Grand Falls Windsor

History

In 1768, Lieutenant John Cartwright, while following the Exploits River through the Exploits Valley, named the waterfall he found "Grand Falls"; however, it took until 1905 before the town of Grand Falls was established. Worried about the impending war in Europe, Alfred Harmsworth (Baron Northcliffe) began looking for an alternative source of newsprint for his family's newspaper and publishing business. During their search for a suitable location to build and operate a pulp and paper mill, Harold Harmsworth and Mayson Beeton, son of Isabella Beeton, the author of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, discovered Grand Falls. The site had great potential due to access to lumber, the possibility of hydroelectricity and a deep-water port available in nearby Botwood. On January 7, 1905, the Harmsworths and Robert Gillespie Reid, owner of the Newfoundland Railway, formed the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, and the mill was constructed and opened on October 9, 1909. The first roll of salable newsprint was not produced until December 22, 1909. Workers came from throughout the colony and the world to help develop the new area. At that time, only employees of the mill and workers from private businesses were permitted to live in Grand Falls. Other people settled north of the railway in a shack town known as Grand Falls Station, which became Windsor, named for the English Royal Family.

The Anglo Newfoundland Development Company, owners of the town, catered to the social and athletic needs of the people living there. The Grand Falls Athletic Club was formed in 1907. Sports such as hockey, boxing, golf, soccer and baseball were played in the area. Increasing interest in music and the arts reflected in the creation of several clubs, including The Andophians, The Exploits Amateur Theatre Company, the Northcliffe Drama Club (1951) and Another Newfoundland Drama Company Inc. (A.N.D. Company Inc.) (1998) Several musical groups were formed. From 1905–1906, the religious needs of the residents were filled by visiting clergy. However, because of the increasing population of Grand Falls, several churches were built.

Due to its continued growth, Grand Falls Station became a vibrant town. Main Street, in what is now the former town of Windsor, featured lines of small business that catered to the needs of the residents and the town was officially incorporated on November 1, 1938. During the incorporation, Grand Falls Station changed its name to Windsor in honour of the British Royal Family, the House of Windsor.

In 1961, Price Brothers and Company Limited acquired a large amount of A.N.D. Company stock. An election for the first municipal government was soon held which eventually led to the incorporation of the town of Grand Falls. In 1988, the town took the title of the World Forestry Capital briefly. Finally, in 1991, the towns of Grand Falls and Windsor were forced by the provincial government to amalgamate, becoming the current town of Grand Falls-Windsor.

Today the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, part of the 5th Canadian Division is stationed in the town.

Geography

Grand Falls-Windsor is centrally located on the island of Newfoundland. It is approximately an hour west of Gander, two and a half hours west of Clarenville and about four hours west of St. John's. On the other hand, the town is slightly over two hours east of Deer Lake, two hours and forty-five minutes east of Corner Brook and close to five hours east of Port Aux Basques, when traveling on the Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1, part of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The town itself consists of the former towns of Grand Falls and Windsor. The Newfoundland and Labrador Route 1 runs through the middle of town, with exits for Main Street, Station Road, Cromer Avenue, Union Street, Grenfell Heights and New Bay Road. Main thoroughfares in the town include Lincoln Road, Cromer Avenue, Main Street, High Street, and Scott Avenue, though this list isn't extensive.

Climate

Grand Falls-Windsor has a humid continental climate, its classification being similar to the remainder of Newfoundland. Due to its farther inland position than most localities the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and its moderation is less prevalent, rendering the warmest summers on the island. Winter lows are also more extreme than in St. John's and Corner Brook, although swings are very moderate when compared to areas on similar latitudes in continental Canada.

Economy

On December 4, 2008, Abitibi Bowater released a statement concerning imminent closure of the pulp and paper mill in Grand Falls-Windsor, representing a cutback of 205 000 tons of paper. The mill produced its last roll of newsprint on February 12, 2009. The closure was effected due to exchange rate volatility, energy and fibre pricing, as well as structural challenges in the North American newsprint industry. At the time of closure, the paper mill was the second largest employer of the town. As of 2016, the mill is in a state of demolition.

Like most other communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, Grand Falls-Windsor has suffered from outmigration. However, the town is a center of entertainment and endures.

