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! 

We were in a restaurant in a hotel in Paris. It was the middle of the Republican primaries before that weird election that took Donald J. Trump to a one term presidency.

Wife and I were on a short trip to France. It was part of an organized tour which I hate. There were about 20 or 30 of us and it was all Americans except for wife Judy and me.

Over dinner with one of the American couples the subject of Donald Trump was raised at the table and the couple with us, older than ourselves, wanted to know if I could assure them that Donald Trump would never be President of the United States. I told them with great and very misplaced confidence that the American people would never let someone like Trump be president.

Orange faced oily grifter

Well, how wrong was that! Incredibly all obstacles vanished, and an orange faced oily grifter named Trump became POTUS as they say in news circles. 

It was enough to send you to despair although, luckily, as soon he walked in through the doors of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue Donald Trump began to self-destruct. Through an incredible series of bad decisions by Trump, the Republican Party lost control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and ultimately the White House itself when Democrat Joe Biden beat him at the polls like you would beat a rug in the spring.

Even after Trump’s defeat things turned really ugly after what was an attempted coup in Washington on the 6th of January that did not work. The air went out of Trump’s attempt to cling to power with a whoosh. He may run for President again, but even his hold on the Republican Party has waned and Donald is no longer the “go to guy.”

He was caught with classified secret documents from his presidency stashed away at his Florida golf club with federal agents armed with a search warrant pounding on the door looking to get the material back.

I think Donald Trump is going to jail eventually. He will be a victim of his own ego. He thought he was above the law. Now as he “lawyers up” it must cross his mind between snack boxes and hamburgers that this is one narrative he cannot control.

In a quiet moment he will wonder how it all went wrong so quickly and how he came to be wearing an orange jumpsuit from some federal penitentiary. A friend of mine has one of those “Make America Great Again” hats. He does not wear it anymore. Not a minute too soon.   

NTV’s Jim Furlong can be reached by emailing: jfurlong@ntv.ca

“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+ 

There’s little doubt Diesel, who plays Rex on Hudson & Rex, is a mega-star and one very good boy! The day the six year-old German Shepherd strolled into The Herald with owner Sherri Davis, he easily stole the show.

Every mega-star has a stunt double and Diesel had two. “Diesel is the face of the show, and our main dog who does 99 per cent of the show and then the other one per cent is played by his nephews Iko and Is-he,” Davis said with a smile.  

Davis has been in the film industry for 25 years and been training dogs just as long, she explained. How did she and Diesel meet? She’d been looking for that perfect companion for years when the call came that there might be a puppy available for her to work with. She booked a flight to check out the possible find.

“I went and looked at these two pups and Diesel was at the far end of the kennel on the right hand side and this dog just kept locking eyes with me,” Davis said.

She was told “That damn dog was bought as a puppy and returned untrainable.” So I said, ‘Well, would it be good with these dogs? (looking at two young puppies she planned on buying) And they said, ‘His sister had these dogs,’ so they were the nephews. I went for one puppy and I ended up coming home with Diesel and his two nephews,” Davis said with a laugh.

‘Go get the bad guy’

Diesel loves his role on Hudson & Rex, David added and “he loves the chasing. He gets super excited when we do any kind of ‘go get the bad guy’ stuff. He’s so excited when he goes to work on a Monday morning and gets a back scratch from everyone.”

Davis has some expert tips when it comes to preparing our furry family members for back to school time. With COVID and working from home/schooling from home over the past two years, things have been a whole lot different than they will be this Sept. “As much as we think of our dogs as kids and think they understand and know what we’re saying and what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling – which is true – you can’t explain to them the future,” she said.

The time to start exposing our pets to any change in schedule is before it happens, Davis shared.  “There’s going to be that drastic change in their lives come back to school. Don’t do it all at one time and don’t make it drastic,” she said. Get the dog used to everyone leaving the house at one time, she advised. If you crate the dog, then start doing so now, a little at a time.

