St. John's, the Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's, the Capital of Newfoundland and Labrador Key Facts About St. John's, the Capital City of Newfoundland and Labrador Grant Faint/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images Updated: 10/16/2013 About the City of St. John's, Newfoundland St. John's is the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador , Canada. St. John's is Canada's oldest city, and it shows its old-fashioned charm in winding, hilly streets lined with colorful buildings. St. John's sits on a deepwater harbour connected by the Narrows, a long inlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The local economy, depressed by the collapse of the cod fishery in the early 1990s, has been brought back to prosperity with petro-dollars from off-shore oil projects. Location of St. John's, Newfoundland The easternmost city in North America, St. John's is situated on the east side of the Avalon Peninsula in southeast Newfoundland. Area of City of St. John's 446.06 sq. km (172.22 sq.

miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population of City of St. John's 106,172 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Date St. John's Incorporated as a City 1921 Date St. John's Became the Capital City of Newfoundland In 1832, St. John's became the seat of government of Newfoundland, an English colony at the time, when Newfoundland was granted a colonial legislature by England. St. John's became the capital city of the province of Newfoundland when Newfoundland joined Canadian Confederation in 1949. Government of City of St. John's, Newfoundland St. John's municipal elections are held every four years on the last Tuesday in September. Date of the last St. John's municipal election: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Date of the next St. John's municipal election: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 The City of St. John's has a partial ward system with a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, five ward councillors and four councillors at large. Geography & Landscape – Newfoundland and Labrador – Location, Cities, People, Terrain and Geology St.

John's Harbour PreviousZoomNext Newfoundland and Labrador is located on the eastern edge of North America. Our capital city shares the same latitude as Paris, France, and Seattle, Washington. And by plane, we're just three hours from Toronto, four from New York, and five and a half from London. With the North Atlantic Ocean at our doorstep, Newfoundland and Labrador is home to Iceberg Alley, one of the best places in the world to view icebergs . Just off the coast, the meeting of the cool Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream creates an abundance of marine life that attracts thousands of whales , and provides rich nesting grounds for millions of seabirds . How big is it? To put things in perspective, Newfoundland and Labrador is a little smaller than California, slightly bigger than Japan, and twice the size of the entire United Kingdom. The island of Newfoundland covers 111,390 square kilometres (43,008 square miles) - an area that rivals the size of the three maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island combined.

With the addition of the vast territory of Labrador, the province covers a total area of 405,212 square kilometres (156,453 square miles), and has more than 29,000 kilometres (18,000 miles) of unspoiled coastline. So it goes without saying, there's plenty of breathing room. To see all the highlights, you'll likely need two weeks. If you only have time for a shorter trip, choose from one of the many sample itineraries or select a specific region of the province to visit. Take a few more days next time around. Cities & People Though Newfoundland and Labrador is larger than some countries, it certainly doesn't feel crowded with a relatively small population of 510,000. And while you'll find lots of friendly folks across the province, just over one-third, or 181,000, live in and around the capital city of St. John's. When it comes to landscape, Newfoundland and Labrador is as vast as it is varied. Here, you'll find Arctic tundra, ancient mountain ranges, lush boreal forest, and rugged coastline that offer limitless opportunities for outdoor adventure in a pristine environment.

On the west coast of Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the Long Range Mountains and North America's northernmost part of the International Appalachian Trail . Torngat Mountains National Park , located in Northern Labrador, encompasses a vast, untouched wilderness area and some of the oldest mountains in the world. In the Central Region , you'll find boreal forests, consisting of dense forests, marshes, and green meadows that extend all the way to Labrador. Geology The unique geological landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador attracts scientists and rockhounds from across the globe. It tells the remarkable story of earth's evolution, and features some of the oldest rocks in the world. The Johnson GEO CENTRE , carved out of the prehistoric rock of Signal Hill in St. John's, is a great place to begin your geological journey of the province. For a fascinating lesson on plate tectonics, and a chance to step on rocks from the earth's mantle, visit the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park . Torngat Mountains National Park in Northern Labrador is home to 3.9 billion-year-old rocks - some of the oldest in the world.

The spectacularly preserved fossils and petrified remains found at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the Avalon Peninsula date back 565 million years. It's the oldest, most diverse assemblage of multicellular life ever found on earth. Where is Newfoundland and Labrador province? / Where is Newfoundland and Labrador Located in The World? / Newfoundland and Labrador province Map - WorldAtlas.com Where is Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada? Location of province of Newfoundland and Labrador within Canada Newfoundland and Labrador is a province found in the nation of Canada . Home to 525,000 people, it is the 9th largest division in Canada in terms of population. Newfoundland and Labrador gained its current status as a province in the year 1949. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is lead by Paul Davis and is based in the province capital of Saint John's (Population: 99,182). Newfoundland and Labrador Province - Quick Facts Country Newfoundland and Labrador - The Canadian Encyclopedia Provinces & Territories Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland, the youngest of the Canadian provinces, joined Confederation in 1949.

Some portion of its coast was undoubtedly one of the first parts of the continent seen by Europeans. Its total area is 405, 720 km2, of which Labrador makes up almost three-quarters (294,330 km2). Newfoundland, the youngest of the Canadian provinces, joined Confederation in 1949. Some portion of its coast was undoubtedly one of the first parts of the continent seen by Europeans. Its total area is 405, 720 km2, of which Labrador makes up almost three-quarters (294,330 km2). The island of Newfoundland is the easternmost region of Canada, while Labrador is located on the mainland to the northwest. Since John Cabot 's arrival on the “new isle” the island has been referred to as Terra Nova, or in English, Newfoundland. Labrador probably received its name from the Portuguese designation, "Terra del Lavradors." Land and Resources The province is physically divided into two major units of unequal area: the much larger mainland territory of Labrador to the north; and the smaller island of Newfoundland to the south.

Within each there are distinct variations in the physical characteristics of the environment, in the occurrence and availability of natural resources, and corresponding variations in the pattern of human settlement. In Labrador there are three such sub-regions: a northern coastal region, which is ruggedly mountainous, deeply fjorded , grows only ground-level subarctic vegetation and has very little settlement; a southern coastal region that has a rugged, barren foreshore and a forested hinterland, with light to moderate settlement; and the bulk of the vast interior, which comprises a well-forested, dissected plateau, and where settlement is concentrated in a few large towns. On the island of Newfoundland there are four distinct regions: the west coast, the interior, the northeast coast and the south coast. The west coast is dominated by the table-topped Long Range Mountains , which rise to 814 m. They are bordered in places by narrow, well-forested coastal plains and are frequently penetrated by glacially-deepened valleys and by several large fjord-like bays, the largest of which are the Bay of Islands and Bonne Bay. There is almost continuous settlement in the bays and coves along the west coast.

