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Tourism, Culture and Recreation
October 5, 2010

Historic Commemorations Designations Announced

The tangible and intangible heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador took centre stage this morning as the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, was at The Rooms to announce the latest designations under the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program.

The founding of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in 1871 and the Tsunami of 1929 were both recognized under the category Events of Provincial Significance, while rescues at sea, and the heroism associated with such events, was recognized as a Distinctive Cultural Tradition or Practice.

"The events which have served as turning points in our province's history, along with our traditional customs and practices, serve to define Newfoundland and Labrador and its people," said Minister French. "And today, through the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program, these events and traditions have been recognized for the role they played, and the impact they made, on the history of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Governed by a board of six individuals, the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program is a citizen-driven program, whereby individuals or groups can make nominations that they feel are provincially significant and worthy of official commemoration.

"Each designation adds to a wider discussion about what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians value about their history and identity," said Françoise Enguehard, Chair of the Historic Commemorations Board. "Along with the program website, each designation ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the aspects of our heritage and culture that make us unique."

For more information about the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program, including nomination criteria, visit: www.seethesites.ca/commemorations or contact the Commemorations Office at 709-729-6901.

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). Since the launch of the strategy, the Provincial Government has invested more than $44 million into the arts, culture and heritage sectors.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
2010 Provincial Historic Commemorations Designates

The Founding of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary - Event of Provincial Significance
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) was founded in 1871. Prior to that, a battalion of about 300 British forces at Fort Townsend relieved Newfoundland's government of bearing the full cost of keeping law and order. When the battalion withdrew in 1870, the island's existing policing efforts were reorganized and expanded. By 1883, the RNC was made up of more than 100 trained constables. The Constabulary's jurisdiction reached across Newfoundland and Labrador until Confederation in 1949. In 1950, the policing of all areas of the province outside St. John's was taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). In the 1980s, the RNC resumed policing of the north-east Avalon Peninsula, Corner Brook and Labrador West. In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II granted the "Royal" designation to the RNC, a distinction granted to only one other Canadian police force, the RCMP. For more information on the history of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, visit: www.rnchs.ca/history.html

Tsunami of 1929 - Event of Provincial Significance
On November 18, 1929, a subterranean earthquake took place 18 kilometres below the seafloor at the mouth of the Laurentian Channel. The earthquake and the resulting underwater landslide created a tsunami that killed 27 people and devastated many parts of the province's Burin Peninsula — particularly the communities of Port au Bras, Kelly's Cove (Burin), Taylor's Bay, Lords Cove and Lamaline. The Burin Peninsula's fishery infrastructure was devastated, and the geological event created large-scale ecological changes on the ocean floor which further affected the fishery. Recognized internationally, scientists and disaster strategy planners refer to this disaster as a significant event from which lessons are still being learned. For more information on the 1929 tsunami, visit: www.heritage.nf.ca/law/tsunami29.html

Rescues at Sea (and the heroism associated with such events) - Distinctive Cultural Tradition or Practice (3 designates)

  • During an 1828 hurricane in Isle aux Morts, 17-year-old Ann Harvey, along with her father George and younger brother Tom, rescued in excess of 150 people from The Despatch, an Irish immigrant ship left stranded on the offshore reefs on which it ran aground and broke apart. Mr. Harvey was awarded a medal by the Royal Humane Society of Great Britain, which he gave to his daughter Ann for her heroic role. And again in 1838, the Harvey family rescued 25 crewmen following the wreck of The Rankin, a ship sailing from Glasgow to Quebec that went aground near the same spot as The Despatch.
  • In 1867, in Spotted Islands, Labrador, Captain William Jackman of Renews rescued 27 people aboard the fishing schooner Sea Clipper which had struck a reef during a storm. The first 11 were rescued without additional aid, while the remainder were saved with the help of a rope and some men onshore. Captain Jackman was awarded a silver medal by the Royal Humane Society of Great Britain. For more information, visit: www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=ArchivedFeatures&Params=A2116.
  • In 1942 in Chambers Cove, men of St. Lawrence and Lawn lowered themselves over the icy cliffs following a February storm that sent two U.S. Navy vessels — the USS Truxtun and USS Pollux — into the rocks of the cove. Of the 400 sailors aboard the ships, 183 were saved. For more information, visit: www.heritagefoundation.ca/property-search/property-details.aspx?id=2473

2010 10 05                                                11:10 a.m.
 


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