CBC Archives

Discuss with students what they know about the rise and fall of the cod fishery of Newfoundland and Labrador, noting the economic and emotional impact on the people of the province. Ask students to consider the following questions:

How do you think it feels to lose your job or be without employment?

What would you do if you were faced with loss of employment?

What might be your concerns if you were without a viable income for your family?

Direct students to the topic Fished Out: The Rise and Fall of the Cod Fishery on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students will thoroughly review Clips #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, including the Did You Know? sections. They should consider and note the emotional impact of the collapse of the cod fishery. If time permits, students can browse the topic to find other pertinent information.

Students will work in small groups to develop a list of questions for a simulated interview with a fisherperson from Newfoundland and Labrador. They should also generate fictitious responses that demonstrate the severity of the situation to the families and people who depended on the cod industry.

Working in groups, students will role-play interviews, assuming the roles of interviewer and interviewee. Students may opt to include more than one fisherperson being interviewed. They should be able to demonstrate the negative impact that the collapse of the cod fishery had on the province, individuals and on culture.

Students can explore additional clips on the Web site about how the cod stocks became depleted. Students might be interested in finding songs that express the sense of loss in the province. They can work in pairs to discuss their findings.