Norman Bay was a winter settlement for the fishing stations of Snug Harbour and Venisons Tickle. At the time when southeast Labrador fishing stations were being encouraged to resettle in the 1960's, the Ward family at Snug Harbour resisted pressures to move to Charlottetown or another larger community and instead made Norman Bay their home. The Wards were later joined by one or two other families. This is why Norman Bay population is made up mostly of Wards.