Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador

Town of Stephenville

Overlooking the town of Stephenville

Seal
Town of Stephenville

Location of Stephenville in Newfoundland

Coordinates: 48°33′N 58°34′W / 48.550°N 58.567°W / 48.550; -58.567
Country  Canada
Province  Newfoundland and Labrador
Incorporated 1952
Government
 • Mayor Tom O'Brien
 • Governing body Stephenville Town Council
 • MHA John Finn
 • MP Gudie Hutchings
Area
 • Total 35.69 km2 (13.78 sq mi)
Elevation 0 - 74 m (0 - 243 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 6,719
 • Density 188.3/km2 (488/sq mi)
Time zone Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30)
 • Summer (DST) Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30)
Postal code span A2N
Area code(s) 709
Telephone Exchange 643, 649, 641 and 721
Median Family Income* $42,228
NTS Map 012B10
GNBC Code AAXZD
Website Town of Stephenville official website
  • Median income in 2005 - All census families ($)

Stephenville (Canada 2011 Census population 6,719[1]) is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland.

The town functions as a local service centre for the southwestern part of the island, serving a direct population of 25,000 people from surrounding areas and over 90,000 people along the entire west coast of the island.[2]

Stephenville has a modern 40-bed hospital (built in 2003), schools, stores, banks and government institutions. The provincial community college system, College of the North Atlantic, is headquartered in Stephenville and maintains a campus there for students from the southwestern region of the island. A provincial minimum security jail is also located in the town.

History

This place was formerly known as the Acadian village, between 1848 and 1870. The populace of the village consisted of Roman Catholics who eked out a living, farming and fishing. The town's population continued to grow because of the stable economy. It was also formerly home to Ernest Harmon AFB, which was operated by the United States Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force from 1941 to 1966.

The base precipitated an economic boom of sorts on Newfoundland's southwest coast during the 1940s. Corner Brook to the northeast had been considered the major population center for the region, given its industrial base and nearby recreational opportunities in the Humber River. With the massive investment of the Government of the United States in the base, the Stephenville and St. George's Bay area began to flourish. The village of Stephenville grew from a hamlet of several hundred people with no paved streets, side walks, water or sewage system in 1941 into a modern town of over 5,000 by the mid-1950s. By the time Ernest Harmon AFB closed in 1966, the town had more than doubled in size, partly as a result of the provincial government's forced resettlement policy toward residents of outports.

After the base was closed, the facility was turned over to the federal government which then provided it to the provincial government to diversify the local community.

The facility included the air field, which has two runways (10,000 ft x 200 ft, 4,000 ft x 150 ft) and numerous buildings which are operated as the Stephenville International Airport. An abandoned USAF Pinetree Line radar site is located on nearby Table Mountain, north of the town. The town uses many former USAF structures for housing, recreation and entertainment.

Transportation

The Stephenville International Airport, formerly Ernest Harmon AFB, serves the entire west coast of the island - a catchment population of 90,000 people from Port aux Basques to St. Anthony, currently offering intraprovincial flights with Provincial Airlines, weekly summer air service is offered to Toronto with Sunwing Airlines, twice weekly international flights are offered to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, France in February, June and August with Air Saint Pierre, weekly flights to Halifax, Ottawa and Toronto with Porter Airlines connecting to its network in Canada and the U.S.A. As well, Stephenville Airport is an international port of entry airport; the airport is the alternate refueling airport to Gander International.

Main Street, Stephenville

Daily intraprovincial bus service connecting to major population centres and ferry terminals across the island is provided by DRL Coachlines. Dedicated bus service between Stephenville and Corner Brook is provided by Eddy Services. Dedicated bus service between Stephenville and Port aux Basques is provided by Gateway Bus Service.

Three taxi companies serve the town: Crown Taxi, Blue Bird Taxi, and United Class Cabs.

The town is located 15 kilometres northwest of the Trans-Canada Highway, and is accessible using Provincial Highway Routes 490 and 460.

Rail service to the town, as well as all of Newfoundland, was discontinued by Terra Transport in 1988.

The density of the town core, and its flat topography, permit residents to enjoy outdoor activities such as walking, bicycling, roller blading, and cross-country skiing.

Economic development

Stephenville at Night

According to the 2011 Canada Census, Stephenville's population increased by 2% since 2006. This marked the first increase in population since 1996, when population increased by 1.9% over 1991's number. After 10 years of declines, the town has finally turned a corner and is again becoming an attractive location to move to and set up business.

