Police say multiple youths injured at Torbay field party
Police say multiple youths were injured at a field party in Torbay Saturday night.
The RNC was called to an “open area” in Torbay around 10:30 p.m. They had been alerted to a field party where multiple youths had been bear-maced and one other youth was suffering from a wound.
The matter is under investigation. The RNC had issued warnings ahead of the long weekend, advising parents to talk to their teenagers about the dangers of unsupervised field parties.
Early-morning crash sends one person to hospital
One person was taken to hospital following an early-morning crash in the Town of Torbay.
Shortly before 8:00 a.m. on Sunday crews responded to the crash at the intersection of Torbay Road and Kevin Parsons Highway. The driver of an SUV traveling towards Torbay Road on the bypass went off the road, crashing into a rocky ditch and coming to rest down a small embankment.
The driver of the car, who was the only occupant, was placed on a stretcher and taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be serious. The vehicle sustained extensive damage.
One person taken to hospital following two-vehicle collision
One person was taken to hospital following a two-vehicle collision in the west end of St. John’s on Saturday evening.
At about 7:15 p.m. emergency crews were called to the intersection of Topsail Road and Hazelwood Crescent following a t-bone collision involving two cars. Damage to both vehicles was significant. While both occupants of one of the vehicles were not injured, the driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Traffic was slowed in the area as a result of the collision.
Shingles Vaccine expanded for all residents aged 50 and over
Starting Sept. 1, the shingles vaccine will be available for no cost to all individuals aged 50 years and over.
The expansion will follow a phased approach:
- Starting June 1, the shingles vaccine will be offered to residents ages 65 and over and immunocompromised residents between the ages of 50-64.
- Starting Sept. 1, the shingles vaccine will be offered to all individuals aged 50 years and over.
The increased access to the shingles vaccine will further ensure improved health and well-being for more seniors and older adults in the province. It will also ensure high-risk populations receive protection against shingles and its related health complications, reduce hospital visits, physician consultations and pain management treatments.
The expansion aligns with recommendations from Health Accord NL to support older adults to age well with dignity and autonomy and expand access to shingles and pneumonia vaccines for seniors. The province previously announced the shingles vaccine would be available June 1 for individuals aged 65 to 70 years and immunocompromised residents over the age of 70 as part of the provincial immunization program
St. John’s is first Canadian city to host ICAF-Backed Symposium
The city will host the International Symposium on Avian Influenza from June 24–26, 2026 marking Canada’s first-ever win under the International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF), a strategic initiative supported by the Government of Canada through Destination Canada.
This high-profile international conference is expected to attract hundreds of global health and life sciences experts, positioning St. John’s and Canada as leaders in public health dialogue and innovation. It will also generate significant economic impact for the region, with delegates staying in local accommodations, dining at area restaurants, and engaging with the community.
“We are honoured to be the first Canadian destination to host an ICAF-supported event,” said Paul Buggé, CEO of Destination St. John’s. “This announcement is a testament to our world-class facilities, welcoming hospitality, and growing reputation as a serious contender on the international business events stage.”
The International Convention Attraction Fund supports Canadian cities with up to $1 million per event to attract major global conferences. It is a part of a $50 million federal investment to bolster Canada’s business tourism sector.
This symposium aligns with Destination Canada’s Innovate Canada initiative, showcasing leadership in life sciences and bolstering knowledge-sharing between top researchers and innovators.
Summer Camp Inclusion Grant open
The Summer Camp Inclusion Grant is open for applications for the 2025-2026 season.
This grant provides financial assistance toward the cost of hiring a support person to accommodate children with disabilities to attend and participate in summer camps.
This support person may be an inclusion worker, a caregiver, an attendant, an American Sign Language Interpreter, a designated camp staff member, or any other person deemed appropriate by the family to support the child’s needs and participation at summer camp.
The grant provides funding of up to $1,000 to families with children with disabilities who require a support and/or inclusion worker to attend summer camp and up to $5,000 to organizations providing summer camps who wish to hire support and/or inclusion workers to accommodate children with disabilities.
In 2024, 11 organizations and 19 families availed of the Summer Camp Inclusion Grant.