Shorefast Foundation
On the rugged shores of Fogo Island, a powerful story of resilience, creativity, and hope continues to unfold.
Decades ago, this small, remote community in Newfoundland and Labrador faced a challenge familiar to many rural and remote areas across Atlantic Canada—the push for resettlement. In the 1960s, the people of Fogo Island chose to stand together rather than leave their homes and heritage behind. They formed the Fogo Island Co-operative Society, united by a strong belief that their island’s future was worth defending.
Today, that same spirit drives the work of Shorefast—a registered charity transforming Fogo Island into a model for place-based economic development, focusing on the island’s specific assets- its community, culture, and environment.
Heritage Meets Innovation
From Shorefast’s founding days, they understood that to build a thriving economy on Fogo Island, the solutions needed to come from the island itself. That meant engaging with art, design and architecture to blend tradition with innovation, preserving culture while embracing global connections. In addition to building a world-class product, made of the assets of the place, Shorefast built national and international markets that now underpin the economy of the island.
The result is a collection of community-based businesses that have not only revived local industry but have also caught the attention of the world.
At the centre is the Fogo Island Inn. More than a hotel, this cultural landmark celebrates local craftsmanship, architecture, and hospitality. The Inn is the first hotel in Atlantic Canada to join the exclusive Relais & Châteaux network and one of only two in Canada to earn the MICHELIN Guide’s top “Three Key” distinction. It draws visitors worldwide, creating meaningful economic opportunities for the island.
Alongside the Inn, Shorefast supports other ventures—from the local fishery and artisan workshops to food businesses like The Storehouse Restaurant and Growlers Ice Cream—forming a vibrant economic ecosystem.
Together, these businesses have contributed over $235 million to Newfoundland & Labrador’s GDP from 2013 to 2024. (Source: 2023 & 2024 Impact Report - Shorefast).
Yet Shorefast’s impact is more than economic—it’s about respecting the past while building a sustainable future.
Beyond the island
Expanding its reach beyond Fogo Island, Shorefast has launched the Shorefast Institute for Place-Based Economies, a national initiative dedicated to sharing two decades of place-based economic development expertise. This project seeks to create new models, platforms, and networks to share insights, activate entrepreneurship, and develop adaptive financial strategies to build prosperous and resilient communities across Canada. Shorefast’s strategy, then and now, has been to link across sectors and bring together the combined power of communities, governments, and markets to achieve positive outcomes.
A long-standing supporter of Shorefast, ACOA recently announced a non-repayable contribution to assist with this transformational project. This investment is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Atlantic Canada.
Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO of the Shorefast Foundation, emphasized the significance of this support, stating that the Institute will engage with other enterprising communities to drive economic momentum and prosperity across Canada.
“Canada’s national prosperity and future success as a world leader requires us to create the enabling conditions for places big and small to thrive. We must become masters of scale, and link across scales, to unlock Canada’s full potential.”
This initiative builds upon Shorefast's mission to create lasting social and economic benefits through economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. By expanding its projects across Atlantic Canada and beyond, Shorefast aims to position Fogo Island as a world-class destination, attract international visitors, and increase economic activity in the region.
To learn more about Shorefast , please visit Shorefast.org.