World Report

National event: St. John's hosted the Juno Music Awards at the MileOne Stadium

t. John’s is just a five-hour flight from London and from this year visitors will arrive at a gleaming new airport terminal, whose curved steel and rugged Bell Island stone epitomises the city’s vibrant spirit.
St. John’s International Airport Authority president, Rex LeDrew, says: “We wanted it to be Newfoundland, but we didn’t want it to be tacky.
“If you look at the building from a certain angle, you think you are looking at the deck of a ship. And we went with stainless steel as being symbolic of a hi-tech product.”

Mr LeDrew is expecting an increase in holidaymakers arriving at the new terminal, thanks to Canjet. The new, low-cost operator is ferrying tourists around the province, cutting down their journey times and giving them longer to enjoy their holiday.
According to Mike Buist, general manager of the Avalon Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), the city offers a unique experience to visitors. “We are the only place in the world where you can see whales and icebergs at the same time,” he says.

The ACVB promotes tourism in St. John’s and the surrounding area, known as the Avalon Peninsula. It is currently focused on promoting the city for convention and sport tourism and on expanding the tourist season.
The company’s 260 members are mostly private-sector operators and it runs an information bureau for visitors all year round.
“We see the information centre as the front office of our destination service. It is a great way to get feedback from visitors,” Mr Buist says.

The image of St. John’s as a place to stage conventions and events was boosted across Canada early this year when the city hosted the Juno National Music Awards at the MileOne Stadium.
This first-class, multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility is located in the historic downtown of the city, across the street from the convention centre. It is the home of the St. John’s Maple Leafs team, which plays in the American Hockey League.

Many Canadians believe that St. John’s held the best Juno ever. It was a milestone event according to Premier Grimes.
“Hosting this showcase of Canadian culture and music demonstrates that we have reached a national calibre,
for both the capacity to handle the event and the talent we are proud to promote and share with Canada and the world,” he said.

The international profile of Newfoundland and Labrador has been raised several notches higher, following the Hollywood blockbuster The Shipping News, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by E. Annie Proulx. The film created an indelible picture of the province and has promoted several places chosen as film locations beyond the Avalon Peninsula.

A number of other productions, including the film comedy Rare Birds and the CBC television series Random Passage, are sure to keep the province in the public eye. “This growth clearly demonstrates that Newfoundland and Labrador film-makers possess the talent, skill and experience to create quality work, which can succeed in the national and international marketplace,” says Leo Furey, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation, which has supported all of the above productions.
Indirectly, St. John’s has also benefited from the extra media publicity and seen a rise in tourist numbers to the city.
The warm and friendly nature of the residents is also a big asset and is evident in the quality of service at The Fairmont Newfoundland – one of the city’s most up-market hotels.

St. John’s can offer a unique experience for all visitors

The Fairmont has inherited a long tradition of hospitality. It was built in 1982 on the site of the original Newfoundland Hotel, says general manager Armand Agabab, who is proud to say that it is doing very well.
“Our hotel has made the same progress as the province and the city. Our best year ever was 1997 and
since then things have been great. We break records year after year, and this one is not going to be any different,”
he adds.