Driving on the highway, or around towns, watch for moose. If you're not seeing wildlife, look harder. Throw walkers, quads, bikes, and skidoos in dere too. No trains on the island btw.
Plan a bit. Rental cars will need a reservation and ask about what kind of tires in winter and spring.
Decent cell coverage around towns and Highways but not 100%. Check your cell plan. Unless you have a Bell-Aliant or Telus phone, expect roaming charges.
Pay attention to weather. Having an sweater/raincoat in the car can save a trip.
Newfoundland is big, Labrador is bigger. Gros Morne is 7–8hr drive from St. John's
Driving on the highway, or around towns, watch for moose. If you're not seeing wildlife, look harder. Throw walkers, quads, bikes, and skidoos in dere too. No trains on the island btw.
Plan a bit. Rental cars will need a reservation and ask about what kind of tires in winter and spring.
Decent cell coverage around towns and Highways but not 100%. Check your cell plan. Unless you have a Bell-Aliant or Telus phone, expect roaming charges.
Pay attention to weather. Having an sweater/raincoat in the car can save a trip.
Newfoundland is big, Labrador is bigger. Gros Morne is 7–8hr drive from St. John's.
Bay vs Town. St. John's is a city of 100,000 and is on the extreme east end of the Province. It's a bit of a drive from either of the ferries. Rest of the towns are small, outports are smaller. Assume limited business hours outside of "town".
Just staying in Town? It's spread out a bit but cabs are fine.
Under the digital arrest scam, fraudsters pose as law enforcement officials, such as CBI agents, income tax officers, customs agents or Narcotics officials and initiate contact with victims via phone. Subsequently, they force the victims to switch to video communication through platforms like WhatsApp and Skype from multiple locations -e.g., from an ‘airport’, ‘police station’, or even from a court. They gather pictures of police officers, lawyers and judges from various sources like social media accounts and use their ‘DP’, which is displayed when their call is answered. The scammers then thr
Under the digital arrest scam, fraudsters pose as law enforcement officials, such as CBI agents, income tax officers, customs agents or Narcotics officials and initiate contact with victims via phone. Subsequently, they force the victims to switch to video communication through platforms like WhatsApp and Skype from multiple locations -e.g., from an ‘airport’, ‘police station’, or even from a court. They gather pictures of police officers, lawyers and judges from various sources like social media accounts and use their ‘DP’, which is displayed when their call is answered. The scammers then threaten the victims with an arrest warrant, citing various reasons such as financial misconduct, tax evasion, involvement in drug trafficking or other legal violations.
Scammers create a sense of urgency, pressuring victims to make immediate decisions without consulting others or verifying the information. Under the guise of “clearing their name,” “assisting with the investigation,” or “refundable security deposit/escrow account,” individuals are coerced into transferring large sums of money to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs. Once the victims comply and payments are affected, the scammers go offline and become untraceable, leaving the victims to face financial loss and potential identity theft.
Before visiting Newfoundland and Labrador, be prepared for a diverse climate and a mix of urban and remote areas. Pack for varying weather conditions, and be aware of potential travel distances between attractions. The local culture is friendly and welcoming, with plenty of outdoor activities and historical sites to explore. For more travel tips for Newfoundland and Labrador, check out my Quora Profile!
I have given this question hours upon hours of thought over the past few years. However the key word here is "Living" not Visiting. In other words,the aspects that make Newfoundland different over time would become less noticeable to anyone who has moved here.
I have drawn upon my own experiences of living away for extended peroids of time, as well as more recently, using social media to compare life in Newfoundland & Labrador vs other parts of North America.
A recent app that has come to be very useful for observing day to day life elsewhere is Periscope. I absolutely love this app. Watc
I have given this question hours upon hours of thought over the past few years. However the key word here is "Living" not Visiting. In other words,the aspects that make Newfoundland different over time would become less noticeable to anyone who has moved here.
I have drawn upon my own experiences of living away for extended peroids of time, as well as more recently, using social media to compare life in Newfoundland & Labrador vs other parts of North America.
A recent app that has come to be very useful for observing day to day life elsewhere is Periscope. I absolutely love this app. Watching regular people presenting their lives may seem boring but for me, it's a real treat to see regular Joes & Janes beyond what commercial tv presents them as.
From what I can tell, living here in Newfoundland & Labrador isn't all that much different than living in comparable small American towns or in the case of St. John's, a medium sized city.
I should point out that once you leave the St. John's Area, you will get to see the real authentic Newfoundland & Labrador Experience. It is a real small town experience and one that is great for raising a young family.
We go to work, come home, spend time with family and friends and all of the other stuff that the rest of North America face every day.
As for the weather, compare to places like the southern states, it must seem like such a harsh and cold climate but the truth is, we adapt to the climate. We look at temperatures of places like Vegas and think of how uncomfortable it must be. However, the reality is that residents of warmer/dryer climates adapt, they learn to cope and live in what we consider near hellish weather, just as we have adapted our lifestyles to deal with snow rain and fog. To be honest, it really isn't all that bad.
As for Alcoholism, I am sure that you don't even have to board the plane/boat to Newfoundland & Labrador to find that in your own neck of the woods. Newfoundland & Labrador are no more immune to social problems than anywhere else. We have our addicts of various substances out there as well.
As for finding employment, finding a job as a fish harvester isn't as easy as one might think, there are many jobs out there, especially in St. John's, and over the past few decades, the fishery while still a vital part of our economy, has become a smaller portion of the overall employment situation here due to both the declining stocks of fish as well as the Oil & Gas industry.
As for the people being friendly, I do agree, however just like in any other place, we have our residents that will shatter that impression real quick. I suppose, I should be painting this perfect picture of where I live for the good of the tourist sector of the economy, however I feel that it would set the bar so high that one might be disappointed. Besides, I will leave the task of the picture painting to the tourism associations. I will say that I know of many who have come to live here, either because of employment or because they married someone who came from here and they will all say the same thing, weather sucks but they love the people.
Anyway, that's my $0.02.
- Bring your passport. We don’t care a lot but you may not be able to get back to your own country without one so we make sure you have a passport or other ID (A “RealID” compliant driver’s license will work) so you can go home at the end of your wonderful stay.
- Use your inside voice. Americans tend to be on the loud side by Canadian standards.
- Be polite. To everyone. You don’t have to be nice, but yelling at the staff at Tim Hortons because you’ve been waiting for tea for three minutes is likely to turn the whole place against you.
- Some places take American money at a good exchange rate. Some take
- Bring your passport. We don’t care a lot but you may not be able to get back to your own country without one so we make sure you have a passport or other ID (A “RealID” compliant driver’s license will work) so you can go home at the end of your wonderful stay.
- Use your inside voice. Americans tend to be on the loud side by Canadian standards.
- Be polite. To everyone. You don’t have to be nice, but yelling at the staff at Tim Hortons because you’ve been waiting for tea for three minutes is likely to turn the whole place against you.
- Some places take American money at a good exchange rate. Some take American money at par which means you are losing a lot of money. Some don’t take American money at all. No-one here HAS to take American money. Credit cards are fine. Every bank in Canada will exchange your U.S. cash for Canadian cash at a great rate.
- Bring a credit card that has contactless tap capability. Yes, we will take chip cards or cards you swipe, but almost every transaction you do in Canada will be with a tap unless it’s over $200 or so. I haven’t actually signed a credit card transaction in about three years, and that was only because I was at Costco, it was for about $700, and I hadn’t used the card there before.
- Leave religion, your ideas about race, and your gun at home. There are minor exceptions, like if you’re coming to hunt.
- If you’re going to Quebec, grab yourself Babbel or Duolingo and practice a bit of French. Many people in Quebec speak English well. Many can get by. Many know little to no English at all. A little “Desole, je ne parle pas le francais” goes a long way. Lache pas la patate! (“Don’t give up”, but literally “Don’t let go of the potato”).
- Roads are crappy here. Account for that if you’re driving outside of the Windsor/Quebec City corridor, which has lots of freeways. The rest of the country, not so much. Mind you, what roads there are are usually in pretty good shape.
- You can get everything at Dollarama for less than $4 Cdn.
MIDHAFIN is an excellent choice for the preparation of the FRM GARP EXAM. Micky Midha and his team were always readily available to answer all my doubts online while I was studying for the exam in the UAE. The course material is very intense and has been structured very very neatly to cover all aspects of the GARP syllabus. The printouts are easily available in pdf form and can be used for self study and self mentoring. There are also 5 mock exams and past question paper samples to help to prepare well with confidence.
