CBC Newfoundland Morning

The Christmas season can be a time of celebration and joy, but it can also be very hard for people who have lost loved ones. NL Health Services offers in-person and virtual seminars to support people who are grieving.Jenna King-Poirier is bereavement services manager with NL Health Services.

Last week, Georgina’s Law was officially passed in the Senate. It will now move into the House of Commons for debate there. Georgina’s Law urges Canada to adopt a national strategy to help prevent intimate partner violence. Supporters of the new legislation see it as a major step forward, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Lynn Moore is a lawyer who specializes in sexual abuse litigation.

When Westjet announced last month it's bringing back direct flights from St. John's to the UK - and adding new routes to Dublin and Paris - people in this province couldn't wait to start booking. But since the last time those flights were available, the rules for entry to the UK have changed. And the rules for entering the EU will change soon as well. Now travelers need to have applied for a travel authorization from the UK government before they even leave home. Avery Campbell is an advocate with the Association of Canadian Travel Agents. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

A stroll for childcare happened in Corner Brook yesterday afternoon. People who took part say the ten-dollar-a- day initiative is a step forward, but they say many families are still on long wait lists The CBC’s Amy Feehan was at the protest yesterday. She spoke with Bonnie Lou Hutchings with the Public Service Alliance of Canada's Western Newfoundland and Labrador Area Council. Amy also spoke with Kirby Ryland of the Corner Brook District Labour Council. 

Most community groups would love to have a few more volunteers like Andrew Hibbitts of Stephenville. He's active in several community organizations, and this year, some of his counterparts and colleagues decided it was time to take notice of all his volunteer work. Earlier in 2024, Hibbitts was awarded Citizen of the Year in Stephenville and was given a Mental Health Leadership Award by the Canadian Mental Health Association NL. Late last week, he was also recognized with the Community Service Award from the College of the North Atlantic.

Premier Andrew Furey says changes are being made as a result of the tragic fire at the Driftwood Inn in Deer Lake. The Justice Department has said its investigation into the fire hasn't been completed yet; But the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador says his government is taking steps now to improve fire safety. Furey says he's directed several government departments to take some interim measures. The Premier says the changes came about after he met with volleyball teams and parents who were staying at the Driftwood Inn at the time of the fire.

A private healthcare provider called ProActive Wellness Centre has introduced a new service designed to tackle the shortage of primary care providers and take some of the pressure off the healthcare system. ProActive On Demand is an online platform that provides virtual medical appointments with family doctors through phone or video calls. It was launched on November 8. Evan Parsons is Medical Services Coordinator with ProActive Wellness Centre.

It takes a huge team of people to bring your favourite CBC radio shows every day. But the reporters and editors wouldn't be able to bring you their stories without dedicated technical staff. Transmitter technician Harry Mesh is one of those people. For decades, Harry has been fixing electronics, running cables, and climbing those massive towers that send out the CBC signal. Today, he's hanging up his toolbelt and safety harness for the last time. We reached him in Grand Falls-Windsor.

On Thursday, we spoke with Tammy Priddle, president and CEO of Deer Lake Regional Airport. Flair Airlines had announced it was pulling service from both Deer Lake and St. John's airports in 2025. The ultra-low-cost carrier only began service to this province back in May of this year. Flair isn't the only low-cost carrier to have a short layover on the Island. Lynx and Swoop, for example, began service only to pull it a short time later. There's no question that there is a need for flight options - especially affordable ones - in and out of this province. So why don't these ultra-low-cost options last? Nadia MacDonald is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Airports Association.

Two nurse practitioners in the province are teaming up to try -- yet again -- to get the government to pay for the care they provide. Doctors in private practice in this province can bill the government directly, but nurse practitioners can't, even though they are authorized to diagnose and treat many illnesses. That's why they have to charge patients for their visits. Travis Sheppard co-founded the Nurse Practitioner Health and Wellness Clinic in Corner Brook. Trent McDonald owns BodyQuest Health and Wellness Centre in St. John's.

