Flickr – My Favourite of the Social Media

10 15 03_GNP, Deer Arm Couple_1569

Originally uploaded by markincb

A Bald Eagle Couple getting ready to nest in a tree top at Deer Arm. Photo by Mark Robertson Tsang.

“A picture is worth a thousand words” and tens of thousands of people from all over the globe are willing to share their high quality images of the part of the world where they live or they have traveled with everyone.

Even better, they share their comments and feelings about what they have observed… and others comment back with words and their own photos.

I prefer Flickr to YouTube because in most cases the quality of the images is better, the posters seem to give more thought to what they are posting, and one good image can be so eloquent.

I prefer Flickr to Twitter because you see the image first and look for text and description afterwords.

On Flickr, every single day, I see a place in our province that I have never seen before or never seen in the way photographer is presenting it. The whole story of the eagle rescue in the winter on Newfoundland’s west coast, and the eagles, sea otter, and ducks in Quidi Vidi Lake right in the middle of St. John’s (the capital of Newfoundland and Labardor), and moose, caribou and seals … and so much more.

Another feature that Karen Chappell, a Newfoundland photographer, has been using is loc.alize.us which allows the photographer to pinpoint the exact spot where a photo was taken, and allows the poster to insert GPS coordinates. This is extremely useful in areas with Google Street View, but even in rural areas, it allows people to see photos of the surroundings. Here is what comes up when you type “Cupids, Newfoundland”  — Cupids Newfoundland on loc.alize.us

Most people that we follow are from Newfoundland and Labrador or visit the province frequently. We actually administer three Flickr sites:

Baccalieu Consulting’s Flickr Site (Mostly, but not all, photos by Baccalieu Consulting.)

Uncle Mose Flickr Site (Mostly, but not all, photos from and for the Town of Bay Roberts and “A Time in Pigeon Inlet”)

And this new one that we started last month for Cupids 400 Inc.
John Guy’s Flickr Site (Photos by us and by others relating to the 400th Anniversary Celebrations of the birth of English Canada in 1610.)

If you are interested in amazing photos and stories, check the list of contacts on each site.

Provincial Historic Commemorations Program

Last week, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced the first-ever designations under the newly-established Provincial Historic Commemorations Program. The program is designed to  recognize and commemorate distinctive aspects of our province’s history, culture and heritage. Dildo Island, which represents more than 2,500 years of occupation by various cultures, was commemorated as a Place of Provincial Significance.   Kelly Russell, well-known fiddler and tireless promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador’s traditional music, was recognized under the category of Tradition Bearer.

Because we worked on the  Baccalieu: Crossroads for Culture Project and have worked closely with clients in the Dildo area, as well as with Kelly and his family through the Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation and “A Time in Pigeon Inlet,” we have in depth knowledge about the two choices.

Kelly Russell, at the March 3rd Award Ceremony, with his book of musical notation.

Kelly Russell

Like almost everyone in the province, I was familiar with Kelly Russell, the fiddle player, but until “A Time in Pigeon Inlet,” I did not know that he is also a skilled storyteller,  a producer and director, and recorder and arranger of music. With his company Pigeon Inlet Productions, he has produced Tales from Pigeon Inlet (3CD set, featuring 30 original recordings of his father, Ted Russell’s works) and a number of other compilations of music and spoken word by the best know performers in the province.

He has developed and printed two unique books of musical notation:  Fiddle Music of Newfoundland & Labrador – Volume 1 – The Music of Rufus Guinchard & Emile Benoit, containing musical notation to over 250 fiddle tunes learned from master fiddlers Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit. Volume 2 is also now available, containing tunes from 25 other fiddlers around the Province including several fiddlers from Labrador.

Needless to say, over the past two years, I have gained tremendous respect for Kelly’s contribution to the culture and heritage of the province, and he is very worthy of the name Tradition Bearer.  A Time in Pigeon Inlet which he produces in cooperation with the Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation, helps to preserve the legacy his father, Ted Russell and to preserve the traditions and culture of outport Newfoundland.  His own website, Pigeon Inlet Productions, www.pigeoninlet.com,  provides information about the items he has produced, and his contribution to ensuring future generations are aware of our traditional music.

