CBC Newfoundland Morning

A tour boat company in Trinity has had an unexpected boost to business near the end of its season - and it's all thanks to two blue whales that have been showing up in Bonavista Bay. Blue whales, of course, are rare, and the largest animals on earth. Shawna Prince, co-owner of Sea of Whales Adventures in Trinity spoke with the CBC's Gavin Simms.

A Corner Brook man received an honour Wednesday night from MusicNL - but not for a song or album. David Smallwood's work has been behind the scenes, as a volunteer for many years. MusicNL presented him with the Denis Parker Industry Builder Award. Smallwood worked in growing the arts as a founder and head of the Rotary Arts Centre. He was also a board member with MusicNL and a chair for both the East Coast Music Association awards and the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. He was in St. John's for MusicNL's Music Celebration Week.

Today is the first day of the annual Fallen Firefighters Ride. Cyclists from across Canada were scheduled to leave Hamilton, ON, and pedal to Ottawa as a way to remember firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Nigel Pike is a firefighter from Stephenville and is the only rider from Newfoundland and Labrador participating in this event.

Students across the province were headed back to school today. That means more traffic and more children were on the roads, especially around school zones. The government is urging motorists to be more careful. Elvis Loveless is the Minister of Digital Government and Service NL.

The new school year started today. Students throughout the province had packed their backpacks and were prepared to start their first day of classes. Newfoundland Morning reporter Amy Feehan was inside J.J. Curling Elementary School in Corner Brook to take in that first-day action.

Anticipation is in the air, as school starts tomorrow for most children in NL. For some, it's their first day of school ever. The start of Kindergarten can be a very proud but sometimes difficult time for families. The CBC's Colleen Connors knows that first hand, as her daughter, Sophia, starts school tomorrow morning. Colleen told us about the first-day jitters of this family milestone.

(*This interview includes a frank conversation about sexual violence*.) A St. John's police officer convicted of raping a woman - "Jane Doe" - while on duty has been released from jail 11 months early. Doug Snelgrove was convicted in 2021, and last month, was granted parole and ordered to remain in his St. John's home. Snelgrove spent about one quarter of his actual sentence in jail. The Parole Board of Canada cited a low risk of reoffending in their decision. Ashley MacDonald, an advocate and sexual violence survivor, was behind the "Thank You Card Project," which sent letters of support to "Jane Doe" during the Snelgrove trial.

Students in the province's schools will notice a difference in what they're learning this academic year. The education department has made some changes to the K to 12 curriculum. Government is bringing in a digital curriculum platform, and there are changes for some French, social studies and math courses. Scott Linehan is an assistant deputy minister in the education department.

This is a story of hope and resilience, but some details may not be suitable for younger listeners. A Stephenville man fulfilled his dream over the summer of becoming a police officer. Daniel Benoit graduated from the RCMP Depot Division in late July. His graduation came 27 years after Benoit's first experience with police, which he says inspired him to join the force. Benoit's mother, Judy Ogden, was murdered in July of 1997, by her estranged husband, Daniel's father. She was beaten to death while four-year-old Daniel watched. Benoit said he's drawn from his experiences to find the resilience to pursue his dream.

Humans aren't the only ones who have jobs. Many animals do all kinds of work, and one dog, in particular, greets customers and brings smiles to their faces. Maggie the Newfoundland Dog works at the Newfoundland Emporium in Corner Brook. The CBC's Amy Feehan stopped by the store to learn more about what Maggie does during a day on the job.