If you're planning a summer getaway and hoping to book your flight with Flair Airlines, you'll need another plan. The airline has announced its 2025 season will no longer include Newfoundland, as it drops Deer Lake and St. John's from its schedule. Tammy Priddle is president and CEO of Deer Lake Regional Airport.

This week, American president-elect Donald Trump said he plans to impose a 25-percent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the United States. That's a problem for this province, as the vast majority of fish, minerals and oil produced here are sold in the United States. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour thinks a united approach to fighting back is crucial. Jessica McCormick is the federation's president.

A study from Memorial University says rising ocean temperatures could cause a lot of harm to snow crab off our coasts. The report says the snow crab population in the Grand Banks area could drop by 60 per cent by the end of this century. Tyler Eddy is a research scientist with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research at the Marine Institute of Memorial University.

Some Canadians may now find it easier to be able to get eye care. At least, that 's what federal Bill C-284 is meant to do. Among many things, the new law aims to make give people in rural areas more help with their vision. The Canadian Opthalmological Society is celebrating this as a major step. Dr. Nina Ahuja is an ophthalmologist and a member of the Society's board of directors.

Sharing Our Cultures was founded in the province 20 years ago, to connect school children who come from different cultural backgrounds The organization encourages school projects that help children feel they're accepted, no matter where they come from. Students at Lewisporte Intermediate are a part of this year's Sharing Our Cultures program. Principal Pam Cole spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner.

For some small business owners, a profitable holiday shopping season can make up for a slow year. Taking orders online and shipping them to customers quickly is the name of the game, and it's hard to for business owners to keep expenses down. The ongoing Canada Post strike - now in Day 13 - is having a real impact on the whole process. Cory Babstock is a photographer based in Clarenville. He owns Old Bones Photography - a business that relies almost entirely on Canada Post to fulfill his orders.

U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump gave notice earlier this week that he intends to impose a big tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. Trump said he'll bring in a 25-percent tariff on goods entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. Trump says the high tariffs would begin on the day of his inauguration, January 20th, 2025. Alison Coffin is an economist at Memorial University.

After nearly six years of negotiations, Canada is about to settle a class action lawsuit against big tobacco companies. The suit is meant to compensate people who got sick from smoking, and compensate provinces for increased health care costs. The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased the settlement is almost done, but it wants some additions to the terms. Rob Cunningham is a lawyer and senior policy advisor with the cancer society, and he spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

On Day 12 of the Canada Post strike, talks were still going on, workers were still on picket lines, and items for delivery were still piling up. The Crown corporation and its employees have been negotiating a new collective agreement for over a year. With seemingly no swift end in sight, many are wondering what government can - and should - do to get the mail running again. John Peters, Director of Employment Operations at Memorial University says it may still be early days for government to take action in this strike.

The owner of a trucking company says Marine Atlantic could do more to reduce the impact of high winds and heavy seas. This month, the Gulf ferry service has had many cancelled crossings - and it doesn't take long for the impact to be seen on store shelves. But Chris Howlett of Akita Equipment and Auto Transport says he believes weather is not entirely to blame. Colin Tibbo is vice-president of customer experience with Marine Atlantic.

Using 'the rest of the fish': A project that involves 'marine biomass' is a step closer to reality in Western Newfoundland. Elmastukwek First Nation Benoit's Cove Indian Band signed a final agreement on Friday, along with representatives from the University of Western Ontario and Memorial University. Terri Greene is band chief.

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world, and it's always growing. The latest expansion will see 850 kilometres on the Great Northern Peninsula become part of the national trail network. The provincial government supports the move because it wants to improve outdoor recreation options for rural residents. Mathieu Roy is the CEO of the Trans Canada Trail, and he spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Last week the R.C.M.P in this province started to give some of their officers body cameras. Tracy Jenkins-Fudge is the programs manager with the RCMP. She talked about the roll out plan for the rest of the province, and why they felt getting this technology was important.

The City of Corner Brook announced the investment of two new larger buses to replace the current models on the road. CBC's Alex Kennedy spoke with Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons about the announcement.

