Job well done, Jim

Those who know him well say the award couldn't be given to a more deserving recipient.

Trinity Mayor Jim Miller received the Doug Wheeler Award - which recognizes outstanding contributions to the tourism sector - at the provincial Tourism Summit in Gander last weekend.

His nomination was supported by several letters of reference from those who have worked with him.

John O'Dea lives in Trinity for part of the year. He says Miller "spends all his time for the benefit of Trinity and the Trinity Bight.

"No one rises earlier, or retires later, than Jim," wrote O'Dea. "From dawn to dusk he is either at the (Trinity Historic) Society office, the town office or off on some mission connected to both. He never slows down."

Chris O'Dea, who has volunteered with the Trinity Trust and the Trinity Historical Society, says of Miller, "His community is his passion and he is tireless in his efforts.

"His vehicle is seen outside the town office and the offices of the Trinity Historical Society seven days a week, and early in the morning and late in the evening.

"Jim is a model as a community leader and most deserving of the awards," Chris O'Dea contended in his letter of support.

And it's not just his own town that benefits from Miller's hard work.

Port Rexton Mayor Alvin Piercey noted that Miller, on his own initiative, raised private sector funds toward development of the Skerwink Trail, a project of the Port Rexton Town Council.

"He has demonstrated an extraordinary capacity and provided leadership to this partnership," Piercey explained.

Indeed, Miller's resume is proof of a busy life.

He first became involved with the Trinity Historical Society in 1995, as a tour guide at one of their historic sites.

He continued to work seasonally for the Society through high school and while pursuing his university education at Memorial University.

In 1997, with the opening of the Lester-Garland House, he became museum supervisor and in 1998 took on the additional role of archivist.

He began working with the Society full time in 2000, after his graduation from MUN.

In that role, Miller put a lot of effort into the project to rebuild the Cooperage, and the development of several virtual exhibits - giving the Trinity Historical Society a presence on the World Wide Web.

As if his day job wasn't enough, Miller decided to give municipal politics a try and in September, 2005, became Mayor of Trinity and one of the youngest mayors in the province.

In addition, he is chair of the Cape Random site and is a member of the Skerwink Trail.

'Together you can achieve much more'

The award came as a surprise to Miller.

"I was lured to Gander under false pretenses," he quips. "I was told I was going for a meeting, that there was the possibility of some funding."

Instead, Tourism Minister Terry French honoured Miller with the province's top tourism award.

"It's very much appreciated, very much, but I don't do it for the recognition."

Meanwhile, Miller doesn't intend to rest on his laurels.

"I'm just going to keep plugging away at the projects that I'm doing, whether it's the Trinity Historical Society, the town of Trinity or Random Passage. We'll continue with the partnership thing, and try and get more on the go.

"Together you can achieve much more."

John Fisher, who runs a bed and breakfast operation in the Trinity Bight, nominated Miller for the award.

He has high praise for Miller's work and his ability to bring groups together for the benefit of all.

"Jim is the first of a new generation of municipal leaders who know how to capture the intrinsic qualities of this place and put them to work for the good of the local population and visitors alike.

In terms of tourism once very separate communities must work together and pool their resources, protect these special places from destructive land use and more.

In his letter to the nominations committee, Fisher said one of Miller's most recent accomplishment was his orchestration of the partnership between the Town of Trinity and the Town of Port Rexton.

"This partnership has worked to develop and market the Skerwink Trail," says Fisher, adding the towns are now working together on a project that will develop an Information Kiosk linking visitors to a network of services and attractions within the Trinity Bight via Global Positioning System (GPS).

"There are many more tourism planning and development opportunities which can now be realized through this new municipal partnership .......an elusive goal for the last 12 years," said Fisher.

"Jim has worked tirelessly preserve the identity of rural Newfoundland while quietly and persistently getting everyone on side to work toward cultural and economic goals beneficial to a region and not limited to one community.

"He personifies the notion that 'all boats float on a rising tide'."

editor@thepacket.ca