Cupids Cove Chatter

East Country meets West Country is a film series from local and British filmmakers.  Cupids 400 Inc. will be sponsoring these film screenings in the Cupids Community Centre during the month of March. These films are produced by knowledgeable filmmakers and have themes that correlate with the Cupids 400 Celebrations.

All shows begin at 7:00pm.

Saturday, March 20th
People Who Stay 26 min 31 sec (Rhonda Buckley, whose films have been screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the  St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival )
The Jurassic Coast 23 min 13 sec (Roger Holmes)  The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England’s first natural World Heritage Site – it is known as The Jurassic Coast. It covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset – the homeland of the ancestors of many Newfoundlanders.
Ghosts 23 min 20 sec (Paul Pope Productions) Ghost Stories of the North Atlantic
Stealing Mary 47 min 23 sec (Marian Frances White) “Our story begins in 1827 when William Cormack, a young British explorer, stumbles upon an Indian tomb hidden in the forest of Newfoundland. He takes two skulls and burial objects back to his university in Scotland. Almost 200 years later, the artefacts become evidence surrounding the abduction and murder of Demasduit, whom they called Mary March, and her husband, Chief Nonosabasut. This docudrama traces the last years of the Beothuk Indians of Newfoundland.”
Total 2 hr

Update: The March Film Showing was very successful with large audiences and a great deal of interest.

Photos from March 6th Film Showing > >

Photos from March 20th Film Showing > >

Michael Crummey at Cupids

Further Update: March 11th, 201o – Michael Crummey’s Galore has advance to the finals of the Commonwealth Writers Prize after it was chosen winning novel for the Canada and Caribbean regional category.

Update: March 6th Michael Crummey’s novel Galore has now been nominated:

FINALIST 2009 – Governor General’s Literary Awards – Fiction
FINALIST 2010 – Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (Canada & Caribbean)
FINALIST 2010 – Atlantic Independent Booksellers’ Choice Award
FINALIST 2010 – Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award
FINALIST 2010 – Newfoundland and Labrador 2010 Winterset Award

Michael Crummey was an animated and interesting guest in the Cupids 400 Visiting Authors Series.  He revealed that he had never visited Cupids before, and brought a laugh when he said, “Cupids, you don’t look a day over 180!”

His first reading was about a trip to Labrador on a coastal boat and was taken from “Hard Light,” which is based on stories about life Western Bay told by his father.  He also read “Old Wives Tale” and  “the Way Things Were,” a story about the Kyle (one of the famous ABC Coastal Fleet which is anchored in nearby Harbour Grace > >)

His final readings were from his latest novel “Galore,” for which he has been short listed for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in the Caribbean and Canada Region.  He said that the novel is not based on any particular historic period, and that its foundation is in folkore.  He made the comment: “Folklore and the Bible are pillars of the outport community.”

He then answered questions from the audience which ranged from specific questions about “Galore” to questions about writing, history, and folklore.

Other photos of Michael’s visit can be seen on Flickr: An Evening with Michael Crummey

Michael Crummey

Cupids 400 and the Cupids Historical Society are pleased to present as part of their “Visiting Authors Series”

“An Evening with Newfoundland and Labrador Author Michael Crummey”

Further Update: March 11th, 201o – Michael Crummey’s Galore has advance to the finals of the Commonwealth Writers Prize after it was chosen winning novel for the Canada and Caribbean regional category.

Update: March 6th Michael Crummey’s novel Galore has now been nominated:

FINALIST 2009 – Governor General’s Literary Awards – Fiction
FINALIST 2010 – Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (Canada & Caribbean)
FINALIST 2010 – Atlantic Independent Booksellers’ Choice Award
FINALIST 2010 – Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award
FINALIST 2010 – Newfoundland and Labrador 2010 Winterset Award

Supported in part by Cupids Haven B&B

Thursday, February 25th, 7:30 pm
Cupids Community Centre, Seaforest Drive.

Adm:  $5 – proceeds to Cupids Legacy Centre Trust.  Refreshments will be served
Books available for purchase.  For more information, please contact
Cupids 400 – Kathi Stacey, @ 528-1610 or kstacey@cupids400.com

Michael's Most Recent Novel

Michael Crummey is one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most acclaimed young authors.  With photojournalist Greg Locke, he is the author of a memoir, Newfoundland: Journey into a Lost Nation, which chronicles the passage of the province from a time when cod were still plentiful and the fishery shaped the lives of most of the province’s people, to the present, when oil and mineral development are changing the way of life.  His has published three books of poetry, and a book of short stories, Flesh and Blood.  His first novel, River Thieves, was a finalist for the 2001 Giller Prize, and his second, The Wreckage, was a national bestseller and a finalist for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize.

His most recent novel,  Galore, has been short listed for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in the Caribbean and Canada Region.  The winners from region will be announced on March 11, 2010, and will then go on to compete against the other regional winners.  The overall winner will be announced on April 12, 2010.

“…Galore is an endearing romp. For the language alone — and there is so much more — I loved the book. May Newfoundland English never die.” Review by Katherine Govier in the National Post, September 25, 2009.

“Weekend AM”  August 22-23, 2010

Michael Crummey talks about his new book, “Galore” with Weekend AM’s Angela Antle of CBC Radio

Click to Hear and Right click to Download Weekend AM August 22-23
[mp3 file: runs 19:06]

Valentine's Celebration

A special Valentine event for Cupids 400 was held on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at Holiday Inn in St. John’s.  The special guest Emcee was Amy House, one of Newfoundland´s most talented and prolific comediennes. Dinner music was provided by Karen Gill, harpist and soloist.  After dinner, guests danced to music by Billy and the Bruisers, a ten piece dance band from St. John’s.

The Honourable Edward Roberts and his wife, Eve attended.  They have been major supporters of Newfoundland culture, both when Mr. Roberts was a cabinet member in the provincial government and when he was the 11th Lieutenant Governor of the province.  Scott Andrews, MP for the district of Avalon, also attended.

After months of anticipation and hard work, all the people who have been behind the scenes organizing Cupids 400 took advantage of the evening to relax and enjoy the celebration.

For photos see:  Cupids 400: Love & Lore Valentine Celebration

Happy Faces Greeting 2010.

New Year’s Celebrations were awaited with more than usual excitement in the town of Cupids this year, because 2010 is the 400th anniversary of the town, the first permanent English settlement in Canada.

Cupids 400 Inc planned a large “party”  with early evening events for families with children, and later evening events for adults, culminating with a spectacular fireworks display.  They advertised the event widely in the local press and through Twitter and Facebook, explaining that roads would be barricaded, and that there would be an organized shuttle service to bring people to the site of the celebrations in the middle of town.

New Year’s Eve was exceptionally cold, but the sky was bright and clear, and the celebrations kept everyone warm. Organizers were pleased with the strong community and regional turnout.  People came from communities throughout the Northerm Avalon, drawn by the promise of a good time, live music, family celebrations and spectacular fireworks. With a well planned and efficient shuttle service in place, the event suffered none of the potential traffic snarls and congestion.

A special family celebration began the evening with entertainment that included kid friendly activities and performances, free treats and a special fireworks display.

The adult portion of the evening’s festivities was highlighted by live entertainment, hot food, heated tents to take shelter from the crisp night, capped by a dazzling 18-minute fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

The whole event was an auspicious beginning to an exiting year for the town of Cupids.