Cuban communist revolutionary leader Fidel Castro was more connected to Newfoundland and Labrador than you might think. Former Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood struck up a relationship with the late Castro, and the two corresponded with each other over the years. Late CBC reporter Ken Meeker said when Castro gave his first interview outside of Cuba in Gander in 1973, it was Smallwood who arranged it. Meeker was there as Smallwood and Castro sat down to chat at Gander International Airport. In 1974, Smallwood travelled to Cuba with Geoff Sterling to interview Castro but the meeting never materialized.

Source: CBC News November 26, 2016 21:33 UTC