The southern and northern Change Islands are separated by a "tickle" (a narrow
strait, in
Newfoundland English). The South Island is larger, containing more
marshes/
bogs, and wooded area, the North Island is smaller, mostly barren. It is located in
Notre Dame Bay, on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The community was first established as a series of random settlements around the islands tied to seasonal fishing activity which developed into a cohesive community, but by the early 1960s only Red Rock Cove (at the middle of the southern island) and Woody Island Tickle (approximately at the ferry terminal at the south of the southern island) remained. Most of the remaining settlements (Granpher's Cove, etc.) on either side of the tickle effectively incorporated into one entity. Remoter places (Gannis Island, etc.) were gradually abandoned. The first European settlers arrived sometime in the mid-18th century to fish. The residents of Change Islands have preserved many of their traditional homes,
stages, and stores (fishing sheds); many of these landmarks are disappearing in much of coastal Newfoundland and Labrador with the collapse of the ground fishery. There are a few accommodation facilities on the islands, which are accessible by the
MV Veteran, the provincially operated ferry from
Farewell that also services
Fogo Island further to the east. == Demographics ==