Newfoundland and Labrador Poised to Create Lifelong Memories for Royal Couple

From November 2-4, the province will host Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as they begin their visit to Canada right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The full itinerary for the visit was released today.

�We are delighted to welcome His Royal Highness and the Duchess of Cornwall to the province,� said the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. �I have no doubt our special guests will leave our beautiful province with memories that will resonate with them for a lifetime. The diverse and extensive itinerary planned for their time here will provide an impressive launch to their Canadian visit, and will instill in them the unique heritage and rich history of Newfoundland and Labrador.�

The Newfoundland and Labrador itinerary will include the following:

• Welcoming Ceremony at Mile One Centre, November 2
• A wreath laying by His Royal Highness at the National War Memorial
• A visit to Cupids, the oldest English Colony in Canada
• A tour of Hawthorne Cottage in picturesque Brigus, the home of world-renowned Arctic explorer and mariner Captain Robert Abram (Captain Bob) Bartlett
• The grand opening of Stella Burry Community Services� newest housing project
• A visit to Memorial University�s Marine Institute to learn more about the province�s leading edge oceans and marine research
• A tour of the Language Training School of the Association for New Canadians, a key partner in the Provincial Government�s new immigration strategy: Diversity ~ Opportunity and Growth
• A meeting with the international award winning Students in Free Enterprise team of Memorial University
• Tree plantings at Government House

�There are multiple opportunities throughout the Royal Visit where residents can see Their Royal Highnesses up close and be part of history in the making,� said the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs. �I encourage all who can to take part in the various events planned in honour of their visit to Newfoundland and Labrador.�

Their Royal Highnesses will arrive at St. John�s International Airport on Monday, November 2. In addition to being greeted by both federal and provincial government representatives, two children representing the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society will present flowers to Her Royal Highness. A similar presentation will occur at the departure of The Royal Couple on Wednesday, November 4, when flowers will be presented by two young people from the St. John�s Boys and Girls Club.

See the backgrounders for a complete itinerary and additional information. Please note that specific times for events, other than the Mile One Welcoming Ceremony, will be announced 48 hours prior to the start times.

Additional information on the Royal Visit to Canada can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/royalvisit and on the Government of Canada website at www.visiteroyale-royalvisit.gc.ca. 

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BACKGROUNDERS
2009 Royal Visit to Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Royal Visit Itinerary

Monday, November 2, 2009
(St. John's)

Time: 17:30
Arrival at St. John's International Airport

Time: 17:15
Official welcoming ceremony to Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador at Mile One Centre. The event includes performances, speeches and full military honours for Their Royal Highnesses.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
(Cupids, Brigus and St John's)

CUPIDS
Late morning
Their Royal Highnesses visit Cupids, the first English settlement in Canada, celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2010. Following a tour of the Cupids Cove Plantation Archaeological Site, Their Royal Highnesses proceed to the United Church for remarks and musical performances. Their Royal Highnesses unveil a plaque commemorating the Royal Visit for the new Cupids Legacy and Interpretation Centre. The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Danny Williams, and other dignitaries will join Their Royal Highnesses. 

BRIGUS
Afternoon
Their Royal Highnesses visit Brigus, a small community known for its commitment to cultural heritage and architectural preservation. They will see St. George's Church, the church garden and Brigus Harbour. They will visit John Leamon Stone Barn Museum for a short presentation on the history of the town, architecture and story of the port.

Their Royal Highnesses will continue on foot to Hawthorne Cottage, home of the world-renowned Arctic explorer and mariner Captain Bob Bartlett.

STELLA BURRY COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTRE, ST. JOHN'S
Afternoon
His Royal Highness visits the Stella Burry Community Services Centre. He will open the new housing project at Rawlins Cross � the only building opening His Royal Highness will conduct on this visit � and unveil a plaque commemorating the opening and the Royal Visit.

MARINE INSTITUTE - MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
Late Afternoon
His Royal Highness attends a demonstration and a discussion on sustainable fishing at the Marine Institute.

STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE � MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
Late Afternoon
His Royal Highness meets with Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). These award-winning students will present a series of their entrepreneurial projects to The Prince.

RECEPTION HOSTED BY NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
AT THE ROOMS PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES, ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
Evening
Their Royal Highnesses join a reception co-hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, His Honour, the Honourable John C. Crosbie, and the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Danny Williams.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
(St. John's)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Morning
Their Royal Highnesses meet with Their Honours, the Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Crosbie. They will plant trees on the grounds of Government House.

NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
Morning
Their Royal Highnesses will lay a wreath to honour the memory of the sons and daughters of Newfoundland and Labrador. Premier Williams will attend.

ASSOCIATION FOR NEW CANADIANS
Late morning
Their Royal Highnesses meet with students, teachers and volunteers at the Association for New Canadians Language Training School.

DEPARTURE FROM NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Afternoon
Their Royal Highnesses say farewell at St. John's International Airport and depart for Toronto.

Newfoundland and Labrador

This easternmost Canadian province comprises the island of Newfoundland off the eastern coast and Labrador on the mainland. A former colony and dominion of the United Kingdom, Newfoundland became the 10th province to enter the Canadian Confederation in 1949. On December 6, 2001, an amendment to the Constitution of Canada officially changed the province's name to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The province's current population is 508,925 with approximately 94 per cent of the population residing on the Island of Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador has dialects of the English, French, and Irish languages, with the Labrador portion of the province also having its own dialects of Innu-aimun and Inuktitut.

Human inhabitation in Newfoundland and Labrador can be traced back 9,000 years to the people of the Maritime Archaic Tradition. They were gradually displaced by the Paleoeskimo people of the Dorset Culture, the L'nu or Mi'kmaq and finally by the Innu and Inuit in Labrador and the Beothuks on the island.

The oldest known European contact was made over 1,000 years ago when the Vikings briefly settled in L'Anse aux Meadows. Five hundred years later, European explorers began exploring the area. The overseas expansion of the British Empire began when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland in the name of England in 1583.

Strategically positioned on the edge of North America, Newfoundland and Labrador is a gateway to Europe. A world leader in marine science and ocean technology, the province is also rich in resources with an abundance of oil and gas reserves, along with hydro and wind energy sources. The province has a number of resource developments on the horizon to fuel its continued growth, including a fourth major offshore oil project, Hebron, and the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project � the most attractive, undeveloped hydroelectric project in North America.

Visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador marvel at the breathtaking, natural beauty of the province along with the icebergs, whales and seabirds.

St. John�s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Founded in 1497, St. John�s is the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Its harbour was frequented by European fishermen throughout the early 1500s and was officially established as a community in 1583 when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed the area as England's first overseas colony under Queen Elizabeth I.

Because of its harbour and proximity to the fishing grounds, St. John�s gained prominence as a commercial trading outpost for the Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English engaged in the fishery along the western side of the North Atlantic.

With the rise of Britain as a significant world naval power in the late 16th century, the British presence was strongly felt in the Newfoundland fishery, particularly in the area from Cape Bonavista in the north and Cape Race to the south. The settlement changed hands several times between France and England, until it became permanently British in 1762.

The colony grew slowly throughout the 19th century. Ravaged by three great fires in 1817, 1846 and 1892, the city recovered and rebuilt each time. Its vibrant culture is rooted in centuries of Irish, Scottish, English and French heritage, earning St. John�s recognition as a cultural capital of Canada for 2010.

Today, the City of St. John�s is a key business centre for east coast Canada oil exploration, development and production. Its proximity to newly discovered oil fields has turned St. John's into a service and supply hub for the province's offshore energy industry. The city also serves as a home port for cruises and as a port of call for vessels on North Atlantic and Transatlantic routes.

With an architectural flavour remnant of its history and prestige as one of the first British colonial capitals, St. John�s has received a number of national designations for its heritage districts, including the 2007 Prince of Wales prize, and the Historic Sites & Monuments Board of Canada designated to the St. John's Ecclesiastical District in 2007.

Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada, which derives its name from flag signalling, is an iconic image in St. John�s, and the site of the first wireless trans-Atlantic signal received by Guglielmo Marconi in 1901.

Mile One Centre, St. John's

Mile One Centre, formerly known as Mile One Stadium, is the main sports and entertainment centre in St. John�s.

Opened in 2001, the centre replaced Memorial Stadium and seats 6,250 people. The centre is located at the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway, hence the name 'Mile One'.

Originally home to the St. John�s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League, the Leafs played out of Mile One Centre from 2001-2005 before relocating to Toronto, Ontario to become the Toronto Marlies.

