I was raised to believe in things that are not of this world. The more ‘mysterious’ the better for me and mine. My mom’s father was a bit of a character. A very religious man, he had quite a few superstitions and beliefs that many would consider different. As a farmer and a businessman, Pop followed a way of doing things that he felt worked, so that was that.

There was a sign from above to plant, and yet another when it was time to harvest. You get the picture. It’s interesting to note this, however; as much of a Bible believer as that man was, he was also out there too.

Crossed-off career

Pop ‘crossed-off,’ as they called it back then, or treated other people’s warts and whatnot using a potato that he later buried. The belief was, as the potato rotted in the ground the wart fell off or the healing happened. Pop used to chant a few things as he did this, and one of his last warnings to the potato patient was this: “Believe this will help, or it won’t.” I swear this on both my youngster’s lives – I saw Pop’s magical potatoes work with my very own eyes more than once.

I also get some unique ways from my Nan on Dad’s side of the family too. That woman could tell ghost stories. I still, to this day, believe each and every one. One ghostly figure passed Nan as a young girl on her way home across an ocean path at night and the cool chill made Nan swoon where she stood. 

Others she knew ‘saw things’ that made either their hair turn instantly white or took their ability to speak from them. That stuff happened, b’ys, cause Nanny didn’t lie. Neither does NASA. 

On June 15, 2022, the official Twitter account for NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover shared the news that a piece of trash had been found on Mars. Space junk or evidence of an alien’s bad habit?  Interesting. So, do aliens really exist? 

One of NASA’s astrobiologists, Lindsay Hays, said that while extraterrestrial life has never been discovered, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact one of NASA’s key goals is the search for life out in the universe. 

Just days ago the NASA James Webb Space Telescope shared stunning new images of Jupiter and a haunting audio clip taken from a black hole. 

So, what does all this mean? Are God, superstitions, magical potatoes, ghosts and ETs from outer space all connected somehow? Who knows, but I do know we all keep looking up with wonder from time to time. Just recently a string of lights over top of St. John’s left more than a few livyers astonished. 

Sheerr to the rescue!

While NTV’s Eddie Sheerr later issued a “do not be alarmed,” message on social media, explaining that the lights were not an alien invasion but “most likely (99 per cent chance) just the SpaceX StarLink satellites,” it still was cool – if just for a little – to think otherwise. 

Bottom line; for anything to really exist, you pretty much have to believe it does – or could – right?

Just like my Pop’s wart healing ways. Would the potato-thing have worked if no one believed it could? No one was willing to take the chance, and who could blame ‘em? I’d rather believe in a rotting potato with magical powers than have a wart. I’d much rather believe that a ghost made Nanny faint than to think she had low blood sugar or (gasp) that she was drunk.

That even aliens forget to pick up their bit of tin of milk trash is more fun to think about than space junk. And who knows? There’s a one per cent chance that Eddie was wrong that night and that those lights above the city were visitors from another planet. Believing  it possible makes life a little more thrilling, and there’s nar thing wrong with that.

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

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.

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. That’s no truer anywhere than it is here at NTV News.” — Glen Carter

That piece of wisdom came from respected anchor Glen Carter during his retirement address to NTV viewers on March 4, 2021.

And while NTV News may have lost its revered conductor that night, the band plays on. And make no mistake it remains a finely-tuned orchestra, positioned to entertain audiences for many years to come.

Despite Carter’s departure, NTV is blessed with some of the province’s most talented and trusted journalists. Carter’s long-time co-anchor, Toni-Marie Wiseman, has been a constant with the station for over three decades and is one of the most identifiable faces in broadcasting. 

Joining her at the anchor desk is friend and colleague Michael Connors, best known for his outstanding work as NTV’s legislative reporter for the past decade.

‘A strong friendship’

“Michael and I have worked closely together for many years (our desks are side by side) and because of that, we’ve developed a strong friendship,” says Wiseman. “We know each other so well that sometimes we can read each other’s minds. It’s been a pretty seamless and effortless transition from working together in the newsroom to anchoring together on the Evening Newshour desk.”

The NTV Evening Newshour, weekdays at 6 p.m., remains not only the province’s top newscast, but is also the most-watched television program in Newfoundland and Labrador. Wiseman, one of Newfoundland and Labrador television’s most iconic personalities, remains at the helm. 

