Mount Pearl
Mount Pearl | |
|---|---|
City | |
| City of Mount Pearl | |
 Flag  Seal  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Da Pearl [1] | |
| Motto(s): | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Census division | 1 |
| Settled | 1834 |
| Incorporated (town) | January 11, 1955 |
| Incorporated (city) | July 21, 1988 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Randy Simms |
| • MHA | Steve Kent (PC) Paul Lane (PC) |
| • MP | Ryan Cleary (NDP) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15.76 km2 (6.08 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 24,284 |
| • Density | 1,566.9/km2 (4,058/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight) |
| Area code | 709 |
| Website | mountpearl.ca |
Mount Pearl is the third largest community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The city is located southwest of St. John's, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. Mount Pearl is part of the St. John's metropolitan area, the 20th Largest metropolitan area in Canada.
History
Mount Pearl dates back to 1829, when Commander James Pearl and his wife, Lady Anne Pearl, arrived in Newfoundland with a crown grant of one thousand acres (4 km²) of land, a reward for Commander Pearl’s 27 years of distinguished service in the Royal Navy. In 1830, Commander Pearl built a house upon the most elevated section of his estate and named it Mount Cochrane in honour of then-governor Sir Thomas Cochrane. After the governor left Newfoundland, Pearl renamed the site Mount Pearl. Pearl was made a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order of Hanover and received the honour of Knight Bachelor from Queen Victoria. He died suddenly at his Mount Pearl estate on January 13, 1840, at the age of 50 years. In 1844, Sir James Pearl’s wife, Lady Anne, moved to London, England. John Lester, who had come from Devonshire, England to work for James Pearl, continued working the Pearl Estate, leasing it from Lady Anne Pearl for another 14 years. In her Last Will and Testament, she left John Lester 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land called “Anna Vale”, (present day Glendale) which he later sold. The Pearl estate eventually came into the hands of Andrew Glendenning who worked it as successful farmland well into the 1920s. John Lester purchased other land (124 acres opposite the Pearl Estate on Brookfield Road) from Edward Dunscomb and later inherited another 50 acres (200,000 m2) on Old Placentia Road (present day Admiralty Wood) from Pearl’s sister, Eunice Blamey. John Lester died in 1893 leaving his estate called “FairMead” to sons Ashton and James. Fairmead is the site of Lester’s Market today.[2]
Development
In the 1930s and 1940s, Mount Pearl became the meeting place of affluent members of society and lovers of horseracing. A large open air gallery, with benches for spectators to view surrounding lands was erected on “The Mount” in the 1940s. Horseracing continued to be prominent and Mount Pearl began to develop into something of a summer resort for St. John’s residents. Increased population during summer months led to increased population year round and eventual residential and industrial development.[2]
Incorporation
With the population growing quickly, there was increased demand for municipal government. As a result, Mount Pearl held its first election in 1955 which resulted in Hayward Burrage becoming the first mayor of the Town of Mount Pearl. The town was incorporated on January 11, 1955 and had population of 1,979. On July 21, 1988, the Town of Mount Pearl became the third community in Newfoundland and Labrador to be granted city status. Today it is the second largest city within the province, with a population in 2011 of 24,284[2][3]
Present Day
A progressive city of approximately 26,000 people, Mount Pearl’s development has been along the lines of the “neighbourhood concept” with paved streets and walkways interlocking the various neighbourhoods that exist within the City. It is at the centre of an urban region, with quick and easy access to the Trans-Canada Highway. In terms of landmass, the City totals 15.16 square kilometres.
Geography
Mount Pearl is located on the northeast coast of the Avalon Peninsula in southeast Newfoundland, and on the Atlantic Ocean.[4] The city is bounded on the north, south and east by the city of St. John's and on the west by the town of Paradise, which has led to the limited availability of undeveloped land and is causing the city to be a more dense urban centre by increasing its density.
Southlands, a neighbourhood in St. John's was a large part of Mount Pearl's future growth plans for filling in the area between its boundary and Cochrane Pond Provincial Park. The annexation of Southlands in 1992 by St. John's was authorized by the Liberal government of Clyde Wells.
