Away From Here

Seasonal migration was a routine part of life for many Newfoundlanders and still continues today.  Many people from Placentia West had to leave home to go to work. The need to supplement fishing income led Newfoundlanders to leave their home and families for long periods of time. Over half of Newfoundland’s population lived in hundreds of small communities along miles of coastline. Most households relied on the fishery as their main source of income. Dependence on the fishery placed many communities at risk. Having a bad season or decrease in demand caused much poverty. The outport communities suffered hardship, which lead to migration to larger areas for employment. This exhibit tells the story of those people who seasonally migrated to other areas to support themselves and their families.