Connors, of course, has won the respect of viewers for his work at NTV and is the perfect choice to fill Carter’s place at the desk. Aside from the flagship supper-hour show, the newsroom generates a host of NTV News programming. There are daily morning news checkpoints, a half-hour Newsday program (weekdays at noon) and the popular NTV News: First Edition (weekdays at 5:30), hosted by Wiseman. There’s also The Sunday Evening Newshour, an hour-long broadcast anchored by Jodi Cooke and Amanda Mews.

In fact, Wiseman’s 5:30 p.m. show, First Edition, is also one of the province’s most-watched programs. “Our commitment to news has never wavered. While our competitors have found ways to reduce local news programming, we continue to grow,” says Mark Dwyer, Director of News and Current Affairs. 

“There’s a real appetite for local news and it’s our mandate to do just that.”

And just like any good orchestra, or team, there’s a host of performers who deliver. “There’s so much versatility and talent in our newsroom. It’s not uncommon for a reporter to leave the field to sit at the anchor desk, from one day to the next,” Dwyer adds. “We are fortunate to have a team of journalists who are very passionate about their work and informing viewers.”

Speaking of versatility, Jodi Cooke, co-host of The Sunday Evening Newshour, is also a regular host of NTV Newsday and is one of the most-seasoned television reporters in the province. 

Cooke is noted for, among many of her attributes, her ability to go live – dissecting information to deliver key news to the audience.

Like Cooke, Amanda Mews has hosted everything from morning news and entertainment checkpoints, to 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. 

Backstage Pass

Did we mention she’s co-host of The Sunday Evening Newshour, and as the station’s popular entertainment reporter, she 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 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 and Sunday on occasions. Salter also hosts his own weekend news program, Eyewitness News. 

When he’s not hosting Salter is filling news stories as a general assignment news reporter.

Ben Cleary is another reporter impacted by Carter’s retirement and he has also stepped up to fill the void. 

With Connors replacing Carter on the anchor desk, Cleary has assumed Connors’ place as the newsroom’s legislative reporter. Cleary, who has political science and journalism degrees, has earned his chops with his excellent coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other things. In fact, Cleary was named most promising young journalist at the 2021 Atlantic Journalism Awards.

And perhaps NTV’s secret weapon is assignment editor Bart Fraize, who has been covering the courts and breaking news for many years. Fraize’s work ethic is unrivaled. 

It’s an intangible that separates him from his peers – the willingness to answer every call, good or bad, day or night, rain or shine. And he does so without fanfare, evading praise like it’s a punishment. “I’m just doing my job,” he quips, shrugging his shoulders.

Beth Penney is journalism’s answer to the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ – someone who can be relied upon to fill just about any role in the newsroom, a talented reporter who has the skillset to do so much more – anchor work and feature reporting. You’ll also see her regularly host the ‘Your Community’ feature.

NTV’s New talent

A pair of newcomers to the business, Bailey Howard and Marykate O’Neill, are relatively new additions to the newsroom, but both bring a talent beyond their years – covering all sorts of stories.

And, finally, the most recent hire in the newsroom may be a newcomer to television, but not to journalism. After over three decades at The Telegram, Rosie Mullaley 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,” said Dwyer with admiration and pride. “You simply won’t. This is a team I am so proud to be a part of.”

It’s a go-go business and all these players contribute to the performances viewers see every night. It’s a common scene inside NTV’s fast-paced newsroom as reporters craft their stories and camera operators gear up for the evening’s live hit. 

The production crew, led by Donnie Decker, prepares for the 5:30 and 6 o’clock live shows. It’s hectic, but the team appears in total control, each focused on the task at hand. 

There’s also the usual newsroom banter as reporters share the developments of the day. It’s like a fine-tuned engine. And like Decker, there are others behind the camera you don’t see, camera operators like Tony Barrington and Glenn Andrews, both incredibly talented and veterans of the business. 

Barrington has seen it all in his 43-year career with NTV where he has served in a multitude of roles, including producer, while Andrews is noted for his creativity and excellence as both a shooter and editor.

And while some could argue that his orchestra lost its conductor when Carter retired, it has retained the true mastermind of this excellent news team, news director Dwyer who guides, supports and encourages his staff to reach their full potential.

Dwyer, of course, is known to many as the longest-serving sports reporter in the province’s history, but is also, as Carter pointed out, the glue that holds the team together.