Climate
| Climate data for Mount Pearl | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18 (64) |
15 (59) |
17 (63) |
25 (77) |
29 (84) |
32 (90) |
37 (99) |
34 (93) |
33 (91) |
26 (79) |
22 (72) |
19 (66) |
37 (99) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) |
1.4 (34.5) |
4.4 (39.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
19.1 (66.4) |
23.4 (74.1) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
13.7 (56.7) |
7 (45) |
4.3 (39.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.2 (20.8) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
1.5 (34.7) |
4.2 (39.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
13 (55) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
2.8 (37.0) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
3.0 (37.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.3 (−4.5) |
−21 (−6) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
−13 (9) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
2.1 (35.8) |
2.6 (36.7) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−18.6 (−1.5) |
−21 (−6) |
| Source: Environment Canada[5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,785 | — |
| 1971 | 7,211 | +158.9% |
| 1981 | 11,543 | +60.1% |
| 1991 | 23,689 | +105.2% |
| 1996 | 25,531 | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 24,964 | −2.2% |
| 2006 | 24,671 | −1.2% |
| 2011 | 24,284 | −1.6% |
The city is located within Newfoundland's census Division No. 1.
According to the Canada 2011 Census:
- Population: 24,284
- % Change (2006–2011): -1.6
- Dwellings: 9,660
- Area (km²): 15.76
- Density (persons per km²): 1,566.9
Government
Municipal
The city is represented by a mayor, deputy mayor and five councillors. Elections in Mount Pearl are held every four years on the last Tuesday in September, the last election was held on September 29, 2009. The current mayor is Randy Simms, who was uncontested for the job on September 29, became mayor in 2007 after then mayor Steve Kent was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.[6]
Community complexes
The Glacier Arena
Glacier Arena, built in 1993, is a three level multi-purpose complex and includes a 85' x 200' ice/floor surface, six dressing rooms, pro-shop, first aid room, referee's room, board room, meeting room, snack shop, Crystal Ice viewing room, cafeteria with full kitchen service and standing room viewing, lounge with standing room viewing, twelve viewing booths, a 991 fixed seating gallery capacity and a concert capacity of 3000. Operated under a volunteer Board of Management, the Glacier is the host of many community events including: daily recreational skating; sports competitions such as figure skating, ice hockey and gymnastics; trade shows and exhibitions; and family, youth and adult special events and concerts.
Smallwood Arena
Smallwood Arena, built in 1977 this facility is constructed with a corrugated galvanized steel archidome frame with metal siding. The 33,400-square-foot (3,100 m2) arena includes a standard ice/floor area, dressing rooms, canteen and two multi-purpose rooms. Operated under a volunteer Board of Management, the Smallwood Arena is the site for many sporting activities, special events and recreational skates. It is located in the Smallwood RecPlex adjacent to the City's multi soccer complex (two national and one international artificial turf standard) soccer fields and national standard baseball field.
Community events
Frosty Festival
This wonderful festival of music, magic, dancing, great food, laughter and good sportsmanship is a fun time for everyone in the family and a unique opportunity to celebrate what it means to be part of a community. Frosty Festival is a prime example of a Newfoundlanders ability to make the best of everything good that winter has to offer. For many years the high point of the Festival is the Opening Ceremony and the Lighting of the Flame, a family evening of free entertainment and activity, which kick starts the large number of activities offered.
Christmas at the Glacier
Christmas at the Glacier started in 1993 just as the Glacier building itself was being finished. Sandra and Keith Myler were craft producers themselves at the time. They wanted a bigger, more exciting outlet to sell their wares. From talking to other crafters and artists it was evident there was a need for a new Craft Show featuring lower end to middle and higher end products. Christmas at the Glacier is a Festival of Craft and Art. It has become the largest and highest attended adult event of its type in the Province! The new partnership with Beverly Moore happened in 2003, forming a totally separate company for the show, "CGI Entertainment Inc." Another facet of the industry are the one day craft fairs.
References
- ^ Newfoundland English, See (2).
- ^ a b c http://www.mountpearl.ca/downloads/economic_dev/community_review.pdf
- ^ http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1001542&Geo2=PR&Code2=59&Data=Count&SearchText=mount pearl&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=
- ^ Mount Pearl - The Canadian Encyclopedia
- ^ Environment Canada—[1], accessed 28 November 2009
- ^ CBC Newfoundland and Labrador | Municipal Election 2009 | Mount Pearl
External links
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