Could this summer have been any better? With its glorious weather and a united call to Come on Home out of it, summer 2022 was one for the record books and we’ve enjoyed every minute. 

Lodge’s Loft/Lodge’s Landing, Catalina: Julie Lodge is one special woman. With a goal to return to the province and raise her children at home, she’s turned her hand at many things. 

Something she’s very good at is providing quality and unique vacation homes to anyone interested in visiting the Catalina/Port Union area. 

“When people walk through my doors, I want them to feel like they are treating themselves to something special. I wanted people to have a higher end feel and to have more of an experience than just a place to lay their head at night,” she said when we visited. With one spot so luxurious you’ll never want to leave (Lodge’s Landing) and another that leaves you longing for simpler times (Lodge’s Loft), a visit to Catalina should be on any vacationer’s bucket list.  

Follow Lodge’s Loft/Landing on Facebook or find them on Airbnb

A Little Cup of Sea, Colliers: The concept is new: A picture-perfect spot on the water where you can just sit back and relax. How perfectly perfect! Owner  Lacey Pike knew what she had the first time she saw their newly purchased little piece of heaven after moving back home from away with her husband and young son. 

What it is that makes A Little Cup of Sea special? Ask Pike and she will say, “It’s just sharing the ocean with other people on this little piece of calm on the water. It’s a spot to come and relax and fill your soul.”

alittlecupofsea.ca 

Smugglers Cove, Burin: One very special spot that brags it calls the adventurous rebel home, Smugglers Cove is one of a kind. 

With huts on the water for a one-of-a-kind stay-over next to a one of a kind Roadhouse and one uniquely designed ‘town,’ Smugglers is almost too many things to mention. In memory of the late Tom Hollett, Smugglers on the Coast of Legends has it all. A great place to eat, play or stay, Smugglers is a must on anyone’s year-round must-visit list. 

Not only are there good eats, there’s good work happening at Smugglers  too.  The Route 210 Run held in Support of the Autism Society raised over $40,000 for the charity. Great job everyone!

smugglerscovenl.com 

Golden Sands, Burin: The sand will stick around almost as long as the memories, but it’s well worth it! An incredible spot for lovers – young and old – and an incredible spot for families, Golden Sands Resort has it all and then some. 

With a sandy shore that never ends and pond water at just the perfect depth for the wee ones, the beach area offers glorious water fun for all ages. Food. Treats. Cabins. Camping. It’s all there at Golden Sands. But it’s the staff – and the seasonal campers – who really make this spot fun. Halloween. Christmas parties. New Year’s celebrations. 

Even mummers showed up at the sands this summer. Ride the ‘Paddy Wagon’ and take in a magic trick, have a dance in the barn area, play mini golf, enjoy the playground with the kiddies or just float your cares away in the pond. Golden Sands is a golden opportunity for fun in the sun. Open until Thanksgiving, there’s still time to visit! 

goldensandsresort.ca

SeaGlass B&B and Studio, New Perlican: Staying a night at Nan’s is what a stay at SeaGlass feels like, only Nanny never had such an incredible deck that sat right on the ocean. With history and beauty as well as hospitality, SeaGlass is a vacation delight. Turn your hand at stained glass and enjoy a relaxing class or do a little shopping. It’s a visit that will lead to many more planned – and unplanned –  escapes to New Perlican. 

seaglassbb.ca 

Dunrovin RV Park, Lethbridge:

This little getaway spot has everything. A place to camp in nature, spectacular cabins, great eats and so much more, this was one incredible sumer vacation stop over. 

Check out their unique wooden statues, chat with the staff about the history of the area, or just relax in the woods by the water and listen to the frogs and enjoy the view. We loved our July stay! 

Visit them on Facebook for more 

Humber River Off Grid Tours: Go just to met Uncle Mel and Ashley Hann! And tell them we sent ya! Humber River Off Grid is one of the most unique experiences of our summer. 

With incredible views, great accommodations and grand hosts, you won’t even mind the fact that you can’t post to Facebook or answer emails! Check out Hann on YouTube at Adventures Off Grid for more. 

Check them out on Facebook

Dildo Boathouse Inn, Dildo: Take a ride out to sea or just sit and enjoy the view and the grub in the restaurant, no matter the day’s plan or the time you have to spend, a visit to Dildo Boathouse Inn is a must for any road-tripper. Ask about the history of the building – it’s amazing.

It’s cool to know how some people turned the end of the cod fishery into something unique and positive, and how a fishing boat that’s been in the family for years can now provide so much joy to come from away tourists and those from home who just want to spend a day near –or on – the sea.

dildoboathouse.com 

Fishing For Success, Petty Harbour: It’s hard to put in words sometimes how incredible the people are who devote their time to preserving our culture. That’s the driving passion behind the team at Fishing for Success. 

Take the kids, take any tourists you meet, or just go spend a few hours with them yourself. From art work with fish to a day watching puffins and learning how to jig a cod, this is one fun and memorable stop over during our summer of 2022.  

fishingforsuccess.org 

Marine Park, Pouch Cove: 

I don’t know that there’s many places like it in the province. 

Minutes from the city of St. John’s, this spot offers quality and an unforgettable getaway for the entire family. Camp, rent a golf cart, enjoy the beach area, hike, or take in some of the best kiddie activities around, this Yogi Bear Jellystone Park has something for the entire family to enjoy. 

campjellystone.com 

Dildo Dory Grill, Dildo: We liked it so much, we went back again! Dildo Dory and Breakfast Under the Dory offers great grub and an amazing view. 

Go for the day or book a stay over at one of the many near-by vacations spots. We  recommend  the fish and chips and the chowder!  

dildodorygrill.com

Kilmory, Swift Current: Kilmory has been in the Jamieson family for generations and now Mary and Roger proudly carry on the family tradition. Vacationers have been known to visit annually, and make a stop over a tradition.  

kilmoryresort.com 

George House B& B, Dildo:  Built in 1885, this house has history. It also has class! Plus, it’s fun! 

From the rubber ducky placed in our glorious tub to the brilliant conversation we had with other visitors, Todd at George House makes visiting a B&B one tasty (great breakfast!) adventure! 

www.georgehousebnb.com 

Banting Memorial Park, Musgrave Harbour: I fell in love with this place and the people who stay there. 