“Start doing it now instead of waiting until the day so that the dog is getting used to being in its own space again. It’ll make the transition much less stressful for the dog when it comes time for everybody to go back to work and school.”

 Is there any one question that pet owners ask about, we ask. “Jumping and barking is the number one thing that I hear from pet owners – jumping up on people and barking. And I say to people all the time, ‘well, what do you tell the dog?’ And they say, ‘no.’ And I say, ‘No, what?’”

When we want a dog to lie down, we say lie down. When we want a dog to sit we say sit. What exactly does the word ‘no’ mean to a dog, she continued.   “A lot of times behavior problems is just miscommunication between owner and dog and what you think you’re telling the dog to do is not what you are saying,” she continued. Giving the proper command is key. So is being positive. “I often say, ‘no means nothing unless it’s used in conjunction with a positive.’” 

‘Talk to me’

Try saying things like ‘good boy. No jumping.’ Or ‘good boy. No barking.’ Another tip? Teach your dog to do what you don’t want it to do so that stopping the behavior becomes a known command. “Teach the dog to put its feet up on you. Teach the dog to put its feet up on the wall. Target an object for them to put their feet on to mimic ‘jumping’ because then it’s very easy for the dog to understand and associate their behavior with when it’s fine (good boy) and when it’s not (good boy, no jumping).” 

Same for barking. “If you’ve got a dog that barks, yelling, ‘no, no, no,’ is not going to work. Teach it to bark or speak or ‘talk to me’ because then when the dog barks and it’s not supposed to, then it’s very easy for the dog to understand, ‘Oh, you don’t want me to speak right now.’”

It’s all about speaking in ‘dog language’ and communication, she added.

Davis says her Newfoundland experiences have “been amazing.” “We’re always very thankful for Newfoundlanders and for Newfoundland. People always welcome Rex wherever we go and the continued support for Hudson & Rex is absolutely amazing and we can’t thank you guys enough.” 

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

On the evening of August 30th, 1997, Princess Diana  – known far and wide as The People’s Princess for her kindness, generosity and unshakable connection to both commoner and aristocrat alike – was the victim of a high speed car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.

Diana, 36, was pronounced dead in the early hours of August 31st, alongside her then partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul. 

A firestorm of celebrity-hounding, blood-sucking paparazzi had chased the couple’s black Mercedes Benz from the Ritz Hotel in Paris to their inevitable fate against the 13th pillar of the Pont d’Alma tunnel. 

It was a tragic end to a beloved and – realistically – deeply troubled life for a figure who seemingly never fit the mold of the prim, proper, and perfectly conformed British Royal.

Diana, rather, was a trend-setter, a norm-buster, opting to connect to the people rather than stand aloft from them. 25 years following her horrifically unjust end, The People’s Princess is still looked at in deity-like status, with fascination on her life, loss and legacy still at a fever pitch all these years removed from her final moments.

Discovering Diana

Fascination has not wained in the two and a half decades since Diana Spencer left this mortal coil. Rather, it has only grown. In the last three years, for example, Diana has been immortalized in film and television, with the recently acclaimed HBO max documentary The Princess buoyed by stunning portrayals in The Crown by Emma Corrin (and soon to be Elizabeth Debicki), as well as an Oscar nominated-turn by Kristen Stewart in the biopic Spencer.

A Breathe Of Fresh Air

Many royal pundits have viewed the entry of Diana into the royal household as a breathe of fresh air for the, at times, stuffy and seemingly unreachable British monarchs. The wedding of Diana and Charles, for example, was viewed by 17 million viewers around the globe. But it would not stop there.

Something as simple as opting for round tables as opposed to tradition regal banquet halls, and eating standing up in the kitchen, were down-to-earth and very human qualities that endeared Diana to Britain and beyond, earning her the title ‘The People’s Princess. It has been said that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have taken up some of Diana’s trait of bucking royal norms.