This is likely due in part to the town's economic development strategy, known as Live-Work-Grow.[3] The website is intended to help attract new and expanding businesses to the area as the town continues to try and diversify its economy. Live-Work-Grow, along with the municipal website, contain all the information needed to study the market and also allow for the completion of online permit applications. This is intended to simplify the permit process and is exemplary of the business friendly atmosphere the town administration is trying to foster.

Education

The first educational institution in the Bay St. George area was the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop John T. Mullock established the first church of the Roman Catholic faith at Sandy Point in 1848 when the population of the area was about 2000. Father Belenger was the first priest in the St. Georges Bay area from 1850 to 1868. Father Sears, then priest in the area, established a church in the growing town of Stephenville. In 1884 there were four Catholic schools in the parish. One at Sandy Point, one at the Highlands, one at Port aux Basques and one at Campbell's Creek.

Stephenville High School, formerly St. Stephen's High School, in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador

Today, Stephenville is served by 4 schools. Stephenville Primary, Stephenville Elementary and Stephenville Middle Schools which are feeder schools for Stephenville High School, SHS also takes in students from St. Thomas Aquinas School in Port-au-Port East

Stephenville is also home to the Bay St. George campus of College of the North Atlantic (CNA) which is Newfoundland and Labrador's public college system. The provincial Headquarters for CNA is also located in the D.S.B Fowlow Building of the campus.

Western College is also located in Stephenville. Formerly known as CompuCollege, the Western College is an affiliate of Eastern College.[4]

Geography

Stephenville Aerial View

The town is located on the northeast coast of Bay St. George in southwestern Newfoundland, and on the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated on a small plateau and surrounded by the Long Range Mountains and Lewis Hills on either side. The downtown area lies to the north of the Stephenville International Airport, and the rest of the town expands primarily to the northwest.

The town is bisected by Blanche Brook, a small river which runs roughly north to south before meeting Warm Brook, which flows roughly east to west, before both empty in Bay St. George. The original town of Stephenville is situated on the west side of the brook while the east side consists of the area which was once part of Ernest Harmon Air Force Base. There are 4 bridges which span Blanche Brook: Hansen Highway Bridge, Blanche Brook Bridge (Main Street), Columbus Bridge (Minnesota Drive) and the newest West Street Bridge built after the 2005 flood. 3 smaller bridges span Warm Brook, located at: Mississippi Drive, Carolina Avenue and Connecticut Drive. Another waterway, Gaudon's Brook, forms the western border with Kippens.

The brooks have been used to create a greenbelt/park area that extends through the centre of town, including Blance Brook Park which was constructed following the destruction of a neighbourhood which formerly occupied the same space.[5]

Climate

Climate data for Stephenville (Stephenville International Airport, normals from 1981−2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 15.0 13.0 19.5 26.0 28.8 36.1 35.8 34.0 36.1 28.0 24.7 18.6 36.1
Record high °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)		 12.7
(54.9)		 19.7
(67.5)		 23.8
(74.8)		 27.2
(81)		 30.0
(86)		 30.6
(87.1)		 29.9
(85.8)		 29.1
(84.4)		 22.4
(72.3)		 20.6
(69.1)		 16.1
(61)		 30.6
(87.1)
Average high °C (°F) −2.4
(27.7)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 0.6
(33.1)		 6.4
(43.5)		 11.9
(53.4)		 16.4
(61.5)		 20.2
(68.4)		 20.6
(69.1)		 16.7
(62.1)		 10.8
(51.4)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0.7
(33.3)		 8.7
(47.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 7.6
(45.7)		 12.1
(53.8)		 16.4
(61.5)		 16.7
(62.1)		 12.8
(55)		 7.4
(45.3)		 2.7
(36.9)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 5.0
(41)
Average low °C (°F) −9.4
(15.1)		 −10.7
(12.7)		 −7.6
(18.3)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 3.2
(37.8)		 7.8
(46)		 12.6
(54.7)		 12.8
(55)		 8.9
(48)		 4.0
(39.2)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 −5.3
(22.5)		 1.2
(34.2)
Record low °C (°F) −26.1
(−15)		 −29.5
(−21.1)		 −29.2
(−20.6)		 −15.6
(3.9)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 −1.1
(30)		 3.5
(38.3)		 2.2
(36)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −14.9
(5.2)		 −20.0
(−4)		 −29.5
(−21.1)
Record low wind chill −38 −41 −38 −26 −13 0 0 0 −4 −10 −22 −36 −41
Average precipitation mm (inches) 124.6
(4.906)		 105.3
(4.146)		 86.2
(3.394)		 77.7
(3.059)		 97.4
(3.835)		 104.1
(4.098)		 118.4
(4.661)		 130.4
(5.134)		 127.6
(5.024)		 126.9
(4.996)		 118.4
(4.661)		 123.4
(4.858)		 1,340.4
(52.772)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 28.9
(1.138)		 27.2
(1.071)		 36.9
(1.453)		 61.5
(2.421)		 94.0
(3.701)		 104.1
(4.098)		 118.4
(4.661)		 130.4
(5.134)		 127.5
(5.02)		 124.0
(4.882)		 93.8
(3.693)		 48.6
(1.913)		 995.3
(39.185)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 113
(44.5)		 90
(35.4)		 54
(21.3)		 17
(6.7)		 3
(1.2)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 3
(1.2)		 26
(10.2)		 86
(33.9)		 393
(154.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 26.1 21.8 17.7 15.3 14.9 14.3 15.2 15.2 15.7 19.0 20.8 25.1 221.2
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 5.2 4.6 6.4 10.8 14.4 14.3 15.2 15.2 15.7 18.6 14.5 8.1 143.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 24.7 20.4 14.9 7.0 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.5 9.9 21.6 101.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 41.9 73.3 116.7 141.7 205.2 204.2 206.2 201.6 145.7 114.1 50.1 26.6 1,527.3
Percent possible sunshine 15.4 25.6 31.7 34.6 43.5 42.4 42.4 45.4 38.5 33.9 18.0 10.2 31.8
Source: Environment Canada[6]
Stephenville

