Martin-McDonald.

But is there a cost to regressing to your childhood ways, even just for a day?

In this case, yes. The cost for the all day session is $129.99.

Mount Pearl 'opens door' to help Big Brothers

By Mark Squibb

The City of Mount Pearl is the latest organization to donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland’s 75 Doors campaign, and the first municipality to do so.

The 75 Doors represent 75 young people waiting to be matched with a mentor. While the organization has enough volunteer mentors to match with the youths, it lacks the funding to do so.

“Big Brother’s Big Sisters has a significant challenge,” says Mayor Dave Aker in a video ad promoting the partnership released on September 10. “They’re at a 20-year high in terms of their waitlist. And I want people to know the larger picture, that 13 percent of those children reside here in the City of Mount Pearl. I want to make sure that people understand that this can be close to home. This campaign is essential to get the word out so we can connect with the volunteers and ensure those children in our city, our future leaders, don’t fall through the cracks today.”

The funding helps support the process necessary to match young people with a mentor. Other donors include Pippy Park Golf, CIBC, Kent, VOCM, Hickman Automotive Group, Reddy Kilowatt Credit Union, Steele Mazda, and Fortis Inc.

The donation amount wasn’t specified in the City’s announcement but following an inquiry staff confirmed for The Pearl a donation amount of $1,500.

Lions see the way

The Mount Peal Lions Club has collection 3,895 pairs of second-hand glasses this ‘Lion’s Year’ (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024). The glasses have been sent to the Bishop's Falls Correctional Centre where inmates will clean them up and fix them up for shipment to disadvantaged people in countries as far away as Guatemala. Some are also donated locally through organizations such as The Gathering Place. Pictured here is Lion Gerald Coombs displaying one of the boxes the club uses to collect donated spectacles. Mount Pearl Lions Club photo

Super Soccer Saturday

There were lots of smiles and yes, lots of soccer, at the Mount Pearl Soccer Association’s (MPSA) Super Soccer Saturday last weekend. Hundreds of youths, along with moms and dads and nans and pops, came out to enjoy not only soccer, but barbequed grub and bouncy castles as well. At the forefront were MPSA staff who, after 12 hours of keeping things in order and running smoothly, stuck around the field for a few more games of soccer. From left are Rachel Organ, Zoe Ransome, Logan Holloway, Zachary Moyst, Courtney Abbott, Erin Dalton and Matthew Abbott. MPSA photo

Locke questions extra charge for manhole adjustments

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl City council during the August 13th public meeting approved two change orders for different municipal projects.

Farrell’s Excavating had requested an additional $41,494, HST included, to account for manhole adjustments and additional flagger hours, for the Olympic Drive resurfacing project.

Councillor Jim Locke requested further clarification on the matter prior to the vote.

“Manhole adjustments are a part of normal street work, and maybe they have come through here, but this is not a common occurrence,” said Locke. “I don’t remember seeing a lot of change orders for manhole adjustments because they’re a part of the street work… So, could I get some clarity on what had to be done here and do we normally get change orders for manhole adjustments or is this something specific to this particular project?”

Planning Director Gerry Antle, who retired that Friday, allowed the request is not usual, but in this case, there was a good reason for it.

“In our unit price contracts for street upgrades, there is a standard amount for manhole adjustment, and I believe the number, if my memory serves right, is 300 millimetres of correction, or adjustment, to a manhole that’s in an existing street,” explained Antle. “And that’s based upon there being no extensive or further deterioration — we accommodate for a certain, if you want to call it a normal amount of deterioration, over time. In the case of Olympic Drive, during the course of the work, the extent of the deterioration was more extensive than what we would call our usual amount. And each manhole was indeed more extensive than 300 millimeters. It was significantly more.”

The initial tender was awarded to Farrell’s Excavating in the amount of $798,933, HST included, in July of 2023. Council has since approved $264,847 across nine change orders, bringing the total project cost to $1.06 million.

Council also approved the installation of a new safety handrail on Birch Avenue.

Councillor Bill Antle explained that a new storm sewer had been installed with a headwall adjacent to the walkway trail and small stream, and while the height of the headwall was below the standard that would require a safety handrail, the planning committee recommended installing a safety rail due to the location of the headwall.

Council approved the new safety rail, payable to Dexter Construction in the amount of $4,942, HST included.

Council approves apartment complexes under federal housing program

By Mark Squibb

Mount Pearl council last week approved funding for two new housing unit complexes under the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program.

Through the program, Ottawa provides municipalities with money to fund contractors looking to build multi-unit buildings, so long as they can complete the units within a two-year time period.

Donovan’s Homes applied for funding for two, three-storey, 12-unit apartment buildings, comprising 24 units all told, at 50-56 Dunrobin Street, while Karwood Contracting applied for funding for three apartment buildings consisting of 33 units at 166 Park Avenue.

The City’s HAF Steering Committee recommended Donovan’s Homes for $98,000 in funding and Karwood Contracting for $100,000. Council unanimously approved those amounts.

“This is exciting news,” said councillor Jim Locke. “This is in line with our strategic plan to intensify, to bring more housing and residents to the City of Mount Pearl.”

Locke said census data shows that Mount Pearl’s population has been on a decline, and needs more residents — and more housing for those residents — to increase the City’s tax base.

“The Accelerator Fund supplemented and complemented what we already had in our plan,” said Locke. “We’re on line to get a couple of hundred houses over the next two to three years, which is great news. It’s great news for building our community, but it’s certainly great news for our revenue, which we need to pay for the high-quality services that we have in our city.”

Other councillors, including Bill Antle, Isabelle Fry, and Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley, threw their support behind the motion given the current housing crisis and the number of young families, immigrants, and seniors struggling to find affordable housing.

As per the HAF terms and conditions, only applicants who have already received a development permit will be considered for funding. The City launched the program at an open-house earlier this summer. Incentives that contractors can apply for include building grants, a waiver of development fees, and pre-construction grants. Projects can receive upwards of $100,000 in funding.

Newfoundland Cheer Sport Sharks raise funds for Worlds competition

Members of the Newfoundland Cheer Sport Sharks provided canteen services at last week’s Mount Pearl Movie in the Park to raise funds for their upcoming Worlds competition in Florida. From left are Summer Janes, Claire Howse, Claire Kenny, Mackynlie Healey and Lucy Bishop. On tap for the City’s showing of Trolls: Band Together was candy, chocolate, soda and more. Isabelle Fry photo