Tourism Information

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Tourism Information

Land Area
405,720 km2, more than three times the total area of the Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island).

Newfoundland and Labrador would rank fourth in size behind Alaska , Texas and California ... if it were one of the United States. It is almost one-and-three-quarters times the size of Great Britain.

Area of the Island of Newfoundland - 111,390 km2
Area of Labrador - 294,330 km2
Area of Avalon Peninsula - 9,700 km2

Water Area
34,030 km2

Coastline
Coast of Island of Newfoundland - 9,656 km
Coast of Labrador - 7,886 km Total - 17,542 km

Offshore Area
1,825,992 km2

Coat of Arms
The cross is based upon the cross of St. George, but of a different colour. The lions and unicorns are based upon those in the Arms of England, to which the unicorn had been added at the time of the union of England with Scotland.

The shield is surmounted by an elk and supported on either side by people representative of the now extinct Beothuk Indians of Newfoundland. The translation of the motto is "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God."

Although granted in 1637, the Arms were unknown to authorities in Newfoundland until they were rediscovered and officially adopted by the Newfoundland Government on January 1, 1928.

Official Bird of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. Some people call it the Sea Parrot or Baccalieu Bird. About 95% of all North America's puffins breed in colonies around the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts. As people with strong marine heritage, it is appropriate to have a marine bird as our symbol.

Capital City
St. John's is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. The City's population is 99,182, while the metro area population is about 182,485.

Population
The population of Labrador is 27,105.
The population of the whole province is 515,591.

Newfoundland Coins
From 1834 - 1949 Newfoundland issued her own coinage and bank notes, many of them are now valuable collectors' items. The coin denominations issued were 1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 25 cent, 50 cent, 2 dollar and gold. You can purchase Newfoundland coins from many coin dealers.

Newfoundland Dogs
The Newfoundland is a large dog with the size and strength to perform the tasks required of him. It has a heavy coat to protect it from the long winters and the icy waters surrounding its native island. Its feet are large, strong, and webbed so that it may travel easily over marshes and shores.

Provincial Flag
In this flag, the primary colours of red, gold and blue are placed against a background of white to allow the design to stand clearly. White is representative of snow and ice; blue represents the sea; red represents human efforts; and gold our confidence in ourselves. The blue section, most reminiscent of the Union Jack, represents our Commonwealth heritage which has so decisively shaped our present. The red and gold section, larger than the other, represents our future. The two triangles outlined in red portray the mainland and island parts of our province reaching forward together. A golden arrow points the way to what we believe will be a bright future. Surrounded by red to indicate human effort, the arrow suggests that our future is for making and not the taking. But the design of the flag encompasses much more symbolism than this. For example, the Christian Cross, the Beothuk and Naskapi ornamentation, the outline of the maple leaf in the centre of the flag, a triumphant figure and our place in the space age. The image of a trident stands out. This is to emphasize our continued dependence on the fishery and the resources of the sea. Hung as a banner, the arrow assumes the aspect of a sword which is to remind us of the sacrifice of our War Veterans. Since the whole flag resembles a Beothuk pendant, as well as all the above, the design takes us from our earliest beginnings and points us confidently forward. It, therefore, mirrors our past, present and future. The flag was officially adopted on June 6, 1980. The flag was designed by artist Christopher Pratt.

Floral Emblem
Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea). Queen Victoria, more than a hundred years ago, chose the Pitcher Plant to be engraved on a newly minted Newfoundland penny. In 1954, the Newfoundland Cabinet designated this unusual and interesting plant as the official flower of the province. It gets its nourishment from insects that get trapped and drown in a pool of water at the base of the tubular leaves. The flower is wine and green in colour and can be found on bogs and marshes in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Public Holidays
There are two kinds of public holidays. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are traditional holidays when most stores and offices are required to close under the Shops Closing Act. They are celebrated on their calendar date.

On other holidays - St. Patrick's Day, St. George's Day, Victoria Day, Orangemen's Day, Thanksgiving Day - stores are not required to close, although many offices do under the terms of collective agreements. In these instances, the holiday is usually celebrated on the nearest Monday. If you are planning to travel on a holiday, check to see that any stores or offices you plan to visit are open.

