deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

Newfoundland, Canada. It is the eastern most Canadian province. It is a place I have visited three times.

On my third visit to Newfoundland I did go through the ‘ceremony’ to become an honorary ‘Newfie’. (You must drink at least one swallow of a disgusting concoction called ‘Greg’ (pronounced ‘gree ’) and then kiss a Cod fish.).

The province is officially called Newfoundland-Labrador. Newfies consider themselves independent since they are an island and Labrador is the land mass way up north. Canada did it basically since both entities are considered ‘have-not’ and are economically vulnerable.

“Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly part of North America, and its position on the Atlantic has given it a strategic importance in defense, transportation, and communications. Its capital city, St. John’s (on Newfoundland), for instance, is closer to the coast of Ireland than it is to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Of perhaps greater significance have been the great fish stocks that inhabited the Grand Banks and other fishing grounds to the east and south of Newfoundland, spurring the development of numerous communities stretched along some 14,400 miles (23,200 km) of deeply indented wave-battered seacoast. These fisheries have been the single most important factor in shaping the history and character of the land and its people. Area 156,453 square miles (405,212 square km). Pop. (2021) 510,550; (2023 est.) 521,542.”

Newfoundland (pronounced ‘Newfinland’) is the only province whose residents speak English (97%). It is a heavy Irish sounding brogue and can be difficult to understand. The capital is St. John’s. Newfies have their own separate time zone which is 2 1/2 hours earlier than the Eastern Time Zone.

The name comes from King Henry VII stating it was the ‘New Founde Lande’ after English explorers arrived. Historically Basque fishers were there also and they called it: ‘Terra Nova’ (New Land). Lief Ericsson came in 1011 and Newfoundland was the very first English ‘possession’ in 1583. [And of course, First Nation People had been there for 9,000 years).

We heard about the strange land somewhere in Canada on September 11, 2001. When all airplanes were ordered out of the sky, many flights that were already in the air diverted to Gander airport in Newfoundland. The people of this small town took in hundreds of strangers who were stranded for days.

The flag was designed by Christopher Pratt in 1980. The Blue color represents the sea; The white is for snow and ice; The red is for the struggle of the people; The gold represents the confidence of the people; The blue triangles pays homage to the Union Flag; The red triangles represents Labrador.

A fascinating land with gracious people.