Travel Maritime heritage It’s impossible to think of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon without pondering their sea-faring past. Crab traps and coils of rope rest on docks beside fishing and pleasure boats. Vivid tangerine, sky-blue, lemon-yellow and limegreen paint – the colours of traditional fishing dories – brighten wooden homes. Notre-Dame des Ardilliers Church (named after the first priest who arrived inMiquelon after the signing of the Treaty of Paris) depicts dories in a beautiful stained-glass window. A model ship hangs over the lectern. As in Newfoundland, fishing declined after the Canadian government’s 1992 cod-fishing moratorium. Nowadays, 60% of the population works for the French government. Tourism and fishing comprise the rest of the economy. Generous subsidies from France support health care and education. “Students going to universities in Canada and France receive funding for accommodations. If they study in French universities, tuition is free. The government pays for flights back home for the summer holidays,” explained Anya, who was born in Saint-Pierre. As we looked at a sign pointing to the gendarmerie (police station) on Saint-Pierre, Anya explained that France sends three gendarmes to the islands on three-year postings. “It’s like a holiday for them. SaintPierre and Miquelon are so safe that they have nothing to do.” Fishing and pleasure boats in Miquelon’s harbour Boat parked by lime-green Miquelon home Model ship above lectern in Miquelon’s Notre-Dame des Ardilliers Church CSANews | SUMMER 2020 | 19
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx