Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 3, 2010Minister Announces
Inaugural Historic Commemorations Designations
The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, today announced the first-ever
designations under the newly-established Provincial
Historic Commemorations Program, which recognizes and
commemorates distinctive aspects of our province's
history, culture and heritage. The Honourable Shawn
Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development, represented Minister French at a ceremony
held this morning at The Rooms.
Kelly Russell, well-known fiddler and tireless
promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador's traditional
music, was recognized under the category of Tradition
Bearer, while Dildo Island, which represents more than
2,500 years of occupation by various cultures, was
commemorated as a Place of Provincial Significance.
"This program is unique to the country," said
Minister French. "In addition to recognizing persons,
places and events of provincial historical significance,
the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program also
acknowledges our customs, practices and traditions – the
intangible cultural heritage that
defines us as a
people and makes us who we are. Today, for
the first time, we have recognized two of our province's
cultural and historic treasures, and I have no doubt
there will be many more commemorated in the years to
come."
"This event is just the beginning for the Provincial
Historic Commemorations Program," said Françoise
Enguehard, Chair of the Historic Commemorations Board.
"We are hoping that people from all over Newfoundland
and Labrador will take a close look at their community's
heritage and will nominate the people, places, events
and living traditions that they value. The important
thing to consider will be how these aspects of our
heritage and culture demonstrate a broader provincial
importance."
Administered by a board of six individuals, the
Provincial Historic Commemorations Program is
citizen-driven, in that residents of Newfoundland and
Labrador can make nominations that they feel are
provincially significant and worthy of commemoration.
Establishment of the Provincial Historic
Commemorations Program was among the objectives outlined
in the province's cultural strategy, Creative
Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Development
and Investment in Culture (2006).
For more information about the Provincial Historic
Commemorations Program, including nomination criteria,
please visit:
www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/heritage/commemoration_program.html or call the
Commemorations Office at 709-729-6901.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information
Kelly Russell, Tradition Bearer
Born in St. John's, Kelly Russell has been a
professional musician since 1974. An original member of
such iconic Newfoundland and Labrador groups as Figgy
Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band in the 1970s, and more
recently The Plankerdown Band, he also spent 10 years
working closely with the late, great fiddle masters,
Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit. Recognizing a need to
preserve the music of older performers in Newfoundland
and Labrador, Mr. Russell founded Pigeon Inlet
Productions in 1979. The label has since produced more
than 30 full length recordings on LP, cassette and CD.
With wife and partner Tonya Kearley, Mr. Russell also
runs music and dance events in Trinity such as Dance
Up and the popular dinner theatre show A Time in
Pigeon Inlet in Bay Roberts. He
has performed locally, nationally and internationally,
bringing the unique music of Newfoundland and Labrador
across Canada and around the world. Most recently, Mr.
Russell performed in Vancouver, British Columbia, at
BC Place on February 26 – during
Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the 2010 Olympic Winter
Games.
Dildo Island, Place of Provincial Significance
Dildo Island, which represents more than 2,500 years
of occupation by various early cultures, is the largest
of three islands located at the entrance to Dildo Arm at
the bottom of Trinity Bay. While it is uninhabited
today, it is clear that people have been drawn to the
island for thousands of years. Many seabirds, sea
mammals, and fish – as well as many types of plant life
that can be found on, and near, the Island – made it a
fertile hunting ground for nomadic hunters and
gatherers. To date, the archaeological record has
revealed the presence of Maritime Archaic Indians,
Groswater and Dorset Palaeoeskimo, as well as recent
Indian and Beothuck occupations. Dildo Island has also
played a role in a number of highly significant events
in the province's history, including John Guy and Henry
Crout's voyages from Cupids into Trinity Bay in 1612 and
1613, and Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), when 204 men
from Trinity Bay spent the winter on the island
defending themselves against the French attack. In the
mid-19th century the fishery expanded into the bottom of
Trinity Bay, and in 1889 Dildo Island became home to one
of the first cod hatcheries in Canada.
2010 03 03 12:00 noon