"THE COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL"

GLACE BAY&COAL MINING.......GLACE BAY & COAL MNING, NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
GLACE BAY AND COAL MINING-
THERE WAS A TIME, NOT THAT LONG AGO, WHEN YOU WOULD NOT DARE SEPERATE THE TWO ENTITIES IN ANY DISCUSSION,ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL SETTINGS, FOR FEAR OF RISKING LIFE AND LIMB. GLACE BAY AND COAL MINING, EVEN NOW ALMOST 25 YEARS AFTER THE LAST PRODUCTIVE MINE HAS CLOSED, WE STILL STEP CAREFULLY AROUND THE SUBJECT BECAUSE OF IT'S RELEVANCE TO OUR ENDURING CULTURE,IT'S HISTORY AND IT'S LIVELIHOOD, NOT TO MENTION THE PRICE OUR FOREFATHERS AND OTHERS PAID DURING THE LONG AND TURBULENT YEARS OF PAIN AND SACRIFICE.
SO MUCH OF OUR CURRENT AGING POPULATION, INCLUDING THE VERY LAST GENERATION OF PROUD AND ACCOMPLISHED COAL MINERS ARE NOW WELL INTO THE TWILIGHT STAGES OF THEIR BOOMER YEARS, AND IN ADDITION TO THE MANY POST WAR PERIOD MINERS, TOGETHER THEY MAKEUP, WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR LOCAL POPULATION.
OVERALL, EVEN IN TODAY'S MUCH REDUCED TOTAL POPULATION, BEING HALF OF IT'S ONE TIME PEAK OF NEARLY 30,000 DURING THE EARLY 60'S, GLACE BAY, STILL, SYMBOLICALLY WAS AND IS " COAL TOWN" TO THE MASSES, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY, BUT COUNTRY WIDE. ALWAYS MINDFUL THAT COAL IS WHO WE ARE, WHO WE HAVE EVOLVED THROUGH, AND THE RELEVANT COST THERE WAS TO OUR PREDECESSORS IN MAKING IT HERE, SHOULD IT NOT BE, THAT OUR CAUSE IS TO HEARTILY CELEBRATE THOSE ACTIONS? DO WE IN OUR TIME OF PLACE, NOW IN THE YEAR APPROACHING 2012, HAVE THE WHEREWITHALL TO DEMONSTRATE OUR THANKS FOR EACH AND EVERY POUND, OF PICK AND SHOVELLED COAL, FROM THE TUNNELS AND SHAFTS OF OUR COAL MINING HERITAGE, AND PLAY THAT FOREWARD INTO ONE HUGE FESTIVAL OF TRIBUTE IN THE SUMMER OF THIS COMING YEAR?
I BELIEVE, BASED ON SOLID RESEARCH, THAT WIDE INTEREST IS ABUNDANT AND FAR-REACHING, WITH REGARDS TO A SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED PLAN TO RE-CREATE OUR PAST FOR A HOMECOMING CELEBRATION IN THE SUMMER OF 2012, TENTATIVELY COINED (WITHOUT PREDJUDICE) "THE COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL".
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PAST EVENTS, CURRENT INTEREST, AND THE WIDE IMPACT THAT ALL THINGS "BOOMER" ARE MAGNETIC, IT IS LOUD AND CLEAR THAT MANY THOUSANDS OF BOOMER GENERATION AND RETIREES ALL OVER CANADA AND BEYOND,LOCALLY,AS WELL AS EX-PATRIATES TO OUR HOME TOWN, YEARN FOR TIMES AND EVENTS SUCH AS THIS TO RETURN TO THEIR ROOTS TO CELEBRATE.
I NEED ONLY POINT TO 2010, WHEN IN JUST A FEW MONTHS OF RE-CONNECTING OLD FRIENDS, AND CONTACTS THROUGH THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKING OF FACEBOOK, A REUNION DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE OLD FRIENDSHIPS FROM THE SCHOOL YEARS OF THE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S RESULTED IN THE (ST.PAUL'S) FENCE FOLKS REUNION, WITH SELLOUT CROWDS, LARGE SCALE ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TOWN, AND A QUEST FOR MORE AND BETTER EVENTS TO COME.
