‘It all kind of blew up’: N.B. Gnome on the Roam becomes social media sensation

A tiny traveller is spreading big smiles in New Brunswick

It’s a bit like the Elf on the Shelf; you never know what it’s up to or where it will appear next.

Riverview’s Gnome on the Roam has become a social media sensation as it tours New Brunswick.

Neighbours Liz MacLaughlan and Fred Sears decided some holiday shenanigans would be a great idea so they’ve been dragging the two-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree around town for a few weeks now.

The Gnome has been visiting the fire hall, local bowling alley, a popular pizza place and businesses all over.

“When you have someone say, ‘Oh, my kids can’t wait to see the post,’ Fred and I were, like, this is unbelievable. It was almost like a challenge. What can we do next to try and make the Gnome famous?” said MacLaughlan.

It all started with an innocent prank.

MacLaughlan thought it would be a great practical joke to snatch the gnome right off Sears’ front steps.

“I got tired of Elf on the Shelf. I decided Gnome needed a new home and I decided it was time to take him,” said MacLaughlan.

Sears grabbed his gnome back and then got the ball rolling when he brought it to a bakery, snapped a photo and posted it on a community Facebook page.

“I put it back in Ask Riverview and people liked it so much it kind of took off,” said Sears. “I just started going all over Riverview. Getting messages from different businesses, ‘Can you bring the Gnome here? Can you take the Gnome here?’ and it all kind of blew up.”

And with that the legend of the Gnome on the Roam was born.

“We took him to the pool, the ladies there jumped into the pool with him. We didn’t come up with these ideas, they were coming up on them on their own,” said MacLaughlan. “He’s visited a lot of beauty places. I think they must figure by the end he’s going to need a face lift or something because he’s kind of looking a little haggard from his visits.”

The pair love Christmas and they’ve gotten a big kick out of the reaction.

“We never could have imagined that it could have become this popular. We’re just glad. It’s making us happy. I think it’s making other people happy. It’s all about Christmas,” said MacLaughlan.

But there’s another reason why they’re doing it.

MacLaughlan’s brother Ken Norton passed away in June so they didn’t want to be sad over the holidays. The gnome’s adventures have become something positive for both of them.

“This actually helped get us through sort of a difficult spot. I’ve known Fred for over 50 years and he was like a brother to my brother. And when this started it kept us busy for the last couple of weeks,” said MacLaughlan. “It made us feel really good.”

There are some plans in place for next Christmas, but MacLaughlan said people will just have to wait and see.

“The whole idea behind it was to make people smile. People looking at it, people having fun, commenting. We’re hoping with the spirit of Christmas, Gnome will be returned permanently back to Fred’s place. It’ll be like a Christmas Miracle,” said MacLaughlan.

Sears has something completely different in mind.

“Somebody suggested we should run him through a wood chipper. I’m against that,” he said. “I think I’m going to take him on the side-by-side and set him free with all of his relatives in Albert County.”

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.