Diana’s Pride

By all accounts, Diana Spencer had no love in her life more profound than that for her sons, William and Harry. Royal observers have often speculated that, if she were still alive today, Diana would be a doting grandmother to what would be her five grandchildren, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Archie and Lilibet. 

Giving Back

Charitable organizations were always close to the heart of Princess Diana. Among her many philanthropic endeavours over the years, Diana’s Lady Diana Foundation continues on today with the mission to continue the Samaritan deeds of the People’s Princess, with a fond memory of her bright personality and the ability to unify people in a single cause – the development and prosperity of humankind as a whole, as per the organization itself. A continued nod to her kind heart.

A Symbol of Life

There are monuments and symbols dedicated to the life and lasting love and legacy of Princess Diana across from globe. Just last year one particularly poignant memorial was erected in London. Prince’s William and Harry gathered in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in commemoration of what would have been their mother’s 60th birthday. 

The statue unveiling, which was sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, “aimed to reflect her warmth, elegance and energy, in addition to her work and the effect she had on many people,” according to spokespersons at Kensington Garden. 

This is just one of many gestures and tokens that reflects the warm, laughter and love Diana Spencer brought to everyone she met throughout her brief life.

Sharon Snow finds it incredible when she reflects on her career at NTV. “22 years with Places to Go and 30 with NTV. It’s been quite a ride, and it’s not over yet,” she said with a laugh.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Snow one-on-one, then take our word for it: she’s just as incredible off camera and she is on. More so, if that’s even possible.

When we spoke, Snow was on vacation with family, but she didn’t miss a beat when she answered her phone. 

“That’s okay, my treasure, you called at a perfect time,” she opened. 

Of course, Snow is quite proud of Places to Go, sharing that each segment is like having a friend say, “I’ve been there, I loved it, go check it out!” 

“I was able to go to my hometown, and that was very special. There was so much to see and do in Fogo and so we kind of hit the road on Father’s Day weekend, and Tony (Barrington, camerman extraordinaire) joined me that Monday and we did a whole bunch of shoots which are still airing. We literally shot Places to Go nonstop, and that’s super cool that there’s so many amazing places to go,” she said. 

Tony Barrington has been enjoying going along for the ride, Snow said with a laugh as she reflects on the fun she’s had with her “side-kick.” 

“He loves to hang out with me. I mean, seriously, what’s not to love about going to fabulous places and experiencing amazing things? I keep telling him I got him spoiled rotten.”

22 years of Places to Go

Snow’s Places to Go is very popular with NTV fans. What is it that fans love so much, we ask. 

“We’re highlighting places within the province and it’s been going for 22 years so it’s kind of like a friend telling you, ‘Hey, you know, I was at this place, you should go. It’s super cool. I know you’re going to love it.’ So I think that’s kind of how people look upon the feature. They know me. They have been watching for 22 years. They like to know what this place is about and they like having some suggestions,” she said. 

Thinking back, we ask Snow about what she thinks of the last 30 years. She almost didn’t take the job, she admitted. But timing is everything, she added. 

“I was happy where I was, but the second time (the job was offered) it was at just the right time. So I absolutely believe timing is everything and I do believe it was meant to be.”

Some of her career, like the television pieces, were “by accident” she added. 

“I was hired for sales so the rest was by accident. Like they say; the best things are unplanned and they often turn out to be the most wonderful times of your life. And that’s the case as I look back now and say ‘30 years. Wow.’”

The friendships she’s made with chefs and with business owners, as well as with coworkers, has been a gift, she said.

“We did things like Supper with Sharon. I don’t know if you remember that, but that was a long time ago and we did it as part of live weather hits. We would literally go into local celebrities homes – into their kitchens – and make dinner for them from the ingredients in their cupboard and in their refrigerator. And those relationships are still special.”

But there’s the Frosty Festival and the Health Care foundation too. 

”What we do for them as a company  and the relationship that we have with them all, it’s all part of serving the community and that’s the mandate for television, for NTV. In doing so, by achieving that and by working on that and keeping that as a goal, then all of those beautiful relationships have been forged.” 

