Birch Island Trail, Newfoundland
Birch Island Trail, Newfoundland
Balancing act
Birch Island, in Labrador, was the initial site of what is now the settlement of Happy Valley/Goose Bay. The community had to be relocated not long after its founding, and little trace now remains. Healthy Waters Labrador, a local not-for-profit group, has taken stewardship of the area and transformed it into an ecological trail and park.
Form:Media crafted an interpretive framework and wayfinding plan, showing how to tell the Indigenous and settler histories of what was once a thriving community. Cultural themes are balanced with environmental ones; frequent floods have created a unique, constantly changing landscape, home to a variety of plant and animal life.
Both signage and interpretation feature a light touch on the landscape, preserving key views and encouraging visitors to engage with the environment rather than read lengthy interpretive text. Local materials will be used, lessening the project’s environmental footprint and reducing the fabrication cost in this remote community.
Status
2018 (Design)
Our Role
Interpretive Planning, wayfinding
Client
Healthy Waters Labrador
Location
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS
Birch Island Conservation Area signage is made up of a flexible kit-of-parts with the ability to communicate any amount of information.
RIVER’S INFLUENCE
The river plays an important role in the graphic design elements reflecting its role in the landscape of Birch Island.