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Our
Premier
The Honourable Andrew Furey,
The
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Web
Links
How
to Get Here?
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By
Water |
By
Air |
By
Road |
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Superferries
that can carry hundreds of vehicles and passengers operated year round between
North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Port Aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland. A
Superferry also sails between North Sydney and Argentia (90 min from St.
John's), on the Avalon Peninsula from June to September. In summer a passenger
ferry operates between St. Pierre and Miquelon, a little piece of France just
off the Burin Peninsula, and Fortune just 20km away. A coastal passenger and
freight vessel sails along the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence from
Natashquan at the end of Quebec Route 138 to Blanc Sablon where you can either
drive along Route 510 in southern Labrador, or take the Strait of Belle Isle
ferry to St. Barbe on Newfoundland's west coast. |
When
you choose to travel to Newfoundland & Labrador by air, you can be certain
that you can reach all area's of the province and immediately get close to all
the wonderful sights and happenings that you're coming for. Convenient flight
times and schedules help you make your travel plans to suit your purposes.
Wherever you're coming from, there's a wide variety of international and
connector airlines at your service. There are international airports at St.
John's, and Gander, and domestic airports at Deer Lake, Stephenville, St.
Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Churchill Falls and Wabush.
(Some
airlines: Air Canada, Air Canada Tango, Air Canada Jazz, Provincial Airlines,
Air Labrador, Canjet)
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You
can drive to Labrador City and Wabush via Quebec Route 389, or take the train
from Sept Isles, Quebec. The Quebec Highway, meets unpaved Route 500 which
crosses Labrador to meet the ferry or coastal boat at Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The rail line is owned by Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway. |
Our
Climate
The
island of Newfoundland has a temperate maritime climate. Winters are usually
mild with a normal temperature of 0 Celsius. Summer days range from cool to hot
with a normal temperature of 16 Celsius. Good swimming weather begins at the end
of June. The normal annual rainfall is 1050 mm and the normal annual snowfall is
300 cm. Labrador winters are much colder than those on the island, while summers
are shorter and generally cooler, extreme high temperatures are not uncommon.
Time
Zones
Newfoundland
is located in a time zone unique in North America, half an hour later than
Atlantic Time, one and a half hours later than Central Canada and four and a
half hours later than the west coast of the country, the only place in Canada
with a split in the set variations of one hour between time zones. Daylight
Saving Time is observed from April to October after which the province returns
to Newfoundland Standard Time. Labrador operates on Atlantic Time, except for
the portion between L'Anse au Clair and Norman Bay, which is on Newfoundland
time.
Our
Currency
The
Canadian dollar is the currency used in Newfoundland & Labrador, and we
strongly advise you to convert your national currency into Canadian dollars
before leaving home. Some retailers will accept American dollars, but probably
not at the official exchange rate, and will not accept any other foreign
currency. If you bring foreign currency into Canada, please contact any
chartered bank for current exchange rates. There is no currency exchange
house/kiosk in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Units
of Measure
SI
Units - Metric, all speed, service, and distance signs are posted in SI, the
International System of Units. [1 kilometer(km)=1000 meters(m), 1 meter=100
centimeters(cm), 1 centimeter=10 millimeters(mm)]
Temperature
is measured in degrees of Celsius. 0 is freezing, 100 is boiling, whereas for Fahrenheit
32 is freezing, and 200 is boiling.
Province
Wide Provincial Visitor Information Centres
|
Location |
Phone # |
| North Sydney |
1-902-794-7433 |
| Channel-Port
Aux Basques |
1-709-695-2262 |
| Deer Lake |
1-709-635-2202 |
| Notre Dame
Junction |
1-709-535-8547 |
| Clarenville |
1-709-466-3100 |
| Whitbourne |
1-709-759-2170 |
| Argentia |
1-709-227-5272 |
Radio
Stations
AM
Frequency
FM
Frequency
Some
Statistics:
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Population |
Land
Area |
Water
Area |
Coast
Line |
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Total
Population: 519, 716 |
405,212
km2, more than three times the total area of the Maritime
Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island)
Newfoundland
- 111,390 km2
Labrador - 294,330 km2 |
34,030
km2 |
Newfoundland
- 9,656 km
Labrador
- 7,886 km
Total -
17,542 km
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Provincial
Capital
St.
John's is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. The City's population is
108,860; while the metro area population is about 205,955.
"Ode
to Newfoundland"
When
sun-rays crown thy pine-clad hills
And summer spreads her hand,
When silvern voices tune thy rills,
We love thee, smiling land.
When spreads thy cloak of shimmering white,
At winter's stern command,
Through shortened day and starlit night,
We love thee, frozen land.
