Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 15/02) - They're Newfies, and proud of it. Unfortunately, these proud Newfies are just a wee bit lonely.

"I miss my mom, my sister, and my brother, my mother-in-law," says Mary Chipman, formerly of Spaniard's Bay, Nfld.

Mary Chipman misses family back east in Newfoundland, but the Newfie Friends Long Distance might bring a little bit of the Rock up to Yellowknife.

A Northerner since 1984, Chipman estimates there are at least a few thousand fellow Islanders laying down their heads in Yellowknife.

Whether they're Townies, Bay Boys or Lasses, from the Island or Labrador, Newfoundlanders are famous for heading west, wherever the jobs are.

The booming Northwest Territories, home to plenty of lucrative jobs in mines, hospitals, government, or the oil and gas industry, sees more than its fair share of migrants from the Granite Planet.

Thus, Newfie Friends Long Distance was born. Spell out the acronym. N. F. L. D. Get it? Chipman is one of its founding members.

Chipman and cohorts decided Newfie was just what they wanted to be called.

"A lot of people refer to us as Newfies, and it's not degrading in any way shape form," says Chipman.

"Actually, we're quite proud to be Newfies," she adds.

With a tiny, but dedicated membership of a dozen Newfies, the connection is trying to get the word out.

The club holds a regular Tuesday meeting at the Yellowknife Legion, as well as the occasional Newfie-themed evening.

"A. Frank Willis was in for a one-man show, and he packed the Legion for us," Chipman says with a smile.

An opportunity for a heaping helping of scrumptious Newfie fare like Jiggs' dinner, or cod tongues, fish and brewis, or flipper pie. Okay, maybe not the last one, given that the principal ingredient in flipper pie is, well, seal flippers.

"Where are you gonna get decent flippers in Yellowknife," asks Chipman, rolling her eyes.