Lourdes de Blanc Sablon

What to KNOW

Located on a rocky point of land, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon was originally known as Long Point. On a clear day, you can just make out the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland across the Strait of Belle Isle. Aboriginal Peoples first lived on this stretch of land thousands of years ago. During the 16th century, Basque and French fleets fished and hunted whales off this point. In the 1760s, fishermen from Newfoundland and the Channel Islands frequented Long Point every summer.

As early as the 1820s, the abundance seals and salmon drew settlers from Newfoundland, Quebec City, the south shore of the St. Lawrence, and the northeastern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. In 1907, the village was renamed in honour of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in France. Although neighbouring villagers gradually began speaking English, Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon has retained its French identity and language. Today, many residents speak both English and French.