We are currently in Port au Choix, pronounced "O-Shwa" (sounds like the first syllable of sh ip and the first syllable of wa ter). This is a very old fishing village (beginning in prehistory) that has been inhabited by various peoples over the past 5000 years. The Maritime Archaic Indians used Port au Choix as a seasonal home and special burial site. After their disappearance several other aboriginal cultures made this spot their home. The earliest European presence dates back to the 1600's when Basque fishermen operated in the area. The town's original European residents were mainly descendents of French and English fishermen who settled in the area after 1904 when France gave up its right to fish, and the first permanent settlement was allowed. Port au Choix remained a small fishing settlement until the late 1960's when it was chosen as a "growth centre" by the Canadian Resettlement Program. The "Resettlement Program" was an effort by the government to consolidate the many small communities throughout Newfoundland into larger "growth centres" to reduce the cost of infrastructures. Port au Choix at the peak of the fishing boom was a community of about 2500 residents. Today the population has declined to about 1200 full-time residents due to the collapse of the fishing industry. The community supports a large shrimp processing plant as its primary form of employment other than fishing, of course.
The weather today was very windy so we decided to explore the town and its surrounding environment. The community has a local Heritage Centre detailing the history of the local European inhabitants, and nearby, Parks Canada has a National Historic Site interpreting the history of the original aboriginal residents. The National Historic Site also has a series of hiking trails throughout the area of Point Riche Peninsula. Our only disappointment is that we don't have more time to enjoy this unique location.