HSA Awards of Excellence Finalists
Manning Awards Finalists
Outstanding Heritage Project
National War Memorial (Unknown Soldier)
TwillQuest, The Self Guided Walking Tour
Willow Tree Walk
Nominated for her outstanding contribution to the preservation and sharing of the history and heritage of the Point Amour Light station.
A life-long resident of West St. Modeste, Valerie was first hired 20 years ago to demonstrate traditional crafts at the site. She quickly fell in love with Point Amour and has dedicated herself to keeping its stories alive.
Valerie has immersed herself in the history of the region, learning about the families who lived there, the lives they led, and the events that shaped the southern coast of Labrador.
A talented interpreter, Valerie brings that history to life for visitors through engaging and deeply personal guided experiences.
Storyteller, local historian, and cultural ambassador. Valerie’s profound connection to the region and dedication to its heritage make her a truly deserving nominee for Outstanding Heritage Supporter.
Outstanding Heritage Organization
Willow Tree Heritage Society
Our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church & Complex
Nominated for his exceptional contributions to the preservation and celebration of the history and heritage of Hant’s Harbour, Trinity Bay.
Gerald’s family has deep roots in the community.
The Sopers have operated and maintained the Hant’s Harbour Lighthouse since its beginnings in 1881. In the 1990s, when the Canadian Coast Guard announced plans to remove the lighthouse and replace it with a modern aluminum structure, Gerald led the successful fight to recognize and preserve the existing wooden light tower.
Gerald’s passion for the built heritage of his community, both surviving and lost, led him to create a series of museum-quality replicas of significant buildings from Hant’s Harbour’s past, including Broughton Hall School, the lighthouse, and the old post office. Each one has been constructed with painstaking care and accuracy and feature details including stained glass windows, and individually made clapboard. Together, these models represent thousands of hours of dedicated work and are highlights of the community’s Willow Tree Heritage Museum.
Gerald’s interests also extend to Hant’s Harbour’s intangible heritage. His ongoing activities include visits with community elders, many now living in care facilities, to record stories that might otherwise be lost.
Through his advocacy, skilled craftsmanship, and tireless volunteer efforts, Gerald Soper has clearly demonstrated the qualities of an Outstanding Heritage Supporter.
Outstanding Heritage Supporter
Gerald Soper
Nominated for their outstanding contributions to the research and management of Ferryland’s archaeological heritage.
For Neil and Mercedes, 2026 marks 35 years with the Colony of Avalon.
As Field Supervisor, Neil plays a crucial role in the planning and execution of archaeological investigations at Ferryland, focusing on the 1621 Colony of Avalon and succeeding Pool Plantation.
As an employee of the Foundation, Neil works seasonally; however, he is an active steward of the archaeological site year-round - monitoring, managing and mitigating any issues that arise during the 8 months when the site is closed. These are unpaid activities driven by his own initiative and interest, as well as a deep pride in the community’s heritage.
As Laboratory and Collections Manager for the Foundation, Mercedes is responsible for the cataloging, display and storage of the largest and most diverse assemblage of early modern artifacts in Canada. With more than 2 million objects in her care, the responsibility is immense. So is the expertise Mercedes has acquired through decades of work with the collection. Today,
her knowledge is sought by scholars across North America and beyond.
Through their life-long experience, fostered and honed in the context of a local, community project, Neil Jordan and Mercedes Johnson exemplify the spirit of the Outstanding Heritage Supporter Award.
Neil Jordan & Mercedes Johnson
Valerie O’Brien
Ed Roberts Book Awards Finalists
From Silence to Suffrage: Women’s Path to Citizenship in Newfoundland, 1803-1949
By Margot I. Duley. Published by Boulder Press
A concise yet comprehensive history of Newfoundland women and their struggles to be full and equal citizens of their country.
With newly uncovered information and deeper research, From Silence to Suffrage builds on
Duley’s earlier, pathbreaking study of the Newfoundland women’s suffrage movement, documenting women’s response to and involvement in an array of social issues: alcohol abuse and the temperance movement; child welfare; poverty; prison reform, and more.
This is very much an accessible social and political history of Newfoundland.
Performance and Protest: Inuit of Labrador and the Wold’s Columbian Exposition, 1883
By Nigel Markham. Published by Memorial University Press
A fascinating study of Inuit resilience and agency in the late 19th century, Performance and Protest tracks the experiences of 60 Inuit from Labrador, recruited to perform at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
Subjected to poor living conditions and forced to play a role popularized by early Arctic explorers, they took their employers to court, challenging stereotypes and public perceptions in a landmark case.
Insightfully written and exhaustively researched, Performance and Protest is an important examination of how ideological assumptions about race and ethnicity impact the way we relate to one another.
The Cause of Art: Professionalizing the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador
By Jeff A. Webb. Published by University of Toronto Press
A detailed and engaging account of the creation and evolution of the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador. Webb outlines a half century of conflicts and compromises as personalities, priorities, and politics - together with competing visions and agendas - lead to the development and modernization of the province’s visual arts scene and gallery.
Based upon extensive archival research in previously unexamined collections, and oral interviews with key informants, The Cause of Art is an in-depth documentation of an important aspect of the artistic and cultural history of Newfoundland and Labrador
Paul O’NEIL Scholarship Recipient
Joanna Walbourne - Memorial University