‘I love everyone’

Snow is known for her kindness. She’s known as a hard worker. And she’s known for her fashion sense too. 

She laughed. Tops for her? Her work family, she shared.

“Oh, my gosh. I love everyone. We get along. We support each other. We lift each other up. And that’s very important. There are so many things that you could say or do, but when you choose kindness it just works. That’s so important that we support each other.”

Anything else she wanted to add before she heads back to vacation mode, we ask?  “It’s been a great ride over 30 years. Who would have thought that?  22 years of Places to Go. And I just know I’m looking forward to the next number of years.”

But it won’t last forever, she teased. She has plans to settle down eventually and enjoy life at home. “Oh, there will be retirement. Oh, it’s going to happen. So I’m working on that, but even retirement promises to be exciting.”

NTV’s Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr loves the great NL outdoors, but the best part of all is sharing the beauty of this place with his family, particularly his young daughters, Emily and Allie

Trinity. Bonavista. Champney’s West. Bear Cove Beach. Lockston Path Provincial Park. If you follow NTV’s Eddie Sheerr on social media, no doubt you’ve seen a few of his eye-popping pictures along his travels of the beauty this province has to offer. 

Sheerr and his wife Susan have long been outdoor enthusiasts, but knowing they can now share that love with their daughters Emily and Allie has brought so much more joy to their adventures, he shared. While Allie is too young to have a bird’s eye view from daddy’s shoulders or backpack, she  does enjoy the stroller, Sheerr said. 

A great summer

“Emily still likes the ride. My back doesn’t like it quite as much now that she’s older, but she still does. She likes to go in the carrier, and seems to really enjoyed it no matter where we go if she up there looking around.” 

Allie also seems to have a love of the great outdoors. “Allie has a stroller, so I haven’t put her up in the carrier yet. She’s a bit too small yet I think, but she likes going around and seeing everything.”

We ask Sheerr if his family have any favourite views to take in. 

“The entire island is beautiful in and of itself. Cape Bonavista was really nice. We were out there on a really nice day but really any anywhere that has a view is a good area. And I’m really glad that we get to enjoy it like we do.”

What about the weather? It’s been a great summer so far. While Sheerr would love to take the credit for the sunshine and warm temps, he just laughed. 

“We got off to a bit of a slow start with maybe a few less than great days, but it’s been phenomenal and it looks like it’s going to continue. And we were outside  having lunch together a couple of weeks ago and it was probably 25, 26 degrees and there was no wind.”

While not one to usually complain about such things, no wind in Newfoundland can mean bugs!

“Typically,  you’re out and loving sunshine and no wind, but the bugs! In Newfoundland you are usually wishing for the wind to calm down, but I was wishing for it to pick up, though I got used to it. Emily had a few bites and the flies were circling, but we enjoyed ourselves anyway,” he said with a chuckle. 

Sheerr has had a busy year work and family wise. A new baby combined with a busy, windy winter kept him hopping, but he still makes time for those who reach out to him, like Jake Thompson of NTV’s NL Now.

“I was his first guest and I’m in the hundredth anniversary show, and it was definitely an honour to be back with Jake. It’s really good to see him making that show a success. He’s done a great job and it’s great to see him continue.”

Sheerr, who was visiting family when we spoke, paused to speak with Emily who was working hard to get her daddy’s attention. He has to go. It’s family time.  Sheerr’s last words were ones we should all heed. “Newfoundland is a beautiful place to live or to visit. Take in as much of the beauty as you can.”

Jodi Cooke is one of NTV’s most seasoned journalists and perhaps the province’s most dynamic.

She embodies the spirit of NTV News, where versatility and professionalism are paramount. Cooke, who’s been with NTV for over 15 years, is willing to tackle any story, asking tough questions and delivering the product with accuracy and acumen.