Dildo Island

Dildo Island was also an excellent choice. Dildo Island, is relatively unknown outside the region, although it is a treasure of international interest on many levels.  The fact that so many different cultures chose to live there, speaks volumes.  The island is located in area which is visited by seals, whales, and various types of birds.  Fish swim in the water and the land provides quantities of berries and other editable plants. A caribou migration path was located in nearby Blaketown, and various types of small animals such as rabbits and beaver live in the woods. The various  cultures that occupied the island took advantage of the abundant food supply. In spite of the many excesses of hunting and fishing habits during the last half of the  20th century, the island, the waters around it, and the Dildo area are still home to many species of plant and animal life on land and in the water.  Dildo and Dildo Island can be the site for marvelous hiking trips, studying the natural history of the area.

Journey Through Time

Everyone loves a good story and the story of human habitation on Dildo Island is an amazing tale. I was first introduced to that story by William Gilbert, chief  archaeologist, when Baccalieu Consulting worked with him to produce a booklet for the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation entitled Journeys Through Time: 10 Years of Archaeology on the Baccalieu Trail. The amount of   documentation and the number of artifacts that have been found are truly amazing, and William Gilbert has an ability to tell a detailed technical story in plain, coherent language  that is easy to understand.

In 2005, we were project managers for Baccalieu: Crossroads for Cultures, which brought together a large number of groups and individuals, including William Gilbert, to tell the   17th century history of the region, in preparation for the Cupids 400 Celebrations, which are taking place this year.

Tools of the Dorset Eskimo

For a person who loves history and anthropology, the ability to be able to handle items that people used on that island over two thousand years ago is unimaginable. It was fascinating to learn that the Dorset Eskimo over 1000 years ago actually fashioned lamps which burned seal oil and that they produced serrated blades on their cutting  instruments.

It was eerie to read Henry  Cout’s 1613 account of landing on Dildo Island.  He entered a Beothuk home where the fire pit was still warm and examined the inside, seeing how they slept.  When he was ready to go, he left gifts for the Beothuk that own the home. The following day, when he returned, he found the Beothuk had left a gift of cooked meat for them. It is heartbreaking to  read his plea, saying do no harm to the Beothuk  people, in the light of later events.

More Information about Dildo Island

If you are interesting in following the story of Dildo Island and of the visit by the Cupids colonists, you can find detailed information.

From Baccalieu: Crossroads for Cultures – “The Beothuk at Dildo Island”  (available in English and French )

From Baccalieu: Crossroads for Cultures – Henry Crout’s letter to Sir Percival Willoughby, Summer 1613 transcribed by William Gilbert  (available in French and English)

If you want to find more information about the archaeological dig, and the various cultures that occupied Dildo Island, you can find detailed information.

From Baccalieu Digs  (website of the Baccalieu Heritage Corporation, maintained by William Gilbert, chief archaeologist) – Dildo Island

And, to find information about events and activities of Cupids 400, you can see Cupids Cove Chatter.

Accommodations in the Region

If you are interested in visiting the area, we maintain websites for a number of accommodations.  These accommodations consist of B & Bs, Cottages, RV and Camping Parks and range in cost.  The whole area covers a radius of about 40km, so if you stay in one place, you are with easy driving distance of all other parts.

Cupids area:  Blumblebee B & B (Brigus), Roaches Line RV Park & Cottages (Roaches Line), Rose Manor (Harbour Grace), and Klondyke Cottage (Bay Roberts)

Dildo area: George House Heritage B& B and Inn By the Bay (Dildo),  Blueberry Hill B & B (Cavendish),  Ocean Delight Cottages (Whiteway) and Ocean Delight Cottages (Heart’s  Delight)

In addition, we maintain the website for Northern Bay Sands RV and Camping Park, which is also on the Baccalieu Peninsula.

We also maintain the website for Northern Avalon Tourism Association – Accommodations – All the accommodations listed are within an hour of the Cupids – Dildo area.

Social Media – Outcomes

Over the past year and a half, I have been developing an understanding of how to engage Social Media to assit clients.  The philosophy behind social media is very simple. ” Word of mouth” advertising is the most effective type.  People trust the opinions of a good friend.  Therefore, if people online come to know you as a “real person,” or a friend, they will trust a product or service or idea, that you offer or endorse.  Social media, since it is the place where people meet, chat, and exchange stories has become the new “village square” – the new market place.  I try to expand on this concept with clients, and suggest that all of them have active Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter accounts, and a blog to accompany their websites.