The St. John�s Fog Devils played hockey in the arena for three seasons until they were relocated to Montr�al, Quebec to become the Junior de Montr�al. The centre's hockey history continued with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League when the team held their 2008 training camp at Mile One Centre.

Located next to City Hall, and a short distance from St. John�s harbour, Mile One Centre is a new building of postmodernist architecture, built of steel and red and tan brick. Inside, visitors are greeted by a war memorial and a spacious concourse that stretches 360 degrees around the building. A press box extends over a portion of the seats and is named for Bob Cole, the legendary Hockey Night in Canada announcer, who was born and raised in St. John�s.

Without a hockey team to call the centre home, Mile One Centre today draws top entertainers to perform at concerts and is a popular venue for trade shows. Next year, in 2010, Mile One Centre will host the prestigious, televised Juno Awards (Canada's Music Awards).

Cupids

Cupids is perhaps one of the most significant historic sites in North America. Originally known as Cuper's Cove, Cupids is the oldest English settlement in Canada and the second oldest English colony in North America. It is also the site of the first recorded birth of an English child in Canada. In 2010, Cupids will celebrate its 400th anniversary.

When the Society of Merchant Venturers in Bristol became interested in colonizing Newfoundland in 1608, one of its members, John Guy, set sail to explore the undeveloped land. Guy returned to Newfoundland two years later in 1610 with 39 settlers, both men and women, choosing Cuper's Cove for the site of the colony.

Today, almost 400 years later, an archaeological exploration of the plantation is underway. For the past ten years, archaeologist William Gilbert has been supervising an archaeological dig of Cupids under the sponsorship of the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. The dig has unearthed the remains of a dwelling and storage house built by John Guy and his colonists, and the artifacts discovered at the site provide evidence that the site is indeed that of the plantation built in 1610.

As Newfoundland and Labrador prepares to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Cuper's Cove, plans are underway to develop the Cupids 400 Legacy Centre, which will house the 110,000 artifacts recovered from the original plantation site. The centre will include an archaeology lab, cultural centre and interpretation complex. Both the federal and provincial governments have contributed funding to the project.

Brigus

The town of Brigus is located in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula, in the eastern part of the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador and has a year-round population of approximately 800.

European settlers visited Brigus as early as 1613, making the town one of the oldest communities in North America. Early settlers immigrated from England, Ireland and Wales. Once a major sealing port, the main industries today include fishing, agriculture, and tourism.

Brigus was home to Captain Robert Abram (Captain Bob) Bartlett, world-renowned Arctic explorer and mariner. The Captain earned his place in history when he led Admiral Robert Peary on a world famous trek to the North Pole in 1909.

Celebrating Bartlett 2009 is a province-wide, year-long program of events and attractions to commemorate the contributions of Captain Bob and his birthplace, Hawthorne Cottage, in Brigus. The celebration coincides with the 100th anniversary of Peary's North Pole expedition.

Along with Hawthorne Cottage, Brigus is home to several historic sites, including Ye Olde Stone Barn Museum, with artifacts dating back over 200 years; the Tunnel � an engineering feat that involved blasting through solid rock to access waterfront dock space in 1860; Kent Cottage, former site of a military battery protecting the entrance to the Harbour and once the home of American artist, Rockwell Kent; and St. George's Anglican Church, built in 1876 in the Gothic Revival style of Europe's great cathedrals.

Today, Brigus is known for its natural beauty, preserved and restored heritage homes, historic sites, and stone walls.

Biography of Captain Robert Abram (Captain Bob) Bartlett

Captain Bob Bartlett is recognized for his lifetime of work traversing the previously unexplored frozen Arctic. Born in Brigus in 1875, Captain Bob gravitated to a life of adventure and exploration � navigating more than 400,000 miles over 40 journeys to the Arctic.

The son and grandson of prominent sea captains, William and Abram Bartlett respectively, Bartlett was educated at Bishop Field College and completed his Master's at Halifax's Nautical Academy in 1904.

The Captain earned his place in history when he commanded the Roosevelt ship that led Admiral Robert Peary on the world famous trek to the North Pole in 1909. He also led the ill-fated Karluk expedition in the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-1914 where, after bringing crew and passengers to safety at Wrangel Island (between the Chukchi Sea and Keast Siberian Sea) in the Arctic Ocean, he walked 700 miles across the ice and down the coast of Siberia in search of a ship to rescue them.

