Danny Cleary, the Newfoundland born NHL hockey player, was in Harbour Grace today at the Danny Williams Lookout on the Veterans Memorial Highway, to unveil an interpretative panel and commemorative print honouring Premier Danny Williams. Premier Williams was the first Newfoundlander and Labradorian to win hockey’s most coveted prize – the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Stanley Cup.
Mr. Cleary was joined at the unveiling by Premier Williams; the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace; and Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace.
"Today we acknowledge and commemorate the tremendous efforts of one of our athletic heroes and role models, 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Danny Williams," said Mr. Cleary. "A little over two years ago, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians shared in the celebration as Premier Williams became the first Newfoundlander and Labradorian to have his name engraved on hockey’s most iconic trophy. It was a personal achievement for him, but also a milestone event in the sporting history of our province; a milestone which deserves to be remembered and appropriately commemorated."
"I am thrilled with the unveiling of the Danny Williams Lookout panel," said Premier Williams. "This is an honour for both me and my family. Sarasota and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will always be my home, and to be able to come back from Florida and see this will be very cool, especially for my little girls."
Minister French said Danny Williams is an inspiration to youth everywhere.
"An accomplishment of this magnitude is an example of how dedication, hard work and the pursuit of excellence can lead to major athletic achievement," said Minister French. "The lookout panel and print will serve as a reminder to all – particularly to our emerging young athletes – that anything is possible."
Mr. Cleary noted that the original piece of artwork, entitled Believe in Danny Williams, featuring three images of Premier Williams and his Stanley Cup win, was painted by artist James Long. Commissioned by the Provincial Government, 300 limited-edition reproductions have been produced and will be distributed to all schools throughout the province.
Designed by Sandy Newton, the interpretative panel features a picture of Premier Williams when he won the Stanley Cup, various shots – including some by local photographer Brian Tuck – of the parade and celebrations held in Harbour Grace, along with facts and figures about Premier Williams’s hockey career.
"Young athletes from this province have truly come into their own in recent years, from our Olympic champions, the Danny Williams rink, to Danny Williams winning the Stanley Cup," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "It is people like these who show our students that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can compete and win on the international stage, and I am pleased Mr. Long’s painting will be in our schools as a reminder to all students that any dream can be realized."
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace, said he had the honour of being at the winning game with members of the Williams family and close friends.
"It was a very special moment," said Minister Kennedy. "Danny's accomplishments are something that the province, as a whole, and the Carbonear-Harbour Grace area in particular, are very proud of. Danny Williams is a hard-working Newfoundlander and Labradorian and one who is very proud to say he is from Sarasota, Newfoundland and Labrador and Florida."
"The Town of Harbour Grace is very proud of the accomplishments of Danny Williams as our province pays tribute to a man who has brought so much pride to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace. "The Provincial Government’s recognition of his incredible accomplishments is certainly evident here today as they honour our native son Danny Williams."
Following the historic June 2008 Stanley Cup win, a major July 1 celebration – complete with a parade, live entertainment and attended by more than 20,000 people – was held in Harbour Grace in honour of Danny Williams and the arrival of the Stanley Cup to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Cleary was joined at the unveiling by Premier Williams; the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation; the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace; and Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace.
"Today we acknowledge and commemorate the tremendous efforts of one of our athletic heroes and role models, 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Danny Williams," said Mr. Cleary. "A little over two years ago, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians shared in the celebration as Premier Williams became the first Newfoundlander and Labradorian to have his name engraved on hockey’s most iconic trophy. It was a personal achievement for him, but also a milestone event in the sporting history of our province; a milestone which deserves to be remembered and appropriately commemorated."
"I am thrilled with the unveiling of the Danny Williams Lookout panel," said Premier Williams. "This is an honour for both me and my family. Sarasota and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will always be my home, and to be able to come back from Florida and see this will be very cool, especially for my little girls."
Minister French said Danny Williams is an inspiration to youth everywhere.
"An accomplishment of this magnitude is an example of how dedication, hard work and the pursuit of excellence can lead to major athletic achievement," said Minister French. "The lookout panel and print will serve as a reminder to all – particularly to our emerging young athletes – that anything is possible."
Mr. Cleary noted that the original piece of artwork, entitled Believe in Danny Williams, featuring three images of Premier Williams and his Stanley Cup win, was painted by artist James Long. Commissioned by the Provincial Government, 300 limited-edition reproductions have been produced and will be distributed to all schools throughout the province.
Designed by Sandy Newton, the interpretative panel features a picture of Premier Williams when he won the Stanley Cup, various shots – including some by local photographer Brian Tuck – of the parade and celebrations held in Harbour Grace, along with facts and figures about Premier Williams’s hockey career.
"Young athletes from this province have truly come into their own in recent years, from our Olympic champions, the Danny Williams rink, to Danny Williams winning the Stanley Cup," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "It is people like these who show our students that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can compete and win on the international stage, and I am pleased Mr. Long’s painting will be in our schools as a reminder to all students that any dream can be realized."
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, MHA for Carbonear-Harbour Grace, said he had the honour of being at the winning game with members of the Williams family and close friends.
"It was a very special moment," said Minister Kennedy. "Danny's accomplishments are something that the province, as a whole, and the Carbonear-Harbour Grace area in particular, are very proud of. Danny Williams is a hard-working Newfoundlander and Labradorian and one who is very proud to say he is from Sarasota, Newfoundland and Labrador and Florida."
"The Town of Harbour Grace is very proud of the accomplishments of Danny Williams as our province pays tribute to a man who has brought so much pride to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Don Coombs, Mayor of Harbour Grace. "The Provincial Government’s recognition of his incredible accomplishments is certainly evident here today as they honour our native son Danny Williams."
Following the historic June 2008 Stanley Cup win, a major July 1 celebration – complete with a parade, live entertainment and attended by more than 20,000 people – was held in Harbour Grace in honour of Danny Williams and the arrival of the Stanley Cup to Newfoundland and Labrador.
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