“Our audience is loyal. They depend on us (for information) and we take that responsibility very seriously,” says Dwyer, who’s been leading the station’s newsroom since 2013. “However, our talented team continues to attract new viewers and that’s a result of talent, old-fashioned hard work and commitment.”

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 than doing just that.

NTV’s Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr was visiting family in the states, there to celebrate American Thanksgiving, when we spoke via Skype for The Herald’s cover story. Wife Susan was home alone with the two wee ones, Emily and Allie, for a few days and it – understandably – took her a few extra minutes to be able to join in on our call.

Bittersweet reunion

“It’s bittersweet being here. I’m happy, it’s been 635 days since my last visit, and it’s great to see everyone, but I miss my girls,” he said sincerely. 

Susan, with her hair in a practical though preciously sweet mom-approved pinned-up ponytail, sighed – just a little.

“There’s lots of bittersweet when you have kids. It’s been hectic heading into the holidays, but of course it’s going to be a fun year because Emily’s really excited. She’s talking about Santa. She’s already excited seeing the lights up and so she’s aware of what’s going on this year. Allie, of course, won’t be – she’s too young –but we’re excited,” Susan said.

‘Life in general’

Eddie nodded. “It’s fun just to have the girls around. But life in general, with the two of them at the age they are, is hectic,” he admitted.

Still, the two of them are nothing if not grateful and blessed. 

“It’s different with two and it’s different going through the baby/newborn stage again because we learned so much with Emily. So there’s a lot less panic when it comes to settling Allie when she needs something. But, you know, as Susan said too, it’s hectic, because the difficulty level hasn’t gone up by a factor of one. It’s gone up by a factor of like 10.”

The two of them laugh – one only a parent can get. As a mom myself, I feel their joy as well as their parental pain.  

What’s it like to be state-side visiting family after such a long time away? “Indescribable,” Eddie said. 

The last time he saw his nieces, they were one and three. Now Maddie and Riley seem so grown up, he shared.  

“The differences in them now are just incredible. And it was like, ‘wow.’ It did my heart so good – filled it – to get to see them and hold them and hug them again and spend time with them. And I don’t know if I really was able to fully comprehend how much I missed them.”

Giving thanks

Still, there’s that ease of settling back in with family that so many of us who have lived away know. “It’s also strange because, on the one hand, it’s been a while since I’ve been home. On the other hand, like it just feels like everything was on pause and that we just resumed everything. It fills my heart. It’s weird. It’s very strange. This whole pandemic has been very strange.”

While he’s there to celebrate Thanksgiving, hanging out is important too. 

“It’s just good to see my nieces and my brother and to be together with my parents.”

Of course travelling with two small girls wasn’t wise, so they are at home with Susan. How’s she doing?

While Eddie’s away

“Mom has been here helping out on-and-off since Allie’s been born, and she’s here this week while Eddie’s away. So that’s been a great help because of course, we don’t have any family on the Avalon. So having the two children with just myself and Eddie has been difficult, and having a toddler in daycare who’s always sick and trying to balance all that has been difficult,” she shared honestly. 

Eddie, who is obviously still suffering from a handed-over head cold, smiles at his wife over our Skype call.

Finding the time

Eddie is passionate about his family. He’s also very passionate about the weather, though he admits it can be difficult to balance it all.

“It’s challenging to find the time that I would like to have for posting about weather and getting the most out of my workday. Emily, at least a little bit, is getting a bit easier to parent. But Allie is, obviously, very, very little still. And so, the two of them, and Susan too, have to be a priority and parenting needs to come first. I know that people rely on me,  but I’m a one man show and there’s only so many hours in the day.” 

Eat, drink & be merry

Anything special planned for the holidays? “Survive,” Eddie said. We all laugh. “Eat, drink and be merry,” Susan added in a way that really said ‘they’ll not be much time for any of that.’ Some ‘I hear ya’’ and ‘been there’ laughter.  

“We’re just honestly trying to survive right now, you know? These few days without me is really hard on Susan. It’s tough on your own. She’s got her hands full and I’m very appreciative that I’m able to go down and see my family while she does it all.”

Teaming up

Their only wish? To get through the holidays by “teaming up.” 

“We will be a good team and will be a good parental team. But, you know, essentially, like anything else right now, it’s just about survival and getting through the days. You know, anyone with newborns will tell you, it’s not that easy much of the time,” Eddie said.

The Sheerr’s share they feel the love from the community.  NTV viewers always support their family, they say.