With ocean access and a stunning beach as well as a fun pond to play in, I swear I will return every summer! 

musgraveharbour.com/park.

Mom’s Place, Mobile:  Brenda and Bob Lee know how to entertain. Friendly and kind, they know how to make life-long friends too!  Plus, Mom’s Place is glamour with a little love tossed in for good measure. Hot tub and a pool, this place is a must visit!

Roy’s Lighthouse, Catalina:  This lighthouse stayover was one of a kind. We couldn’t stop admiring the detailed work that went into this place. If you’ve ever had a dream about sleeping in a lighthouse, then visit! And ask owner Kristy Sweet where the motivation for this beautiful place came from. 

Route 66, Carbonear: We had so much fun at Route 66! The fact that Ray Johnson was there playing accordion didn’t hurt of course, plus the food and service is second to none! 

Try their muscles! You will need a spoon for the sauce!

The Vimy, Spaniard’s Bay: I love Mary. She makes sleep overs fun, and she serves the best breakfast I think we’ve ever eaten, plus the boutique! Wow!

Oh! Check it out! Great selection and great prices and great service too.  

IceBerg Alley B &B, Twillingate: What’s not to love about Twillingate? Well, Wendy and Danny make a stay even better with their hospitality. 

A stunning place to stay, and a warm loving feeling from the second you first slip into those hand knitted slippers. icebergalley.squarespace.com 

Marble Mountain, Steady Brook: There’s so much to see and do and experience at Marble Mountain all year long. Oh! Try the ribs onsite and pair that with their unique coleslaw! 

Check out the Spider Challenge – if you dare – and go for a zip too!

North Atlantic Ziplines, Petty Harbour: These guys know how to ramp up fun – and they know how to build up confidence to! The best in the tourism business when it comes to fun on bust! 

zipthenorthatlantic.com 

Grates Cove Studios, Grates Cove:  This place and the family who run it are near and dear to our hearts. What a story they have to share, and what a great piece of heaven on earth they inhabit. 

Discover the art of unpolished living here.  Go for the unique food, and you’ll never want to leave. Ask about the beauty of sea weed too! 

gratescovestudios.ca 

Lobster Pods, South River:  I didn’t know what to expect but we had the time of our lives here! 

The kids adored it, the dogs loved it, and we spent the day exploring the beauty around us and enjoying our lodgings.   

Lobster Pool, Hillgrade: Eileen is the queen! People line up to eat their grub and experience their hospitality. Go once, you will be back! Fish cakes to die for, folks!

Marble Inn & Suites Salt Water Spa, Steady Brook: Go to the spa and ask for Pamela! The best spa experience on the planet! Their saltwater experience for two is a must. Plus, we enjoyed the best pizza ever at The Cove! 

explorenewfoundland.com

Doctors House Inn & Spa, Green’s Harbour: This spot is now one of my favourite getaways. The food – best beef I’ve ever tasted – is incredible and the views and staycation offerings are too numerous to mention. One stay and you will be back.  doctorshousenl.ca   

Ocean Delight, Heart’s Delight: I think this place may be the most romantic location on earth. Stunning views of the ocean and the setting sun but also a vibe inside that insists you hold hands and cuddle. A place with so much heart, you won’t want to leave.

oceandelightcottages.net 

The Quay, Brigus:   Best ever Blueberry Crisp. Order the sampler. You’ll be glad you did! Great to share and enjoy while in one of the most beautiful places in this province. 

The Cove, Freshwater: This house has so much history and the views from the kitchen window will insist that you dine in! Take a good camera as there’s so much to experience you won’t want to forget one thing.

Michelle’s Fine Arts, Carbonear: Take a class or just experience the beauty of Michelle’s work on its own. The best textures and the most incredible colours. 

Jigs & Reels, Green’s Harbour: Beauty and fun and great food in one spot! What’s not to love? You might even meet a star! Kellie Loder was there the day we visited. 

Studio Boutique, Carbonear: Ask for Kat! The service is so amazing you’ll return for that alone, but the clothing and other items available are unique too! 

Rising Tide Theatre, Trinity: Visiting Trinity is like experiencing life in one magical place, and the talent on display at Rising Tide Theatre will enhance that experience. Try their dinner theatre. You won’t be sorry you did. 

New World Island Dinner Theatre, Twillingate: We laughed until we cried from the humour, and then we cried because we were so touched by the local talent on display.  The food was incredible too!

Iceberg Quest, St. John’s:  With fabulous music and incredible views and great staff, this is a party at sea. Arthur O’Brien was there when we sailed and our experience was one of a kind. Great memories are made with these folks!

icebergquest.com/experience-the-wonder 

Round Da Bay Inn, Plate Cove West:  Ask to meet Charlie! Better yet, have him join you for breakfast. Check out the themed rooms and pick your fav, and then help support some of the amazing charity work being performed by these kind-hearted people. 

rounddabayinn.com 

By The Sea, King’s Cove: Order the cod tongues. Amazing! Make sure you go back for breakfast, too. What a beautiful location, what a stunning community and what a great place to stay.

bythesearesort.ca 

The Stone Jug, Carbonear: This beautiful place has so much glamour and sophistication, and the food is off the charts yummy. A romantic spot or a great place to take the family.  

The Dildo Brewery & Museum: Cod tacos to die for and great pizza too. And oh yeah! Beer! Get a flight and find your fav.

www.dildoinns.com 

Margie’s Place By the Pond, Placentia: The kitchen in this place will blow your mind. Then, the master suite will do it again! But check out the rest of the house too for a step back in time. This converted former parish priest house is a must explore location. 

The Cliff House, Dunville: The beauty of Cliff House is not to be believed. From the outside to the inside, the detailed hand-crafted work will leave you inspired to amp up your own surroundings. Stay here once and you will return! 

Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co., Bay Roberts:  We tasted these delightful offerings at The Quay, but they are available many places. Visit the brewery itself as they have some amazing food offerings to pair with your beverages. 

Windamere Cabins, Rattling Brook: These amazing log cabins are in a brilliant setting and are a great place to stay when you want great access to the many hiking trails and beaches in the area.  