Equally comfortable behind the desk as in the field, she perhaps shines brightest on live television. Her poise and comfort in front of a live television audience, as a reporter, is second to none in Newfoundland and Labrador broadcasting – no small task when considering the material she delivers is often technical and complicated.

Cooke also has the unique ability to make viewers feel like they’re listening to a trusted friend. That’s why you’ll see her fronting those “live hits” for national television, covering stories like the recent Royal Visit or major breaking news events that speak to a national audience.

Sunday Evening News

But like so many of her colleagues, Cooke doesn’t take herself too seriously. Yes, she takes her career seriously but is game for any challenge. 

A self-described adrenaline junkie – who has a penchant for adrenaline sports like skiing – it’s no surprise she tackles her journalism career with the same passion and vigor. 

She’s the first to raise her hand for participatory journalism assignments, from training with a search and rescue team to, wait for it, repelling from a helicopter. 

Those assignments, she admits, are among her most fun days at the office. Versatile is a word that best defines Cooke and, well, many of her colleagues.

She’ll file a major story one day and sit in the anchor chair the next. Cooke will anchor Newsday, First Edition and co-anchor The NTV Evening Newshour, and will be back reporting in the field just a day later. That’s the type of virtuosity that separates NTV News from the competition.

She’s not alone. Like Cooke, Amanda Mews has hosted everything from morning news and entertainment checkpoints, from Newsday to First Edition and the Evening Newshour. You can also find her, on occasion, delivering the weather forecast when Eddie Sheerr is out of the office. Did we mention she’s Cooke’s co-host on the The Sunday Evening Newshour?

Mews is also the station’s popular entertainment reporter, has a weekly feature (Backstage Pass) and hosts a weekly half-hour entertainment show. Oh, and is the main reporter for the daily Your Community feature.

Like Cooke and Mews, veteran journalist David Salter has hosted many of the same programs from time to time – news and entertainment checkpoints, Newsday and even First Edition, The Evening Newshour and Sunday on occasions. Salter also hosts his own weekend news program, Eyewitness News.

When he’s not anchoring, Salter is filing top news stories as a general assignment news reporter.

The station’s commitment to news – provincially, nationally and internationally – is what makes it a news leader. The NTV Evening Newshour has been the province’s top newscast for two decades, averaging over 100,000 viewers each night in this province alone. 

In fact, it’s not only the top newscast but is the most-watched program in Newfoundland and Labrador. There are nights, for example, when over 120,000 people in this province are tuning in, astonishing for a province of about 500,000.

“It says a lot about the incredible work this team does,” says Mark Dwyer, NTV’s Director of News and Current Affairs. 

“Hard work, consistency, a commitment to local news and a very talented team of people has earned us the trust of our viewers. We take that responsibility very seriously.”

‘Commitment to news’

NTV’s news team features many of the province’s top journalists. The anchor team is led by veteran broadcasters Toni-Marie Wiseman and Michael Connors, among two of the most trusted names in local news. Wiseman, of course, began her career with NTV over three decades ago. 

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with some great people over the years but, honestly, this team is incredible,” says Wiseman, who also anchors First Edition.

Her co-anchor, Michael Connors, is one of the province’s most trusted journalists. Connors was NTV’s legislative reporter since 2005, replacing Glen Carter at the desk when he retired earlier this year.

“I think our success stems from the Stirling family’s commitment to news,” says Dwyer. “In an era when other networks are looking for ways to cut, we look for growth. I’m very fortunate to be part of a team that works together to tell the stories that matter in this province, and around the world.”

And, of course, no topic is more important to people in this province than the weather and that’s why NTV Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr plays such a pivotal role. No one delivers more detailed, in-depth and expert weather forecasting than Sheerr.

