Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Stephenville 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.
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.
, which was operated by the United States Army Air Force 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 outport
s.
After the base was closed, the facility was turned over to the federal government which then provided it to the provincial government for divestiture to 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 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.
, 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, and twice weekly direct flights to Fort Mc Murray AB with Flair Air and Suncor energy, transporting workers to and from sites in Northern Alberta. And direct non-stop air service during the summer months to Toronto, Pearson International Airport. As well Stephenville Airport is an international port of entry airport which is the alternate refueling airport to Gander International.
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.
Two taxi companies serve the town: Crown Taxi and Blue Bird Taxi.
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 was abandoned by Terra Transport
in 1988.
The small size of the town and its flat topography permits residents to enjoy outdoor activities such as walking, bicycling, roller blading and cross-country skiing.
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.
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.
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 Airport
, and the rest of the town expands primarily to the northwest.
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...
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
.
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.
Also, plans are being carried out to convert the Blanche Brook "Flood Zone" in the center of town to convert it into a green space and central park facility which will become the focal point of future community celebrations.
As well, there are multiple privately and publicly owned health clubs and fitness facilities.
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...
town in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
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.
Stephenville has a modern 40 bed hospital (built in 2003), schools, stores, banks and government institutions. The provincial community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
system, College of the North Atlantic
College of the North Atlantic
College of the North Atlantic is the public college of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The enabling legislation is theCollege Act....
, 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 AFBErnest Harmon Air Force Base
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The base was built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1941 under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement with the United Kingdom....
, which was operated by the United States Army Air Force and later the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1941 to 1966.
The base precipitated an economic boom of sorts on Newfoundland's southwest coast during the 1940s. Corner Brook
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corner Brook is a city located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada....
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 outport
Outport
Outport is the name given in the United Kingdom for a subsidiary port built in deeper water than the original port. The Port of Tilbury from the Port of London is a good example. Avonmouth and Bristol and, on a smaller and now historical scale, Fordwich and Canterbury are others....
s.
After the base was closed, the facility was turned over to the federal government which then provided it to the provincial government for divestiture to 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 Airport
Stephenville Airport
Stephenville International Airport is an airport located southeast of Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was built by the United States Air Force and operated as Ernest Harmon Air Force Base from 1941-1966....
. An abandoned USAF Pinetree Line
Pinetree Line
The Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
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 AFBErnest Harmon Air Force Base
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The base was built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1941 under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement with the United Kingdom....
, serves the entire west coast of the island - a catchment population of 90,000 people from Port aux Basques
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland fronting on the eastern 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...
to St. Anthony
St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador
-Attractions:* Is a popular tourist destination known for its whale watching.Dr. Wilfred Grenfell's work in St. Anthony is commemorated by several historic sites and museums, including:...
, currently offering intraprovincial flights, and twice weekly direct flights to Fort Mc Murray AB with Flair Air and Suncor energy, transporting workers to and from sites in Northern Alberta. And direct non-stop air service during the summer months to Toronto, Pearson International Airport. As well Stephenville Airport is an international port of entry airport which is the alternate refueling airport to Gander International.
DRL Coachlines
DRL Coachlines is a motor coach bus company operating in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Wholly owned by DRL Group of Triton, NL, the bus company provided charter services before taking over CN Roadcruiser services on the island of Newfoundland in 1996.-Inter-city service:*...
. Dedicated bus service between Stephenville and Corner Brook is provided by Eddy Services. Dedicated bus service between Stephenville and Port Aux Basques
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland fronting on the eastern 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...
is provided by Gateway Bus Service.
Two taxi companies serve the town: Crown Taxi and Blue Bird Taxi.
The town is located 15 kilometres northwest of the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
, and is accessible using Provincial Highway Routes 490 and 460.
Rail service to the town was abandoned by Terra Transport
Terra Transport
Terra Transport was the name for the Newfoundland Transportation Division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian National Railway , created in 1979 as a means to organize the company's operations on the island of Newfoundland.-Background:...
in 1988.
The small size of the town and its flat topography permits residents to enjoy outdoor activities such as walking, bicycling, roller blading and cross-country skiing.
