Big thanks to Brendalee Fancy for new scenic photos for the town’s website. We’ve added them to the Media Gallery — hope you’ll take the time to enjoy them. If you have a special photo that you’d like to see on the town’s website, please submit your photo to the town office via email at townofcwt@bellaliant.com.
The Town Council would like to thank everyone that participated in the ‘Like & Share Contest’ on Facebook in support of Municipal Awareness Week. All names of those who participated were entered into a random draw for a set of Slate Photo Coasters. The winner was Stephanie Kelloway!! Congratulations!!
The Town Council would like to thank all Grade 4-6 students (from Centreville Academy) that participated in the Mayor For A Day Contest in support of Municipal Awareness Week. All names of those who participated were entered into a random draw for a $25 Visa Gift Card. The winner was Sebastian Perry Chippett!! Congratulations!!
If I Were Mayor For A Day
Spiderman once said: “With great power comes great responsibility.” If I were mayor for a day, I would do things that are good for the town, the citizens, and the environment. First of all, I would build things like a pool, trampoline park, and more activities at the rink. That way, kids (like me) would have more places to hang out and play, even when it’s raining or snowing. I would also put more garbage cans and recycling bins around the town so that people would litter less. Also, I would plant flowers and trees around the town so that the town would look better and we would get more oxygen. I would also build a food bank and a place to donate clothes and other things for the less fortunate. I know all this would take a lot of work to do, but it would be great for the town!
Written By Sebastian Perry Chippett (Grade 4)
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! The following article was published in the April 2022 addition of Downhome Magazine. A small town finds a unique way to honour a hometown hero, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.
[Read Official Downhome Magazine Article]
Hold Fast Lookout By Nicola Ryan
From a lookout on the Black’s Brook Trail in Trinity, Bonavista Bay, you can cast your gaze over the community below and out through the narrows that lead to scattered rocky islands. Before resettlement of those small islands, salted fish and capelin dried on flakes, horses roamed free, and hard-working families created a sense of community there, even in uncertain times. We’ve been facing uncertain times ourselves recently, and the town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity (CWT) has decided to name this lookout in honour of a hometown hero who’s been trying hard to keep us all safe.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians came to rely on public health guidance from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald. Dr. Fitzgerald’s daily updates were full of expertise and empathy, and she would fortify us at the end of each briefing with her signature words, “Hold fast, Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The tiny town of Trinity, where Dr. Fitzgerald is from, is understandably proud of their native daughter, and now one of the lookouts on the Black’s Brook Trail is about to be renamed “Dr. Janice Fitzgerald Hold Fast Lookout.”
“We’re hoping to get it done this spring,” says former mayor Sam Gibbons, “if things sort of settle down with COVID and that. We’re hoping to get her out here and have a grand opening.”
The amalgamated town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity is located in the well-known hunting and fishing region of Indian Bay. It’s about 45 km from the Trans-Canada Highway at the Gambo turn-off, along the scenic Kittiwake Coast. Wareham and Trinity had at one time been winter sites for logging and boatbuilding for fishermen from the islands in Bonavista Bay. Centreville came into being in 1959 as a planned community for settlers moving from Fair Island.
Black’s Brook Park is the jewel of Trinity. It offers hiking trails, camping sites, playgrounds, picnic sites and a swimming area. The park also often hosts community events, such as a Winter Carnival in February, a “Trunk or Treat” for Halloween, and an Easter egg scavenger hunt in the spring.
The Black’s Brook Trail in the park is a well-maintained woodsy walk suitable for all ages. The main trail is a winding loop with boardwalks and bridges spanning pretty waterfalls where you might catch a glimpse of some wildlife or see relics of old buildings. Interesting interpretative signs along the way offer insight into the area’s logging history. Settlement in Trinity occurred gradually once a merchant named James Brown built a water-powered sawmill there in 1894.
“There’s storyboards all around the park,” Sam says. “This was once a very productive area for cutting wood for Bowater’s, and even before that.” (Bowater’s Newfoundland Paper Mills Ltd. owned and operated the pulp and paper mill in Corner Brook from 1938 until 1984.)
To get to the popular soon-to-be-named Hold Fast lookout, take the challenging side trail that branches off from the main loop. “There’s different sections to the trail,” explains Sam. “The main trail is about 3 km and then there’s a couple of side ones. One of our trails goes to ahead called Sluice. We know it’s about 200 metres high, which is one-quarter the height of Gros Morne. Anyone thinking about trying Gros Morne should probably come here for a practice run,” he laughs.
The other trail leads up Bell Hill. If you brave the incline, the lovely view at the top will be your reward. The lookout is located right above Dr. Fitzgerald’s childhood home. The former inhabitants of those rough islands in Bonavista Bay most likely knew a thing or two about working together and holding fast in the face of adversity – values Dr. Fitzgerald has been encouraging us to share since the pandemic began.