Social media sources give information to people “where they are”  – that is in the “global village square of social media.”  However, that is not the only advantage of using Social Media.  All these entrance points create more paths to your sales or services information.  Statistically, they greatly increase the probability that people will be able to find you in the extremely congested world of the Internet.

Outcomes

February brought outcomes for our exploration into social media.  Our clients Todd Warren and Dale Cameron owners of the George House Heritage Bed and Breakfast in Dildo, NL, have won the Sixth-annual Tourism Atlantic Technology Award at Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lookout! Tourism Summit 2010. In addition, we have set up a new blog for Cupids 400 Inc, which we have called Cupids Cove Chatter – www.cupidscovechatter.com.

George House Heritage Bed and Breakfast

George House Heritage Bed & Breakfast

Todd and Dale approached me last year to set up a new website for George House Heritage Bed and Breakfast. We discussed the role of social media.  In addition to developing their website www.georgehousebnb.com, I set up a WordPress Blog and suggested the name “An Outport Called Dildo.”  We were all amazed that we  the domain name  www.newfoundlandoutport.com had not been taken.  I also suggested that they actively use their Twitter Account FaceBook account and use a Flickr account which they also called “Newfoundland Outport” for photos. They engaged Reservation Nexus (ResNexus) to set up their online reservation, and we incorporated the coding in their existing website. As well, they updated Google.com and Google Maps with their  GPS coordinates and contact information.

An Outport Called Dildo

Cupids Cove Chatter

Cupids Cove Chatter

Dray Media had already established the main website for Cupids 400 Inc. – www.cupids400.com and the Cupids 400 staff had set up on FaceBook and  Flickr, when they approached Baccalieu Consulting to establish a blog.   Cupids Cove Chatter, which is the name we chose, is up and running. The blog will introduce and describe events from an “on the ground” perspective.  Henry Crout, one of John Guy’s Colonists. is the avatar.  Although a number of people including John Guy and Sir Percival Willoughby recorded information about the first English colony in Canada, Henry Crout recorded what was happening “on the ground.”  We are using Cupids Cove Chatter to introduce and describe events from an “on the ground”  perspective.

We have also set up a Flickr Group:  Cupids 400 – Birth of English Canada There are already 180 photos in the group and we are inviting people  to become members and add their own photos.

Cupids Cove Chatter has accounts and photos of  the Royal Visit of  the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as visits from Premier Danny Williams, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and the arrival of the Olympic Torch.

For the month of February, a Valentine’s Fund Raising Dinner and a visit from acclaimed Newfoundland author of Galore, Michael Crummy are highlights.

We hope this blog will last in the virtual world for as long as the journals, books and other documents of the other colonists have lasted!  In 400 years time, perhaps someone will see them and get a picture of life in the 21st century, just as the documents from Henry Crout and other colonists give us a picture of life as it was in the 17th century.

Twitter Mashup

Twitter is a mashup – combining past and present – history and technology – cultures and places – and most importantly – people.

Kindred Spirits about Role of the Internet

Through Twitter, I have been able to do many things from finding tips about web design and graphics to pursuing political, environmental and social issues to posting links about our clients and about this area so that people all over the word can see them.  However, perhaps the most interesting Twitter  experience was a personal one. Tweeting led me to Peg Mullligan, a lady in New England, who is also interested in blogging, in distance learning, and practical uses of the Internet.  Because of our mutual admiration of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, we realized that we were kindred spirits in the way we envisioned the role of the Internet.

Squanto - Courtesy of the Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth

Squanto (Squantum)’s Link to Cupers Cove (Cupids)

Serendipitously, my son travelled to Plymouth, Massachusetts earlier this fall, through Cupids 400, to research and photograph a little known fact in the history of John Guy’s Cupers Cove Colony.  Squanto (aka Squantum), a Native American, who had been born and grew up in Patuxet (which stood where Plymouth now stands), lived in Cupers Cove (Cupids) in 1617 -1618.  He went back to his homeland in 1619, and was there to greet the Pilgrim Fathers when they arrived in 1620.

