My Newfoundland Adventures ... Solicitor says "you're on your own mate!"

We have been seeking the return of our snowmobile gear (14xsuits, 15xhelmets, boots etc), and unpaid monies from MY NEWFOUNDLAND ADVENTURES for the last 15 months.  It's been hard work and cost ... despite us clearly owning the gear, (having the receipts etc) and coutless emails from him and his local "business mentor" Mike J, confirming the agreements between us.  The company and its owner, director, and only real employee, Martin (aka Marty) Hanzalek has refused to talk to us, or respond in any sensible manner.

When I visited the shop (in December 2009) to ask for the gear face-to-face, he called the police using 911, (aka 999 in the UK, can you believe it????!!!!) and pretended that I was threatening staff and scaring customers. Unfortunately for him I had recorded the whole situation and the police were very interested to hear the recording, and the fact that there were NO staff, and NO customers in the shop at the time - and all the claims of his were false and lies! They were looking at prosecuting him for wasting police time and false accusation.  I was told by the police that they've experienced similar previously from him ...

So after 15 months ... we finally have gone through the legal process and swapped evidence prior to "discoveries" (which is the stage before court, allowing both parties to face-up and be clear on their position).  Unfortunately, the My Newfoundland Adventures solicitor did not send their evidence against us, or defending them.  Why?  Because he wasn't getting paid!

Just after Christmas the MY NEWFOUNDLAND ADVENTURES solicitor went to the Supereme Court to request authority to be removed from the case he had previously been defending, on the grounds of not being paid by his client (MNA aka My Newfoundland Adventures)!!!!

Our claim against MY NEWFOUNDLAND ADVENTURES is over $20,000 and the return of our  snowmobile gear. (This is all public domain information).

Now he feels he can carry on without response to our attempts (over the last 18 months) to find an amicable solution ...   strange behaviour! ... its so unlike real Newfoundlanders ...

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Humber Valley Resort - Holiday Chalets

Humber Valley Resort is very much still open for business! The summer, whilst of course quieter than previously, partly due to the lack of direct flights and the current uncertainty, is actually busier than one might expect.

Visitors are still blessed a beautiful landscape, culture and authentic experience. It still all about the people - and there are plenty of opportunities and activities to try out.

Humber Valley Resort chalet owners are now working with a variety of partner companies to promote their chalet vacation rental. The challenge for everyone involved with the resort is the need to maintain the standards that are expected.

The HVR Chalet Owners are now promoting their chalet and their partner company via the CrazyAboutNewfoundland.ca website.

Check out www.hvrowners.com/rental to see what is available.


There are also a growing number of local families now living on the resort, and there is a lot of interest regarding real estate opportunities, looking for owners with their chalet for sale ... again these are promoted direct by owners at www.hvrowners.com/forsale


Everyone involved is CrazyAboutNewfoundland.ca ... Are you?

Strawberry Hill sold?

So Strawberry Hill was for sale - not for sale - and then for sale again. Originally on for $6.7M CAD in March-08, Strawberry Hill resort was offered by tender as part of the CCAA process.

The tender period closed this week ... so we now have to wait and see what happens next. However the strong rumours are that atleast two parties were actively interested.

I'm guessing that $6.7M is now wishful thinking ...

Lucky to see a black fox on HVR? Not likely!

Lucky to see a black fox on HVR?

Not likely!

Countless times we've heard of golfers on the River Course hitting "the perfect drive", but then watching a black fox run across the HVR fairway, picking up the ball, and running off ... I remember Mike Clewer telling a similar story to one of his shots.

And then we organised a Beach Bonfire (Sept-08), and at the end, a black fox runs across the beach and around the fire ...

The next day outside the chalet talking to Paul Hicks & Ed Best ... a black fox runs up ... around us all, and looked totally relaxed.

So - we get home, open the papers - literally on the first day back - and the headline "Unlucky rare black fox spotted in Britain" (Apparrently in medieval times, the black fox was considered a bad omen by superstitious villagers)

Here it is in the UK:

The Daily Telegraph

So was the Humber Valley Resort "Black Fox" a sign of what was to come? Or has come?

Link - The Daily Telegraph - BBC News

The last Beach Bonfire at HVR!

So it's mid September and the resort is now in administration (CCAA in Canadian terms) ... it's all a bit of a shock to everyone (even if actually not a huge surprise). Unfortunately during the previous few days almost all the staff have been laid off - and now it's down to a handful of staff - and a team of security people.