“We would like to, first of all, say thank you for all the kind words and well-wishes. It means a lot to Susan and I. You know, it’s hard to put into words how people have welcomed me and welcomed Susan and our family into their homes every night and really made us part of their extended families. So it does mean a lot and we are very appreciative of it.”

But then, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are known for their kindness, Eddie continued. “Newfoundland and Labrador is a lovely place for that. Everyone is very close knit and a tight group. And even if you’re not family, you feel like family, and that’s part of what I love about the province.” 

‘We are done!’

Susan says she shares in her husband’s sentiment regarding caring viewers.

“Just thank you for all the love and support. It’s great to see it and growing up in Newfoundland, I’m not surprised by that because  I’ve seen it before, but it is nice to feel it. So just a big thank you to everyone. The love and support really helps.”

There’s one more thing they feel compelled to share. “Oh. Tell everyone from us, ‘this is it! Two is plenty! We are done!’” Susan added with a laugh.

“No. There won’t be a third,” Eddie shared, adding; “We’re done here. We have two healthy girls who are, knock on wood, really amazing. We will stop at this point. We’re good.” 

When Emily was born on May 15, 2019, Eddie Sheerr and his wife Susan thought they had the world. 

“There was just so much to celebrate. She was perfect. We had our little family. Everyone was healthy. It was a good place to be,” NTV’s Chief Meteorologist (and all-around funny guy) shared. 

“Emily is turning two, and she’s at a really fun age. In fact, the older she gets, the younger Eddie seems to become. He is having so much fun with her that they are almost like two kids sometimes,” Susan shared with a smile in her husband’s direction. 

There’s news to get out of the way, something everyone’s been ‘expecting’ shall we say. 

“We are expecting number two on October 4th,” Susan generously added. While close family members know if Emily will soon have a baby brother or a baby sister, the best news is that Emily gets to experience the joy of being a big sister. 

Emily has a halo of curls. It’s impossible to not fall in love with her energetic and spirited way.  

JUST LIKE DAD

Who does she turn after? “Those curls, they come from Eddie. And the energy? Eddie too,” Susan offered. 

Eddie beams with pride.  

“I had more hair, and it was curly, when I was her age. I have a picture of me with my grandfather (Phillip Sherman) and he had the same curls,” he said.

As for her personality? “She has lots. She’s fearless, she’s very athletic, she loves being outside more than anything. And she seems to have Susan’s intelligence and my persistence and my lack of patience.” 

Eddie and Susan both laugh. Do tell?

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THE INQUISITIVE EMILY

“If she’s trying to build something with blocks and she can’t get it to do what she wants, she gets frustrated very quickly, which is kind of how my brain operates. But she’ll keep trying it even though she’s frustrated, which is also how my brain operates. I am very persistent when it comes to figuring something out that I can’t figure out,” Eddie shared. 

“She’s very inquisitive. And she gets that from Eddie. Every day there’s a few new words,” Susan added. 

“She started saying more sentences and words and we kind of understand what she means. And while her favourite word is ‘no’ she’s so much fun,” Eddie added.

Speaking of fun, NTV’s weatherman makes the weather, and the news in general, much more fun. From his naturally comedic delivery of bad news (only Eddie Sheerr can make rain, drizzle, and fog sound fun) to his goofy but informative antics on social media, including TikTok, Eddie is someone worth following.

 Dare we say that some of his humour and much of his antics resemble ‘Dad Jokes?!?”

He laughs. “Well, I mean, I’m a dad. So the way I can put it is like this, I have cousins that are about sixteen years younger than I am and so now they’re in their 20s, which makes me feel very old. But when I was in my 20s, I’d go hang out with them and they were like 13, 14 years old. And it was like I could revert very easily to being a kid and I still have that ability now. I can go back and be a kid and be goofy.”

“I still want to play like a kid,” he admitted. Susan laughed. 

“The reality is he’s always been a kid at heart. Now he has an excuse to act like one,” she teased sweetly. 

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

How has he been balancing work and home in these pandemic times? 

“It’s sometimes tough when there’s weather coming in to turn it all off because I know that there’s a lot of people who are relying on my thoughts so they can plan whatever they’re trying to plan. But I find it easier now to disconnect and focus on family time and hanging out with family and keeping Emily occupied. Focus on just being a dad. She’s only this size for a short amount of time so I try and really keep that in mind because she’s not always going to be my two-year-old little girl.”