Sandy Cove Cabins, Sandy Cove:  Oh! The beach! Walk, stay, play and explore. A great place for beach glass, and a fun vacation spot for all.  

sandycovebeach.ca 

Frozen in Time Winery, Markland: Order one of their charcuterie boards and then taste the wine offerings. Cloudberry, Blackcurrant or Blueberry, there’s many to taste. Check out their healthy Iron Berry products too! Plus, you can stay!

frozenintimeltd.com 

Seacliff House Pro., Brigus: Have something from your childhood you’ve long wanted to have again? Check out Seacliff House! Wander the isles, find your treasure and be gobsmacked. 

Wind at your back Lazy River, Whitbourne: We enjoyed ourselves so much this day. It was fun and laughter under the sun and on the water. Highly recommended for everyone.  We want to return with a bigger group because it’s so much fun.

windatyourbacknl.ca 

St. John’s Walking Tours: The history will amaze you, even if you are from the Avalon. It’s something worth spending a few hours on for come from aways and livyers alike. 

stjohnswalkingtours.com

Mad Rock Cafe, Bay Roberts: Best fish and brewis and the biggest laugh ever with the staff. So much fun, and incredible grub. Go and then tell your friends!  

Dream Chalet Getaways & Event Planning, Brigus Junction:A glamorous staycation spot with a touching back story, this is a great spot to either escape and get away from it all, or to invite the entire family to join you for a visit!

Rise Over, Brigus: The views are incredible and the food is amazing. We had mussels and cod the day we were there but there’s so much more to try that we will visit again and again to fit in many more menu items. A great Sunday drive spot for an afternoon mug up.

theriseover.com

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians came home for Come Home 2022 celebrations and the province welcomed many first time visitors too.  The weather coorperated with record breaking sunshine for one record setting NL  summer.

There was a little something for everyone to enjoy. Wonderbolt Productions celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022, and they dazzled and delighted audiences all summer long. The George Street Festival was a huge hit and so was the Churchill Park Music Festival with both attracting huge and enthusiastic crowds. 

But whether it’s the large concerts on George Street or the smaller gatherings on an outport wharf, it’s been quite a summer to celebrate, Premier Andrew Furey said. “To see this (Come Home 2022) come from a concept to reality, and then to see the return, well the actual numbers speak for themselves,” he said as he launched into some cheerful chatter about the rise in tourism numbers throughout Come Home 2022. And the fun continues through the fall too with Come From Away: The Concert and Tell Tale Harbour yet to be celebrated and enjoyed. 

What was your favourite Come Home 2022 experience? Was it the Stanley Cup or a concert? Was it seeing family or friends or was it a wedding celebration that was delayed due to the pandemic. 

Share your super summer story with us at letters@nfldherald.com 

Charles & Camilla’s 2022 Royal Tour

Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived St. John’s on May 17th to begin a three-day Canadian tour largely focused on reconciliation with Indigenous people. 

The couple attended a welcome ceremony at the provincial legislature with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon then it was off to Gov. House and Quidi Vidi.

Photos provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, taken by Alick Tsui Photography.

Kellie Loder Proves They’re Fearless

Not only is Kellie Loder selling out shows, but they are selling totally out of merch at these performances as well, they added when The Herald swung by for a chat. “The opportunity to be on a national television show, what that has done for me is amazing. People stop you on the side of the road and people shout at you from their cars. And it’s so positive,” they said of appearing on Canada’s Got Talent. 

 Had reality set in yet? Since being a  national sensation on CGT, so much had changed. “You work so, so hard for so long to get that sort of recognition that when you finally get it it’s a bit wild. Like, I still feel like I’m a small town kid from Badger and now people are wanting to carry my things and bring me water and food and steam my clothes. And I’m like, ‘What’s happening right now?’” 

Loder also felt “different” seeing their face on a NL Herald cover. “I would go to the store and The Herald would always be on the front counter, and I would see different faces every week on the cover and I always wondered if I was ever going to make the cover, do you know what I mean? I always wondered that, even when nobody knew who I was.” Well, now they certainly do! 

Show Your Pride in NL

Irma Gerd made NL proud as one of the contestants of the third season of Canada’s Drag Race. 

Gerd told The Herald that “The amount of support that I’ve gotten from all of Atlantic Canada, not just Newfoundland, has been overwhelming. Just positively overwhelming in the best way.” 

Pride events throughout NL recognized and celebrated the diversity of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community within the province and the Provincial Government sponsored St. John’s Pride Week as a part of Come Home 2022. Sponsored events included Drag on Water held on Saturday, July 23 as well as the St. John’s Pride Parade

Staycation with the OZFM Summer CREW

Kali Kenny and Noah Perchard hit the road in the OZFM Staycation Summer Cruiser and brought the cheer and the joy to many as they travelled the province throughout the summer of 2022.

Kenny told The Herald that being a member of the Staycation Summer Cruiser Team was a “dream come true.” 

The Regatta Returns

For the very first time in Royal St. John’s Regatta history, there was a Women’s Long course race. 

North America’s oldest annual sporting event concluded with repeat champions in both the men’s and women’s races. NTV were winners of the Men’s Championship Race and Hyflodraulic won Stirling Communications Women’s Championship Race with a time of 5:11.

This year’s Regatta saw crowds return to the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake for the first time since 2019.

Jaida Lee Makes History

At 16 years old, Jaida Lee became the first female to compete in Men’s Baseball at the Canada Summer Games in 2022. The teenage baseball sensation and her father, Dave Lee, shared with media how “unreal” the experience was,  included the fact that she got to throw an opening pitch at a Blue Jays game.

Alex Newhook Brings Home Lord Stanley

Colorado Avalanche forward and St. John’s native Alex Newhook couldn’t stop smiling the day he brought the Stanley Cup home to St. John’s! 

The timing couldn’t have been better and fans young and old couldn’t get enough of the party that came with Lord Stanley held during Come Home 2022 celebrations.

About being only the third player from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Stanley Cup, Newhook shared how he received congratulations from the other two who had done so before he did – Daniel Cleary and Michael Ryder. Newhook cheered along with fans so loudly as he yelled, ’Our fans are the best in the world’ that Newhook seemed to  have lost his voice during part of the Stanley Cup parade.

Was it emotion or cheering along with fans that cause the brief quiet spell? Probably a bit of both, but whatever the reason, it was a grand day in the province and an unforgettable day for Alex Newhook and his family and friends. Congratulations! 

