Schefferville, Quebec
Encyclopedia
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. The town has an incorporated area of 25.11 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi). It is located within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality
. Schefferville completely surrounds the autonomous community of Matimekosh
and it abuts the small community of Lac-John Reserve
. Both communities are First Nations reserves.
The isolated town is not connected to the provincial road network but is accessible by airplane via the Schefferville Airport
or by train. Schefferville is the northern terminus of Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
(formerly operated by the Quebec North Shore & Labrador (QNS&L) Railway) with service to Labrador City.
McGill University
continues to operate the McGill Subarctic Research Station in Schefferville.
in 1954 to support the mining of rich iron ore deposits in the area. The original settlement was called "Burnt Creek" and was located some miles to the north of the current location of the town of Schefferville. When the plans were drawn up for the town, it was originally called "Knob Lake" after a prominent iron ore outcropping visible on a prominent hill south of the town site, but the name Schefferville was adopted in honour of (Roman Catholic) Bishop Lionel Scheffer, who served as the Vicar Apostolic of Labrador from March 14, 1946, until his death on October 3, 1966.
At the time of the town's founding, Innu
from Maliotenam and Naskapi
from Fort Chimo were resettled to Schefferville to assist with geological exploration work and the railway construction. Following many years of neglect and destitute poverty, in 1968 parts of the town were set aside for them as a reserve. By 1972, housing units had been built, and most of the Naskapi and Innu moved to this new site, known today as Matimekosh Reserve
.
For some years in the late 1950s, NORAD operated a radar station in Schefferville as part of the MEW (Middle Early Warning) or Mid-Canada Line
, part of North America's defences against possible Soviet attack across the arctic.
At its peak in the late 1960s, Schefferville counted some 5,000 residents. But iron ore mining ceased there in 1982, on orders from the then president of the Iron Ore Company, Brian Mulroney
, who later became Prime Minister of Canada
. Most of the 4,000 or so non-aboriginal occupants left, leaving mostly aboriginal people who settled there in the preceding 30 years. In 1986, the town even ceased to exist as an incorporated legal entity, but this decision was reversed in 1990. Some houses and public facilities were demolished, while other parts of the infrastructure were added to the Matimekosh Reserve. Many of the remaining houses in the town are used by companies in the iron industry to house their staff.
, Schefferville had a population of 202 inhabitants, a decline of almost 16 percent from the 2001 census total of 240. In comparison, Matimekosh had a population of 528 and Lac-John, 16. The town counted 93 private dwellings occupied by usual residents out of a total of 197.
Many Naskapi
first nation people mostly live in the village of Kawawachikamach
, northwest of Schefferville. They are mostly Anglican and Protestant and speak English as their second language. The other first nation tribe, residing mainly in Schefferville and Matimekosh, are the Montagnais who are largely Roman Catholic and speak French as their second language.
Naskapi and Montagnais/Innu are, generally, mutually intelligible. Most local inhabitants are able to speak varying amounts of all the local languages, and code-switching
is common in conversation. The breakdown of mother tongues is:
Population trend:
The controversial mid-20th century Quebec premier, Maurice Duplessis
, died in Schefferville on September 7, 1959. His government was defeated the following year while being led by his second of two successors, the first having died in January 1960.
The first is the LabMag Iron Ore Project in Labrador
, 30 kilometres west of Schefferville. The objective is to develop mining and concentrating near Schefferville that will mine 33 million tonnes of crude iron ore per year to produce 10 million tonnes per year of concentrate and pellets for a minimum of 20 years. Actual mining production is projected to begin around 2011. The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach owns 20% of The LabMag Iron Ore Project.
In addition, Anglesey Mining is awaiting the grant of final operational permits on its former Iron Ore Company of Canada deposits. Production is scheduled to start during late summer 2010, with output rising to two or three million tons of ore a year by 2012 before further deposits are developed. Innu protesters are currently (July 2010) blocking access to Schefferville and delaying mining preparation with demands for increased compensation for the commercial exploitation of their traditional homelands.
(Köppen
Dfc) with very long, frigid winters and short, cool to mild summers.
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 of 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....
. Schefferville is in the heart of the 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....
and Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
territory in northern Quebec, less than 2 km from the border with Labrador
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...
on the north shore of Knob Lake. The town has an incorporated area of 25.11 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi). It is located within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality
Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Caniapiscau is a regional county municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. The regional county municipality seat is Fermont. It is located in the northwest corner of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. It has a land area of and a 2006 census population of 3,948 inhabitants, two-thirds of whom lived...
. Schefferville completely surrounds the autonomous community of Matimekosh
Matimekosh, Quebec
Matimekosh is a First Nations reserve on Lake Pearce in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. Together with the Lac-John Reserve, it belongs to the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John...
and it abuts the small community of Lac-John Reserve
Lac-John, Quebec
Lac-John is a First Nations reserve on John Lake in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada, about north-east from the centre of Schefferville. Together with the Matimekosh Reserve, it belongs to the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John...
. Both communities are First Nations reserves.
The isolated town is not connected to the provincial road network but is accessible by airplane via the Schefferville Airport
Schefferville Airport
Schefferville Airport, , is located adjacent to the community of Schefferville, Quebec, Canada.-Airlines and destinations:*Air Inuit -External links:*...
or by train. Schefferville is the northern terminus of Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. is a Canadian short line railway that stretches 134 miles through the wilderness of western Labrador and northeastern Quebec. It connects Emeril Junction, Labrador with the community of Schefferville, Quebec on the interprovincial boundary...
