The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was in Harbour Grace today at the Danny Cleary Lookout on the Veterans Memorial Highway, to unveil an interpretative panel and commemorative print honouring Harbour Grace native Danny Cleary. Mr. Cleary was a member of the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings, and the first Newfoundlander and Labradorian to win hockey's most coveted prize — the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup.

Premier Williams was joined at the unveiling by Mr. Cleary; the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace; and Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace.

"Today we acknowledge and commemorate the tremendous efforts of one of our athletic heroes and role models, 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Danny Cleary," said Premier Williams. "A little over two years ago, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians shared in the celebration as Mr. Cleary became the first Newfoundlander and Labradorian to have his name engraved on hockey's most iconic trophy. It was a personal achievement for him, but also a milestone event in the sporting history of our province; a milestone which deserves to be remembered and appropriately commemorated."

"I am thrilled with the unveiling of the Danny Cleary Lookout panel," said Mr. Cleary. "This is an honour for both me and my family. The Town of Harbour Grace and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will always be my home, and to be able to come back and see this will be very cool, especially for my two little girls."

Minister French said Danny Cleary is an inspiration to youth everywhere.

"An accomplishment of this magnitude is an example of how dedication, hard work and the pursuit of excellence can lead to major athletic achievement," said Minister French. "The lookout panel and print will serve as a reminder to all — particularly to our emerging young athletes — that anything is possible."

Premier Williams noted that the original piece of artwork, entitled Believe in Yourself, featuring three images of Mr. Cleary and his Stanley Cup win, was painted by artist James Long. Commissioned by the Provincial Government, 300 limited-edition reproductions have been produced and will be distributed to all schools throughout the province.

Designed by Sandy Newton, the interpretative panel features a picture of Mr. Cleary when he won the Stanley Cup, various shots — including some by local photographer Brian Tuck — of the parade and celebrations held in Harbour Grace, along with facts and figures about Mr. Cleary's hockey career.

"Young athletes from this province have truly come into their own in recent years, from our Olympic champions, the Brad Gushue team, to Danny Cleary winning the Stanley Cup," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "It is people like these who show our students that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can compete and win on the international stage, and I am pleased Mr. Long's painting will be in our schools as a reminder to all students that any dream can be realized."

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace, said he had the honour of being at the winning game with members of the Cleary family and close friends.

"It was a very special moment," said Minister Kennedy. "Danny's accomplishments are something that the province, as a whole, and the Carbonear-Harbour Grace area in particular, are very proud of. Danny Cleary is a hard-working Newfoundlander and Labradorian and one who is very proud to say he is from Riverhead, Harbour Grace."

"The Town of Harbour Grace is very proud of the accomplishments of Danny Cleary as our province pays tribute to a man who has brought so much pride to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace. "The Provincial Governmen's recognition of his incredible accomplishments is certainly evident here today as they honour our native son Danny Cleary."

Following the historic June 2008 Stanley Cup win, a major July 1 celebration — complete with a parade, live entertainment and attended by more than 20,000 people — was held in Harbour Grace in honour of Danny Cleary and the arrival of the Stanley Cup to Newfoundland and Labrador.

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