We may not be the North Pole, but we here at Downhome like to think we have a link to the big guy in the red suit. Earlier this fall, our team called on kids and kids-at-heart to submit their letters to Santa, and boy, did you deliver! Our mailbags were overflowing! Stay tuned in…
Hockey returns to St. John’s with the Newfoundland Regiment Hockey Club By Dillon Collins The wind-beaten, rugged coastline of Newfoundland and Labrador has long been fertile ground for hockey fandom. Whether bleu blanc et rouge, bud or bruin, passion for the game runs deep for those who call this place home. From the St….
The Story Behind a Remarkable Woman and a Most Unusual Military Artifact By Dennis Flynn Standing on a beach in the hauntingly pretty south coast community of Belleoram, Newfoundland and Labrador, as the waters of Fortune Bay encroach, the hints of long habitation abound. The French were here in the early 1700s, and the famous…
The 36th annual St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF) and Film Industry Forum is back from October 21-25, 2025. The five-day Festival will be held in the downtown core of St. John’s, Newfoundland, with screenings and celebrations at the Majestic Theatre and The Rooms, and Industry events at the Alt Hotel. Opening the Festival…
By Nicola Ryan On May 8, 2025, at the 37th East Coast Music Awards Gala, one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most beloved ballads, “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s”, was officially inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Irish Descendants performed the evocatively beautiful song during the ceremony, honouring the man behind…
By Kim Ploughman Maxwell (Max) J. Bursey knows a thing or two about boats. On his seaside property in St. Philip’s, with Bell Island shining in the background, seven boats bask in the spring sun. Max estimates he has built over fifty boats, including those gracing the seashore across the road from his house. The…
By Nathanael Chen It was a cold April evening at the A&W restaurant on Kenmount Road, one of the popular spots where classic car owners gather. An old black Chevrolet Caprice was seen in the parking lot. Car show season is just around the corner. Blair Chaulk is a creator of All Cars Welcome, a…
by Lester Green Often, we reflect on times gone by and challenge our minds to think about the earliest settlers, the true pioneers of our province. What would life be like to depend entirely on land and sea? What were the challenges of harvesting a virgin forest and the waters that washed its shorelines? As…
By Nicola Ryan This summer, a brand-new gathering is taking root in the heart of St. John’s. The Rockbound Roots Conference, running from July 25 to 27, at The Rooms, is set to become an innovative event for genealogists, historians, and anyone with a passion for tracing family history. Hosted by the Family History Society…
By Fred Parsons “I loved to gather driftwood from our playground by the sea To be used for seaside cook-ups, or boil water for a cup of tea; I relive fond salt water joys, playing with family and friends. Oh, to return to our Back Beach, to feel like a child again.” Lushes Bight, Long…
