Friends across the Miles: VSOs - an important part of Labrador Education History: Voluntary Service Overseas (Voluntary Service Overseas VSO in Labrador Newfoundland Canada)

Friends across the Miles: VSOs - an important part of Labrador Education History Very interesting original copies of newspaper and magazine articles about the work of the Voluntary Service Overseas (V.S.O.) teachers in Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada 1960 – 70, when 18 year old students - mainly from the United Kingdom, taught in the schools of the Labrador coastal settlements. “It’s been over 30 years since members of the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) were stationed in Labrador and now a search is underway to locate those who served as teachers from 1960-1970 (one year terms). VSOs came from the United Kingdom to isolated communities and a way of life that was foreign to them. Some of the communities they were stationed in included Nain, Hopedale, Lodge Bay, Cartwright, Mary’s Harbour, Cape St. Charles, William’s Harbour, Rexon’s Cove, Mud Lake, Makkovik, North West River, Port Hope Simpson and Rigolet. The idea to bring members of this volunteer organization to Labrador originated with Reverend Bill Peacock, superintendent of the Moravian Missions in Labrador. He knew the difficulty there was in attracting qualified Newfoundland and Canadian teachers to the Labrador coast, particularly more remote communities. When Bill Rompkey (now Labrador Senator) became superintendent of the school board in 1968, VSOs were already in place. “I was very attracted to the idea, particularly as we were still having the same problems filling some schools,” said Mr. Rompkey. He said the use of volunteers in Labrador was not new… " Extract "The Labradorian" Happy Valley-Goose Bay 18 JUne 2003 by Karen Blackmore Cover photograph: Scout hike across the ice from Nain by John Penny VSO teacher 1966 Dedication This book is dedicated to obtaining justice for Erica D’Anitoff Williams, three and a half years and her young father Arthur Eric Williams, 27 years who died in their Labrador Development Company home, Port Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in acrimonious, suspicious circumstances in the early hours of 3 February 1940. The R.C.M.P (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Serious Crimes Unit, Gander, Newfoundland in 2002, opened up their own investigation about the deaths. If you know anything at all about what happened please do not hesitate in contacting your local RCMP detachment or the police force of jurisdiction in your area. If you live outside Canada, please contact your local police service and ask them to make a request for assistance from the appropriate Canadian law enforcement agency. The main RCMP website address is http:// www.rcmp.ca or Email me!