May 4, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Two major Soiree '99 summer events unveiled

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced the details of two major Soiree '99 events to take place during July and August: the "Tour Soiree '99" and the "Soirees & Times" programs. These two exciting province-wide events are among the highlights of the Soiree '99 summer schedule.

"I am pleased and proud that these two events will bring the spirit and excitement of our 50th anniversary celebrations to so many people throughout the province," Furey said. "Tour Soiree '99 will feature music, displays and entertainment at each of the 19 stops, while Soirees & Times allows 15 communities to show off the best in local flavour and culture."

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Canada, Rick Comerford, Director General, Program Development and Delivery, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, noted the importance of these events to Newfoundland and Labrador, and Canada. "Through these events, we share the spirit that has defined our culture and which continues to inspire us. I invite all Canadians to join us, and get to know us a little better, in 1999."

Tour Soiree '99 is a traveling showcase that features performances by the popular band Celtic Connection, actor Kevin Noble as well as recitations, storytelling, dramatic interpretations, theatre and incredible exhibitions. Professional entertainer and Artistic Director of the Performing Arts Group, Patricia Andrews, will act as Master of Ceremonies. Local entertainers will also be featured at each stop. Eastern Audio, a successful Newfoundland company which celebrated its own 25th anniversary last year, has been awarded the contract to provide technical and audio-visual support for the tour.

The tour will travel to 19 communities on the island and in Labrador during July and August. The communities are: St. John's, Bay Roberts, Placentia, Ferryland, Marystown, Clarenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Harbour Breton, St. Anthony, Port Saunders, Rocky Harbour, Corner Brook, Port aux Basques, Stephenville, Springdale, Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador City and Gambo. Children and adults as well as residents and visitors alike will enjoy the event, which begins in the afternoon and continues into the evening in each community.

The Soirees & Times program will offer a mix of Newfoundland and Labrador food, music, storytelling, drama and dance at 16 locations, every week, all summer long. The intent is to offer a traditional "time" to resident and non-resident visitors alike, which is organized and run by local operators with training and support from the Soiree '99 team.

Soirees & Times will take place in St. John's, Ferryland, Brigus (2), Mount Carmel, Dunville, Woody Island, Clarenville, Gambo, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Stephenville, L'Anse au Clair, Labrador City, L'Anse aux Meadows and St. Anthony. In most cases the events will take place weekly during July and August. It is anticipated that the Soirees & Times program will continue to be developed and expanded throughout the province in the coming years.

Further information along with exact locations, dates and times for these events can be found in the backgrounders accompanying this news release.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Human Resources Development Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada are the funding partners for Soiree '99.

The four major corporate sponsors for the Soiree '99 celebrations are Newtel, the Iron Ore Company of Canada, Air Canada/Air Nova and Petro-Canada. Scotiabank, Newfoundland Power, and Agra Earth and Environmental are supporting Tour Soiree '99. The Telegram and the Hibernia Management and Development Company (HMDC,) are also contributing to Soiree '99.

Media Contact:

Dean Willams
Program Manager, Soirees & Times/ Tour Soiree '99
(709) 729-4242

George Earles
Public Relations/Communications, Soiree '99
(709) 729-4825

Tara Laing
Communications Director, Tourism, Culture and Recreation
(709) 729-0928

Randy Devine, ACOA, (709) 772-2935

----------------------------------

BACKGROUNDER - TOUR SOIREE '99

Tour Soiree '99 will be the event of the summer in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a part of this year's Soiree'99 celebrations, this provincial tour will bring the 50th anniversary festivities throughout the province.

Our special Newfoundland and Labrador culture and our tremendous history will be highlighted in the tour. Through music, song, recitations, and stories, through dramatic interpretation and incredible exhibitions, we will be "Celebrating Canada our way." Each stop on the tour will become a great summer party for all to enjoy. Children and adults will enjoy each and every component of the tour program.