Education

The town is part of the Nova Central School District and is served by Woodland Primary (Kindergarten to Grade 3), Sprucewood Academy (Kindergarten to Grade 6), Millcrest Academy (Grade 4 to Grade 6), Exploits Valley Intermediate (Grade 7 to Grade 9) and Exploits Valley High (Grade 10 to Grade 12).

Post-secondary training is available at the College of the North Atlantic, a community college formed in 1977.

Private colleges include Keyin College and Corona College,.

Health

The town is within the Health and Community Services Central Region.

Transportation

The nearest airport is Exploits Valley (Botwood) Airport in Botwood. The nearest international airport is Gander International Airport, approximately 100 km east of Grand Falls-Windsor. There is a public heliport, Grand Falls-Windsor Heliport operated by the town.

Media and communications

Communication services are provided by AT&T Canada, Primus Canada and Aliant, formerly NewTel Communications. The companies provide mobile phones, high speed Internet and digital television, including CJON-TV (NTV), the only privately owned television station in Newfoundland and Labrador, and other services.

The local newspaper, the Advertiser, has been published twice weekly since 1936. It has a readership of more than 10,000 per edition and has won numerous awards, both regionally and nationally. The paper was first published by brothers Mike and Walter Blackmore, with Mike's wife, the former Laura Cantwell, serving as the first editor.

Private radio stations in the town include CKXG-FM, CKCM, a VOCM affiliate, both owned by Newcap Broadcasting and CHOZ-FM owned by Geoff Stirling. The other private radio station is VOAR, which is part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has CBT, CBC Radio One and CBN-FM, CBC Radio 2.

CBNAT is the call sign for the local CBC rebroadcaster of CBNT from St. John's. Rogers TV which provides a community channel that includes a local talk show focused on community events called Exploits Central.

Sports

The town has two hockey teams, the senior team, Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts and the Central Junior Cataracts of the Central/West Junior Hockey League winners of the 2007 Central West Junior Hockey League championship. The town also belongs to the Newfoundland Hockey League.

Demographics

Data from Statistics Canada 2006 census shows that at the time there were 13,558 residents in Grand Falls-Windsor, a change of −1.6% from 13,340 in 2001. There were a total of 5,564 private dwellings. The town's land area is 54.48 km² (21 sq mi) and has a population density of 248.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (645/sq mi).

As of 2006, there are 6,420 (47.35%) male residents and 7,140 (52.66%) female residents with the median age of male residents at 42.4 and the median age of female residents at 42.8. The median age of the town's population is getting older, from 36.2 at the 1996 census to 40.2 in the 2001 census and to 42.6 in 2006, compared to the province as a whole at 41.7.

Of the population in 2006, 790 (5.83%) people were in a common-law relationship, 3,160 (23.31%) were single, 650 (4.79%) divorced, 830 (6.12%) were widowed, 315 (2.32%) separated and the rest, 6,455 (47.54) were married. Visible minority groups in the town are Aboriginal people (225 or 1.66%) followed by Chinese Canadians (70 or 0.52%), Arab Canadians (35 or 0.26%), Indo-Canadians (South Asian Canadian) (30 or 0.22%) and Filipino Canadians (15 or 0.11%).

In 2001 the majority of the residents – 8,405 (63.01%) of them – were Protestant, 4,420 (33.13%) were Catholic, 10 (0.07%) were Christian Orthodox, 35 (0.26%) were Christian, 10 (0.07%) were Hindu and 285 (2.14%) residents had no religious affiliation.

Unemployment in the town in 2006 was 17.0% slightly down from 17.7% in 2001 and below the provincial average of 18.6%. In 2000 the average annual earnings of part-time working residents was $26,671, compared to the provincial average of $24,165. The average earnings of full-time workers was $38,665, again slightly above the provincial average of $37,910. Unemployment percentage for 2009 will likely rise to reflect the loss of the paper mill jobs in Feb 2009.

Sights

Mary March Provincial Museum in Grand Falls, 24 Catherine St., shows exhibits about the Beothuk people, geology, regional industry and natural history. It is named for Demasduit's European given name. A locomotive of the Newfoundland Railway which was closed down in 1988 can be seen in front of the museum. The Salmonid Interpretation Centre at the grand falls is worth a visit as well Also every year in summer, the Salmon Festival is held, which has in recent years hadAerosmith, Kiss, and The Eagles.

Notable people