Wabush

Last updated

Wabush
Town
Wabush.png
Town of Wabush across Jean Lake
Flag of Wabush.svg
Wabush.JPG
Motto(s): 
"Terra Progredimur"  (Latin)
"From the earth we prosper"
Canada Newfoundland and Labrador location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Wabush
Location of Wabush in Canada
Canada location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Wabush
Wabush (Canada)
Coordinates: 52°52′19″N66°53′27″W / 52.87194°N 66.89083°W / 52.87194; -66.89083 Coordinates: 52°52′19″N66°53′27″W / 52.87194°N 66.89083°W / 52.87194; -66.89083
CountryCanada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Census divisions 10
Settled1955
Founded1962
IncorporatedApril 11, 1967
Government
[1]
  Type Municipal incorporation
  MayorRonald Barron
Area
  Total46.25 km2 (17.86 sq mi)
Elevation
560 m (1,840 ft)
Population
 (2021) [2]
  Total1,964
  Density42/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−04:00
Highways NL Route 500.svg Route 500 (Trans-Labrador Highway)
NL Route 503.svg Route 503 (Grenfell Drive)
Website Town of Wabush

Wabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, bordering Quebec, known for transportation and iron ore operations.

Contents

Economy

Wabush is the twin community of Labrador City. [3] At its peak population in the late 1970s, the region had a population of just over 22,000. A reduction in iron mining operations in the late 20th century caused a major decline in jobs and population. When cliffs natural resources Canada, had to close and cold store the scully mine property (Wabush mines) since 2018 tacora resources inc began and has since successfully restarted the scully property slowly reinvigorating the community and investing back into the property and community.

As of 2021, Wabush's population was 1,964. [2] Most residents work in the nearby mines of the Iron Ore Company of Canada, now a unit of Rio Tinto Mines and the Scully Mine of Tacora Resources Inc.

Companies in and around Wabush include:

While remote, the town contains modern amenities. A shopping centre includes a post office, bank, a restaurant, a bar, and a snowmobile store. There is also a recreational centre (now closed) which included a bowling alley, gymnasium, swimming pool, a teen centre, and a weight lifting room. an ice arena, a library, a legion building that serves alcoholic beverages, a furniture store, several playgrounds, a school, a church, two corner stores, and a hotel (which also includes a restaurant, a barber shop, and a bar).

Transportation

Air transportation needs for the twin communities are served by Wabush Airport and seasonally by Wabush Water Aerodrome. It used to receive more frequent service by Air Gaspé, which was acquired by Quebecair in 1973. The latter ended as an independent business in 1986, acquired in turn by CP Air in 1986 and Canadian Airlines in 1987. Currently the area is serviced by Exploits Valley Air Services), Provincial Airlines, Pascan Air and Air Inuit, this airport is no longer covered by ARFF (airport rescue and firefighting) services and the community of Labrador city has withdrawn firefighting services over safety concerns with transport Canada.

Climate

Like most of Labrador, Wabush has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with more precipitation than is typical for this type of climate due to the persistent Icelandic Low, which give the region some of the rainiest and snowiest weather in all of Canada. Especially in summer, cloudiness is common due to the lakes nearby and the unstable northerly airstreams that prevail, but because the town is relatively far from the open sea, there is more sunshine in Wabush than in St. John's due to the absence of fog from the Labrador Current. Snow usually melts away in May.

