It’s been an interesting summer, and there’s certainly been much to celebrate. My daughter turned 14 for one thing, and we have had the pleasure of spending many a day together touring the province. 

We’ve had some wild mother/daughter adventures. In Steady Brook, for example, we started the morning off with facials and pedicures at the Salt Water Spa at Marble Inn Resort and by the afternoon we were squealing with fear –and delight – as we tackled ‘The Spider Challenge’ at Marble Mountain. 

A challenge it was, one I’m glad we faced together. There’s videos that will never see the light of day. Still, it was certainly an experience that will stand out for us both, that’s for sure. 

That perfect selfie

That night, as a reward for a hard-day done, (and to calm our rattled nerves) we headed back to the spa to soak up some saltwater therapy. All’s well that ends well, right? We’ve enjoyed adventures on the high seas while fishing for cod and swung from a zip line over Petty Harbour. Now that was exhilarating! We’ve co-captained a paddle board through jellyfish infested waters and squealed with horror as we took turns knocking one another off into a sea of pulsating slime. Bonus points if the jellyfish were already dead when the dumping occurred. 

We’ve hiked and raced our way to see waterfalls and to capture that perfect selfie on top of whatever cliff there was to climb and we’ve gone off-grid a time or two and (gasp) actually had to pull out our phones only for snaps instead of for snapchat. Fun times! 

We’ve slept in lighthouses that captured our imagination and we’ve stayed in tents as well as in the most luxurious settings one could imagine. We’ve slept in the same room and settled in for the night floors apart. My daughter has chased and caught frogs and codfish and she’s read by flashlight in a tent as well as in a hammock over the ocean. 

There’s been lobster pods and lobster cookouts. There’s been boating adventures where she turned green with seasickness, but stuck it out like a champ just so the rest of us could jig our cod quota. She’s sat in a car with dogs on her lap for hours and eaten whatever’s been tossed back over the seat at her when travel demands dictated that meal time meant sliced peppers and cheese from a sandwich bag used – and then reused  –maybe one too many times. 

We’ve picked berries and plucked flowers, grateful to Mother Nature for her bounty, and we’ve peed outside when nature called.

Our time together

Fires in central changed our throw caution to the wind philosophy when it came to adventure destinations and we had to be aware and alert, and caring for our two elderly dogs during one crazy hot summer also meant keeping their needs and wants in mind, too. 

There were unexpected deaths within my friend circle as well as in my family while we were travelling and there were things that had to be shared and discussed and people we had to mourn over. It’s been a summer filled with experiences and growth. For both of us. 

While we might not have literally taken the road less travelled on any of our adventures, the roads we did take certainly led us towards one brilliantly beautiful destination: togetherness. 

At 14, there might not be many more such road trips for us, but my child, oh, the wonderful places you’ll go without me down this road called life. 

I just hope her future travelling partner is as fun and as fearless as she is and that she’ll sometimes think of our times together – spider challenges, seasickness and jellyfish wipeouts and all – and smile. I know I will.

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.”

Stephanie O’Brien, the brilliant and charming co-host of OZFM’S Morning Jam, has had quite the year. Daughter Charlie is in Kindergarten now and at the same time she was homeschooling due to COVID shutdowns, O’Brien was often live on air with her morning show co-host Randy Snow. Then, ‘the COVID’ struck.

“Yes, the good old COVID came calling,” she opened with a what-can-you-do grin. 

“A week before Christmas and we’re trying to live our best lives under all the pandemic protocols and then we get a phone call from a friend.”

A baby of a friend in their bubble had tested positive for COVID. Charlie tested positive immediately, though she wasn’t sick, while Stephanie and husband Drew tested negative. At least at first. Before long, the entire house had it, but the only one with symptoms was Stephanie.

“The child I gave birth to tormented me all day long while I was in bed. Every time I tried to rest my child would pull up my eyelids. ‘Mama. Do you need anything? Can I get you water? Look at this game, mama?’

“I’m like, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to drive me!’”

So much activity

There’s always so much activity, she added, even in a ‘sick house.’ “There was a lot going on and I always try to find a way of putting it in perspective. And I thought about people that I know that have more than one child. Homes where everybody got sick at a different time and they ended up isolating for like two months. So, you know, it could have been worse,” she said.

Charlie was her main concern, and even though she wasn’t sick, Stephanie was. Thankfully, Charlie’s symptoms “were not that bad.” “Drew and I had had all our shots and honestly, it could have been a lot worse. I’m grateful just for the bonding time,” she said laughing.

During that bonding time, the antics of Stephanie and Charlie became pretty well-known. From “On Air” to “On TikTok,” their interactions have been fun to tune into.

“One of the things that I promised I would always be – which I’ve been my whole life – was to really stay true to who I am and be my best self. I think that’s how people relate to you, if it’s not an act,” she adds.

“When I see something that’s funny happening, or that I know would make somebody smile, capturing it might take five seconds out of my day, I’ll do it because I’ll laugh at it too,” she says of her posts.

Stephanie always seems to embrace life, seeing the humour in things even when they go wrong. “That’s pretty accurate. But I will say  there’s always the flip side of everything.

“There’s a real moment where you come home and I just want to be very quiet, but I feel like my husband and my child don’t always get the best me. I’m entertaining on air and I try to be authentic, but when I get home I like my downtime and I don’t want to play, or I don’t want to be laughing and joking.