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1901643—    
1911826+28.5%
1920817−1.1%
1935926+13.3%
19515,910+538.2%
19616,043+2.3%
197212,500+106.9%
19818,875−29.0%
19867,994−9.9%
19917,621−4.7%
19967,764+1.9%
20017,109−8.4%
20066,588−7.3%
20116,719+2.0%
[7][8][9][10][11]
Canada 2006 Census Population % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[10] 		South Asian 45 0.7%
Black 10 0.2%
Arab 10 0.2%
Other visible minority 20 0.3%
Total visible minority population 80 1.2%
Aboriginal group
Source:[12] 		First Nations 460 7%
Métis 40 0.6%
Inuit 25 0.4%
Total Aboriginal population 935 14.2%
White 5,565 84.6%
Total population 6,580 100%

Arts and entertainment

There are numerous bars and pubs operating in Stephenville. The nightlife caters to a diverse population including students attending both College of the North Atlantic and Western College in town. Live entertainment can be found most nights of the week in at least one location. On weekends, DJs are in house at several nightclubs which have also played host to upcoming DJs and performers from cities such as Montreal and Toronto, while other locations host well-known local performers.

Photo of the downtown Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador during the Joe MacNeil Antique and Unique Car Show in July, 2014.

The Bay St. George Folk Arts Council hosts a monthly "Folk Night" at Emile's Pub in downtown Stephenville. The Council promotes local folk artists who work in both the visual arts and in music.[13]

Each summer, the Stephenville Theatre Festival produces high quality professional productions that have attracted visitors from all over Canada and the United States and has been reviewed by publications such as the New York Times. The festival employs upwards of 70 people and is the premiere tourist attraction for the island's southwest coast.[14] The festival performs at the Stephenville Arts and Culture Centre, the second largest of the six arts centres throughout the province. The centre contains a 450-seat main theatre, a 150-seat secondary theatre and an art exhibition area in a building that was once The Service Club on the Ernest Harmon Air Force Base.[15]

Following in Stephenville's strong theatre history and culture, the 2nd Stage Players provide year round theatre productions put off by locals. The troupe was started by well-known Newfoundland theatre figure Jerry Doyle, who has also initiated acting workshops for youth and adults alike.[16]

The newly renovated Stephenville Cinema is one of only two movie theatres remaining on the west coast of Newfoundland. In its heyday it played host to the likes of Bob Hope, Mae West and Frank Sinatra.[17] Today it hosts big Hollywood titles and offers a comfortable night out at the movies.

Sports and recreation

The town has numerous indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities. Various schools have public gymnasiums and there are private recreation and fitness facilities in the town and surrounding areas. Stephenville often hosts atlantic, provincial, and regional championships in sports such as curling, hockey, cross-country skiing, soccer, and more.

