Why is Grosse Ile rememebered as a place of tragedy?

Grosse Ile or Isle, was Canada's version of the United State's Ellis Island. During the period of the Great Irish Famine, new immigrants had to be processed at Grosse Ile and in the year 1847, there were so many new arrivals sick with typhus, mostly Irish, that there were not enough beds to hold all of the sick on the island. There were miles of boats lying at anchor that became quarantine boats waiting to arrive at the island. Over 5000 people died on the boats and 5424 were buried on the Island. There is now a national monument and park at the site on the Island. See the related link for more information.