Spirit of the Rock - in the patch

2008-03-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Our short foray into the Newfoundlanders of Fort Mac led us to a gentleman named Wayne King. While shopping with our chef for the ingredients of our Jiggs dinner we saw an advertisement for artwork - someone in this remote northern Alberta community was drawing boats. Not river boats as seen on the Athabasca River or lake boats - fishing boats like you would expect to see on the shores of the Atlantic.

And this is what Wayne told us when we sought him out!

Wayne King: Why I paint boats in Fort McMurray, well Newfoundland is part of my soul – my spirit. I like the old part of Newfoundland. I like the culture that’s fading. I like the old buildings, the old houses. When I go back there and walk on the land you can actually feel the old presence of the people that lived there.
When they had the John Cabot anniversary in Bonavista I did some drawings of the Ryan premises, different buildings in Trinity like the Orange Hall and the old Courthouse and that sort of thing. There was a lady in Trinity, by the name of Dixie Rich – I don’t think she’s there anymore, she actually bought the whole shot. Actually that’s where I got the money to come to Alberta. (laughs)

I was looking for a name for my little company that I just started – that had some meaning – and that Newfoundlanders could relate to it. You know, tides and tidelines timelines…throughout all of Newfoundland’s history people lived by the water. The tides dictated a lot of the way they lived and that sort of thing. I just thought it was a good name that way because you see the marks of time and tides on these people that have lived in the fishery for years and years.
I’m hoping to move back there someday.

You get up on a foggy morning where you can’t even see – you walk out on your step and you can’t see your fence. And those people have the skill to actually go down and get in a boat and just by looking at the wake behind the boat – go for like 45 minutes and put themselves right on a cod trap, without a compass or without anything. It’s amazing.

I actually attempted to build a couple of boats – just small ones, like little 12 foot flat bottom dinghies. Went around my garden, picked up a few boards and sticks – my father said ‘What are you doing?’ I’m gonna build a boat.

It’s a life I always admired and always loved but never was a part of.

There’s a good Newfie culture in Fort McMurray. And sometimes in the summertime you get out on the deck there, and get the barbeque going, the firepit and a few beer, guitars and whatever and we have a grand old time.
And – I don’t know – maybe I shouldn’t say Newfie because (chuckle) maybe that will offend some people but I would say Newfoundland culture. But you can call me a Newfie because I am.

Wayne's boats (in their Newfoundland homes!) can be seen at www.tidelinesart.ca

Warning - You may get homesick!

True to the heart or maybe 'Being Frank'

2007-11-26T10:27:00.000-08:00

Shortly after Spirit of the Rock was aired we received an email from someone living in Fort McMurray that had heard the poem we narrated by Frank Pavlick, My Newfoundland Heart. The poem was found in the display cabinet at the Newfoundland Club in Fort Mac and we had no idea when it was written or if the author was still in Alberta...
We were thrilled to be able to share that poem with our viewers. And we were even more thrilled to find that Frank is in Alberta. He sent us this...

I Am A Newfoundlander

I was born a Newfoundlander,
And that's what I am today,
Born and raised a Newfoundlander, and,
That's what I'm gonna stay.

Other folks don't understand it,
Not showing off or acting smart,
But to be a Newfoundlander starts,
With have a happy Heart.

Newfoundlander is the secret,
Doesn't matter what your name,
Our whole Province is one family and,
As one, we feel the same.

We are friends and we are neighbours,
Like a well construction song,
Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders,
Go together and belong.

This old world is full of people,
Where their hearts are, I'm not sure,
But I am a Newfoundlander,
And will be ... FOREVER MORE.

And the poem that you can see in the Newfoundland Club display case that led us to this author of such wonderful sentiment for his home...

MY NEWFOUNDLAND HEART

They can take the Newfoundlander

From the place I got my start

But theres one thing they can never take

The Newfie in my heart

A little poem like this one helps

My heart to take a stand

Sure I'm in Fort Mac

But my hearts in Newfoundland.

No disrespect intended

For my home away from home

Its just my heart is still a Newf

No matter where I roam.

Sometimes its only once a day

Quite often it is more

My heart drifts back to Newfoundland

And thoughts of life before.

And so I hope the world at large

Will try to understand

Its fine here in Fort McMurray

But my hearts in Newfoundland.

Both poems were written by Frank Pavlick. Thanks for sharing Frank!

Fort McMurray Newfoundland

2007-07-20T11:27:00.001-07:00

In the last decade Canada has seen a migration like no other. Thousands of people from every province have moved to Alberta - to be part of an oil boom and the jobs that the industry creates.
Few provinces, however, can attest to the loss of community and family members like that of Newfoundland. The target, for many in this modern day gold rush, is Fort McMurray.

It would be almost impossible to visit this remote Alberta city without meeting someone from Newfoundland, or 'The Rock'. The distinct accent and genuine friendliness make these folks easy to find.

And meet them we did!!

From the folks who served us our first Jiggs Dinner to the bookstore that sold us our Downhome magazine...from the artist who creates images inspired by the spirit of his East Coast heritage to the music we found in a bar called Cowboys where we were part of a Sociable!

We went to Fort Mac to find the Newfoundland culture that we had heard about...contrary to all of the 'not so good stories' that are coming out of the oil patch - we are pleased to share the stories of the artists and musicians and 'Newfies' who are staying true to their roots until they can go back to 'The Rock'.

'They all go home eventually, back to the water boy.'

These stories have been compiled into a half hour DVD called 'The Spirit of the Rock - in the Patch', which will air on NTV. We had fun creating this program and we look forward to your input.

Keep watching this blog as we bring you individual stories from the 'hearty Alberta oil patch'.