Mr. Cotter presented the plaque to Mayor Frank Butt at the Carbonear Swimming Pool on behalf of Mrs. Audrey Cole, Rex Cotter and Fred Saunders.

Text is included below:

ERNEST A. COLE

FIRST RECREATION DIRECTOR

TOWN OF CARBONEAR

Ernest A. Cole was born in Carbonear in 1939. After high school graduation in 1956 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force where he met Audrey Purschke, a native of Western Canada.

When their terms in the military were up in 1960 he and Audrey returned to his home town of Carbonear where they married and raised three children, Roger, Joanne and Scott.

Because of his electronics training in the RCAF, Ern decided to open a Television Repair Business. During his spare time he got involved with the youth of Carbonear and became an Officer in 589 Carbonear Air Cadet Squadron and helped to organize, supervise, coach and manage sports teams and sports activities and arrange tournaments in other communities in Newfoundland and mainland Canada.

In 1964 the Carbonear Boys Club was formed through the sponsorship of the local Kiwanis Club and the financial support and hard work of several local citizens of the Town. The Club was located in the abandoned Glove Factory in the west end. Because Ern had developed such a strong and respected reputation with the youth of Carbonear the Kiwanis Club called on him to run the Club. Ern welcoming the opportunity and took the position as a volunteer as he was still operating his TV repair business.

With the help of funding by the Town of Carbonear and the Provincial Government the Carbonear Recreation Commission was formed. Ern was appointed as its first Recreation Director and was able to expand service to the youth of the Town through the facilities provided by the Town and by the Boys Club. Ern continued in that position until 1968.

Beginning in 1968 Ern spent several years teaching at Davis Elementary as a Phys-Ed Instructor and worked part time with Continuing Studies of the Department of Education of Memorial University. He went on to continue his formal education eventually receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from MUN and Master of Science degree in Adult Education from the Florida State University. He continued working with Memorial as their full time Continuing Studies Representative in Grand Falls Windsor and later in St. John’s becoming Associate Director of the Department.