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Ode to Newfoundland		Ode to Labrador

We have decidedto take a different course on this page. We started (a year ago) with the standard list of links, but soon found there were other "professional"linkpages that could "keep up" with the task much better than we could ever hope to. Hence, we have decided to create a page that is dedicated to Newfoundland's uniqueness.

Note: This page, like all Web pages, is evolving - please come back.

Here we will show the people, places, and events that have shaped our fair province, and us, and have truly resulted in a "Worldof Difference"!

Newfoundland's known history has its beginnings at the "dawn of time". There is a burial ground (MaritimeArchaic Indians, Dorsetand Groswater Eskimo, and Beothuk)in Portau Choix that is over 4000 years old.
 

In morerecent times the Norse and Viking explorers journeyed to L'Anse-aux-Meadowsand established a village (the first Outport) in 1000 A.D. Rumour has itthat the PrincessSheila NaGeira has also graced our shores.
 
 

Some of the more recent visitors were Joao Vas Corte-Real in 1472(the Portugueseoften takecredit for discovering Newfoundland) and JohnCabot in 1497 (he was given "official" credit for having found thenew land but did not establish a colony). According to legend, John Cabotmay have exclaimed "OBuona Vista" upon seeing the Bonavista Harbour. SirHumphrey Gilbert took formal possession of Newfoundland in the nameof Englandin 1583. A colony, which became St.John's, was established in 1610 on the AvalonPeninsula. Other than Mexico,Newfoundland has the oldest settlements in NorthAmerica.
 
 

During the next hundred years the Frenchalso acquired a foothold on the island, establishing a base of operationson the shores of PlacentiaBay. Frenchforces ransacked and burned most of the English settlements on the islandat one time or another and for a while seemed to have the upper hand. In1713, however, British sovereignty over Newfoundland was recognized bythe Peace of Utrecht. France retained only the islands of Saint Pierreand Miquelon, off the South Coast, and codfisheries on the West Coast.

Labradorbecame a Britishpossession in 1763 under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, but was transferredto Québecin 1774. It became part of Newfoundland in 1809, but the boundary withQuébec remained a matter of dispute until it was settled in 1927.Colonization of Labrador was not undertaken until the 19th century.

Other famous latecomers were Lord Baltimore, JacquesCartier, and Captain James Cook.

Ithink we would be remiss if we didn't mention some of the infamous visitors,such as the pirate PeterEaston. The pirates are a part of our history that as fascinated mesince early childhood. I vividly remember acting out the role of a privateeron Crow Hill (the cliffs overlooking the Bayof Islands). Crow Hill has a monument to Captain James Cook and is,quite possibly, the most scenic outlook on the island.

No doubt, in one way or another, they all came for the fishBecauseof the nearness of the Grand Banks, once one of the world's richest fishinggrounds, Newfoundland's economy has historically been dominated by thefishing industry. Since the end of the 19th century, however, the forestryindustry and, later, the mining industry have grown in importance. Todayminerals are by far the most valuable commodity produced in the province.Although the economy of Newfoundland expanded substantially during the1980s, we still had the lowest income per capita of any Canadian provinceas the 1990s began. Yet,we persevere. In spite of 500years of "hard times", we are looking towards a bright future withsuch endeavors as tourism and oil (Hibernia). In addition many businessesand young entrepreneurs are hoping to capitalize on the technology surroundingthe "Information Highway". Newfoundlander’s have always been innovative;for example it was a Newfie (Colonel Cluney MacPherson) who invented theGas Mask.

After having gone bankrupt trying to finance involvement in WorldWar I and World War II, Newfoundland, under the influence of Joey Smallwood, reluctantlyjoined Canada in 1949. Interestingly enough, there are many Newfoundlanderswho still debate whether Confederation was the right move. There is nodoubt that we have benefited from our relationship with Canada, butmany feel we have lost our independence. The poor economic times have resultedin a constant migration of Newfoundlanders to the "mainland". Newfoundland'sbiggest export is its youth. Newfoundlanders have gone to the "Four Corners"to look for work. Today, Newfoundland's politicians, such as BrianTobin, are working hard to fix some of the "bad deals" made by Joey(Churchill Falls being a well-known example) and "turn the economy around".

There are many sights and sounds to be experienced while travelingNewfoundland’s highwaysand byways. If you came by sea on one of the modern ferries (the Caribou,or the Josephand Clara Smallwood), you may have seen pilot whales andduringyour crossing. If whale and berg watching is your thing, a visit to St.John's or Trinity Bay is a must. There you can take boat excursionsto see humpback whalesand "growlers".