There is also some interior settlement in the Codroy Valley to the south and around Deer Lake , which lies on a small plain within the mountain range. The interior is a plateau-like region with frequent undulations in the terrain representing the ridges and slopes of the watersheds carved out by the major stream systems. Four large rivers — Exploits , Gander , Humber and Terra Nova — drain most of the area. The west coast supports extensive forest stands, particularly on the gentle slopes of the major watersheds. Settlements are widely separated and most of the population is concentrated in a few large towns associated with forest or mineral resource use and with transportation services. The northeast coast, with its numerous bays, islands and headlands, fronts on the Atlantic Ocean from the Great Northern Peninsula to the Avalon Peninsula . Inland sections of this region are generally well forested, but exposed headlands and offshore islands have low, scrubby vegetation. The region has a shoreline typical of land that was submerged by glaciation and, in places, rebounded after the ice caps melted. Thus, there are innumerable bays, coves, islands and fjords which often provide excellent harbours.

It is also an area that can annually expect to be blocked by arctic drift ice throughout the winter and early spring. Settlement has developed along the shores of most of the bays and on some offshore islands. The south coast region coincides with the whole southern portion of the Island of Newfoundland. This coast also has the deeply embayed characteristics of a submerged shoreline. It is not blocked by arctic drift ice, although in some years parts of the eastern Avalon Peninsula as far south as St John's may be cut off for a few days. The inland areas of the island are generally hilly and rugged while shallow bogs and heath vegetation covers much of the land. The variation in climate and in the nature of the terrain dictates a similar variation in the nature of vegetation and growth rates. Generally the well-drained lowlands have the best forest growth, and there are sufficient timber stands to constitute an important resource. Geology Labrador occupies the easternmost section of the Canadian Shield and comprises mostly tough, ancient Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks. There are some areas of softer sedimentary rocks, notably in the west in a formation called the Labrador Trough. This area contains some of the most extensive iron ore deposits in North America.

The interior region is plateau-like, on average about 450 m above sea level and greatly dissected by large, east-flowing rivers, such as the Churchill River and its tributaries. These rivers cut through the eastern rim of the saucer-shaped shield to discharge into the Labrador Sea . This rim is largely mountainous, especially in the north, where the Torngat Mountains rise to over 1,500 m. Of these, the highest is Mount Caubvick at 1,652 m. In 1993, a large nickel , copper and cobalt discovery was made at Voisey Bay (approximately 35 km southwest of Nain ). It is considered the richest base metal discovery since the Second World War . The Island of Newfoundland is part of the Appalachian system and displays the typical southwest to northeast alignment in its major bays, peninsulas, river systems and mountain ranges. Rocks are more varied on the Island than in Labrador. Continental drifting, followed by frequent periods of crustal deformation, interspersed by long periods of erosion and deposition, have combined to produce this great variety in types and ages.

The oldest rocks are Precambrian and occur in the east, in and around the Avalon and Burin peninsulas; they are mostly folded sedimentary rocks, but in a few areas later intrusions have solidified into volcanic rocks. Small remnants of gently sloping Cambrian and Ordovician sedimentary rocks occur in pockets along the coast. The most significant are in Conception Bay , where the Ordovician rocks that form Bell Island contain layers of hematite iron ore with estimated reserves of billions of tonnes. The central and western portions of the Island are underlaid by a great variety of Palaeozoic rocks of sedimentary , igneous and metamorphic origin, within which crustal deformation has been generally severe. Long periods of erosion following periods of uplift have left a poly-cyclical landscape with the remnants of old erosion surfaces displayed in the plateau-like interior and on the flat-topped mountains of the Long Range. A mineralized belt in these Palaeozoic rocks, stretching from an area on the south coast just east of Channel-Port Aux Basques to the general area of western Notre Dame Bay on the northeast coast, contain ores composed of copper , lead , zinc , gold and silver .

The youngest and least-disturbed rocks of this Palaeozoic series lie in and around the coastal plain on the west coast. These are Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, containing much gypsum, which is quarried, and limestone . There are a few coal deposits and signs of petroleum, but nothing of commercial value has been discovered. Off Newfoundland’s coast, extensive deposits of Cretaceous rock stretch the length of the Grand Banks. Surface All areas of the province show the effects of continental glaciation during the Pleistocene era, the final stages of which are dated to 7,000 years ago. Moving ice sheets scoured and sculpted the province’s surface. Most of the unconsolidated parent material beneath present-day soils consists of glacial debris or marine sediments. The interior regions of both Labrador and the Island are strewn with lakes and covered with moraines , and give evidence of an immense ice cap, which initially moved radially outward from a centre west of Labrador, but in the later periods of the Pleistocene period broke down into smaller, separate ice caps with centres in Labrador, the west-central Island and the Avalon Peninsula.

Most coastal regions are fjorded where the ice channelled down the valleys of the pre-glacial fluvial system. The longest and most steep-sided fjords occur in northern Labrador and around the Great Northern Peninsula of the Island, but there are several places where this scouring effect from ice movement is absent. Most bays have been deepened and are often fjord-like in character. Many places in the north of the Island and in Labrador show, because of postglacial uplift, raised shorelines and large stretches of marine sediments. The most striking and extensive marine deposits are those in the remnants of raised deltas that occur around St George's Bay and around Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador at the mouth of the Churchill River . Coastal features, such as offshore islands, spits, tombolos and bay-mouth bars (barachoix), which are typical of a submerged shoreline, are common throughout the south and southeast coastal regions. In northern Labrador, and in high places throughout the province, soils are generally coarse and immature. Due to cool temperatures and exposure to hard environmental conditions, vegetation is either entirely lacking or is only of the subarctic, lichen , tundra or ground-level variety.

Due to deep surface deposits, there are excellent forest stands in the interior regions, such as on the watersheds of the Churchill, Exploits, Humber and Gander rivers. Extensive bogland has developed in the many hollows of this glaciated landscape. The forest is made up of several of the species common to the boreal forest that stretches across northern North America. Balsam fir predominates as the most common tree in Newfoundland and the second most common in Labrador. Black spruce and balsam fir are dominant in close forests, but the ratio is dependent upon site type. Balsam fir, for example, regenerates more successfully in places that have been clear cut. Nevertheless, black spruce grows particularly well, especially in open stands and where forest has regenerated after fire, and approximately one third of Newfoundland’s forests and two thirds of Labrador’s forests are black spruce. Subdominants are represented by larch, pine and typical boreal deciduous species such as paper birch , aspen , alder , pin cherry and mountain ash .

Many of the non-forested areas support ground-level, mossy plants, some of which are food for wildlife, while others, such as the blueberry, partridge berry and bakeapple ("cloudberry"), can be gathered for human consumption. Water Through scouring and deposits, glaciation left a pockmarked landscape capable of storing vast quantities of water in thousands of lakes, ponds and bogs. Many of the ponds are shallow, but many of the lakes are in large, old valleys deepened by glacial scouring and dammed by glacial deposits. In interior Labrador hundreds of lakes have been combined by means of canals, dikes and dams, to create the 6,527 km2 Smallwood Reservoir (roughly one-third the size of Lake Ontario ) behind the huge hydro development of Churchill Falls . Because of the moist climate and plentiful snowfall, the water table is high in all areas, lakes are usually full and rivers flow perennially. There is naturally some seasonal fluctuation and occasionally very wet or dry years, but water shortages for domestic or industrial use are rare. Climate Climate varies considerably throughout the province.

