Heritage Interpretive & Publishing Services-Dale Russell FitzPatrick

08/08/2026

RESEARCH, RETROSPECT, REVIEW & REANALYSIS...193 years later!

07/30/2026

Sure to be a wonderful weekend of restrospect and discussion of the tragic events of 1833 and 1834. If you've not heard about the Catherine Snow Story - Last Woman Hanged in Newfoundland - you gotta come! Was it Murder? Should they all have been hanged? Were there injustices? Why are we still asking questions about the whole event 193 years later? Enjoying being on the organizing committee for this event and especially loving the genealogy while we cast the nets to reach out to descendants of John & Catherine's eight children.

07/03/2026

Honoured to have created the storyboard shown here by Her Honour for “The Homecoming” statues! A beautiful commission by Marty Gregory - his vision executed perfectly by sculptor Morgan MacDonald.

07/01/2026

How wonderful is this.

A remarkable event occurred today at Beaumont Hamel. I had the privlidge as Trail if the Caribou President to donate the first print of a series of paintings by Michelle Jones of PCSP to the Visitors Center.

Michelle and Trail of the Caribou have embarked on a project to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of each battle that is represented by a Caribou. See below for more details.

We are reproducing one on Canvas to present to each Caribou Custodian or organization that tge caribou is located in and then another 110 paper prints will brme made for resale.

The Artist is Michelle Jones of Portugal Cove- St. Philip's

The Trail of the Caribou is a term that has become part of the life blood and folklore of Newfoundland and Labrador. It marks the route of sacrifice, bravery and great deeds of our forebears.

The Caribou has been a source of life and a symbol of our province since the dawn of humans in this land.

We used them for food shelter and tools. We used them as a symbol of our military units and ships were named after the majestic animal. Today this tradition continues with the modern Royal Newfoundland Regiment and numerous businesses use the Caribou in their name and or logo and it remains a food source for so many of us.

The most iconic use has been the 7 Monuments that exist around the world. Basil Gotto was the sculptor for the caribou statue and the Fighting Newfoundlander this July 1st marks the 110th anniversary of Beaumont Hamel.

This project will create over the next year or so a rendition of each of the 7 Caribous to be released on the anniversary of the Battle or Campaign or event they represent.

The Caribou themselves are all the same statue However, the manner in which they are displayed fits into the landscape and tells part of the of the event they represent. With that in mind, a separate, close-up painting of the caribou will also be created.

The Caribous their dates and a brief description of how they are displayed are as follows:

Gallipoli September 1915- January 1916, its atop of a pedestal of tan coloured rocks on the palm where the Regiment fought next to Hill 10 Cemetery. The location is close to where ethe regiment would have been out of the front lines, is ½ way between where the landed and their main engagements and you can see the place where we call Caribou Hill where the Regiment won it’s first gallantry awards. Hill 10 Cemetery contains 8 Graves of Newfoundland Regiment soldiers including the first combat casualty of the Regiment in WW1

Beaumont Hamel - 1 July 1916 is a 74 Acre National Park of Canada some and the most visited site of the Battle of the Somme and one of the most visited of all in France and Flanders. It sits atop of a massive mound that a trail weave its way up to the carin of rocks that the Caribou sits atop of overlooking the battlefield, Note all of the overseas caribous face the direction of the enemy or the advance of the soldiers. Rudolph Cochius was selected as landscape architect and supervised the design of all of Newfoundland’s overseas memorial sites, as well as Bowring Park in St. John’s. He incorporated touches from home throughout his designs which include trees native to Newfoundland and Labrador (such as spruce, dogberry and juniper).