Though his knowledge of English, he was of great assistance to them. William Bradford, Governor of the Plymouth said of him:

…Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died.

Squanto (Squantum) is little known as a person. He is usually portrayed as a Disneyesque caricature with the Pilgrim Fathers at Thanksgiving.  Yet, his life story is one of the most compelling in history.  He endured unimaginable hardships and personal suffering, and he was of great assistance to the Pilgram Fathers, helping them to survive in the New World.  I completed Internet research about him earlier and have included it in a website.

Squantum Website

Just as a little side comment, the caption on the bust of Squanto in the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, explains that Squanto’s head is the only remaining piece from a grouping of  figures representing the Pilgrim Fathers’ arrival in the New World that stood at the entrance to the Museum in the early 1900s.  That seemed so appropriate!  Squanto is still the ultimate survivor.

Statue of a Wampanoag overlooking Plymouth Harbour

Twitter Connection

While in Plymouth, my son met Peg and her family who spent the Columbus Day Holiday in the area.  Then Peg invited my son to write a guest blog for her blog series: .

Technical and Marketing Communication: Content for a Convergent World: “Live with Abundance ”

As I said, though Twitter and our mutual interest in history, we have been able to combine history, culture, and learning in an interesting way.  I hope others will join in our experience through commenting on the topic of Squanto and early New World settlement, which is of great interest to us in this area due to the 400^th Anniversary of Cupids, the first English Colony in Canada, in 2010 [References about Cupids 400 –  Cupids 400 Website,  The Cupids Archaeological Dig, Crossroads for Cultures – an Educational Site about Cupids 400 ], but also on the value of the Internet and Twitter as a cultural and a learning experience.

Guy Issue Newfoundland Stamps 1910

Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of Cupids. Originally uploaded by eracose

The Guy Issue of Newfoundland Stamps printed in 1910 commemorated the 300th Anniversary of  the Cupids Colony.  At that time Newfoundland was a self-governing colony within the British Empire,  having achieved responsible government in 1855.  [Newfoundland did not join the Canadian Confederation until 1949]   These stamps are very interesting, because of their design and the fact that they are Newfoundland stamps. In 2010, we are celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Cupids, a milestone,  not only for the tiny town of Cupids and for the Baccalieu Trail area.  The 400th Anniversary of the first English settlement in Canada and the second English settlement in North America (following Jamestown in Virginia) is a momentous event in world history.   Once the British Empire had established a toehold in Jamestown and Cupids, it went on to become the predominant power in the colonization of North America.   Over the centuries, many have passed judgement on the behaviour of colonial empires.  After four hundred years, we cannot change what has happened.   However, we know that the development of the first  British colony,  in what was to become Canada, was a turning point in world history, which changed the lives of many groups of people in many different parts of the world. What makes this set of stamps really interesting is their portrait of history. 

London and Bristol Company - Newfoundland Stamp

London and Bristol Company

On May 2, 1610, the London and Bristol Company received a charter from King James I of England allowing them to start a settlement in Newfoundland. In August of the same year, a group of colonists led by John Guy arrived at Cupers Cove and began building the new colony. By this time, Newfoundland had been visited by fishermen from Europe every summer for over 100 years, but they arrived in the spring and sailed home at the end of the fishing season. Cupers Cove was the first European settlement in Newfoundland since the Vikings had visited the island over 600 years before.  

Cupids in 1910 - Newfoundland Stamp

Cupids in 1620

Cupids in 1910, issued to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the founding of the First English Settlement in Canada.   The houses are traditional  Newfoundland saltbox houses.  

The Endeavour - Newfoundland Stamp

Guy’s Ship, the Endeavour

The ‘Endeavour’ was not the ship that Guy sailed to Cupers Cove.
It was a 10 ton bark built in Cupids.About the bark and its purpose:”The colonists cleared the land and began constructing buildings and boats as soon as they arrived. In addition to fishing, logging, farming and exploring for minerals, one of the goals of the colonists was to initiate friendly relations with the Beothuk to establish a fur trade. The colonists cut a trail overland from Conception Bay to Trinity Bay (Crout’s Way.) They also used two of their newly built boats, a 12 tonne bark (which they called the Indeavour) and a shallop to sail around the Bay de Verde Peninsula into Trinity Bay to meet the Beothuk. During the trip they saw Beothuk homes and canoes and actually met, shared a meal, and traded with a group of Beothuk people.” 