One visit to any area of the province will leave folks saying; why did we stay where we’re to? We should have come where you’re at long ago.

 “It’s been overwhelming, overwhelmingly positive,” says Premier Andrew Furey of Come Home 2022. Furey himself has been touring the province as much as possible himself too, he shared.  

Exactly what NL needed

“It’s just been an incredibly joyous, happy occasion for communities throughout our province. Coming out of the pandemic, this is exactly what people needed. People celebrating life … all rallying around this call to come home. And I couldn’t be more proud with the results from this campaign,” he said.

From Regatta and Churchill Park Music Festival to Monster Trucks, George Street Festival, Tell Tale Harbor and Come From Away, Furey and team have been proudly supporting events held throughout the province.  “This was exactly what the province needed right now. For decades, centuries even, we’ve had a history of festivals in towns and communities. Of concerts, arts festivals and more, but because of the pandemic these things mostly stopped. We needed an injection of enthusiasm to reinvigorate them and I think that Come Home Year 2022 did exactly that.”

Whether it was a large concert or a smaller gathering on an outport wharf, it’s been quite a summer to celebrate. The numbers speak for themselves, he said. 

In auto traffic, the province is up 166 per cent from 2019 and growing. Travellers in general are up almost 300 per cent compared to 2021. “It’s special, it’s emotional and it’s economically beneficial at the end of the day as well,” Furey  said.  

Furey shared he figures he spent one weekend in his own bed this entire summer. “It was really nice to see the hope and optimism and the spirit of Newfoundland and Labrador on full display in many communities – all communities, frankly – around the province,” he said. 

This has always been an incredible place to visit, he added. “It’s really more than just about one year. It’s about reinjecting  enthusiasm and optimism … that will live beyond 2022.” 

The premier says he has been so proud as he’s travelled around. “I’d like to thank everybody for being involved and for embracing (Come Home 2022). We were in communities that normally only have 100 people in it and to see it grow to 300 or 400 people in an afternoon to  celebrate the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador … was just fantastic.  

Mel Simmonds and her husband Brad had everything they could want – except for good health. “In 2018 I was at my heaviest, well on my way to 450lbs… medication I was on caused weight gain, high blood pressure and very high anxiety levels,” Mel Simmonds said. 

More medication was prescribed but she knew there had to be a better and a more natural way.  

“I decided to do research based on the information my doctor gave me. She said I was unable to process carbs and sugars in the same way as a regular healthy person may do so with this tidbit of information and my handy dandy Google, I stumbled across Ketogenic lifestyle.” She began to learn how to redevelop her family’s fav Newfoundland cultured-based recipes into no added sugar, low carb and low sodium meals. 

“I have been involved in the food industry since high school…and I am a very creative person so it comes very natural to me to be a rock star in the kitchen. When my family started seeing all the delicious foods I was eating they weren’t long to jump on the keto bandwagon and join me on my journey.” She lost 110lbs in a year and didn’t crave a thing. 

“Whatever I wanted I was easily able to transform into a wonderful delicious new keto approved creation.” She kept things as simple as possible, she added.  

Joining the journey

“My aim when starting was to make this as simple and easy as possible because I knew if it was anything but, my mental wellness would not allow me to continue it. When friends and family saw the amazing transformation that was happening, there were lots of questions.”

“My inbox on Facebook was being bombarded with inquiries so I figured the easiest way to do this was to build a Facebook group (Keto Newf). There I could post about my journey, answer questions and give support to my friends and family. To my shock, people from all over the world started jumping in my inbox and asking to join my journey.”

The group grew. “I had spiked some interest in people who wanted to be healthier, just like me,” she said.  

By 2019 she had lost another 220lbs and her family’s total weight loss was nearing 500lbs. “We were doing fantastic and the dish creations now were simply amazing. Not only Newfoundland cultured foods but I was learning  to recreate foods from all over the world.”

Then, in Feb 2020, one of her closest and dearest friends, Roxanne Weinhebour,  also the former owner of Chapman’s Bakery, encouraged her to start selling some of her dishes. “By the time I figured out how I was going to take orders and get it to those local people who needed it, the winter was in full swing and then the pandemic hit. I knew now, more than ever, that I needed to get these health foods out to people as being stuck in the house would make us more unhealthy,” she said.

Spreading the word

She packed up her family, the food and even the family dog and headed out on to the TCH to do safe drop offs along the way from St. John’s to GFW.  “It didn’t take long before the word spread. I had people filling up my inbox saying how much of an inspiration I was to them, and that I was helping to get them through the pandemic. Mission accomplished,” she said. 

But there was more to do, she added, and the Keto Newf brand keeps growing. Another thing growing is the couple’s love of music. 

“Brad Simmonds Country Music  (their Facebook group) has grown in popularity and Brad calls me his Wifager because I am his wife and manager. I am also his song writer, promotions specialist, booking agent, publisher and distributor,” she shared.

Husband Brad is an easy listening  country music performer, Simmonds added, and with two original songs that have been released, their music is being heard all over the world on all major streaming platforms.  –

 “Brad has always been into music since he was five and got his first guitar. Brad and I met in 2012 and I found his musical abilities and fantastic deep-based vocals very exciting and it is one of the things that made me fall in love with him. I moved to his very small rural community of Charlottetown, NL so there were no real opportunity to showcase his talent.” They married in 2015 and began livestreaming their music on Facebook. 

“We had a fan group and streamed virtual concerts. In 2018 I decided to help make his dreams come true and I wrote a letter to Santa. I asked him to help me by surprising Brad with one of the things he wanted the most because I wanted help in making his dream come true.”  

The gift? Recording studio time to help make their dreams come true.. 

Brad and Mel focus on their future while still helping others, sharing their contacts and knowledge with anyone who needs help musically or health-wise. Being a friend to all has become their passion and their mission. 

For more visit  Keto Newf – sites.google.com/view/ketonewf/home. 

The Shed – Powerhouse (sites.google.com/view/theshed-powerhouse/home). 

Brad Simmonds Country Music Artist (sites.google.com/view/bradsimmonds/home)

I’ve been privileged to meet – as well as to thank– many who work in the tourism industry throughout the province of Newfoundland & Labrador that 520-odd-thousand of us are still blessed to call home.

