Churchill Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador

Last updated

Churchill Falls
Community
Churchill fallslabrador.jpg
Canada Newfoundland and Labrador location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Churchill Falls
Coordinates: 53°31′54″N64°00′30″W / 53.53167°N 64.00833°W / 53.53167; -64.00833
CountryCanada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division 10
Settled1967
Government
 •  MHA Perry Trimper
 •  MP Yvonne Jones
Population
 (2021)
 • Total732
Time zone UTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-3 (ADT)
Area code 709
Highways NL Route 500.svg Route 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway)
Website Official website

Churchill Falls is a community in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is home to the Churchill Falls Generating Station and is a company town.

Contents

History

John McLean is believed to have been the first European to see the falls in 1839. In 1967, work on the generating station had commenced, officially inaugurated by Premier Joey Smallwood, while residential facilities also began that year. The town was built around a town complex, the Donald Gordon Centre, with amenities such as a school, gymnasium, grocery store, hotel, restaurant, library, curling club and swimming pool. Permanent housing facilities were constructed in 1969. The town is managed and operated by Nalcor Energy and remains a company town to this date. [1]

In 2024, residents of Churchill Falls were evacuated to Happy Valley-Goose Bay due to a forest fire. [2]

Transportation

Churchill Falls is connected by the Trans-Labrador Highway with Labrador City and Baie-Comeau in Quebec, its main transportation link. [3]

The Churchill Falls Airport has served the community as a privately-owned airport since 1971. There is no formal terminal building, just a few small structures and the runway. There were scheduled flights to Goose Bay and Wabush in the 1970s, and scheduled service by PAL Airlines (formerly Provincial Airlines) up to 2003. [4]

Geography

Churchill Falls lies on the Churchill River near the Churchill Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Canada. It is about 245 km (152 mi) east of Labrador City. [5]

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Churchill Falls has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with long, cold winters and short, mild summers.

Climate data for Churchill Falls Airport (1961−1990)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)6.9
(44.4)		16.6
(61.9)		12.4
(54.3)		15.6
(60.1)		26.0
(78.8)		33.4
(92.1)		31.1
(88.0)		30.3
(86.5)		27.1
(80.8)		21.7
(71.1)		13.1
(55.6)		7.2
(45.0)		33.4
(92.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−15.9
(3.4)		−13.4
(7.9)		−6.8
(19.8)		0.6
(33.1)		8.1
(46.6)		15.0
(59.0)		19.0
(66.2)		17.2
(63.0)		10.4
(50.7)		2.9
(37.2)		−4.2
(24.4)		−13.5
(7.7)		1.6
(34.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)−21.5
(−6.7)		−19.7
(−3.5)		−13.2
(8.2)		−5.0
(23.0)		3.0
(37.4)		9.5
(49.1)		13.7
(56.7)		12.2
(54.0)		6.4
(43.5)		−0.4
(31.3)		−8.2
(17.2)		−18.5
(−1.3)		−3.5
(25.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−27.3
(−17.1)		−26.1
(−15.0)		−19.7
(−3.5)		−10.8
(12.6)		−2.2
(28.0)		4.0
(39.2)		8.4
(47.1)		7.2
(45.0)		2.3
(36.1)		−3.9
(25.0)		−12.4
(9.7)		−23.6
(−10.5)		−8.7
(16.3)
Record low °C (°F)−43.3
(−45.9)		−45.6
(−50.1)		−38.3
(−36.9)		−30
(−22)		−22.8
(−9.0)		−5.4
(22.3)		0.9
(33.6)		−0.6
(30.9)		−7
(19)		−19.4
(−2.9)		−31.3
(−24.3)		−40.6
(−41.1)		−45.6
(−50.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)64.4
(2.54)		51.4
(2.02)		62.8
(2.47)		66.0
(2.60)		56.8
(2.24)		94.7
(3.73)		114.0
(4.49)		93.1
(3.67)		110.6
(4.35)		80.7
(3.18)		82.0
(3.23)		68.2
(2.69)		944.7
(37.19)
Average rainfall mm (inches)0.8
(0.03)		1.9
(0.07)		3.7
(0.15)		10.5
(0.41)		36.3
(1.43)		87.8
(3.46)		114.0
(4.49)		93.0
(3.66)		98.2
(3.87)		37.7
(1.48)		10.6
(0.42)		3.4
(0.13)		497.9
(19.60)
Average snowfall cm (inches)71.6
(28.2)		55.8
(22.0)		64.7
(25.5)		57.5
(22.6)		20.2
(8.0)		6.5
(2.6)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		11.9
(4.7)		44.0
(17.3)		76.8
(30.2)		72.1
(28.4)		481.0
(189.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)181516161517191920202120216
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)00241016191918931102
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)1815161472005151920132
Mean monthly sunshine hours 98.7127.0141.8161.9201.4193.5206.2184.8100.769.954.478.01,618.4
Percent possible sunshine 39463939413840402621213336
Source 1: Environment Canada [6]
Source 2: NOAA (percent sun) [7]

Demographics

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
2006 681—    
2011 634−6.9%
2016 705+11.2%
2021 732+3.8%
[8]

Churchill Falls is a part of the Division No. 10, Subdivision D. As of the 2021 census, it had a population of 732. There were a total of 556 private dwellings. The population was spread out, with 175 being from age 0 to 14, 535 from age 15 to 64, and 20 being age 65 or older. The average age was 34.0. English was the mother tongue of 705 residents, while French was the mother tongue of the remaining 15. A total of 60 residents claimed to be of First Nations heritage, while 40 were Métis. [8]

Sports and recreation

The Terry Smith Memorial Arena, named after a longtime resident, is one of the most popular facilities in town. The Churchill Falls Gymnasium serves the needs of the Eric G. Lambert School as well as badminton and hockey teams. The curling club is based at the Donald Gordon Center. There are also soccer fields and a swimming pool in the community. [9]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Our Story". Churchill Falls. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/churchill-falls-evacuation-forest-fire-1.7240761 [ bare URL ]
  3. ↑ "Town Map". Churchill Falls. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Airport Divestiture Status Report, Regional/local airports". Transport Canada. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Churchill Falls - Newfoundland and Labrador". Explore Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Churchill Falls Airport". Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990. Environment Canada . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Churchill Falls A, NF". Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Division No. 10, Subd. D, Subdivision of unorganized". Community Profiles. Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Facilities (Sports, Leisure & Social)". Churchill Falls. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
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