Interior Labrador has a continental climate, but the southeastern areas around the Burin and Avalon peninsulas are marine. The transitional variation makes it difficult to designate specific climatic regions, but certain generalizations can be made. The climate of northern Labrador is truly subarctic in that there is generally coolness and dryness throughout the year. In Nain, average mean maximum temperatures are approximately -13°C in January and 15°C in July. The mean minimum temperature drops to approximately -20°C in January and 5°C in July. The winters of interior Labrador are also extremely cold. Precipitation varies by region even within northern Labrador. For example, Nain’s average annual precipitation is 892.7 mm, approximately half of which is from snow. However, Cape Chidley’s annual precipitation is approximately 460 mm. In coastal areas the modifying influence of the ocean reduces the temperature range between summer and winter. In southern Labrador coastal regions are cold in winter and cool in summer, and interior regions are often severely cold in winter but warm in summer. On the Island there is a similar though not so marked difference between coastal and inland regions.

In St John’s, mean maximum temperatures are approximately -1°C in January and 20°C in July. The mean minimum temperature drops to approximately -8°C in January and 11°C in July. Precipitation across the island varies in a northwest to southeast direction. Precipitation is fairly even every month, but in northern locations about half falls as snow and in the milder southeast, snowfall is only about 12 per cent. Average annual precipitation around the Avalon and Burin peninsulas is over 150 cm. The mixing of the air masses off the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream frequently creates fog on the Grand Banks, and in eastern and southern coastal areas, particularly in spring and early summer. Wildlife [H3] Since most of the interior of the province is relatively uninhabited, there is ample space and a suitable habitat for wildlife, some species of which constitute an important resource. There is a greater variety in Labrador than on the Island. Among large game are several species of caribou , moose , black bear and, in northern coastal areas, polar bear .

There are many small, fur-bearing animals, the most important of which are beaver , fox , lynx , rabbit , otter and muskrat . Some are trapped for the value of their pelts or for food while others are hunted annually by licensed sportsmen. Conservation In many coastal areas colonies of millions of seabirds nest annually, primarily gulls , gannets , murres , kittiwakes and puffins . Sanctuaries to protect these birds have been established in six provincial ecological reserves (e.g., the Gannet Islands off the Labrador coast, on Funk Island on the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula and at Cape St Mary’s on the south coast). Three migratory bird sanctuaries are on the Grey Islands and in Terra Nova National Park . Gros Morne National Park preserves a spectacular natural region on the west coast and Terra Nova National Park on the east coast. There are also 32 provincial parks, 11 other ecological reserves. People Urban Centres Settlement by Europeans was slow and reflected the dominance of the fisheries.

Early settlers paid little attention to the soil or lack of amenities, settling on the shoreline in bays and coves close to the inshore and offshore fishing grounds, primarily on the east coast. Settlement gradually spread and became permanent. The first centres developed around St John’s and Conception Bay, then generally along the east and south coasts. Today, St John’s is the capital of the province and the largest city, followed by Corner Brook , Grand Falls-Windsor and Bay Roberts . In 2011, 59 per cent of the population was urban, which follows larger national trends of increasing urbanization. Labour Force In the years leading up to the collapse of the Atlantic fishery in the 1990s, five to six per cent of the labour force was employed by the fishing, hunting and trapping industries. Since then, however, employment in these industries has experienced a rapid decline, decreasing 52 per cent from 9,400 in 2002 to 4,500 in 2012, or just under two per cent of the labour force.

During the same time frame, employment in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction increased 96 per cent, from 5,700 in 2002 to 11,200 in 2012. Despite the importance of resource-based industries to the province, the service sector still employs the most people — 74 per cent in 2012. Within this broad category health care and social assistance, retail trades and public administration were the top three employers in 2012. The unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador has often been the highest rate in Canada since 1977, and has been consistently higher than the national average, in many years double the national average. In 2012 it was 12.5 per cent, compared to a national average of 7.2 per cent. Language and Ethnicity There are several Aboriginal communities in the province, including the Mi’kmaq on the Island and the Innu , Inuit and Inuit-Métis in Labrador. Elsewhere the population is of predominantly European origin, the majority descended from immigrants from southwestern England and southern Ireland.

On the west coast of the Island there are pockets of people of French descent (mostly Acadian ) and some Scots whose ancestors were from Cape Breton , NS. Religion Religious affiliation closely follows ethnic origin as the majority of residents are Christian, identifying as either Catholic or Protestant. History Aboriginal Settlement During the prehistoric period, a group of people referred to by archaeologists as the Maritime Archaic lived in the area now known as Newfoundland and Labrador from about 8000 to 3200 BCE. They were followed by the Palaeo-eskimo, who lived in the region from about 2800 to 600 BCE, and then the Recent Indians, present from about 2000 BCE to the historic period. On the Island, the Recent Indians were the ancestors of the Beothuk , and in Labrador, the Innu. The ancestors of the Labrador Inuit were the Thule . When John Cabot arrived in 1497, the Beothuk inhabited all parts of the island. While they did have some contact with the Europeans, they generally tried to avoid them, retreating inland.

Without access to the coast, their food sources were limited, and they also began to suffer from European diseases, particularly tuberculosis. The best known Beothuk were two women, Mary March ( Desmasduwit ) and Shawnadithit , who were captured in 1819 and brought to St John's. They, like the remainder of their community, soon died. Following Cabot’s arrival the Mi’kmaq, originally of the region now known as Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island , the Gaspé Peninsula and New Brunswick , began to travel the Gulf of St Lawrence in order to trade fur for European goods. Eventually some settled in Newfoundland. Today there is a Mi’kmaq community at Conne River. Like the Beothuk, the Innu and Inuit of Labrador also suffered upon the arrival of the Europeans. Among other challenges, they died from foreign disease, and their land base was encroached upon. However, there remain two Innu communities in Labrador today, Sheshatshiu and Natuashish. In 2004, the Inuit won the right to self-government.

Called the Nunatsiavut Government, the settlement area is in Northern Labrador and includes five Inuit communities: the Nain, Hopedale, Rigolet, Makkovik and Postville. Exploration At the end of the 10th century, Norse , including Leif Ericsson , made several voyages of exploration from Greenland to overseas lands to the west and southwest, and established a temporary settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows on the Great Northern Peninsula of the Island. In 1497 John Cabot , a Venetian navigator, sailed on a voyage of discovery for Henry VII of England and discovered new lands, which are believed to have been between Nova Scotia and Labrador, and included a "new isle." In 1500 the Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real made a more thorough exploration, and named several bays and capes along the east coast of the Island. In 1535–36 Jacques Cartier demonstrated that Newfoundland was an island by sailing through Cabot Strait as well as the Strait of Belle Isle. In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert sailed into St John's Harbour and claimed the Island for England.