As these tourism angels I’ve encountered worked tirelessly welcoming expats – who easily outnumber those of us who stayed or eventually returned – and come from aways alike during Come Home 2022, one thing in particular kept tugging at my mind and at my heart. 

I left this province myself in 1990 for school, and I remained away for 13 more years. While I was gone, something that always stood out for me personally was how easy it was to make friends or how simple it was to gain employment based mainly on one simple fact: That I was born and bred a Newfoundlander. 

‘greener pastures’

Newfoundlanders who left this province over the decades to escape poverty and harsh conditions for so-called greener pastures up-along spread kindness and humour along with the mortar they slathered on the bricks they slung. 

They helped build cities and erect skyscrapers in cities throughout North America with names many from back ‘ome had never even heard of before. 

Newfoundlanders showcased their hard-working nature and demonstrated their tenacious  spirit as they fought wars for countries that weren’t their own and shovelled foundations that helped over-populate mainland towns and depopulated the outports leaving those pretty, quaint clotheslines filed with colourful flapping quilts and nanny’s knitted trigger mitts that tourism advertisers love – empty.    

But those who left to pave the way helped spread the word that the rest of us Newfoundlanders who might one day come behind a decade or even ten into the future would be just as kind  and talented and hardworking.

There’s simply some things that – for whatever reasons – just never change. Whether it’s the culture or the climate, Newfoundlanders will always be what we have always been: Hardworking and, as demonstrated continuously by tourism operators through Come Home 2022 –  focused on being hospitable.

I spoke with Nicole Power recently and she perhaps put it best. “I feel like being from Newfoundland is my superpower,” she said. Power, who grew up in Middle Cove and is now on the mainland staring in the series Strays, added that anytime anyone finds out she’s a Newfoundlander the ice is instantly broken.

“It’s a testament to who we all are at home and showcases how nice we are as people. The second someone finds out I’m a Newfoundlander they’re over the moon and they can’t wait to tell me how all of the things that they heard before about the kind of people we are are all true,” she said.  Our reputation precedes us, she added, and it has helped pave the way for others like her – myself included – and it’s something to be proud of. 

‘be leaving now, mudder’

A very long time ago some young bayman lad stood on some outport wharf and hollered out across the harbour: “I’ll be leaving now, Mudder,” taking  with him some hard bread along with hard-earned attributes of a life raised on ‘The Rock’ and the legacy that spread ‘round the globe, remaining to this very day, was born.

That very first ‘be leaving’ turned the rest of the world into believers of one simple fact proven time and time again: that Newfoundlanders really are – and will forever be – one of a kind.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

Mark Bowering just might have the most perfect working conditions possible and as we stand in his Walsh’s Farm ‘office’  – a brilliantly sun-lit field in Colliers – he takes a moment to appreciate what a great summer it’s been for anyone in the business of growing blueberries. 

“The berries, they seem to do really good in the heat. They like it. And we always notice around big rocks that hold heat from the sun, the berries around them are some of the best,” he said. 

“It’s easy to be grateful for the heat when cold can cost so much,” he added. “You can lose your whole season in a frost in June. The plants are coming to flower in June and that actually happened here two years ago with a late frost,” he said.

Bowering, as president at Bowering Gardens – a landscaping company – and co-owner of Walsh’s Blueberry Farms, spends a nice bit of time outdoors and he appreciates every minute. 

The many berry-pickers Bowering employs seem to be enjoying their day in the great Newfoundland outdoors as well. We meet Vince Wade who has been picking berries for profit since he was eight years-old. 

Bren Bartlett, who shows off his berry-stained hands, has been picking for over 35 years. Chris England – famous for being both speedy and efficient – uses a two-handed method. “Been doing this for over 25 years and I loves being out picking berries,” England said. 

Helpful bees

There’s much to brag about when it comes to Newfoundland berries. The thicker skin – believed to be designed by nature as a way to protect the berry from the elements – is possibly the reason why locally grown blueberries are ‘the berry best’ tasting and the best for us, especially when it comes to their antioxidant value. 

No pesticides are used as none are required in this province. 

The plants require no watering and they need no other tending besides controlled field burning which is on a rotational schedule and keeps the low-bush blueberry plants healthy and improves yield.  We visit the resident bees on site and Bowering explains how their presence has been helpful.

“We’ve been using bees to try and experiment with pollination … to up our yields a bit. They’re just been doing fantastic out there and seem to be loving it,” he said.

Berry pickers

One fun bee/berry fact?  Bees who thrive around blueberry bushes make a pretty amazing blueberry honey. “The honey that they make from the nectar that they collect at the time of flowering is thicker than regular wildflower only honey,” he said. 

We watch the many pickers do their thing as we enjoy the sunshine – and the berries around us. Bowering smiled.  

“Some of these berry pickers here on this farm have been here for over 30 or 40 years. Some of the same people return and a lot of them are locals. It’s amazing to watch them work. One picker could pick anywhere around  450 pounds a day depending on how thick the berries are and their experience.” 

Who’s their clients? Blueberry pie making nannies? Bowering laughed. 

“Wine makers, beer makers, restaurants, supermarkets. We mostly do bulk sales for businesses but we also do online sales to locals. You can have delivery or arrange for pick-up.”

As for how he enjoys his berries best? “In oatmeal,” he answered.  Bowering shared that when he was first asked to get into the berry business five years ago, he stood on the same field we were standing in and saw nothing but grass and woods. 

“I just saw fields of grass. I’m like, ‘Where’s the berries?’ I didn’t see it because when you look in, it’s just all grass and how can there be berries?”

But he looked down and finally saw the potential.  “When you get out on the field and you finally see the sea of blue you’re in, it’s just amazing.” 

For more visit walshsfarms.com 

This summer The Herald has had the pleasure of meeting some incredible individuals who do some amazing things as they welcome come from aways and staycationers alike to their area of the province of NL. 

One thing has stood out: these men and women all had dreams and visions they’ve tenaciously – most against all odds – made reality. They saw what others couldn’t and went for it, proving that those who work in the tourism industry really are out of this world. 

Humber River Off Grid Tours ~ Humber River, NL

Ashley Hann is a treasure of a young woman. Passionate. Enthusiastic. Brilliant. Social. Compassionate. Strong. Hann is all those things and so much more. Her passion was evident even before we met. 

