Jamie Nye: Newfoundland is easy to cheer for

If there was a place to be on Sunday it would have been St. John’s, N.L.

Or maybe I should say, if there is a place to be today it is St. John’s, N.L, because they’re likely still going after Brad Gushue’s curling team ended a 41-year Brier drought for the province and did it on home ice at the Mile One Centre.

Newfoundland hasn’t had the best go. Their economic boom has gone to bust thanks to oil prices.

Brad Gushue started a campaign to get the Brier to St. John’s a few years ago. The people there deserved it. They deserved to show off their hospitality and ability to host major events.

I saw it up close 14 years ago. I bought a one-way ticket to St. John’s, with a backpack and no plan. St. John’s was a great place to start. I never felt alone in Newfoundland. People allowed a perfect stranger into their homes or invited me into their clique for a night or two, although sometimes they blurred together.

It was great to see Newfoundland celebrate. A great victory for one of my favourite places and people in Canada.