Gueudecourt - 12 October 1916 sits in a small 150 x150 meter square patch of ground on the crest of a hill in the middle of farm land. The furthest the Regiment reached in their attack and the remains of the German trenches are still easily visible today

Monchy-la- Preux 14 April 1917 - the Caribou sits atop of a refurbished small brick building in the middle of town and is part of the towns central square. The town hall is in its eye line. The brick hut had a deep basement and has multiple levesl underground as was used as and aid post command post and observation post but the Newfoundlanders British and Germans building was

Masnières 20 November 1917 – is actually the Regiment’s part of the Battle of Cambrai. The Caribou is located its own small park next to a main French secondary highway. It is a tranquil place and you get a sense of calmness as you walk through the gate in to the park, It also marks the Regiment’s furthest advance on that day

Kortrijk/Courtrai September – November 1918 - sits in its own small park next to the intersection of 2 major highways. It has a very different feeling due to the large trees and unique shrubs. It has bullet holes from the fighting in WW2 when the German Army captured the city. This Caribou commemorates the Regiment’s actions during the last 100 days of the Great War

St John's unveiled 1 July 1928 – this caribou faces the battlefields of Europe the landscaper was the same as the one who designed the ones in France and Flanders and was presented to the park by Major William Howe Green, a cousin of Sir Edgar Bowring. It has a unique perch atop a small natural cliff of typical Nfld rock.

The main purpose of these paintings is to create an educational and generational connection for all ages through art and culture. It is intended to spark interest in the arts, culture, and heritage while commemorating our history and giving people an opportunity to develop a better sense of place and belonging.

We would do this in PART TWO of the plan. The originals would be sent to various Legions and towns (halls and museums) without a Legion for display. The display would be in 2 or 3 hardened cases and would have a history of each Caribou and the action and the story behind the Fighting Newfoundlander. The display would also have before and after pictures of each Caribou. There would be pamphlets and a QR code with more information.

The idea once all are made is to also do a rendition of all combined into a collage and have prints made for sale and the profits would go towards the charity work of The Trail of the Caribou Research Group and future projects similar to this like celebrating women who have served.



Michael Pretty

Trail of The Caribou Research Group

"Every Story Is Important"

President Major Retired

709-727-4674

06/25/2026

I first joined this Board in 2011 as the representative from the Cupids Historical Society and I’ve truly enjoyed being part of this special organization. This year I stepped into the role of Secretary on the Executive Committee.

Meet our Board of Directors!!!

Our Board of Directors is made up of dedicated individuals who bring a wide range of experience, knowledge, and passion to the Cupids Legacy Centre. Their collective efforts have played a vital role not only in launching the Centre, but in shaping it into what we see today. Through their leadership, they continue to honour the legacy of John Guy while celebrating how the community of Cupids has grown and evolved over the years. Their shared vision remains focused on preserving our history, educating visitors, and ensuring that this rich heritage can be enjoyed by future generations.

This year, we mark the retirement of two valued board members, Roy and Lloyd. We extend our sincere thanks for their insight, commitment, and the many contributions they have made during their time on the board. Their dedication has left a lasting impact on the organization. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome new members Gloria, Lisa, and Luanne to the board. We look forward to the ideas and energy they will bring as we continue to build on the strong foundation that has been created.

In this photo: Front Row: (Left to Right) Dale and Maria. Second Row: Luanne, Lisa, Gloria. Back Row: Paul, Bill, Harold.

Missing from photo: Linda, and Peter.

06/13/2026

Tonight’s the Night!

Our Annual Lobster Dinner is happening on 13th-June-2026!!!

Join us at the Cupids Legacy Centre for a delicious lobster dinner you won’t want to miss. Enjoy freshly prepared lobster in a warm and welcoming atmosphere that celebrates local tradition and community spirit. This special event is a perfect opportunity to gather with friends, family, and neighbors for a memorable evening.

Whether you’re a seafood lover or simply looking for a great night out, don’t miss your chance to experience great food, great company, and the charm of Cupids all in one place.

Other food options available such as chicken and ribs.

Reminder space is limited, and tickets sell out fast for this event!!!!

To reserve your ticket's simply scan the QR code in the picture below.

Should you have problems scanning the QR code simply contact us at [email protected] or call us at 709-528-1610. We will be happy to assist you!

Or you can copy this link into your web browser:

https://square.link/u/pUmHjCwJ

06/12/2026

Savoring a moment of humility today . . . I’ve rectified an inaccuracy on the storyboard I created for the sculpture “100 Faces” installed in Victoria Park, St. John’s.