A scheduling fool up meant we were running late and Hann proved she was on pins and needles waiting for us to arrive when she tracked down my phone number and enthusiastically  asked; “How far away are ya now, girl? Are ya close?” Hann was waiting when we hauled up, not because she had business to attend to – her on the Humber River tent pods and her larger and more exotically luxurious glamping dom are pretty much serve yourself – but because she’s simply proud and excited to show off all she has to offer her guests. 

Show up with your grub, unzip, and enjoy, is pretty much all that needs to happen when you visit Hann’s little piece of heaven on earth, but Hann – along with her treasured Uncle Mel – are the real attractions at Humber River Off Grid Tours. Uncle Mel Cole, at 80, says that having Hann and her enthusiastic ways around “keeps him young.” 

Hann, who is actually Cole’s grand-niece, has lived on the property for over 20 years. While he owns both a business and a home in near-by Deer Lake, life on the river is so much more peaceful, he shared. 

“I’ve had this property about 50 years and I still loves it here. I came here salmon fishing when I was 17 and I always said if I ever found somewhere any nicer than where I’m too, that’s where I would go. But I didn’t. And I’m still here because I loves it here,” he said. 

So does Hann. What is it she loves about being on the Humber River? 

“Pretty much everything,” Hann opened with emotion. It’s easy to see why. Birds and goats and chickens literally eat right out of her hand, and she spends her time on the river just steps from her door. 

“I live here and I work here because my business runs out of here and I just absolutely love this place,” she said.  

Being outdoors is her happy place, she added. Growing up, she “lived and breathed sports,” she said. “I was always outdoorsy and always active, always on the go, game for anything. I done forestry in school and then of course when I came over here (with her Uncle) I started picking at the gardens and doing things like that just for something to do.” 

The vegetable garden Hann and Cole have on the property is amazing, and Hann often plucks the veggies right out of the ground for cook-ups on the Humber during her kayaking tours.  

She’s also started quite the strawberry garden. “I have a strawberry u-pick for next year for my guests. That’s three acres of strawberries, 10,000 plants I planted. So when it comes to outdoor stuff, I don’t stop. It’s nonstop,” she laughed.  

This is Hann’s fifth year in the tourism business. 

“You didn’t even think that anyone would come down this road yet it’s been booked solid for the past five years and just continues to grow.”

And they’ve hosted people from “all over.”  “People come from everywhere. It’s camping, only better. You get queen beds and all your dishes and your pots and pans and stuff like that. Same as camping, just that it’s fancier and a little bit different. You come here, you can camp, enjoy all the joys of camping without having to lug all your camping gear. Just bring food and water,” she said. 

There’s so much to enjoy. Remember, you’re off grid so there’s no cell service and no wifi, but that’s the attraction of the place and only adds to the magic of sleeping near the Humber River. 

There’s frogs and nature and beauty all around.  Hann’s is a place equally as enchanting for a romantic getaway with sunset swims or cuddles or for a family getaway – a place where a kid can be a kid and where life slows down for all. 

That’s what Hann loves about her tourism offerings. “Go back to the way things were. Enjoy each other,” she said. 

Of course Hann herself is busy as a beaver. From laundry and clean-up to tours and more, she’s got so much going on and she couldn’t be happier. A visit to Humber River Off Grid Tours “takes you back in time,”  she said.  “I feel like I’m sharing what I love and that feels great.”

Follow Humber River Off Grid Tours on Facebook and for more, subscribe to Hann’s YouTube channel, Adventures Off Grid

Smugglers Cove ~ Burin, NL

“For centuries, rogues, rascals, and renegades have found refuge here on the Coast of Legends,” the brochure for Smugglers Cove boasts intriguingly. There could be no better intro to this magical place that resembles the wild, wild west. 

Mike Brennan and Paddy Kavanaugh are the duo behind Smugglers and it’s all in memory of a friend, the late Tom Hollett who died in 2016. 

In Hollett’s honour, there’s Tom’s Roadhouse, “Where fellow rapscallions have a scoff and wet their whistle.” 

Chef and partner Clint Brewer is the king of the kitchen at Smugglers, and on the day we visit he delights us with halibut, a feed well worth the visit. But there’s so much to Smugglers. 

From special events and concerts to guided boat tours to Great Burin Island, Smugglers has a little something for everyone. Ever wished you could experience a sleepover a stone’s throw away from a frontier fantasy town? Well you can, in one of Smugglers cozy rustic but romantic (and practical) bunkhouses. The real draw, however, is the ‘town’ itself. Located on 1.7 hectares of land in Port-Au-Bras, the interactive ‘town’ of Smugglers Cove is a treasure built out of wood and sweat that has to be seen to be believed. While there, take a run into the town of Burin itself and visit more of Hollett’s Legacy left for others to enjoy. From  Hollett’s legendary Jiffy Cab Bug proudly on display as it welcomes all to Burin, to hiking trails, Brennan and Kavanaugh make sure ‘Tommy’s’ vision lives on. 

No one says it better than Brennan and the team in their own captivating way on their handout.

“Celebrating our notorious history, we tip our caps to those kindred spirits drawn to our shores. What calls the adventurous rebel home? Come and stay awhile – you’ll find out!” 

For more visit smugglerscoveburin.com

Jigs & Reels ~ Green’s Harbour

n the evening we visit, Natasha Hollett was happily greeting her guests  – which just happened to include Kellie Loder – with a smile. Passionate is one word that can be used to describe Hollett. Mom to two young boys aged six and eight, she has her hands full, but she doesn’t mind one bit. 

“People have always been a passion for me and I wanted to take a chance. When this came for sale, we jumped on it,” she said.

This Come Home summer has been good to them, she added. “Come Home has definitely been helping us bring people in. People are very excited to get home for the first time in several years. But summer usually brings people around anyway and we like to think there’s a lot of reasons to come here when they do.”

Jigs & Reels is beautiful. From the decor inside to the beautiful and inviting outside space, it’s a must visit location for sure. The food is good, the beer is cold, and the staff are friendly.  

The building was many things before becoming a spot to enjoy a meal and a beverage or to listen to some local entertainment. It was a sawmill for one thing, and then a gas bar and garage.    

