The Forgotten Labrador recounts the history of a remarkable area of Canada - the Quebec part of the Labrador coast that extends eastward from Kegashka to Blanc Sablon. Cleophas Belvin describes the arrival of the Aboriginals and the activities of the Breton and Basque fishermen and French- and English-speaking merchants from Quebec City who controlled the region for more than one hundred and fifty years. He paints a vivid picture of the lifestyle and living conditions of the early French- and English-speaking pioneers and their descendants, offering an analysis of why they settled in the region and how they dealt with the precariousness of the seal, salmon, and cod fisheries. The Forgotten Labrador also explores the role of the Anglican and Catholic missionaries, the establishment of educational, medical, transportation, and communication services, and the various government and local initiatives that were undertaken to provide the people with some form of economic prosperity.

Cleophas Belvin, a former teacher, archivist, and historical researcher, is a writer and editor with the Department of National Defence. He lives in Ottawa.

Cleophas Belvin's profile page

"While the book covers a relatively small physical area, its scope is impressive. Starting with the geological forces that shaped the land, it goes on to cover aboriginal communities, English and French exploration and colonization, pioneer settlers, up t

"Belvin lucratively mines the Labrador Boundary Documents and related data to reconstruct the French Regime in the region, between 1660 and 1760. He appreciates the tremendous importance of the American fishery; the difficulties of bringing some measure of ‘law and order’ to the lower north shore; and the conflicting interests of institutions such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the Grenfell mission on the coast." Newfoundland and Labrador Studies

"While [The Forgotten Labrador] covers a relatively small physical area, its scope is impressive. Starting with the geological forces that shaped the land, it goes on to cover aboriginal communities, English and French exploration and colonization, pionee

"Canadians need to know about this stretch of coast - and the people there deserve to have their story told." Senator William Rompkey, author of The Story of Labrador