The NTV News brand is demanding. There are morning news checkpoints, a half-hour Newsday newscast at noon (weekdays at noon), not to mention 90 minutes of news from 5:30 to 7 (First Edition and NTV Evening Newshour). There’s The Sunday Evening Newshour, an hour-long broadcast anchored by Jodi Cooke and Amanda Mews

There’s news-driven programs like Issues and Answers (hosted by Michael Connors), Eyewitness News (hosted by David Salter), Week-in-Review (a half-hour recap of the week’s top stories), not to mention a half-hour weekly entertainment show (hosted by Amanda Mews). 

There’s also breaking news programs, everything from the provincial budget to election coverage.

“It’s a challenge to deliver all these programs but it truly shows how much depth we have at NTV,” says Dwyer.

One of NTV News’ secret weapons over the past few decades has been photojournalist Bart Fraize, noted for his work in spot news – from tragedies to rescues. His work has elevated NTV as a breaking news leader. 

Acquiring talent

Speaking about outstanding camera work, NTV has two of the best in Tony Barrington and Glenn Andrews. Barrington recently celebrated his 44th anniversary with the company. Andrews is emerging as one of the province’s top feature editors.

And the team keeps getting better with the acquisition of talent. Beth Penney, the 2018 Geoff Stirling Memorial Scholarship winner, has emerged as one of NTV’s top young journalists. Ben Cleary, who pursued a journalism degree after graduating with a political science degree at MUN, was named Atlantic Canada’s Top New Journalist in 2020. 

Cleary is now NTV’s legislative reporter. Bailey Howard and Marykate O’Neill, both outstanding young journalists, have been key additions to the NTV lineup in recent years.

The latest to join the award-winning newsroom is an award-winning journalist herself, Rosie Mullaley. After over three decades at The Telegram, she made the switch from print just weeks before Carter’s retirement.

Of course, that’s the St. John’s newsroom. Two of the province’s most familiar journalists are outside the overpass – Don Bradshaw and Colleen Lewis, the talented west coast and central correspondents who are fixtures with the NTV news brand.

“I challenge you to find a more talented, dedicated, multi-dimensional team,” says Dwyer, answering his own challenge with: “You simply won’t. This is a team I am so proud to be a part of. And when you factor in people like Sharon Snow, who can deliver the weather forecast, file a Your Community and Places to Go feature, you know you have a star-studded team.”

It’s no secret that NTV News has been number one in the ratings for over two decades. Incredibly, as conventional news audiences decrease throughout much of the world, NTV’s brand continues to grow. 

For a province of about 500,000 people, over 100,000 of them tune into NTV each day at 6 o’clock and just under 90,000 for First Edition at 5:30. Numbers continue to climb each year. The Sunday Evening Newshour also grew its audience with over 50,000 viewers tuning in each weekend.

There’s no secret recipe to NTV’s success over the years but the ingredients are obvious. It takes talent, hard work and leadership. It’s about telling stories and keeping viewers informed, and never has there been an era more important for doing just that.

“Mom was 97 when she died, and she always loved everyone – it didn’t matter their sexuality or  their colour or religion. Love was love as far as mom was concerned,” she said. 

The one thing her mother always treasured without question was her son – the late comedic great, Tommy Sexton of CODCO fame. 

“Mom set up The Tommy Sexton Centre in Tommy’s memory and that’s a huge thing, it’s a big accomplishment for anyone. And Mom’s acceptance and respect for every human changed attitudes towards homosexuals and she was all about being kind to our fellow men and women, no matter what their sexual preference or creed or colour or whatever,” she said proudly.

Remembering her brother, who died of AIDS at the age of 36 in 1993, Mary shared that, from a very young age, her mother referred to Tommy as “sensitive,” though she thinks now that her mother most likely always knew her son was gay. 

“Tommy was never ashamed. He used to say, ‘I’m not a practicing homosexual. I’ve practiced enough. I’m a full blown homosexual.’ And, you know, he was proud of the fact that he was who he was,” she said.

While Tommy’s comedic legacy is something to forever cherish, something else to never forget is how time-tested and true a mother’s love for her child should be, no matter what path their child travels. “My mom accepted Tommy as a talented, funny, beautiful human being and she always said she loved him for who he is and she never, ever wavered.” 