Since owning Jigs & Reels, there’s been weddings and other events. The space holds 148 inside with an additional 100 who can enjoy the area on the beautiful back patio area. 

“We try to have entertainment regularly, like Friday and Saturdays. Typically, depending on what’s going on in the area, as we try not to compete too much if there’s something else on the go around,” she said.  

Hollett and her husband George are just getting ready to head home to the kids on the evening we visit. Still, the two busy themselves with whatever needs to be done. “We all do a little bit of everything. We come in and we just jump in and up whenever we can to help make our dream come true,” she said.

Not that every day is easy, they add.  “Taking over a business, it’s a lot of work, and there’s always something you can’t anticipate. But the locals are here for us and they support us and we appreciate that.”

We have to ask about the name Jigs & Reels. Any shout out to OZFM and Danielle Butt? “Absolutely. I mean, anytime Danielle wants to come here and host her show from here, come on out. It’ll be a fun time for sure and we’d love to have her,” Hollett says. 

From burgers to delight to nachos to rave about, Jigs & Reels is a special place run by some special people. Hollett smiles. “The staff here are the best and our customers are a blessing. The whole experience of owning a business has been amazing because it shows how good and supportive people are.”

For more, check out Jigs & Reels on Facebook

By The Sea Inn & Café ~ King’s Point

Krista and Corey Gillingham  are the proud owners/operators of By The Sea Inn & Café in beautiful King’s Point. With so much to do in the area – from hiking trails that lead to stunning waterfall views to shopping, dining and sightseeing – By The Sea is the perfect place to settle in for a few nights or longer and explore. 

This is the couple’s first year running this ultra-modern spectacular Inn and eatery with the most eye-catching view, though Krista worked there for over ten years before buying it. “It just started as a small, very tiny coffee shop and it kind of grew from there,” she said.

It was health issues that started the ball rolling, she added. Krista worked in the kitchen, but shoulder concerns meant she had to step back from kitchen duties and take more of a management-styled role. “That experience helped me be ready, I guess, so when this place was for sale, even though we are not related, it felt sort of like the business was staying in the family.”

While COVID had its challenges – including the loss of many of their scheduled bus tour stop overs – things have been good for the most part.   “That things are going back to what they were before COVID is wonderful for us and wonderful for the whole town,” she said.  

There’s a big sense of community pride throughout King’s Point. Even the garbage buckets are beautiful. With stores galore and incredible places to visit and enjoy, it’s a must see destination on any bucket list for sure. 

“The community as a whole and our town council does a great job and everybody in the town takes pride in what we have and what we’ve got. 

Everyone is constantly looking for new ways to improve what we have here.”

The food and the service is brilliant at By The Sea. “We do cater to a lot of locals when it comes to the menu but anyone who visits also loves to eat things like fish and chips and cod tongues,” she says. 

They have two seasons, she continued, the tourist season which runs from June till September, and their regular season, and both are important. The Inn – with one suite, The Eagle’s Landing, located in the main building with others next door, is a beautiful space to rest one’s head. And there’s more coming, Krista said proudly, as construction has begun on additional rooms.    

One bonus of a stay at the Inn is free breakfast in the dining area. “I find that a lot of people mention the food. People will say, ‘Who is the chef?’ And we always say that we don’t have chefs in our kitchen. We have cooks in our kitchen that were raised here in Newfoundland in a Newfoundland kitchen by Newfoundland mothers. We don’t have trained chefs in our kitchen, and here, salt is a seasoning, but the people in our kitchen were trained in life and there’s no better training than that, is there?”

For more visit bythesearesort.ca 

Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat ~ Catalina

Kristy Sweet has an interesting link to The Herald, she begins. “I was the baby of the year in 1980, and Suzanne Somers was on front cover. The Herald means something still to a lot of people, and having you here so you can tell our story means so much,” she said. 

There’s history here, Sweet continues. “Back years ago there were houses here, but they ended up towing them into town because they wanted people in the city to just make life easier for them I guess, but I can’t see wanting to leave here,” she said as her four-year-old daughter, Gracie Joe, played nearby on this picture perfect summer day. 

The setting couldn’t be more amazing. A lighthouse near the water in the beautiful town of Catalina with nothing around us but sea, sky and a stunningly inviting walking trail along the edge of the ocean.  Sweet appreciates the setting, and what the land around has to offer. 

“My grandmother is 89-years-old, my dad’s mother, and she’s out here every summer picking berries. My  grandma picks 20 gallons a year.”     

The reason why we are visiting on this day is to talk about Sweet’s late father, Roy Sweet. “My dad was a fisherman back years ago. He had two long liners, the Laura K and  the Laura K Two.” 

Laura was the name of Sweet’s great grandmother who lived on the now resettled Green Island. “When Dad wasn’t fishing he went into the woods in the wintertime to cut logs and then he opened up a sawmill and started selling logs,” she said, reflecting on old times.  

Sweet’s father’s grandmother’s father was a lighthouse keeper on Green Island: Joseph Sweet, and those old family stories captured Sweet’s imagination as a child and beyond. Her father also loved the family’s legacy and he always loved  lighthouses. 

Sweet’s dad passed away on March 15th, of 2020 and Sweet was crushed, she said. “He was my world. I just spent so much time with Dad, and I just wanted his memory to live on and this place here helps me. I come here everyday to the lighthouse and I remember him,” she shared. 

How this stunning lighthouse came to be is one incredible tale of a daughter’s vision fueled by love and devotion. 

With no formal plans, the work began on land Sweet’s father had purchased years before his death. Birchwood Construction helped Sweet’s dream become a reality and twins Terry and Perry Cullimore took over the inside finishing work. The end result is incredible. 

The response of those who stay at Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat has been incredible, she added. “It’s overwhelming. I love to see people come and enjoy this place I built in memory of my dad. Besides Gracie, this is my everything because it brings me closer to Dad and I know he would have loved it here,” she said. 

Watching the boats and the clouds  from the deck brings peace, she added.     Sweet also owns Gracie Joe’s Place, an 88-year-old family home in Catalina not far from Roy’s Lighthouse, but it’s here that she feels closest to her dad. 

“Dad is here. I can feel it. And I know he’s looking down feeling really happy with what we’ve done on this land in his memory.” 

