THE centuries-old relationship between Jersey and Canada which was forged by brave Islanders who sailed the north Atlantic in Jersey’s cod fleet is being celebrated and cemented this summer.
A map of Jersey has been carved from local granite and will soon be shipped out to the Gaspé area of Quebec. A similar map made from Canadian granite will be sent to Jersey and placed on the harbour wall in St Aubin.
It was from the St Brelade slipways that men first set sail for the east coast of Canada to fish for cod 500 years ago. And it was just yards from where the map will be placed, near the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, that Jerseyman Charles Robin, of Rosel Manor, set sail for the New World in 1766.
Mr Robin started a fishing and shipbuilding business which sowed the seeds for Quebec’s lasting prosperity. The Jersey map will be placed at Paspebiac, where Mr Robin landed.
It is understood that the maps will be unveiled this summer to coincide with the 475th anniversary celebrations of the landing of Jacques Cartier, a navigator from St Malo who discovered the St Lawrence river.
Ralph Mauger, who has organised the carving of the Jersey map and who has family links with the Gaspé region, said: ‘Charles Robin has had no recognition for what he achieved, so we got together to discuss what could be done. For the last 12 months I have been working on this project along with my Canadian counterpart, Lynden Bechervais, whose family was originally from Jersey. He lives in the Gaspé area.’
• Picture: Organiser Ralph Mauger with the Jersey plaque which is to go on show in Paspebiac. Picture by David Ferguson (00632293)