“My husband’s super funny. My child is always entertaining. But on some days I want quiet. However, even that’s hard because there’s always something funny happening, so I get pulled in,” she laughs.

And what about her husband, Drew? He’s becoming quite the funnyman too, and Stephanie laughs again. “There’s a showman deep down inside that lumberjack. Let me tell you, when he comes home, it’s crazy.

“There’s a side of his family that are serious, very caring, loyal and quiet. And then he has another side of his family that are musicians and entertainers. He’s got a little bit of both. He’s learning to go with it.

“Now that we have grown as a family, and Charlie has grown up in the public eye, he just has embraced it over time,” she said.

O’brien family apples

Sometimes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and so we ask about growing up and the relationship with her own mother.

“My mom always went out – full out – for everything. There was an Easter tree and she always made sure that the Easter Bunny knew what kind of stuff we liked, and so the Easter Bunny was always very good to us. She will have the place decorated, from the napkins to the dish towels. It’s like visiting a museum every holiday.”

O’Brien doesn’t mind sharing her love for things onair, like her passion for Hawkins cheezies or mint icy squares. She does insist on setting the record straight, however.

“It’s weird that people still send me pictures of where they find (mint icy squares). But here’s the truth. I ate so many of those things, and I got heartburn so bad, that I’m medicated now. I cannot eat mint anymore! I can’t chew gum. Even the thought of brushing my teeth with mint kills me now. Oh, it’s true. It’s actually true!”

“It’s because I didn’t do it in moderation. I’d sit down and literally finish an entire container, so that wasn’t healthy,” she says.

“People have said Charlie is just like me. My mother even said it! ‘What’s it like raising yourself?’ It’s hard. It’s really hard.

“I see now why my husband loves me even though I can drive him at the same time. Sometimes when I do a video, I will look at it and go, ‘Oh my God, that’s Charlie.’ I will actually see my own daughter in my actions and that’s crazy.”

Charlie is now in Kindergarten and is growing up quickly and Stephanie is noticing all those changes and her antics.

“What I find now is she’s starting to want to be a little bit more mature, but she’s still a kid. I don’t know if you heard this on the radio, but the other night she was in the bathroom washing her hands and I could smell the strong smell of soap, a cheery soap, and it was too much for just washing your hands. I knew she’s into something so I called out to her.

“’What are you doing?’”

“Nothing,” her daughter replied.

“You were washing your hands, I can smell a lot of soap.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Charlie replies.

“I said, ‘I think you do.’”

And five-year old Charlie says, “Girl, I think you have a symptom. I think you’ve lost your mind” and she walked away. “I have a symptom?!” Stephanie can barely believe her ears. “Come on!, she exclaims, “’Girl?!’

“Now you tell me that’s not repeating something I’d say. She’s a chip off the old block, for sure.”

Later on in conversation with Drew, she ponders Charlie’s future.

Jail or president?

“‘Drew,’” I said. ‘“I think we just have to survive raising her and then she’ll take over the world. We just have to get through this bit because I honestly think that she’s either going to end up in jail or be president. I don’t know which, but it’s going to be extreme either way.’”

As for Randy Snow, or Uncle Randy? She admits that there’s real admiration and affection for one another and for each other’s family.

“I can’t believe it’s almost been three years. I think there’s definitely been a lot of growth, but it also was very natural and organic from the beginning.”

Even on the radio, she and Randy chat about their on-air and off-air relationship.

“I actually noticed the other morning how we just get each other now. We just go with whatever is said and we always find a way to find humour even in the worst scenarios.

“I’m just so happy that I work with Randy and that we have the chemistry we do because that is something you can’t fake. We’re just very lucky.”

Stephanie and Drew’s home with Charlie when the cameras and microphones are off, she reveals, is pretty much what you see – and hear – is what you get.

“We’re going around in our hoodies and comfy clothes. Charlie’s dancing or has her headphones on, and Drew’s literally doing the dishes and rolling his eyes.

“And Oz and Percy (the family’s fluffy cats) are somewhere looking cute and adorable. That’s the dynamic all the time.”

There’s a Newfoundland and Labrador saying that’s usually tossed around when it’s a brilliantly glorious day filled with sunshine: ‘the sun’s splittin’ the rocks,’ the saying goes. While historically we don’t get many such days living in this often windswept province, Team Canada’s curling dynamos, Team Gushue, have given us two glorious Olympic medal wins to bask in the glow of. 

It might not be February sunshine, but we’ll take the glory of gold and the brilliance of bronze medals brought back home by Brad Gushue and Mark Nichols anytime.

Brad and Mark – who were back on the Olympic podium after 16 years following the bronze medal win at Beijing 2022 alongside teammates Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker, as well as alternate Marc Kennedy – took some time to sit down with The Herald following their latest Olympic adventures. 

The story is now the stuff of legend: Team Gushue defeated Team Shuster of the United States 8-5 in the bronze medal game. The province and country erupted. A familiar feeling. 

Brad Gushue, along with then teammates Russ Howard, Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam, represented Canada in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy, where they won the gold medal by defeating Finland 10–4.

Return to Real Life

While sporting their medals for our cameras, Brad and Mark were all about family on the day we chatted. 

It was a big day for Mark’s family as Emmett, four, had just finished his first day of kinderstart and the proud daddy got to take his son to school.  

