Lobsters and St. Lawrence

Monday, October 13, 2025

Canada’s Thanksgiving Day

Cap-Aux-Meules, Magdalen Islands, Canada

Nestled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this fishing town is known for …wait for it…seafood!

Cap-aux-Meules is pronounced “kahp oh MUHL” , and it means “Cape of Grindstones” in French. It refers to a coastal area known for its rocky terrain and historical use of grindstones. Arcadians who colonized the area are descendants of 17th–18th century French settlers in eastern Canada, known for their rich culture and tragic history of deportation during the 1700s, the Great Arcadian Upheaval.

In 1755, during the Seven Years’ War, the British forcibly deported over 10,000 Acadians who refused to swear allegiance to the British Crown. Families were scattered across the American colonies, France, and Louisiana, where many became known as Cajuns. This traumatic event is commemorated on July 28, the Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval in Canada.The story is one of resilience, cultural pride, and enduring legacy across North America.

Portraits of the lobster ship captains who fish from this harbor. Hardy people who gather the sweet crustaceans 🦞

Wild cranberries