NONIA
Marie
Hayward’s eyes widened when she was recently presented with a huge basket of
wool.
“When
do I got to have that knit up?!” she asked with some alarm.
Edna
Duffett, president of the Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial
Association (NONIA), quickly assured her that it was a gift, to do with as she
wished, and not another knitting order from the not-for-profit organization.
Hayward
was being recognized for 70 years of knitting at NONIA’s Annual General Meeting
at Government House in St. John’s. The basket was a gift from a wool supplier.
One
of over 150 women around the province of Newfoundland and Labrador who knit for
NONIA on a regular basis, Hayward is - amazingly - not the first to reach the
70-year milestone. Many of the group’s knitters are part of a family tradition,
where mother, grandmothers, aunts, and others have contributed for generations.
Founded
in 1920 to help the province’s outport communities access better health care,
NONIA used funds raised from the sale of hand-knit garments to pay the salaries
of public health nurses. In 1934, the association’s mandate was taken up
by the government. Despite the support, the group’s original homespun mandate
was maintained, providing valuable assistance to outport households over lean
decades.
Today,
NONIA retains its status as a not-for-profit cottage industry, managed by a
volunteer Board of Directors. Its retail location in downtown St. John's employs
a staff of five to eight persons, depending on the season. The organization’s
knitters continue to craft sweaters, socks, hats and mitts for all-ages. Table
linens are hand-woven as well. Signature sweater styles are named for
Newfoundland communities, including Fortune Bay, Cape Freels and Rocky Harbour.
Products are also sold through the group’s website, as well as via select retailers
across the region and at the annual provincial craft fair.
Over
time, NONIA’s brand has become renowned, both at home and abroad, for its quality.
In the province’s outport communities, it is still a badge of honour to be a
NONIA knitter, as it signifies a high-level of ability.
NONIA’s
mission now also includes the preservation of knitting heritage. For example,
an iconic piece of local handwear known as a trigger mitt was traditionally
knit by every rural woman in Newfoundland. The mitt is part glove, with a
separate index finger, providing greater dexterity for outdoor work, including
hunting, splitting fish and cutting wood. Two strands of wool were used for
extra warmth, and the knitters developed intricate patterns to make the mitts both
interesting and attractive.
Knitting
skills were first brought to Newfoundland and Labrador by European settlers -
the area’s Indigenous peoples did not knit, instead using furs and hides as
their primary clothing materials. Most of the landed immigrants were Irish,
English and Scottish, so many of the province’s knitting patterns have Celtic
roots. In fact, NONIA’s business model was borrowed in 1920 by Lady Harris, the
wife of Newfoundland’s English Governor, from a similar organization in
Scotland.
“NONIA
was key to increasing knitting skills in Newfoundland, by distributing
high-quality wool and patterns, and giving outport women a mechanism by which
to share their skills,” writes Shirley Anne Scott, author of Canada
Knits: Craft and Comfort in a Northern Land.
The
organization is blessed with a passionate group of board members, many of whom
have supported the group for years.
“Once
NONIA comes into your life, it is there forever,” says long-time board member,
Karen Hickman. The association has also enjoyed the loyalty of many long-serving
staff members, including Cathy Marsh - who has worked on the retail side of the
business for 32 years - and Judy Anderson, who recently retired after more than
two decades of service.
“Many
of us grew up in NONIA knitwear,” notes the group’s manager Keelin O’Leary.
“NONIA’s
history is woven into the fabric of both the province’s heritage, and into the
hearts of her citizens.”
O’Leary
is encouraged to see that tradition being passed along to younger generations.
“One
of my favourite stories is of 11-year-old Aiden Lawlor of Lethbridge, Bonavista
Bay. His great-grandmother, Iris
Skiffington, knit for NONIA for over 50 years, and Iris’ sister was also a long-time
knitter for the organization. Aiden recently did a school heritage project about
us, using all kinds of interesting materials saved by Iris over the decades.
Aiden is now keen on supporting and promoting the association, and he may very
well become our first male knitter in many years!”