“It marked the return to real life right away, which is awesome. I’m just as excited that I got to be home for his first day of kinderstart and to be bringing him to school as I ever am on the ice and to be a part of that for him was awesome,” Mark opened sweetly. 

Seven-year-old Beckett stood proudly beside his father as wife Colette finished adjusting Emmett’s shirt for their Herald photo session.  

Since daddy was at school dropping Beckett off, the two-time Olympic champion took some time to answer a few questions tossed his way by the school kids. Mark laughed.

“They want to know how heavy the metal is, what other sports I got to see while I was in Beijing. Did I meet any other athletes? What was the food like? And then they ask other questions like, how many medals do you own? It’s just  amazing how much the Olympics can captivate such a young audience, and it’s super cool to see how much they watched and cheered us on. That’s the stuff that really motivates you,” he said.

Brad Gushue is dad to two daughters. He understands Mark’s sentiments.  “When we lost that semifinal game, it was actually the thought of, how were my girls going to feel, which made me so emotional after the game. I was pretty good until I came ‘round the corner and saw them on the screen with the families there watching from home. When I saw the girls, it really hit,” he said.

Toughest Game Ever

Sixteen years after Olympic gold, now being a father, priorities have changed, he added. “At the end of the day, they were proud of whatever we did and to come home with a bronze medal, that’s pretty exciting. The first thing they wanted to see before they even saw me was the medal. It’s exciting. They were thrilled and filled with excitement. That meant more to me than winning the bronze.”

When asked if one game stood out, Brad doesn’t hesitate: the one for the win, of course. “The bronze medal game was the toughest. I’ve said that was the toughest game that I’ve ever had to play and I still stand by that. Coming off the loss in the morning and playing for so much … it was hard because you had all the emotions, the disappointment, but also the excitement and nervousness to play for a bronze medal and trying to wrestle all that to come through and play a pretty good game. I was pretty proud of how we did.”

Brad’s wife Krista and daughters Hayley and Marissa all share their pride in  the entire team, in fact Krista says the pride in ‘the b’ys’ comes from everywhere. 

“The girls, they’ve seen how much hard work has gone into getting to the Olympics. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get there as a family, but seeing them on that podium – seeing the benefits after everything they’ve put into it – it was amazing and couldn’t get any better. 

“Brad’s always talked about how you’ve got to find something you love to do, and just give it your all, and we got to see that. And knowing how much support we had from everyone just made everything that much sweeter,” Krista said.

Mark’s wife Colette, who was born in Saskatchewan, agreed. “It’s nothing but love and support any time I’ve ever gone anywhere, whether it’s following a win or whether it’s following a loss. Our two boys are heavy into hockey, so I’m in hockey rinks all weekend long and I always get a pat on the shoulder saying, ‘Good luck to the boys,’ or ‘Great game last night. Keep it going.’ It’s always love and support anywhere we go as people cheer (Brad, Mark and the rest of Team Gushue) on,” she said. “It’s that kind of love and support that makes this place home,” she added.

‘Back to Newfoundland’ 

“I am from Saskatchewan, and I moved here in 2005 and I love it. We did have that small stint where we moved away for two years, but as soon as I was pregnant with Beckett I knew we had to come back. That was always on my mind, how we needed to get back to Newfoundland so we could have a family here,” she said. 

Speaking of family, both Krista and Colette share that they have become close and that “Uncle Brad” and “Uncle Mark” are both important to each other’s children. 

“My boys don’t know any different. We’re family and we like it that way. My family doesn’t live here and Mark’s sister lives away now, so to have that love and support on the ice and off the ice has meant a lot to me, especially for Beckett. He really looks up to the boys (on Team Gushue) and he actually sees a lot of the hard work, a lot of the determination and the sacrifice. He knows when Dad can’t come to a hockey game it’s because the boys were working hard and that’s actually pushed him a lot harder. He skates harder and he tries harder. He’s actually seeing the big picture now and putting it all together and he knows what it all means,” she said.

We ask the families if they were nervous wrecks while cheering on at home. Krista nodded. “Absolutely. I was nervous. We had a very upsetting loss in the semifinals and curling is a mental game, you have to use your head, so we were very, very upset for them knowing how hard they worked to get there and knowing how close they got. And I know Brad. He was more worried about disappointing us than anything else and when they won, the first thing he said was ‘Were the girls happy? Were the girls proud of me?’ That’s Brad.”

Brad smiled. What’s next? we ask.  “You know what? We’re kind of hitting a point now where we’ve played together, the four of us, for three years. I’ve been with Geoff (Walker) and Brett (Gallant) now for 11 years, and Mark and I, outside of the break we had, 20 plus years.” 

But there’s been changes, he added. “Geoff recently married and moved back to Alberta, so who knows what the future is going to hold for the team, but to go to the Olympics now, come home with a medal? It’s a great moment for this team because we’ve been arguably one of the greatest teams of all time and to get an Olympic medal to go with the World Championships and the Briers and the Grand Slams is pretty cool. So I think we’re all very proud of the run that we had.”

Mark feels the same, he said, adding; “We’ve been through it all together right back to our junior days, 20 years ago. So now, to win bronze and have our families be part of that?”

A Special Moment

“It was a special moment, and we had weird challenges while we were over there so for us to fight through and battle the way we did to come home with the bronze medal, I don’t know that it can get much more special than that. We were able to get through it all together and get the outcome that we got, and that’s worth celebrating.”  

