Ciné-Doc: Newfoundland

Screening of the film *Terre Neuve - Off the Coast of Canada* with director Lynda Paquette in attendance

The island of Newfoundland is where the first rays of sunlight in Canada appear each morning. It is located at the very eastern edge of this vast country. Its coastline is bathed by the cold waters of the North Atlantic, and its shores stretch for nearly 30,000 kilometers. It features majestic fjords, steep cliffs, and sheltered bays. These landscapes have been shaped by the sea, just as the island’s history has been.

Over the centuries, various peoples have braved the storms to reach its shores. The Vikings arrived around the year 1000, followed 500 years later by Basque and Breton fishermen. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French, English, and Irish settlers arrived next, but it’s worth remembering that First Nations peoples had occupied the land long before. Some, like the Beothuk, have disappeared, but Mi’kmaq communities are still present.

What legacy did all these groups leave behind? How is the island’s identity evolving in the face of declining fisheries? What does the Newfoundland Francophone community look like today?

With these questions in mind, Lynda and Martin traveled the length and breadth of the island of Newfoundland. Over the course of three trips, they met residents from all over the island: a historian, a theater artist, a traditional Mi’kmaq chief, a musician, and a fisherman. The deep attachment these people have to their heritage and their land made a strong impression on the two filmmakers.

Through this film, they invite you to join them on a journey to discover the cultural richness and untamed beauty of a magnificent yet little-known region that, in their view, is Canada’s best-kept secret.

Running time: 90 minutes