The latest edition of our seasonal community newsletter, The Heart of the Harbour, is now available!
You can read the Fall 2025 edition of the newsletter now on our website here:
Paper copies are available at the Town Hall now. Additionally, paper copies will be available at the following locations:
Hotel Harbour Grace (Water Street)
Kay’s Restaurant (Harvey Street)
Ultramar (Harvey Street)
Needs Convenience (Harvey Street)
Riverhead Irving (Harvey Street)
Riverside Mini-Mart (Harbour Grace South)
War Memorial Public Library (Harvey Street)
Newsletter photos courtesy Judy Ash, Patrick Collins, Christine Lynch, and Jillian Shute. We had over 50 photos submitted for the newsletter – thanks to everyone who submitted!
Photo ID: A landscape photograph of the town with trees in fall colours and the SS Kyle shipwreck in the harbour and on the riverbank. There is an orange header featuring white text.
Full newsletter text follows:
MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL:
On behalf of my colleagues on Council and all residents of the historic Town of Harbour Grace, I’m pleased to present the latest fall edition of The Heart of the Harbour, our seasonal community newsletter.
I’d like to take this moment to say congratulations to those elected for this new term on Council: Deputy Mayor Dr. Gary Baker, Councillor Christina Hearn, Councillor Lee Rogers, Councillor Gordon Stone, Councillor Keith Skinner, and Councillor Sharon Reynolds. We’ll do our very best to serve our residents, businesses, and taxpayers over the next four years. Our contact information is on the municipality’s website, www.townofharbourgrace.ca. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us individually or through the general email, [email protected]. As you may know, we have an exciting capital works project scheduled for 2026: phase I of water and sewer on Southside Road. This project has been in the works for many years, and we’re pleased to be able to finally deliver on this promise.
I hope you’ll be able to participate in some of the events highlighted in this edition of the newsletter. As always, thanks to our volunteers who organize these wonderful events for the community.
YOUR COMMUNITY:
The Eastern Regional Service Board (ERSB) would like to remind users that the Harbour Grace Waste Recovery Facility will be closed from November 9 – December 2, 2025, for site improvements. The facility will reopen on December 2 at 12 p.m. (noon).
The Eastern Regional Service Board (ERSB) would like to remind users that the grace period for access card use will end on January 2, 2026. Starting on this date, anybody wishing to use a Waste Recovery Facility must present a valid ERSB Access Card to drop off waste materials. If you have not received your access card, please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you receive your card before the grace period ends. ERSB requires approximately 4–6 weeks to process an application. Late applications will be accepted after the deadline and processed as usual.
Congratulation to our winners of the Communities in Bloom MiracleGro ‘Best Garden Selection’ contest for 2025! These six winners received a lawn sign and a selection of MiracleGro products: 8 Alec Moores Court, 113 Kildare Road, 23 Mount Pleasant Road, 38 Water Street, 325 Water Street, and 38 Woodville Crescent. Thanks to all of our participants and nominators!
The SPLASH Centre are currently offering Mental Health Matters training opportunities both in-person and virtually. Virtual Training workshops are flexible sessions which include Mental Health First Aid Essentials, Certification, and Supporting Youth. Their in-person workshops offer hands-on learning in a supportive environment, including Mental Health First Aid, safeTALK, ASIST, and CASEY (Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth) training. Whether you’re starting your journey or expanding your toolkit, SPLASH can help you lead with empathy and skill. If you’re interested in an upcoming session, reach out to [email protected] or (709) 596-2400.
Do you have extra Christmas decorations? The Town of Harbour Grace Beautification Committee is once again working on lighting up our community for Christmas! If you have any outdoor decorations (e.g., lights, garland, candy canes, etc.) that you would like to donate, please contact the Town Office. Monetary donations will also be gratefully accepted.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS:
Earhart’s 50+ Club’s Happy Feet group continue to meet every Wednesday at 10 a.m. for a 4km community walk. Upcoming schedule: November 26 (meet near the bridge on the north side of Bristol’s Hope). All welcome!