Europeans had been exploiting the rich cod stocks off the coast of Newfoundland since shortly after John Cabot's voyage. During the 16th century this was a migratory fishery with crews from ports in France, Spain, Portugal and England sailing each spring and returning in the fall with salt cod. Starting in the 1540s, Basques from France and Spain also carried on whaling operations on the south coast of Labrador. Although England was involved in some of the earliest voyages to Newfoundland, its role in the migratory fishery was small before the 1570s. However, war in Europe crippled the other nations' fisheries and opened up markets for English salt cod. By 1600 the English fishery had grown to include approximately 150 ships sailing mostly from West Country ports, and the coast from Trepassey to Bonavista had come to be known as the English Shore. European Settlement Relative peace in Western Europe in the early 17th century resulted in various attempts to settle the east coast of North America. Although it was well known for its fishery in many western European ports, the English were reluctant to use Newfoundland as anything more than a fishing colony.

To this end women were initially prohibited from venturing to the island, as it was thought that their presence would increase the likelihood of permanent settlement. Keeping Newfoundland’s population flexible and transitory was in the best interest of the British Crown and its merchants as it could be used as a training ground for its naval officers, they owed little responsibility to those who visited the island and migratory fishing had already proven profitable. Nevertheless, women were eventually allowed to settle on the island once it became apparent that having small settlements could prove even more advantageous for the fishing industry. The first colony was founded by the London and Bristol Company at Cupers Cove (now Cupids ) in Conception Bay in 1610, and in 1611, 40 men and 16 women arrived to start the settlement. By 1618 some of the Bristol merchants had established a second colony, called Bristol's Hope, at Harbour Grace . In 1621, George Calvert began a settlement at Ferryland , and Carbonear was settled by at least 1627.

Over the next 50 years settlement gradually expanded and by 1675, there were 1,655 people living in 31 small fishing villages on the English Shore. The tradition of appointing the master of the first fishing vessel to arrive in a harbour each spring the "admiral" of that place dates back to the 16th century. However, despite popular belief, it seems that these " fishing admirals " usually restricted their activities to various fishery related matters. In the first half of the 17th century, the various proprietary governors, such as John Guy at Cupids and David Kirke at Ferryland, were responsible for maintaining order among the colonists; and during England's Interregnum (England was without a monarchy from 1649–60), Parliament appointed a commissioner, John Treworgie, to oversee the Island's affairs. However, despite various petitions from some of the more prominent settlers, little attention was paid to the Island's governance between 1660 and 1697. Certain elements in the West Country fishery objected to year-round settlement and some legislation was passed in an effort restrict it.

In 1675 those opposed to settlement persuaded the English government to order all the settlers to leave. However, John Berry, the naval commander sent out to enact this policy, soon realized that any such attempt was futile and became a staunch defender of settlement, arguing that the planters were both an asset to the migratory fishery and a defense against the French. Two years later the English Privy Council recognized the settlers' right to remain in Newfoundland. In 1662, the first French colony was established in Newfoundland at Placentia . Over the next 20 years, a number of other settlements grew up, and by 1687 there were more than 600 French settlers in Newfoundland and on the nearby island of Saint-Pierre . War between England and France broke out in 1689 and continued with only a short respite until 1713. It was during these conflicts, known to the English as King William's War and Queen Anne's War, that the issue of who would control Newfoundland was finally decided. The French launched two devastating campaigns.

In the winter of 1696–97 when a French force and some native allies, led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville , destroyed almost all the English settlements. However, the French failed to consolidate their victory; and by the summer of 1697, the settlements were re-occupied and a British garrison had been established at St John's. In the winter and spring of 1705 another French force, led by Jacques Testard de Montigny, destroyed many of the English settlements but it too was a short-lived victory and the English soon returned. Despite the devastation of the French attacks, the Treaty of Utrecht , signed in 1713, awarded Newfoundland to England and left the French with fishing rights to the French Shore , a section of the coast between Cape Bonavista and Point Riche. In 1762, at the end of the Seven Years’ War , the French captured St John's briefly and used it as a base to attack other settlements, but the British soon drove them off. King William's Act, issued in 1699, recognized the rights of settlers but made no allowance for a settled government.

Instead it confirmed the position of the fishing admirals and gave the commanders of the Royal Naval ships that accompanied the English fishing fleet the right to act as appeal judges. Over the course of the 18th century the Royal Navy was to become the dominant judicial and political force in Newfoundland. In 1729 Newfoundland's first naval governor, Captain Henry Osborne, was appointed. The naval governors sailed to Newfoundland each spring and returned to England in the fall. To maintain order during the rest of the year, Osborne divided the Island into six judicial districts, and justices of the peace and constables were appointed from among the local population. Twenty-one years later, the first court of oyer and terminer (hear and determine) was held at St John's with a jury made up of local residents. By 1776 a customs house was built at St John's to regulate trade and suppress smuggling, and in 1792 a Supreme Court of Judicature was established. The removal of the French in 1713 led to an expansion of English settlement beyond the original English Shore. Along the south coast, settlement spread into St Mary’s , Placentia and Fortune bays. Settlement also expanded northwest onto the French Shore.

Fogo Island and Twillingate , both in Notre Dame Bay, were settled in 1728 and 1732 respectively. There were a few Irish settlers among the first colonists in Newfoundland but the majority was English. More Irish arrived in the latter part of the 17th century. These were mostly female servants, many of whom married local servants and planters. Some of the Irishmen among the soldiers stationed in St John's in 1697 also settled on the Island. By the 1720s Irish servants were arriving in Newfoundland in considerable numbers. This mixture of West Country English and Irish cultures has continues to shape the identity of the Island's peoples. By 1775 the population of Newfoundland had risen to nearly 12,000. Although the cod fishery remained the main industry, increased population led to a more diversified economy: logging, shipbuilding , trapping, salmon fishing and sealing all came to play a more important role, and the demand for a variety of skilled tradesmen increased. This period also saw the beginning of a seasonal fishery between Newfoundland and Labrador, and merchants establishing premises on the Labrador coast to collect furs and exploit the cod, salmon and seal fisheries.

The French Revolution (1789–99) and Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815) saw dramatic change in Newfoundland. The English migratory fishery ground to a halt and never fully recovered as the dangers of a trans-Atlantic crossing increased; and many West Country fishermen were pressed into the British Navy. Increased danger at sea also meant that many more people chose to remain on the Island, thus spurring population growth. The defeat of the French in Spain in 1811 reopened the markets in southern Europe for Newfoundland salt cod and initiated an economic boom that saw many new arrivals, especially from Ireland. By the time peace arrived in 1815, the Newfoundland population had risen to more than 40,000 and the fishery was firmly in the hands of the resident population. Development Once a significant permanent population was established, petitions for better government and local representation increased. Dr. William Carson and Patrick Morris , through a campaign of pamphlets and petitions to Britain, succeeded in having representative government established in 1832, with the objective to obtain responsible government and full colonial status, which was finally achieved in 1855.