In addition to his exploration work, Bartlett dedicated the last 20 years of his life to scientific research, making twenty voyages to the Arctic to collect specimens, to aid in archaeological surveys, correct geographical charts, and collect animals for zoos. During those years, he worked for the Smithsonian Institute, American Museum of Natural History, and the National Geographic Society.

Bartlett's success in the North earned him international recognition and several prestigious honours, including the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal awarded for exploration, research and discovery, and Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Captain Bob died of pneumonia in 1946 at the age of 71. He was laid to rest at his birthplace and boyhood residence, Hawthorne Cottage in Brigus.

Hawthorne Cottage, Brigus

Named for the hawthorn trees that adorn the property, Hawthorne Cottage is over 170 years old. The cottage was built in 1830 for Brigus merchant John Leamon, and moved on rollers three years later from its original site in Cochranedale, ten kilometres away, to where it sits today in Brigus.

Hawthorne Cottage was the home of the famous Arctic explorer, Captain Bob Bartlett, whose mother, Mary Leamon Bartlett, inherited the property. The original square shape, veranda, pyramidal hipped roof, central hall plan, central chimney and elaborate grounds, all place Hawthorne Cottage firmly in the picturesque tradition � a philosophy that sought harmony of landscape design and architecture. As such, the cottage represented a radical departure from the formalism of classical architecture.

The original configuration was altered through the addition of a two-story, flat-roofed rear addition. This feature is a hallmark of Newfoundland vernacular architecture, and makes Hawthorne Cottage a hybrid of European and Newfoundland styles.

Hawthorne has been recognized by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and in 1978, Hawthorne Cottage was declared a National Historic Site of Canada. Today, the cottage is furnished with artifacts and memorabilia of Captain Bob's historic voyages in the Arctic Room.

The cottage was acquired by Parks Canada and designated by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office as a classified building in 1993. In 1994-95, through a partnership agreement with the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the cottage was refurbished and conserved.

To preserve the integrity of the historic site, a long-term objective will restore the picturesque garden setting of Hawthorne Cottage, which is a Level I cultural resource. An inventory and evaluation will precede the development of a Cultural Landscape Development and Maintenance Plan.

Stella Burry Community Services, St. John's

Stella Burry Community Services has been operating for 60 years. An incorporated body of the United Church of Canada, the non-profit organization is dedicated to addressing the impact and root causes of poverty, abuse, and oppression. The organization provides programs and services for adults and youth with mental health issues, limited or no work history, involvement with the justice system, low levels of literacy, and those without support systems to live in the community.

The founder, Dr. Stella Burry, was an advocate for social justice and community reforms in St. John�s from the 1930s until her death in 1991. Born in 1897 in Greenspond on the province�s east coast, Ms. Burry attended the Methodist National Training School for Missionaries and Deaconesses in Toronto, where she majored in social work. She returned to St. John�s in 1938 to work with the United Church, developing programs in social welfare, including a community centre for domestic workers and a co-operative women's credit union.

In 2008, Stella Burry Community Services purchased a building in downtown St. John's to convert into a training and social facility for the unemployed or under-employed. New Beginnings includes a woodworking program, teaching kitchen, low-cost meal program, and a small catering operation. Through on-the-job training, participants develop marketable skills to prepare them for employment in the food sector.

The organization's affordable housing portfolio includes 67 rental units, 24 managed city units and 15,000 square feet of leased space. Its most recent project involved the development of a Housing Resource Centre, which includes 18 new supportive housing units.

Stella Burry Community Services formally incorporated in 1995 and is governed by a volunteer, community-based Board of Directors and Executive Director, Jocelyn Greene. The staff of 80 provides counselling and support services, housing development and property management, education and technical skills training, and business development.

The organization is the recipient of the 2007 Council of the Federation Literacy Award and the 2009 Canadian Urban Institute's Universal City Award.

Marine Institute, Memorial University

Marine Institute is Canada's most comprehensive education, training and applied research facility for the oceans and marine sectors. The main campus, located on Ridge Road, overlooks the city of St. John's.

