Economy breeds folk singing

The economy of Atlantic Canada has traditionally been higher resource based, including fishing, farming, forestry and mining. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says,Atlantic lobster is Canada's most lucrative fishery... employing about 30,000 harvesters across Quebec and Atlantic Canada". In recent years the economy has diversified, but resources are still incredibly important. In 2008 the biggest common exports were agri-food, energy and forestry. This kind of economy with its strong physical labour force working together provides a perfect opportunity for folk singing. XXX in Folk Songs and Ballads of Nova Scotia wrote, “Men in Halifax County fish in the summer and go into the lumber woods in winter. When fishermen have time to put in away from home they sing, and in the lumber woods they stay in camp for two or three months and this is how they entertain themselves. This means songs are always being exchanged, and that is what has kept them alive”.