Conche, Newfoundland and Labrador

Conche
—  Town  —
Conche Location of Conche in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 50°54′N 55°54′W / 50.9°N 55.9°W / 50.9; -55.9
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Population (2006)
- Total	225
Time zone	Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30)
- Summer (DST)	Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30)
Area code(s)	709
Website	Conche home page

Conche is a community with on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The population in 2006 was 225.

The Community

Conche is a small, remote fishing village on the North East tip of Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula. Its residents are chiefly Irish Catholic, with a few exceptions. The children there (about 16^[1]) attend Sacred Heart All-Grade School, and several over-achieving sports teams have come out of the community, including provincial gold medal winners in softball and broom ball and a gold performance in volleyball in recent years. In 2008-2009 the Stingers volleyball steam travelled to Churchill Falls and took home second place in the provincials. Two grade eleven students went onto regionals in cross-country running after receiving gold in both categories in the cross-country zones (2010–2011).

Conche is found on a small peninsula and has a deep harbour that runs the length of the community. In the spring and summer icebergs float through the harbour and maroon there, providing a beautiful spectacle. Whales also frequent the harbour and can be heard at night. There is also a large seal population which resides in Conche harbour.

For many years, Conche suffered from harsh isolation. Boat and dog-sled remained the best means of transportation for a long time. In 1960, a nursing station was established to serve the community and in the 1970s and was revised in 2005 with chipseal to allow for easier access to Conche and its surrounding communities.

The people of Conche are mainly of Irish descent and love Irish music.^[2] Residents of Conche are noted for their musical prowess, with most parties including singing and guitar playing.

A notable plane crash once occurred in Conche and the strewn remains of the crash still remain as large tourist attraction.

Many people who now reside in Conche are former residents of the Grey Islands who were forced to move their homes and families during the resettlement period.

Although Conche has been on a steady decline for the past few decades, a recent effort is being made by Conche to market itself as a tourist destination. The French Shore Historical Society, working with the community, has installed a museum there, marking the culture and long past of the settlement, first inhabited by migratory French fishermen. There are many trails and geological marvels for visitors to see, in addition to learning about the culture. Conche is home to a large waterfall, as well as several notable natural wonders, including the Glass Hole.

Recent efforts by the community have had Conche’s once crumbling lighthouse restored.

References

1. ^ "Enrolment Statistics from Community Accounts". http://www.communityaccounts.ca/communityaccounts/onlinedata/display_table.asp?p=%D1%B7%C0%8C%8C%9D%A5%A5%AB%9D%B4%93%87%9F%C5%BC%9D%A8%C4%B1%9F%93%B6%C5%BDM%A9%C9%9A%BA%89%C6%90%9F%94%C2%8B%90. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
2. ^ "Conche Info". http://www.ghostcod.com/Information/index1.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 

External links

• Conche home page
• The French Shore Historical Society
• Conche within Community Accounts

Coordinates: 50°54′N 55°54′W / 50.9°N 55.9°W / 50.9; -55.9