Settlement increased throughout the 19th century. The salt-cod fishery was the principal occupation and the mainstay of the economy, but there was also logging, mining and agriculture. In the late 1800s the trans-insular railway began to open up the interior, and goods and services became accessible to many parts formerly isolated in winter. Representatives of the various Newfoundland governments attended the Confederation conferences, but they chose not to join, despite substantial support of the movement. When the French fishing rights were revoked in 1904, the northern and western coasts became available for settlement. Until about 1925 the economy was based on the primary industries — fishing, mining, and pulp and paper — but debts incurred through building railways and supporting a regiment in First World War , coupled with the Great Depression after 1929, produced bankruptcy and government collapse. Newfoundland was forced to beg Britain for assistance and eventually reassumed colonial status under a Commission of Government . The economy recovered remarkably towards the end of the 1930s, mainly because of increasing demand for products from the sea, mines and forests, and because of increased activity in defence-based construction in anticipation of Second World War.

During the war many young people joined the armed forces overseas, and at home there was full employment. The US, Canada and Britain established several army bases, two large naval bases and five airports in Newfoundland. Gander was the largest and most important airport because of its role in the transatlantic Ferry Command. When the Commission government was dissolved in 1949, it had cleared all debts and left a surplus of over $40 million. After the Second World War, a national convention was elected to debate the question of Newfoundland's future and to make recommendations. It was decided to hold a referendum through which the people would make a choice between the Commission government, confederation with Canada, or a return to responsible government and Dominion status. The referendum proved inconclusive except that Newfoundlanders were unwilling to retain the Commission government. A second referendum with the options of Confederation or Dominion was then held. An intensive campaign ensued between the confederates, led by Joseph R. Smallwood , and the anti-confederates, which the confederates won by a narrow margin, 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Canada accepted Newfoundland at midnight on 31 March 1949, and Smallwood became premier of the first provincial government. The next two decades witnessed dramatic and substantial changes in the economy and in the lifestyle of Newfoundlanders. The fishing industry was revolutionized as dozens of fresh-fish-processing plants were established on all coasts and as they gradually all but replaced the old method of the family-run enterprise of catching, salting and sun-curing cod for sale to Caribbean and Mediterranean areas. Draggers operating offshore on the Banks, and smaller boats in the near-shore and inshore waters, could now catch a variety of species for delivery to the plants, where the fish were quick-frozen for new markets, chiefly in the US. The number of fishermen declined greatly and opportunity for shore work in the plants increased. The pulp and paper mills at Corner Brook and Grand Falls substantially increased production, and mines at Buchans, St Lawrence and Wabana worked to capacity.

New industries were launched with government-backing and although most failed — including a steel mill, a rubber-goods plant, a leather-products plant and a knitting mill — a few succeeded, notably the plasterboard and cement plant at Corner Brook, the particle-board mill near St John's and the phosphorus plant at Long Harbour, Placentia Bay. A huge oil refinery at Come by Chance at first failed (1973–76) but has been producing oil since 1987, mainly for export to the United States. The huge iron ore mines of western Labrador came into production in the 1950s. Since the Second World War many people have moved from small communities to large towns and growth centres. As chances for local employment diminished, young people left the province at an annual rate of about 5,000. With opportunities accessible through cheap transportation by land, air and sea, they moved on, mostly to central or western Canada.

The impact of the economic recessions of the late 1970s, early 1980s and early 1990s were sharply felt in Newfoundland, although there was no comparison with the desperate conditions of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. Unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, social assistance and other benefits of the welfare state ensured decent living and health standards. High unemployment most severely affected the young and there was again considerable out-migration in the late 1990s and early 2000s as people sought employment in western Canada's booming economy. The development of the Voisey's Bay nickel mine in northern Labrador and offshore oil production since 1997 have reversed the long-term trend of annual deficit budgets for the province. Increased economic activity, especially in the St John's metropolitan region, has contributed to the province experiencing in-migration. Economy The province is generously endowed with natural resources, and periodic development of each resource has proved beneficial to both primary and secondary producers. Originally this resource was the fishery, and the economy was wholly dependent on it. Today the resource-based economy has diversified to include mineral, oil and hydroelectric developments.

Agriculture Agriculture has been of minor importance in Newfoundland because of the poor soil and adverse climate. Less than one per cent of the agricultural land in Canada belongs to Newfoundland and Labrador, and about half of it is confined to the northern Avalon and Burin Peninsulas. Nevertheless, there are scattered pockets of fertile land and conditions are suitable for the growth of hay and pasture crops. In 2012, the most abundant vegetable crops were potatoes , carrots , rutabagas and cabbage . Also of importance are fruit crops, namely blueberries, strawberries and cranberries , with the farmland devoted to cranberries increasing 850 per cent between 2006 and 2011. Mining Mining and minerals is one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most valuable natural resources. Minerals mined in the province include iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc, gold, aggregates, cobalt, silver, dolomite, limestone, peat and pyrophyllite. Of these minerals, iron ore accounts for well over half the value of the industry, followed by nickel and copper.

The total value of mineral shipments was $4.6 billion, a 22 per cent increase from 2010, due largely to higher production levels and prices. Energy Energy is Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest export, as the province uses only a fraction of the energy it produces, and an even smaller portion of the energy it is potentially capable of producing. Electricity is provided by two companies: Newfoundland Power; and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. There are several hydroelectric power plants, the largest being Churchill Falls Generating Station. Following the Robert Bourassa Generating Facility in Québec, Churchill Falls is the second largest hydroelectric plant in North America, with a generating capacity of over 5,400 megawatts (MW). In 2012, the provincial government approved the Lower Churchill Project, a hydroelectric development to take place in two phases: Muskrat Falls and Gull Island, both in Labrador. The project represents the best undeveloped hydroelectric source in North America, with an expected capacity of about 3,000 MW. With respect to oil, there are four major offshore projects in production: Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose and, come 2017, Hebron.

In 2010, these offshore projects accounted for about 10 per cent of crude oil production in Canada. Decisions of the Supreme Courts of Newfoundland and of Canada in 1983 and 1984 declared that ownership of offshore resources (specifically the Hibernia oil field) was federal. However, on 11 February 1985 an agreement — called the Atlantic Accord — was signed between the Newfoundland government and the new federal Conservative administration, giving Ottawa and St John's joint say over offshore oil and gas management and allowing the province to tax the resources as if they were on land. Forestry Both Newfoundland and Labrador have substantial forests. As of 2011, there were 10,730 hectares of forested land in the province, 26 per cent of which were stocked for harvesting purposes. The forestry industry itself directly or indirectly employed 5,500 people in 2009 and was worth approximately $250 million. Fisheries After its discovery around 1497, the Island depended on cod fishing for nearly 400 years, until forest and mineral resources began to be exploited.

Before 1930 the fishing industry concentrated on the production and sale of salted and sun-cured cod. The advent of quick-freezing and of boats capable of transporting the frozen product to market radically changed the industry. Year by year the percentage of salted cod produced and sold declined, whereas the percentage of fresh-frozen fish species such as cod, turbot, plaice and redfish increased, and the principal market shifted to the US. Changes in the fishery since 1930 meant more employment on shore in the processing plants and fewer people to secure the catch. In many settlements along the coast fishermen augmented their income seasonally by catching lobster, salmon, caplin, herring, mackerel, squid, eels, scallops and crab. On 2 July 1992, the federal government declared a complete moratorium on the northern cod fishery in an attempt to save the stocks after years of overfishing. As compensation, 25,570 unemployed fishermen received from $250 to $400 per week. The program expired in May 1999. Today, the industry has largely shifted toward shellfish.

