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==Climate==
==Climate==
Like most of Labrador, Wabush has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfc'') with precipitation much higher than usual for this type of climate due to the persistent [[Icelandic Low]], which give the region some of the rainiest and snowiest weather in all of Canada. Especially in summer, cloudiness is very high due to the lakes nearby and the unstable northerly airstreams that prevail, but because the town is relatively far from the open sea sunshine is higher than even in [[St. John’s, Newfoundland|St. John’s]] due to the absence of [[fog]] from the [[Labrador Current]]. Snow usually melts off in May.
Like most of Labrador, Wabush has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfc'') with precipitation much higher than usual for this type of climate due to the persistent [[Icelandic Low]], which give the region some of the rainiest and snowiest weather in all of Canada. Especially in summer, cloudiness is very high due to the lakes nearby and the unstable northerly airstreams that prevail, but because the town is relatively far from the open sea sunshine is higher than even in [[St. John’s, Newfoundland|St. John’s]] due to the absence of [[fog]] from the [[Labrador Current]]. Snow usually melts off in May.

==Literary References==
Wabush appears in the [[John Wyndham]] post-catastrophy novel [[The Chrysalids]] under the name of Waknuk.


{{Weather box
{{Weather box

Revision as of 14:58, 1 September 2014

Wabush
Town
Town of Wabush across Jean Lake
Town of Wabush across Jean Lake
Coat of arms of Wabush
Motto(s): 
"Terra Progredimur"  (Latin)
"From the earth we prosper"
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Census divisions10
Settled1955
Founded1962
IncorporatedApril 11, 1967
Government
 • TypeMunicipal incorporation
 • MayorColin Vardy
Area
 • Total
46.25 km2 (17.86 sq mi)
Elevation
560 m (1,840 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
1,861
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4
WebsiteTown of Wabush

Wabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations for 40 years (1967 to 2007).

Wabush is the twin community of Labrador City. At its peak population in the late 1970s, the region had a population of just over 22,000. Today Wabush's population (2011) is 1,861. Most residents continue to work in the nearby mines: Wabush Mines[3] and Iron Ore Company of Canada, now a unit of Rio Tinto Mines.

While remote, the town does contain modern amenities. There is a shopping centre (Which includes a post office, bank, a women's department, a restaurant, a bar, and a snowmobile store) recreational centre (that includes a bowling alley, gymnasium, swimming pool, a teen centre, and a weight lifting room) ice arena, a library, a legion building that serves alcoholic beverages, a furniture store, several playgrounds, a school, a church, two corner stores, a hotel (which also includes a restaurant, a barber shop, and a bar). In nearby Labrador City, there is a modern indoor shopping centre which includes a Walmart.

Air transportation needs for the twin communities are served by Wabush Airport and seasonally by Wabush Water Aerodrome. It used to get more frequent service by Air Gaspé, which was acquired by Quebecair in 1973. The latter ended as an independent business in 1986, acquired in turn by CP Air in 1986 and Canadian Airlines in 1987. Currently the area is serviced by Air Canada (Air Canada Express & Expolits Valley Air Service), Provincial Airlines, Pascan Air and Air Inuit.

Companies in and around Wabush include:

Climate

Like most of Labrador, Wabush has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with precipitation much higher than usual for this type of climate due to the persistent Icelandic Low, which give the region some of the rainiest and snowiest weather in all of Canada. Especially in summer, cloudiness is very high due to the lakes nearby and the unstable northerly airstreams that prevail, but because the town is relatively far from the open sea sunshine is higher than even in St. John’s due to the absence of fog from the Labrador Current. Snow usually melts off in May.

Literary References

Wabush appears in the John Wyndham post-catastrophy novel The Chrysalids under the name of Waknuk.