 John Guy’s Colonists Greeting the Beothuk Copper Engraving by Theodorus de Bry The Journey of the Endeavour
John Guy’s Meeting with the Beothuk  

 John Guy

John Guy was born in Bristol, England in 1567. He was a merchant and during his life served as a sheriff, Mayor of Bristol and a member of Parliament. John played a major role in the London and Bristol Company which set up the first English colony in Canada at Cupers Cove (Cupids) in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. He was the colony’s first governor.” Biography of John Guy John Guy – Baccalieu Digs   

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Mosquito [now Bristol’s Hope

Mosquito [now Bristol’s Hope]

Mosquito, which was renamed Bristol’s Hope in 1910 during the 300th anniversary of John Guy’s settlement, is located between the modern communities of Harbour Grace and Carbonear. Robert Hayman was the first Governor, perhaps in 1618. While in Newfoundland he spent much of his time writing and translating poetry. His book of poetry “Quodlibets, lately come over from New Britaniola, Old Newfound-land” was printed in 1628. Much of the poetry in the book praised and encouraged Newfoundland settlers. It was the first book of poetry written in English in the New World. 

Robert Hayman [Contains 2 of his poems]  

Pulp and Paper Mills in Grand Falls

The Pulp and Paper Mill in Grand Falls

Grand Falls is the name of the spectacular falls on the Exploits River in central Newfoundland. At the time when these stamps were printed in 1910, the Pulp and Paper Mill in Grand Falls was the most significant new industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The construction of the pulp and paper mill had been completed in 1909. It was supplied with power from the falls, it was on the route of the railway, and it had access to the seaport of Botwood. Ironically, the Pulp and Paper Mill was closed by AbitibiBowater on February 18, 2009, in the midst of considerable controversy. Premier Danny Williams, on behalf of the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador, expropriated AbitibiBowater’s provincial assets and contractual rights to natural resources. These resources included considerable hydroelectric resources and land and timber rights. The case is in the courts.   

Logging Camp

Logging Camp Red Indian Lake. With the Pulp and Paper Industry came logging camps. Although life in the camps was extremely hard, they provided a living for a large number of families for over 100 years, until the Pulp and Paper mill closed in 2009.   

King James I

King James 1

King James I, who awarded the charter to John Guy to establish the “earliest settlement in the British Empire” in 1610, was the child of Mary, Queen of Scotts and Lord Darley. His father was assassinated under mysterious circumstances before he was one year old, and his mother was imprisoned by Elizabeth I in London tower. He succeeded Elizabeth I, because he was the closest relative to an unmarried and childless queen. His son, Charles I, was executed. He is recognized as an intellectual and a scholar, who encouraged the development of cultural activities and the arts. He is perhaps best know today because he authorised the production of the King James Version of the Bible.   

Lord Bacon

Lord Bacon (1561-1626)

Lord Bacon was a member of the Bristol and London Company  that established the colony in Cupids. He was one of the great intellects of his age to the extent that there have been claims that he actually wrote Shakespeare’s plays. He was a philosopher, who delineated the principles of the inductive method of reasoning. He coined the expression, “Knowledge is power.”  He was a powerful political figure, but eventually removed from office for accepting a bribe.   

Edward VII

Edward VII (1901-1910)

Edward VII was the son of Queen Victoria and Albert. His mother, Queen Victoria, was a dominating power who lived a very long life. As a result, he was best known for indulging himself in women, food, drink, gambling, sport and travel. He passed away in 1910 while the Guy Issue of Stamps was being prepared.   

George V

King George V (1910-1936)

King George V, Edward’s son, lived through a time of great world upheaval. He was king during World War I, the communist Russian Revolution, and the Great Depression. During his reign, the name of the royal family was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor, due to anti-German sentiment in England. In 1917, he refused to allow Tsar Nicholas II and his family (Nicholas II was his cousin) political asylum in England. Tsar Nicholas II and his family were later assassinated during the revolution. He began the tradition of broadcasting a “Christmas Message” to the people.