Paul Tilley's Our Town-Clarenville Blog

The planned formation of a Mayor's Advisory Committee in Clarenville could be a proactive step toward addressing the housing challenges outlined in the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment  - if it moves from a simple advising role to a focused action role . With a target of 830 new units by 2038—including approximately 300 units of non-market/subsidized housing—the Council could play a critical role in bridging the gap between planning and development. It is important to clarify that the Town will not be building these homes; this responsibility lies with private developers. The role of the Town and the provincial government is to facilitate the development process. I feel that for this to succeed, the Action Committee’s mandate must focus on three clearly defined and achievable goals designed to overcome our most significant hurdles: 1. Unlocking the Infrastructure "Shovel-Ready" Bottleneck Clarenville is a regional service hub experiencing high growth, yet, according to the ...

CONGRATULATIONS, GARRY GOSSE!!! It is with immense pride that I extend our warmest and most sincere congratulations to Garry Gosse on receiving the Premier’s Medal for Arts, Heritage, Sport and Recreation from Premier Tony Wakeham on Friday, May 22, 2026. Presented at The Rooms in St. John’s, this prestigious medal recognizes Garry as both a vital municipal anchor and a provincial leader. As the highest honour our province bestows in these disciplines, it celebrates individuals whose lifelong dedication fosters a deep sense of belonging and well-being—values Garry has championed for nearly fifty years. Shortly after moving to Clarenville and purchasing my/our house, I was fortunate enough to have Garry and Kathy as my neighbours. Getting to know Garry, I quickly realized that while he was a dedicated family man at home, his role as the Town’s Recreation Director meant his extended family encompassed the entire community. Over the years, I have watched him act as a big brother and fathe...

When the final tracks of the Newfoundland Railway were pulled up back in 1988, many feared we were losing a vital economic lifeline forever. But out of that closure came an incredible reinvention: the creation of our cross-island Linear Provincial Park. Fast forward to today, and that historic route has evolved into an absolute powerhouse for four-season tourism. You only have to look at Marine Atlantic’s booming vehicle traffic—where non-resident automobile, ATV, and recreational vehicle crossings have climbed dramatically over pre-pandemic levels—to see that motorized and multi-use trail tourism is a massive economic generator for our province. Riders and outdoor enthusiasts from all across North America are crossing the Gulf specifically to journey across our terrain, and that is the incredible momentum leading up to today's historic announcement. I’ve been banging the drum for some time on the massive potential of developing and capturing the economic opportunities of this tran...