Thanks to Micky Midha Sir (MIDHAFIN) for his engaging teaching style, which
MIDHAFIN is an excellent choice for the preparation of the FRM GARP EXAM. Micky Midha and his team were always readily available to answer all my doubts online while I was studying for the exam in the UAE. The course material is very intense and has been structured very very neatly to cover all aspects of the GARP syllabus. The printouts are easily available in pdf form and can be used for self study and self mentoring. There are also 5 mock exams and past question paper samples to help to prepare well with confidence.
Thanks to Micky Midha Sir (MIDHAFIN) for his engaging teaching style, which truly made the learning experience interactive and enriching and helped me to clear the FRM L1 exam in Nov 2024.
Additionally, the opportunity to connect with fellow students has been an added advantage of MIDHAFIN, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.
In conclusion, I can assert that MIDHAFIN is an excellent choice for anyone seeking an interactive and well-structured learning experience. Their methodology not only prepares me for the examination but also equips me with a robust understanding of financial risk concepts that I can apply in my professional role.
Here are my top 10 need to knows:
- Firearms: Leave your guns at home. Your constitutional right to bear arms ends at the US-Canada border. If you do your research, you technically can bring firearms which are legal for Canadians to own with a non-restricted Possession/Acquisition License (usually shotguns and hunting rifles), but only if you declare them to the first Canada Border Services Agency officer you see (you will be issued a temporary firearms license valid for 90 days). Failure to declare the firearms will result in the firearms being seized and you being arrested for smuggling; Canadi
Here are my top 10 need to knows:
- Firearms: Leave your guns at home. Your constitutional right to bear arms ends at the US-Canada border. If you do your research, you technically can bring firearms which are legal for Canadians to own with a non-restricted Possession/Acquisition License (usually shotguns and hunting rifles), but only if you declare them to the first Canada Border Services Agency officer you see (you will be issued a temporary firearms license valid for 90 days). Failure to declare the firearms will result in the firearms being seized and you being arrested for smuggling; Canadians do not see guns as a laughing matter. Certain weapons such as pepper spray, brass knuckles, one-handed crossbows, switchblades and throwing stars are also prohibited.
- Passport: Bring a valid US passport book (especially if you are flying) or at the very least, a WHTI-compliant travel document such as an enhanced driver’s license, passport card or a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, Global Entry or SENTRI. Canada only asks that you present proof of citizenship (such as a US birth certificate) + photo ID (such as a regular state driver’s license), but you will encounter problems re-entering the US as US Customs requires the aforementioned passport book or WHTI-compliant travel documents for US citizens to re-enter.
- Cannabis: Despite what you may hear about cannabis being legalized in Canada, it remains heavily regulated and it is still illegal to take cannabis across the border, whether it is prescription or recreation cannabis or if you are coming from a state where it is legal at the state level. Don’t try to take cannabis back to the US (even if you are going to a state that has legalized it such as Washington state), as cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the US, and US Customs officers are federal officers.
- Cultural differences: We may have similar accents (particularly to midwesterners) and share a close history, but at the end of the day we are a separate, independent country. Referring to Canada as an “extension of the US” or as “America’s hat” will draw extreme offence and is considered a faux pas by many Canadians.
- Road networks: Road networks in major cities such as Toronto or Vancouver are generally of a similar, if not higher standard to those in the US. However, outside of the major urban areas, most roads are still one-laned highways (expressways of a similar standard to the Interstate Highway System are seldom found outside of major cities, particularly in the west). The main exception would be in Southern Ontario, the St. Lawrence valley in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as the Edmonton-Calgary corridor in Alberta. In any case, intercity travel, especially to different provinces, is often best done by air.
- Metric, not imperial: When it comes to measurement, Canadians follow the metric system. This means using Celsius measurements for temperatures, gas is sold by the liter and road distances and speeds are calculated in kilometers. So much more convenient considering to convert between two different metric units, the conversion formula is either base 10 or a multiple of 10, instead of using a random common fraction (2/3, 1/2, 3/4) found in the imperial system.
- Climate: While most people inevitably think of snow when they think of Canada, contrary to popular belief, it does not snow in Canada year-round. In fact, the west coast (namely the BC Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island) is known for its mild, almost snow-free winters, while summers in Southern Ontario can get hot and humid. Heat waves outside of Southern Ontario (where air conditioning is near-ubiquitous) can become unbearable, as most homes and some commercial buildings outside of Southern Ontario do not have air conditioning installed by default, which can make a 32 degrees C (90 degrees F) day extremely unbearable as there is no place to run to find shelter. On the same note, don’t expect to go skiing if you visit in July; most seasonal ski resorts close by April. If you come in the winter, please do dress for the weather, namely by dressing in layers and bundling up if you’re outside of the BC Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
- Canada is huge: You may have met a Canadian here or there, whether back home in America, or if you’ve been lucky enough to travel to other countries, on another foreign trip. Please don’t ask “do you know my friend Josh from Calgary?” while you’re visiting Toronto. Chances are, that stranger won’t know Josh. On a similar note, please don’t ask if I know Celine Dion, Justin Bieber or Drake. It might be a small world after all, but at the same time, Canada is big in size (we are bigger than the US in terms of geographic area) and there are some 37 million Canadians out there.
- Kinder police: Yes, Canada also has a problem with police brutality, particularly amongst Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, but the problem is not as pervasive as the United States. Police officers are often held accountable by independent professional standards units, such as the Special Investigations Unit. The philosophy of policing in Canada is also different, as it is referred to as a police service as opposed to a police force (police officers are out there to serve the Canadian public, and this is frequently reminded to them when they are training as cadets at their police academies). The majority of police officers in Canada are of good moral character and are hard working individuals. If you encounter any problems while visiting Canada, even if it is a simple as being lost and needing directions, approaching a police officer is likely your best option.
- Come back soon! This is a huge country that you simply cannot complete on one trip, unless you have a lot of time and money on your hands. From the lush rainforests and skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb out west in BC, to the Rockies in Alberta, to Niagara Falls, Toronto and the national capital in Ottawa, to a slice of European charm in the Old City of Quebec, along with the Peggys Cove lighthouse in Nova Scotia and many more to list, there is an endless stream of opportunities and ideas for your next trip to Canada.
There isn’t a reason never to visit us at Home! If you hate scenery, friendly people and all the wildlife, then don’t come, otherwise, Come on down by! I’ve included some photos of Loon bay I took
There isn’t a reason never to visit us at Home! If you hate scenery, friendly people and all the wildlife, then don’t come, otherwise, Come on down by! I’ve included some photos of Loon bay I took
Hi Brother …I had been on same boat So I think I can answer this question-
There are some check list which you should follow-
Luggage
1. American Tourister
...
2. VIP
3. Samsonite
Edit: Don't forget the TSA locks. Get it from Samsonite.
Clothes and apparel
From my personal experience, don't get too many t-shirts from India. Again, don't get too few either. You won't be washing your clothes for the first two weeks at least, so you need your clothes to last for at least two weeks. A general guideline for buying clothes:
Quote:1. T-shirts (round neck) - 8
2. T-shirts (collared) - 3-4
3. Jeans (stick to blue/
Hi Brother …I had been on same boat So I think I can answer this question-
There are some check list which you should follow-
Luggage
1. American Tourister
...
2. VIP
3. Samsonite
Edit: Don't forget the TSA locks. Get it from Samsonite.
Clothes and apparel
From my personal experience, don't get too many t-shirts from India. Again, don't get too few either. You won't be washing your clothes for the first two weeks at least, so you need your clothes to last for at least two weeks. A general guideline for buying clothes:
Quote:1. T-shirts (round neck) - 8
2. T-shirts (collared) - 3-4
3. Jeans (stick to blue/black) - 6-7
4. Formal shirts - 3
5. Formal trousers - 2
6. Undergarments - at least 15 pairs (very important)
7. Formal suit - 1 complete set
8. Ties - 2-3
9. Shorts/three-fourths - 5-6
10. Track pants - 2-3
11. Swimming trunks - 1 (if you plan to swim after coming here)
12. One traditional dress for festivals
You will get a lot of t-shirts as freebies in many places in the university. Also you will be tempted to buy university tees (they are quite cheap at Walmart) so you won't need that many tees. You may get the t-shirts and jeans at places like Mega Mart where you typically have 'Buy 2 Get 2 Free' kind of offers, which may end up cheaper. With regard to other stuff, you may need to buy these:
Quote:1. Towels (any kind, but I would prefer Turkish) - 3
2. Hand towels - 3-4
3. Leather belts - 1-2
4. Belt for jeans - 1
5. Formal leather shoes - 1 pair
6. Woodland all-weather shoes - 1 pair (very important)
7. Sneakers (optional) - 1 pair
8. Sports shoes (optional) - They are very cheap in canada. You will most probably have a pair already. Wear it and come. Wait till the black friday sales where you will get awesome pairs of shoes for cheap.
