We asked Newfoundlanders about their plans for Discovery Day
And here are some of your answers
Melissa Wong
| Posted: June 23, 2018, 12:47 p.m. | Updated: June 23, 2018, 1:16 p.m. | 4 Min Read
"Home, sitting down, drinking a cold beer … use the barbecue … usually pork chops, steak, hot dogs something fast. … I live in a building, so there are lots of people around, 15 of us, so I got no trouble for company ... especially if they smell a barbecue bone, then you can be sure that company is coming." — Tracy Fagan of Kelligrews says of his plans for Discovery Day.
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Discovery Day is the celebration of the anniversary when John Cabot was supposed to have discovered the island part of Newfoundland on Monday, June 24, 1497.
Now, on the Monday that falls closest to June 24, people celebrate Discovery Day, which has been celebrated since 1997, the 500th anniversary of the event. In the summer of 1997, a historical replica of Cabot's ship, the Matthew, was built.
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The holiday does exist for some people, who enjoy a long weekend, and most city offices and facilities will be closed, along with all recreation facilities.
Discovery Day is not considered a holiday for shops to close, parking meters will be enforced, the visitor information centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the call centre will remain open. Garbage and recycling collection will continue as usual.
The Telegram took to the streets to ask people how they will spend Discovery Day.
"I do Santa Claus and I have been doing it over 40 years. The kids just love me when they see me. They say, ‘Mommy, mommy, there's Santa Claus!' The adults, when they see me, they look at me and stare at me and just light up. … On Discovery Day, I'm going to go out and visit some of the smaller kids that I know who are waiting to see me and make sure they are staying good and acting good for their parents. … I talk to kids, kids come and talk to me and I talk to parents who tell me their kids are really good and I say, 'I hope they stay that way till I see them again on Christmas Eve.'" — Jim Clarke, Bugden's Santa Claus Taxi Driver, St. John's"On Discovery Day, unfortunately, I will be working all day, I think. I will be working until 1 a.m. in the morning, so after that, I will just get home and read the news to find out what has been happening for the whole day and then take a nap." — Abdul Kulindwa, Dares Salaam, Tanzania
"I might go fishing and do a lot of recycling. … Most times I do recycling." — Ricky Sanders, St. John's
"No big plans. If it is nice out, I'll go for a walk … probably around Quidi Vivid or downtown. … I'm not too sure about what to do in a day. So, if it is nice out I'll be outside. If not, do something inside." — Ryan Locke, St. John's"Probably working. … Probably go out to the park and walk around with Mary." "Same thing, with Chrissy, too." Chrissy Allerston (right), St. John's; and Mary Hicks, Mount Pearl