The tour will travel to 19 communities during July and August of 1999. Travelling across the island and into Labrador, it will be a celebration of our Canadian heritage and our Newfoundland and Labrador culture. This memorable entertainment and exhibition show will also rekindle the emotions about the decision to join Canada in 1949. For the nonresident visitors, the celebration will offer insight into our culture, demonstrate our Canadian pride, and provide information on what the province has to offer. It will also be a fun-filled experience, free of charge to each and every visitor.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Each stop on the tour will have the following Free Fun Schedule:

3:00 p.m. Exhibit Viewing (until 9:00 pm)
7:00 p.m. Opening
7:30 p.m. Drama
8:30 p.m. Musical Performance
10:00 p.m. Laser Light Show
10:15 p.m. Local Entertainment

THE EXHIBITION

The exhibits will provide a presentation of our anniversary theme, "Celebrating Canada our way." They will demonstrate our unique culture and identity as Canadians. The exhibits will present the ideas, the emotions, the institutions, and the people who have contributed to these 50 years as Canadians. Through the exhibition we will examine "who we are" in 1999.

"The Stuff We're Made Of" is an exhibit of 50 objects that represent who we are as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in 1999. This exhibit concept is based on the premise that these past 50 years have had a tremendous effect on our culture and on whom and what we are. These objects will be suggested by the people of the province in a province-wide questionnaire. Visitors to the exhibit will see, through this representation, what these past 50 years have meant to us.

A second exhibit will be an illustration of the political climate in the Confederation era of 1949. Through campaign posters, newspaper headlines, photos of leaders, and other memorabilia, the spirit and emotions of the those important days will be recaptured.

The Canadian Heritage exhibit will present a different perspective. Displaying objects and ideas from other provinces, it will demonstrate the broader Canadian culture that we became a part of at the time of Confederation. This third exhibit provides a thematic complement to the overall exhibition.

There will be a number of display exhibits as well. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will present their unique history and Canadian identity as one of the great Canadian icons. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary will also provide an exhibit of their important role in our history. Both of these displays will use old uniforms, interesting artifacts, and uniformed members.

Memorial University will have a display celebrating their 50th anniversary. This will be both historical and informative. The Newfoundland Science Centre will also provide an interesting presentation of experiments and ideas. Science buskers will perform and demonstrate in the exhibit area.

One of the most interesting segments of the exhibition will be the multi-media kiosk with an interactive trivia quiz on Newfoundland and Canada. This will be an entertaining and informative experience as visitors test their knowledge of our province and country.

There are several other exhibit components such as a children's poster art contest expressing opinions and emotions on being Canadian and a historical review of great events in our recent history.

THE DRAMA

The dramatic presentation will be essential to the spirit and significance of the tour. Professional and highly acclaimed actors will present an interpretation of the 1949-99 period. "Joey" will be the drama's central character, reflecting on the significance of Confederation with Canada. This will be a festive and often light-hearted look at our recent past. But it will also rekindle the great debates at the Colonial Building during the "National Convention."

The drama presents a unique opportunity to experience professional performers and interesting insights into the culture of the province. This 60 minute fast-paced performance will be the first component of the evening's entertainment.

THE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

The musical performance will feature one of the province's best-known groups, Celtic Connection, performing a variety of original and traditional music. Everyone is encouraged to take part in the toe-tapping, hand-clapping, dance-in-the-streets atmosphere of this lively and fun Newfoundland and Labrador summer concert.

THE LASER LIGHT SHOW

The music will conclude with an amazing laser light show. Using the latest laser technology available. The laser show will be a sound and light extravaganza, and will climax with a pyrotechnic display.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT SEGMENT

The final segment of the evening's entertainment will be provided by local musicians and entertainers who will perform until midnight or later. Each community will arrange for these performers to continue the Soiree '99 celebration as a concert or dance.

In addition to these highlights of the entertainment component, there will also be storytelling and recitations throughout the evening. Each community will provide a local storyteller to perform along with the tour's own storytellers.