9. Sunglasses - 1 pair (any good brand is okay)
10. Socks - 6-7 pairs
11. Sweater - 1-2 good warm ones
12. A light jacket (you can get a thicker one once you land in canada)
13. A good umbrella (don't get the cheapo ones, they can't stand the wind)
14. Handkerchiefs - 12 nos.
15. Hawai slippers - 1 pair (for wearing inside the apartment)
16. Flip-flops - 1 pair (for summer and spring)
17. Bedsheets - 2
18. Blanket - 1 (optional)
19. Pillow covers - 3
20. A good wallet (leather) - 1
21. A wallet for passport
22. Shoe polish - 1 (don't get liquid, might spill during travel)
23. Shoe polishing brush - 1
24. Monkey cap - 1
This is all the clothes and accessories you might need from India.
Electronics
Though most electronics are cheaper in canada, there are some stuff you may buy from India and come.
Quote:1. External HDD (get the portable one) - You might need this for bringing all those movies, music and files from back home. Minimum of 250-320 GB(Edit now it is 500-1000gb I think). Any brand is fine.
2. USB keyboard and mouse (optional) - gamers might need this. Even otherwise, it is a good thing to have. Get Logitech/Microsoft/Samsung/Zebronics.
3. This is strictly optional. Most probably you will already have a quad-band phone. Get a lifetime prepaid sim card from Airtel, register that number in one of the free SMS websites (like way2sms). Once you land in canada, there is no charge for incoming SMS to that number. So in case any of your friends/family want to message you/give missed call to you, they can do that for free in that number. You can reply for free using the free sms service on the website you registered with previously.
4. If you already have a laptop, you may bring that. Even if it is quite old, preserve it till black friday. You will get super deals, both online and in-store.
5. IPod/mp3 player (optional) - You might need this if you have to wait for long times at airports. Else, get it in the US.
6. Digital Camera- Get it from India. It might be a little more expensive, but you will need it to record all those initial snaps in canada. Preferred brands are Canon, Sony and Nikon. Don't buy cameras that require AA batteries. Buy models with Li-ion batteries.
7. A good pair of headphones with mic.
8. A branded spike-buster no.
9. Indian pin to canadian pin converters - 2-3. (very important)
10. A small table clock with alarm functionality
11. A scientific calcul
Andre ….. When was the last time you took a good look at a map, or even google maps. No … Most Canadians have not been to Newfoundland.
I think I mentioned this before. Distance and cost of travel Make it difficult for someone from BC to take a leisurely drive out to the East Coast.
Even Halifax to St. Johns is a “workout” (1.500 KM drive plus 8 hour ferry), unless your flying (just under two hours.
There are only TWO ways to get to and from Newfoundland. Ship or plane.
Yes you can now take a road out of Goose Bay, Labrador. The drive to Quebec city is just shy of 1600 KM. I’d venture to say that
Andre ….. When was the last time you took a good look at a map, or even google maps. No … Most Canadians have not been to Newfoundland.
I think I mentioned this before. Distance and cost of travel Make it difficult for someone from BC to take a leisurely drive out to the East Coast.
Even Halifax to St. Johns is a “workout” (1.500 KM drive plus 8 hour ferry), unless your flying (just under two hours.
There are only TWO ways to get to and from Newfoundland. Ship or plane.
Yes you can now take a road out of Goose Bay, Labrador. The drive to Quebec city is just shy of 1600 KM. I’d venture to say that at least a third of that trip is on unpaved roads.
The ferries from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland take 6 to 8 hours one way (North Sidney to Port Aux Basque) The other run; North Sidney to Argentia is at least a 16 hour run ….. Weather permitting.
There are no road across the bottom Newfoundland the drive from St John’s to Port Aux Basque is just of 900 KM.
As for the Northwest passage …… The arctic archipelago contains about 36.500 island some larger than other Baffin Island being the largest one. (Larger than the UK). Around 13.000 call Baffin Island home Iqaluit, Nunavuts capital is on Baffin Island …. Here’s the kicker .. The population density is 0.02/km2 (0.05/sq mi).
By comparison London,UK has a population density of 5,666/km2 (14,670/sq mi).
There are NO roads leading in Nunavut. You have to fly. I doubt you can get a berth on the annual supply barge.
My job has taken me to ALL settlements in the NWT. Including the ones in the High Arctic. Places Sachs Harbour which is located on Banks Island.
Investing in the US markets is a much different process than investing in India. You have to transfer the money you intend to invest to the US and convert it into US dollars, known as remittance. Under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) all Indians can freely remit up to $250,000 per financial year.
Apart from remittance, there are various regulatory compliance requirements one needs to comply with before one can begin their investment in the US.
Any investment app that claims to let Indians invest in the US markets must satisfy the following requirements to be considered legitimate:
- Regis
Investing in the US markets is a much different process than investing in India. You have to transfer the money you intend to invest to the US and convert it into US dollars, known as remittance. Under RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) all Indians can freely remit up to $250,000 per financial year.
Apart from remittance, there are various regulatory compliance requirements one needs to comply with before one can begin their investment in the US.
Any investment app that claims to let Indians invest in the US markets must satisfy the following requirements to be considered legitimate:
- Registered with Govt. Authority: Even though US investment apps do not operate in the Indian market, they are still required to register with Indian government authority, to protect investor interests. Appreciate is one such US investment platform that is registered with IFSC (International Financial Services Centres Authority). Registering with IFSC also adds credibility to the app and shows that it complies with Indian securities law. In addition, IFSC actively monitors the activities of the platforms registered with it, further guaranteeing security and fair practices on the app.
- US Clearing Partner: Having a genuine US clearing partner is of utmost importance for an app that provides a platform for Indians to invest in US markets. Appreciate has partnered with DriveWealth LLC, utilizing its brokerage services to buy, hold, and sell stocks on behalf of Indian investors investing through the app. Without a valid US clearing partner, none of the actions taken through the investment platform would lead to anything.
- Investment Insurance: A legitimate US market broker must be registered with the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC). This is particularly important as SIPC provides insurance coverage for investments up to $500,000. Since DriveWealth LLC, with the SIPC, investors using the Appreciate app can be confident that their investments are protected from losses caused by unforeseen events.
Why is Appreciate Right for You?
Appreciate is the go-to platform for 5 lakh+ Indian investors looking to diversify their portfolio into the US. Thanks to Appreciate’s simple, hassle-free, and fully digital onboarding process, investors can directly start investing in the US markets in just one day. On top of these benefits, Appreciate charges its users, zero AMC, withdrawal, and remittance charges, users can remit as low as ₹1 without any charges. And the transaction fees on Appreciate are the lowest, in the market.
Employment wise, the place seems ripe for entrepreneurial activities! Across the province there are business incubator malls and tax incentives to start your own small business. You’re in a great spot to distribute any goods! The locals are involved in the fishery, forestry, mining, and retail. The bulk of our tax dollars pay for education and a substantial medical system! We have a couple of ship yards, dry docks, there is one oil refinery, and there is a surprising number of manufacturers. There continues to be a small film and television industry here (Hudson & Rex just got approved for a 2
Employment wise, the place seems ripe for entrepreneurial activities! Across the province there are business incubator malls and tax incentives to start your own small business. You’re in a great spot to distribute any goods! The locals are involved in the fishery, forestry, mining, and retail. The bulk of our tax dollars pay for education and a substantial medical system! We have a couple of ship yards, dry docks, there is one oil refinery, and there is a surprising number of manufacturers. There continues to be a small film and television industry here (Hudson & Rex just got approved for a 2nd season by CityTv)! Newfoundland has quite a few poets and novelists too!