We ask Brad if he has any advice for anyone out there working towards any goal in life.  “Just do something you love,” he said simply. “Winning is not always about Olympic medals. You have to find something you want to do, and I love curling. Anybody that knows me knows how much I care about curling and how much I just enjoy going down and throwing rocks sometimes just by myself,” he said.

“Nobody else is around and no one is watching, but still you are practicing because you love the game. It relaxes me and makes me feel comfortable and I think because of that, I’ve gotten better and gotten to this stage. But it isn’t about the Olympics, it isn’t about the medal, it’s about the journey, it’s about the experience and the work you put in doing something you love.”

When any Newfoundlander’s yarn begins “Well, we were on our way for a bit of Mary’s (Mary Browns Chicken) and on our way back we stopped at the Irving…” then you know you’re face-to-face with a family that keeps it real and that the tale they are about to spin will be a good one.

In this particular case, this Big Mary followed by a bit of gas yarn just happens to belong to the Furey’s and Dad Andrew Furey is the Premier of Newfoundland Labrador and Mom Allison Furey is an emergency physician at the Janeway Children’s Hospital in St. John’s. 

Dr. Premier continued. “There was a gentleman (at the Irving) changing his tire and he was struggling a little bit, so we offered help.”

Dr. Allison picked up the tale, ‘cause as many hubbies tend to do, the tale got all tangled. 

“Sorry to interrupt, but it was actually our daughter, Maggie, that noticed that he was struggling with his tire change. And she said, ‘Mom, we need to do something.”

‘You’re the Premier’

Corrected, the Premier continued. “Right. Yes. I was in the Irving and when I came back out Maggie said, ‘You should help that guy over there.’ So I went over and helped him. And his wife asked what do I do for a living, and I think Allison said I was a surgeon and they were getting ready to leave and the guy turns and says, ‘Hey, you’re the Premier.’”

We ask the two how their relationship has changed or evolved over the past year and a bit since combining politics with a pandemic. “I think everybody’s relationship has changed because COVID happened. You know, when we started this adventure, I put my hand up for the leadership before COVID had really impacted us all. Before shutdowns happened,”  the Premier began.

How have those challenges, combined with turning into such a public figure, changed their lives?

“If anything those things have strengthened the relationship, made us more cognizant of each other and for me, made me realize how important it is to have Allison and the family around.”

While he tries hard “not to bring the office home,” that’s not always an easy endeavour.

“Always the responsibility of the province and working through the pandemic is large and I wear that so sometimes at home it can be a challenge so having an understanding partner and family has allowed me to navigate all that easier on a personal level.” 

The family Furey

Mrs. Premier agrees. “From the start, Andrew becoming Premier and simultaneously the pandemic striking has really highlighted for me the importance of stability at home for everyone. We’ve always had the attitude that anything we get involved in we do as a team. That could be the Premiership or as a surgeon or doing volunteer work overseas. Whatever it is, partnership is really important and our relationship has become much stronger from an emotional and supportive standpoint since March 2020.” 

The family Furey is made up of Mom, Dad and children, Maggie, Rachael and Mark. Like most families in the province, they struggle with balancing busy schedules and children who – when we spoke at least – were attending school at home. How do they do it? Very carefully, they shared.

“Allison is able to work at home a little bit, but we focus on that sense of responsibility where we have to make sure the kids are being educated. Always, hats off to the hardworking teachers out there who are teaching online. That’s not fun for them, either. I’m sure, like every parent, we’re balancing screen time and trying to make sure that the kids are physically active. COVID means that I get to do more from home, too, but when I can’t, when I get home, I try to make sure that the kids are doing something outside of the confines of the kitchen table or their desk in their room,” he shared. 

The Premier and his wife have moved beyond their usual daily duties during the pandemic as well. Dr. Allison has lent a hand in Ontario during the worst of the crisis and the Premier/Dr. has administered vaccinations throughout Labrador. Don’t they have enough on their plate, we ask.

“I always felt that you had a responsibility to give back with the talents that you had, some of which were natural and some of which were built on the backs of opportunities like having a solid medical education,” the Premier said. He’s long felt a “responsibility to give back to our own community and communities around the world,” he added. 

“If a call comes for vaccinators, for example, that’s something I can do. Knowing the demand is there, knowing that was a natural fit and just to be able to do it and to be contributing and learning was good.” 

Helping others

We ask if such things, like heading to Labrador or flying with a medical contingent to Ontario, were tough decisions to make.

“I don’t think it was a difficult family decision at all. The kids are pretty used to one of us going away to help the greater community in some way or another. Andrew’s been to Haiti several times. I’ve gone to Bangladesh. It isn’t outside the realm of normality in our household, so I don’t think it was a difficult family decision. It was a natural decision to go. I had a skill set and the opportunity presented itself.” 

Not going would have been the harder family conversation to have, the Premier added. “If we didn’t do something, we’d be answering questions over ‘why didn’t you do something?’ The kids are used to us traveling around the world to provide medical care and education and here’s an at home crisis.”

The children would have been left  wondering why they didn’t do anything, they added. Thinking of the paths they’ve taken in life, the Premier reflected.

“I think as an individual, you’re the combination of your past, present, and your future. The trajectory that my life has taken has largely been built on the shoulders of my family,” he said. 