Many of the 18 communities will be developing larger community festivals around the tour stop. In some cases, these will be three or four day events. All tour stops will have a festive and celebratory appearance with concessions, merchandisers and colourful decorations.

The tour opens in the capital city of St. John's on Canada Day and it closes in the historic town of Gambo, birthplace of Joseph R. Smallwood.

The admission is free.

 

SCHEDULE - TOUR SOIREE '99

July 1 St. John's
July 3 Bay Roberts
July 4 Placentia
July 6 Ferryland
July 8 Marystown
July 9 Clarenville
July 10 Grand Falls-Windsor
July 11 Harbour Breton
July 14 St. Anthony
July 15 Port Saunders
July 16 Rocky Harbour
July 17 Corner Brook
July 20 Port aux Basques
July 21 Stephenville
July 23 Springdale
July 24 Gander
July 29 Happy Valley-Goose Bay
July 31 Labrador City
Aug. 4 Gambo

--------------------------------

BACKGOUNDER - SOIREES & TIMES

Soirees & Times is a new initiative that offers the traditional Newfoundland and Labrador "time" as a tourist option in most areas of the province. These will be weekly events during the summer of 1999 and will be held in restaurants, hotels, community halls, and historic buildings.

In the past there were many different kinds of "times" in the communities of the province. Times on the Irish Southern Shore were somewhat different from times on the northeast coast where so many people of English descent settled. The French area of the Port au Port peninsula had times with a slightly different flavour. There were the formal times in the parish and community halls which usually celebrated a particular event or holiday and there were the informal times held in houses and often referred to as "Kitchen Parties." There were Christmas Times, Wedding Times, and all kinds of times.

This great variety of celebration in the Newfoundland and Labrador tradition will be present in the new Soirees & Times program. Beginning in 1999, as a part of the Soiree '99 celebration, Soirees & Times will be a series of weekly events that will showcase delicious Newfoundland food and excellent local entertainment.

There will be Irish "times" in Ferryland where the Irish influence remains and Wedding Times at Hawthorne Cottage in Brigus. Visitors will find Kitchen Parties in St.John's with the most memorable characters and entertainers. More Kitchen Parties will be held in Labrador City with a complete Labrador flavour. There will be a "time" at the old schoolhouse in Clarenville and another at a Brigus fishing room where visitors will step back into the past. The historic town of Gambo, birthplace of Joey Smallwood, is hosting a very special "time," while in Dunville visitors will experience a Placentia Bay "time."

In Mount Carmel there will be Christmas "times" all summer long. Gander's Soirees & Times will be a fun-filled history lesson, while in Grand Falls the "time" is set during the Confederation era of 1949. In Stephenville visitors will enjoy the special culture of the Bay St. George area. There will be a 1949 "time" in L'Anse au Clair, Labrador, and a unique island experience for visitors to Woody Island, in Placentia Bay.

There will be as much variety in the Soirees & Times program as there was in days past when the people of this province gathered to celebrate, to socialize, and to enjoy themselves in the spirit of the "time." Each Soirees & Times will have a different theme and a different presentation style.

The program has a significant legacy potential. Soirees & Times will continue beyond the Soiree '99 year of celebration and the program will eventually move into other areas of the province. The development process was application driven and 16 applications were approved based on the quality of the proposals and discussions with the operators. The success of the program in 1999 will help establish Soirees & Times in other areas.

It is anticipated that the program will increase resident and nonresident visitation to various areas of the province. In these areas it will help create employment and it will contribute to the overall tourism package of the area. Operators are encouraged to network with other tourism operators in the area such as tour boats operators, bed and breakfasts owners.

The choice of foods served at a "Soirees & Times" event differs from location to location. Some operators offer a traditional Newfoundland and Labrador meal, while others will offer smaller quantities of food served in a more informal setting.