But, if you wonder what to do in your leisure time, there is a robust arts community here! You can paint, sculpt, printmake, or fire clay! The kayaking is fantastic! During the winter, you can cross country ski or skidoo just about anywhere! Trouting is still good (the recreational salmon fishery was closed down last summer)! There are loads of quad trails, hiking trails, sports arenas, skating rinks, curling lanes, basketball courts, soccer fields, and baseball diamonds!
It is surprisingly clean here. I drink from just about any stream! You can build on Crown Land without too much red tape just about anywhere! We have a sparse population (only 1/2 million of us) and a lot of land!
See James Linn’s answer and do these as well..
- Ches’s Fish and Chips in St.Johns is a must
- Eat Touton’s ( with or without ‘lassie.. molasses) when making bread a few bits of the dough are pulled off before baking and fried in a pan with butter. DELICIOUS.
- If you're going in the summer hit George Street during the weeklong George Street Festival
- Go to the Regatta. North America’s oldest recorded organized sports event (since 1816) is the St. John's Regatta held on the first Wednesday in August at Quito Vidi park.
- The Titanic museum in St Johns by Signal Hill is facinating. Housing many items from th
See James Linn’s answer and do these as well..
- Ches’s Fish and Chips in St.Johns is a must
- Eat Touton’s ( with or without ‘lassie.. molasses) when making bread a few bits of the dough are pulled off before baking and fried in a pan with butter. DELICIOUS.
- If you're going in the summer hit George Street during the weeklong George Street Festival
- Go to the Regatta. North America’s oldest recorded organized sports event (since 1816) is the St. John's Regatta held on the first Wednesday in August at Quito Vidi park.
- The Titanic museum in St Johns by Signal Hill is facinating. Housing many items from the doomed ocean liner. It sunk just off the coast of Newfoundland and therefore the closest you’ll get to the historical event.
- Go blueberry picking ( or partrigeberry picking) just about anywhere in the outskirts of the city. I picked literal Gallons of wild blueberries as a child
- Visit the lighthouse at Cape Spear its the furthest point East in all of North America.
- Have a true Sunday dinner of corned beef and cabbage.
- Eat Fish and Brewis ( hard to find because of the cod shortage) cod, boiled potatoes and soaked hard bread with drawn butter and pork scrunchins.
- Try all the candy and chip flavours we can't get in the states. Coffee Crisp, Aero Bar, Krispy Krunch ( my fav) Hostess catsup potato chips, roast chicken and salt&vinegar.
- Talk to the locals!! Friendliest people you've ever met with A great sense of humor and a loveable accent. They'll be able to fill you in on local happenings and point you in the right direction and possibly hook you up with new friends along the way.
- Learn and sing ‘I’se the by’ and catch some live music of traditional Newfoundland jigs and reels always playing somewhere in St. John's
If you hate beautiful scenery and loyal , genuine people. If you hate the sea and all it’s mysterious creatures including whales and dolphins. If you hate peace and tranquillity.
If there is such a person that hates all of the above , then I strongly suggest not going to Newfoundland and Labrador!!!!!
It is one of the most unique places on this earth!
While it has all the old town charm and also the up to date knowledge, it’s people are some of the most honest, hardworking and down to earth I have ever come across!!! You can’t walk down the street without being greeted with a “good day”. People t
If you hate beautiful scenery and loyal , genuine people. If you hate the sea and all it’s mysterious creatures including whales and dolphins. If you hate peace and tranquillity.
If there is such a person that hates all of the above , then I strongly suggest not going to Newfoundland and Labrador!!!!!
It is one of the most unique places on this earth!
While it has all the old town charm and also the up to date knowledge, it’s people are some of the most honest, hardworking and down to earth I have ever come across!!! You can’t walk down the street without being greeted with a “good day”. People there actually treat strangers like family, especially if you “come from away”.
If you hate all of this , then by all means , don’t go to Newfoundland and Labrador!!!!
As someone who has lived in Newfoundland since I was born, the one thing you have to get use to is the weather. You can have rain, snow, sun all in one day. It's quite unpredictable. Plus, our summer only really starts at the end of the June. We only recently started getting temperatures above 20 degrees. Other than that, Newfoundland is a great place to live. You don't have to worry about poisonous creatures and it's a beautiful province. Another thing though, there's not much to do in terms of entertainment which isn't great.
See, September in a lot of the world is a beautiful time of trees changing color, sedate harvests…Newfoundland can be lovely but it can also be a cruel place where miserable storms roll in and you end up wondering if the snow will come and (yeah, strangely) warm things up a little. Insulation is everything sometimes. ;)
And if you’re going the first part of September, it’s likely to be nicer, especially in the south like St. John’s, than if you’re going in the latter part of the month.
I’ll refer you first to here:
This has a nice list of things to do throughout the year, and th
See, September in a lot of the world is a beautiful time of trees changing color, sedate harvests…Newfoundland can be lovely but it can also be a cruel place where miserable storms roll in and you end up wondering if the snow will come and (yeah, strangely) warm things up a little. Insulation is everything sometimes. ;)
And if you’re going the first part of September, it’s likely to be nicer, especially in the south like St. John’s, than if you’re going in the latter part of the month.
I’ll refer you first to here:
This has a nice list of things to do throughout the year, and there’s a couple of cool things that are Septemberish you might enjoy, depending on your inclinations.
I think, personally, a stop at Ches’ Fish and Chips would be grand, but that’s just me. I also particularly miss Mary Brown’s Fried Chicken, and would absolutely go there, but that’s a me thing.
Welcome to the official website of Ches's Famous Fish and Chips
Definitely do the Fries, Dressing Gravy, with or without the fish.
What else? Well, this is what you should do, not what I’d do. I see some awesome arts and culture stuff happening in September that I’d probably check out:
Definitely consider a tour of some of the historic places like Signal Hill—also just a fun place to drive to in the middle of the night when the road is icy—maybe it’s a local thing, never mind. :D But it’s a great place to watch the sun rise at least once in your life.
I don’t know if you’re the outdoors or tour type. Here’s a nice selection of walkabouts, if so:
The Top 10 St. John's Tours - TripAdvisor
Maybe no to a long tour at sea, however, you have only a couple of days? Check out some of the food tours, however—our food isn’t to be missed.
I’d absolutely go to the Basilica, it’s gorgeous:
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Basilica
Oh, and of course, if you’re in need of libations and have a stern constitution, you can try the pub crawl.
Local Pub crawl. - Review of George Street, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador - TripAdvisor
Go ahead, be legendary. Or legendarily intoxicated. Don’t drink and drive. There was, last time I was over there, an absolutely adorable little dive hole-in-the-wall café that would stay open after George Street closed, I highly recommend the food there.
Now, some people will think that I’m a bad Newfie because I don’t recommend you look up some member or other of my family to stay with/gad about with/encounter in some way. Well, yeah, I’ve been away too long to be up to that, and you’re sticking to St. John’s, rather than going to the outports, so that’s the end of that. Good luck, hopefully the weather holds and you won’t be stuck there longer than two days—the last story I heard like that happened in January, though, and they enjoyed being there until February, three weeks longer than they’d planned for.
Go, go and have fun, because too many people tell me they’ve been ‘across Canada’ but then admit they stopped in Sidney, NS. Enjoy St. John’s and then talk it up the rest of your days. Two days are better than none (but next time, at least go for a couple of weeks and go to the outports properly, you’ll be lucky to see any of Conception Bay, even).
Last summer, we went up the west coast of NF. We took the Port aux Basque ferry and camped overnight in a small campground just up the road from the ferry dock.
Next day, we drove to Gross Morne National Park. The drive was beautiful with very interesting geography along the way.
The west coast mountains are flattened on the top as if someone had cut them off at a certain height. We drove mostly on the lowlands on the west coast with the mountains to our right. Stunning scenery. When we stopped in Corner Brook we got to see briefly a city that was built up on the sides of a deep fiord-like inlet
Last summer, we went up the west coast of NF. We took the Port aux Basque ferry and camped overnight in a small campground just up the road from the ferry dock.
Next day, we drove to Gross Morne National Park. The drive was beautiful with very interesting geography along the way.
The west coast mountains are flattened on the top as if someone had cut them off at a certain height. We drove mostly on the lowlands on the west coast with the mountains to our right. Stunning scenery. When we stopped in Corner Brook we got to see briefly a city that was built up on the sides of a deep fiord-like inlet. Kind of like an amphitheater in huge scale.