When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore
And wild waves lash thy strand,
Through spindrift swirl and tempest roar,
We love thee, wind-swept land,
As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood we stand,
Their prayer we raise to Heaven above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland
by Sir Cavendish Boyle
Current Flag of Newfoundland & Labrador
The
flag of Newfoundland and Labrador was introduced in 1980, and was designed
by Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt. The flag design, with the proportions
2:1, was approved by the House of Assembly of the province of Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada, on May 28, 1980. It was flown for the first time on Discovery
Day; June 24, 1980.
The
design was chosen due to its broad symbolism. The blue colour represents the
sea, the white colour represents snow and ice of winter, the red colour
represents the effort and struggle of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and the
gold colour symbolizes the confidence Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have in
themselves and for the future.
The blue
triangles are meant as a tribute to the Union Flag, and stand for the British
heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. The two red triangles are meant to
represent the two areas of the province — the mainland and the island. The gold
arrow, according to Pratt, points towards a "brighter future"; the arrow becomes
a sword, honouring the sacrifices of Newfoundlanders in military service when
the flag is draped as a vertical banner. The red triangles and the gold arrow
form a trident, symbolizing the province's dependence on its fisheries and the
resources of the sea.
Previous
flag of Newfoundland & Labrador: Union Jack (1931-'49; 1952-'80)
Quick Summary of Newfoundland & Labrador Flags:
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Newfoundland & Labrador |
Official Flag of
Newfoundland and Labrador since 1980. Designed by
Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt and replaced the Union
Jack as the Provincial Flag. It was flown for the first time
on June 24th, 1980 (Discovery Day). |
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Flag of Labrador |
Unofficial Flag of Labrador
since 1973. Designed by Michael S. Martin, the top white
bar represents the snow which colours the culture and
lifestyle of Labradorians like no other element. The bottom
blue bar represents the waters of Labrador which serve as
the highway and sustainer of the people of Labrador. The
centre green bar represents the nurturing land. It is
thinner than the other two, as the northern climes of
Labrador have short summers.
The twig is in two
year-growths to represent the past and future of Labrador.
The shorter growth of the inner twigs represents the
hardships of the past, while the outer twigs are longer as a
representation of the hope Labradorians have for the future.
The three branches represent the three founding nations of
Labrador; the Innu, the
Inuit, and the white settler.
The three branches emerging from a single stalk represents
the unity of the distinct peoples in the brotherhood of
mankind. |
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Newfoundland Tri-Colour |
Unofficial Flag of
Newfoundland & Labrador. Originating from the 1880's as the
flag of an Roman Catholic fraternal group in St. John's.
Some deemed to be once the flag of Newfoundland but was
never the case. The colours are green, white & rose, with it
being perhaps the oldest popularly recognized flags in the
world to use the colour rose. |
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Union Jack |
Official national flag of the
Dominion of Newfoundland from 1931-1949; Official provincial
flag of Newfoundland from 1952-1980. However the
Newfoundland & Labrador branch of the Royal Canadian Legion
doesn't recognize the new flag since the soldiers of the
Dominion fought in World War 1 and 2 under the Union Jack.
The Legion continues to display the Union Flag. |
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Red-Ensign |
The Red Ensign served as the
Colony of Newfoundland's civil ensign and was the only
official colonial flag until the reign of Queen Victoria. In
1904 the British Parliament designated a Red & Blue Ensign
with each having the Great Seal of Newfoundland thus
becoming the Dominion of Newfoundland offiicial flags from
1904 until 1931. |
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Blue-Ensign |
Newfoundland Coat of Arms:
The Great Seal of Newfoundland & Labrador:
Motto:
"Quaretite prime Regnum"
Flower: Purple pitcher plant
Tree:
Black Spruce (Picea Mariana)
Bird:
Atlantic Puffin
Mineral: Labradorite
Game
Bird: Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus)
Animal: Newfoundland pony
Animal: Newfoundland dog / Labrador
Retriever
Common
Animals in Newfoundland: Moose, Black
Bear, Mink, Pine Martin, Snowshoe Hare, Coyote, Beaver, Atlantic Puffin, Loon,
Caribou, Lynx, Fox, Owl, Bald Eagle's, Osprey (fish hawk), Blue Jay, Grey Jay,
Black Ducks, Canada Geese.
Common
Trees/Shrubs in Newfoundland: White
Spruce (Picea Glauca), Black Spruce (Picea Mariana), Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea),
Rhodara (Rhododendron Canadense), Mountain Alder (Alnus Viridis, Crispa),
Sweetgale (Myrica Gale), Labrador Tea (Rhododendron Groenlandicum), Tamarack
Larch (Larix Laricina) often called a juniper locally.
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