In 2012, the total value of fish landings (i.e. catch brought ashore), was about $575 million, with shellfish making up 83 per cent of this income. Snow crab was the most valuable species in this category, followed by shrimp and surf clams. Groundfish, such as turbot, cod and yellow tail flounder, are also caught in the province’s waters, as are pelagics such as herring and mackerel . Sealing also accounts for a small portion of annual landed values (less than one per cent in 2012). Industry The most significant industrial activities are based on local raw materials, such as fish processing plants. Tourism is also an important contributor to the economy. In 2012, over 504,400 tourists visited the province, an increase of almost 10 per cent over 2011. Transportation In the early years of settlement all transportation was by boat or, in the north during winter, by dog team. The establishment of railways, roads and airports brought changes.

The trans-insular railway from St John's to Channel-Port aux Basques started in the 1880s and quickly developed branch lines to Argentia in Placentia Bay, Bay de Verde in Conception Bay, Trepassey in the southern Avalon and Bonavista. Branches were later built to Lewisporte on Bay of Exploits and to Stephenville. The line later operated by CN was narrow gauge and primitive, but it provided an essential service and fostered development across the Island throughout the first half of the 20th century. The railway was closed entirely in September 1988. Highway development was rudimentary up to 1949. Roads were local, narrow and generally unpaved. A continual road-building and -improving program since the 1950s has provided an Island-wide road network, which is mostly paved and includes the Trans-Canada Highway from St John's to Channel-Port aux Basques. A few important offshore islands (e.g., Fogo, Ramea, Bell and the Little Bay Islands) have ferry service, while others (e.g., Random, Twillingate and Greenspond) are now linked by causeways.

Communities in Labrador are linked by the Trans-Labrador Highway. In addition to ferry service linking the offshore island, there is intra-provincial ferry service between Newfoundland and the Labrador mainland, as well as a ferry from Port Aux Basques to Sydney, Nova Scotia, and another from Fortune to St Pierre et Miquelon. Bush flying has been important in Newfoundland since the 1920s, and some isolated areas still rely on ski- or float-equipped small aircraft or helicopter service for mail and emergencies. In addition to the eight major airports serving Newfoundland and Labrador (located in St John's, Gander, Deer Lake, Stephenville, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St Anthony, Churchill Falls and Wabush) the province also has 13 community airstrips in Labrador and eight community strips in Newfoundland. National and regional airlines provide regular scheduled service to and from these points. The strategic location of Newfoundland made it a logical point for the initial attempts to cross the Atlantic by air. The first successful flight was that made by Alcock and Brown 14-15 June 1919 from St John's to Clifton, Ireland, in a two-motor biplane.

There were many subsequent crossings from Newfoundland in the 1920s and 1930s, culminating with the ferrying of thousands of bombers from Gander to England during the Second World War (see Ferry Command ); there was also flying-boat service from Botwood, and regular transatlantic air service via Gander in the pre-jet era. Gander continues to serve as an international crossroads for aircraft carrying goods and people to distant corners of the world. Government and Politics Provincial Government The provincial legislature of Newfoundland (officially called the House of Assembly) has 40 seats. As in other provinces, it is modelled on the British parliamentary system, and a general election is held every four years. The formal head of government and representative of the Crown is the lieutenant-governor , who is appointed by the prime minister for a period of at least five years (see Newfoundland and Labrador Lieutenant-Governors ). The premier and actual head of government is the leader of the political party holding the most seats in the legislature. The Cabinet , comprising the ministers of all government departments, is chosen by the premier from his or her caucus. Areas of provincial and federal jurisdiction are specified in the Constitution Act of 1867 .

Naval Law — Confederation Due to its original status as a fishing outpost, Newfoundland was initially ruled under British naval law. Granted its first government in 1699 under the King William’s Act, Newfoundland began permanent settlement. However, even with a growing and diversifying population, British naval rules were still used to govern the area. Newfoundland was granted representative government in 1832. A governor and council, appointed by the British government, held most of the power. A House of Assembly was elected by the people by open ballot and legislation had to pass both chambers. This unworkable form of government was replaced by popular demand in 1855 with responsible government based on the British parliamentary system. In 1934, following the onset of the Great Depression and while saddled with crushing debts, the Dominion of Newfoundland reverted to crown colony status and was governed by a commission of government consisting of a British governor, three British commissioners and three Newfoundlanders, all appointed by the British government. From 1832 to 1933, no enduring political party with a strongly defined political ideology emerged. The Liberal, Conservative or People’s parties were in fact loose coalitions of individual politicians and special-interest groups.

As with most other provinces, religion, ethnicity and social status were strong factors in early politics. For example, the Catholic Liberal Party in the mid-1800s was dedicated to advancing the interests of Newfoundland’s Irish community. Parties also coalesced around issues such as Confederation with Canada, the building of a railway and fishermen's interests versus those of the fish merchants. Smallwood Era: 1949–72 The campaign for Confederation that culminated successfully in 1949 was led by Joseph R. Smallwood , a journalist, radio broadcaster and businessman. In two general referenda, Newfoundlanders voted by a narrow margin to join Canada. A lieutenant-governor was appointed and Smallwood was asked to form an interim government. In the new province’s first general election, and the first election since 1932, Smallwood’s Liberals took 22 seats, the Conservatives five and an Independent one. The split represented not only the outports versus St. John’s, but the confederates against the anti-confederates.

(See also Newfoundland and Confederation ; Confederation’s Opponents .) Smallwood’s Liberals continued to dominate Newfoundland’s politics throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Weakened by conflicts between the premier and some powerful Cabinet ministers, and by adverse reactions in the press, the Liberals lost the election of 1972. Moores, Peckford and Rideout: 1972–89 The Progressive Conservative Party won the 1972 election under the leadership of Frank Moores , who served as premier until 1979. That year, the leadership passed to Brian Peckford , the former minister of mines and energy in Moores’s administration. In 1982, Peckford led his party to a landslide victory, winning 44 of the legislature’s 52 seats. The remaining eight seats were held by Liberals. In 1985, Peckford won a reduced majority, obtaining 36 seats to the Liberals’ 15, and the first NDP representative was elected in Newfoundland history.

In the early 1980s, relations between the Newfoundland government and the federal government were strained because of disputes over the ownership of offshore resources, the sale of hydro power in Labrador and the restructuring of the North Atlantic fishing industry. A change in government in Ottawa produced considerably better relations between Newfoundland and the federal government. By late 1987, when some provinces were uncertain about free trade with the United States, Peckford came out in strong support of the Mulroney government’s initiatives in that direction. Peckford was also a key supporter of the Meech Lake Accord . His support for the accord was widely credited as the impetus for the deal with Ottawa on the offshore Hibernia oil project (see Hibernia Case ). Tom Rideout succeeded Peckford as premier in 1989 but lost the Tory’s mandate later that year to the revitalized Liberals under the leadership of Clyde Wells . Wells, Tobin, Tulk and Grimes: 1989–2003 In contrast to his predecessors, Wells was adamantly opposed to the Meech Lake Accord and rescinded Newfoundland’s ratification of the deal.