Education
The first educational institution in the Bay St. George area was the Roman Catholic Church. BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
John T. Mullock
John T. Mullock
John Thomas Mullock was Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland and did much to establish and develop the church in the region. Born in Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland, he died in St. John's and is buried in the crypt of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist.-Academic Life:Mullock became...
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
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland fronting on the eastern 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...
and one at Campbell's Creek.
Today, Stephenville is served by 4 schools. Stephenville Primary, Stephenville Elementary and Stephenville Middle Schools which are feeder schools for Stephenville High School
Stephenville High School NL
Stephenville High School is one of two high schools serving northern Bay St. George and Port au Port, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. More specifically, the school serves grade 9-12 students from Stephenville, Stephenville Crossing, Noel's Pond, Cold Brook, Kippens, Romaines, Port-au-Port East,...
, 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
Western College, Stephenville, Newfoundland
Western College is a private career college located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Founded in 1993, the college is a part of CompuCollege and an affiliate of Eastern College.- External links :* http://www.westerncollege.net/...
is also located in Stephenville. Formerly known as CompuCollege, the Western College is an affiliate of Eastern College.
Geography
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It is situated on a small plateau and surrounded by the Long Range Mountains
Long Range Mountains
The Long Range Mountains are a series of mountains along the west coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. They also form the northernmost section of the Appalachian chain on the eastern seaboard of North America...
and Lewis Hills
Lewis Hills
The Lewis Hills is a section of the Long Range Mountains located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence....
on either side. The downtown area lies to the north of the Stephenville Airport
Stephenville Airport
Stephenville International Airport is an airport located southeast of Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was built by the United States Air Force and operated as Ernest Harmon Air Force Base from 1941-1966....
, and the rest of the town expands primarily to the northwest.
Climate
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.International Appalachian Trail
The International Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail which runs from the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Mount Katahdin, Maine, through New Brunswick, to the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, after which it takes bridge crossings to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, a ferry ride to...
has been extended through the area, providing a continuous recreational hiking trail along the Long Range Mountains
Long Range Mountains
The Long Range Mountains are a series of mountains along the west coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. They also form the northernmost section of the Appalachian chain on the eastern seaboard of North America...
. The abandoned railway corridors of the Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
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...
The town also has an 18-hole links golf course
Harmon Links
Harmon Seaside Links is a public golf course located in western Newfoundland in the town of Stephenville, Canada. The course is the only true links course in Canada and plays along the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence adjacent to Stephenville International Airport. The total length is around 6588...
that was expanded from a 9-hole course in 1999. The course was originally built by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Stephenville Dome
The Stephenville Dome is an arena located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador.The stadium is home to the Stephenville Minor Hockey Association, Stephenville Minor Broomball, The Stephenville Figure Skating Club, Stephenville High School Spartans and Bay St.George Junior Jets.The Stadium was...
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.
Also, plans are being carried out to convert the Blanche Brook "Flood Zone" in the center of town to convert it into a green space and central park facility which will become the focal point of future community celebrations.
As well, there are multiple privately and publicly owned health clubs and fitness facilities.
Recent events
- On July 27, 2005, Abitibi-Consolidated announced plans to cease newsprint production in Stephenville, resulting in a loss of 280 jobs to the town and surrounding region.
- On September 27, 2005, a torrential downpour caused 180 people to be evacuated, after two rivers that flow through the town overflowed their banks and flooded the town. About 140 millimetres of rain fell.
- On October 29, 2005, CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
announced that Stephenville had been chosen as site for the annual Hockey Day in Canada feature of Hockey Night in CanadaHockey Night in CanadaHockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
. The event took place on January 7, 2006.
See also
- List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ernest Harmon Air Force BaseErnest Harmon Air Force BaseErnest Harmon Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The base was built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1941 under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement with the United Kingdom....
- Hanson Memorial HighwayHanson Memorial HighwayRoute 460 is a Canadian provincial highway in Newfoundland and Labrador.It is located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland and has its western terminus at Cape St...
- Long Gull PondLong Gull PondLong Gull Pond is a -long lake located in the western part of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Route 460 runs along its southern shore, connecting Stephenville and Stephenville Crossing....