Climate data for Wabush (Wabush Airport, normals from 1981−2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 7.7 5.9 14.6 16.9 35.0 37.1 39.0 35.3 32.2 22.6 13.8 6.5 39.0
Record high °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)
6.2
(43.2)
14.7
(58.5)
16.8
(62.2)
28.4
(83.1)
33.3
(91.9)
32.6
(90.7)
30.6
(87.1)
27.8
(82.0)
21.1
(70.0)
12.2
(54.0)
5.6
(42.1)
33.3
(91.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −16.7
(1.9)
−14.2
(6.4)
−6.7
(19.9)
1.5
(34.7)
9.6
(49.3)
16.1
(61.0)
19.1
(66.4)
17.6
(63.7)
11.8
(53.2)
3.8
(38.8)
−4.2
(24.4)
−12.6
(9.3)
2.1
(35.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −22.2
(−8.0)
−20.6
(−5.1)
−13.3
(8.1)
−4.3
(24.3)
4.0
(39.2)
10.3
(50.5)
13.8
(56.8)
12.5
(54.5)
7.6
(45.7)
0.5
(32.9)
−8.2
(17.2)
−17.5
(0.5)
−3.1
(26.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −27.8
(−18.0)
−27.0
(−16.6)
−19.8
(−3.6)
−10.0
(14.0)
−1.7
(28.9)
4.4
(39.9)
8.3
(46.9)
7.4
(45.3)
3.3
(37.9)
−2.9
(26.8)
−12.0
(10.4)
−22.5
(−8.5)
−8.4
(16.9)
Record low °C (°F) −43.9
(−47.0)
−47.8
(−54.0)
−46.7
(−52.1)
−37.2
(−35.0)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−11.1
(12.0)
−6.7
(19.9)
−0.6
(30.9)
−7.0
(19.4)
−21.7
(−7.1)
−33.1
(−27.6)
−46.1
(−51.0)
−47.8
(−54.0)
Record low wind chill −62.8 −57.1 −52.6 −41.8 −32.6 −9.6 0.0 −6.2 −13.9 −25.6 −43.9 −59.5 −62.8
Average precipitation mm (inches) 49.2
(1.94)
40.3
(1.59)
54.1
(2.13)
48.8
(1.92)
53.5
(2.11)
82.7
(3.26)
113.9
(4.48)
103.5
(4.07)
96.5
(3.80)
75.7
(2.98)
70.9
(2.79)
50.4
(1.98)
839.5
(33.05)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.6
(0.02)
1.6
(0.06)
2.6
(0.10)
12.1
(0.48)
40.4
(1.59)
80.6
(3.17)
113.9
(4.48)
103.4
(4.07)
92.3
(3.63)
42.0
(1.65)
10.9
(0.43)
2.5
(0.10)
502.9
(19.80)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 63.8
(25.1)
50.9
(20.0)
65.9
(25.9)
44.3
(17.4)
14.4
(5.7)
2.1
(0.8)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.0)
4.4
(1.7)
39.0
(15.4)
77.5
(30.5)
66.2
(26.1)
428.7
(168.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17.3 14.6 16.0 14.2 15.2 17.1 19.0 20.0 20.5 20.1 20.4 19.3 213.7
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.44 0.78 1.4 3.8 11.9 16.4 19.0 20.0 19.7 10.5 3.9 1.0 109.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 17.7 15.0 16.4 12.3 6.0 1.2 0.04 0.07 2.5 13.9 19.7 19.7 124.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 98.0 132.2 151.3 180.1 210.6 212.5 218.0 202.7 116.6 75.4 56.9 67.3 1,721.4
Percent possible sunshine 38.6 47.6 41.2 43.1 43.0 42.1 43.0 44.4 30.6 22.9 21.7 28.3 37.2
Source: Environment Canada[5]

Demographics

Historical populations
YearPop.±%
19912,331—    
19962,018−13.4%
20011,894−6.1%
20061,739−8.2%
20111,861+7.0%
Canada 2006 Census Population % of Total Population
Visible minority group
Source:[6]
South Asian 20 1.1%
Chinese 0 0%
Black 10 0.6%
Filipino 0 0%
Latin American 1 Chilean 0%
Arab 0 0%
Southeast Asian 0 0%
West Asian 0 0%
Korean 0 0%
Japanese 0 0%
Other visible minority 0 0%
Mixed visible minority 0 0%
Total visible minority population 30 1.7%
Aboriginal group
Source:[7]
First Nations 50 2.9%
Métis 80 4.6%
Inuit 0 0%
Total Aboriginal population 145 8.3%
White 1,565 89.9%
Total population 1,740 100%

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ Town of Wabush. "Mayor and Council". Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  2. ^ Statistics Canada (2006). "Wabush Community Profile". Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  3. ^ Wabush Mines
  4. ^ "Nearly 500 laid off at Labrador's Wabush Mines" 11 Feb 2014
  5. ^ "Wabush Lake Airport". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  6. ^ [1], Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Census Subdivision
  7. ^ [2], Aboriginal Peoples - Data table