Alma, New Brunswick may be a small town but it is close to one of the world's biggest natural feats.
Located by the Bay of Fundy, the town's 150 permanent residents see tides as large as 16 metres -- the highest in the world -- on a regular basis.
Travellers might come to Alma for the Bay of Fundy but stay a while and they'll notice a sense of community and family capable of eclipsing the village's mighty tides.
And if they're still not convinced, they should talk to Elizabeth MacDonald, manager of Thankful Too Family Fisheries. Every day, the 21-year-old comes in and keeps the family business running as smooth of as the melted butter served on the side with their lobster suppers.
"Whether the boats come in at one in the morning or one in the afternoon, you have to make a schedule to have everything lined up so the fishermen aren't waiting -- they're your babies and you have to keep them happy," says MacDonald.
While Thankful Too Family Fisheries started off as a wholesale fishing company, it's since expanded with the Alma Lobster Shop -- an eat-in/take-out lobster joint and souvenir shop -- and an onsite rental cottage property.
What hasn't changed are its owners.
The business has been in the MacDonalds' hands, starting off their grandfather, Reg Collins, who fished under the business for 55 years. When Reg first started, a fishing licence costed 25 cents.
MacDonald's father, Rodney, followed suite, pitching in at the age of 14 and eventually owning his own ship when he turned 20. His licence ran for $20,000 when he joined.
Today, Rodney's three sons each now run their own fishing boats, each with a license worth $1.3 million.
"We've kept it a family business; my brothers and I have always been involved with my parents. My uncles and cousins are all fishermen. My grandfather -- he's 77 -- and he's fishing. We keep it family oriented," says MacDonald.
And in turn, family is what keeps Elizabeth in Alma.
"When I was in grade 11 or 12, I was thinking about nursing. I didn't know if I wanted to this my whole life. I did it during my whole teenage years, I suppose," says MacDonald. While she thought about a job outside of Thankful Too, MacDonald ultimately decided to stay in Alma, earning a diploma in accounting to help with the family business.
"Work is my life and it's that way because it's a family business. I see that I'm doing well. I like this, I'm living on my own with my own house, my own truck -- it's worked out. I see what my brothers have because they're older and that's what I want to go towards."
The Huffington Post Canada Travel made the trip to and toured the Thankful Too Family Fisheries in Alma, N.B.
This series is part of the Great Canadian Road Trip. Road transportation made possible thanks to Nissan Canada.
Brian Trinh is the Huffington Post Canada's travel/ video editor. He's currently on a cross-Canada road trip with freelance journalist Talia Ricci. You can follow their adventures here or check out their Twitter and Instagram pages below.
