Saving Christmas

Seven residents from Norman Bay were worried last week they wouldn't get home for Christmas.

The coastal Labrador community, home to 50 people, was completely isolated when its seasonal ferry service, the Challenge 1, finished running for the winter. Poor ice conditions added to the problem of reaching the outside world by snowmobile, used to bring supplies from Charlottetown, a 30-minute ride via groomed trail.

The Challenge 1 was taken out of service Dec. 12 after departmental officials from Transportation and Works determined the operating conditions were too dangerous. The department decided to extend the ferry's run two weeks past its scheduled end, Nov. 30, to accommodate residents.

"However, freezing spray made it just too dangerous to continue to operate and the ferry was taken out of service," reads a statement released by the department. "Transpor-tation and Works has contracted a helicopter service that will operate two days a week, and will be available in case of emergency situations."

The helicopter began servicing Norman Bay Dec. 16-17 and will return Dec. 22-23.

The community of Norman Bay put in a request to the provincial government for a helicopter almost immediately and didn't hear back for "three or four days," according to George Roberts.

Norman Bay's seven residents were divided between Charlottetown and St. Anthony, either in hospital or Christmas shopping, he said.

"When the ferry left to go back to Newfoundland, we were on our own, we had nothing - not a very good feeling," he said.

"A lot of people have stuff from Sears and the other catalogs and people go out and pick it up at stores and send it in to their friends and neighbours and uncles and aunts, sending home parcels - and a lot of people were afraid they weren't going to get it. Bad for the kids, they'd be disappointed."

Norman Bay was in a similar predicament in 2007.

But that time, once the ferry went out of service, the provincial government brought in the helicopter the following day, Mr. Roberts said.

"It would have been nice to hear back earlier, but I guess it takes time to go back through different departments, back to the minister, and it's his decision," he said.

"It seems like they came through for us again this year with the chopper; but I don't know, I was after them for years to build a road and they won't build that road, no money available...all kinds of excuses."

The road Mr. Roberts referred to is a 36 km gravel road to Charlottetown. He cited Pinsent's Arm as a similar community that has a road connected to the highway.

"Transportation and Works is currently attempting to secure the services of a longliner to carry freight, such as winter supplies, to the community as well," reads the government statement. "The longliner and the helicopter will continue to operate until the ice is safe enough to travel on by snowmobile. In the meantime, the department will transport as much freight as possible in the helicopter."

When asked if things will improve now with Newfoundland and Labrador being a have province, Mr. Roberts laughed and said, "Hopefully it will change."