William's Harbour

William's Harbour was a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador.

William's Harbour

Location of William's Harbour in Newfoundland and Labrador

A fishing community, William's Harbour went into decline following the 1992 cod moratorium with the closure of its fish plant in 1992.[1] The local school closed in 2000.

In a March 28, 2013 interview on CBC Radio's As It Happens programme, area administrator George Russell stated that the 17 remaining residents of William's Harbour were willing to accept a new re-settlement offer of $275,000.00 per household from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador to residents of struggling outport communities.[2]

On August 15, 2017, the CBC reported that the residents of William's Harbour had agreed to relocate. The entire community was in agreement with the decision to move. The cost was approximately $4 million (Canadian) to complete the relocation. The government expects to save about $7.9 million Canadian dollars over the next two decades. Residents will be able to return for berry picking or fishing by applying for a five-year permit after they have relocated to a new community.[3] On November 10, 2017 the last residents left William's Harbour.[4][5][6]