The Harbour Grace Civic Events Committee will host a Lunch with Santa event on Saturday, November 29, at Kay’s Restaurant. Two seating times are available: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. OR 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and available from any executive committee member (Cheryl McCarthy, Ashley Janes, Debra Wrice, or Mary Ann Sheehan). All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For capacity reasons, all attendees must purchase a ticket.
The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade’s 78th Annual Santa Claus Parade will take place on Saturday, December 6, starting at 10 a.m. Santa’s helpers will be giving out loot bags along the parade route. To register a group or a float, please contact either Lee Rogers at (phone: 709-589-5682; email: [email protected]) or Chris Noseworthy (email: [email protected]).
The Danny Cleary Harbour Grace Community Centre’s 5th Annual “Christmas in the Harbour” Craft Fair is happening on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information or to secure a vendor table, please call Michelle at (709) 596-6201 or email [email protected].
The annual Christmas Tree Lighting with Harbour Grace Civic Events will take place on Sunday, December 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the S.W. Moores Memorial Park (across from the Town Hall). Warm up with a hot chocolate while enjoying an evening of festive entertainment, including a visit from Santa himself!
Christmas at the Orange Hall will take place on Sunday, December 7, from 7 – 9 p.m. Performances by Max Sheppard, Mel Drover, Chad Hunt, Pam Parsons, Wade and Summer Sheppard, and Jonah and Jaxon St. Jean. Advance tickets only: $10 each. For tickets, contact Wade at (709) 764-7858, Des at (709) 597-9805, or Rising Sun Orange Lodge on Facebook.
The Harbour Grace Beautification Committee is excited to bring back the Light Park at the Kearney Tourist Chalet Boardwalk. The committee hope to turn on the lights on Sunday, December 7, Share your pictures and tag the Town of Harbour Grace using the hashtag #LetYourselfIn.
The Old Courthouse will host an afternoon with Santa event on Sunday, December 7, from 1 – 5 p.m. in support of the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Bank Harbour Grace. Santa will visit from 2 – 4 p.m., and there’ll be baked treats for sale, along with raffle tickets and prizes.
Earhart’s 50+ Club will host a Christmas social in the Danny Cleary Harbour Grace Community Centre’s Multipurpose Room on Wednesday, December 10, from 2 – 4 p.m. Stop by for some treats and to hear some festive music. All welcome!
Harbour Grace Civic Events will host their Annual Festive Community Dinner at the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Social Building on Sunday, December 14. Takeout is from 3:30 – 5 p.m. and eat-in begins at 5 p.m. Ticketing information to be announced soon on our website and social media.
The Harbour Grace War Memorial Public Library will host their next Lego free play drop in event on Wednesday, December 17, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. No pre-registration required.
Harbour Grace Civic Events invites you to take part in the annual Sparkle Parade, which will be held Thursday, January 1, at the Spirit of Harbour Grace Municipal Park, starting at 6:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY CENTRE:
The Community Centre hosts a General Public Skate every Sunday from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Admission: $5 per person.
Parents & Tots Skate takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. (noon). Admission: $5 per person (one parent free when accompanying a tot).
Adult Skate takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12 (noon) – 1 p.m. Admission: $5 per person.
Shinny Hockey happens every Tuesday and Thurday from 2 – 3 p.m.
Indoor Walking Track Schedule for the rest of 2025 will be Sunday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Free access Zumba with Rosalie and Yoga with Jen continues in November and December at the Community Centre. Zumba will take place on the following Mondays at 9:30 a.m.: November 24 and December 1. Yoga will take place on the following Thursdays at 12:15 p.m.: November 27, December 4, and December 11.
The Cee Bees Stars’ home game schedule can be viewed on our community event calendar at www.townofharbourgrace.ca.