The mountains around Gros Morne and the ocean vistas were spectacular. We camped a few days and explored the area around Rocky Harbour. We did some hiking, biking, took a boat ride up Western Brook Pond and saw a Play at the local theatre.
My Family
Pitcher plant native to NF. They’re everywhere here. They actually trap and eat flies and other bugs so they can live in very poor soil.
The orange mountains in the distance are Mantle rock. Table Mountain is directly from the Mantle of the earth, swept clean and flattened by glaciers.
We went up to St Anthony for a couple of nights stay and trekked to L’anse Aux Meadows, the site of the Vikings settlement in the northern tip of NF.
We had a wonderful two weeks and it was no where near enough time to see even just the west coast. I have been all over NF in my youth and I know well htat there are so many more amazing sites that what we covered in our brief visit last year. We must do that again. The Avalon Peninsula is amazing. It’s like a new planet when you enter the start treeless plains with house-sized boulders scattered around like so many marbles. the ocean vistas, the mountains , the forests are all unique to that province. I have driven much of North America and through the British Isles too and NF has some of the best and most interesting geography.
Even the rainy days were enjoyable.
Just a few more pictures to wet your apatite.
Port aux Basque
That is the ferry coming into port. We took a night crossing back.
Thanks for the A2A Mathew.
Firstly, take a deep breath - you are about to visit one of the most lovely countries on Earth, and as a Brit, the culture shock will be minimal. I don’t know where you are travelling and the country varies hugely between BC, Alberta, the Prairies, urban Ontario, rural Ontario, Quebec (polish up that school boy French) and the Maritimes. And the Yukon and NWT are different again. Newfoundland is pretty unique. So your time will vary wildly depending on your itinerary (do ask questions if you know where you’re going, I might be able to help or point you in the directio
Thanks for the A2A Mathew.
Firstly, take a deep breath - you are about to visit one of the most lovely countries on Earth, and as a Brit, the culture shock will be minimal. I don’t know where you are travelling and the country varies hugely between BC, Alberta, the Prairies, urban Ontario, rural Ontario, Quebec (polish up that school boy French) and the Maritimes. And the Yukon and NWT are different again. Newfoundland is pretty unique. So your time will vary wildly depending on your itinerary (do ask questions if you know where you’re going, I might be able to help or point you in the direction of another Quoran who can). I’ll stick to a few main population centres which I know quite well and are most likely as starting off points:
Toronto: amazingly friendly with a walkable centre, but not terribly compact, so you’ll be taking a lot of transit. As others have mentioned before, Presto is worse than useless in Toronto as coverage is so weak. Stick to tokens and you’ll be fine. I’ve mentioned some highlights of the city here: What are the more exciting attractions to visit in Toronto, Canada?
Vancouver: a city for people who don’t like cities (sorry Vancouver, but it’s true) because the main attractions are its beautiful setting, wonderful places to laze about and even better places to get out of the city to ski or visit the beach (Kitsilano beach is lovely, even in winter). Best bit of all (apart from maybe Stanley Park) are the Gulf Islands. My friend lives on Gabriola which is beautiful - amazing views of snow-capped mountains, pine forests, llamas, farmers markets and artists.
Montreal: home of poutine and some truly outstanding architecture - do visit the cathedral. Best bit here is wandering around and trying out French. The Quebecois I have met have had a fantastic sense of humour and are very friendly - you’re unlikely to spend an evening at a bar at the counter without chatting to a lot of folks (Toronto also great for this, Vancouver slightly less so).
There’s no faux pas to avoid per se, Canadians are warm, polite, friendly, say sorry almost as much as the British (but probably mean it slightly more often). There’s not much the average middle-of-the-road British person can do to offend, just lots of opportunities to make some chums and spend time in a place which is both familiar and different to home, with much, much better scenery, more seasonal weather and marginally nicer food than home.
Enjoy your trip :)
I assume you are just going to Newfoundland.
I spent a week in St John’s there a few years back, lets see if I can come up with 10.
- Eat cod cheeks. A delicacy.
- Be screeched in Newfoundland Screech
- Do a George street pub crawl (good place for #2) St. John’s
- Climb Signal Hill (take the camera for great views of St. John’s.
- Go Whale Watching (at the right time fo year, I went with OBriens out of Bay Bulls and I recommend them)
- Hike around the harbour.
- Go to Gros Morne - it is a long trip, not a day trip, but spectacular scenery.
- Visit L’Anse Aux Meadows, where the Vikings set up a village hundreds of year
I assume you are just going to Newfoundland.
I spent a week in St John’s there a few years back, lets see if I can come up with 10.
- Eat cod cheeks. A delicacy.
- Be screeched in Newfoundland Screech
- Do a George street pub crawl (good place for #2) St. John’s
- Climb Signal Hill (take the camera for great views of St. John’s.
- Go Whale Watching (at the right time fo year, I went with OBriens out of Bay Bulls and I recommend them)
- Hike around the harbour.
- Go to Gros Morne - it is a long trip, not a day trip, but spectacular scenery.
- Visit L’Anse Aux Meadows, where the Vikings set up a village hundreds of years before Columbus
- Drink Pineapple Crush and eat chicken and gravy flavoured chips
I’m sure someone from Newfoundland will chime in with a couple of others.
July and August can be beautiful here but September and October are just as nice most of the time. Don’t come early for seasons because all seasons are late here. We don’t get spring until may and our summer sometimes doesn’t start until August lol. I’m being serious, yes. That’s not to say we don’t have nice weather, because we do absolutely, it just shows up whenever it wants to. June does have its own lures if you are an outdoorsy person as the caplin roll up on our shores and the whales are always in tow. You can see the whales right from the shore, no boat required, especially in Middle C
July and August can be beautiful here but September and October are just as nice most of the time. Don’t come early for seasons because all seasons are late here. We don’t get spring until may and our summer sometimes doesn’t start until August lol. I’m being serious, yes. That’s not to say we don’t have nice weather, because we do absolutely, it just shows up whenever it wants to. June does have its own lures if you are an outdoorsy person as the caplin roll up on our shores and the whales are always in tow. You can see the whales right from the shore, no boat required, especially in Middle Cove, Flatrock, Cape Speare and little inlets and bays all over the island. I mention those locations because they are close to St. John’s international airport and St. John’s itself. Some mentionable locations are signal hill, cape speare, the basilica in St. John’s, probably the best building architecturally in St. John’s, pippy park, the southern shore and if you are going across the island gros mourne national park is the best scenery arguably on the island, Corner Brook is a beautiful city, and lance aux meadows is where the Vikings first arrived in North America, it is at the tip of the northern peninsula. I hope you visit our beautiful province and If you do, know that you will find beauty anywhere on the island, not only in the places I’ve mentioned.
You can do a few things here try sea kayaking and then a scuba dive on some torpedoed iron ore carriers, end the day with five star meal, overlooking the same huge bay you have spent all day playing in. The next day you can hire a plane and fly into Labrador for some great salmon fishing. Try back road atv trips on the thousands of kilometres of trails logging roads and a complete abandoned rail bed, stay in a tent or your class A in world heritage granted Gros Mourn National Park, tour an authentic Viking settlement. Maybe you like heliskiing Marble mountains 1700 ft vertical drop is where yo
You can do a few things here try sea kayaking and then a scuba dive on some torpedoed iron ore carriers, end the day with five star meal, overlooking the same huge bay you have spent all day playing in. The next day you can hire a plane and fly into Labrador for some great salmon fishing. Try back road atv trips on the thousands of kilometres of trails logging roads and a complete abandoned rail bed, stay in a tent or your class A in world heritage granted Gros Mourn National Park, tour an authentic Viking settlement. Maybe you like heliskiing Marble mountains 1700 ft vertical drop is where you go look. Stop at one of the many craft breweries across the island. Tour the many wooden and stone Churches if thats your forte!
Hearts content cable station, Signal Hill, Cape Spear, Castle Hill, Colony of Avalon, Harbour Grace, Bonavista, Cupids, Brigus, Rose Blanche,Battle Harbour ,Tilt Cove,Musgrave Harbour,Ship Harbour, Grand falls, Gander, Port Union, Trinity and St Johns , are all great placees for the history buff as is the whole Province.