In addition to the foregoing holidays, the Shops Closing Act sets for observance as holidays the following:

(a) in the City of St. John's, the day determined as Regatta Day,
(b) in the Town of Harbour Grace, the day determined as Regatta Day, and
(c) in any other municipality, the day fixed by the council as a public holiday therein.

Mineral Emblem
Labradorite. One of the most beautiful and popular of the "semi-precious" stones, labradorite is found at a number of locations on the coast of Labrador and, as well, on the Island of Newfoundland. It is an igneous irridescent crystalline mineral, and is also called Labrador Feldspar. It is said that the native people of Labrador attributed mystical qualities to the stone because of its captivating play of colours or "labradoresence." They called it "firestone" and used a powder produced by pulverizing it as a magical potion to cure their ailments. A tumble-polished fragment makes an ideal touchstone or talisman and a beautifully shaped and polished cabochon set in gold or silver is a highly sought jewellery item in any collection. It was declared the province's mineral emblem in 1975. Labradorite is one of about 20 semiprecious stones found in the province.

"Ode to Newfoundland"

Newfoundland Pony
The Newfoundland Pony developed from stock brought to the Island around 1600 from The British Isles. Its ancestors are the ponies of Exmoor and Dartmoor in Devon, the New Forest, and to a lesser extent the Welsh Mountain pony, the Galloway (extinct), the Highland and the Connemara. Over the centuries it has adapted to the conditions and climate of Newfoundland and is virtually unknown elsewhere. Its colour can be bay, black, brown or red with black forelocks, manes and tails. They have solid black lower legs up to the hock on the hind leg and to the knee on the front. Black also runs up the inside of the legs to the body. Some have a black dorsal stripe. Their hooves are blue black with a very hard outer horn. They weigh an average of 500 to 1000 lbs. and stand approximately 14.2 hands (58") high. The ponies have strong front shoulders with a good angle for a collar. His head is in proportion to the size of the body with small erect ears and good, clear, kind eyes. He is light and surefooted and can travel over frozen ponds and barrens without breaking the ice. In winter their overcoats grow 2-3 inches long, usually a different colour from their summer coats. They also grow a beard on their chins have been used to haul boats out of water, pull logs from the forest, and prepare land for spring planting. They are quiet with a good temperament which makes them good workers, easy keepers and wonderful family pets.

Stamps
With Confederation in 1949, Newfoundland adopted the stamps of Canada but, prior to that time, this British Colony produced its own stamps. Newfoundland stamps are still fairly common, especially those of the past 100 years. The variety is rich, the stamps are colourful and the story they tell is a fascinating one. They are also legal postage if mailed from within Canada. Newfoundland stamps may be purchased from most stamp dealers.

Tartan
The Tartan was developed by the late Sam Wilansky in 1955, who owned a clothing store on Water Street. The Tartan was registered in 1973. Its colours are gold, white, borwn, and red on a green background. The gold represents the sun's rays in the Ode to Newfoundland; the green represents the pine clad hills; the white represents the cloak of snow; the brown represents the Iron Isle, a reference to Bell Island where iron was mined between the 1890s and 1960s; and the red represent the Royal Standard for which our fathers stood.

Time Zones
The Island of Newfoundland is located in a time zone unique in North America, half an hour later than Atlantic Time, one and a half hours later than Central Canada and four and a half hours later than the west coast of the country. It's the only place in Canada with a split in the set variations of one hour between time zones. Daylight Saving Time is observed from April to October after which the province returns to Newfoundland Standard Time. Labrador operates on Atlantic Time, except for the portion between L'Anse au Clair and Norman Bay, which is on Newfoundland time.

Provincial Tree - Black Spruce
The Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was proclaimed the Provincial Tree of Newfoundland & Labrador in May of 1991. This tree is widely distributed and is the most common tree in the province. Black Spruce has had a significant social and economic impact on the growth of the province. It is the favoured tree in the pulp and paper industry and is widely used for lumber, wharf piers, and firewood. Black spruce has played a prominent role in the lives of aboriginal people and in local folk-medicine. This enduring species is extremely hardy and flourishes in Newfoundland and Labrador's short growing season.

 

Newfoundland and Labrador Travel and Tourism

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism E-Books
Newfoundland and Labrador Bed and Breakfasts
Admiral's Coast
Irish Loop
The Baccalieu Trail
The Kittiwake Coast
The Discovery Trail
Accommodations Newfoundland