Satellite facilities of the Marine Institute include the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre's training centre in Foxtrap, the Safety and Emergency Response Training Centre in Stephenville, harbour-side facilities at pier 25 in St. John's, and ships of up to 130 feet in length. The Institute's research vessel, the Ann Pierce, is the only one in Canada with multi-beam sonar mapping and ancillary equipment.

Affiliated with Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Marine Institute offers three primary structures: the school of fisheries, which focuses on aquatic resources and the marine environment; the school of maritime studies, which focuses on the marine transport industry; and, the school of Ocean Technology, which focuses on technologies in ocean industries.

The Institute's Centre for Marine Simulation is the most complex and advanced marine simulation centre in North America, with the world's only full-motion bridge simulator. The centre is internationally recognized for its marine simulation and technology, particularly in simulating harsh maritime environments, human performances in moving environments, offshore oil and gas operations, and waterway risk analysis.

The Institute's flume tank is the only facility of its kind in North America and the largest of its type in the world, with water capacity of 1.7 million litres. The facility opened in 1988 at a cost of $8.5 million. A circulating water channel in the tank allows models of fishing gear and marine structures to be demonstrated and tested, with an observation window and viewing gallery for 150 people.

Marine Institute's SmartBay project in Placentia Bay has drawn international attention for its oceans observation network. Established in 2005 as an environmental monitoring demonstration project, today SmartBay is the largest ocean observation project in eastern Canada, providing real-time meteorological data and protecting the ecosystem of Placentia Bay.

Over the past five years, Marine Institute International (the office for international initiatives) has completed more than 150 projects in over 50 countries.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) � Memorial University

Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a global non-profit organization that mobilizes university students around the world to use the positive power of business to create a better, more sustainable world. The results of their community outreach are judged in regional, national and international competitions.

Working in partnership with business and higher education, SIFE encourages university students to use knowledge gained in the classroom to address real world business and economic issues in their communities. SIFE students form teams on their university campuses and develop outreach projects that teach market economics, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, personal success skills, business ethics, and environmental sustainability.

Currently, there are 1500 university campuses represented by dedicated student teams throughout 47 countries. SIFE Memorial has represented Canada at the SIFE World Cup in Singapore for the last three consecutive years. In 2009, they represented Canada at the World Cup in Germany and placed third.

In 2007, SIFE Memorial placed runner-up and last year finished first at the World Cup. More than 40 teams compete worldwide, and their presentations are judged by senior executives from the international business community.

SIFE Memorial presented six projects at the national competition to secure their place as the Canadian team in the 2009 competition. Projects are judged on their scope and impact on the community. One project involves working with medically discharged veterans receiving lump-sum payments. Veterans are taught the necessary business skills to use their capital to start a business.

Another initiative of SIFE Memorial involves teaching grade 6 students important business skills through operating their own recycling program and redeveloping a rural community in Labrador through the opening of a local pottery studio.

SIFE projects provide student teams with the opportunity to develop leadership, team building and communication skills by teaching the principles of free enterprise. The SIFE Memorial team invested over 32,000 volunteer hours in 13 major projects that resulted in $1.9 million dollars being reinvested in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Rooms, St. John's

Rising into the skyline of historic St. John's, The Rooms is Newfoundland and Labrador's largest public cultural space and home to the Provincial Archives, Art Gallery, and Museum.

Offering panoramic vistas of St. John's harbour, The Rooms' multi-level atrium serves as both a gathering place and space for exhibits and events. The 185,000 square feet complex encompasses five main exhibition galleries, a 146-seat multimedia theatre, nine climate-controlled vaults, four permanent classrooms for educational programs, and an artist-in-residence studio.

The site of The Rooms was the former home of Fort Townshend, almost 250 years ago. One of the largest British fortifications in North America at the time, the 18th century star-shaped citadel was built to defend Britain's fishing interests. The site later became home to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and later, the St. John's Fire Department.

It took two years to excavate the site where The Rooms sits today. Construction began in 2002 and the complex was officially opened to the public in June 2005. Designed by the architectural firm, PHB Group, The Rooms is finished in fine local granite, local maple, brushed aluminum, and acres of glass. With its distinctive, brightly coloured gabled roofs, The Rooms combines twenty-first century technology with a visual reference to the past. Its unique design mirrors the fishing rooms of yesterday, where families gathered to process their daily catch.