Climate data for Wabush (Wabush Airport, normals from 1981−2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high humidex 7.75.914.616.935.037.139.035.332.222.613.86.539.0
Record high °C (°F)8.0
(46.4)
6.2
(43.2)
14.7
(58.5)
16.8
(62.2)
28.4
(83.1)
33.3
(91.9)
32.6
(90.7)
30.6
(87.1)
27.8
(82.0)
21.1
(70.0)
12.2
(54.0)
5.6
(42.1)
33.3
(91.9)
Average high °C (°F)−16.7
(1.9)
−14.2
(6.4)
−6.7
(19.9)
1.5
(34.7)
9.6
(49.3)
16.1
(61.0)
19.1
(66.4)
17.6
(63.7)
11.8
(53.2)
3.8
(38.8)
−4.2
(24.4)
−12.6
(9.3)
2.1
(35.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)−22.2
(−8.0)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−13.3
(8.1)
−4.3
(24.3)
4.0
(39.2)
10.3
(50.5)
13.8
(56.8)
12.5
(54.5)
7.6
(45.7)
0.5
(32.9)
−8.2
(17.2)
−17.5
(0.5)
−3.1
(26.4)
Average low °C (°F)−27.8
(−18.0)
−27
(−17)
−19.8
(−3.6)
−10
(14)
−1.7
(28.9)
4.4
(39.9)
8.3
(46.9)
7.4
(45.3)
3.3
(37.9)
−2.9
(26.8)
−12
(10)
−22.5
(−8.5)
−8.4
(16.9)
Record low °C (°F)−43.9
(−47.0)
−47.8
(−54.0)
−46.7
(−52.1)
−37.2
(−35.0)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−11.1
(12.0)
−6.7
(19.9)
−0.6
(30.9)
−7
(19)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−33.1
(−27.6)
−46.1
(−51.0)
−47.8
(−54.0)
Record low wind chill −62.8−57.1−52.6−41.8−32.6−9.60.0−6.2−13.9−25.6−43.9−59.5−62.8
Average precipitation mm (inches)49.2
(1.94)
40.3
(1.59)
54.1
(2.13)
48.8
(1.92)
53.5
(2.11)
82.7
(3.26)
113.9
(4.48)
103.5
(4.07)
96.5
(3.80)
75.7
(2.98)
70.9
(2.79)
50.4
(1.98)
839.5
(33.05)
Average rainfall mm (inches)0.6
(0.02)
1.6
(0.06)
2.6
(0.10)
12.1
(0.48)
40.4
(1.59)
80.6
(3.17)
113.9
(4.48)
103.4
(4.07)
92.3
(3.63)
42.0
(1.65)
10.9
(0.43)
2.5
(0.10)
502.9
(19.80)
Average snowfall cm (inches)63.8
(25.1)
50.9
(20.0)
65.9
(25.9)
44.3
(17.4)
14.4
(5.7)
2.1
(0.8)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.0)
4.4
(1.7)
39.0
(15.4)
77.5
(30.5)
66.2
(26.1)
428.7
(168.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)17.314.616.014.215.217.119.020.020.520.120.419.3213.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)0.440.781.43.811.916.419.020.019.710.53.91.0109.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)17.715.016.412.36.01.20.040.072.513.919.719.7124.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 98.0132.2151.3180.1210.6212.5218.0202.7116.675.456.967.31,721.4
Percent possible sunshine 38.647.641.243.143.042.143.044.430.622.921.728.337.2
Source: Environment Canada [4]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Wabush had a population of 1,964 living in 798 of its 864 total private dwellings, a change of

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
19713,387    
19763,769+11.3%
19813,157−16.2%
19912,331−26.2%
1996 2,018−13.4%
2001 1,894−6.1%
2006 1,739−8.2%
2011 1,861+7.0%
2016 1,906+2.4%
2021 1,964+3.0%
Canada 2006 CensusPopulation % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source: [5]
South Asian 20
Chinese 0
Black 10
Filipino 90
Latin American 0
Arab 0
Southeast Asian 0
West Asian 0
Korean 0
Japanese 5
Other visible minority0
Mixed visible minority0
Total visible minority population30
Aboriginal group
Source: [6]
First Nations 50
Métis 70
Inuit 0
Total Aboriginal population145
White 1,595
Total population1,861100%

Notable residents

Literary references

Wabush appears in the John Wyndham post-catastrophe novel The Chrysalids under the name of Waknuk.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sept-Îles, Quebec</span> City in Quebec, Canada

