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What’s in store at Fenestration Canada’s AGM

May 21, 2013 – Fenestration Canada
second vice-president Al Dueck has provided this overview of the St.
John's area in anticipation of FC's 2013 annual meeting, taking place
there May 30 – June 1.

May 21, 2013 – Fenestration Canada second vice-president Al Dueck has provided this overview of the St. John's area in anticipation of FC's 2013 annual meeting, taking place there May 30 – June 1.

The architecture of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador has a style distinct from that of the rest of Canada, and its major buildings are remnants of its history and prestige as the first British colonial capital. The city of St. John's has had a long history, with inhabitation dating to the 16th century onwards. As the city grew, so, too, did the landscape. Buildings took a variety of styles according to the styles and means available to build the structures.

Historic St. John's, site of the 2013 Fenestration Canada Annual General Meeting. Advertisement

Starting as a fishing outpost for European fishermen, St. John's consisted mostly of the homes of fishermen, sheds, storage shacks, and wharves. Of course, these structures were small and constructed out of wood. Like many other cities of the time, as the Industrial Revolution took hold and new methods and materials for construction were introduced, the landscape changed as the city grew in width and height. The Great Fire of 1892 destroyed most of the downtown core, and most residential and other wood-frame buildings date from this period. Often compared to San Francisco because of its hilly terrain and steep maze of residential streets, housing in St. John's is typically painted in bright colours, unlike most other parts of Canada.

Cape Spear Lighthouse – watch a sunrise on the eastern most part of North America.

Due to St. John's being the oldest English settlement in North America
to have grown into a city, many of its buildings have been designated by
either the Minister of the Environment (upon the recommendations of the
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada) or the Heritage
Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador as historic places. As of 2012,
St. John's contains 21 National Historic Sites of Canada.

The East Coast Trail (eastcoasttrail.ca/trail) – truly spectacular features on each path.

The paths of the East Coast Trail take you past towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. It provides access to abandoned settlements, lighthouses, ecological reserves, seabird colonies, whales, icebergs, world's southern most caribou herd, historic sites, a 50-metre suspension bridge, two active archaeological dig sites, and many more attractions. It offers a wilderness paradise of boreal forest, fresh clean air and quiet solitude, all combined with the raw natural beauty of the rugged Atlantic Ocean.

George Street – night life in St John’s.

No matter what night of the week, there's live music on George Street. Even early in the evening, before the pubs have started to fill, there are still great musicians playing to mostly empty rooms. This changes as the night goes on, of course. Then there are great musicians playing to great crowds. I love that the pub owners don't wait for the crowd to start getting the entertainment going. Many styles of music to choose from, but the Irish and Scottish roots of this island take the lead, as they should.

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Attendees will have a chance to take an optional tour of Iceberg Alley.

Online registration is open at the Fenestration Canada website .