An old building is no excuse for a lack of fire safety. That's what two moms are saying after a stay at the Driftwood Inn with their daughters' volleyball team became terrifying and traumatic. The hotel in Deer Lake was destroyed by fire in October. Newfoundland Morning's Bernice Hillier spoke with Dena Ellis and Katie Conway.

Prices on many items will be coming down because of federal GST cuts, but there's a real cost to the changes for retailers. For more, we spoke with Jim Cormier, the Atlantic director of the Retail Council of Canada.

Jo Anne Broders, a teacher at Smallwood Academy in Gambo, has been named a recipient of a Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching. She joined us on the line this morning to talk about the honour.

They faith can move mountains. But can taking a stand for truth and reconciliation lead to a name change for a mountain in Central Newfoundland? We posed that question to the minister responsible, Gerry Byrne.

The university of Oregon has a pilot project testing ways to harness energy from ocean waves, because it could end up being a more efficient method of producing green power than wind or solar. Burke Hales is lead scientist on the project. He spoke with CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Dean Kelly is co-owner of Blanche's Hideaway Café in Burlington, which will host free activities for kids in the community this weekend. He gave us all the details this morning.

Decking the halls with the Descendants. The band is gearing up for their annual Christmas tour. We got all the details from Con O'Brien.

Change Islands has been without a nurse for over two years - and as winter approaches, people there are getting even more concerned about what that means. We spoke with Paula Flood, the mayor of Change Islands and a first responder.

Keith Cormier is renewing calls to have the name of Mount Peyton changed in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, because the mountain peak in Central Newfoundland is named for a notorious settler who is infamous for having killed Beothuk people. Newfoundland Morning's Bernice Hillier met up with Cormier at the Mikwite'tm Garden on the Majestic Lawn in Corner Brook.

The Newfoundland Medical Association is pushing for legislative changes on sick notes. Dr. Steve Major is the president of the association. He explained why this administrative task can take doctors away from patients who really need their help. 

Law student Blair Curtis says the courthouse in Corner Brook isn't accessible for him, because the ramp outside is too steep and there are no accessibility buttons to open doors to the washrooms or courtrooms. He met up with Newfoundland Morning's Bernice Hillier outside the courthouse this morning.

Amy Coady needs to re-write her resume because she just added the position of Third VP with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to her CV. She told us all about the new job.

Newfoundland's own Tara Nova is the latest drag performer from this province to appear on Canada's Drag Race. She joined us live this morning to tell us what to expect on tonight's season premiere.

The Fraser Institute says the province is failing on childcare. Nick Mercer is just about to finish his early-childhood-education degree in Gander. He talked about the reality of the industry.

Grenfell Campus theatre students are presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream, but set in a mall in the 1990s. For more, Newfoundland Morning's Bernice Hillier spoke with 4th year students Colwynn Parris, Gracie McNeil, and theatre professor Allison Kelly.

Dr. Melissa O'Brien is closing her clinic for good next month, and says the provincial government's lack of incentives to retain practices like hers is partially to blame. She spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors.

Today marks National Day of the Child, and the provincial chapter of Child Care Now is marking the occasion with 10 days of action. For more, we spoke with Yolande Pottie-Sherman, a Steering Committee Member with the organization.

Corner Brook Bay of Islands Pride and Trans Support NL are hosting a Queer Social tonight in Corner Brook, to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. It will also include a screening of the matrix. We spoke with Quinn Jesso, the program facilitator and west coast representative with Trans Support NL .

The Salvation Army Foodbank in Grand Falls-Windsor was awarded the national standards of excellence by food banks Canada. We spoke with Community Services Coordinator Daniel Kelly.

The federal government's national ten-dollar-a-day childcare plan was supposed to make it easier for parents to find licensed daycare. The Fraser Institute says that's not happening in this province. Matthew Lau is a researcher at the institute. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

Scott Grant shoots photos. And, at a hockey game on the weekend, the puck came right at him. He told us all about the injury.

