Twillingate a port of call for Celebrating Bartlett 2009

Twillingate - The Town of Twillingate was one of 12 ports announced on Jan. 9 by the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for a visitation by the Celebration Bartlett 2009 project to be conducted during July and August of this coming summer.

The Celebration project will recognize and highlight the life and accomplishments of Captain Bob Bartlett, a native of Brigus, who among other accomplishments 100 years ago assisted Rear Admiral Robert Peary in his bid for the North Pole. The celebration date of 2009 has been chosen to coincide with the centenary celebration of that event in 1909.

Twillingate will be the fifth port of call for the project that will be spearheaded by the Bowdoin, one of the last working schooners from Captain Bob Bartlett's era, announced the Historic Sites Association in its press release of Jan. 9. The date of the visit to Twillingate has been set for July 23-25.

The Twillingate Town Council has already named three of its members who along with three members yet to be appointed by the Fish, Fun and Folk Festival (FFFF) Committee will help comprise a local planning committee for the visit. Mayor Calla Guy along with councillors Audrey White and Bennett Blake will be meeting shortly with the FFFF appointees to discuss plans, informed town manager David Burton on Jan. 12.

Friday's announcement by the Historic Sites Association of the ports of call and the dates was accompanied by a comment from Edward Roberts, the chair of the Celebrating Bartlett 2009 Steering Committee.

"We are very excited about the ports program we have in place for this summer," declared Mr. Roberts. "It is indeed a great privilege to have the schooner Bowdoin sailing around the province and enabling Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to see firsthand the type of schooner which Bartlett sailed for many years to the Far North."

The Bowdoin is an expeditionary schooner from Bartlett's era with a remarkable history of Arctic exploration, advises the press release, and is the only schooner built for the purpose of Arctic expeditions. The ports program will highlight the great voyages of Captain Bob Bartlett while also educating and entertaining people of all ages. Throughout July and August, the Bowdoin will sail around the province, visiting in addition to Twillingate, the following ports: Brigus, St. John's, Old Perlican, Bonavista, St. Anthony, Battle Harbour, Cartwright, L'Anse au Loup, Port au Choix, Norris Point and Corner Brook.

In addition to musical entertainment from Fergus O'Byrne and Jim Payne, each port visit will feature a number of activities including two drama productions and a travelling exhibit called "Sea & Ice ...the Extraordinary Life of Captain Bob Bartlett". To add to the excitement, each host community will develop a variety of activities to complement the Celebrating Bartlett 2009 Program. The Historic Sites Association is working with a number of program partners for Celebrating Bartlett 2009, and graciously acknowledges the financial support of both the federal and provincial governments.

"The Government of Canada is proud to support the Celebrating Bartlett 2009 Port Program and the homage it pays to one of Newfoundland and Labrador's great historical figures," said Senator Fabian Manning on behalf of The Honourble Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "Captain Bob Bartlett's story is one of undaunted courage, unstoppable determination and unrelenting curiosity. Not only will the program activities raise awareness of Bartlett's achievements," said Senator Manning, "but the tour of the Bowdoin will produce important economic spin-offs in many rural communities."

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Clyde Jackman, said the Provincial Government is proud to have committed $400,000 to support the Bartlett celebrations.

"Captain Bob Bartlett embodies the spirit of determination, perseverance and independence that defines the Newfoundland and Labrador character," Mr. Jackman said. "It is important that we preserve and honour his legacy and that we bring his story to the rest of the country, and to the world."

Celebrating Bartlett 2009 is an initiative of the Historic Sites Association Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a program of events and activities to bring the story of the life and adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and to national and international audiences, stressed the release. Captain Bob Bartlett was a world-renowned Arctic explorer and mariner during the first half of the 20th century and navigated more than 400,000 miles over 40 journeys.

The Historic Sites Association NL is a volunteer, non-profit organization that works in partnership with Parks Canada. Its mandate is to protect, preserve and promote the province's history and heritage. It operates Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site of Canada in Brigus, the family home of Captain Bob Bartlett.