His position on constitutional reform was tempered somewhat during the debate over the Charlottetown Accord , and his championing of the “Triple-E Senate” reform package became the critical portion of the accord. While the 1992 referendum defeated the accord, Newfoundland and Labrador was one of the few provinces to vote in favour. Wells won a renewed mandate in 1993 on a campaign to bring the province’s finances under control. Wells had some success in coming to grips with his province’s debt and deficit despite fierce opposition from organized labour; however, the destruction of the Atlantic fishery increased the province’s financial difficulty. Wells’s successor, former federal cabinet minister Brian Tobin , indicated that new revenues from Hibernia and Voisey Bay would have to play a major role in improving the provincial economy. In 2000, Tobin resigned, returning to federal politics. Beaton Tulk briefly served as interim premier until Roger Grimes won the Liberal leadership convention in 2001. Grimes held office for a short term, from 2001 to 2003.

Williams, Dunderdale, Davis and Ball: 2003–Present From 2003 to 2010, Progressive Conservative leader Danny Williams served as premier. Known for his scrappy nature, Williams defined his tenure by his efforts to garner the province more control and revenues from offshore oil fields. Despite high-profile arguments with the federal government on the topic, Williams was ultimately successful in securing an oil income for Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2008, he announced the province would stop receiving equalization payments for the first time in its history. Following Williams’s resignation, Progressive Conservative member Kathy Dunderdale was sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador’s 10th premier on 3 December 2010. Dunderdale was the province’s first female premier. In 2011, she won the regularly scheduled general election with a majority government. However, Dunderdale struggled in the shadow of the popular former premier Danny Williams. She resigned in 2014 amid accusations of mishandling a wave of power outages across the province. Finance Minister Tom Marshall stepped up to serve as interim premier.

Following Marshall’s retirement, Paul Davis was sworn in as the province’s 12th premier on 26 September 2014. Davis — a former provincial cabinet minister — was elected head of the provincial PCs at a leadership convention held earlier that month. Based on the province’s fixed election date, Davis was forced to call a general election after just over a year in office. In advance of the vote, the number of seats in the House of Assembly was reduced from 48 to 40 — a PC initiative aimed at cutting costs. The election came at a time when the Progressive Conservatives were struggling in the polls. Commentators dated the decline in support for the party to 2010 and the departure of Williams. On 30 November 2015, the Liberals, under the leadership of Dwight Ball, secured a landslide victory, winning 31 of the province’s 40 seats. The PCs were reduced to seven seats, while the NDP won the remaining two. St John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada - YouTube St John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content.

The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Nov 1, 2012 St John's in Newfoundland & Labrador St. John's, the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is the perfect combination of big-city luxury and small-town charm. As the oldest and most easterly city in North America, this is where heritage lives. Melded with culture, history, and personality, St. John's has survived two World Wars, five centuries, countless hardships and triumphs. It's become a rare, old city full of character, experience and charisma, with a contemporary, sophisticated edge. Wander down the narrow, criss-crossing streets carved by horse and carriage over 100 years ago. Pass the colourful jellybean row houses wedged together in every space lining the sides of steep hills and hidden alleyways. Once you've meandered down to the working harbour of the waterfront, look towards the Narrows and imagine a time when the waters were brimming full with fishing schooners.

Visit Quidi Vidi, the charming village-within-a-city, which still embodies the spirit of an old fishing outport. Then, hike up nearby Signal Hill through the famous Battery, where tiny wooden homes still cling valiantly to cliffsides ravaged by ocean waves. The unmistakable, iconic Cabot Tower guards the top of Signal Hill, where military men guarded the shores throughout the 1700s and 1800s. Here, Marconi famously received his first transmission across the Atlantic in 1901. Look out over the cliffs and watch the city's harbour and captivating skyline spread out before you. Perched on the top of the horizon is The Rooms, home to the provincial museum, art gallery and archives, standing next to the striking twin clock towers of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist. As you explore the history of this place, shop at the many fine boutiques, shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs, and art galleries lining the streets. In the evening, sit back, relax, and enjoy live music or local theatre where actors will whisk you away to another place and time. For nightlife excitement, head to the famous George Street.

Here, clubs, pubs, bars, and restaurants are stacked and crammed. Every evening, George Street blazes with energy, especially during the George Street Festival -- five days and nights of dynamic musical entertainment. Here in St. John's, courteous and lively people will treat you as friends -- willing to send you in the right direction, help you on your way, or even take you there. Always happy to tell a tale, no matter how tall, just to make you smile. Certainly, this city is like no other. Getting Here: St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, is the most easterly point in North America, located at the beginning of the Trans-Canada Highway Route 1, just 3 hours from Toronto, 4 from New York and 4.5 from London England. Category Newfoundland Map / Geography of Newfoundland / Map of Newfoundland - Worldatlas.com Newfoundland and Labrador Description Newfoundland and Labrador History Newfoundland and Labrador's inhabitants can be traced back over 9,000 years to the Maritime Archaic Indians, appropriately named due to their reliance on the sea.

Over the years, they were displaced by the Palaeoeskimo people, the L'nu, Innui and Innuit in Labrador and the Beothuks on Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador was the first area of North America's Atlantic coastline to be explored by Europeans , beginning with the Vikings in 1001. British explorer, John Cabot, arrived in Newfoundland at Bonavista in 1497 and claimed the land as a British colony for King Henry VIII. In 1610, London and Bristol merchants established the first colony at Cupids. Immigrants from Europe who settled in Newfoundland relied heavily on the exporting of fish, giving them contact to many places around the Atlantic rim, but isolated from the mainland of Canada and its neighbor, the United States . French fisherman established Plaisance and started formal colonization of Newfoundland. This lasted until the Treaty of Utrecht, signed in 1713, with France ceding its claims in Newfoundland to England , along with the French possessions in Acadia. Most of the French population relocated to Ile Royale (now Cape Breton Island) in Nova Scotia .

Immigration was slow and it was after 1760, when migrants from England's and southeast Ireland settled, creating the basic population mix that is still in place today. Following the Seven Years' War, the British Government organized new territories, including making Labrador a part of Quebec in the 1774 Quebec Act. In 1809, the Labrador Act transferred Labrador to Newfoundland. Struggles, Wars and Fame Newfoundland was granted a Representative Government in 1832, and Philip Frances Little was elected prime minister. The provincial capital was established in St. John's . One hundred years later, in 1933, Newfoundland had run out of money resulting in the closing of the House of Assembly and marking the end of the Representative Government. It finally requested British aid and a royal commission recommended that the responsible government be replaced with a commission form of government. This commission, comprised of three Britons and three Newfoundlanders along with a governor, maintained control until 1949. In the early 20th century, aviation pioneers made the island of Newfoundland a popular destination for pilots who wished to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The American pilot, Amelia Earhart, completed the world's first transatlantic solo flight by a woman in 1932, taking off from Harbour Grace and landing in Northern Ireland . CITY ATTRACTIONS & MAPS: What To Expect In 2014 Province By Province: Newfoundland And Labrador | LowestRates.ca Tweet Like What To Expect In 2014 Province By Province: Newfoundland And Labrador The most eastern province in Canada and the last to join Confederation in 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is interesting in how the population inhabits the province. The mainland of Labrador, by far the largest portion of the province, is only home to approximately 31,000 Newfoundland and Labradorians, while the island of Newfoundland and smaller islets are home to the remaining 495,000 people. With most of the population living on an island, the housing market in NL is made up of sizeable regions, with many markets more populated than others. The capital, St. John’s is home to 40 percent of the provincial population, and is Canada’s 20th largest metropolitan city. Do you plan to make a living in NL this year?