Some post-secondary students say a smaller number of courses being offered is having a big impact at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. Visual Arts student Camryn Nichols spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors about it last week. And today, we got response from Peter Ride, the Dean of Fine Arts at the Grenfell Campus.

NL Corporate AV Solutions has brought a new magical holiday adventure to Corner Brook. Their ‘Elevator to the North Pole' is an experience created in partnership with Santa Claus himself. CBC's Amy Feehan stopped by and spoke with Mike Hoskins and KJ Hollahan.

Toronto temporarily renamed streets in her honour. And Thursday night a family from Western Newfoundland walked along Taylor Swift Way to see the pop star perform. We spoke with Natasha Dobbin and her two daughters, Jaida and Jamielyn.

Santa Claus is coming to town, and his visit to Corner Brook's Christmas parade will be during the day this year, NOT at night. Peter Saunders and Jason Tarbett are with the Corner Brook Kinsmen Club, which is organizing the Santa Claus parade. They spoke with Newfoundland Morning's Bernice Hillier.

The town of Gander is looking for public transportation options. There's currently no bus service, and just one taxi company. For more, the CBC's Leigh Anne Power spoke with Gander town councillor Bettina Ford.

Entries are now open for the Newfoundland and Labrador Creative Non-Fiction Writing Contest, a collaboration between the Newfoundland Quarterly literary magazine and Writers NL. We spoke with Joan Sullivan, editor of the Newfoundland Quarterly.

Happy memories of musician Dave McHugh, who died last week at the age of 57 have been filling social media over the past few days. People are sharing about the incredible loss they feel because of his passing, and talking about their gratitude at having known Dave. Bernice Hillier spoke with Dave McHugh's cousin and fellow musician, Paul Pike.

A new report from rentals.ca says rental prices are slightly down about 1.2 per cent in Canada.  And while that may be the case in some large urban centres, in this province, it may be a different picture. Hope Jamieson is an affordable housing consultant and researcher.

Every three minutes, someone in Canada is diagnosed with diabetes. It is a complicated and devastating disease often made worse by stigma from others. On World Diabetes Day, we spoke with Diabetes Canada President and CEO Laura Syron.

People in Central Newfoundland who need to see a dental hygienist now have another option. Since last month, Heather-Marie Curlew and her mobile clinic has been travelling to rural communities. The idea is to make dental cleanings more easily available to more people.

A show that's coming to the stage in Corner Brook this week is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina just after World War Two. "Bright Star" is a Broadway musical written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Erica Green is directing Off Broadway Players' production of "Bright Star."

Many of us feel most at ease in the comfort of our own homes, but home sweet home can also be a place where you're at risk of injury though incidents such as trips and falls. Lewis Smith is with the Canada Safety Council.

Newfoundland and Labrador leads the country in colo-rectal cancer rates, and people are also being diagnosed younger. It used to be that you'd start talking to your doctor once you reached the age of 50, but some experts are saying that uncomfortable conversation should be happening a decade or more earlier. Dr. Jerry McGrath is a gastroenterologist and the Medical Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Colon Cancer Screening Program.

Ending a long-term relationship you've shared with someone is never easy. If you've lived together and have shared assets, things can be quite tangly. That's why getting good advice is important. Lynn Kendall is a chartered professional accountant in Corner Brook, holding a session this week on "Purposefully Uncoupling."

Olaf Janzen, a retired history professor from Memorial University's Grenfell Campus, has spent decades immersing himself in the rich tapestry of Newfoundland’s history. He researched and wrote about 18th-century Newfoundland, with a special focus on French and Mi’kmaq settlements on the West Coast. His commitment to preserving and sharing these historical narratives has earned him the prestigious Heritage Award.

The National War Memorial in downtown St. John's was unveiled one hundred years ago, back in 1924. And earlier this year, the site got a significant restoration for its centennial year. The memorial will host its first Remembrance Day ceremony since that work was finished this year. Gary Browne was one of the people behind the effort to renovate the war memorial and bring the unknown soldier home.

