Newfoundland: British, not Canadian, until 1949

Holy shit. Ran across this fact while reading the Wiki bio of Foster Hewitt.

For some reason, this blew me away. I feel full of total fail for not knowing this.

 

You should... ESPECIALLY for someone who has two hockey jerseys in his avatar

 

Ha! Just learned that the other day when I picked up Tony Horowitz's new book and he made the trek up north.

 

Hockey fondness aside, I know a lot more about Latin America than I do Canada, based purely on personal experience. It's weird, I guess, but I come from a part of the USA that is more influenced by Mexico than Canada.

 

Along that note, I am aware of the historical Republic of Yucatan, as I spent four sleepy months in this part of present-day Mexico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Yucatan

Not broadly analagous to the Newfoundland story, but interesting nevertheless.

 

Technically, it was only British - ie. a British colony - until 1907. That's when it became a dominion, the same status as Canada.

Self-government failed during the Great Depression and Newfoundland was run throughout the Second World War by a commission that reported to London. After the war, Newfoundland had to decide whether to regain independence or join Canada, and joining Canada won by a slim majority in the second of two referendums.

At which point Foster Hewitt dropped "and Newfoundland" in his weekly "Hockey Night In Canada" greeting.

 

Man walks on moon ...

 

Same place I learned it actually.

 

You're from Saginaw, Michigan?

 

Newfoundland time is also a half-hour later than it is in the next time zone west, rather than a full hour. Crazy Newfies.

 

I find it interesting that in the course of our education, we -- Canadians, I mean, learn the construction of the entire continent of North America. We learn about the Boston Tea Party and the Lousiana Purchase and what not ... but you guys don't have those same lessons. Hell, Newfoundland is home to the oldest city in North America (and I highly recommend you go see it). Halifax was a major port in both World Wars and the site of a major explosion. These are not things I expect you guys learn despite them being pertinent to the development of North America.

 

Wanna know why?