(formerly operated by the Quebec North Shore & Labrador (QNS&L) Railway) with service to Labrador City.
McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
continues to operate the McGill Subarctic Research Station in Schefferville.
History
Schefferville was established as a town by the Iron Ore Company Of CanadaIron 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...
in 1954 to support the mining of rich iron ore deposits in the area. The original settlement was called "Burnt Creek" and was located some miles to the north of the current location of the town of Schefferville. When the plans were drawn up for the town, it was originally called "Knob Lake" after a prominent iron ore outcropping visible on a prominent hill south of the town site, but the name Schefferville was adopted in honour of (Roman Catholic) Bishop Lionel Scheffer, who served as the Vicar Apostolic of Labrador from March 14, 1946, until his death on October 3, 1966.
At the time of the town's founding, Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
from Maliotenam and 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....
from Fort Chimo were resettled to Schefferville to assist with geological exploration work and the railway construction. Following many years of neglect and destitute poverty, in 1968 parts of the town were set aside for them as a reserve. By 1972, housing units had been built, and most of the Naskapi and Innu moved to this new site, known today as Matimekosh Reserve
Matimekosh, Quebec
Matimekosh is a First Nations reserve on Lake Pearce in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. Together with the Lac-John Reserve, it belongs to the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John...
.
For some years in the late 1950s, NORAD operated a radar station in Schefferville as part of the MEW (Middle Early Warning) or Mid-Canada Line
Mid-Canada Line
The Mid-Canada Line, also known as the McGill Fence, was a line of radar stations across the "middle" of Canada to provide early warning of a Soviet bomber attack on North America. It was built to supplement the less-advanced Pinetree Line, which was located further south...
, part of North America's defences against possible Soviet attack across the arctic.
At its peak in the late 1960s, Schefferville counted some 5,000 residents. But iron ore mining ceased there in 1982, on orders from the then president of the Iron Ore Company, Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
, who later became Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
. Most of the 4,000 or so non-aboriginal occupants left, leaving mostly aboriginal people who settled there in the preceding 30 years. In 1986, the town even ceased to exist as an incorporated legal entity, but this decision was reversed in 1990. Some houses and public facilities were demolished, while other parts of the infrastructure were added to the Matimekosh Reserve. Many of the remaining houses in the town are used by companies in the iron industry to house their staff.
Demographics
At the 2006 censusStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
, Schefferville had a population of 202 inhabitants, a decline of almost 16 percent from the 2001 census total of 240. In comparison, Matimekosh had a population of 528 and Lac-John, 16. The town counted 93 private dwellings occupied by usual residents out of a total of 197.
Many 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....
first nation people mostly live in the village of Kawawachikamach
Kawawachikamach, Quebec
Kawawachikamach is an Naskapi/Iyiyiw First Nations reserve and community at the south end of Lake Matemace , approximately northeast of Schefferville, Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. The village was built by the Naskapi/Iyiyiw from 1980 to 1983...
, northwest of Schefferville. They are mostly Anglican and Protestant and speak English as their second language. The other first nation tribe, residing mainly in Schefferville and Matimekosh, are the Montagnais who are largely Roman Catholic and speak French as their second language.
Naskapi and Montagnais/Innu are, generally, mutually intelligible. Most local inhabitants are able to speak varying amounts of all the local languages, and code-switching
Code-switching
In linguistics, code-switching is the concurrent use of more than one language, or language variety, in conversation. Multilinguals—people who speak more than one language—sometimes use elements of multiple languages in conversing with each other...
is common in conversation. The breakdown of mother tongues is:
- English as first language: 17.1 %
- French as first language: 43.9 %
- English and French as first language: 4.9 %
- Other as first language: 34.1 %
Population trend:
- Population in 2006: 202 (2001 to 2006 population change: -15.8 %)
- Population in 2001: 240
- Population in 1996: 578
- Population in 1991: 303
Notable residents
Albert Cormier was the police commissioner of Schefferville and the superintendent of Iron Ore Co. He died in May 2008 at the age of 79.The controversial mid-20th century Quebec premier, Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Duplessis
Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre...
, died in Schefferville on September 7, 1959. His government was defeated the following year while being led by his second of two successors, the first having died in January 1960.
Recent developments
As a result of increased demand for steel and iron ore there are currently two official projects to re-establish mining operations out of Schefferville.The first is the LabMag Iron Ore Project in Labrador
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...
, 30 kilometres west of Schefferville. The objective is to develop mining and concentrating near Schefferville that will mine 33 million tonnes of crude iron ore per year to produce 10 million tonnes per year of concentrate and pellets for a minimum of 20 years. Actual mining production is projected to begin around 2011. The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach owns 20% of The LabMag Iron Ore Project.
In addition, Anglesey Mining is awaiting the grant of final operational permits on its former Iron Ore Company of Canada deposits. Production is scheduled to start during late summer 2010, with output rising to two or three million tons of ore a year by 2012 before further deposits are developed. Innu protesters are currently (July 2010) blocking access to Schefferville and delaying mining preparation with demands for increased compensation for the commercial exploitation of their traditional homelands.
Climate
Schefferville experiences a subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfc) with very long, frigid winters and short, cool to mild summers.
External links
- Schefferville, Quebec Statistics Canada