In Newfoundland, being right too soon can work against you.¹
Raise an uncomfortable truth before the group is ready, and you’re not seen as prepared — you’re seen as disruptive. The response isn’t “thanks for the warning,” it’s “why are you causing trouble?”
This pattern shows up far beyond protest lines. It appears in council chambers, volunteer boards, environmental groups, and workplaces. The earlier you spot what’s coming, the faster you’re dismissed — and when your point is eventually accepted, credit is often handed to someone else.⁶
The Pattern of Early Erasure
It tends to unfold in four steps:
- Early Warning — Someone raises an issue that challenges the group’s current comfort zone.
- Reframing — Attention shifts from the issue itself to the person’s “tone” or “timing.”²
- Social Penalty — Rumours, exclusion, or subtle shunning replace direct discussion.³
- The Rewrite — Months later, the group adopts the same point without acknowledging who said it first.
In a small place like Newfoundland, these penalties carry more weight.¹ Social circles are tight. Many believe keeping the peace means avoiding conflict, even when it’s necessary. Unity gets mistaken for conformity — and independent voices are pushed out instead of heard.⁶
Case Evidence
Brenda Kitchen
Brenda built a track record of speaking plainly and setting clear boundaries. But when she drew firm lines with people crossing those boundaries, there was an attempt to sideline her. She’s still going — but the effort to diminish her influence was clear.⁶
Rae Miller & the Petition Incident - 2022
A petition from Port au Port had gathered strong local support — 84% of respondents were against the project.⁵ It was to be delivered to MHA Eddie Joyce. Rae Miller, who had connections to the regional economic development board — the CBDC (Community Business Development Corporations) — became involved and the submission was delayed. Whether out of caution or hesitation, her involvement slowed the process, keeping the group’s action within more “acceptable” limits.⁷
Nadine Tallack & Duran Felix
Nadine publicly stated opposition to the wind project, yet also framed it as inevitable and encouraged working with the developers. During a protest, her brother Duran — a retired DND member⁸ — approached me directly and began loudly delivering wind turbine facts. The exchange wasn’t about open discussion; it came across more like a drill-sergeant briefing, a way of asserting authority in the moment rather than inviting dialogue.
Why This Happens in Newfoundland
This isn’t just about personality clashes. It’s a product of how small communities manage risk.¹
In places where everyone is connected, disagreement feels personal.³ Social stability is treated as more important than accuracy or foresight. Those who move too far ahead of the group risk being seen as disloyal, even if they’re protecting the same interests.
These dynamics also make it easy for organized actors — political, corporate, or otherwise — to shape the limits of local debate. (Gerry Labelle for example) ¹ If a group already punishes early dissent from within, outside forces don’t have to work as hard to keep inconvenient truths out of the conversation.
The Broader Impact
Erasing early voices doesn’t just hurt individuals — it changes outcomes.
When warnings are silenced or delayed, decisions get made with less information, less urgency, and less resistance to harmful policies.⁶ The record of what happened becomes distorted, with the people who took the first risks written out of the story.
The same thing happens in environmental campaigns, housing debates, and municipal politics. It’s part of a cultural reflex: agree late and you’re a team player; speak early and you’re a problem.
Closing
Being early shouldn’t be a liability. In healthy communities, it’s an asset.
But until that shift happens, those who speak up first will keep paying a social price. That’s why it’s worth looking at when a point is made, not just what is said — because the difference between being ignored and being celebrated is often nothing more than timing.
See Also:
References
[1] Van Assche, K., Greenwood, R., & Gruezmacher, M. (2022). The local paradox in grand policy schemes: Lessons from Newfoundland and Labrador. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 38(3), 101212. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956522122000197 (local download)
[2] Change.org. Say NO to Wind Turbines on the Port-au-Port Peninsula petition. Created July 3, 2022. Available at: https://www.change.org/p/petition-say-no-to-wind-turbines-on-the-port-au-port-peninsula
[3] The Independent. “‘No one is representing us’: Port au Port residents protest outside EnergyNL conference.” Published June 10, 2025. Available at: https://theindependent.ca/news/no-one-is-representing-us-port-au-port-residents-protest-outside-energynl-conference/
[4] Facebook. Public group post in Port au Port Peninsula. “84% said NO to this project.” Available at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290008323378342/posts/521269923585513/
[5] Facebook. Public group post noting opposition percentages. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290008323378342/posts/773750251670811/
[6] Author’s field notes and observations, Bayman’s Paradox archive, 2022–2025.
[7] Port au Port petition records, 2022 (unpublished community data).
[8] Canadian Forces personnel public registry, Department of National Defence.