Sea Change

Hasan Hai convinces the men of Newfoundland and Labrador to get fishy for a good cause

- Christina Palassio

IT’S EARLY MORNING in Cape Spear, N.L. A van heads toward the area’s iconic lighthouse as the sun climbs out of the Atlantic. The vehicle is full, but not with eager tourists hoping for a sunrise selfie. It’s packed with photographers and crewmembers on their way to meet mermen. “MerB’ys,” actually. The water dwellers are ready for their close-ups. And they look flipping fantastic.

This marks the second year that a group of bearded Newfoundlanders have shed their shirts and pulled on tails to pose as misters March, December and company. Their mission: making a sassy calendar to support a worthy cause. The first edition, in 2017–18, sold more than 14,000 copies and raised $300,000 for Spirit Horse NL, an organization that uses equineassisted therapy to support people living with mental-health issues.