The International Appalachian Trail has been extended through the area, providing a continuous recreational hiking trail along the Long Range Mountains. The abandoned railway corridors of the Newfoundland Railway have also been designated the "T'railway Provincial Park", providing a level wilderness trail for bicycling and walking.

Within the town itself, the Walk-a-Ways Trail System offers takes pedestrians throughout the town, from the Base, to Port Harmon, into the downtown and to the fossil forest at its northern terminus. The trail links all of Stephenville's recreation areas and complexes including Bike lanes, several soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts etc...[18]

The town also has an 18-hole links golf course that was expanded from a 9-hole course in 1999. The course was originally built by the United States Air Force.[19] The former Caribou Club on the base was converted into a 4 sheet curling rink in the 1970s and retains its original name: The Caribou Curling Club.[20]

New Housing Development

The Stephenville Dome is the main ice rink for the Bay St. George region, boasting an Olympic-size ice surface and seating for approximately 1,200 patrons. The rink plays host to hockey, figure skating, broomball, general skating, home shows, conventions and concerts. Along with the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook, the Stephenville Dome co-hosted the 1999 Canada Winter Games and housed events such as figure skating and speedskating.[21] Meanwhile, the Regional Aquatic Centre provides residents with a full range of aquatic activities. This modern swimming facility built in 1995 boasts a regulation sized pool, kiddie pool, hot tub, and water slide.[22]

In addition to privately owned fitness centres, the YMCA has opened a new facility in Stephenville. The West Coast Training Centre, a facility featuring numerous amenities such as a gymnasium, weight room, steam room, squash courts, multi-purpose rooms, and office/meeting space was slated to be closed by provincial government as a cost cutting measure in 2013. The town assumed ownership of the facility shortly afterward and reached an operation agreement with the YMCA. The deal will see the organization operate a fully renovated modern facility that will be home to sports such as basketball, volleyball, martial arts, as well as fitness classes and include workout space.[23]

Notable people

Notable events

Sister city

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ http://www.liveworkgrow.ca/
  4. ↑ http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/postsecondary/privatedir.html
  5. ↑ http://www.townofstephenville.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WAW-Park-and-Trails-8x11-1.pdf
  6. ↑ "Stephenville A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. July 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  7. ↑ Stephenville Municipal Records
  8. ↑ , Canada Year Book 1967
  9. ↑ , 1996 Census of Canada: Electronic Area Profiles
  10. 1 2 , Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Census Subdivision
  11. ↑ , Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006
  12. ↑ , Aboriginal Peoples - Data table
  13. ↑ http://www.stephenvillelr.ca/bay-st-george-folk-arts-council/
  14. ↑ http://theatreteststf.wordpress.com/
  15. ↑ https://artsandculturecentre.com/Stephenville/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=D8AFF303-B161-475B-8346-6532404F8327&menu_id=DA2C828E-0E4D-47E6-86C5-092026DB5A4A
  16. ↑ http://www.stephenvillelr.ca/2nd-stage-players/
  17. ↑ https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:gqOWZt4rMWYJ:movie-theatre.org/canada/nf/NF.pdf+&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgwm2tX8XikEwetuPjY115NAKDoMl8goUD049ufTKO2NK53AW0knlG5VudWkIMB9KMJN_8L-3r9xoeNBVSyd1ZH8l0eHRpaKbVq-1O-TF6cxHry4TeOkPfKo5fYsDlL3mX0SbfG&sig=AHIEtbTeph5O4yXiVQhbKe6cxItnKbq63Q&pli=1
  18. ↑ http://www.stephenvillelr.ca/outdoor-recreation-fields/
  19. ↑ http://www.harmonseasidelinks.com/
  20. ↑ http://www.cariboucurlingclub.com/
  21. ↑ http://www.stephenvillelr.ca/indoor-recreation-facilities/
  22. ↑ http://www.stephenville-recreation.com/
  23. ↑ http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Regional/2014-01-08/article-3567908/Stephenville-mayor-hopes-YMCA-will-open-this-month/1
  24. ↑ Abitibi cutting paper production in Ontario and Newfoundland
  25. ↑ State of emergency remains in effect in flooded Newfoundland town
  26. ↑ Stephenville, N.L., awarded Hockey Day in Canada
  27. ↑ http://www.castlegar.ca/city_sistercities.php

Coordinates: 48°33′N 58°34′W / 48.550°N 58.567°W / 48.550; -58.567 (Stephenville)

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