While COVID has kept family at bay, especially Eddie’s kin who live in the United States, they still connect in whatever way they can. 

“My Mom was up for about five weeks in October into November and my Dad was up just before Christmas. We did some socially distanced visits and stuff like that when they were here before they were able to come out of isolation and luckily they were healthy and everything. It was nice to see them. It’s nice for them to see Emily because they hadn’t seen her since she was like six months old.”

Eddie added that he misses his nieces and his brother and his sister-in-law, though he tries not to dwell on that stuff.  

“It does make me very sad and I’m missing my nieces dearly. I’m watching them grow up through pictures and through FaceTime and it’s hard to not get emotional about it. But I’m looking forward to going over and getting vaccinated and being able to travel again, hopefully at some point later this year.” 

Susan glowed. Pregnancy and motherhood look amazing on her. She smiled. This pregnancy feels very similar to her first one, she shared, though things have changed. 

“The difference now is that before when I was really tired or not feeling 100  per cent, I could just kind of come home and lay down if I wanted to. I don’t have that luxury anymore because obviously I have Emily, and it is a bit difficult because in a typical household, both parents are home at the end of the day. But with Eddie on the news at night, I have Emily on my own. It was very difficult being tired and sick and not being able to just kind of give in and lay down. But at the same time, Emily takes my mind off it as well and keeps me busy. So, so far so good.”

Eddie says he’s so proud of his wife. 

“She’s such a good mom. And Susan’s mom has been an amazing help too. And I’m just thrilled that Emily’s going to be a big sister. She’s not going to be an only child now and there’s a bit of excitement with that. The sibling dynamic is special, so I’m happy she gets to have that. I’m sure they’ll be best friends and, if it’s like my brother and I, I’m sure they will hate each other sometimes too.” 

They both laugh. What is the family looking forward to most of all? Family time!

BIG SISTER EMILY

“I am looking forward to when both kids are a little bit older and they’re able to play together. I mean, at first, it’s going to be hard for Emily because obviously, she can’t play with a newborn, but if parenthood taught me anything, it’s that time passes,” Eddie said.

Eddie loves rowing. Susan is a skater. Any signs of an athlete-to-be in Emily? 

“I think she’s going to be an athlete of some sort. She does have incredible balance and flexibility. We haven’t had her on skates yet because it’s been hard with the pandemic and the lockdowns. She was a bit reluctant to put a helmet on her head, but she does wear her bike helmet now,” Susan shared. 

Her parents took her to a kiddie gym recently and she “went wild.” ‘She had a blast hanging out on the bars and stuff. She has no fear. We took her to the indoor playground place last weekend, and she just she has no fear.”

We ask if there’s been any terrible twos stuff yet. The couple looks at one another and smiles. 

“Oh yeah, glimpses of it. She’s in the stage now where she’s testing boundaries. A couple of tantrums she’s had have been fun. She attached herself to the floor out in public over the weekend,” Eddie said.

Susan said she and Eddie just try their best each and every day. 

“Emily is used to structure and she’s used to routine and she’s used to not getting her own way all the time. So what if she has a scatter fit or a tantrum in Bed, Bath and Beyond?” she laughed. 

THE SWEETEST BEDTIMES

Eddie, who had been with Emily during her last public tantrum, shrugged. 

“Nothing else matters other than her in those moments. She’s a kid and she’s got herself on the floor and I was over there on the floor with her and I said, well, she’ll stop at some point. Nothing I’m gonna do is going to change her mind,” said Eddie. 

It’s times like this that make bedtimes even sweeter. They have a routine, and they treasure those moments. Sometimes Emily will pick out the pajamas she wants to wear or the book she wants to read. If she catches daddy on television, she gets excited, though she can also get angry if he doesn’t talk directly to her. 

“She knows the music that comes on as NTV News is about to come on and that means that she’ll see me. It’s cute,” Eddie says with a laugh. “She hears the News intro begin and runs yelling “daddy, daddy, daddy!” 

The two parents laugh. The day is passing and Eddie needs to get his head into the game. The weather waits for no one! 

Eddie gets the last word.

“This year has been hard, but it’s come with many blessings and we’re so proud of Emily and we’re excited to be adding to our family.”

For more stories by Pam Pardy, click here, or visit our new Instagram page for story updates as they happen.

