As we all should know, the oldest sporting event in North America, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018, is Newfoundland’s coveted Royal St. John’s Regatta. The first Wednesday of August* brings thunderous crowds of up to 50,000 Newfoundlanders and come-fromaways to the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake where they’re distracted by betting, bands, food, drink—and rowing.
I use an asterisk for the date because the Regatta Day holiday is always “weather permitting.” The province doesn’t know whether to go to work until the weatherman declares the races are officially on. Imagine if your province had a moving Civic Holiday, say in winter, that doesn’t get declared until the snow is good enough. I’d vote for a leader who backed a provincial Powder Day holiday.
One person who I believe…
