Schefferville
Schefferville | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Schefferville Location in Côte-Nord Region of Quebec | |
| Coordinates:54°48′N66°50′W/ 54.800°N 66.833°W[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | Caniapiscau |
| Settled | 1953 |
| Constituted | August 1, 1955 |
| Incorporated | 1990 |
| Government | |
| • Administrator | Jean Dionne |
| •Federal riding | Manicouagan |
| •Prov. riding | Duplessis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 39.53 km2(15.26 sq mi) |
| • Land | 24.76 km2(9.56 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
| • Total | 244 |
| • Density | 9.9/km2(26/sq mi) |
| • Pop(2016-21) |  87.7% |
| • Dwellings | 209 |
| Time zone | UTC−5(EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4(EDT) |
| Postal code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 |
| Highways | No major routes |
| Website | www |
Scheffervilleis a town in theCanadian provinceofQuebec.Schefferville is in the heart of theNaskapiandInnuterritory in northern Quebec, less than 2 km (1¼ miles) from the border withLabradoron the north shore of Knob Lake. It is located within theCaniapiscau Regional County Municipalityand has an area of 24.76 square kilometres (9.56 sq mi). Schefferville completely surrounds the autonomousInnucommunity ofMatimekosh,and it abuts the small community ofLac-JohnReserve. Both of the latter communities are First Nations Innu reserves. Schefferville is also close to theNaskapi reserved landofKawawachikamach.
The isolated town is not connected to the provincial road network but is accessible by airplane via theSchefferville Airportor by train. Schefferville is the northern terminus ofTshiuetin Rail Transportation(formerly operated by theQuebec North Shore and Labrador Railway) with service toSept-Îles.
McGill Universityoperates the McGill Subarctic Research Station in Schefferville.
History[edit]
Schefferville was established as acompany townin 1954 by theIron Ore Company Of Canadato support the mining of rich iron ore deposits in the area. The original settlement was called "Burnt Creek" and was located some miles to the north of the current location of the town of Schefferville. When the plans were drawn up for the town, it was originally called "Knob Lake", after a prominent iron ore outcrop visible on a prominent hill south of the town site. The name Schefferville was adopted in honour of (Roman Catholic) BishopLionel Scheffer,who served as theApostolic Vicar of Labradorfrom 14 March 1946, until his death on 3 October 1966.[1]
At the time of the town's founding,InnufromMaliotenamandNaskapifromFort Chimowere resettled to Schefferville to assist with geological exploration work and the railway construction. Following many years of neglect, in which they suffered destitute poverty, in 1968 parts of the town were set aside for them as a reserve. By 1972, housing units had been built. Most of the Naskapi and Innu moved to this new site, known today asMatimekosh Reserve.[4]
For some years in the late 1950s,NORADoperated a radar station near Schefferville as part of theMid-Canada Line,part of North America's defences against possible Soviet attack across the arctic. At its peak in the late 1960s, Schefferville counted some 5,000 residents.
With a mean annual air temperature of -5.3 °C (22.5°F), Schefferville belongs to a zone with widespread permafrost occurrence and permafrost exists with a considerable thickness in the area. This resulted in difficulties when blasting in the open pit mine.
Iron ore mining ceased in Schefferville in 1982 on orders fromBrian Mulroney,president of the Iron Ore Company. He later becamePrime Minister of Canada.When mine operations ceased, most of the 4,000 or so non-aboriginal occupants left. The remainder were mostly aboriginal people who had settled there in the preceding 30 years.
In 1986, the town ceased to exist and dissolved as an incorporated legal entity; the town was incorporated again in 1990. Some houses and public facilities were demolished, while other parts of the infrastructure were added to the Matimekosh Reserve.[1]Many of the remaining houses in the town are used as company housing by businesses active in the iron industry.
Geography[edit]
One of the two only municipalities (withFermont) on the territory of theCaniapiscau RCM,Schefferville owes its existence to mining. Located in the heart of theLabradorpeninsula, between Knob and Dauriat lakes, 200 km (125 miles) fromLabrador Cityand 533 km (331 miles) north ofSept-Îles,to which it is still connected by the railway.