 Not long after their Royal Highnesses, Prince Charles and wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, touched down in St. John’s to began a three-day Canadian tour, The Herald spoke with premier Andrew Furey. “I think it was a great moment for the province. How special to come out of COVID-19 and have a live event like that where everyone is gathered safely and respectfully to celebrating our history,” he said. While there’s good and bad in the history books of this province and nation, taking time to honour the past while celebrating the present and future is an important balance, he added. “To have the royals here was absolutely fabulous and coinciding with the Come Home Year, to not only welcome them to Newfoundland Labrador but to welcome them back home was an honour,” he said. Not to mention the fact that with 40 international media in tow, the eyes of the world were literally on this province of ours. 

In great spirits following the Charles and Camilla touch down, the premier joked how local treasure and comedian Mark Critch got to enjoy a full-circle moment during the royal visit. As a child – as portrayed on his popular series Son of a Critch – the star had enjoyed an encounter with the People’s Princess, Lady Diana. The premier laughed. “Well, you know, we were watching the show, and it seems that (Critch) gave flowers (to royalty) when he was a kid so we thought he should do the whole thing again and come full circle. So it’s the circle of life.” 

Furey has demonstrated his dedication to the arts industry in this province, and including many artists from different disciplines was important during this latest royal visit, he added. From culinary and visual artists to musical and brewery masters, Furey explained that showcasing “as many as possible” was important.    “I think we put on a good display and I know the royals were quite fascinated by (what they experienced) and we’re quite impressed.” In fact, he continued, a later conversation with his father – a senator in Ottawa, the Honourable George Furey – cemented this fact. “I had the benefit of having a follow up because my father saw (their royal highnesses) later in Ottawa, and they were over the moon with their reception and their experience in Newfoundland and Labrador,” he said proudly. 

There’s certainly much to be proud  of, including the fact that this province was the first in Canada to welcome Ukrainian refuges. 

“We wanted to do something right away, as soon as we saw the mass number of immigrants and the refugees displaced from their own homes because of the war in the Ukraine,” he stated. NL  took “a bit of a different approach, albeit with some degree of skepticism from other provincial leaders,” he added, and “set up a desk in Warsaw.” “Because I knew from my previous experience and my previous work life that refugee camps require a significant amount of bureaucracy.” That’s why “having a helping hand in navigating the complex paperwork matters,” he said. “Because of that. We were able to arrange the first flight of 166, and there are many, many more who want to come…Many have been matched with families and jobs here in the province, which, of course, gives them a sense of security in what has to be an incredibly stressful time for them.” 

Seeing the warm welcome those from Ukraine have received from the people of this province is “humbling” the premier added.  “It’s a beautiful world moment and one that we’re very humbled to play a part in and very proud that the idea started here and has really made a splash on the world stage.” 

With 2022 being the summer to come home following two years of stay where you’re at pandemic caution, we ask what the premier hopes to see happen. Come Home offers an “opportunity to relaunch Newfoundland and Labrador as a world class hospitality and tourism product,” he began. NL was “incredibly compromised by the pandemic,” he added, but things have changed. “We knew that we needed something to catapult, to relaunch, to reset and show the world that we were open for business and that we had the best product in the world that everyone deserves to have a look at and come and see. And equally, considering what everyone had been through for the last two years, we felt that there would be significant demand (to visit here) because people have been pent up at home and wanting to travel and Newfoundland and Labrador is on many bucket lists.”

 Come Home Year offers a reason to come, he added. The venture has been an overwhelming success from the get-go, he added. “We’re hearing stories from Marine Atlantic that they are fully booked,” he said. Provincial parks are packed. Festival tickets around the province are selling out. All signs point towards this being one busy and celebratory summer, he shared.  “Following the pandemic, previous lives need to be reinvigorated and we need to celebrate who we are and where we came from and open our hearts and doors to the rest of the world emerging from the pandemic.”