September 2022 - Newfoundland Labrador (NL)
As you read this we will be on the road - first stop is Victoriaville Quebec.
This is the most easterly edge of North America.
This is where the sun rises first.
This is where the sun rises first.
Newfoundland and Labrador has a reputation for being friendly. Warm and welcoming, fun loving and funny to the core, the people here are also known for their natural creativity, unique language, and knack for storytelling.
Newfoundland and Labrador's residents are fondly known as "Newfoundlanders" and "Labradorians", with an incredibly diverse population of British Isles (English, Irish, and Scottish), South Asian, Chinese, and aboriginal people. The predominant religion is Protestant at 59.7% and Catholic at 36.3%. English is predominately spoken in the province by almost half a million people, while French trails behind at around 2000 speakers.As the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John's is home to over 150 000 people, with the provincial government being the largest employer in the province.
There are only two publicly-funded institutes of higher learning and both are situated in Newfoundland.
The Memorial University of Newfoundland, situated in St. Johns, was established in 1925 and has 4 main campuses, as well as 2 satellite campuses in 3 regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. The university offers degrees in Engineering, Geology, Business, and Medicine and is rated as one of the best universities in Canada.
The College of the North Atlantic, in Stephenville, was established in 1997 and consists of several smaller trade-schools. The college offers over 100 study programs at 17 campuses all over Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, there are 25 private trade-schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Memorial University of Newfoundland, situated in St. Johns, was established in 1925 and has 4 main campuses, as well as 2 satellite campuses in 3 regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. The university offers degrees in Engineering, Geology, Business, and Medicine and is rated as one of the best universities in Canada.
The College of the North Atlantic, in Stephenville, was established in 1997 and consists of several smaller trade-schools. The college offers over 100 study programs at 17 campuses all over Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, there are 25 private trade-schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
FUN FACTS
St. John's was nearly burnt to a crisp during the 18th century. Five times to be exact! They happened in 1816, 1817, 1819, 1846, but the most deadly of all was the Great Fire in 1892.
the first province to receive a wireless communication in the world. Sent by Marconi from England in 1901.
France is only an hour boat ride away! Well a part of France — St. Pierre and Miquelon is only a few hours from St. John's.
Vikings lived here! Way up north in L'anse Aux Meadows was home to plenty of vikings!
Newfoundland convenience stores sell beer until 2AM.
Newfoundland is home to the critically endangered Boreal Felt Lichen. 94% of them to be exact!
The boreal felt lichen is blueish-grey and leafy, with curled-up sides that reveal a white underside, and attaches itself to the tree trunks or branches. The boreal felt lichen provides a valuable source of nitrogen for forests. The species is also proving to be incredibly valuable as an indicator of air quality and climate change.
We have dog breeds named after the province. One of the most popular dogs in the world — the Labrador and the beloved Newfoundland dog.
We have dog breeds named after the province. One of the most popular dogs in the world — the Labrador and the beloved Newfoundland dog.
St. John's has one of the most colour waterfronts in the world. Did you know that the row houses were painted all different colours so the ships could see them through the fog?
St. John's is the oldest city in North America. Not only that but Water Street is the oldest street in Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador has their own dictionary. To help all those visiting around the Bay.
The Royal St. John's Regatta is one the oldest sporting events in Canada.Held on the first Wednesday of August every year.
It used to be the location of the world’s busiest airport.
Back in the day, most airplanes couldn’t make a transatlantic flight from New York to London without refueling. Newfoundland was the closest bit of North America to Europe, so it’s where most planes stopped. Gander International Airport is located almost exactly on the great circle route from New York to London, which is why it was the busiest in the world in the 1950’s. AND WHERE I FIRST STEPPED ON CANADIAN LAND.