His father, Senator George Furey, made politics and service a passion and a priority for the family. But beyond “growing up in a political family,” he also says he feels “responsible to ensure that we’re not subscribers to cynicism, but dreaming of the possibilities and solutions.”

“I hope that we are setting the right example for the children. I feel the responsibility of having those eyes on me at home. The call to public service is a noble one and I can only hope my children take something positive from the experience of me being Premier, and from my time with Team Broken Earth,” he said.

It would have been so easy, he continued, to simply say; there’s nothing we can do.

“It could be said easily, ‘what can we do? We are from St. John’s, Newfoundland Labrador.’ I don’t believe in that cynicism. I don’t believe in that philosophy and approach to life. And I hope my kids can really dream of the possibilities and then execute those possibilities.” 

A typical family

Allison feels equally as strong, she shared. When it comes to setting good examples for their family, that’s number one. “I don’t think (our efforts to help others) goes unnoticed in the household. They’re conscientious kids and I hope that our example is one of possibility for them and their future.” 

Having spent time with the Furey family in the past, it’s obvious they try and keep things real. From sports to music and mealtimes to video game championships, theirs is pretty much a typical family on most days.  

That the two share that family keeps it real is no huge surprise. “There’s a silver lining in this (pandemic) time for me and that’s as Premier, there’s less travel by mandate, and there’s less social gatherings, and obviously less political gatherings so as a result, I’m able to sit home and watch the news or Mandalorian or Harry Potter with the kids and that keeps me grounded and humble. My kids don’t mind telling me when I’m an idiot,” he said laughing. 

Since Valentine’s Day is pending, how do they keep the romance alive? There’s some joking about hesitancy to answer and about who fell in love first, but they agree theirs is a strong bond.

“Romance is a dynamic notion and concept that changes with the changing phases of your life and I’m still growing in love with Allison every day,” the Premier shared sweetly, evoking a chorus of ‘awwww,’ from his wife and the interviewer. 

‘I love you’

“When it comes to romance, we definitely celebrate each other and our relationship in small ways and I think it’s a constant that we work on,” Allison shared.

We ask them to describe their love for one another. Is their long term relationship more like the Titanic theme song My Heart Will Go On, or is it like a Dolly Parton love song?  Is there a song that causes them to instantly gaze into each other’s eyes if it’s heard? 

Allison is quick to respond. “I would have to say that our wedding song probably would be the song and that’s The Beatles, In My Life.” 

And how did the Premier respond to that? By using a simple one-word quote from perhaps one of the most romantic movies of all time, Ghost. Like Patrick Swayze’s charter said as he responded to Demi Moore’s character’s “I love you,” the Premier eloquently responded a very romantic; “Ditto.”

Enough said. 

There is one more message from the Premier. No matter how it’s celebrated this year with COVID restrictions in place, make sure we celebrate love.  

“I’d like to wish all of the other couples throughout Newfoundland and Labrador a very happy Valentine’s Day.”

If you think Michael Connors and his family talk politics around the dinner table from time-to-time, then you’d be bang-on, he admitted unapologetically. 

“2021 was a busy year politically, so politics came up a time or two in the evening hours,” he shared. 

Wife Amanda Labonté, a well-known author, (Call of the Sea, Return to the Sea and Supernatural Causes) studied political science in university. Labonté added that politics just might be a family passion that comes naturally.

‘A natural calling’

“Our son and daughter (Andrew who’s 16 and Dianna, 11) have a natural calling, you might say, when it comes to politics, though it certainly isn’t the only topic around the table or in the home,” she offered.

 Labonté’s Call of the Sea series, a trilogy set in Newfoundland that’s aimed at young adults, is something she’s proud of. Husband Connors helps “flesh out” the stories from time-to-time and helps with early editing when called upon, she added. Connors, who has been with NTV over 19 years, met his love when both attended university. 

“We were both at the student newspaper, The Muse. We started dating in ‘98 and we got married in 2002, so we got married about a year before I went to NTV in 2003.” 

‘Motivated & organized’

Both have busy careers that see them working outside the home. Now, with the kids at home attending school, we ask how they balance their busy schedules.

“We’re lucky our kids are at an age where they’re pretty proactive about getting their online schooling done. Andrew, at 16, can get himself organized, and Dianna is motivated and organized. I think for parents with younger children, it’s definitely more juggling for them, so we are lucky in that way,” Labonté shared. 

Connors says he’s “rolled with the punches” at work, the same as anyone. 

“Three times now with the various lockdowns we’ve taken turns working from home. Jodi (Cooke), Beth (Penney) and Ben (Cleary) and the team, we go where we need to go to get the job done and be safe.”

Going virtual

Staying home isn’t an option when you’re the backup anchor or hosting Newsday or taping Issues and Answers, he added. “I’ve always had to remain in studio in some capacity. There were a couple of phases where they had us in a separate building, but because of the backup hosting role that I have, I’ve had to stay at the studio.” 

It hasn’t always been easy, he admitted. In fact, he says, it’s been “a huge adjustment.”

“Switching everything to virtual and dealing with the COVID briefings obviously affects everything that’s going on with what the government of the day does. We’ve had these phases where we’re in lockdown and then another phase where things loosen up and life sort of goes back to normal and we go back to dealing with other issues.”

‘Other issues’

“Other issues” included both a provincial and a federal election.  “The provincial election was definitely the biggest challenge through it all, though. One day we were preparing for our election night show and for voters going to the polls and all that and then all of a sudden this new variant hit and suddenly we were in lockdown and the election got delayed for six weeks. And that was that. That was something I don’t think we’ve ever seen the like of before and hopefully never will again.” 

Covering Politics

With close to 20 years in the rear view when it comes to covering politics, he’s met many politicians. From the late John Efford and John Crosbie to Danny Williams and Andrew Furey, we ask about the  relationships that he’s built, and the trust he’s maintained, over the decades. 

“I covered (Efford) somewhat. I kind of came in right at the tail end of his political career because he retired from politics in early 2006, and I actually didn’t start covering the Legislature until 2005, so I wasn’t in that primary political role when he was at the height of his political career. But I definitely encountered him many times.”

One of the first encounters was when Connors worked for The Telegram. 

“It was a Sunday afternoon. I was on the weekend shift. I wasn’t a political reporter, but there was some issue going on in the fishery and he was in his office at the fisheries building on a Sunday afternoon, and all the media were down there sort of staked out outside waiting for him to come out.”

The fact Efford was at his office on a Sunday afternoon was “testament to how devoted he was to his job,” Connors shared.

Political Scandals

“I didn’t quite get to know him as well as maybe some of the other politicians I’ve covered in more recent years, but there’s no question he was a unique personality on the political stage, someone who really almost comes from a whole other era of politicians that’s sort of disappearing. The John Crosbie-type that you don’t often encounter anymore.”

Connors has covered his share of political scandals over the years. Where does his approach to handling the more delicate side of politics come from, we ask. He paused. 

“I don’t know. I guess I was just raised to always treat everyone with respect and to be honest and to be upfront. And that’s just the way I try to approach everything. And I find you sort of get back what you give, maybe. And that’s just who I am. And that’s the way I always try to deal with everyone that I encounter, whether it’s a politician, or anyone. It doesn’t matter who it is.”

‘Never a dull moment’

We ask if any stories stand out for him. He paused again, thinking.  

“The Bill 29 Filibuster was certainly an interesting exercise in covering legislative proceedings. Muskrat Falls, obviously, was just such a massive project that’s been going on for more than a decade now. That’s obviously been a very big story.”

There’s been plenty of floor crossings too, he added, and “there’s never a dull moment when you’re covering that.”

“I guess for me, it’s always just kind of having that front row seat to history as it’s happening. That’s always sort of been the appeal of it for me,” Connors said. 

A Shared Interest 

Labonté said the family “is proud of the dedication” her husband brings to the job. “I studied political science in university as well, so Michael and I talk politics as that’s a shared interest. The kids grew up always hearing it. I think Andrew knew who the premier of the province was before he knew his colours.” 

We ask if there’s anything about her husband that no one else knows that she’d like to share with Herald readers. She laughed. “He can juggle.” 

Interesting.

Connors, she continues, also is a “bit of a geek” in that he’s a fan of Harry Potter and Star Wars. Another behind-the-scene fact? He drinks tea, never coffee!

Family Game Night

What about family nights? Any favourite activities? “Sometimes board game nights can get a little competitive. So our games aren’t always a fun, relaxing time,” Labonté shared with a laugh.

When daddy deals with premiers for a living, how does the family balance home and work?

“Michael is really good at giving me space to write, but also being somebody I can bounce ideas off of. He’ll even read things for me and I think that having this sort of relationship where we’re just really invested in what each other is doing and are there to help is really good, and I think it shows our kids that we are there for one another, and that no matter what we do, it’s important.”

Labonté credits their children for “staying grounded” but she also knows the work that she and her husband have put in. “I think Michael and I show the kids that we can be busy parents but you can still be invested in what we want to do. Kind of following your own goals, type thing, and follow your own passion while still being a cheerleader for the other person.”

‘Staying grounded’

We ask about life in the newsroom at NTV, and about the senior role Connors has taken on.

“As I’ve gotten older – and that’s a little bit scary to think about sometimes because I’m just like everyone else. I don’t think I have any particular insight into life or the world that anyone else doesn’t have – but others do come to me for guidance sometimes. It sort of surprises me when people come to me, but I’m sort of evolving into that more senior role as I get older and I’m always willing to help anyone that I can and do whatever I can to help.” 

The dynamics in the newsroom is one of extended family, he adds. It doesn’t matter if it’s Glen Carter, Eddie Sheerr, Toni-Marie Wiseman, Mark Dwyer or Ben Cleary – everyone always treats everyone else with respect.

“We’ve always had a bit of that family feel. When I first started there in 2003, I was the youngest reporter in the newsroom. Glen Carter is the quintessential news anchor. The experience that he brought to us from working at other TV stations across the country has been invaluable. Toni is a great friend. Our daughters are the same age, so we share that experience of going through adventures in parenting at the same time. Mark is a great boss to work for. I’ve been very lucky to have all great news directors, ones that give me a lot of freedom in terms of going about how I do my job and in terms of covering the political beat.” 

The couple share that they know they’ve been blessed both professionally and personally, and it’s a point they’d like to make sure gets shared.

“I feel like, even though it’s been a difficult time, we’ve been lucky to still be able to do the things that we really enjoy doing. I got lucky. I’m a writer. The arts community’s been struck hard by COVID and I think performing artists and musicians have had it much harder than others,” Labonté shared.

