St. John’s is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and it was incorporated as a city in 1888. It is considered as the oldest English – founded city in North America, which is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. As of a census in 2014 the population is over 211 000 and St. John’s has been voted as one of the top ten oceanside destinations by National Geographic.
The Climate
St. John’s is a city that has a humid continental climate and experiences a lot of rainfall. It is subsequently known as Canada’s rainiest city outside of British Columbia. The wet months are from October to January. Winter can be as cold as -4.9 degrees Celsius and temperatures can reach 16 degrees Celsius in August.
Economy
St. John’s plays the role of the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador and the civil service is supported by the federal, provincial and municipal governments. It has been behind the key expansion of the city’s labor force and the stability of the economy. St. John’s has a sizable retail, service and business sector. The fishing industry of St. John’s was the initial backbone of the economy but that has all changed with the discovery of oil and gas below the water’s surface. St. John’s is at the center of the oil and gas industry in Eastern Canada and is one of the nineteen World Energy Cities. ExxonMobil Canada is headquartered in St. John’s as well as companies such as:
- Chevron
- Husky Energy
- Suncor Energy
- Statoil
Have major regional operations in the city. There are three major regional offshore developments, Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose, that are in production off the coast of the city and a fourth development is underway, Hebron, which is expected to be producing oil by 2017.
Health Care
The health care system in St. John’s is served by Eastern Health, Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest health authority. The city’s major hospitals include:
- Health Sciences Centre
- Clare’s Mercy Hospital
- Waterford Hospital
- Janeway Children’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre
Education
As you may already know, Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world and the universities in Canadian cities and provinces are not only beautiful, but they are also known for their excellence. St. John’s is served by the Eastern School District which is the largest school district in Newfoundland and Labrador. There are 36 primary, elementary and secondary schools in St. John’s with three private schools. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) is the main university and it provides comprehensive education and grants degrees in several fields. The university has historical strengths in engineering, business, geology, and medicine. The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland or also known as the Marine Institute (MI), has a tertiary ocean and marine polytechnic that is located in St. John’s is affiliated with MUN. MUN also has one of the lowest tuition fees per Academic Year in Canada – C$2644. There is also a public college, the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) that has two campuses. CNA provides career, trade and university transfer programs for St. John’s residents.
Public Transport
St. John’s has a variety of public transport for you to use. The Metrobus operates throughout St. John’s and the city of Mount Pearl. You can pay cash for your bus trip (C$2.25) or you can purchase an M-Card that lasts for a month, a semester or a multiple ride pass. For people that take the bus, the lower level of the buses has free Wi-Fi. The GoBus Accessible provides public transport for people with disabilities or people that are unable to access the conventional modes of public transport. This is to encourage the participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. There are also a number of taxi services that operate within the city of St. John’s.
Fun Facts
- 99% of the world’s critically endangered Boreal Felt Lichen is in Newfoundland
- Newfoundland and Labrador has its own dictionary because they have a distinct dialect
- Nearly 40% of the population lives in St. John’s
- Icebergs are harvested in Newfoundland and Labrador
- George Street in the heart of St. John’s has the most bars and pubs per square foot than any other North American street