Emerald Zone Corporation

Trail: Dorset Trail HWY 410

Mayor: Gerald Acreman

Deputy Mayor: Dean Giles

Councillors: Barry Downey, Paul Steks , Brenda Downey, Andy Smith

Address: P.O. Box 218, A0K 1B0

Telephone: (709) 532-8222

Fax: (709) 532-4134

Email: info [at] townofbaieverte.ca

Availability: Monday - Friday; 9:00am - 4:30pm

 

Introduction

 

The Town of Baie Verte is located on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador on the Baie Verte Peninsula in White Bay. Baie Verte existed as a small community in the late 1800's and early 1900's but with the discovery of asbestos and other ore bodies of copper, lead, zinc and gold in the mid 1950's the town flourished.

With an amazing array of services, small businesses, and industrial enterprises, Baie Verte has all the modern conveniences. It is one of 42 communities that comprise the Emerald Zone which is located North Central portion of Newfoundland.

 

Population

 

The town has 1,275 people.

 

History

 

Baie Verte was first settled by the French in the late 1600's. English settlers arrived in the late 1870's but the French controlled the area until 1904.

In 1911, with a population of 68, there were lumbers, fishermen, mechanics, miners, a few trappers (beavers) and one office worker.

In 1939, Mrs. Ella Whalen opened the first post and telegraph office. The following year, planes were used instead of dog teams to deliver mail in winter. Boats were used during the summer months. A Bank of Nova Scotia opened in 1957.

The next year, in 1958, the town was incorporated with William Eaton as Mayor. Over the years Baie Verte has changed from a lumber town to a mining town.

 

Industry History

In the late 1930s, Baie Verte became a depot for Bowater Pulp and Paper Company. Thus, forestry became the most important industry. Bowater employed over 600 men, not all residents of Baie Verte. The company built a staff house, manager's house, clinic, warehouse and store. The first manager of Bowater was Ronald Porter, followed by Roy Johnson and John Bulley. A first aid man ran the clinic during its first few years of operation. Then a nurse and doctor (Dr. Howse) took over.

During the 1850s, the Terra Nova Mine, a copper/sulfur mine, opened. The mine was in operation until 1916 and, while in operation, employed approximately 200 men. It is believed that the mine was sabotaged by a German official in 1915. Whether or not this story is true, the mine closed a year later due to the fact that no further deposits could be found.

In 1955, George McNaughton and Norman Peters discovered asbestos in Baie Verte. Asbestos became a very valuable mineral and was very high in demand. Advocate Mines Ltd., owned by John Mansville, was in operation mining asbestos in 1963. It was an open-pit mine which employed 500 people. There was a week-long shutdown in 1981 and another for three months the following year. Baie Verte Mines, Inc. reopened the mine in 1982. After that time there were several temporary shutdowns. In 1991 Teranova took over the mine. It then changed from a dry to a wet processing mine. In turn, the number of employees decreased to between 70 and 80. TeraNova mines closed permanently in 1995.

Consolidated Rambler Mines Ltd. opened in 1964. It employed approximately 200 men. This mine closed in 1982.

For a complete history of the Baie Verte Peninsula see the document"The History of the Baie Verte Peninsula"

 

Forestry Industry

 

Approximately six sawmills are in operation in Baie Verte during the months of June to November. Some of the mills are for personal use only.

There are others which employ up to twenty-five people. Both commercial sawmills and commercial cutting sawmills are located in the town.

There are also a number of logging contractors who cut wood for Kruger and Abitibi Price (pulp & paper companies). Several of the owners have complaints about government regulations being too strict. They cannot receive their permit until June which is considered too late in the year. They also complain that there are too many domestic sawmills.

 

Exploration & Mining

One mining company is operating in Baie Verte....

In 1995, Terra Nova Mines permanently shut down. This was an open-pit wet mill which processed white asbestos fiber. The mine employed between 70-80 people. Unlike in previous years, Baie Verte's economic base is not presently dependent upon mining.

At present one mining company is operating in Baie Verte. Richmont is operating at Nugget Pond, which is located between Snook's Arm and Nipper's Harbour, and they are mining for gold.