Remembrance Day is a busy time for anyone involved with Remembrance Day ceremonies and other events, but a committee in the Port Saunders area has been working hard for months now raising money to improve their local war memorial. It is the only war memorial for the area from River of Ponds to Eddies Cove West. Nicole Chouinard is with the Port Saunders War Memorial Committee.

Veterans will meet up today at war memorials and Legions across the province, but some veterans in the Humber Valley don't need a special day to gather. In fact, some of them meet up every week day morning at the Legion in Pasadena. Morgan Simmons is past president of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 68 in Pasadena.

There was a touching moment in the Senate Chambers in Ottawa earlier this week. A Senator from Newfoundland and Labrador offered a special welcome to her Indigenous father. Judy White acknowledged that Mi'kmaw Elder Calvin White of Flat Bay, was watching from the Gallery.

Many community leaders from across the province are in Gander, at the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Conference. They'll talk about the issues some of their residents face - racism, hate and discrimination, and others. A session called Standing Against Hate: Municipal Leadership for Anti-Racism will be moderated by two members of the Anti-Racism Coalition of NL: Sobia Shaikh, Co-Chair, and Domé Lombeida, project co-ordinator.

The Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador Conference in Gander is focusing on crime and policing. Patrick Cahill is assistant commissioner and commanding officer of the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador, and he lead the discussion.

Some international students in Corner Brook are speaking out about changes to Canada's immigration policy. The federal government recently announced major cuts. The number of new permanent residents will be reduced by almost 100-thousand, and there's also a cap on the number of temporary residents. That's left some international students and temporary foreign workers in a precarious situation. The CBC's Sanuda Ranawake spoke with international students and temporary foreign workers in Corner Brook.

Two sisters from Steady Brook spend a lot of their time carving the slopes of Marble Mountain on skis and snowboards. They're among the most recent winners of Premier's Athletic Awards, which honour one hundred of this province's top young athletes. The awards were presented in late October, and two of the recipients were alpine skier Lily Hayden and snowboarder Meredith Hayden.

ICYMI: A Newfoundlander with dual U.S./Canada citizenship is reflecting on Wednesday night's U.S. presidential election. Republican candidate Donald Trump will again become President of the United States, defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Kelly Anne Butler grew up in the U.S. as the daughter of an American serviceman and eventually moved to western Newfoundland.

A couple of weeks ago, the Department of Health announced a plan to double up 15 single-occupancy long-term care rooms in Corner Brook. On Monday, the provincial Seniors' Advocate released a statement opposing the plan. In that statement, Susan Walsh said such a move would impact privacy, dignity, infection control, visitation, patient safety, quality of care and person-centred focus for those people. Yesterday in the House of Assembly, the Premier backpedalled on that plan. Here's part of an exchange during Question Period about the well-being of Seniors in the province. We heard Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham, Deputy Speaker Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Premier Andrew Furey, and Health Minister John Hogan. 

They had to wait a long time and do a lot of fundraising, but Exploits Search and Rescue finally have their new emergency vehicle. The group knew it was time to start looking for a new one when the old 1991 Chevrolet cube van wasn't safe on the road anymore. Fred Penney is a member of Exploits Search and Rescue.

It was an early arrival on a Marine Atlantic ferry, as the newest resident of the Codroy Valley just couldn't wait to make her appearance. Miley is the newborn daughter of Lindsey Gale and Mason Devoe. She was born -- prematurely -- on board the ferry early last Friday morning as it approached North Sydney, NS. We reached the proud parents, Lindsey Gale and Mason Devoe in hospital in Cape Breton. (*note crackling sound quality of phone reception*).

(*Contains correct audio*) Minor hockey players in Stephenville will remember one of their own this weekend. They're playing in the Connor Butt Memorial Tournament at the Stephenville Dome. The tournament is in memory of a local minor player, Connor Butt, who died last year at the age of 14. The rink was Connor's favorite place to be, and it's where his parents will be this weekend, along with former teammates, other local players and their families. Nadine Butt is Connor's mother. Ria Targett is with the Stephenville Minor Hockey Association. Her son Cameron also used to play hockey with Connor Butt.

