September would be marked by Hurricane Fiona, whose fury would continue to be felt for months to come.
Just ten days after the remnants of Hurricane Earl flooded streets and damaged infrastructure on the Avalon Peninsula, the southwest coast of the province would be ravaged by Hurricane Fiona.
Experts began tracking the storm around the middle of September, issuing warnings of a possible landfall in Newfoundland and the Maritimes.
While area residents began preparing for the worst, no one could have expected the intensity of the storm surge that slammed into the coast line on September 24, knocking houses off their foundations and pulling homes and fishing sheds into the ocean.
The record-breaking storm recorded the highest water level ever at 2.73 metres, accompanied by 177 km/h winds, destroying 76 homes in Port aux Basques alone.
At least one woman was killed when her home was smashed and pulled into the water.
Port aux Basques, Burnt Islands, Fox Roose, Margaree, Isle aux Morts, Burgeo and Ramea all felt the effects. Towns were evacuated as buildings were swept away like matchsticks.
Photo via Seamus O’Regan
As Channel-Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button said, “We’ve got a total war zone out there.”
States of Emergency were declared and the Canadian Red Cross was mobilized, with Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, Premier Andrew Furey and numerous provincial and federal ministers paying visits to the area to survey the damage and provide whatever supports were available.
People from around the province and right across the country would donate to the Canadian Red Cross for Fiona relief to help residents unable to return to their homes. Ottawa matched the donations made.
End of an Era
(Photo via Government of Canada.)
In the midst of Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, the only monarch many had ever known, passed away.
On September 8, Buckingham Palace confirmed that 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II passed away at her Balmoral home after a brief illness.
Queen Elizabeth II made several visits to Newfoundland and Labrador over the course of her long reign. She was present in Gander in 1959 for the official opening of the now-famous international departures lounge at Gander International Airport, also paying a visit to Corner Brook and the west coast. She attended the sod-turning of the Queen Elizabeth II Library at Memorial University in 1978 during a Royal Visit that included the official opening of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. The Queen’s last visit to Newfoundland and Labrador was in 1997 when she attended Cabot 500 celebrations in Bonavista.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Visit to MUN’s QEII Library in 1978.
Condolences poured in from across the province from virtually anyone with some connection to the throne, whether it was government officials, those who met her during her visits, or those who held respect for the world leader.
The bell at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church in St. John’s tolled 96 times to mark each year of the life of the Queen Elizabeth II.
Heir to the Throne, Prince Charles, who visited the province in May, would make his first address as King the following day on the passing of his mother.
An official Day of Mourning was marked on September 19, with many municipalities and provincial government offices closed for the day, and a memorial service held at the Anglican Cathedral.
Tragedy at the Refinery
The long Labour Day weekend would begin with a devastating workplace incident.
On September 2, eight workers were caught in a flash fire at the former Come By Chance refinery. Work was underway to convert the facility to a plant for the production of renewable fuels.
Five victims were airlifted to hospital, a number of them in serious condition. Workers at the site who escaped injury were left with emotional scars from the horrific nature of the injuries suffered by their co-workers. One of those workers, Shawn Peddle, succumbed to his injuries in hospital in October. The incident was similar to another tragedy that claimed the lives of two workers at the site 24 years earlier.
“It happened again” Steelworkers Union rep Glenn Nolan would lament.
Work was suspended while RCMP and Occupational Health and Safety conducted their investigations. Work would resume at the refinery on October 5.
Metro Manhunt
Only days before Hurricane Fiona struck the southwest coast, residents of the Metro region were struck with fear, with warnings from police about an active shooter.
Emergency alerts sounded on mobile devices asking people to shelter in place as police conducted a search for 31-year-old Matthew Fowler believed responsible for three shootings in the CBS area.
A short time later Fowler was taken into custody after police tracked him to the area of St. Thomas’ Line in Paradise. That case is currently before the courts.