THE FENCE FOLKS REUNION ALSO CLEARLY PROVIDED TO US ,THE COLLECTIVE MINDSET THAT GATHERING TOGETHER IN A HOME GROWN PROGRAM OF BOOMER AGE REFLECTIONISM, IS HIGH ON THE CHARTS OF THE MAJORITY OF GLACE BAY , BORN AND RAISED KINFOLK. PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE PAST, VIA THE PRESENT IS PARAMOUNT TO ( HAVING ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME, HOME, IN THE BAY, WHILE WE ARE ABLE AND HEALTHY) AND IS WIDELY CRAVED BY THE MAJORITY OF THAT GENRE AND BEYOND.
WITH WIDE AND INCLUSIVE PARTICIPTION, BY ALL SECTORS OF THE GLACE BAY BUSINESS, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, HISTORICAL AND GENERAL INTEREST GROUPS, A RE-JUVENATED FESTIVAL OF CELEBRATION HONORING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO COAL AND COAL MINERS IS WARRANTED AND DESERVED.
FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE PEOPLE OF GLACE BAY SOULFULLY SACRIFICED TO THE UTMOST DEGREE, YET AS THEY TOILED AND PUSHED FORWARD THEY DID DO WITH HOPE AND DETERMINATION, ALL THE WHILE PROUDLY PERSONIFYING THE PLACE OF THEIR BIRTH, THEY RAISED THE TOWN OF GLACE BAY UP TO THE BEST THAT IT COULD BE! FROM THE SOLIDARITY OF THEIR PURPOSE, AS DEEP AND AS ABUNDANT AS THE KING COAL ITSELF, THEIR PRIDE IS THE EPITOMY OF THEIR EXISTENCE, AND THE SHADOW IN WHICH WE NOW FIND COVER, IS OURS TO REFLECT ONWARD TO OTHERS WHO COME AFTER. IN OUR EFFORTS AND ACCEPTANCE TO MAINTAIN THAT RESPECT, IT IS INCUMBANT UPON US TO RE-CONNECT TO THAT CORE STRENGTH OF THE PAST, EMBRACE IT, MOVE IT FORWARD AND RE-LIGHT THE MAGIC THAT THE POWER OF COAL HAS GIVEN US TO GROW.
TO RE-IGNITE THE FIRE, WE MUST RETURN THE COAL AND IT'S HISTORIED PAST BACK TO THE SURFACE. IN MY PROCESS OF THOUGHT, I BELIEVE THE NEXT AND FIRST STEP IS TO OBTAIN A CONSENSUS ON WHETHER OR NOT ALL THE COMPONENTS OF MAKING SUCH A (COME BACK TO COAL CELEBRATION) IS NOT ONLY OUT THERE!, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ARE THOSE ENTITIES WILLING TO CLIMB BOARD THE COAL TRAIN OF THE PAST, BE OPEN TO GETTING A BIT OF COAL DUST IN YER EYES AND RIDING THE RAILS INTO THE SUMMER OF 2012 FOR A CELEBRATION LIKE NEVER BEFORE!
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A ONE TIME RAILWAY WORKER, COLLECTOR OF HISTORICAL DATA, ORGANIZER AND WRITER, I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND AND WITNESSED, THAT WITH SOLID ORGANIZATION,LONG TERM PLANNING AND PROUD SUPPORT BY COMMUNITY INTERESTS, HIGH LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT ARE VERY POSSIBLE.
PROPOSING SUCH A FESTIVAL IS PART ONE OF THE PROCESS, DEVELOPING AND PLANNING THE EVENTS , CO-ORDINATING AND CONNECTING THE KEY PLAYERS ON ALL FACETS AND SECTORS AND PIECING TOGETHER THE FRAMEWORK IS EQUALLY CHALLENGING. RAISING AWARENESS, CREATING HIGH INTEREST, SPREADING THE WORD, AND HEIGHTENING THE SENSES OF THE PEOPLES AND GROUPS FROM COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE ALSO VERY SIGNIFICANT AND CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING A COMMON GOAL FOR THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF SUCH AN UNDERTAKING.
TO CREATE AND CONSTRUCT A NEW BRAND OF HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES, WOULD NEED TO INVOLVE EACH AND EVERY NEIGHBOURHOOD, THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, ALL GENERATIONS YOUNG AND OLD AND INPUT FROM EVERY POSSIBLE ELEMENT OF THE GLACE BAY FABRIC, INCLUSIVE AND OPEN TO ALL.
