Hilroy says sorry for leaving Newfoundland, Cape Breton off notebooks’ Canadian map

Hilroy, a Canadian company known for its glossy exercise books, has apologized for omitting Newfoundland and Cape Breton from the map on their notebooks, leading to backlash online. The company's pastel-coloured notebooks are well-known across the country, but the faulty map was the result of a production error, according to a post on Hilroy's Facebook page.

The company has since stopped distributing the books and is correcting the cover artwork. Newfoundland Premier Tony Wakeham responded on Facebook, stating that Hilroy cannot erase their identity, history, or place on the map. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also expressed his dissatisfaction, requesting the education minister to send a corrected map to Hilroy.

The company is aware of the issue and is working on a correction plan. Historian Sean Cadigan from Memorial University in St. John's, N.L., noted that Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949 and has been left off maps before, but acknowledged that it's an embarrassing mistake for Hilroy. Newfoundlander Ian Gillies emphasized that the omission is harmful, even if unintentional, as young students across the country use these notebooks.