As you watch reports from around the world, with celebrations happening from time zone to time zone as the clock strikes 12, keep in mind that the standardization of time zones was brought to you by a Canadian.

Sir Sandford Fleming was an engineer and railroad builder who grew frustrated with the lack of consistent time being kept around the world. No one believed that he could get the entire world to agree to a standard set of time zones that would be recognized the world over, but Sandford Fleming did just that, and he’s recognized in this week’s Canadian Heritage Minute.

Most everyone is indeed on board with Fleming’s time zones, but some places — including Newfoundland in Canada — stray here and there by going a half-hour off the standard time zones. But, really, who can explain what those Newfies are up to half the time, anyway?

Heritage Minutes are 60-second short films that are heavily produced and immensely informative, and are shown in between some TV shows in Canada — and they’re amazing. We’re planning to bring you a “Heritage Minute” every week on COTW.

Enjoy.