Are you more interested in the island or the mainland? And what can you realistically afford to invest in? All good questions, let’s help you find answers. Variable or Fixed Mortgage Many people will find a home that they love, and then work out the financing arrangements afterwards, even if the loan is unaffordable. But if you want to be a financially secure homeowner in Newfoundland and Labrador, take the time to compare the lowest mortgage rates you can find before committing to one property. The first question to ask yourself is whether you are interested in a variable or a fixed mortgage. Variable mortgages are popular for the lower rates in the short term, and are particularly attractive in today’s market due to the three plus year freeze on interest rates by the Bank of Canada. However, fixed mortgages ensure you pay the same balance each month throughout the term, and are a more stable investment. Once you know what type of mortgage best addresses your needs, you can decide on the term of the loan, who will issue the agreement, and other financial details. But before you lock in the agreement, you first need to find the right house. And to do that, you really should know the market of NL.

2013 NL began 2013 on a strong note, and boasted one of the largest economic growth rates in Canada. Private investments in new oil production helped lead to ventures in other energy sectors, and these investments also helped increase consumer spending across the province. But as the year went on, projects were nearing completion, and investments began to dry up. As a result, the demand for housing slowed throughout the year along with the reduced economic output. According to the CMHC, the number of new single detached starts fell to approximately 2,350 units to end the year, while multiple unit developments declined to 575 units. This slowdown in starts was also mirrored by a reduction in total home sales, which declined nearly 15 percent from the year prior to approximately 4,000 transactions to end the year. However, while sales, starts, and incomes slowed by the end of 2013, home prices continued to rise but at a more muted pace to approximately $287,000. Home Price Predictions 2014 For many people in NL, the start of 2014 will be difficult.

The private sector is expected to reduce investments in the province, while outstanding projects will come to an end early in the spring. As a result, job security could be on the line for many Newfoundland and Labradorians. However, over the course of the year, many Canadians are expected to migrate to NL to work in the newly completed oil development projects – similar to Alberta. This inflow of new workers will slow the declining rate of housing starts, with single detached homes remaining more or less on par with 2013. Investments in multiple units on the other hand, will rise throughout the year, as new workers will require places to rent, and eventually buy. The CMHC predicts total sales across the province will begin to rise again after declining in 2013. The target is approximately 4,100 new sales, and rising demand throughout the second half of the year is expected to raise prices above the $290,000 mark. St. John’s The capital of NL and one of the busiest ports on the Canadian east coast, St. John’s is the largest city in the province.

Fittingly, the capital is also the centre of the largest housing market in NL, home to approximately 40 percent of the population of the entire province. The total volume of housing starts in the capital is rising month to month, with the CMHC expecting St. John’s multiunit market to continue expanding rapidly. Meanwhile, the number of single detached homes started in the region will remain more or less in line with levels seen in 2013. Despite increased multiunit listings, total sales in the capital are expected to continue the downward shift begun in 2013. Reduced sales will also put downward pressure on prices, with MLS listings predicting prices around $310,000 throughout the year, up approximately $5,000 from the year prior. Labrador While Labrador is by far the largest part of the province, much of the region is uninhabited by Newfoundland and Labradorians. Most communities consist of only a few hundred people, with the largest city, Labrador City consisting of only 10,000 people. Labrador City and Wabush, two of the largest cities, are located along the western border of Labrador that is shared with Quebec.

Despite being part of a separate province, the state of the local housing markets is heavily affected by trends in Quebec. Closing Thoughts If you plan on becoming a homeowner in NL, this is a good time to begin asking the right questions. But with so many questions currently hanging over the market, now may be a time to wait and see how things unfold throughout the year. The CMHC predicts mortgage rates will remain affordable, and with new jobs on the horizon in the second half of the year, there could be very favourable buying conditions near the end of 2014. The island of Newfoundland will be where the bulk of housing activity occurs, but keep in mind that many new starts will be multiunit and condo developments. More stories like this Newfoundland and Labrador - Climate | history - geography - province, Canada | Britannica.com Exploring Canada: Fact or Fiction? Population composition The people of Newfoundland are overwhelmingly of European (white) descent. A small population of Inuit (the Arctic people of Canada known as Eskimo in Alaska) and Innu (formerly Montagnais and Naskapi; an Indian [First Nations] people) occupy several settlements in northern and central Labrador, retaining their original languages and a portion of their ancient cultures .

In central and southern Labrador there is a significant population (the Labrador Métis) derived from white-Inuit intermarriage. On the island the indigenous Beothuk became extinct by the late 1820s. The majority of remaining Indian peoples are Mi’kmaq , who live mainly on a reserve at Conne River (Miawpukek); there are also concentrations of Mi’kmaq elsewhere in central and western Newfoundland. The greater part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s people represent an extraordinarily homogeneous group. The vast majority of them trace their origin to the southwestern counties of England or to the southeastern region of Ireland. A small number trace their ancestry to other English and Irish counties, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands , France, or the Canadian mainland. The great majority of the people are English-speaking, though there is an active Francophone minority. Historically, social groups have been defined along denominational and ethnic, rather than linguistic, lines. The principal Christian denominations are Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Church of Canada , and Pentecostal. Settlement patterns Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador see their province as constituting nine regions—seven on the island of Newfoundland and two in Labrador.

Each is distinct in its natural settings and human imprint. Newfoundland Avalon Peninsula The most densely populated part of the island, the Avalon Peninsula on the southeastern coast contains the capital city, St. John’s, the adjacent city of Mount Pearl, a number of smaller towns such as Conception Bay South, Harbour Grace , Carbonear, Trepassey, and Placentia , and a host of small villages typically located at the edge of the sea. These villages were originally settled by fishing families, who needed suitable harbours and access to wood, fresh water, some land to grow vegetables, and fishing grounds. The result—there and elsewhere in the province—was a dispersed pattern of settlement, with houses scattered around a harbour. In some cases, different ethnic or religious groups would build houses together in defined areas. Mercantile centres typically were more closely settled, with a more urban character. Tors Cove, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada. C.L. Barron/Shostal Associates Many of the older houses have disappeared, replaced by structures with newer designs, and relatively few of the inhabitants still fish. Nevertheless, many of these locales retain much of their original character.

A heritage movement, which developed in the 1970s, bolstered by tourism and a demand for second homes, has ensured that a substantial number of older buildings have survived in St. John’s and elsewhere.

Question: What is the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada?
Answer: St John's