Last summer's trip to Newfoundland for a wedding took myself, my husband and the grandchildren to different parts of the island we had never seen before. However, the most beautiful new spot we got to see was the resettled community of Pope's Harbour.

The newlyweds, Andrew and Heidi Sceviour, drove back to Clifton (Andrew's hometown) after their wedding in Burlington. Uncle George Pippy had offered to take them on a day trip to Pope's Harbour before their holiday ended and they had to go back to Fort McMurray. Andrew's grandfather and grandmother were moved out of Pope's Harbour when Andrew's father was three. As the boat held 12 we were invited along. Cal and Jackie Sceviour, Andrew's mother and father, also came along. We also took our two grandchildren who were visiting Newfoundland for the first time from Kelowna, B.C.

The boat left from Burgoynes Cove where we were staying and it was an hour drive up Smith Sound. As we approached the community George told us how his family were moved out in 1964. We could see many cabins all built in a semi-circle around the harbour. A salmon river cuts the community right in half. George has a lovely cabin on the water's edge. Once the community was being rebuilt all the cabin owners agreed that all they needed now was a church. George said, "I will saw the logs for lumber if you all help me build it." The church was put up in the year 2006. We all walked up to see the church where it sits on the highest point of land. On the inside wall is a plaque naming all the former residents of the community. The church was beautiful inside and the first service was held in 2007. In August of the same year Baxter Manuals and Debbie Howard were the first to be married there. In 2008 Collie Fitzgerald, grand-daughter of former member of Parliament John Efford, was christened there. Her parents Jackie and Wayne thought the church would be a special place for this ceremony.

We all walked over to the bridge that crosses the Salmon River. Several other residents were out hiking the trails and enjoying the beautiful sunny day. Andrew talked about how much it meant to him to be able to come back to his family's former community with his wife and daughter.

After a lunch George took some of us in a smaller boat all around the harbour to see the other cabins. John Efford just happened to be in the harbour at the time so George stopped for a chat. We all reluctantly boarded the boat to go home in the afternoon after a lunch. As the boat headed home Uncle George told stories, we spotted some whales and some of the grandchildren grew sleepy and nodded off.   Submitted By: Jean Way