When Eddie and Susan Sheerr walk into the coffee shop, they get greeted warmly. Perhaps more than usual on this particular evening. A storm is headed our way overnight and many of those gathered around their laptops and lattes are students in the midst of exam week. A snow day would be a gift – or a curse – depending on perspective.

Eddie; freshly changed out of his suit and tie, chats with anyone who wants a one-on-one with NTV’s Chief Meteorologist. “Hey Eddie! Will we have a snow day tomorrow?” one girl calls out. “Keep studying, just in case,” he cautions with a wide smile. Another young woman holds out her phone; “You just answered me on Snapchat. Thanks!”

Others have just finished watching Eddie give out the latest forecast on the NTV Evening Newshour and thank him for putting in the work. Eddie and his wife of a year, Susan, smile, chat and interact with anyone and everyone.

LOVE THEM SNOW DAYS!

When they sit, they are all smiles. Eddie holds out his phone.

“See this? These are all kids asking if they’re going to have a snow day tomorrow. Last time we had a snow day, I put out a message saying, tell me where you live and I’ll tell you personally if I think you’ll have a snow day.  Within five minutes I had 100 messages. I had to stop doing that,” he says with a laugh.

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Susan takes it all in stride. Having people gravitate towards her husband is something she says she’s grown used to.  “It’s different. And it took a while to adjust to the fact that everywhere we go everyone knows him, or they think they know him because they know who he is,” she shares. But the kindness of strangers soon became second nature, she adds.

“It’s great. People are interested in me, too, and anytime I post pictures of us I get interest and questions from people I don’t know. But it’s nice. People send us well wishes and they wish us happy holidays. It’s sweet, very sweet, and I’ve gotten to like it – or at least gotten used to it and don’t mind it.”

Susan jokes that even her own friends and family in the Bishop’s Falls area have taken to looking forward to her husband’s visits.

“Generally, in the St. John’s/metro area people will say hello, but outside of that everyone gets excited and they are happy to see him, and that’s so great. I’m from central and Eddie’s a real celebrity there. People have now made the shift from; is Susan coming home for Christmas or Easter to oh, is Eddie coming? Is he coming with Susan?”

They both laugh and Eddie shrugs innocently. More messages from school aged kids briefly interrupt our chat.

‘LIKE A BIG KID’

Eddie good naturedly works his way through the responses. Interacting with viewers of all ages is something he enjoys.

“I’m like a big kid myself, so I’m comfortable around kids. I have some younger cousins I grew up with. I’m 33, when they were born I was 16 and now they are 16 and 18 years old so we grew up together. My brother is a dad now, the baby will be a year old this February. Riley is her name and I love her, she’s so sweet,” he shares.

Susan, who also has a brother (married, no kids – yet – she offers) reflects a little on 2017.

“Can you believe we’ve been married a little over a year?” she says. Eddie playfully teases; “Really? It feels like years.”

“It was busy,” she counters.

Eddie nods;  “A lot happened.”

They bought a house. They travelled, including a few trips back to Eddie’s home state of Pennsylvania. Eddie broke his wrist and had surgery. And then there’s his extra-curricular activities.

‘I rowed in the summer and I’m doing it again this summer. I think Susan may kill me,” he says.

Susan, obviously deciding to let him live, smiles. Susan, a chartered professional accountant, also got a new job in the last few months.

FAMILY MATTERS

And, the two are planning their family. “A baby in the plans. Susan wants a baby yesterday,” Eddie shares candidly.

Susan; “We talk two. But we have a big house. We need to fill it.”

Eddie warms to that idea. “We both grew up with one other sibling. Being an only child, I’d imagine, because neither of us have that perspective, but I’d imagine it could be perhaps boring at times. My brother and I, we are two years apart, and he’s still my best friend. And Susan is close to her brother. I can’t imagine when I was little what I would have done without having my brother around. I know I wouldn’t have gotten into nearly as much trouble, for one thing.”

Susan says she knows parenting will be tough. Who will be the disciplinarian? Eddie takes the bait. “I feel like I’ll be the heavy.”

Susan shakes her head. “Neither one of us could do that. I think we are the same, right?” 

Eddie shakes his head. “My theory on raising kids is this; kids need a parent not a friend, and it’s OK to be their friend at times but you have to be more the parent. My parents were great and they raised me and I was a pretty well adjusted kid, but they were parents. They were not my friend.”

