Meghan H.

Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador

Other

The 1929 Tsunami

My project is about the tsunami that struck the South coast of Newfoundland in 1929. I focused on the destruction and loss that the tsunami brought to the people. It also describes the relief efforts that occurred afterward.

 

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

There were many interesting facts I learned when I was researching my topic. I found the time it took for the people to rebuild their shattered communities especially interesting. Also I think the fact that it took three days to get word of the tsunami to St. John's was unbelievable. It's hard for us to imagine nowadays because communicating with the rest of the world is much faster.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I would like other Canadians to know about the devastation that the tsunami caused. I also want others to know about the lives that were lost during this event. During this time, Newfoundlanders worked very hard to store provisions for the winter, and the tsunami destroyed a large amount of what they had saved up. These people had to face many hardships to rebuild their livelihood, and it's important to know about the struggles they had to overcome.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

Many children my age in 1929 didn't get the opportunity to get a full education, where today in 2012, education is essential. It was a struggle for families to survive back then, and now we take most things we have for granted. They didn't have technology like we do now, computers and cellphones were unheard of. So in comparison to my life and the lives of those I studied in my project, I would say that I have more opportunities then they ever did.