Newfoundland Discovery Day

Newfoundland Discovery Day

Monday nearest June 24

Newfoundland distinguishes itself from several other Canadian provinces by celebrating its provincial holiday on a different calendar date. Most Canadian provinces and territories observe the holiday on the first Monday of August, but Newfoundlanders have selected June 24 because that historic date marks Italian explorer John Cabot's discovery of the region in 1497.
In 1997 Newfoundland celebrated the 500th anniversary of Cabot's landfall. A modern-day replica of the explorer's ship, the Matthew, was built, and sailors reenacted the historic journey from Bristol, England, to Newfoundland. Thousands of people gathered in the town of Bonavista at the site where historians conjecture Cabot landed. There they welcomed the ship at the end of its seven-week voyage. Among the dignitaries who attended were England's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip along with Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin.

CONTACTS:
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Communications Branch
10th Fl., East Block
Confederation Bldg.
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6 Canada
www.gov.nl.ca

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 293