UNIQUE  ‘WEIRDNESS’

What about them as a couple? What do they like most about one another? Their unique  “weirdness” seems to be a common theme, though Eddie sweetly says he’s unsure what his bride actually sees in him.

Susan laughs at that, and touches her husband’s hand. “I think we balance each other very well,” she says.

The two lead very busy lives. Eddie plays almost every sport available on the planet, while Susan figure skates and plays volleyball. Susan offers that Eddie is the more adventurous of the two, though they both enjoy staying active.

What about on the home front?

They say they do “normal things”; they bowl (Susan is the better bowler) and they go to the movies. They do have a few interesting things they do, however.

“We do up date cards. We throw random things on those cards and the plan is to do one or two a month and so we pick a random date card from the suggestions and we go and do whatever’s on the card,” shares Susan.

Eddie’s offering is equally as charming. “We have Nerf fights. Susan got me a Nerf gun for Christmas.”

She grins. “Now Eddie hides in different parts of the house and gets me.”

He appears proud. “I’m a good shot, too. As an American I take guns very seriously,” he jokes.

So, who cooks? They both do, though their methods vary. “I don’t like a dirty kitchen. It gives me anxiety. When I cook, I clean as I go. When Susan cooks, I call it tropical storm Suze  because she just leaves stuff everywhere. But the rule is, whoever cooks, the other one has to clean.”

So, what’s the best part of being married: “This will sound super sappy, but for me, it’s just having someone to do everything with,” says Susan.

Eddie feels the same. “Having a partner and coming home to her every day is the best.”

HOME IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Susan seems to like that answer and they move on to making their home in Newfoundland.

Has this place become home? “I would say. I’m pretty ingrained here. In rowing in the Regatta and with Susan and her family and getting acquainted with being outside of St. John’s and around the bay. I know and have been to more places in Newfoundland than most people born here know of or visited. I play hockey. I curl. I bowl now. Home is where you grew up, so just because I say I’m going home doesn’t mean I don’t feel at home here. I lived a lot of places around Canada and in the US and I feel  like St. John’s is the most I’ve felt at home since leaving home.”

We have to talk weather, of course. Eddie perks up.

“This winter has been a great challenge so far because most of the systems that have come through have been ones that are involving different air masses and that makes them difficult to forecast because that’s when they start producing freezing rain and rain and ice pellets. Where will that fall? Where will the heaviest snow fall? The west coast had a very rare mid-winter thaw that led to widespread flooding and that’s something I hadn’t seen before. So while this winter is not as snowy, it’s certainly different and has presented its forecast challenges.”

Is Susan tired of hearing about weather? She laughs. “It’s really funny because he does love weather and he gets excited about snow storms and he gets up at 5 o’clock in the morning when a storm’s coming and he has the Ipad on one side and his computer on the other and there’s things everywhere. But people always ask me; what’s the weather going to be like? Before Eddie, I would know because I would watch and check. Now I don’t and I don’t ask. Unless it’s a major weather event, I know nothing and people are so disappointed.”

‘CATS ARE EASY’

Eddie and Susan seem disappointed in something else; the interview is over. As we prepare to go our separate ways Eddie has something important to add. “Hey! We didn’t talk about Denver!”

Denver? 

The cat!

“Eddie had him first. But I’m Denver’s favourite now. I never had a dog growing up and I always said when I get out on my own I’m getting a dog. But Eddie came with a cat and now Denver’s mine.”

Eddie seems willing to concede on that point. “Denver does love Susan the best.”

I joke they will have it easy when it comes to parenting children since the two have obviously mastered cat-raising. Eddie isn’t buying it.

“Cats are easy. They are not like kids. If my niece is any indication, parenting a child is going to be a lot harder than dealing with Denver!” Don’t worry Eddie; you guys have got this!

So, how has this winter been in contrast to previous years?

“The last two years featured significant amounts of snow across the Island and long stretches of bitterly cold temperatures,” he shared. “In comparison this winter has been very, very different. Snowfall for many areas, especially central and western Newfoundland, has been well below average. The overwhelming theme from folks across the Island is one of disappointment for the year. It’s been tough for winter sport enthusiasts due to this lack of snow. Even in Labrador snowfall has been below normal and temperatures relatively mild … for Labradorians.”

Unpredictable at times

Though quickly becoming accustomed to what we can expect in our turbulent weather patterns, Sheerr still admits that ‘normal’ Newfoundland weather is still unpredictable at times to him, as he’s only been an honourary Newfoundlander for three years.