The Provincial Archives stores documents dating back to 1630 � everything from government records to ship's logs, while the Art Gallery manages a collection of over 8000 works, including a Jean-Paul Riopelle, valued at $1.8 million. The Museum's vast collection includes a dazzling array of native artifacts, the world's largest Beothuk collection, and more than 1 million natural history specimens.

Plans for The Rooms involve the development of an exterior site, which will include the markings of boundaries once occupied by Fort Townshend.

Government House, St. John's

Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. Sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador�s 12th Lieutenant Governor on February 4, 2008, His Honour, The Honourable John C. Crosbie is the current Lieutenant-Governor of the province.

The first Governor of Newfoundland was appointed in 1729. Until 1779, Governors were naval officers who spent their summer months in the Colony, residing on and administering the affairs of Newfoundland from their flagship anchored in St. John's Harbour.

The situation changed in 1779, when Admiral Richard Edwards was appointed Governor. Governor Edwards deemed that living aboard ship was not conducive to good administration, and requested a place to conduct government affairs onshore.

Government House is Newfoundland's third Vice-Regal residence. Sir Thomas Cochrane, Governor from 1825-1834, accepted the appointment conditional upon new accommodations. He drew up a plan for a residence and had a team of engineers in St. John's estimate the cost. Their estimate of 8,778 pounds sterling increased to 36,000 pounds by the time Government House was completed in 1831.

The building plans for the new Government House were drawn up in England. Finding workmen's wages too high in Newfoundland, a team of workmen from Scotland was engaged, including 28 masons, 25 carpenters and one slater, at a rate of 4 shillings 4 pence per day.

Governor Thomas selected the 20-acre site on the ridge of the Barrens between Fort William and Fort Townshend, and oversaw the design modifications and construction himself. Governor Thomas' original plan called for a two-storey house with basement to be enclosed within a 12 foot ditch, which popularly mistaken for a moat, was merely designed to allow light into the basement level.

Government House is a two-storey building of Georgian architecture, with a centre block flanked by slightly lower wings on the east and west. The exterior, constructed of rough, red sandstone, was quarried at Signal Hill in St. John's, and trimmed with English Portland stone.

National War Memorial, St. John's

The National War Memorial in St. John's is the most elaborate of all the post-World War I monuments in Newfoundland and Labrador. With urging from the Great War Veterans' Association and the Newfoundland Patriotic Association, the memorial was erected at King's Beach on Water Street to commemorate the historical date in 1583 when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England.

Officially unveiled on Memorial Day, July1, 1924 by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, the memorial commemorates all of Newfoundland's wartime achievements on land and sea. The term 'National' refers to the monument having been built by the Dominion of Newfoundland before it became part of Canada.

The design is a semi-circular graduated plateau rising from the entrance stairway on Water Street. Two English sculptors, F. V. Blundstone and Gilbert Bayes designed the five bronze figures representing the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Mercantile Marine and the Forestry Corps. The fifth female figure above them holds aloft the torch of freedom. The statues were cast in bronze by E. J. Parlanti of London, England.

The memorial was initially cast to represent Newfoundland's involvement in World War I. Additional plaques were later added to honour the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who died in World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Afghanistan Mission.

Association for New Canadians, St. John's

The Association for New Canadians is a community-based organization established in 1979 in response to the arrival of Vietnamese refugees. Today, the non-profit organization has grown into a full service immigrant settlement agency, offering programs and services to immigrants and refugees in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Over 50 experienced and dedicated employees with the help of over 100 volunteers work together to deliver an array of programs and services � including language instruction, and employment and career development, the Integration Settlement Adaptation Program for new refugees, a one-year Resettlement Assistance Program, and a Host Program which pairs permanent residents with volunteers to help refugees adapt to their new home and culture.

The association is a key partner in the provincial government's new immigration strategy, Diversity ~ Opportunity and Growth. The organization's infrastructure and services include a head office, English as a Second Language and Employment Training Centre with daycare facilities, a reception house, and several housing units.

Each year, the association provides services to some 150 federal government-sponsored refugees arriving from 50 different countries, and approximately 200 other newcomers. One refugee from Kosovo who arrived in Canada in 2000 was named the 2008 Rhodes Scholar for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Among its many recognitions received locally, regionally and nationally, the Association for New Canadians is the recipient of a Citation for Canadian Citizenship � an award that honours Canadian individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions in assisting newcomers to Canada to successfully integrate into Canadian society.

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