No Beach House, or other meeting place - we had no idea how many people were on site ... So why not organise a reason for everyone to get together? And we did just that - and rung round every chalet to find all those on resort, and make contact with all our staff [errr ... ex-staff] friends via Facebook ... and the word was out - Beach Bonfire on Tuesday night!

Has to be said that there was some who were concerned about the numbers that might turn up - but we didn't see the issue. Garlic bread, pate, cheese, marshmallows, and loads of french bread - oh and a few cases of beer were prepared, as was the bonfire. Ron (from Strawberry Hill fame) eagerly offered to make the bonfire (err "Ronfire"). He really is a very special guy. He spent the afternoon cutting logs with a friend, then built a very impressive fire.

It was a chance for the staff to say goodbye to each other as they'd not had a chance previously - and it was good to meet the rest of the resort guests (not all were owners) - and Margaret Derrick came down and joinned in. Ed Best brought his guitar and we all (tried to) sing along with him.


Some of us were still there at 1:30am ...

Ron maintaining the "Ronfire"

Another good reason to be CrazyAboutNewfoundland.com ... Are you?

That damn black fox again!


The Last Beach Bonfire for 2008!! Humber Valley Resort

Confusion, rumours & lack of communication

Confusion, rumours & lack of communication ... all adding to the Humber Valley Resort current problems!!

This Thursday's Charter flight "might" be the last for the season - meaning that the last two flights (11th & 18th) might be cancelled. What happens to those who fly out (58+) on Thursday (4th) flight? And others that are on the resort already (currently 150+), some of whom are planning to return during the last two weeks? If you ring now to book ... they'll only sell you a single ticket, (but not return).

No official answer on what is happening, nor why.

Oh, and (ahead of original plan) the Activties Centre closed today! "Last Sunday Brunch" was last Sunday ... Strawberry Hill Resort (which had previously been for sale) seems to be becoming a central feature of the plan (rather than the Club house) ... and there's a rumoured key announcement later this week!


PS Searching for alternative routes out of Newfoundland should we buy a "single charter ticket" ... the flights out of Halifax appear almost 100% full throughout September (due to the collapse of FlyZoom airline) ... there are very few options, actually, none worth considering!

Reinforcing the large issue for international tourism in Newfoundland - and the reasons behind the Humber Direct Air Group


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Tourism changes - Timing is critical?

It has been well documented that Newfound NV the owners of Humber Valley Resort (HVR) has changed its strategy and now intends to focus on building high end chalets, and in doing so is ceasing all vacation related functions including the seasonal charter flights (London-Deer Lake) that Newfound NV funded, at a loss. [read more]

As much as individual personal impacts - for example the local people who have lost their jobs - there is serious impact on local tourism. HVR & Newfound NV have invested heavily in developing Western Newfoundland tourism as a destination to the UK market. The work to develop new travel agency relationships takes 18-24 months due to the timescales to print the catalogues etc. All that work and those relationships were about to come together for Winter 2009 and Summer 2010.

But what now?

The province’s Tourism minister Clyde Jackman says western Newfoundland is a unique tourism product, but there are no imminent plans to increase efforts to market the area more than it already is. He added; the west coast is still a major tourism destination and that should not be lost in this disruption. “This part of the province is unique and has attractions that are different from other parts of the province. It is a strong destination within the province and we see it as something that can be built upon and that’s what we have to continue to do.” [read more]

But timing is critical. With so many new travel agencies preparing to market HVR & Western Newfoundland to their clients, the changes, (in particular the issue of air access and the European flights) will have massive medium term impact. Summer 2009 brochures promoting the area have assumed flights are available - the companies will withdraw the holidays if they can't guarantee their clients getting to the location - let alone having a great time!

And they won't wait to Easter 2009 to withdraw them. If you were a travel agent in the UK - why would you sell a winter 2009 holiday to HVR - with all this disruption, closed restaurants etc - when you can sell a well known resort elsewhere? And why would you even stock a summer 2009 brochure when you're not even sure what flights (if any) will be available? You simply wouldn't.

Add to this situation the fact that many HVR chalet owners have already been forced to re-consider whether to visit this year due to the unknown status of Revenue Canada's change in HST for resort chalets. (Some chalet owners have already received unexpected $70,000 HST bills!!). So expect a quiet Winter 2009.

Clearly there are a lot of changes happening. Change is often for the good, and there are likely to be opportunities. However it's all in the timing. Western Newfoundland tourism needs clear and decisive provisional support, and it needs it quickly and well communicated.

Waiting to "see how things transpire" is not what the area needs to hear.

Timing is critical ...now is the time!

We're still CrazyAboutNewfoundland.com ... Are you?