Daniel Downey, a self-proclaimed son of Newfoundland, didn’t always worry about the impacts of the offshore oil and gas industry.
As a motorcycle enthusiast, he admits that as recently as 10 years ago, he used to mock people who rode bicycles to reduce their personal carbon footprint.
“Years ago, when I was younger and less informed, I used to laugh about people who used bicycles to get around.”
And while Dan’s heart will always belong in Newfoundland, where he was born and raised, he can no longer ignore how the province that he knows and loves so dearly, has changed.
“As a child, I was able to go out and play freely, without fear of being scorched by the sun. Now, you go outside for 20 minutes in the heat of the summer, and you run the risk of being burned. It makes me anxious.”
Dan has also noticed significant changes in the island’s winters.
“Our winters have changed dramatically. We used to have severe winters with a lot of snowfall. Now the temperatures are very, very moderate and are continually going up. It’s nowhere near as cold as it used to be. It’s sad.”
Unnatural weather patterns that bring dangerous winter storms and crushing summer heat are changing the Newfoundland he knows, and Dan wonders if continuing to invest in offshore oil development will only make things worse.
Once unconcerned about carbon pollution, Dan now stands in a park of his hometown, reflecting on how rising temperatures and shifting seasons are transforming the Newfoundland he loves. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Griffin)
Between ‘The Rock’ and a Hard-Working Place
Dan, now living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has spent his career working in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, acting as a trusted liaison between pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals to help ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatments.
After stepping away from the industry last year, Dan quickly realized that retirement wasn’t for him—and it wasn’t long before he was back at work.
“When I retired, the company hired four staff to replace me, so I’m going to work another year or so.”
Dan feels fortunate to have had a successful and fulfilling career free of hard labour in the resource extraction industry, but he understand why many Newfoundlanders have relied on the oil industry for their livelihoods, especially after the collapse of the cod industry and the subsequent 30-year moratorium on cod fishing, which left many unable to fish to feed their families.
“Suddenly, many people were working on offshore rigs, earning high wages. The economy boomed.”
While many benefited from this economic surge, Dan is concerned that pulling more oil up from the ocean floor will just create more pollution to an increasingly stormy world, making life more unpredictable and less safe.
“My wife and I are in that happy space where grandchildren are starting to come along. But the way the world is evolving makes me scared to death for my grandkids.”
Offshore oil once promised prosperity for NL — but as storms grow stronger and seasons more extreme, Dan wonders if it’s time to turn the tide toward cleaner, more sustainable energy. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Barnes)
Charting a New Course
Dan understands that transitioning away from oil and gas won’t be immediate, but emphasizes the importance of planning for the long-term well-being of Newfoundland’s families.
“If we could find a way to eliminate the amount of dependence on oil and gas in favour of other options. It’s a very windy place and there’s huge amounts of Newfoundland that could be used for wind turbines that are not populated.”
Dan now believes Newfoundland can strike a balance between providing good jobs for its people and addressing the root causes of carbon pollution. He thinks this can be done by “Thinking outside the box and looking at alternative resources for power creation,” but only with support of governments.
Dan thinks a good start would be for the provincial government to stop giving out any new licenses for offshore oil and gas exploration, as he says, “Change needs to happen.”
And while he’s still busy working (out of retirement) in Halifax, he visits his hometown in warm weather, you’ll likely find him cruising the steep and windy streets dotted with colourful row houses in downtown St. John’s on his motorcycle.
Dan still loves the open road, but now rides with a deeper purpose: calling for a shift from offshore oil to cleaner, more sustainable energy for the island he calls home. Photo submitted.
