McCallum, Newfoundland and Labrador

McCallum is an isolated community on the southern coast of Newfoundland. It is accessible only by boat or by air, and in appearance and way of life is thought by some to be as close to a pre-20th century community as may be found. McCallum lies in an enclosed harbour and is sheltered between two hills. The community survives primarily on the fishery. Whaling was also a major industry in the late 19th century. It is also about an hour and a half from the nearest road, in a community called Hermitage.[2][3]

McCallum
Settlement
McCallum
McCallum
Location of McCallum in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°37′52″N 56°13′45″W
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division3
Settledc. 1800s
Government
 • TypeLocal Service District
Population
 (2016)
 • Total73[1]
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Postal Code
A0N 2J0
Area code(s)709 & 846-XXXX where x is the other numbers
HighwaysFerry from Hermitage

Geography

As a result of resettlement, the community has grown and has taken in people from surrounding communities such as Pushthrough, Muddy Hole, Indian Cove, Lock's Cove, Richards Harbour, Great Jervais and Mosquito.[4]

In the past there was only a muddy or dirt walkway. Today there is a wooden walkway and also two major concrete roads. Walking is still the primary means of land transport around the community. ATVs have become rather popular, however.

History

McCallum takes its name from Sir Henry Edward McCallum, Colonial Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1899 to 1901.

The waters around McCallum have been fished since at least the 16th century, however no permanent settlement existed until after the Seven Years' War, after 1816. When the French gained possession of the Islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the English on the Islands were forced to find new homes, and looked just north, to Newfoundland's southern coast.

It was during this time that Captain James Cook was appointed marine surveyor of Newfoundland, and mapped out in detail the coastline and waters around McCallum to create a boundary for where the French were still allowed to fish.

Aside from the traditional fishery, there is also a lobster fishery.[5]

In recent years there has also been aquaculture in and around the community of McCallum.[6] The lifeblood of McCallum revolves around the sea.

McCallum voted on resettlement in 2015 and 2017 but did not meet the 90% threshold required.[7][8][9]

Facilities

McCallum has a public wharf, a fire department, a bed-and-breakfast, local internet access,[10] a ferry service to Hermitage (where the nearest road is located), and distance education facilities. There is only one general store, Fudges Store (there were two for many years until Riggs and Sons Ltd. went out of business); the church is St Peter's Anglican, and the school is St Peter's All Grade School. The school is small with only three students.[11] Distance education is a popular means of education for the high school students (grades 9 to 12).

There are now more than four ATV's used for various jobs in the community, such as garbage pickup, hauling freight, and bringing groceries to the shop. Also, ATVs have become popular for residents needing to get various jobs done quicker. Snowmobiles are popular in winter.

  • McCallum on overcast day
  • McCallum's Grade School

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census". Statistics Canada. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  2. Hillier, Bernice (Jan 17, 2019). "Isolated towns fear new ferry contract will be the same old boat". CBC News. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  3. "McCallum votes on resettlement: 'It's a dying community'". CBC News. Jun 1, 2015. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  4. Stoodley, Allan (Oct 25, 2020). "Decades after resettlement, tiny communities still dot Newfoundland's 'forgotten coast'". CBC News. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
  5. Antle, Angela (Jun 4, 2017). "Land & Sea: A 1989 visit to McCallum and Great Jarvis". CBC News. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  6. "Fish removal planned as disease detected in McCallum salmon cages". CBC News. Jul 13, 2020. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
  7. Howells, Laura (Jun 8, 2015). "Resettlement policy needs reform: McCallum resident". CBC News. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
  8. Hunt, Clayton (Sep 29, 2017). "McCallum residents staying put". Saltwire News. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
  9. Dooley, Danette (Sep 29, 2017). "McCallum residents anxiously await resettlement vote results". Saltwire News. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
  10. Bartlett, Geoff (Jan 31, 2018). "Is expanding high-speed internet to rural Newfoundland best use of $40M?". CBC News. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  11. Mercer, Nicholas (Feb 12, 2020). "'I like the quiet': Inside an isolated Newfoundland community's single-student classes". The Telegram. Retrieved Nov 15, 2020.
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