‘We’ve been lucky’

While there’s good days and bad days, she’s learned to take it all in stride and to be as grateful as possible.  

“In general, we’ve been lucky. Michael’s been able to do his job throughout this time and he’s been even more essential than ever before and we’ve remained committed to each other and to the family.”

Focusing on family is always number one, Connors added. 

“Family time is always big. We always do Sunday dinner at my parents with the kids. That’s always important. While travel is harder now, any trips we do take are to visit friends and family. We try to keep things very family oriented. I guess that’s sort of where a lot of our focus has always been and we make an effort to stay focused on that, because it’s important to us as a family.”

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.” 

What’s not adorable about family themed costume planning come Halloween?  When the Furey family get going each fall, their creativity knows no boundaries. 

Costume quest

While the Premier couldn’t be pressured one little bit into giving away this year’s dress-up theme, wife Allison gave Herald readers a hint by teasing; “I like the costumes where we get to be creative and get a little bit elaborate and have a little bit of fun with wigs and hair and makeup and stuff like that. But this year, we all wear masks.” 

Not giving much away, so it’s onto other questions, including where did this quest for costuming come from?

Well, the Premier begins,  part of the joy of having three children – Rachael, Maggie and Mark – is that you really never have to grow up yourself when it comes to the fun stuff. From video games to dressing up like your favourite Star Wars character, being dad doesn’t mean being a dud. 

Last year, The Goonies ruled the roost. The picture tells the tale of just how much they all get into the spirit of the spooky season. “The costume is a family decision every year and it’s been quite a bit of fun,” the Premier opened. Now, it’s not always an easy pick, either, he offered. 

“It has become a source of great debate in our house, especially as the kids get older because obviously they have become attached to this, and they have their opinions.” After 15 years of family costuming, it’s getting more and more challenging to come up with ideas, he admitted.

‘Mix it up’

“It’s harder and harder to come up with group things that everyone can agree on or that is not too common. We don’t want something that’s too predictable. The Goonies. Scooby-Doo. Another year we did characters from Dr. Seuss. We try to mix it up,” he said.

Since he is Premier, we ask about all the fabulous shows and movies that are being shot throughout this province of ours. Did the Furey family get any ideas from Peter Pan, we ask, trying to guess what this year’s theme might possibly be. 

While he wouldn’t give anything away, he did offer that dressing up to visit Neverland would be an awful lot of fun. Who would he like to be? 

“Oh, definitely, Peter Pan. I never wanted to grow up,” he said with a laugh.

The family has another tradition when it comes to Halloween. “We go to Taylor’s Farm and we take pictures and we all pick out our pumpkins … and then a couple of days before Halloween the five of us will pick an evening to carve the pumpkins that we have,” Allison shared. 

As the kids have grown, the amount of help they need has lessened, but it’s a family tradition they all still seem to enjoy. “They pick out their pattern, and they may need a little bit of help from mom or dad, but they’re getting to the point where they don’t need our help so much, but they still ask, ‘when do we get to do the pumpkins?’” 

Cheezie shenanigans

Then, it’s photo time, she added.

“We set them up on in front of the fireplace there and take pictures and then we set them out the next day for Halloween and light them up.” 

We ask the big question: which goodies do each of them rob from the children’s treat bags? The Premier steals Hawkins Cheezies. The Premier’s wife is all about those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. 

We ask both if they have any message for those trick-or-treating throughout the province. “I guess the message would be to enjoy and be safe. Have fun and try to enjoy it as a family. It’s just a special time for kids in particular, but equally for those like me not wanting to grow up. It’s fun for adults too,” the premier said.

Just have fun

Allison takes a moment to reflect on her family. Times change, she offered, but that’s to be treasured too. 

“Halloween is the fun part of family. We’re real people. We do all the same things everybody else does. We deal with the same things, too. Our oldest is fifteen so she’s technically too old to be out there getting treats so I think she’s going to man the door this year and see the other side of the experience on the Sunday night, but I’d say I’ll be picking her up from a Halloween party on the Saturday night before,” she said with a chuckle. 

Her message for families this year? “My biggest thing would be just have fun. Enjoy it with your friends, and when it’s over, sort all your candy. Stay up late. Enjoy it, but don’t get too bad of a tummy ache.”

Story by CAMERON KILFOY

As we enter the summer season, there is only one way that certain Newfoundlanders plan to ring it in and that’s camping May two-four weekend.  In some households, camping over the long weekend has become an annual tradition. It is one of the ways they stay connected to their roots and pass this celebration on for generations to come.

THE EARLY BIRD

Preparation for this holiday takes some time and one camper says the earlier you get your campground ready the earlier the fun can begin.

“It’s best to go down a few weeks before and check everything out,” says Dwayne Noonan, a regular camper at Marine Park. “I like to go down and open everything up, flush out my lines, and make sure there was no damage done over the winter to the trailer, inside and out, and when everything is set up and in good working order it just means we can get right to it when the long weekend comes.”

Noonan has been camping with his family since he was a young boy. He says some of his best memories were made at the trailer and he wanted his children to have a similar experience while growing up.

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MAKING MEMORIES

“For them, it’s been better than we could’ve imagined,” says Noonan. “It’s mostly because there are so many kids around their age, they’ve made new friends over the past few summers and they get super excited to see them, at this point, we are just as excited for them to go up and make memories.” Noonan goes on to say how this holiday is just as important for the adults as it is for the kids.

