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Benoit et Suzanne, from the series Snowbirds, 2012

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Gilles, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

For Snowbirds, Montreal-based photographer Mika Goodfriend documents the abundant world contained within Pompano Beach’s Breezy Hill, a small trailer and RV park on the Florida seaside. Home to a thriving community of retired couples from Quebec, the intimate setting fosters a close bond between the families and their shared place of origin.

With an astonishing 98% of its population hailing from Quebec, Breezy Hill maintains an atmosphere entirely unique to its inhabitants. Fusing American taste with French Canadian finesse, it becomes a miniature province in itself, boasting an eclectic mix of twee and utilitarian furnishings. Just two miles from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Breezy Hill families enjoy a routine of leisure, with scheduled dance and fitness classes throughout the day. The RV homes are constantly and scrupulously kept up by their devoted owners.

Residents of Breezy Hill choose to live in this special community over ocean-front, gated properties for its close-knit and nurturing environment. These are likely the last families to relocate as a group to Breezy Hill; here, Goodfriend traces their experience as it relates to the rich and nuanced history of the Québécois people.

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Garage Sale, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Happy Holidays, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Lodge, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Lot 282, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Lot 798, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Marcel et Francine, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Pierre et Crystiane, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Reynald et Marylda, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Roulotte, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Yvonne et Jean-Paul, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Satellite, from the series, Snowbirds, 2012

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Fernand Boyer and Mika Goodfriend, Breezy Hill, 2012

All images © Mika Goodfriend

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