Judges are Newfies too

Newfoundland features prominently in the off-beat news beat today, as a woman in Southern Ontario woke up from a stroke recently with an "East Coast" accent that she didn't have before. The rare occurence is called Foreign Accent Syndrome, in this case because there's no such thing as Regional Accent Syndrome. This account of the incident comes from The Record in Waterloo, Ontario.

"She come in my room and there are three other ladies there and she says, 'Who is the Newfie in here?' "
(July 3 2008, Rob Faulkner)


Elsewhere, a Nova Scotia paper reports a Nova Scotia judge is likely to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada. From The Chronicle Herald:

"The last thing Stephen Harper is going to do is pay attention to Newfies screaming nationalism," one Newfoundland lawyer said.
(July 2 2008, Stephen Maher)

Now that's a lawyer I'd like to talk to, if I ever get to Halifax.

Remember Beaumont Hamel, here's your sparkler

It's July 1st, the happiest day in all of Canada, and the worst day in Newfoundland history. Take five minutes to go here to find out more.

On to the Newfies, and if you want archetype, Yorkregion.con News has got yer archetype right here. There's a Newfoundland scoff and dance coming up in Richmond Hill. There's Newfoundland steak and a Screech-in. The bum-paddling is a new one though, I'll grant you.

Calling all Newfies — or those who wish they were.
(July 1 2008, Keely Grasser)

Happy Canada Day.

A Newfie and Country Jamboree

Bumper crop of Newfie usage over the weekend...

From Monsters & Critics (from the website: "Monsters and Critics' aim is to provide users with a broad source of entertainment news and reviews as well as coverage of world news, technology, sport and science.") comes this gem. This piece has apparently been making the internet rounds, as it's a repeat from another site, in fact it's the piece that got me keeping track of the word "Newfie" after a break. It would seem Canada's East Coast trail is a sight to behold, the only problem is the Newfies ruinin' everything by showin' up and tellin' jokes and talkin' to ya. If any Newfies out there having been stationing themselves along the trail offering Screech to CFA hikers, I'd sure love to hear from ya.

The 'Newfies,' as Newfoundlanders are sometimes called, will impede a hiker by thoughtlessly engaging him in conversation, offering him Screech - a kind of rum - and telling him jokes.
(June 17 2008, Ole Helmhausen)


Next up, The Halifax Chronicle Herald, from whom you'll be hearing regularly, if memory serves. In their lineup of Atlantic music festivals, the title of one refers to a little known music genre:

Stewiacke River Newfie and Country Jamboree, July 11, 12, Stewiacke River Park Rd. (Exit 11 off 102).
(Mon June 30 2008, Andrea Nemetz)


From the column Scrunchins ("A weekly collection of Newfoundlandia") as published in St. John's broadsheet The Independent comes two mentions: Once in reference to the title of a Ray Guy column from the sixties...

Newfie, Nigger, Frog, or Wop

...and secondly in reference to the iconic politician who was "inspiring" Guy at the time:

How was it that he was allowed to pick on Smallwood — the false newfie god — the way he did?
(Saturday June 28 2008, Ryan Cleary)


And finally from The Telegraph-Journal out of Saint John NB, an article about an Easterner's view of the wine industry (as he puts it) "out west". Statements like these make me want to head out to Alberta to find out what the hell is going on out there, sociologically speaking.

They also sometimes use the term "Newfie" to refer to anyone from Atlantic Canada. I'm less offended by that, as I love Newfies.
(Fri June 27 2008, Craig Pinhey)

Sporting News

A link to a blog that links to a blog. I'll list 'em both because they both use Newfie.

First off, from Sporting News magazine comes a post about Daniel Cleary and the Stanley Cup, with this headline:

Newfie winning the Cup again?
(Jun 18 2008, "wild@bouthockey")

Then another blog, still on Sporting News, links to it, with this clarification:

The first blog of the day goes to wild@bouthockey, his latest entry called "Newfie winning the Cup again?" is very good and maybe a Newfie can bring home the Cup back to Newfoundland
(Jun 18 2008, "gagne619)

The Return of Newfie In Use

This is a spot to keep track of the word "Newfie", as it comes to my attention through Google News Alerts. I kept a tally like this for a few months elsewhere and eventually let it slide. Today's news alert however comes all the way from India, and it seemed like a good time to give 'er another go. Enjoy.

From what looks like the travel blog section of TopNews comes this glowing review of the natural beauty to be felt and seen along the East Coast Trail. The only problem? Newfies.

If it has any fault at all, then the locals are it. The "Newfies," as Newfoundlanders are sometimes called, will impede a hiker by thoughtlessly engaging him in conversation, offering him Screech - a kind of rum - and telling him jokes.

(Tue, 06/17/2008 Ole Helmhausen)