Tears of joy: 'Homesick' N.L. expats making plans to finally return home

Newfoundlanders and Labradoriansscattered throughout the rest of the country areexcited about the prospect of finally coming home, after the provincial government released its reopening plan Wednesday.

Jillian Stoyleshas lived in Calgary for the last seven years, but was born and raised in St. John's, where most of her family still lives.

Stoylesbegan to cry as she told CBC News she returns home each Christmas, but with N.L.'s orders on banning non-essential travel to non-residents, she hasn't seen her familysince the pandemic began.

"The province to me just feels like home. It's like a warm blanket just waiting to hug me and make me feel welcome, and accepted, and loved and embraced,"said Stoyles, adding she immediately made plans to return to St. John's for two weeks in August after hearing the news the borders were reopening.

"I'm very close to my family. I usually see them two or three times a year, so the last year and a half has been really challenging for me."

"Homesick"is how Stoyles describes how she has felt since N.L. closed its borders in May 2020. But she's also missing being able to share important life milestones; she got engaged in September but has been unable to celebrate with family and friends in person.

Sarah Williams is in the same boat. Williams lives in Halifax with her husband and two daughters, but hasn't been home to Corner Brook in two years.

Wednesday'sreopening announcement was timely for Williams, who saidshe'd made plans to return to the province to visit her parents before anything was announced by the province. Her family booked a ferry passage for late July in hopes the Atlantic bubble would reopen.

"Everybody is feeling it. My parents aren't getting any younger, so any time with them is amazing," Williams said.

"[I'm] just really, really looking forward to that family time that we're all missing, my kids included, my husband. It's been tough."

A flight to St. John's from Calgary is a little cheaper now than it would bearound the holiday season, she said, but added the price doesn't matter.

"The pandemic has really put a lot of things in perspective and it can be lonely and isolating when you're in another province and you're away from your family for so long," she said.

"I look forward to seeing my parents at the bottom of those stairs atSt. John's Airport and hugging them. That's what I look forward to the most."

Business prep

Barbara Hutton, owner of Executive Travel in St. John's, told CBCNews last year was like no other, with very little business coming through her doors on account of the pandemic and travelling at an all-time low.

"Business has been down 90 per cent, at least, most months, so it's a nice change today," Hutton said.

Hutton said her phone has kept ringing since the province's reopening announcement,with the majority of callersplanning trips to return to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Employees at St. John's International Airport are preparing for the long-awaitedbump in business.

Lisa Bragg, the St. John's International Airport Authority's director of businesses development and marketing, said there's still work to be done with the airlines, including re-establishinga direct route between St. John's and Toronto, but the newshas been received positively.

"There's stories all over the place of people being so excited to come home," said Bragg.

"We're absolutely ready. The airport looks a little different, it's quieter. We're looking forward to more people, more noise, more activity and more smiles."

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