Wendy Woodman, one of the locals currently on guard duty at the site of the burnt out Bay D’Espoir Academy, has a singular thought when asked her thoughts about the loss.
“Exercise.”
The elementary school was not only a place of education in this town, it was also a gathering place, a social mecca of sorts in a small rural Newfoundland community.
“There is no more exercise class - that’s it, we’re done,” Woodman told TC Media Wednesday morning. “There is no where to go.”
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The school was a meeting place for several local clubs and organizations, all of them now left without a gathering place.
“It’s more than just a school you know,” said Deputy Mayor Clarence Kelly. “The men play floor hockey, the Pioneers meet here.”
And there’s Woodman’s exercise class.
Ten to 12 woman are a part of her class, which has been meeting there for five years.
“It was for mom’s to get out and just relax,” said Woodman. “To get an hour to themselves.”
