Almost 7,500 km separate St. John’s, N.L. and St. Johns Street in Port Moody but on June 18, that distance will disappear when the Port Moody Station Museum hosts a rollicking Newfie kitchen party on Father's Day.
And while the event will be held in the museum’s parking lot rather than in a kitchen to accommodate all the anticipated guests, it will have all the traditional trappings of an east coast kitchen shindig including live maritime folk music by The Navvies and a lobster dinner. There may even be a cod to kiss.
The museum’s executive director, Jim Millar, pretty much guarantees it will be a good time. He should know: He’s a native Newfoundlander.
Millar said the kitchen party is a cultural icon in his native province because the home is the heart of the community and any gathering of friends, family or neighbours quickly gravitates to the kitchen as it’s the warmest place in the home. It also gives the host a bit of control to end the party, eventually.
“When the owner of the house wants everybody out, they just turn up the stove and it gets too hot so everybody leaves,” said Millar, who headed west in 1991 to seek better job opportunities.
Newfoundland’s harsh landscape, long winters and history of tough economic times mean its residents like to keep their celebrations simple and spontaneous. A kitchen party doesn’t require months of planning or embossed invitations.
“We’d just go over to somebody’s house, somebody would bring the screech and somebody would bring a fiddle,” said Millar. “That was our entertainment.”
Dorian Nijdam, an assistant at the museum, grew up in B.C. but discovered kitchen party culture when he attended the College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville, N.L.
“Some of the best parties I’ve been to were in Newfoundland,” said Nijdam. “They’re so friendly and raucous. There’s a sort of love for life and seizing the moment.”
Millar said the swapping of family stories at kitchen parties helps bond the community and make visitors “from away” feel more welcome.
“The world would be a better place if there were more Newfie kitchen parties,” said Millar.
• Tickets to the Newfie Kitchen Party (4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 18) are $35 and include a traditional lobster dinner with potato salad and dessert. Kids can get a hot dog and potato salad for $15. Proceeds from the party help support programs at the museum. Contact info@portmoodymuseum.org or 604-939-1648.
