Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Labrador City is a town in western Labrador
(part of the Canadian
province
of Newfoundland and Labrador
), near the Quebec
border. As of 2006, its population
is 7,240. Labrador City is neighboured by Wabush
, a smaller town with a population of approximately 1,739 as of 2006; together, the "twin towns" are known as Labrador West.
Labrador City was founded in the 1960s to accommodate employees of the Iron Ore Company of Canada
, and iron ore mining
continues to be the primary industry in the town.
Graham Letto
served as mayor from 2001 until the September 2009 municipal election
, in which Janice Barnes was acclaimed mayor.
Since the 2011 election, the federal riding of Labrador
seat has been held by Peter Penashue
, a Conservative Party
member.
The Labrador City town crest features a Snowy Owl
holding a scroll perched atop a black spade on a mound of red earth, symbolizing iron ore mining. The spade is flanked by two caribou. Both Snowy Owls and caribou are native to the Labrador City area.
The Labrador City town motto
is Kamistiatusset, a Naskapi
word meaning "land of the hard-working people."
Labrador City was built around the rich iron ore deposits of the Labrador Trough by the Iron Ore Company of Canada
(IOC) in the 1960s. The Carol Project is the major iron ore mining operation for the area. In 2008, IOC and their parent company Rio Tinto
announced it would spend $800 million to develop additional mines in the region. Only a few months after announcing the second phase of their expansion the project was shelved due to the economic recession and low demand for steel. With the world recovering from the economic crisis it is believed IOC will go ahead with their planned expansion in the near future.
The town is serviced by the Wabush Airport
, the three airlines flying out of the airport are Air Canada Jazz
, Provincial Airlines
, and Air Inuit
.
The town contains an ice arena. The main shopping centre in the town, Labrador Mall
, includes a Wal-Mart
; there is also an IGA
grocery store.
is located here.
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
(part of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
), near the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
border. As of 2006, its population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
is 7,240. Labrador City is neighboured by Wabush
Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador
Wabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations for over three decades ....
, a smaller town with a population of approximately 1,739 as of 2006; together, the "twin towns" are known as Labrador West.
Labrador City was founded in the 1960s to accommodate employees of the Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada is a Canadian-based producer of iron ore. The company was founded in 1949 from a partnership of Canadian and American M.A. Hanna Company...
, and iron ore mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
continues to be the primary industry in the town.
Government
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 11,538 |
| 1991 | 9,061 |
| 2001 | 7,744 |
| 2006 | 7,240 |
Graham Letto
Graham Letto
Graham Letto is a Canadian politician, that served as mayor of Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador from 2005 until 2009.He was born in Forteau and grew up in L'Anse-au-Clair....
served as mayor from 2001 until the September 2009 municipal election
Newfoundland and Labrador municipal elections, 2009
The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador held municipal elections in its municipalities on September 29, 2009.Listed are the results of selected municipal mayoral races in the province.-Bay Roberts:-Clarenville:-Mayoral:-City council:...
, in which Janice Barnes was acclaimed mayor.
Since the 2011 election, the federal riding of Labrador
Labrador (electoral district)
Labrador is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
seat has been held by Peter Penashue
Peter Penashue
Peter Penashue, PC, MP is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada currently serving as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada...
, a Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
member.
The Labrador City town crest features a Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
holding a scroll perched atop a black spade on a mound of red earth, symbolizing iron ore mining. The spade is flanked by two caribou. Both Snowy Owls and caribou are native to the Labrador City area.
The Labrador City town motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is Kamistiatusset, a Naskapi
Naskapi
The Naskapi are the indigenous Innu inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan, which comprises most of what other Canadians refer to as eastern Quebec and Labrador, Canada....
word meaning "land of the hard-working people."
Economy
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada is a Canadian-based producer of iron ore. The company was founded in 1949 from a partnership of Canadian and American M.A. Hanna Company...
(IOC) in the 1960s. The Carol Project is the major iron ore mining operation for the area. In 2008, IOC and their parent company Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
announced it would spend $800 million to develop additional mines in the region. Only a few months after announcing the second phase of their expansion the project was shelved due to the economic recession and low demand for steel. With the world recovering from the economic crisis it is believed IOC will go ahead with their planned expansion in the near future.
The town is serviced by the Wabush Airport
Wabush Airport
Wabush Airport is northeast of Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.-Airlines and destinations:...
, the three airlines flying out of the airport are Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada Jazz
Jazz Aviation LP is a Canadian regional airline based at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield and Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation....
, Provincial Airlines
Provincial Airlines
Provincial Airlines is an airline based in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It operates passenger and cargo services, maritime surveillance and remote sensing and environmental monitoring operations. Its main base is St. John's International Airport. - History :The airline was...
, and Air Inuit
Air Inuit
Air Inuit Ltd is an airline based in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It operates domestic passenger services and charter and cargo services in Nunavik and Nunavut. Its main base is Kuujjuaq Airport.-History:...
.
The town contains an ice arena. The main shopping centre in the town, Labrador Mall
Labrador Mall
The Labrador Mall, which opened in 1978, is the largest shopping mall in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Anchor stores include Wal-Mart, Hart Stores and the Co-op supermarket. The mall is owned by The Westcliff Group.-External links:...
, includes a Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
; there is also an IGA
IGA
Iga or IGA may stand for:-Given name:* a female given name of Polish origin. The name originates from the female given name Jadwiga and stands for gia,or gina in the USA....
grocery store.
Landmarks
The Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help, Labrador City
The Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and former cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary located in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The basilica is under the circumscription of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador...
is located here.
See also
- List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pascal PelletierPascal PelletierPascal Pelletier is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for SCL Tigers of the Swiss National League A...
NHL hockey player from Labrador City - Wabush Neighboring twin town of Labrador City
External links
- Labrador West website
- The Aurora newspaper (published by Transcontinental)