Settled 1955 Incorporated April 11, 1967 Area 46.25 km² Population 1,861 (2011) | Census divisions 10 Founded 1962 Website Town of Wabush Elevation 560 m Local time Thursday 1:31 PM | |
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Weather 1°C, Wind SW at 16 km/h, 68% Humidity | ||
Tribute to wabush
Wabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations.
Contents
- Tribute to wabush
- Map of Wabush NL Canada
- Economy
- Proposed amalgamation with Labrador City
- Transportation
- Climate
- Notable residents
- References
Map of Wabush, NL, Canada
Economy
Wabush is the twin community of Labrador City. At its peak population in the late 1970s, the region had a population of just over 22,000. As of 2011, Wabush's population was 1,861. Most residents continue to work in the nearby mine: Iron Ore Company of Canada, now a unit of Rio Tinto Mines.
Companies in and around Wabush include:
While remote, the town does contain modern amenities. There is a shopping centre (which includes a post office, bank, a women's department, a restaurant, a bar, and a snowmobile store), recreational centre (that includes a bowling alley, gymnasium, swimming pool, a teen centre, and a weight lifting room), ice arena, a library, a legion building that serves alcoholic beverages, a furniture store, several playgrounds, a school, a church, two corner stores, a hotel (which also includes a restaurant, a barber shop, and a bar). In nearby Labrador City, there is a modern indoor shopping centre which includes a Walmart.
Proposed amalgamation with Labrador City
In 2017, MHA Graham Letto and Labrador City Mayor Karen Oldford stated that the municipal governments of Labrador City and Wabush are looking into the idea of amalgamation.
Transportation
Air transportation needs for the twin communities are served by Wabush Airport and seasonally by Wabush Water Aerodrome. It used to receive more frequent service by Air Gaspé, which was acquired by Quebecair in 1973. The latter ended as an independent business in 1986, acquired in turn by CP Air in 1986 and Canadian Airlines in 1987. Currently the area is serviced by Air Canada (Air Canada Express & Expolits Valley Air Service), Provincial Airlines, Pascan Air and Air Inuit.
Climate
Like most of Labrador, Wabush has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with precipitation much higher than usual for this type of climate due to the persistent Icelandic Low, which give the region some of the rainiest and snowiest weather in all of Canada. Especially in summer, cloudiness is very high due to the lakes nearby and the unstable northerly airstreams that prevail, but because the town is relatively far from the open sea, sunshine is higher than even in St. John’s due to the absence of fog from the Labrador Current. Snow usually melts off in May.