CONCENTRATING ON THE KEY SUBJECT OF RE-NEWING AND RE-JUVENATING THE ROLE THAT "COAL AND COAL MINING IN AND AROUND GLACE BAY" PLAYED IN OUR PAST , AND CELEBRATING ALL THAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW AS OUR SUCCESSES, AND SADLY AT TIMES OUR FAILURES AND SORROWS,WE ONCE AGAIN TAKE THAT ENRICHED HERITAGE AND PLACE IT FRONT AND CENTER. FOR A WEEK LONG TRIBUTE FROM BRIDGEPORT TO THE OLD BROADWAY, FROM NUMBER TWO TO NUMBER 6, FROM NUMBER 11 TO SOUTH STREET, FROM THE CHAPPEL HILL TO THE HARBOUR AND FROM EVERY RAILSPUR, COAL CAR AND PAN SHOVEL TO THE MINERS FORUM, THE ST PAULS FENCE, THE BOOTLEGGERS TO THE SHORES, WE SHOULD SURELY TAKE THIS IMPORTANT STEP TO ONCE AGAIN PUT THE BEGINING OF OUR PAST UP HIGH WHERE WE CAN ALL SEE IT, LIVE AND FEEL IT! IT IS WHO WE ARE AND WE SHOULD BE DAMN PROUD OF IT SO LET'S JUST BURN IT ONCE AGAIN...GLACE BAY &COALMINING...GLACE BAY & COAL MINING....GLACE......
HERE BE BUT SOME OF THE MAGNIFICENT SUBJECTS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED AND EXPANDED IN THE PROCESS OF FORMULATING THE,
"THE 2012 COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL":THE MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THE MINERS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURHOODS
THE STORIES AND THE REALITIES
THE TOWN AND IT'S VIBRANCE
THE SPORTS AND COMERADERIES
THE TALENTS AND THE TAPESTRIES
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE TRAGEDIES
THE HISTORY AND THE HISTORY MAKERS
THE EDUCATORS AND THE SPIRITUALISM
THE CHARACTERS, AND THE CHARACTERS...
THE PLACES, THE TIMES, THE EVENTS, THE LOCALES
THE MEDICS,AND THE MEDICINES,HOSPITALS AND HEALTH
THE UNIONS AND THE COMPANIES
THE SIMPLE LIFE AND OUR PAST-TIMES
THE MUSIC, THE WORDS , THE MESSAGES
I BELIEVE
THE OPTIONS FOR THE TYPES OF EVENTS THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE OPEN AND VARIED, BUT ALL WOULD BE BEST DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SPIRIT OF THEIR INFLECTION UPON THE ROLE THAT COAL AND ITS LEGACY PLAYED FOR THEIR PART OVER THE YEARS AND DECADES OF THE PAST.
CELEBRATING COAL AND THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS THAT MADE OUR LIVES POSSIBLE IN GLACE BAY FOR OVER A CENTURY WOULD BE OUR CORE, HOW EACH SEGMENT OF OUR NOW COMMUNITY FABRIC DECIDES TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR ROLE IN SUCH A FESTIVAL I BELIEVE WILL BE THE WAY TO BRING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
CHALLENGING EACH OTHER IN THE PROCESS OF PROMOTING THE FESTIVAL, WILL BE IN TOTAL, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK.
SOME IDEAS FOR CELEBRATION.WOULD INVOLVE PERIOD DRESS COMPETIONS AT LOCAL EVENTS IN THE HOOD, RE-ENACTMENTS OF PARTICULAR EVENTS FROM OUR HISTORIED PAST, DAILY AND NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT IN VARIOUS CENTERS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITIES, BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES, TEAS, SUPPERS, STORY SESSIONS, BOOK READINGS, TALENT SOCIALS, SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SENIORS, SHUTINS, AND ELDERLY MINERS.
*ONE VERY UNIQUE AND PRE SUMMER SERIES OF EVENTS WOULD BE A SONG WRITING AND PRODUCTION CONTEST, WITH THE WINNING SONG, TAKEN FROM A SERIES OF PRE WRITTEN LYRICAL STORIES TO BE THE ""THEME"" FOR THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL.