An NL documentary filmmaker's latest project was inspired by becoming a dad. Justin Simms' son, Jude was born eight years ago. That got Justin thinking about how to raise a son to be a "good person" - and what that even means. The resulting film is called, "Sons." Justin Simms spoke with Martin Jones.

The SaltWater Community Association is dreaming big. It has a brand new office in Bonavista, and it's made plans for a daycare in Melrose and a hydroponic farm in Port Union. Cathy Bishop is the director of communications for the SaltWater Community Association. She spoke with the CBC's Hillary Johnson.

It was about well-being...and it was well-attended. Hundreds of people came to a community well-being fair in Corner Brook yesterday. They visited more than 25 booths that governments, non-profit organizations and local food vendors had set up. People took in presentations to help them with everything from managing their finances, to making the right food choices. The CBCs Sanuda Ranawake was there.

While some of us were watching election results in the warmth of our homes, many people in Newfoundland and Labrador were warming themselves by a bonfire. That's because last night was Guy Fawkes Night. The Appalachian Chalets and RV in Corner Brook held their popular annual Community Bonfire Night. People gathered and enjoyed the warmth and spirit of the celebration. CBC’s Amy Feehan was there.

As Americans headed to the polls today, people on both sides of the border anticipated hearing the results this week, Some were even anxious, with the uncertainty about what's going to happen weighing heavily on their minds. Janine Hubbard is a registered psychologist who works in St. John's.

Fish harvesters are upset about the latest regulation related to the redfish fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Yesterday, they showed their displeasure at a protest outside DFO offices in Corner Brook. Harvesters will now need an onboard, at-sea observer on every trip they take. Incoming FFAW president Dwan Street was at yesterday's protest and spoke with freelance reporter Leila Beauboin.

Two doctors say maintaining and improving health and well-being now may help you avoid getting sick at all. Dr. Pat Parfrey and Dr. Sean Connors were in Corner Brook for a Community Well-Being Fair. They talked about some of what's referred to as "social determinants" of health. Parfrey is deputy minister of health transformation with the provincial government, and Connors is clinical chief of cardiac care with NL Health Services.

It's a big day for Americans south of the border - and ex-pats living around the world. The much-anticipated presidential election is happening today. Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots - in person, at early voting opportunities, or by mail. Greg Blumer of Gander has sent his absentee ballot to his home state of Pennsylvania, one of the so-called "battleground" states.

Some organizations are coming together to bring a community well-being fair to Corner Brook. The event is happening on Tuesday at the Corner Brook Civic Centre. Lindsey Hynes is the director of community vitality, innovation and impact for the Community Sector Council NL, which is one of the organizers of the event. She was in our Corner Brook studio

When fire destroyed The Driftwood Inn in Deer Lake on October 19, the loss was huge for the community. But even more tragically, the fire claimed the life of Eugene Spoon, a hunter from the United States. Deer Lake mayor Mike Goosney joined us to talk about how the events have affected people, and what steps have been taken since they happened.

A man from Southern Labrador has been honoured with the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. Guy Poole of St. Lewis has walked 4,000 kilometres in the past 19 years in a fundraiser he created called Liz's Walk. It was named for Poole's wife, who died of complications from diabetes. The walk has taken Poole across much of the Big Land as well as the island, and he's raised 400-thousand dollars for diabetes research and awareness. Last week, he was one of eight people who received the province's highest honour. Guy Poole spoke with the CBC's Gavin Simms.

Creating spaces to bring people, communities and cultures together through art - that's the idea behind the Indigenous Storyteller in Residence program at Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries. It's offered in association with the TD Bank Group and is in its second year. Ivan J. White is the Indigenous Education Specialist with Memorial University's Office of Indigenous Affairs. He has been named the Storyteller in Residence this time around with the Public Library.

This province is full of folklore and storytellers, myths and legends. It's all a part of the history and culture of this beautiful province. Ok, that's the nice side of things - but our history also has darker tales of tragedy and fright.

What better day than Halloween to talk about those stories - and what better person to talk to than Mike Hickey? He's an author and filmmaker and hosts a show called Terror Nova - where he explores the province for all things ghostly and creepy.

