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Enchanting Englee on a November’s Day

Englee has made the news over the past year on many occasions, but not for its natural beauty but for the eyesore and environmental hazard of the fish plant falling into the harbour. The plant has now been removed, site re-mediated and boasts a beautiful view of the harbour. This marks the end of era, as the plant was one of the province’s oldest fresh fish processing plants in the province. We must continue to build on the heritage of fishery, as it exists in and around every nook and cranny of this province.

Englee is at the end of Route 433, which was built around an abundant fishing resource. Some residents of re-settled Great Harbour Deep, Williamsport and Hooping Harbour. There is a real opportunity to capitalize on the heritage, as there is an established Heritage Home and much research undertaken of events and oral history compiled of local residents.

I encourage visitors to take the trek from Route 430 onto Route 432 (Grenfell Drive or cross-country road) and then to Route 433. You will not be disappointed with the views of fishing stages, rooms, individually built wharves, saltbox houses and other pieces of vernacular architecture. Drop by one of the three convenience stores or Cross Rocks Cafe to have a yarn. Walk the trails, look-outs and shore lines. Even on a warm November’s day, Englee is enchanting.

Enjoy island hopping as you explore!

Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA

The Straits-White Bay North

Caribou Crossing on Viking Trail (liveruralnl.com)

Posted in Heritage, Landscapes/Geography

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Tags: Christopher Mitchelmore, englee, Fish factory, Great Northern Peninsula, Plant, Straits-White Bay North, The Straits White Bay North, Vernacular architecture

Mitchelmore questions future of Marystown facility

Jan 20

Posted by Live Rural NL

For Immediate Release –

Thursday, January 19, 2012

NDP Fisheries critic Christopher Mitchelmore (MHA, The Straits – White Bay North) says he is concerned the people of the province will be left on the hook for any clean-up of the closed Marystown fish plant facility.

Ocean Choice International ― the current owner of the facility ― has made it clear they will not be processing any more fish there, and will be selling the facility.

Mitchelmore says his fear is the company will gut the facility of valuable equipment and then try to walk away from the site. He says government must ensure the people it will hold OCI accountable for all the company’s responsibilities regarding the facility.

“The people of Englee, in my district, know all too well what happens when the owner of a fish plant isn’t held to its responsibilities for the site after the enterprise closes,” says Mitchelmore. “They know government will do nothing to help them.

“I’d hate to see the people of Marystown, and the people of this province, stuck with another expensive, and possibly dangerous environmental clean-up like the former paper mill in Grand Falls-Windsor and, of course, the disintegrating plant in Englee that is causing so much hardship and worry.”