The Our Town - Clarenville Blog by Paul Tilley

You've got to wonder - Why are some many towns having such trouble attracting a competitive slate of candidates for this coming September's municipal elections? This question has always been in the back of my mind - but on Tuesday, at the conclusion of the Clarenville municipal election nomination period, it came full frontal. Despite the fact that we have an excellent slate of new Councillors (I hope I am near as good as the rest), I was floored when I found out that Clarenville; the 12th largest town in the province - a town that has always had a competitive slate, and frankly, a town with many, many "engaged" citizens - would not have to hold an election because only seven names were put forward for the seven available seats (Clarenville normally holds a separate ballot for the single mayoral seat and for the six council positions). Wow! There are many potential reasons for why this could have happened.  Poor timing,  lack of interest,...

SANTA IS COMING TO CLARENVILLE ON SATURDAY!  Each year the Lion's Club Clarenville host Santa - and we all throw him a parade!   The Lions' Santa Claus Parade will be taking place This coming Saturday, December 10th, 2016.  The parade begins at 10am at the intersection of Memorial and Cormack Drive and proceeds along Memorial Drive to the Shoal Harbour Causeway, left onto Harbour Drive to the Shoal Harbour River bridge.  Be a part of the parade!  For more information please contact Ches Stanford at 466-2520 or Brian Felkar at 433-2527. Each year Santa looks forward to coming to Clarenville - Let's show him another great welcome this year.... THE LIONS CLARENVILLE SANTA CLAUS PARADE RETROSPECTIVE The 2015 Edition The 2014 Edition The 2013 Edition The 2012 Edition The 2011 Edition The 2010 Edition The 2009 Edition The 2002 Edition The 2001 Edition

July 1 was much anticipated this year.   The day had two very distinctive parts: Part 1, the somber remembrance of the tragedy of Beaumont Hamel and Part 2 - the joy of Canada Day. This year - and next year are significant for each of the two parts.   This year marked the 100th anniversary of Beaumont Hamel and it brought out several hundred residents to honor the Newfoundland men and women who gave their all in WW1.   Next year marks the 150th anniversary of Canada and this year's pre year celebrations brought out many young and old alike. Part 1: Beaumont Hamel #WW100 Video 1 - 100 for 100 - Men from this region who took part in WW1 and Beaumont Hamel Video 2 - July 1 Commemoration Part 2 - Canada Day #149 Celebrations with a performance by Quickdraw and fireworks in the Park

Out of the Ashes Every once in a while there is a 'magic moment' where time and place come together to form a perfect bond around some memorable event. The quickly organized and most excellently executed, Music for Friends: Fort McMurray Fundraiser that took place on the evening of Monday, May 16 in Clarenville was just such a moment - a 3 hour 'moment' that showcased some amazing talent by generous hearts.    The event was in response to the devastating Fort McMurray fires, and with all of the proceeds raised being forwarded to the Canadian Red Cross Fort McMurray Relief Fund, it was a great cause to help Newfoundland socalled "third city".   The event was the brainchild of Todd Cole and the staff at the Clarenville Town Office with the support of the Town Council (aka: The Citizens of Clarenville) - and their efforts coupled with the staff of the Eastlink Events Centre - They brought the idea to reality by signing on the entertainers, promotin...

On Thursday, Feb 25, the Clarenville Chamber of Commerce celebrated the achievement of small businesses in our region, and recognized the contributions of key community builders with its 9th annual Business Excellence Awards. See full coverage in THE PACKET Here are video segments of this year's recipients: VIDEO SEGMENT 1: Small Business: Community Vet Hospital  VIDEO SEGMENT 2:   Medium Business: Eastlink VIDEO SEGMENT 3:  The Corwin Mills QC Community Cares: Clarenville Habitat for Humanity   VIDEO SEGMENT 4:  The 2015 Inductee to the Business Hall of Fame: Mr. Owen Blundon OWEN BLUNDON Bio Owen is the oldest son of Chesley & Effie Blundon from Shoal Hr. At a young age he showed signs of wanting to own his own business selling animal feed while still in school. He went to Horwood High in Clarenville where he met his wife Marlene Lethbridge. After high school Owen went on to Trade School to take a Carpentry course. O...

R alph Lethbridge is not your typical 71 year old  Entrepreneur, Husband, Dad and Grandfather.   He's what we call in Newfoundland & Labrador - a "Character".   He is Boonie. Boonie Lethbridge is one of those characters that you will find throughout small town Canada.   Boonie (as he is affectionately known) has been the go-to person to buy real, local Christmas trees in the Clarenville area since 1984.   EVERYONE knows him and kids in particular love him because he bears a striking resemblance to Santa!! That's not the only resemblance - his heart is as big as Santa's too!   His trade-mark white beard is the reason, and very few people remember seeing him without it.  Over the past few years several prominent citizens of Clarenville have died from ALS, including Corwin Mills,  Dolores Balsom &  Pat Cole . T his fall after the death of Mr. Mill's,  Dolores' husband Alex and Boonie were chatting.  Boonie suggeste...