Climate[edit]
Schefferville has asubarctic climate(KöppenDfc). Schefferville has cool summers relative to its latitude and inland location.
The cold winters are caused in part by elevation, and in part the ice cover ofHudson Bayeliminating maritime moderation in winter. Although Schefferville is nearer the Atlantic, the coldLabrador Currentbrings cold air also from the east. In summer, the Hudson Bay water is cold after just thawing, and the Labrador waters remains cool and prone to low-pressure systems under theIcelandic Low.As a result, even the vast landmass seldom builds up heat and remains extremely chilly for the latitude. Areas on similar or higher latitudes in western Canada are much warmer also in this time of the year as a result. The low mean annual air temperature of -5.3 °C (22.5°F) indicates widespread occurrences ofpermafrost.
| Climate data forSchefferville Airport(1981−2010 normals); elevation 522m | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) |
5.1 (41.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
16.7 (62.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
34.3 (93.7) |
31.9 (89.4) |
28.7 (83.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
34.3 (93.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −19.2 (−2.6) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−9.7 (14.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
9.6 (49.3) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−15.7 (3.7) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −24.5 (−12.1) |
−22.8 (−9.0) |
−15.9 (3.4) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
1.0 (33.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.4 (52.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −29.8 (−21.6) |
−28.5 (−19.3) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
6.6 (43.9) |
2.3 (36.1) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−13.5 (7.7) |
−25.3 (−13.5) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −48.3 (−54.9) |
−50.6 (−59.1) |
−45.0 (−49.0) |
−36.1 (−33.0) |
−23.3 (−9.9) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−19.4 (−2.9) |
−35.6 (−32.1) |
−47.2 (−53.0) |
−50.6 (−59.1) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 49.7 (1.96) |
29.7 (1.17) |
49.8 (1.96) |
56.4 (2.22) |
50.3 (1.98) |
76.6 (3.02) |
96.2 (3.79) |
82.5 (3.25) |
114.6 (4.51) |
74.7 (2.94) |
63.5 (2.50) |
48.1 (1.89) |
792.1 (31.19) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.26 (0.01) |
0.29 (0.01) |
1.4 (0.06) |
9.0 (0.35) |
26.1 (1.03) |
69.2 (2.72) |
96.1 (3.78) |
81.9 (3.22) |
103.0 (4.06) |
24.5 (0.96) |
4.5 (0.18) |
0.73 (0.03) |
416.98 (16.41) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 70.6 (27.8) |
60.6 (23.9) |
66.6 (26.2) |
50.5 (19.9) |
22.4 (8.8) |
6.0 (2.4) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.1) |
11.1 (4.4) |
55.2 (21.7) |
66.6 (26.2) |
76.6 (30.2) |
486.6 (191.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.5 | 13.8 | 16.5 | 15.7 | 16.0 | 17.1 | 18.9 | 17.8 | 21.4 | 21.7 | 20.8 | 19.1 | 215.2 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.15 | 0.54 | 0.85 | 3.3 | 8.8 | 15.4 | 18.9 | 17.8 | 19.0 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 0.58 | 95.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.6 | 13.6 | 17.0 | 13.9 | 10.6 | 4.2 | 0.23 | 0.25 | 5.9 | 18.4 | 20.8 | 19.1 | 140.7 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 86.2 | 122.3 | 153.2 | 185.2 | 199.8 | 185.4 | 196.9 | 177.4 | 90.5 | 61.3 | 49.6 | 58.9 | 1,566.6 |
| Percentpossible sunshine | 35.3 | 44.8 | 41.8 | 43.9 | 40.1 | 35.9 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 23.6 | 18.8 | 19.5 | 25.9 | 33.8 |
| Source:Environment Canada[5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
In the2021 Census of Populationconducted byStatistics Canada,Schefferville had a population of244living in127of its209total private dwellings, a change of87.7% from its 2016 population of130.With a land area of 24.76 km2(9.56 sq mi), it had a population density of9.9/km2(25.5/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
ManyNaskapifirst nation people live mostly in the village ofKawawachikamach,northwest of Schefferville. They are mostlyAnglicanandUnited Protestantand speak English as their second language. TheInnu peoplereside mainly in Schefferville and Matimekosh. They are largelyRoman Catholicand speak French as their second language.