ALSO DOWNTOWN, DISPLAYS ,COMPETITIONS FOR FACADE FLASHBACKS, STREET PERFORMERS, CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE, SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS TO BRING FOLKS TO TOWN, ONCE AGAIN PERIOD COSTUME, OPEN HOUSES AT MUSEUMS, STORES, OFFICES, BUSINESSES, AND A TOTAL CELEBRATORY ATMOSPHERE ALL DAY DURING THE WEEEK. THE HOODS WOULD HAVE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DWELLINGS AND FIELDS, NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT, AND THEN BY THE WEEKEND , MOST OF THE CORE OF THE ATTACTION TO NITE TIME ACTIVITIES COULD CENTER IN ONE LOCATION CLOSER TO TOWN, WHERE CONCERTS, BASHES AND FESTIVITIES WOULD BE LISENCED AND CONTOLLED.
MANY OF THE MAIN INFRASTRUCTURES LIKE THE SAVOY, THE BAYPLEX AND ST.ANNES PARISH CENTER, SOUTH STREET PARK, AND OTHERS WOULD ALSO BE HOPEFULLY AVAILABLE TO PRODUCE EVENTS PARALLELL TO THE FESTIVAL AND BE PART OF THE OVER ALL CELEBRATION. THAT WE CAN ONCE AGAIN RESTORE TO THE PEOPLE OF GLACE BAY , THE TRUE SENSE OF PRIDE IN OUR COAL MINING LEGACY WITH A FESTIVAL SOLELY CONNECTED TO AND 100% ORIENTED AROUND OUR TREASURED HISTORY.　
"THE 2012 COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL".THE CONCEPT
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED CONCEPTS AND OBTAIN FROM YOU ANY FORM OF CONSENSUS, DIFFERING OPINIONS, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU AND THE ORGANIZATION, AND OR BUSINESS YOU ARE CONNECTED TO WOULD BE OPEN TO AND FAVORABLE TO SUPPORTING SUCH A FESTIVAL?
IN RESPECT OF THE PREVIOUS AND CURRENT COMMITTEES WHO HAVE WORKED TO PRODUCE THE BAY DAYS PROGRAM OF EVENTS, I DO NOT WISH TO OVERLOOK NOR IGNORE THEIR DEDICATION AND TREMENDOUS INVOLVEMENT TO FOSTERING THE YEARLY SUMMER FESTIVAL OF WHICH THEY ARE INVOLVED.
AS AN ORGANIZER COMING FROM OUTSIDE THAT PROCESS, I WOULD BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CONNECTING THE NEW WITH THE OLD AND WORKING ON PLANS THAT ACCOMODATED ALL INTERESTS WITH A COMMON GOAL.OF TAKING THIS PROPSED IDEA TO THE POPULATION OF GLACE BAY AND TO THE BAY BYE'S ALL OVER CANANDA AND BEYOND ,IS A PROJECT THAT I FEEL IS WARRANTED, WELL MANAGEABLE AND LONG SINCE DUE. "THE 2012 COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL"
I HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD TO SUBMIT THIS OVERVIEW TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING, AS WELL AS TO THOSE WHO I FEEL WOULD BE OPEN TO AND WILLING TO CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL AS DO-ABLE! AND WOULD SIT DOWN IN A FORUM TO DISCUSS IT AND BE OPEN TO MAKING IT WORK. IS FOR NOW, AN IDEA IN THE STAGE OF SEEKING THE RIGHT SUPPORT FOR CONTINUATION AND INCLUSION.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS JOURNEY, I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL AT LEAST TAKE THE FIRST TOUR OF OUR STEAM TRAIN 'S JOURNEY TO OUR CELEBRATORY PAST AND BE PART OF THE RETURN TRIP WHICH WILL SEE THE "THE 2012 COAL TOWN CLASSIC REUNION FESTIVAL" COME TO LIFE!!!PLEASE RETURN YOUR RESPONSE IN A TIMELY FASHION BY EMAIL TO ;
JOE MACPHERSON
facefirstconnections@gmail.com

　　
　
HAVE TRAVELLED A LOT OF DUSTY ROADS TOGETHER. THEY SHARE A LEGACY, FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS, UNEQUALLED BY ANY PEOPLE,AT ANY PLACE, AT ANY TIME.