News and Views

One province, with a compound name. Established in 1949 as simply “Newfoundland”, the name was changed in 2001. In general conversation Canadians refer to the province as Newfoundland, but in all official discussion the full name is used. Practically, the island is always “Newfoundland”, while the mainland portion is often just “Labrador”.

I had always pronounced the island “New-Fund-Lund”, but I hear locals say “New-Fund-Land”, saying “Land” like we would in isolation. So that’s how I’m trying to say it.

Talking with some Torontons last night, they said that “Newfies” are often the brunt of jokes in metropolitan Canada, I think like the old Polack jokes we used to tell, or blonde jokes. “How many Newfies does it take to screw in a light bulb?” I’m sorry to say that I don’t know the answer.