As arguably the oldest European settlement in British North America and home of the first transatlantic wireless transmission, St. John's, Newfoundland is known as the "City of Legends".
HISTORY
St. John's is the most easterly North American city - and also the closest to Europe, which is why Marconi selected the Cabot Tower on Signal Hill for his famous radio transmission.
Explorer John Cabot is thought to be the first European to set foot in St. John's, when he discovered Newfoundland for Britain in 1497. However, Beothuk Indians had occupied the area for centuries before, and Cabot may also have been preceded by several sets of pre-Columbian mariners - Leif Erikson's Icelandic Vikings, a Scottish lord named Sir Henry Sinclair and a variety of Basque whalers and fishermen.
Cabot is said to have named St. John's harbour on the feast day of St. John the Baptist -- June 24, 1497. Within a few years, the harbour was being frequented by fishermen on a temporary basis.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
Newfoundland's capital and largest city sits on the Avalon Peninsula, which juts into the Atlantic from the southeastern end of the province. Newfoundlanders often refer to their island as The Rock, and one need only look at St. John's to know why. Much of the downtown is built on a rocky hill that slopes down to a long deepwater harbour. Massive cliffs on each side of the harbour mouth keep its waters calm while the open Atlantic rages outside. The opposite shore from downtown is an immense, bald cliff of solid rock, too steep to be inhabited.
Colourfully painted wooden houses give the city a distinct, cheerful character. Whales, icebergs, container ships and fishing boats can often be seen in the waters around St. John's.
Signal Hill, where in 1901 Guglielmo Marconi successfully received the first transatlantic wireless signal, rises on the east edge of downtown. At its summit, is the castle-like Cabot Tower, where a cannon is fired every day at noon, a tradition dating back to the 1830s.
CLIMATE
Sometimes called "Canada's weather capital," St. John's has a mixed climate. Summers are pleasant but cool, with average July temperatures of 20° C. Fog and rain are common year round in St. John's, due to its seaside location and proximity to the cool Labrador Current. In winter, expect frequent snowfalls and temperatures that dip between -2° C and -8° C.
ECONOMY
The capital city's biggest employers are the federal, provincial and local governments. Fishing and ship servicing are still important but are no longer the economic mainstays they once were. Depleted fish stocks and the closing of the local dry dock have led the city to seek new industries, and oil-related industry has injected new life into the city's economy. Memorial University, largest university in the Atlantic provinces, is a cultural and economic boon, drawing students from across Newfoundland.
PEOPLE
Unlike many of Canada's capital cities, St. John's has a largely homogenous ethnic composition, most residents being of British and Irish origin. Newfoundlanders are known for their warm, friendly and unpretentious character, as well as a charming dialect, unique to the province.
CULTURE AND RECREATION
The city's centuries-old history is reflected in its cultural scene. The St. John's Regatta, an annual rowing race since 1818, is known as the oldest sporting event in North America. Artifacts and exhibits of Newfoundland and St. John's history are displayed at the Newfoundland Museum, Cabot Tower on Signal Hill and Commissariat House, a restored mid-1800s home. The Arts and Culture Centre is home to a variety of Canadian paintings and sculptures, a theatre and a large research library.
C.A. Pippy Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers, bikers, canoeists, cross-country skiers and golfers flock to this 3,320-acre park in the city's north end. The park's Fluvarium offers a unique view into the underwater world of a freshwater stream. An observation window allows visitors to see Arctic char, brown trout and North American eels swimming in their natural habitat.
Annual festivals include the Fabulous February Frolic winter carnival, the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Music Festival, the Summer Craft Fair and the Signal Hill Tattoo.