The traditional Newfoundland dinner and dance at the Royal Canadian Legion in Bradford West Gwillimbury on Saturday night drew a huge crowd.
Guests came from around the region, including the other side of Lake Simcoe, to enjoy a traditional Jiggs Dinner of salted beef, and dance to the Down East music of Caribou Country.
Some were native sons and daughters of the Rock, like Jackie Kozak.
She and friends Chris Walters, Tanja Kinnarinen and Mike Pearce added an unexpected touch to the evening by dressing up as Mummers – Newfoundland's masked musicians, with “boys dressed as women and girls dressed as men” – and marching into the hall playing the accordion and “garbage bag.”
Others “came from away,” including the 15 guests who signed up to be screeched in, to become honorary Newfoundlanders.
Organizers Cristal Major and Alice Organ explained the process. The 15 were offered a piece of hardtack (bread baked as hard as a “hockey puck") and a slice of bologna – or as Major put it, “Newfie steak - the real wax bologna.” She assured the group: “We cut the wax off."
After being sprinkled with sea water from Bonavista Bay, they sung a verse of I’se the b’y: “I’se the b’y that builds the boat, and I’se the b’y that sails ‘er. I’se the b’y that catches the fish and takes ‘er home to Liza.”
Then, after kissing a cod fish, they finished with a shot of screech, a Jamaican rum that is traditionally 40 per cent alcohol.
“We have a record crowd here at the legion tonight,” said Major to cheers, as she helped hand out certificates to the successful screechers.
One of those earning her honorary Newfie certificate was Natasha Leskiw. The best part of the ceremony? “The screech,” she said. “I’d do that again.”