Take a Whale watching tour or float next to icebergs, overnight horseback, hiking, canoeing, mountain Biking, sea dooing, Guided hunting trips, oh wait I forgot CANES QUEST a 1500km snowmobile race or enter your car in Targa Newfoundland , Dance till 4am on George street or go to a tranquil island Retreat and unwind distraction free for days weeks even decades! It all depends what you want to do!!!
- Canada is huge. Remember distances between cities are very large. Toronto and Montreal are a roughly one-hour flight from each other and they are two of the closer cities in the country. Ontario is big enough that you need at least 24 hours to drive all the way across it. In addition, travel options are limited.
- I hope there isn’t much corruption where you come from, but in Canada it’s pretty much limited to political fundraising. Police, courts, and government officials are all well paid and intimating that you can “speed things up” or forego procedures for a small payment will land you in jai
- Canada is huge. Remember distances between cities are very large. Toronto and Montreal are a roughly one-hour flight from each other and they are two of the closer cities in the country. Ontario is big enough that you need at least 24 hours to drive all the way across it. In addition, travel options are limited.
- I hope there isn’t much corruption where you come from, but in Canada it’s pretty much limited to political fundraising. Police, courts, and government officials are all well paid and intimating that you can “speed things up” or forego procedures for a small payment will land you in jail if you’re lucky.
- Canadians are familiar with a large range of accented English and French, but we may still have difficulty understanding you, even if you’re from another European country like Italy or Greece. Be prepared to repeat yourself. Canadian vocabulary is also different and words that are commonly used in British, Indian, Australian and even American English may confuse us.
- Speaking of English and French, Montreal is pretty much the only place where you can easily get by in either official language. In the rest of the country either English is the only working language (even parts of Quebec), or French is (especially in parts of Eastern Ontario, Northeastern Ontario and New Brunswick).
- You’re probably ready for the cold, but in the deep summer (August) most of Canada gets very hot (generally everywhere east of the Rockies and west of Oshawa). Toronto gets hotter than Mexico City in late summer (Mexico City is at altitude).
- Yes, we use cash a lot, but get yourself a debit card. Just about every place you can shop or eat takes them now and they are cheaper to use.
- Technically, Canada has about a dozen banks and many more dozen trust companies and credit unions. However, in reality, the “big five” rule banking and you probably want to hook up with one - Royal, Montreal, TD Canada Trust, Nova Scotia or CIBC. They have multiple branches in every country and any neighbourhood of any size will have all five within walking distance of each other. Otherwise, if you need cash, you’re going to be using someone else’s cash machine and paying $1.50 a withdrawal.
- Shop at Dollarama. They have lots of stuff from $1 to $4. They take credit cards now too.
- A Canadian will say “hello” to you every time they see you in a day, not just the first time. They will hold the door open for you even if you’re not immediately behind them. They end a lot of sentences in the word “’eh” even though they say they don’t. They will apologize if you bump into them. They prefer to use as few vowels as they can get away with so “Toronto” becomes “Trana” and “Calgary” becomes “Calgry”. Get use to it and get used to doing it yourself.
- Yes, all the packaging will be in both English and French no matter where you live. Even if it’s an imported product.
Depends on which part of Newfoundland. It’s a massive province. The Island portion is gorgeous during the summer. Lots of things to see and do. Delightful beaches near Eastport and Lumsden. St. John’s, the capital city, has lots of history. The national parks are also gorgeous.
If you enjoy winter activities, I would suggest western Labrador, near the Quebec border. Labrador City has some of the best skiing in the country. It’s very dry there, so winters can be quite lovely. Even -30C feels bearable with the proper winter clothing.
What should you know before moving to New Brunswick?
If you have a secure income, New Brunswick can be a great place to live.
The province is officially bilingual. In terms of population demographics, it has an aging population. Many younger people graduate from university or college and migrate west to find a career. Those that stay tend to have family or some specific tie to their location.
The province is - generally - divided diagonally by an imaginary line drawn between just south of Grand Falls in the Northwest, and between Moncton and Dieppe in the Southeast. In very loose terms, north and
What should you know before moving to New Brunswick?
If you have a secure income, New Brunswick can be a great place to live.
The province is officially bilingual. In terms of population demographics, it has an aging population. Many younger people graduate from university or college and migrate west to find a career. Those that stay tend to have family or some specific tie to their location.
The province is - generally - divided diagonally by an imaginary line drawn between just south of Grand Falls in the Northwest, and between Moncton and Dieppe in the Southeast. In very loose terms, north and east of that line is *generally* a francophone zone, south and west of that line is *generally* an anglophone zone. In the Grand Falls / Edmundston area, the dialect is “Brayon”, most similar to Quebecois. On the Acadian penninsula and in the NE of the province, Acadian French is spoken, in the SE of the province “Chiac” or a joual mix of Acadian French and English is the standard. Many Quebecois prefer to speak English with Acadians, because the differences in dialect are very significant.
With the introduction of formal bilingualism since the 1970s, French language is a requirement for many federal and provincial civil service jobs. Recent generations have seen more French speakers in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John. Fluency in French is a real advantage in the job market. That contributes to part of that outflow of young anglos. Language education is poor, and strangely many anglo graduates of French immersion programs, who have 12 years of education exclusively in French do not qualify as fluent enough for “bilingual” positions, even though they have a government issued certificate saying they have achieved fluency. All of that has left some residual bitterness in the anglo community, although on a day to day basis in New Brunswick, almost everyone works really hard to get along well. You will have GREAT friends and work colleagues who are from both French and English backgrounds.
As in all places, day to day life is really focused around the workplace. The good news as that in NB you have easy access to golf, skiing, tennis, beaches, sailing, fishing, hunting, a pub/bar social scene, theater, music and much more.
Because it is a smallish province, compared to the bustle of Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal even city life in NB might feel a little “slow”. Everything you want to do is there, but there isn’t the myriad of choices that you have in bigger cities, and the distance to large city life is significant. Halifax is probably the regional “bigger city”, with Montreal and Boston being alternatives. Halifax is about 3 hours from Moncton. Boston and Quebec City are about 8 hours.
Flights cost about ca$500 out of the Province to YYZ or YUL from YSJ, YQM or YFC. The good news is that if you are travelling a distance beyond Toronto or Montreal, usually the airlines offer a very significant discount for through-fares. For example, when flights from Toronto to Bermuda are ca$485 round trip, flights from Moncton to Bermuda are typically ca$525. That is sometimes disconcerting if you want to fly to Toronto for a business or weekend trip and the fare is ca$475, with all possible discounts applied.
There is very limited public transportation in NB. It is non existent outside of Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John. You will need a car to commute to work, unless you rent or buy a place very selectively to be within walking distance of your job. That is possible in downtown Moncton, Fredericton and uptown Saint John. The good news is almost everywhere in suburbs and city and surroundings is within a 20 minute commute of office and industrial locations. Probably less.
Your colleagues and social contacts will perhaps appear to be a little closed. That’s ok. With just a little invitation they will open up very nicely. Once they know you’re going to be part of the scene permanently they will welcome you. People from the Maritimes are characterized as friendly for a reason. I suggest that you do not condescend or tell them how great life is in Toronto, or Montreal, or Vancouver, but that you learn all you can to enjoy life in NB. One of the most offensive things that happened to me in Fredericton when I lived there was seeing a job I applied for (that was well within my abilities) advertised in Toronto at a much higher salary, with an added “hardship” bonus for living in my city. I wasn’t even given an interview. Of course, they called me after the poor guy from Toronto went home and asked for help. None was offered.
New Brunswick has had very unfortunate experience with colonialism. First the French, then the British, then after Confederation we were essentially an extension of the Montreal economy. Since Bill 101, we are essentially an extension of the Ontario economy. That smarts. Condescension from France, the UK, Montreal or Toronto is not well received in New Brunswick and we get it from all of those directions. Just don’t. Bring what you can in terms of talent and expertise, but please, don’t bring attitude.
As long as you don’t fall into that pattern and take less than you give, or keep a balance in contributing and being indulged, you’ll get along very well.
If you are the kind of person who makes their way well, prefers to be active rather than passive in their recreation and social life, you’ll experience the fantastic quality of life that New Brunswick offers.
Good luck!