Getting the chance to celebrate with your friends and family in a stress-free environment, gives people a form of an escape. Camping to Noonan is something that goes beyond the surface and has a truly deeper meaning to him. “It is some of the best family time that we get,” says Noonan.

“We have campfires every night, we roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and those are some of the good memories I have growing up camping, and I think my kids are creating the same kind of memories and I just hope it will stick with them and make them want to continue with this tradition down the road.”

BONFIRE CELEBRATION

Preparation begins even earlier for campground owners. Dewayne Fry is the owner and operator of Blue Fin Campground in Holyrood. Fry begins his preparation for the long weekend in January.“May two-four is our busiest weekend, seeing that it is the start of summer,” says Fry. “We start our reservations right after Christmas and when we get everyone booked in we start planning our summer events. For the long weekend, we start with a bonfire to kick off the celebration.”

In the spring, Fry goes around the campground to check for damage and to make sure everything will be in running order for the opening weekend. He starts by doing any maintenance that needs to be done, turning the water back on, and putting equipment out into the park that was in storage. Fry has been camping his whole life, he started as a teenager with his grandparents. He believes having the outdoor experience is what the long weekend is all about.

‘NEW ENTHUSIASM’

“The best way to describe it is, it’s like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders,” says Fry.

“The outdoors just brings this whole new enthusiasm and almost gives people a renewal after a long hard winter.” Even with the recent outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fry believes it will give people more reason to want to get out and fully embrace this holiday for what it is.

“It’s been a tough year for everybody and it’s been a reminder of how tough life is, the people I have been talking to are excited to be able to push that to the side and get out into freedom and fresh air,” says Fry.

MAY TWO-FOUR

He goes on to say how May two-four is his favourite time of year at the park and being prepared for the long weekend is the second most important thing you could do to ensure a stress-free time. He adds the most important thing is making lifelong memories.

Fry is excited to re-open the campground and have everyone back in the park, he considers them his extended family. He knows that our Newfoundland weather is iffy but hopes no matter what the weather brings that people come prepared to celebrate the holiday because being together is what matters.

“Regardless, go camping,” says Fry. “The benefits of camping on the long weekend, the joy it brings, will outweigh whatever the weather will hold.”

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Those fairytale-like mommy moments don’t always come easily. ‘Come to mommy, darling,’ gets shamefully replaced by a shrieked; ‘you’re crying?!? I’ll give you something to cry about,’ or a hissed, ‘zipped it, drama queen!’ when kiddie call-outs just won’t quit. 

Mothers aren’t perfect. Booming morning-after-the-night-before headaches can create a bad working environment for mommy miracle working, for instance. Do-it-yourself breakfast out of a tinfoil package can replace those fluffy, just so scrambled eggs and a serve-yourself sugary juice box can suddenly be a suitable substitute for milk poured with precision and passion in tough times.

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Mother of the year

We’ve all been there. I have so many memories of me being this fairy-like mythical mother of which songs and poetry should be written about, yet my 24 year-old son’s version isn’t quite the same as mine. Take his hand scar. I had been vacuuming like a mad woman the day my baby sister was getting married. Family were flying in and things were hectic. I tipped the vacuum to get ‘me carners’ and my curious kid stuck his little hand in the swirling vortex of brushes and dirt. Missing skin. A raw wound. Crap. I had to run to the airport to pick up my parents. I had to curl my hair. I had to finish my house work. And I had a wedding to get to.  I ran cold water over the wound and wrapped it in a clean cup towel as I kissed the baddie.

It wound up being a bad third-degree burn, and my lad is literally and figuratively scarred for life from pure parental neglect. “Why didn’t you take me to emerg again?’ he asked just the other day while fingering the mommy-caused scar. 

“I had stuff to do,” I replied. “Mother of the year. You’d stick a bandaid on a bullet hole if you were busy enough,”  he scoffed. 

True. B.B. gun and pellet gun marks had been covered in kisses and patched with bandaids over his two decades.

The edge of extinction

My daughter had her own run in with ‘mother of the year.’ I was hosting a meeting in my outport and I was frazzled. My son and his friends would be watching the wee one while I went to my meeting, so I figured I’d get her ready for bed. I stuck my daughter in the tub and left her sloshing as I bustled around. I heard a shriek. I ran. Blood everywhere; face. Hair. Even the bathwater was pink. She screamed bloody murder while death clutching my leg razor.

Her upper lip appeared to be sliced off. I stuck a facecloth to her chops, kissed her until she was quiet, and went off to my meeting. Finest mommy moment? No, but the truth of the mommy myth of the magical mommy is that we’re really fragile, ripe for failure human beings.

Youngsters fall off kitchen counters as we get absorbed in juicy, gossipy phone calls. Kids tumble from bunk beds as we soak in the tub. They wander off at malls as we window shop. Kiddies live life on the edge of extinction in the front yard as we dart inside to charge a phone or refill a wine glass. But usually, with luck, everyone survives – though there may be a scatter scar or two left behind to tell the battle-tale. But hey, that’s fine too, right? Nothing that a kiss, a cuddle, or a well-placed bandaid can’t cure. No matter how old the kiddies get, baddies and mommy kisses are always the cure-all.

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