Training is an important consideration in the Soirees & Times program, and the operators and staff are taking part in training opportunities in hosting, food preparation, and food service being carried out by service professionals at the Soiree '99 team. The Soirees & Times program is providing an entertainment consultant and a food service consultant to work with operators and staff from April to September.

SOIREES & TIMES 1999

1. St. John's
   Spirit of Newfoundland Productions
   at 43 Springdale St. - every night during the summer
   Theme: A Newfoundland Kitchen Party

   A complete Newfoundland experience of comedy, music, food, song and recitations presented by unforgettable characters. A "fun and food" experience in the tradition of the old time kitchen party.

   Menu: An All You Can Eat Lobster Buffet with salads and other popular dishes.

2. Ferryland
   The Colony of Avalon Foundation, The Southern Shore Folk Arts Council and The Fisher Players at the Kavanagh Premises with meals from local restaurants - each Friday evening in July and August
   Theme: Ireland Over Here

   Experience the unique Celtic history and culture through a variety type performance with a meal of traditional foods. Located at Ferryland, this "time" is brought to you by the Fisher Players.
   Menu: Jiggs Dinner with the salt beef, cabbage, turnip, and other vegetables, followed by steamed pudding with sauce. Pan fried cod with the traditional vegetables and homemade bread, followed by bakeapple or blueberry cheesecake.

3. Brigus
   The Heritage House Restaurant - every Tuesday night during the summer
   Theme: The Ethel Lear Room

   A traditional "time" in a fisher's house in the 1860's. The true story of the life and times of Ethel Lear, a Skipper's daughter, will be told with music, songs, recitations, and a visit to "Lear's Room". A great meal of traditional Newfoundland food will be the focus of the evening.
   Menu: Traditional Seafood dishes of cod, salmon, lobster and chowder. Some of the original recipes of Ethel Lear will be used in the menu.

4. Brigus
   The Baccalieu Players at the United Church Parish Hall and Hawthorne Cottage - each Friday night
   Theme: H'Amnessia's Wedding

   A comedic wedding and reception involving a dysfunctional local family. Audience members are treated as guests at the wedding ceremony and reception, and enjoy good food, music, and comedy sketches as they mingle with the characters.
   Menu: Served buffet style, items to include pea soup, moose stew, cod tongues, cod chowder, fish and brewis, other seafood items, potato and other salads, partridgeberry and blueberry cakes, blueberry wine, etc.

5. Mount Carmel
   The Salmonier Country Manor - each Wednesday night
   Theme: Christmas and the Mummers

   A Christmas celebration during the summer with songs, stories and sketches from the region. An informative and fun-filled evening of celebration in the atmosphere of the traditional "time". The experience of the mummers and great local dishes will provide a memorable Newfoundland Christmas.
   Menu: A "Cooked Sunday Dinner" with turkey, salt meat, vegetables, and all the Christmas trimmings. Christmas puddings will be served with dessert.

6. Dunville
   The Northeast Arm Motel - each Friday evening
   Theme: The Old "Tymes"

   A "tyme" in Dunville with songs and stories, traditional beliefs, cures and legends, all served up with a fine Newfoundland meal for a night of unforgettable entertainment.
   Menu: Peasoup, Fish & Brewis or Fish and potato with drawn butter, served with the traditional vegetables and Newfoundland desserts.

7. Woody Island
   Woody Island Resort - every Sunday
   Theme: A Woody Island Time

   A unique experience on a secluded island in Placentia Bay, the "time" will be held each Saturday night and will include delicious meals, traditional entertainment, interesting activities, and comfortable accommodations.
   Menu: Cod and other seafood dishes, toutons, peasoup, homemade cookies, squares, etc.

8. Clarenville
   The Clarenville Inn - each Sunday night
   Theme: An Old Fashioned Schoolhouse Concert

   A night of outport hospitality and entertainment at the annual concert in the schoolhouse. Local actors and entertainers will recapture the spirit of the "time" and serve a delicious meal of traditional food.
   Menu: Traditional seafood dishes and wild game dinners served with traditional vegetables and desserts made from Newfoundland berries.