If you are planning on driving the TransLabrador highway, from Baie Comeau through Schefferville and Happy Valley/Goose Bay to Red Bay and the Blanc Sablon ferry to Newfoundland, be prepared roads that are very isolated - often out of cell phone coverage, community services sparse and no choice. It's a good idea on these roads, particularly the wilderness areas, to keep your fuel tanks full - if you are down half a tank, and find a station open - fill up. Never set out on less than a full tank. Have maps - folding paper ones, because most of the time, any internet-based navigation aid will be
If you are planning on driving the TransLabrador highway, from Baie Comeau through Schefferville and Happy Valley/Goose Bay to Red Bay and the Blanc Sablon ferry to Newfoundland, be prepared roads that are very isolated - often out of cell phone coverage, community services sparse and no choice. It's a good idea on these roads, particularly the wilderness areas, to keep your fuel tanks full - if you are down half a tank, and find a station open - fill up. Never set out on less than a full tank. Have maps - folding paper ones, because most of the time, any internet-based navigation aid will be useless. Do not expect super-highways. The population and amount of traffic will not justify them. Don't let gravel surfaces freak you - a good gravel highway can be driven at 40 mph/60-65 Km/H, and the usual speed for a 2-lane paved highway is 80 Km/H/ 50 mph.
Another reason for not trying to speed is that you'll miss the scenery, and, while a lot of it may be dull black spruce swampland,the trees overgrown toothpicks (I'm betraying the bias of almost 60 years on the Wet Coast - temperate rainforest), there will be sudden vistas of savage beauty - blink, and you'll miss it.
I am not going to comment on going to Arctic islands. I’ve never been there and probably will never go. They have nothing to do with Newfoundland and Labrador anyway.
I have no idea how many canadians have visited these places, but i wouldn’t think it’s a big percentage. A quick glance at a map will tell you how isolated they are. To get to the island of Newfoundland you either fly, or take a long ferry ride from Nova scotia. (Labrador is accessible by highway from Quebec but it’s a long and roundabout trip.)
I’ve been the island of Newfoundland three times (and Labrador once). Twice i flew and
I am not going to comment on going to Arctic islands. I’ve never been there and probably will never go. They have nothing to do with Newfoundland and Labrador anyway.
I have no idea how many canadians have visited these places, but i wouldn’t think it’s a big percentage. A quick glance at a map will tell you how isolated they are. To get to the island of Newfoundland you either fly, or take a long ferry ride from Nova scotia. (Labrador is accessible by highway from Quebec but it’s a long and roundabout trip.)
I’ve been the island of Newfoundland three times (and Labrador once). Twice i flew and once on a cruise ship. Your best strategy is fly to one of the cities there and rent a car.
The most notable difference between Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of the country lies in that province's late membership in Confederation. Until the 1930s, Newfoundland functioned in many ways like an independent dominion within the British Empire, a potentially viable small nation-state on the North Atlantic. That this did not happen owes little to the strength of Newfoundland identity and everything to the dependence of Newfoundland's economy on outside sources of funding. Even as a constituent province of Canada, Newfoundland still has a very strong group identity, exemplified by a
The most notable difference between Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of the country lies in that province's late membership in Confederation. Until the 1930s, Newfoundland functioned in many ways like an independent dominion within the British Empire, a potentially viable small nation-state on the North Atlantic. That this did not happen owes little to the strength of Newfoundland identity and everything to the dependence of Newfoundland's economy on outside sources of funding. Even as a constituent province of Canada, Newfoundland still has a very strong group identity, exemplified by a distinctive popular culture. I'd class Newfoundlanders as being as much of a nation within Canada as the Québécois.
There are two realistic ways to get to the island of Newfoundland (I’m presuming you mean the actual island, as you didn’t mention the Labrador), and that’s going to depend on what your goal is.
- If you just want to get there, yesterday, you’ll want to fly in. That’ll allow you to reach portions of the province that are served by airports.
- If you want to enjoy the beauty and indeed, a touch of the history of Newfoundland, I highly recommend going by ferry. It’s going to take longer (and you will need a reservation these days, I believe, so some planning is also involved), but it’s a delightful wa
There are two realistic ways to get to the island of Newfoundland (I’m presuming you mean the actual island, as you didn’t mention the Labrador), and that’s going to depend on what your goal is.
- If you just want to get there, yesterday, you’ll want to fly in. That’ll allow you to reach portions of the province that are served by airports.
- If you want to enjoy the beauty and indeed, a touch of the history of Newfoundland, I highly recommend going by ferry. It’s going to take longer (and you will need a reservation these days, I believe, so some planning is also involved), but it’s a delightful way to approach the island, one experienced by many visitors over the centuries, the view from the ocean.
If you’re prone to bouts of sea sickness, I have to caution you that there’s an excellent chance of a ‘great big sea’ when you book a ferry ride, so if stormy weather or heavy waves put a shadow over your heart, I’d again recommend flying.
Good luck!
My family visited NFLD in 1965, when I was 9 years old. The Trans Canada Highway was just being constructed, and it was getting its’ first introduction to the rest of Canada. In the early 1990’s I visited NFLD frequently, because a company I worked for had a mine operating on the south coast.
Definitely make sure you have a job, or a skill that is in high demand there, before you go. Unemployment in Newfoundland is a constant problem, which is why so many have always headed west to the Alberta oil fields, or to mines in B.C. and Ontario, for work. People have been moving away from NFLD for empl
My family visited NFLD in 1965, when I was 9 years old. The Trans Canada Highway was just being constructed, and it was getting its’ first introduction to the rest of Canada. In the early 1990’s I visited NFLD frequently, because a company I worked for had a mine operating on the south coast.
Definitely make sure you have a job, or a skill that is in high demand there, before you go. Unemployment in Newfoundland is a constant problem, which is why so many have always headed west to the Alberta oil fields, or to mines in B.C. and Ontario, for work. People have been moving away from NFLD for employment purposes for the past 150 years.
I hope you like hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities, as they are really big. There is lots and lots and lots of moose.
I also hope you love eating lobster. It’s available fresh and cheaper than anywhere else in the world. So is all sorts of other sea food.
If you are moving to Cornerbrook (Western NFLD) you may be in for a treat. The Marble Mountain Ski area has over 1,750 ft of vertical, and the best skiing east of the Rockies! It’s a little known secret.
Marble Mountain Ski Resort - Wikipedia
Traditional Celtic music is big, and that’s one of the most charming things. Check out the music of Stan Rogers, even though he’s been dead a long time. Also, try Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellas.
The people are really really friendly —particularly in the smaller communities. That’s what the place is famous for.
During 9–1–1 aircraft bound for NY were suddenly, and without notice, diverted to Gander, NF. 7,000 passengers were stranded there for quite a while. The people of Gander were recognized by NY City for how they hosted thousands of Americans. Many of those city folk were shocked by how open and caring the whole town was. The musical, “Come From Away” , which tells he story was recognized as the best musical of 2019.
Check out a series on Netflix — The Republic of Doyle. It’s a bit corny, but it’s lots of fun. Also, it does show a lot of great video of sites in and near St. Johns.
You may find things like fresh vegetables more expensive than in other places. The soil is generally poor in NFLD, so most of that stuff is imported from a long way away.
Newfoundland is the oldest settled area of North America. Sure, Jamestown was officially older, but the Basques had been fishing there for a long time before Jamestown was established, and they had to have been landing to salt and dry their fish before they returned to Europe to sell them. They had to have left people to caretake that infrastructure. The small outports were isolated from each other and the rest of the world for a long long time. For this reason, the Newfoundland accent is unique. It’s also very different in different areas of the island.
Come From Away | Official Site
Probably the best advice is to be polite, never forgetting both “please” and “thank you”. After a thank you, we’ll usually say, “you’re welcome”, or something similar, where the US often says “uh-huh”.
May I also suggest you forget all the cliches you might have learned about Canada. The weather isn’t that bad. Most of us speak with quite a neutral accent that’s easy to understand. We are largely well educated. We do not treat nature as our trash can or toilet, and appreciate if you do as the Romans do. Well, yes, we likely apologize for things that aren’t our fault, so you’ll hear the verbal h
Probably the best advice is to be polite, never forgetting both “please” and “thank you”. After a thank you, we’ll usually say, “you’re welcome”, or something similar, where the US often says “uh-huh”.
May I also suggest you forget all the cliches you might have learned about Canada. The weather isn’t that bad. Most of us speak with quite a neutral accent that’s easy to understand. We are largely well educated. We do not treat nature as our trash can or toilet, and appreciate if you do as the Romans do. Well, yes, we likely apologize for things that aren’t our fault, so you’ll hear the verbal habit, “sorry” quite a lot.
