Latest news with #StJohns
CBC
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Different month, but all your favourites are still pondside at the Royal St. John's Regatta
Is it the rowing? The food and drink? Or the social aspect that draws you to Quidi Vidi Lake? The 207th Royal St. John's Regatta is on and the CBC's Jessica Singer takes us through the familiar sights and sounds. 'One dollar holding up the wheel!'
CBC
5 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
'Watched it and crossed our fingers,' as Quidi Vidi stages burned, says platoon chief
A fire broke out in the historic St. John's neighbourhood of Quidi Vidi Village late Tuesday night but because of its location, a platoon chief with the St. John's Regional Fire Department says all they could do was watch it burn and worry it would spread. Platoon chief Mike Hall said around 11:30 p.m. people in Quidi Vidi noticed smoke coming from behind a fish stage and realizing it was a fire, called the fire department and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. However, he said they found they weren't able to actually fight the fire because there is no road access. "We couldn't get trucks there, which is certainly frustrating for our fire department when you can't make a response," he told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. "There's no way to get access with hose lines because it's on the other side of the water." At that point it became a "controlled burn" and the fire consumed two of the main fishing stages and wharf structures, said Hall. As of Wednesday morning Hall said the fire is "smouldering ashes." He added some locals realized the fire was encroaching on a third structure, jumped into a boat, and went over with buckets and a hose connect to the boat's pump to fight the fire. "They doused the flames that were encroaching on their fishing stage and they actually put it out. So they saved their own building. It certainly would have been consumed if not through their efforts," said Hall. He said his main concern was when the fire began to burn up the side of a hill, so he was worried it could reach the East Point Hills area and burn through into the dry, wooded areas, and potentially reach structures like the RCMP detachment building. "So really some cautious, tense moments" for the firefighters and police, said Hall, "We basically watched it and crossed our fingers." He called the forestry division manager but was told they couldn't respond until daylight if they needed water bombers or helicopters. He said he understands people were frustrated with their inability to respond to the fire. Hall said it doesn't seem as if anyone has been injured. The fire started just a few hours after the provincial government announced it was lifting the province-wide fire ban. Hall said everyone needs to be vigilant around starting fires.
CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
St. John's considers ramping up security on walking trails following string of random assaults
The City of St. John's is looking at boosting its security presence to include public walking trails following three separate assaults on city trails this summer. St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said public safety has become a top concern for residents in the city's resident satisfaction surveys. "It's probably leading in terms of issues that are being brought to us," Breen told CBC. The city is working with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary to develop safety plans in locations where the dynamics of the public space have changed. "Safety and security, the issue has changed a lot in the last few years," Breen said. For example, the city has hired a patrol of private security to service Bannerman Park and the downtown pedestrian mall. Breen said security measures have also been adjusted for large events like the Churchill Park Music Festival and the Royal St. John's Regatta. Breen has been an advocate for increasing police foot patrols in the downtown area of St. John's. With recent reports of two women and one teenage girl getting assaulted by random men between June and July, Breen said the city is working with the RNC to see how they can keep public walking trails safe. The first assault took place on a walking trail in the city's east end on June 15. A girl was walking with her mother when she was approached by a man not known to her, robbed, and sexually assaulted. Less than a month later, the RNC reported a woman was physically injured on June 14, after a man she didn't know assaulted her on the Virginia River Trail near Churchill Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. N.T. On July 23, another woman sustained physical injuries after a man she didn't know attacked her near the soccer field in Bowring Park around 11:30 a.m. N.T. Breen said the city is facing new challenges with illicit drugs in recent years. "The ... illegal drug problem in the city right now is significant and it's one that is not easily solved," he said. "We're working together to try to make the city safer so people can use the facilities and can move around the city in a safe manner." In the meantime, Breen is advising residents to avoid walking alone and to walk with a charged cell phone. "Be aware of your surroundings, wherever you are in the city, and be alert, and if you see anything, no matter what it is, just call the RNC," he said.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
New Ukrainian rowers taking on distinctly St. John's tradition
A team made up of six Ukrainian newcomers to Newfoundland will compete in this year's Royal St. John's Regatta. (Garrett Barry/CTV News) A group of six Ukrainian newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador are trying their hand at a distinctly St. John's sport: fixed-seat rowing. The team, organized by the Ukrainian National Federation group in St. John's, have trained all week for the upcoming Royal St. John's Regatta, that will be held Wednesday if wind conditions are favourable. 'It's about traditions, because, for us, it's really hard now,' said Irina Pegasina, one of the driving forces behind the team. 'We live in (a) new country, we start trying to integrate in this country, and we want to be involved in this tradition.' 'It's easy to watch, but when you start rowing, it's a little bit hard,' added Viktor Shavliuk, one of the six brand-new rowers who make up the team. The team and the Ukrainian National Federation group believe it's the first time an all-Ukrainian contingent has raced on a team in the St. John's regatta. The group is led by coxswain and coach Megan Willette. They've been practicing, on average, five times a day since the beginning of June. The St. John's Regatta is fairly unique: It's one of the relatively few fixed-seat competitions in the rowing world. But it's notoriety mostly stems from for the moveable, shops-closing public holiday that travels with the rowing races. Whenever the Regatta is a 'go,' a holiday is declared — giving a lot of power to the closed-door committee that meets the morning before the regatta is held to examine the weather forecasts. Pegasina said her team has gotten used to checking the windy weather in St. John's that, all too often, interferes with her practice schedule. 'Every day we do this, because every day we check the (boathouse conditions flag),' she said. 'We green, red, green, red, yellow… it's really fun every day to check it.' Pegasina said she set her heart on rowing in the regatta the first time she saw it, arriving in Newfoundland from Ukraine after the war broke out in her home country. 'I think it's really good for us,' she said. 'I just want to be involved, as Ukrainians, in the Canadian and in the St. John's community.' Willette signed on to coach the team in the spring, as it just started to form. They've had an awfully quick introduction into the sport: while most teams competing in the Royal St. John's Regatta hit the water in May, this group didn't start practicing until June. 'The first time they got in the boat, they could barely pull two strokes together. And they were getting compliments on their turn in the time trials for the rest of the evening, so they've been very good,' she said. 'I think they surprised a lot of people too.' The team will compete in a brand new 'open crew' division, which will debut this year. It marks the first time the regatta has hosted teams not segregated into men's and women's categories. 'I just want them to have a really good race, and to be proud of themselves when they're finished,' Willete said. Pegasina has her own goal: make a few connections, maybe friends, and become regulars around the boathouse in the years to come. 'I hope we will have this team year by year,' she said. 'We know all these people, and I hope they will be our friends.'
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
Meet the father-daughter duo who are key volunteers in the track and field community for the Canada Games
The Stenders have long been associated with track and field. Ahead of the 2025 Canada Games in St. John's next month, meet a dad and daughter who aren't slowing down when it comes to supporting athletes and the sport.