For many people, Hallowe'en is all about the thrill of a good scare! Haunted houses are the ultimate way to get that spine-tingling, immersive fright. For charities such as Holidays for Hope, it's also a chance to raise big bucks for a great cause But this year, they hit a snag. They’ve had to cancel this year's event because they couldn't find a space to hold one. The CBC's Amy Feehan spoke with Max Pittman, executive director of Holidays for Hope.

Provincial Minister of Finance Siobhan Coady delivered a mid-year fiscal update on Wednesday, painting an encouraging picture of the financial state of the province. But later in the day, the provincial auditor general said the province's financial position is worsening. Alison Coffin is an economist at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Picture this: The room is dark and moody, candles everywhere. Everyone is wearing black. A witch cascades her hands all around their bodies as music plays, strengthening their psychic and magical powers. No, this is not a movie - it's the Zen Den in Corner Brook, where professional witch Sarah Hager offers her witchy meditation. The CBC's Colleen Connors took in one of her sessions and learned what Halloween means to Hager and her witchy participants.

Supporting the mental health of new parents and making people aware of the problem - those are the goals of a symposium happening this weekend. It's the first ever for the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador. About 28 percent of parents of children - from newborn to one year old - will experience a mood or anxiety illness. Dr. Archana Vidyasankar is the chair of the Alliance.

Premier Andrew Furey gave a State of the Province speech at the St. John's Board of Trade meeting yesterday, while the opposition continues to criticize his government's work. Is it politics as usual, or might there be hints of a provincial election around the corner? Amanda Bittner is a political scientist at Memorial University.

Diwali, or the "Festival of Light," is a huge celebration in India. This year, the Indian community in Corner Brook gathered at Saint Michael and All Angels Anglican Church. Over 100 people joined the event, which included music and food from all parts of India. The CBC's Sanuda Ranawake was there.

The provincial government plans to add new long-term care beds to Western Memorial Hospital, to make room for more patients. Right now, people who need long-term care are using acute care beds, which is putting a strain on the hospital's resources. On Monday, Teara Freake, the Chief Operating Officer for the western zone of NL Health Services, talked about how the hospital is planning to address the problem. PC Health Critic Barry Petten spoke with us.

The education system is still not ok, says the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association in its latest report on school violence. The union filed an access to information request and found that the number of incidents in schools is still rising for the 2023-24 school year. They're also getting more severe. Trent Langdon is the president of the NLTA.

Every year, the Playwrights Guild of Canada recognizes an author whose work challenges conventional thinking and questions the status quo. A couple of nights ago at a ceremony in Toronto, Leahdawn Helena was presented with the John Palmer Award for her play, "Stolen Sisters." 

Hallowe'en is creeping up, and as they say… Go big or “gourd” home! This past weekend, the Town of Clarenville held its very first Giant Pumpkin Festival, welcoming people and prized pumpkins from all over the island. The event was organized by Leslee and Krista Lake, whom you might remember as the couple who grew "Gourdzilla" a few years back, the largest pumpkin ever recorded in this province.

The towns of Roddickton-Bide Arm, Conche, Main Brook, and Englee sit on the west side of White Bay, with a population 15-hundred among all of them. After years of seeing economic stagnation in the area, the White Bay Central Development Association has decided to change things by hiring an Economic Development Officer. The new position was created to revitalize the economy. The CBCs Sanuda Ranawake spoke with Darrell Randell, the new Economic Development Officer for the region, as well as Della DeMoss, the president of the Association and mayor of Roddickton-Bide Arm.

The Western Environment Centre in Corner Brook is always working to make our little corner of the world greener. They've teamed up with with various organizations to expand their community compost program. The centre will supply compost bins and share tips on maintaining them. Katie Temple is the Executive Director of the organization.

The provincial government will add new, long-term care beds in Corner Brook. It made the announcement on Friday. Right now, patients who should be in long-term care are in acute-care beds instead at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital, and that's causing capacity problems at the hospital. Teara Freake is chief operating officer for the western zone of NL Health Services.