2010 Bemister Family Reunion - Transportation and Accommodations

You can easily fly into St. John’s International airport by major airlines and from there it will take just over an hour to drive to Carbonear. West Jet and Air Canada have been running seat sales with discount fares right up to the period of our reunion. Currently you can fly return from Toronto for under $500. For our American cousins it may be worth making a connection through Vancouver or Toronto or a border city to take advantage of Canadian air line discounts. However you can easily drive from Ontario or the Boston States in 3 days, including a ferry ride from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. The East Coast ferry to Argentia takes about 14 hours overnight (ask for dormitory accommodation) followed by a 2 hour run to Carbonear. Check with Marine Atlantic for schedules and fares. Also you will need to book a rental vehicle – and book early! Several of the chains have kiosks at the airport and for security you should book well in advance.

Accommodations in the Carbonear area are somewhat limited and we advise you to book early because this will be a very active tourist season. The Carbonear web site and the provincial tourist sites have links to the web sites for motels and bed and breakfast establishments. There are at least three inexpensive motels and several excellent B & B’s in the Carbonear – Harbour Grace – Brigus area. Don’t be shy about staying a bit out of town; it’s only a 20 or 30 minute run from Heart’s Content or Cupids to Carbonear, and even St. John’s is only an hour away. If you book a St. John’s hotel ask for a view of the harbour and Signal Hill if such a room is available. But again, we urge you to book early. And check the web sites for information up-dates on travel and tourist information, not to mention the Bemister Blog for the latest information.

Getting out the word!

At this point the most helpful thing any of you can do – besides sending in your registration form and cheque – is to get the reunion information to others in your immediate family, to your adult children, first and second cousins and anyone else you think is related through your Bemister line. Forwarding our e-mails to all these folk would be a big help. We are mailing by Canada Post to some 400 households, and we think our e-mail coverage is much greater than that. If you send us contact information on your relatives we will be glad to send out hard copies of the notice. This may well be the LAST MAJOR REUNION of our generation in Carbonear, a last great opportunity to meet your cousins from near and far in the town that was the birthplace of Maria 200 years ago, the town that nurtured your Bemister ancestors and welcomes you back this summer with open hearts and unparalleled hospitality. You will never forget it and neither will they! We look forward to seeing you in August.

Sincerely,
Cameron Hopkins
on behalf of the Organizing Committee