“This is such a kind gesture from my hometown, and I am incredibly honoured to have my name on the lookout,” Dr. Fitzgerald says. “This place is particularly meaningful for me. While it has been many years since I have lived in Trinity, I remember those times fondly, and I still love to visit the area whenever I can. Walking, and generally just being outside in nature, has helped me find calm during these difficult times, and I am so looking forward to hiking this trail many times in the years to come. I have received many wonderful accolades in the last two years, but anyone that knows me, knows that this recognition is the most near and dear to me personally.”
The town will be hosting a free fitness class instructed by Fitness With Meliss for 6-8 weeks starting on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30 pm at the Lion’s Centre. For ages 16 and up. Please call 678-2840 to register.
In Memory of Mrs. Vera Penney, there is a shadow box displayed at the town office containing the key to the town that she was presented with in 2013 along with her picture and a brief history of her dedication throughout the town. We would also like to announce that the once known “Village Green” will be renamed in memory of her as the “Vera Penney Memorial Park”.
Vera Penney
In May 2010, Vera was nominated by the Town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity to receive a Newfoundland and Labrador Senior of Distinction Award. Vera’s contribution to the social and cultural pillars of this town had been quite significant. Vera had taught for 34 years before her retirement in 1994 and although she had no family connections in the Town, she continued living here. Before her retirement, she was deeply involved in community life but after her retirement, she became even more active.
Vera respected and admired the service of our veterans and she spear-headed a drive to erect a memorial in our town for them. The result was the creation of the “Village Green” in the centre of town, where everyday people are reminded of the sacrifices made for peace and freedom.
Vera also saw a need to preserve the culture of our area and became instrumental in the creation of the “Resettler’s Museum.” Many hours were devoted to acquiring a building, completing the necessary renovations, seeking financing, collecting and cataloging artifacts and mementos of the past.
With all of her other volunteer activities, Vera also found time after her retirement to devote six years to civic duty in the roles of Councillor and Mayor.
Vera spent time as a member of the local recreation committee, the library board, and chaired a municipal park committee. She was concerned about the well-being of our youth and much of her community involvement had our youth foremost in her mind. She wanted to see the youth involved in activities to enrich them intellectually, socially, and physically. When some youth strayed from expected societal standards, she offered her service to help them and became involved in the “Alternative Measures Program.” Vera became chair of the New-Wes-Valley branch and along with her co-volunteers, handled a number of cases and hopefully, gave those youth a new and better direction to follow.
Vera was a talented musician and after her retirement did not let this talent go to waste. Instead, she became involved in the spiritual realm and began directing the “Men’s Choir” for the Parish of Indian Bay.
Her volunteering offered a pillar of strength in our town and the surrounding area.
In 2013, Mrs. Vera Penney was presented with the first of its kind, a “key” to the Town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity. Upon her passing in October 2021, she had arranged for that “key” to the town to be returned to the town.
The Town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity respectfully thanks Mrs. Vera Penney for all of the years of dedicated service to this town and now will name the once known “Village Green” in her memory as the “Vera Penney Memorial Park”.
The CWT Summer Festival is scheduled to be held from August 2 – 7, 2022 if COVID allows. During the summer festival, we will be celebrating NL Come Home Year 2022. We will be accepting orders on the promo products. On Monday, Feb 14, 2022 there will be samples at the town hall for viewing for anyone who would like to see them. If you would like to place an order, you may pick up a order form at the town office or send messages and questions to the CWT Summer Festival Facebook Page. All orders can be paid for by cash or by sending a email money transfer to cwtsummerfestival@hotmail.com. More details will follow as they come available.
If you need to call our Local Fire Department for an Emergency – Dial 678-7777.
Your call will reach an answering machine. Leave your name, street address & state your emergency (including whether it’s a medical or fire emergency). All messages left on answering machine get directly sent to all fire fighters through e-Dispatch.
These details help the Fire Department reach you faster.
The Town Council would like to thank the businesses that have registered and are operating within our communities. We would like to encourage our residents to purchase local and support these businesses whenever possible. Thank you!!
The town of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity invites you to stay tuned to the town events calendar for upcoming special events, town office closures and council meetings. If you have a special event that you’d like the town to consider adding to the town events calendar, please contact the town office. Go To Town Events Calendar
Town Office Contact:
Tel: 709-678-2840
Fax: 709-678-2536
Email: townofcwt@bellaliant.com
355 J.W. Pickersgill Blvd
PO Box 130
Centreville, NL A0G 4P0
Town Office Hours
M-Th: 8:30am – 4pm
Fri: 8:30am – 3pm
