As a new academic year looms ahead, families and students are busy purchasing fresh school supplies. However, a traditional classroom essential has stirred up controversy in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hilroy Canada exercise books, recognized for featuring a map of Canada on their covers, have sparked concern with the introduction of a glossy version that inaccurately depicts the country. Notably, the map is missing key geographical elements such as Newfoundland and Cape Breton.
Upon receiving one of these notebooks from CBC News, Victor Aucoin, an educator, initially appreciated the design but upon closer examination, questioned the absence of Newfoundland with a touch of humor. Expressing astonishment, Aucoin remarked, “There’s no Newfoundland. Oh, so we don’t exist in Canada, OK! That’s nice to see.” He lamented the exclusion of Newfoundland and Cape Breton, describing it as a disappointment.
Aucoin emphasized the economic significance of Newfoundland to the nation and expressed his decision not to purchase these books. He vowed to encourage students and parents to voice their concerns to Hilroy about the oversight.
Johnathan Goodyear, another individual reviewing the new design, found it perplexing that Newfoundland was omitted and called for a recall of the exercise books. He highlighted the region’s contributions to Canada, particularly in the military realm, and criticized the exclusion as unjust.
Concerns were raised over the potential impact on students’ understanding of the country’s geography due to the map’s inaccuracies. Rose Wilkinson stressed the importance of including Newfoundland on the cover to raise awareness about its location in Canada.
Dace Gruchy, initially impressed by the vibrant colors of the design, expressed disappointment at the absence of Newfoundland. He labeled the omission as disrespectful and asserted that Newfoundland should be represented on the cover as an integral part of Canada.
Efforts to contact ACCO Brands, the parent company of Hilroy, for comments on the design change have been unsuccessful. The community remains vocal about the need for accurate representation in educational materials to ensure a comprehensive understanding of Canada’s geography.