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MISSION STATEMENT
The Society mission statement is, “To preserve, protect, and present the history and culture of the Bay Roberts area”. The Town motto is “Proud Of The Past, Poised For The Future”. In order to be proud of the past, our history must be preserved, presented, and promoted. In that regard, the citizens, the Society, and the Town must work together as partners for the benefit of present and future generations.
 LOGO
The circle represents a porthole providing a window on our past and our marine heritage.
The codfish was the determining factor in the settling of Bay Roberts. The flat rocks in the beaches of Bay Roberts East afforded an opportunity to dry fish without the use of flakes. In later years, a major salt fish plant was established in the Town. The fish symbol was painted on the door of the plant.
The dots and dashes spell out Bay Roberts Heritage Society in Morse code and are emblematic of the Western Union Cable Company and its socio-economic impact on the Town.
THE OPERATION
Policy is determined by the Society. At the request of the Society, each Council has assigned one or two Council representatives as liaison persons. Currently the representative is Clarence Mercer, and his contribution is valued.
For years the Society annually advertised for new members but only one came forth. Many people expressed an interest and wanted to actively support the Society but were bound by work, family, education, or other community commitments. Finally, the Society, in following the trend in St. John’s and across the country, set up a “Friends of The Museum” organization for those who would make a valued contribution on an as-and-when-available basis. This group meets on the first Thursday of each month, except during the summertime, and new members are always welcome. The contribution of these “Friends” is essential to the ongoing operation of the museum and gallery.
LATEST PROJECTS
New Archives
Because people were bringing along old photos, books, and papers, the Society saw the need to set up an Archives. In 2005 a grant was obtained from the Canadian Council of Archives to establish an Archives. Shirley Owen and Betty Jerrett have attended trainings and are now, with student help, actively conserving, documenting, and properly storing the archival material that has been acquired.
 Art Gallery
The Bay Roberts Heritage Society Inc is proud to announce that it is currently exhibiting at the Christopher Pratt Gallery, Cable Building, Water Street, works of Christopher Pratt entitled "OFF THE (STUDIO) WALL." This exhibition comes directly from the walls of his studio in Salmonier. It is a special arrangement of 39 works intended to compliment the retrospective exhibition of his paintings organized by the National Gallery of Canada, now showing at The Rooms.
Christopher Pratt attended the opening on Sunday, July 9 from 2 pm to 4 pm. The Show is open daily from July 9th to August 1st.
In August there will be a exhibit of the works of Helen Parsons-Shepherd and Reg Shepherd. Helen Parson-Shepherd is the daughter of the late R.A. Parsons of Bay Roberts. Some of their work is on permanent display in the Gallery.
The Virtual Museum
View The Cable Building Story on Virtual Museum.ca. It features 144 pictures and storylines on the history of the building.
Schedule
Starting on June 12, the Museum and Gallery will be open every day from 12:30 to 5:30.
Telephone: 786-2995
Admission: FREE
 The 50+ Club is an organization that supports activities for individuals ages fifty and over. I had the pleasure of attending an afternoon tea at the 50+ Club room on Thursday, June 16 at their current location on Water Street, Bay Roberts. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Eric N. Mercer, President, and many of the wonderful members of the organization over a very enjoyable cup of tea and lunch.
The 50+ Club was founded in 1996 during a meeting in the former Bay Roberts town council chambers at 261 Water Street. The group had met in various locations before this particular meeting. When the town council office and chambers moved to their current location at the Western Union Cable Building, the former office building became available for the 50+ Club.
The organization currently has eighty members who reside in Bay Roberts and surrounding areas.
The club holds a regular meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. The current executive of the 50+ Club organization are Mr. Eric N. Mercer, President, Ms. Evelyn Williams, Vice President, Ms. Dorothy Bradbury, Secretary, and Mr. Gerald Snow, Treasurer.
The 50+ Club is a very outgoing organization. I was very impressed at the variety of wonderful activities that the club both supports and organizes.
 Presently, the club hosts a euchre game each Tuesday night at 8 p.m., a card game each Wednesday night at 8 p.m., a crib game each Saturday at 1 p.m., and an afternoon tea and bake sale on the third Thursday of each month. They also sponsor afternoon teas and breakfasts during the Festival of Lights in the winter and during Klondyke Days during the summer. Several members are pictured at the left preparing a community breakfast at the Bay Roberts Lions' Club with Chomper, the town Mascot.
The variety of activities extends to include barbeques, horseshoes and dances which are held at the 50+ Club facility, while activities such as bowling, water aerobics and walking take place at other locations.
