L’Anse aux Meadows on the Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland & Labrador was the first point of re-discovery by the Europeans to North America more than 1,000 years ago. At L’anse aux Meadows World UNESCO Heritage Site and/or Norstead Viking Village and Port of Trade we have an incredible opportunity to use technology to continue the unique cultural connection by offering new programming such as “Skyping with a Viking”.
Skype is a free voice over Internet protocol and instant messaging service that also allows for video with a peer or in multiples.
These attractions mentioned above, have Viking reinactors that practice a Norse way of living a millennium ago. There are also Viking sites across countries in Europe. There is an ability to cross promote, share knowledge, culture and experiences with the world by using such an application. I think the concept of “Skyping with a Viking” could be popular.
However, rural Newfoundland & Labrador needs more advanced telecommunications, such as improved broadband and cellular coverage. These applications require a certain bandwidth to be effective. L’anse aux Meadows lacks the needed coverage. I’m advocating on a regular basis for these investments as they are key to developing our economy.
We are big on ideas! Rural Newfoundland & Labrador on the Great Northern Peninsula can be sustainable and grow, if we invest in advance telecommunication and transportation initiatives.
I for one, would love to have the opportunity to go Skyping with a Viking!
Live Rural NL –
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA The Straits-White Bay North
I was very entertained by your blog after discovering it via your post on Facebook ! One of my favorite pieces was your historical relationship with baked beans …..which may I add, I have learned to make very well recently. I do personally however still prefer English style baked beans from Heinz, whilst of course my husbands loves the traditional kind. It also surprised me to discover that I recognize your mother, although I am not sure from where. Thank you for reminding me of some of the reasons I fell in love with this new home of mine .
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback to my blog. I really look forward to my next helping of homemade beans. 🙂 There is so much to write about on the Great Northern Peninsula. Happy you have made this place your home.
Hi Chris, I enjoyed reading your story on Skyping with a viking.
I am from Cambridge, UK and I am economist researcher who is interested to learn a bit more about Labrador’s economic success story. Perhaps you could enlighten me:).
The story started when I met one of your fellow from Metropolitan university in Copenhagen. When I asked him how Labrador managed to survive and not just that but excel economically despite such a remoteness and population dispersion?
I asked him this as in my opinion Labrador case is an atypical case of everything that works against the government strategy for urban planning and of spatial integration, namely that the investment can be only made if the population grows and due to a greater proximity of the periphery to the city. To make it simple, my argument is that in this case the distance such as remoteness can be dealt with and compensated with a technological investment. Other finish friend hinted at the use of using a remote medical technology for diagnosis the and managing diabetes from home via internet without need to go to hospital which may be far away.
He told me that the case of Labrador is a funny one. Now, I am getting curious about that. I am interested in this link between a spatial remoteness and technological connectedness such as broadband, which in the absence of access to transport due to geographical position, can compensate for a sustainable development of your communities in terms of creating jobs, education, et cetera…It would be interesting to learn a bit more about this.
is there any broadband mapping coverage for Labrador available? I cannot find it.
best wishes
zrinka