“It’s hard to me to say what a “normal” winter should be like,” Sheerr admits. “This is my third winter in NL and my first two were very cold and very snowy and this one has been quite a bit less extreme on both accounts. Some of the storms have been difficult to predict, but that comes with the territory. Snowfall has been below normal this year for most areas and temperatures have been close to normal … until recently. We’ve had some bouts with temperatures into the teens at the end of February and the long range suggests that may become more common over the coming weeks. Perhaps an early Spring is in the cards for us to make up for the less than stellar summer? All that being said, it’s still March and some of the very big snowfalls can, and have, occurred this month and in April.”

One thing that has defied our norm is the early emergence of Icebergs this year, something which perplexes Sheerr and weather pundits in general.

Iceberg  season

“I’m a bit perplexed as to why we’ve seen so many early season icebergs this year,” he shared. “The weather pattern last summer and this fall was unseasonably cold for parts of the North Atlantic. The biggest driver of this was the long durations of the easterly and northeasterly winds due to high pressure centres sitting northeast of the Island.

I’m not 100 per cent sure if that has anything do with the early ‘bergs, but it may. Icebergs take a long time to travel from Greenland into Iceberg Alley, roughly 3 years, so I suppose there could be a multitude of factors going into this. Sea ice between Labrador and Greenland is also slightly below normal this year, which could also play a role … I think. I’m no expert in sea-ice and icebergs so there’s a chance my hypotheses is completely wrong!”

NTV Road trips

Sheerr has been hitting the open road and making stops in various towns across Newfoundland in recent weeks, becoming much more accustomed to our picturesque island and its warm and welcoming inhabitants.

“The NTV Road trips I get to do a few times a year are a blast!,” he shared. “Just last month, in February, I did two different trips in back to back weeks. The most memorable experience from this last round of trips was definitely square dancing at the Centreville-Wareham-Trinity and Indian Bay Winter Carnival. I don’t fancy myself much of a dancer, but apparently I did okay for a newbie! Getting out and about across the province is something I really enjoy. The history and culture of this Island is so rich and interesting. The more of both I learn and see, the more people I meet, the more ingrained I start to feel in the community that makes up Newfoundland and Labrador. This place which was once felt very foreign now feels like home.”

Feeling of home

That newfound feeling of home has recently become amplified for Sheerr, as the seasoned meteorologist recently revealed his engagement, with plans to wed right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Some things in life happen for a reason,” Sheerr shared candidly. “The path in life I’ve taken thus far led me to Newfoundland, and to Susan. We met almost a year ago to the week and it was the best thing that ever happened to me! I asked Susan to marry me on Christmas Eve and to my delight she said yes! We’ve been working on the wedding plans and do have a date set for later this year. The wedding will be taking place on the Island and I’m excited for my family and friends that haven’t been to NL yet to see what a beautiful place this is.”

The simple things

With an open love for his new home and his bride to be, Sheerr takes comfort in the simple things these days, so it was only fitting that we asked the question as to what we can find him doing on his rare days off?

“I’m a huge technology nerd, so I’m always reading tech blogs to find out what’s latest and greatest in the world of technology,” he shared. “Drones are some of the coolest things to come out in the tech world and I recently got one of my own. Hopefully I’ll have some breathtaking videos to share this summer! I play ice hockey twice a week in the winter and once a week in the summer. I love playing golf and hope to get out more this year than last.

Last year was my first season rowing for the NTV crew and this year will be my second. Rowing is the most challenging and rewarding sport I’ve even participated in. I can’t wait to get back out on the pond in May!”

As for what remains in store for us Newfoundlanders and Labradorians weather-wise, Sheerr gives his most educated and informed estimate.

“Astronomical Spring arrives on March 20 so hopefully we’ve only got a little more winter to go before the weather turns! If the rest of the cold season is like what’s we’ve seen through the majority of the winter, we may not see much more in the way of snow. As is always the case, large snowfalls across the province are certainly possible through late April and early May. This has been a year with an unusually strong El Nino (warmer than average water near South American in the equatorial Pacific). Strong El Nino years, in the past, have resulted in a fairly nice spring season for much of the province. Hopefully this year will be the same.” Sounds good to us!

Check out the ‘NTV Evening Newshour’ for your daily dose of Eddie Sheerr.