[Crafts for Kids]

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Newfoundland was Britain's first North American colony, claimed by John Cabot in 1497.  Sir Gilbert officially proclaimed Newfoundland a colony of England in 1583.  (To relate it to U.S. history, this was 3 years before the Virginia Colony of Roanoke and 37 years before Plymouth Rock).

In 1931 Newfoundland became a Dominion, of equal status within the British Empire as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.  However, the Great Depression caused problems for the Dominion and they reverted back to a colony of Great Britain.  On June 22, 1948 a referendum on the future of the nation was held and Union with Canada narrowly won.  Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation in 1949.

You can find out a lot of interesting information about the province at http://www.gov.nf.ca/nfld&lab/

The Provincial Flag

The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial flag was adopted in 1980.  The white represents snow and ice, the blue represents the sea; red represents human effort and gold represents our confidence in ourselves.

The Provincial Flower

The pitcher plant was declared Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial flower in 1954.  This amazing plant eats insects -- they become trapped and rot inside the pitchers.  The plant then soaks up the nutrients.

The Provincial Bird

The Atlantic Puffin was made Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial bird in 1991.  This sea bird lives in the cold ocean waters feeding on small fish such as herring.

They usually mate for life.  The female lays one egg each year in an underground burrow.

Click here for a very pretty photo and not so pretty sound clip of the Puffin.  (close the window when done viewing to return to this page)

Fun Stuff:  Magic Tricks!

Featured Stuff:  Polar Bears!

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