| 2021 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 244 (+87.7% from 2016) | 130 (-39.0% from 2011) |
| Land area | 24.76 km2(9.56 sq mi) | 27.33 km2(10.55 sq mi) |
| Population density | 9.9/km2(26/sq mi) | 5.7/km2(15/sq mi) |
| Median age | 37.6 (M: 43.2, F: 29.6) | 33.5 (M: 44.0, F: 29.2) |
| Private dwellings | 209 (total) 127 (occupied) | 230 (total) 76 (occupied) |
| Median household income | $.n/a | $83,200 |
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| Population figures based on revised counts. Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes. Source: Statistics Canada[10] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Languages[edit]
TheNaskapiandMontagnais/Innulanguages are, generally, mutually intelligible. Most local inhabitants are able to speak varying amounts of all the local languages, andcode-switchingis common in conversation.
The breakdown of mother tongues is (2021):[3]
- English as first language: 12.2%
- French as first language: 42.9%
- English and French as first language: 0%
- Other as first language: 36.7%
Schefferville iron ore mining in the 21st century[edit]
As a result of increased demand for steel and iron ore, two official projects are underway in the early 21st century to re-establish mining operations out of Schefferville.
LabMag mine[edit]
The first is theLabMag Iron Ore Project,30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Schefferville. The objective is to develop mining and concentrating near Schefferville that will mine 33 million tonnes of crude iron ore per year, in order to produce 10 million tonnes per year of concentrate and pellets for a minimum of 20 years. Mining production began in 2011. The Naskapi Nation ofKawawachikamachowns 20% of the LabMag Iron Ore Project.
Anglesey Mining[edit]
In addition, Anglesey Mining had applied for final operational permits on its former Iron Ore Company of Canada deposits. Production was scheduled to start during late summer 2010, with output rising to two or three million tons of ore a year by 2012 before further deposits are developed. Innu protesters blocked access to Schefferville in July 2010. They delayed the start of mining with demands for increased compensation for the commercial exploitation of their traditional homelands.
Notable people[edit]
- Michèle Audette,of Innu and French-Canadian ancestry, grew up near here. She became an activist for First Nations rights, serving as president ofFemmes autochtones du Québec(Quebec Native Women) and theNative Women's Association of Canada.She also served as an Associate Deputy Minister in the Quebec provincial government from 2004 through 2008.
- Richard Geren(1917-2002), American geologist
- Claude McKenzie(born 1967), Canadian singer-songwriter
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abc"Schefferville (ville)"(in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.Retrieved2010-10-15.
- ^ab"Répertoire des municipalités:Geographic code 97040 ".www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca(in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.Retrieved2024-04-30.
- ^abcd"Schefferville (Code 2497040) Census Profile".2021 census.Government of Canada -Statistics Canada.Retrieved2024-04-30.
- ^"Our Nation - History".Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-05-28.Retrieved2010-10-15.
- ^"Schefferville Airport".Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010.Environment Canada.Archived fromthe originalon 2020-07-17.RetrievedNovember 25,2013.
- ^"2021 Community Profiles".2021 Canadian Census.Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022.Retrieved2024-04-30.
- ^"2016 Community Profiles".2016 Canadian Census.Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021.Retrieved2024-04-30.
- ^"2006 Community Profiles".2006 Canadian Census.Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
- ^"2001 Community Profiles".2001 Canadian Census.Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
- ^1996,2001,2006,2011,2016,2021census
External links[edit]
Places adjacent to Schefferville | |
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 Subdivisions ofCaniapiscau Regional County Municipality | |
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| Cities & Towns | |
| Unorganized Territories | |
| Native reserves (Unassociated with RCM) |
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| Naskapi reserve land (Unassociated with RCM) | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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