Carbonear, December 14th, 2006
3rd Annual Indeavour Award
Presented to William Gilbert, Chief Archaeologist
Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation

[l-r] Charlie Adams, Chair of the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation (BTHC); Lloyd Kane, Chair of the Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association (BTTA), and William Gilbert, recipient of the Indeavour Award

The BTTA and the BTHC presented the Indeavour Award to William Gilbert, Chief Archeologist with the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. The award, which is named after John Guy's ship that explored the coastline of the Bay de Verde Peninsula in 1612, was presented on December 14th, 2006 at a reception at the The Merchant's Manor in Carbonear. (Bill Bowman's account of the event in The Compass.)

The annual award recognizes William Gilbert for his outstanding efforts in preserving culture and heritage. In 1995, he was responsible for uncovering the site of John Guy's colony at Cupers Cove (which was established in 1610.) Cupers Cove is the first documented English Colony in Canada and the second in North America (after Jamestown, Virginia.) Ongoing excavations since 1995 have uncovered a number of buildings, related features and over 110,000 artifacts. This work has tremendous significance, not only for the region, but for the understanding of the history of European settlement in the New World.

Other archaeological research in the region conducted under his leadership since 1995 has revealed a rich history of aboriginal occupation extending back over 4000 years. Information about aboriginal settlement by Maritime Archaic Indians, Dorset Eskimo, Recent Indians, and Beothuk in Trinity Bay has been uncovered. His MA thesis was entitled Russell's Point: A Little Passage / Beothuk Site at the Bottom of Trinity Bay. In addition to his work in archaeology, he has brought attention to documents held at various sites in the United Kingdom which recount the Cupers Cove colonists' interest in trading with the native people and which detail their first meeting with the Beothuk in Trinity Bay.

William Gilbert - Working with Regional Groups

William Gilbert at Museum in Cupids with Linda and Lloyd Kane	William Gilbert Making a Presentation on Russell's Point Beothuk Site
Working with Volunteers Cupids Dig	Assisting David Fry and Claudine Garland with Crossroads for Cultures
	Working with 17th Century Artifacts "Road to Yesterday" Museum in Bay Roberts.

William Gilbert - Biography

William [Bill] Gilbert’s parents (George and Susie) moved to Blaketown, Trinity Bay from Placentia Bay when he was two years old. He grew up in Blaketown and attended St. Barnabas Elementary in Blaketown and St. George’s High in New Harbour. He holds a B.A in North Atlantic History and an M.A in Archaeology/Anthropology, both from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and has been working as a professional archaeologist since 1980.

Over the past 26 years, Bill has worked on a number of significant sites including the Beaches, Boyd’s Cove, Ferryland, Red Bay, and Signal Hill. He has published papers on history and archaeology in a number of journals including Avalon Chronicles, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, and The Newfoundland Quarterly. Many of these papers have focused on the archaeology and early history of the first English colony in Canada established at Cupids, Conception Bay in 1610 and on relations between the colonists at Cupids and the Beothuk in Trinity Bay.

Since 1994, Bill has worked as the Chief Archaeologist for the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. His work with the Corporation has led to the discovery and excavation of a number of significant sites in the region including the original 1610 colony at Cupids, a Beothuk camp at Russell’s Point in Blaketown, a 1200 year old Indian site on Dildo Island, and the Hefford Plantation in New Perlican established in 1675. Bill and his crew have also conducted survey work and/or excavations at Anderson’s Cove, Heart’s Delight, Heart’s Desire, Heart’s Content, Winterton, Hant’s Harbour, Old Perlican, Bay de Verde and Harbour Grace. Despite all this, he feels that he has only begun to uncover the archaeological potential of the Baccalieu Trail and looks forward to many more years of exploration and excavation.

About the INDEAVOUR AWARD

The Indeavour Award is presented to the BTTA member whose endeavours demonstrate a commitment to preserving local culture and to the tourism industry while fostering optimal growth and development.

The award is named and spelled after The Voyage of The Indeavour, 1612. When John Guy along with 18 others including Henry Crout, set sail from Cupids on a voyage into Trinity Bay with the intent of establishing friendly relations with the Beothuk Indians and initiating a profitable fur trade. The voyage was a success and the meeting was friendly, which could be viewed as an early attempt at partnership.

The Baccalieu Trail Tourism Association worked with the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation (BTHC) on the physical prize to ensure that it reflects the historical authenticity of the period. The BTTA also calls upon the BTHC to help to identify the prestigious winners of the annual INDEAVOUR AWARDS.

The winner of this regional award is the BTTA's nominee to the provincial government Doug Wheeler Award.

Previous winners of the award have been Ray Johnson of Buddy Wasisname and Mrs. Margaret Ayad of Baccalieu Consulting in Bay Roberts.

Linda Kane Winner of 3rd Annual Silver Puffin Award

Destination St. John’s presented the third annual Silver Puffin Awards today during a luncheon at The Fairmont Newfoundland Hotel. These awards were developed to reward front-line tourism employees for service achievement. Ballots are distributed throughout the Eastern Region, and nominations are accepted from tourists, local residents, and colleagues.

The winners for 2005 are: Retail: Marguerite Weir (Herbie’s Olde Shoppe, Petty Harbour) Guest Services: Terri Keough (Cantwell House B&B, St. John’s) Tour Guide : Stephanie Duff (McCarthy’s Party- operating province-wide) Tour Guide:Ashley Wiseman (Old Barracks Café & Gifts, Musgravetown) and Linda Kane (Cupids Museum, Cupids) - Server

Mike Buist, Executive Director of Destination St. John's
and Linda Kane of the Cupids Museum.

All winners received a plaque and a $500.00 cash award.