9. Gambo
   Sheila's Restaurant at The Gambo Interpretation Centre - each Wednesday
   Theme: A Good Old Gambo Time

   A "time" at the new Gambo Interpretation Centre with great meals and fine local entertainment. Music, song, recitations and sketches of life in the famous town of Gambo - birthplace of Joseph R. Smallwood, Newfoundland's first premier.
   Menu: Seafood platters, Cod Dinners, and Turkey Dinners with a variety of finger foods and traditional desserts.

10. Gander
    The Acting Up Theatre Company at Hotel Gander - each Tuesday
    Theme: Cod? Liv? Or Oil?

    An evening of fine food and entertainment presenting the history of Gander and Newfoundland through stories and song, sketches and music. An informative and humorous look at the past and present.
    Menu: Peasoup or Cod au Gratin, Baked Cod or Turkey Dinner, dessert will consist of Blueberry or Partridgeberry Pudding, Parfait.

11. Grand Falls-Windsor
    Grand Falls-Windsor Summer Theatre at The Royal Canadian Legion - each Tuesday and Sunday night
    Theme: Confederation, A Company Town's View

    A "time" set during the Confederation era of the late 1940s with stories, vignettes, music, and song to reflect the unique opinions of a company town on the issue of Confederation. Great entertainment with a great meal.
    Menu: Fresh Atlantic Salmon, Mussels, Jiggs Dinner as well as various Nfld desserts

12. Stephenville
    Bay St. George Historic Review at White's Hotel - each Saturday evening
    Theme: Bay St. George Historic Review

    A combination of serious and humorous skits and songs to depict the unique culture and history of this area. Integrating the various English, French and Micmac influences, this "time" will present excellent food and entertainment.
    Menu: Fish & Brewis, Fish cakes, Mussels, Lobster, Pea Soup, Jiggs Dinner, Seafood Chowder, Tea Buns, Toutons, etc.

13. L'Anse au Clair
    The Northern Light Inn - each Thursday
    Theme: Life in a L'Anse au Clair Home, 1949

    Exploring the culture and traditions of this area of Labrador, this event will present a "time" in 1949. Through songs, stories, music and activities the way of life will be depicted and the local flavour will be presented in the traditional meals served.
    Menu: Herring, Baked Stuffed Cod, Rabbit Pie, and Desserts of Newfoundland berries, rhubarb, etc.

14. Labrador City
    N & J Food Services at O'Flaherty's Pub - each Sunday night
    Theme: An Old Fashioned Kitchen Party

    An old time kitchen party with a buffet of fine traditional foods and great entertainment with songs, stories, recitations, and music. A taste of the culture of Labrador West.
    Menu: Buffet of Jiggs dinner, baked beans, fish & brewis, figgy duff, fish cakes, caribou, moose, toutons, cod in scrunchions, etc.

15. L'Anse aux Meadows
    The Norseman Cafe - every Tuesday and Friday evening
    Theme: Tales of L'Anse aux Meadows

    An evening set in the 1930s in L'Anse aux Meadows. George Decker, the famous resident who helped to discover the Viking ruins, was an amazing local story teller. Visitors will experience his stories, enjoy the local music and taste the delicious meals.
    Menu: Fish and brewis with scrunchions, baked beans, salads, soups, desserts and fresh rolls.

16. St. Anthony
    Lightkeepers Cafe - every Wednesday night
    Theme: An Evening at Uncle Joe's

    A celebration of the food and traditions of this famous Northern Peninsula town. Local entertainers will bring stories, songs, music, and dance while Uncle Joe and friends will serve the renowned traditional dishes of northern Newfoundland.
    Menu: Fish and Brewis, Jiggs Dinner, Moose Stew, Cod Casserole, Squid, and Bakeapple Dessert.

1999 05 04 11:30 a.m.