If I may elaborate on the comment that we “like lots of emotional space”, you will experience considerable regional differentiation on that.
In the west, we exhibit the classic western hospitality, are friendly and open. We welcome a great many tourists and stop to offer help when we see a puzzled or worried face. We talk about personal things at work, and ask personal questions not to be nosy, but to learn about you. You decide how much you disclose.
Central Canada tends to be a little more reserved, not mixing business and personal so much. I’d call it a bit more formal etiquette. Friendly regardless.
In the Maritime provinces, our Celtic heritage shines through. We’re talkers, and love our stories as well as yours. We’re also rife with tourism and are quite happy to help those “from away”, including setting a place at the table for a new friend. Both the hospitality and the natural scenery are unforgettable.
Although I don’t agree with the practice, many Canadians are still lax about locking their doors. There are very few places where you cannot walk alone at night, and common sense will help you make those decisions.
When you visit, bring layers of clothes due to the changing clime. It is NOT always cold, but can change quickly—again a regional thing.
We are predominantly pacifist and, unlike the USA, do not follow the “right to bear arms”. Leave your weapons at home. There is less corruption than in many countries. There’s also far less racism; we embrace other cultures and enjoy the spice they add to ours.
The last thing to know: if you are law-abiding and respectful, we’re glad to share our huge country with you, our visitor. Welcome!
Labrador was originally administered as part of Quebec, but in 1809 the British decided to administer it as part of their colony of Newfoundland instead. At the time, the land wasn’t part of the Hudson Bay Company grant (Labrador doesn’t drain into Hudson’s Bay) there were few French speaking people there, there were no transportation links to the St. Lawrence, and The Bay got a license to administer the fur trade in the area through St. Johns instead of Montreal.
When Newfoundland didn’t come along with Confederation in 1867, Quebec complained mightily to no avail. The territory remained indep
Labrador was originally administered as part of Quebec, but in 1809 the British decided to administer it as part of their colony of Newfoundland instead. At the time, the land wasn’t part of the Hudson Bay Company grant (Labrador doesn’t drain into Hudson’s Bay) there were few French speaking people there, there were no transportation links to the St. Lawrence, and The Bay got a license to administer the fur trade in the area through St. Johns instead of Montreal.
When Newfoundland didn’t come along with Confederation in 1867, Quebec complained mightily to no avail. The territory remained independent. The border was settled in 1927. Eventually, Newfoundland came into Confederation in 1949.
Number one. The people. They are friendly happy and trustworthy. The landscape is breathtaking. Where to visit? St John's of course and its environs. Gander to see where “Come from Away” happened. A fishing village. And if you're there in early summer Ice Berg Alley.
Look out for Moose. They're everywhere. Stop anywhere and visit. It's worth it. L'Anse aux Meadows is worth a stop. Who was Columbus and what took him so long?
- The trains suck. I mean I hear British people complain about their trains, but even in the densely populated parts of Canada, they suck. Now, the trains that exist are comfortable and inexpensive, but even places close together with existing rail links don’t have regular train service. Unless you’re travelling between major centres in “The Corridor” (Windsor to Quebec City), there probably won’t be train service.
- Breakfast sucks. Even Americans complain about Canadian breakfasts. If you find a place that serves a full breakfast, it will be expensive (expect about $10). Most Canadians eat a very
- The trains suck. I mean I hear British people complain about their trains, but even in the densely populated parts of Canada, they suck. Now, the trains that exist are comfortable and inexpensive, but even places close together with existing rail links don’t have regular train service. Unless you’re travelling between major centres in “The Corridor” (Windsor to Quebec City), there probably won’t be train service.
- Breakfast sucks. Even Americans complain about Canadian breakfasts. If you find a place that serves a full breakfast, it will be expensive (expect about $10). Most Canadians eat a very light breakfast, or even only coffee.
- If you’re used to using your Oyster card, we do have something called a Presto, but you can’t get one unless you order it in advance. Most of transit still uses tickets, tokens, visual passes or swipe passes. In addition, if you travel over a municipal border (say from Toronto to Markham) if you don’t have Presto you have to have an entirely different fare ticket. To be fair, in Toronto, subway to surface transfers are usually in controlled environments so you won’t need a pass or transfer (the exception, getting on streetcars downtown).
- We don’t use cash much anymore, so see if you can get a debit card that works here or bring a credit card with a chip and PIN or, even better, a swipe card. For example, when you’re at Tim Hortons, most of us pay by touching our credit or debit card to the touch pad.
- Speaking of Tim Horton’s, they’re everywhere. The food is decent and affordable, but there are better options for just about everything they sell. They thrive on convenience.
- Canadians are polite, but reserved (and not terribly friendly). Imagine an American crossed with a Brit. We generally hold doors open for people, even if it’s inconvenient. We generally say “sorry” when someone runs into us just to show there are no hard feelings.
- I don’t know if you smoke, but it’s very frowned upon now. Smoking in any indoor space is probably a no-no, and so is smoking near building entrances or on outdoor transit platforms. Cigarettes are generally kept hidden, so look for prices and ask.
- Liquor and beer are usually only sold in government approved stores, although you might find beer and wine in a good grocery store in Ontario or a convenience store in Quebec. However, getting a drink “to go” between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. is virtually impossible. In addition, people go to bars to drink (or with their friends) not generally to socialize. You might have to go to a bar a few times before anyone will even talk to you. Remember that in many parts of Canada (outside of Quebec) drinking in a public place like a park will get you arrested.
- Although there are places in Canada where it’s easy to run errands on foot (or even on transit) the majority of the country is car dependent. For example, if you’re in Brampton (a Toronto suburb) don’t be surprised if you have to DRIVE fifteen minutes to buy a bottle of milk. As a rule, older communities have conveniences nearby, but newer ones require a car.
But please rest assured that Canadians love visitors and, although we don’t want to make friends, if you’re lost or need help, we’re going to be there for you.
If you die in Canada, you die for real.
On the other hand, you’re already in heaven.
More seriously:
People here like lots of personal space, an effect caused by having lots of living space, as much or more than Americans do. Canadians like lots of emotional space too, so they won’t be open with guests the way that some cultures are, however, Canadians will be polite, honest, trustworthy, generally helpful, and fairly friendly.
The police are 99% chill, though professionally distant while on shift. They are not your buddies, but they are not corrupt, nor hot headed, angry people. They are selected
If you die in Canada, you die for real.
On the other hand, you’re already in heaven.
More seriously:
People here like lots of personal space, an effect caused by having lots of living space, as much or more than Americans do. Canadians like lots of emotional space too, so they won’t be open with guests the way that some cultures are, however, Canadians will be polite, honest, trustworthy, generally helpful, and fairly friendly.
The police are 99% chill, though professionally distant while on shift. They are not your buddies, but they are not corrupt, nor hot headed, angry people. They are selected for intelligence and good character, and go through training that is equivalent to a college education, which many also have. Police work is not considered a dead end career, pays fairly well, and officers have further access to higher education.
You seem to be based out of the USA. Like the United States, there is far too much to see in one visit. Or a lifetime. So if you have fun, come back.
I don't know if things have changed since 1975 to 2005 when I used to fly in there all the time on business at a place and hour away. There was very little to do (that I am aware of) unless you love fishing for salmon or trout. I used to always take my fly fishing equipment. OR if you like women, they far outweighed the number of guys in the bars. At least that was my experience. I once stayed in a Gander hotel because my flight was cancelled. After dinner, I went to a bar and there were about 25 gals……..and me. I felt so nervous that I had a fast drink and left.
Stephenville NFLD also had a ve
I don't know if things have changed since 1975 to 2005 when I used to fly in there all the time on business at a place and hour away. There was very little to do (that I am aware of) unless you love fishing for salmon or trout. I used to always take my fly fishing equipment. OR if you like women, they far outweighed the number of guys in the bars. At least that was my experience. I once stayed in a Gander hotel because my flight was cancelled. After dinner, I went to a bar and there were about 25 gals……..and me. I felt so nervous that I had a fast drink and left.
Stephenville NFLD also had a very high ratio of gals to guys in the bars. I would say in those days 5 or 7 to one sometimes. It used to blow my mind but it was finally explained to me as the following. Very high unemployment so all the young guys leave for Toronto, Fort MacMurray or some other place on the mainland to get work. Stephenville also has a community college with nursing school. These places must have been Heaven for single guys. Very dangerous for married guys.