In this episode, Dr. Sondra Eger is joined by Dr. Brennan Lowery, a post-doctoral researcher at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and Joan Simmonds, manager of the French Shore Interpretation Center in Conche. Conche residents were determined to preserve their home, place, and heritage, and redefine Conche not as a dying outport fishing community, but as a culturally and historically rich place to keep the stories of Conche alive.

Joan tells stories about how the tapestry and center came to be and how it is creating new economic opportunities in the region, creating a diverse cultural tourism industry. Dr. Lowery and Joan also give us a taste of a new augmented reality project they are collaborating on through Grenfell Campus of Memorial University, with funding by Mitacs, that will bring new digital technologies to share traditional, cultural, and historical places in the region, giving visitors a window into Conche’s past, and visually see it.

Show Notes
French Shore Historical Society - https://www.frenchshore.com/en/welcome.htm
French Shore Interpretation Center - http://www.frenchshore.com/en/welcome.htm
• The Phantoms of the French Shore- Documentary about the Tapestry (free)

Dr. Brennan Lowery
• http://ruralresilience.ca/researchers/postdoctoral-researchers/blowery/
• PhD- https://research.library.mun.ca/14969/
• Paper co-authored with Joan and other community leaders: https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/ijcre/article/view/7766

About the Tapestry
• News article on the tapestry artists- https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/french-shore-tapestry
• Video showing the tapestry- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq6_byWDz20&ab_channel=GoWesternNL
• Stitching Local History Article- https://encyclopediaoflocalknowledge.com/chapter1/stitching-local-history-the-french-shore-tapestry/
• News Article and video on tapestry- https://www.saltscapes.com/travel/496-the-amazing-french-shore-tapestry.html
• Unvailing the tapestry- https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-telegram-st-johns/20100803/282394100739516


We love to hear your feedback. Connect with the host:
Sondra Eger (www.twitter.com/@soneger)
If you have a story to share with us or questions about how we make the podcast, send us an email at stories@coastalroutes.org.

Coastal Routes Radio is led by:
Philip Loring www.twitter.com/@ConserveChange
Hannah Harrison www.twitter.com/@fishpeopleplace
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Listen to Volume 1 of Coastal Routes Radio soundcloud.com/conservechange/sets/social-fishtancing