Gander International rose to prominence once again the week of September 11, 2001, when American air space closed in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Although flights across the world were canceled, those already in transit were forced to land in Canada—and for many of those flights, it meant landing at Gander International Airport, due to space constraints at other airports, as well as fuel concerns for transatlantic flights. All told, roughly 6,700 passengers and a total of 38 planes landed at Gander that day, far overwhelming the tourist capacity of a small, 9,000 person town with just 500 hotel rooms. Those passengers would spend four days in Gander, and the uncommonly beautiful welcome the “Plane People” were given is now the story of the hit Broadway musical “Come From Away.”
Newfoundland has its own time zone. Being in your own time zone isn’t that big of a deal, but the time zone on the island is one of the rare time 30 minute time zones—yep, it’s not on the hour mark like most countries, instead if you visit Newfoundland you will be living 30 min ahead of Atlantic time and 90 minutes ahead of eastern time.
Newfoundland has its own time zone. Being in your own time zone isn’t that big of a deal, but the time zone on the island is one of the rare time 30 minute time zones—yep, it’s not on the hour mark like most countries, instead if you visit Newfoundland you will be living 30 min ahead of Atlantic time and 90 minutes ahead of eastern time.
OUR ITINERARY
In my head I am diving our trip into 4 parts.
Part 1 is Toronto to North Sydney NS
Part 2 is NS ferry/Port aux Basques NL to Deer Lake NL where we join the bus tour and back to Deer Lake to pick up our car
BUS TOUR
The tour doesn't actually come back the same route but I couldn't get the map to show it coming down through the middle of the arm as it is cutting through the national park.
Part 3 is Deer Lake NL to St.John's and then back to Port aux Basques
The route back is much the same as there is really only the Trans Canada Highway.
Part 4 Ferry to Nova Scotia back to home - we haven't decided what our stops will be. It will depend on weather and mood.
Formerly known as just “Newfoundland” when it was a colony, dominion, and province, in 2001 they officially changed the name to Newfoundland and Labrador to reflect the larger chunk of land on the continental mainland. The Canadian constitution was amended to make this happen.
Newfoundland and Labrador, province of Canada is composed of the island of Newfoundland and a larger mainland sector, Labrador, to the northwest. It is the newest of Canada’s 10 provinces, having joined the confederation only in 1949; its name was officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001. The island, which was named the “newfoundelande,” or New Found Land, by late 15th-century explorers, lies athwart (crossways) the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It has a small population of just over 500, 000 people who primarily take up residence on the Avalon Peninsula. The capital city, St. John's is located on the north side of the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly part of North America, and its position on the Atlantic has given it a strategic importance in defense, transportation, and communications.
Newfoundland and Labrador has an area of 405,720 square kilometres. It is more than three times the total area of the Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) and would rank fourth in size behind Alaska, Texas, and California if it were one of the United States.
Newfoundland and Labrador, province of Canada is composed of the island of Newfoundland and a larger mainland sector, Labrador, to the northwest. It is the newest of Canada’s 10 provinces, having joined the confederation only in 1949; its name was officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001. The island, which was named the “newfoundelande,” or New Found Land, by late 15th-century explorers, lies athwart (crossways) the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It is separated from Labrador by the narrow Strait of Belle Isle and from Nova Scotia, to the southwest, by Cabot Strait. The French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon lies off the coast of the Burin Peninsula in southeastern Newfoundland. Labrador is bordered to the north and east by the Labrador Sea (northwestern arm of the Atlantic Ocean) and to the south and west by the province of Quebec.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly part of North America, and its position on the Atlantic has given it a strategic importance in defense, transportation, and communications.
Its capital city, St. John’s (on Newfoundland), for instance, is closer to the coast of Ireland than it is to Winnipeg, Manitoba!
Oh Jackie I am so happy for you. Your itinerary is wonderful. Not time to do everything which is understandable. St. P & M are fantastic. We spent a few days there, so incredibly French in food, language, etc. And Battle Harbour which is a few days as well and remains one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and these are well worth it if you come back some time. I am so excited for you both seeing so much. And hope to catch a glimpse of you in St. John's, my health permitting.
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Enjoy the trip!
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