For more visit Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat or Gracie Joe’s Place on social media and Airbnb. 

“I am so grateful to be part of such an awesome show, Hudson & Rex, as a police officer since day one season one,” he said. 

“The actors are so down to earth to work with each and every day as we punch 12-plus hours most days yet it flies by in no time. ”Sherri Davis is Rex’s (Diesel’s) trainer and is so amazing to watch on set,” he adds.  

“The things she is able to get Rex (Diesel) to do is just short of mind blowing. Most don’t get to see the many hours of hard work behind the scenes it takes training Rex to do each and every scene to near perfection. What they accomplish can only be described as incredible,” he said. Everyone from the cast, crew, hair, makeup, wardrobe and transport are all rock stars and he “loves them all,” Morgan added with a smile. 

We ask Morgan what he’s been  up to besides Hudson and Rex. 

“I’ve been a police officer in the popular show Departure, season three slated to air on Global late this Fall. I started off early spring in a TV show called The Canoe Project where I play a camera man in one episode and then shortly after that I was involved in a full length film called Skeet where I had a small part as a police officer,” he says, adding that “playing a role in law enforcement seems to be a calling.” Morgan began an acting career somewhat later in life, but it’s been quite the experience, he shared. 

“I was thrilled to be invited to audition for and land a small role in an upcoming short film called Vegas where I’m in a scene with my spouse, actor Paula Morgan, and with actor Rhiannon Morgan that premieres Oct. 23 at the St. John’s International Womens Film Festival on Gala Night.”

But the highlight? His continuing role on Hudson and Rex. 

“Of course season five of Hudson & Rex as a Police Officer which airs late Sept.  is amazing to be part of.  We continue shooting until late Dec. and I look forward to each and every day.” It’s a gift to work in his home province on a show that has such a reach. Rex is beloved around the world and the show itself has so many fans worldwide.
  “Life’s been great to say the least. If you love what you do it will feel like you never worked a day in your life, the saying goes and working on Hudson & Rex is that and more in  nutshell.” 

Watch for Hudson & Rex, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 25 on Citytv and Citytv+ 

The Provincial Government delighted islanders when they announced they would be bringing Come From Away The Concert and the new musical comedy Tell Tale Harbour to Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Arts and Culture Centres’ program line up for Come Home 2022.

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning international hit musical Come From Away  returns to the Steele Community Centre in Gander and premiers at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s reuniting  members of the Toronto cast and band along with original Broadway cast member, the province’s own Petrina Bromley. 

Come From Away The Concert will be presented in Gander, from Sept.13-15 and in St. John’s from September 19-20, as marquee events for Come Home 2022.

Later in October, the province’s Arts and Culture Centres’ present Tell Tale Harbour, based on the screenplay, The Grand Seduction. This new musical comedy from the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Prince Edward Island will see its Newfoundland and Labrador debut as another marquee event for Come Home 2022. 

Co-written by and starring the province’s own musical icon Alan Doyle, Tell Tale Harbour also features the talents of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Jillian Keiley and Edward Riche.

“Exciting things are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador for Come Home 2022. The stage is set for some incredible performances. Along with the impressive performances that will grace the stages of our Arts and Culture Centres province-wide, we are thrilled to be bringing Come From Away The Concert and the Tell Tale Harbour musical home to our province,” said Premier Andrew Furey at the announcement. 

“We are beyond thrilled to bring Come From Away back to its home in Newfoundland this year. When we first performed our show there, it was a life-changing experience for us – and the Come From Away Company – and we are grateful to be invited back with a Canadian cast including several Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, like Petrina Bromley, coming home from Broadway. It means the world to us to share these stories with the community that was so generous with us and has now inspired millions around the globe,” said Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away’s creators. 

The Herald spoke to Bromley who said she was “excited” to be returning to ‘The Rock.’ “The idea of bringing the show home to Newfoundland for people to see is an incredible experience. Sharing that story and seeing that it gets told so that everyone can get a sense of how important it is and how big a moment it was is just magical,” she said.

Bromley’s favourite memories of the show’s run are the performances on home soil, she added. “It was just the most unbelievable experience to be welcomed and embraced into the community and to have that feeling of pure nervous joy. I always say for me it was like bringing your new boyfriend home to meet the family.”

Demonstrations of kindness can come in many forms. From holding a door open for a stranger to letting someone with only a handful of items ahead of you in a grocery store lineup – there’s many ways to spread a smile.

I had one interesting encounter the other day that deserves mention. I was having a difficult few days. Life was not being as kind as it usually is for a variety of reasons – from daily difficulties to individuals who were being less than pleasant. For whatever combination of reasons, it had been a tough few days.  I reached out to a friend, Grace Shears, a woman who knows how to share her light and love with others. My partner also joined us, determined to be part of the solution when it came to turning my dark sky to sunshine once again. 

What started out as a coffee in Pop’s Diner turned into a full blown meal, and we lingered longer than we had planned. While the service was incredible, there was one staff member there, ‘J,’ who had served us in the past and all three of us gathered together on this day knew him a little in passing. 

While we were not sitting at one of his tables, ‘J’ popped by a few times to smile and share a few words in greeting, but there was no indication in the least that he knew why we were gathered or what we were talking about. When it was time to part ways, my partner and Grace argued over the bill. My partner won, and as he went up to the cash to pay, he paused bewildered. When he opened up the check, there were the words … ‘Love you! Meals on me! J.’ 

We tried to find ‘J’ to thank him, but he had gone home for the day. There would be no basking in glory. No hug and no words of appreciation. ‘J’ just paid our bill and went home, looking for nothing in return. While the  talking and the sharing at that table with a friend and a loved one had done some good when it came to lifting my blue mood, ‘J’ had accomplished so much more through this kind and unexpected gesture. It was like a miracle has taken place and we were all left a tad shocked, quite amazed, and a  whole lot uplifted. 

I’ll try to think of ‘J’ as I go about my day more often. While I usually try and work kindness in as much as I can, I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to slipping sometimes. As we prepare to send the kiddies back to school, now is as good a time as any for an uplifting story, one that sets the bar when it comes to demonstrating kindness to others.

As we send our kiddies out to learn their A,B,Cs this Sept., let’s add a little ‘J’ in there for good measure.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com