Between PortAux Basques and St.John's there are many scenic wonders (beware the "wreckhouse"), suchas the Codroy Valley andthe view from MountErin at BarachoisProvincial Park. On your way by, don't forget to visit Newfoundland's"largest wooden" church (Lady of Mercy) on the Portau Port peninsula. Stephenville,once the home of an American Army base, is an interesting side trip. Asyou drive the Trans Canada highway to CornerBrook, you may see bears,foxes,rabbits,and all mannerof waterfowl (ducks,geese). Watch carefully for the moose - they are quite common and wejokingly refer to them as "Newfie Speedbumps". CornerBrooksituatedat the mouth of the HumberRiver in the Bayof Islands. Salmonfishing is a popular sport in the area. Corner Brook is about fortymiles inland and the drive "down the bay" is breathtaking. The "BlowMe Down" Mountains are snow-capped even in late summer. Ifyou enjoy skiing check out MarbleMountain. Along the highway you can stop to pick berries (blueberries- "don't pick the red ones, they're still green",wild strawberries and raspberries, and partridgeberries),or take a dip in the icy waters of Cook's Brook. If you come across a swampypatch, be sure and see if you can find Newfoundland's provincial symbol,the pitcher plant.Ask at a local wharf and you can find the best place to get a "feedof lobster". Also,there are many "trouting"opportunities along the way.

Newfoundland isalso famous for its bird sanctuaries, like the one at St.Mary's Bay, on the AvalonPeninsula. Before heading out to the "EastCoast", make sure you take a trip "up the coast" to St.Anthony. You can visit the Vikingvillage at L'Anse-aux-Meadows.On the way play in the sand dunes at St.Paul's, or journey up the fjords at WesternBrook Pond.If you see a "fishflake", a "dory",a "trapskiff",or a "rodney", you’ll know you are in the company of fishermen.

Newfoundlandis famous for its lighthousestoo. My brother-in-law, Reg Cantwell is a descendant of the famous Cantwell’sthat kept the lighthouse at CapeSpear (North America’s most easterly point) for hundreds of years.Reg is a different kind of "keeper" - he, and his wife Judy, own and operateCantwell’s Tae Kwon do Schoolin St. John’s. Many Newfoundland lighthouses have beenreplaced by modernautomated facilities, but there are some greatones (like the one at Ferryland) that are worth the trek. We visitedthe Ferrylandlighthouse some years back. It was shrouded in fogand you could plainly see why fishermen came to rely on these warningbeacons. While strolling over the barrensleading out to the lighthouse,keep your eyes open for "bakeapples".On your way down the shore to Ferrylandmake sure you stop into one of our favourite places on the whole island,Petty Harbour.

St.John’s, home of the "Regatta"and Quidi VidiLake, is famous for the GeorgeStreet festival, Signal Hill, the Battery, and of course Ches’ Fishand Chips. St. John’s has been devastated by "great fires" and has an interestingmixture of old and new architecture. A stroll down Duckworth Street, oralong Water Street is bound to reveal many interesting bars and pubs. St.John’s is reputed to have the largestnumber of bars and clubs per capita of any place in Canada. You’ll find some surprisingly good talent playing the local pubs - talent suchas the SwampDonkeys.
 
 

Newfoundland has its share of well-known painters (Chris and MaryPratt), writers (HaroldHorwood), musicians (FiggyDuff), and comedians (and "ThisHour Has Twenty-two Minutes",but there are still many rising stars to look out for.

Some of the better known animals from Newfoundland are the NewfoundlandDog, theNewfoundland Water Dog, and the LabradorRetriever.Not so well known, unfortunately, are the NewfoundlandPonies. The province is also home to, surprisingly enough, red admiralbutterflies and tiger swallowtailbutterflies. It is no contradiction in Newfoundland to be as at homewith butterflies as with "sealhunting". The seal hunt mayhave been exploitedby Bridgett Bardot, but has been a "wayof life" in Newfoundland for hundreds of years. If weare lucky, the world will see the harvestingof harp and hood seals for what it is - a wise use of our resources - andthere will be a revival of this age-old custom. Some other animals thatare hunted annually in Newfoundland, are the turr, the partridge and therockptarmigan. Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a "scoff" of "flipper pie".The caribou herds in Labrador are remarkable both as a chance for photographersand hunters.

Newfoundlandersare world renown for their sense of humour,and nowhere is it more evident than in our place names - places like WitlessBay, Dildo,Comeby Chance, Little Heart's Ease,Petty Harbour, VirginArm, and hundredsmore dot the map. Each one is a "Worldof Difference!"

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