Sept-Îles is a city in the Côte-Nord region of eastern Quebec. It is among the northernmost locales with a paved connection to the rest of Quebec's road network. The population was 25,686 as of the 2011 Canadian census. The town is called Uashat, meaning "bay" in Innu-aimun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel-Port aux Basques</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of Newfoundland fronting on the western end of the Cabot Strait. A Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is located in the town which is the primary entry point onto the island of Newfoundland and the western terminus of the Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1 in the province. The town was incorporated in 1945 and its population in the 2021 census was 3,547.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador</span> Inuit community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Nain is the northernmost permanent settlement in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, within the Nunatsiavut region, located about 370 km (230 mi) by air from Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The town was established as a Moravian mission in 1771 by Jens Haven and other missionaries. As of 2021, the population is 1,204 mostly Inuit and mixed Inuit-European. Nain is the administrative capital of the autonomous region of Nunatsiavut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botwood</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Botwood is a town in north-central Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in Census Division 6. It is located on the west shore of the Bay of Exploits on a natural deep water harbour used by cargo ships and seaplanes throughout the town's history. Botwood was the North American terminus for the first transatlantic commercial flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador</span> Inuit community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Hopedale is a town located in the north of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hopedale is the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, and where the Nunatsiavut Assembly meets. As of the 2021 census, it has a population of 596.

Labrador City is a town in western Labrador, near the Quebec border. With a population of 7,412 as of 2021, it is the second-largest population centre in Labrador, behind Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Neighbouring Labrador City is Wabush, a smaller town with a population of approximately 1,964 as of 2021. Together, the "twin towns" are known as Labrador West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Valley-Goose Bay</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Happy Valley-Goose Bay is a town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schefferville</span> Town in Quebec, Canada

Schefferville is a town in the Canadian province of Quebec. Schefferville is in the heart of the Naskapi and Innu territory in northern Quebec, less than 2 km from the border with Labrador on the north shore of Knob Lake. It is located within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality and has an area of 24.76 square kilometres (9.56 sq mi). Schefferville completely surrounds the autonomous Innu community of Matimekosh, and it abuts the small community of Lac-John Reserve. Both of the latter communities are First Nations Innu reserves. Schefferville is also close to the Naskapi reserved land of Kawawachikamach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Torbay is a town located on the eastern side of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlo, New Brunswick</span> Unincorporated community in New Brunswick, Canada

Charlo ( SHAR-loh; is a community in Heron Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. It held village status prior to 2023.

Buchans is a town located in the central part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the northwest shore of Beothuk Lake on the Buchans River.

Baie Verte is a town located on the north coast of the island portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the Baie Verte Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilt Cove</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Tilt Cove is a town located southeast of Baie Verte on Notre Dame Bay and was founded in 1813. With an official population of 5 at the 2021 census, Tilt Cove is known as "Canada's smallest town." A source of gold, copper, and zinc ores, Tilt Cove was the site of the first mine in Newfoundland. The Tilt Cove mine opened in 1864 and "was soon employing several hundred men at good wages". Postal service was established in 1869.

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.

St. Lawrence is a town located on the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. As of the 2021 Canadian Census, the population of St. Lawrence was 1,115, down from the 2011 Canadian Census of 1,244. Popular family names in the town include Turpin, Tarrant, Slaney, Pike, Lake, Drake and Edwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wabana, Newfoundland and Labrador</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Wabana is a Canadian town and the largest, and only incorporated, community on Bell Island in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West St. Modeste</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

West St. Modeste is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 102 in the Canada 2021 Census.

The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a private Canadian regional railway that stretches 414 kilometres (257 mi) through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. QNS&L is owned by Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), and is a common carrier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador</span> Town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Fogo Island is a town located on Fogo Island, the largest of the offshore islands in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Labrador Rail Services</span>

Western Labrador Rail Services, Inc. is a rail operation of Genesee & Wyoming Canada, Inc. created in 2010 by the combination of three short line railways: Arnaud Railway, Bloom Lake Railway, and Wabush Lake Railway. The operation provides rail transportation services to mining companies operating in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Québec, Canada.

References

  1. Town of Wabush. "Mayor and Council" . Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  2. 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. "Miner passes on Wabush for new mine in Quebec". cbc.ca.
  4. "Wabush Lake Airport". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada . Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  5. , Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada – Census Subdivision
  6. , Aboriginal Peoples – Data table