M A I N A C T I V I T I E S
Third Season
"A TIME IN PIGEON INLET"
July 3 to September 4, 2010
A Time in Pigeon Inlet
Uncle Mose's Weblog
Sponsored by Heritage Canada, Services Canada, Our Sponsors & Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation
Email: sroach@pigeoninlet.ca
HOLDIN' GROUND PROJECT
Bay Roberts 50Plus Club
Interviews with seniors
in the 50 Plus Club Community
about their "holdin' ground"
by Students from Ascension Collegiate, in a variety of formats: video, audio, etc.
The Holdin' Ground Project Website > >
Sponsored by New Horizons, Services Canada, Ascension Collegiate, the 50Plus Club & Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation
Email: sroach@pigeoninlet.ca
CUPIDS 400 LEGACY
Wayside Signs Project
10 New Wayside Signs
Describing Significant Places
in Bay Roberts.
Sponsored by Cupids 400 Inc, Town of Bay Roberts, Tourism Committee & Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation
Email: sroach@pigeoninlet.ca
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 The Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation, incorporated, in 2009 as a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization, has been established to help people better understand and appreciate the tangible and intangible artistic and cultural heritage of Bay Roberts specifically, and outport Newfoundland in general.
Newfoundland and Labrador has changed a great deal since becoming part of the Canadian Confederation in 1949. The Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation honours the characteristics of our culture which have always made our province a holdin' ground, as Bay Roberts native son, Newfoundland writer Ted Russell, describes it. The Foundation seeks to highlight these characteristics through presenting literary works, art works, music, crafts, storytelling, theatre, food, and other tangible and intangible means of expression.
 As part of the Foundation vision the main exhibit room in the the Bay Roberts Visitors' Pavilion on Veterans' Memorial Highway was named The Holdin' Ground Room on June 27th, 2008.
The inspiration for the designation is Ted Russell’s play “The Holdin’ Ground”, which elaborates on the bond that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador feel with their home. The strength of the bond defines who we are as a people and draws us back when we leave, as many of us have over the centuries. The exhibits in the Pavilion recognize the diversity of people, places, and things, expressed through works of art, literature, music, language, stories, and inspirations that contribute to Newfoundland and Labrador‘s strength as a “Holdin’ Ground."
Main Goal - "But we'll do it. Yes sir! You watch," Uncle Mose
 Councillor Clarence Mercer, having visited other provincial and national sites, was impressed with the manner in which these communities preserved and presented their traditional culture to the public through heritage villages. He had a dream of developing a similar concept for the town of Bay Roberts. He wanted to present cultural history for present day residents, former residents (and their descendents) who have moved to other communities and to the mainland, as well as for tourists who visit the town.
His vision went beyond establishing a physical "heritage village;" he wanted to immerse visitors in the past. He realized that the works of Ted Russell, who was born, grew up, and was educated in Coley's Point, portrayed a traditional life style and culture that was typical of the municipality at one of the most interesting times in the province's history. (Ted Russell's works are set during the Commission of Government, WWII, Confederation, and early post Confederation period.)
He brought his idea to the town's Tourism Committee and then to Ron Delaney, Director of Development, Tourism, and Recreation. A meeting of like minded people was called .... and the dream began to take shape. At Councillor Mercer's suggestion, a steering committee was formed, and they adopted as their motto a quote from Uncle Mose - "But we'll do it. Yes sir! You watch." |
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