Another exciting aspect of being involved in the 50+ Club is the organized trips for members. Some locations they have visited in the past include the Trinity-Bonavista area, Woody Island, and St. Pierrre-Miquelon. Those members who do not attend large trips often attend outings to St. John’s, dinner theatres, etc.
This congenial group is proud to boast a very good relationship with the Town of Bay Roberts and the Bay Roberts Lions Club. The 50+ Club holds a mutual, working relationship with these other parties and it often caters during various functions held at the Bay Roberts Lions Club.
I would like to send my warmest thanks to the 50+ Club for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at their facility. I felt very much at home with their friendly and hospitable members and the delicious spread of sandwiches, baked goods, and tea. I hope to join them again in the near future!
The 50+ Club extends an invitation for visitors to drop by. Weekly card, dart and euchre games are open to the public.
 Catherine’s Dance Studio opened it doors in Bay Roberts in 2002, and since then has been proudly providing Conception Bay North with qualified dance instruction in a professional dance studio environment. Catherine’s Dance Studio is locally owned and operated by Catherine McRae, a fully qualified and professionally certified Dance Teacher. The studio is dedicated to providing its students with the highest standard of dance training and offers a variety of programs for ages 3 to adult!
Classes are available in Tiny Toes (ages 3-5yrs), Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Street Jazz/Hip Hop, Modern Theatre, Ballroom & Latin American. This summer, Catherine will be attending the International Dance Teachers Workshop in New York City at the Alvin Aliey School of Ballet & the Broadway Dance Center.
Catherine’s Dance Studio is actively involved in the community performing at many events through out the year, as well as hosting the Annual Christmas Spectacular; as Christmas showcase which raises money for local charities.
At Catherine’s Dance Studio, we pride ourselves on maintaining a motivating and nurturing environment where students can grow and develop their dance technique in a comfortable atmosphere. We encourage the principals of team work and co-operation, while promoting spirit, individuality and a general love of Dance.
We offer classes in Examination Syllabus with the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA).
Summer Program
Catherine’s Dance Studio offers a Summer Intensive Program for a variety of ages. This summer we will offer classes from July 18th-27th. If you are interested in information on our summer classes - or our Fall Registration for classes starting in September please contact Catherine at 786-4486 OR check us out on the web: www.catherinesdancestudio.com
There is probably no other town in Newfoundland and Labrador, and, arguably, Atlantic Canada, that can boast either the number and quality of municipally sponsored events as Bay Roberts.
Just take a minute of your time to consider our annual Festival of Lights celebrations for which we have received a national award, the Winter Carnival, the Spring into Summer concerts and dances and the Klondyke Days activities, including our internationally acclaimed Klondyke Concert. Then there are free concerts at the Wilbur Sparkes Recreation Complex, mini-concerts at the Community Gardens, town-sponsored sports leagues, Christmas and Klondyke Days parades and Canada Day celebrations.
Consider also the exhibitions held at the Christopher Pratt Gallery, the Road to Yesterday Museum and the Visitors Pavilion. You may add to this list the work of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Bay Roberts Lions Club, the 50+ Club, the Red Cross Society, the various church groups and their affiliated lodges and auxiliaries and the numerous fraternal organizations.
Please take another minute of your time to ask how all this is possible. The answer is blatantly obvious-VOLUNTEERS. We all admit that we enjoy some aspect of these events-whether it’s attending a community breakfast with friends or watching our children enjoy one of the many youth oriented activities. These events are meant for our residents to enjoy. You expect these functions to be held in a responsible and professional manner. You should expect no less.
The person responsible for your favorite activity just might be your next door neighbour who unselfishly offers his or her time without any reward except the satisfaction of knowing that he or she has contributed in some small way to make our town more attractive for residents and visitors alike.
This person contributes many hours per week and often with little or no recognition.
Each year our town offers residents and organizations alike the opportunity to nominate a volunteer for consideration as our Citizen of the Year. This person could be the next door neighbour who helped organized that Canada Day picnic which your pre-school child so thoroughly enjoyed, it could be a member of your charitable, fraternal or religious organization who has contributed so much. Just stop for a minute and consider the possibilities. They are endless.
Bay Roberts has literally hundreds of volunteers who devote a substantial portion of their free time because they want to make life just a little better for our residents. They have been doing it for so long they just take it for granted that it is an honorable thing to do.
So let’s recognize them. It’s so easy. Each year when the nominations are called, take time to consider the possibilities. In less time than it takes to read this article, you could submit a nomination. We will even accept the name only and research the person’s accomplishments. Please don’t feel intimidated. No person’s accomplishment is too small.
Give credit where credit is due. |