Mining & Exploration Industry

 

Commercial Industry

 

Baie Verte has a varied business sector. The town has generally been the commercial and service centre for the nearby communities.

During the 1980's with the closure of the town's major employer, and the cod moratorium of the early '90's there was an understandable down turn in the business sector. In the last few years, with a measure of economic regrowth being experienced in the area, new businesses are opening to meet the needs of the region. Presently, there are approximately forty businesses, from sales, services and industrial sectors operating from the town of Baie Verte.

Complete Business Directory

 

Financial Institutions

 

The Bank of Nova Scotia offers all the services which are usually offered by a bank, such as banking, loans, RRSP, mortgages, etc. Two insurance companies - Co-operators and Steers.

 

Postal Services

 

A post office, employing three employees, operates in the town. Postal boxes are available at no cost to the residents.

 

Media Data

 

One local newspaper, the "Nor'wester", serves Baie Verte on a weekly basis.
The "Western Star", a non-local newspaper, is available every day.

School stage productions take place around twice a year.

 

Establishments and Entertainment

 

There is a hotel and 2 bed & breakfasts. ...

There are also eating establishments and entertainment facilities. There is one hotel, The Baie Vista Inn with a Gentlemen Jim's Steak House. As well, there is a bed and breakfast, Loveman's Bed and Breakfast with four rooms, and Bailey's Country Inn with 8 rooms. Eating establishments are Mary Brown's, Chukwagon Family Restaurant, Doyle's Pizza and Jim's Chinese Restaurant. Entertainment facilities are Baie Vista's bar and Town Square Pub.

 

Health and Welfare

 

The Baie Verte Peninsula Health Centre is located in Baie Verte, with a chronic care unit.

As well, there is a dental clinic, a optometrist office, a physiotherapist office, a ultrasound department, visiting chiropractic clinic and two senior citizen homes.

 

Fire Protection

 

The fire department (consisting of 28 volunteer firemen) is a branch of the town council.

The fire alarm system and pagers are used to warn of a fire and to contact firemen for duty.

The equipment and facilities owned by the fire department are: one 840 pumper, one 75 HP pump, 1000-1200 ft hose, jaws of life, a fire hall, training grounds and a safety house. As well, there are an adequate number of fire hydrants in the town.

 

Transportation

 

All streets within the town limits are paved. The condition of the pavement is, for the most part, good. However, some of it requires upgrading. There are two taxi companies with one taxi each. Two passenger bus services serve the town.

There are no roads under construction, nor are there any new roads planned or contemplated within the next five years. The town council takes care of road maintenance and snow removal in the town.

The passenger bus services that serve the town: Bailey's Bus Service travels to Corner Brook five days per week and Forward's Bus Service to Grand Falls-Windsor five days per week. The nearest stop-off point for CN Roadcruisers is Baie Verte Junction which is 65km from town.

 

Utilities and Power

 

Newfoundland Light & Power Co. Ltd. provides electricity to Baie Verte. There are two gasoline service stations in the town which are Baie Verte Esso and Marine, and Hutchings' Sales. Propane gas is available at Newtown Ultramar and the Baie Vista Inn. Fuel oil is distributed by Esso Home Comfort, Irving Oil Ltd. and Ultramar Canada. Aliant Communications provides telephone access to the Baie Verte peninsula. Persona, a regional cable company, provides digital cable.

 

Water Supply and Sanitation

 

The source of water supply is Southern Arm Pond located 4 miles from the town and the garbage is collected once a week by a truck driver who is hired by the town.

The water system is treated with chlorination. Around 90% of the houses are connected to the main water supply. Inspection takes place every three months. The annual water fees are: residential - $190 and commercial -$255. At a 400 gallon per minute capacity, the supply is ample for both private and commercial use.

A one man pocker garbage truck is used to collect and carry the garbage to the town dump.

Sewage is disposed of through a plant with near 100% of the households being hooked up to this system. The Department of Health is responsible for inspection of private systems.

 

Social & Cultural Data

 

Six churches are in existence, all of different denominations.

The different denominations are: Pentecostal, United, United Pentecostal, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Jehovah Witness. Some hold as many as five services per week and have as high as 320 in weekly attendance.

Baie Verte High School is equipped with the proper acoustics to present stage productions and concerts to the public.