Atlantic Canada At A Glance
Here are some general facts and important information to help your
group or escort get the most from your adventure in Atlantic Canada.
| Atlantic Canada > New Brunswick |
| |
Airports
|
| |
New Brunswick is served by no fewer than five airports, making it the most accessible province in Atlantic Canada.
|
AIRPORT |
AIRLINES |
|
City of Fredericton |
Air Canada Jazz
Delta Airlines |
|
City of Moncton |
Air Canada Jazz
CanJet
Corsair
WestJet |
|
City of Saint John |
Air Canada Jazz
|
|
City of Bathurst |
Air Canada Jazz |
|
|
Area
|
| |
| 73,440 square km/28,254 square miles |
|
Area Code
|
| |
| 506 - This area code must be dialed for long distance calls into or within New Brunswick |
|
Capital City
|
| |
| Fredericton |
|
Climate
|
| |
New Brunswick has a blend of climate typical of a coastal area and that of an inland province. Summers are typically warm and comfortable, but not too hot. Many pleasant but cooler days are experienced in spring and autumn.
Average Seasonal Temperatures
|
June |
23°C |
73°F |
|
July |
26°C |
79°F |
|
August |
25°C |
77°F |
|
September |
19°C |
66°F |
|
Mid-October |
16°C |
61°F | |
|
Currency Exchange
|
| |
| Best exchange rates on foreign currency can be obtained at major financial institutions. Currency exchange services are also available at certain Provincial Visitor Information Centres located along the Canada-USA border. These centres are indicated by a navy blue dollar sign ($) on the official
New Brunswick Travel Map.
|
|
Drive Times
|
| |
| You can travel from one corner of the province to the furthest reach in just over six hours. And if your group travels from city to city, the longest drive is three hours with plenty of towns and villages to visit enroute. |
|
Emergencies
|
| |
| In the event of an emergency, dial 911
for immediate police, fire, and medical
assistance. |
|
Languages
|
| |
| New Brunswick is the only province in Canada to have English and French as official languages. Approximately 33 percent of the population is French-speaking; as well, many people are bilingual. Other languages, such as native Mi’kmaq and Danish can also be heard.
|
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Major Cities
|
| |
City of Bathurst
City of Campbellton
City of Dieppe
City of Edmundston
City of Fredericton
City of Miramichi
City of Moncton
City of Saint John
|
|
Major Industries
|
| |
| Manufacturing, Food Industries, Forestry, Mining, Tourism, Information Technology, Call Centres. |
|
Police
|
| |
| Officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) patrol New Brunswick’s highways and are responsible for other provincial police duties. There are also municipal forces within most communities. |
|
Population
|
| |
| 757,000 (July 1, 2002)
|
|
Sales Tax & Rebates
|
| |
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applied at a single rate of 14 % to a base of goods and services. Visitors to New Brunswick may be able to receive a 14 % tax rebate on eligible sales receipts submitted for accommodations and most tangible goods exported from Canada. Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada booklets are available at all Provincial Visitor Information Centres and the New Brunswick Duty Free Shop at Woodstock.
www.cra-arc.gc.ca
In Canada: 1-800-668-4748
Outside Canada 902-432-5608
|
|
Sunday Shopping
|
| |
| Sunday shopping throughout New Brunswick is available from the 1st Sunday in August to the 1st Sunday in January. Certain designated areas of the province offer year-round Sunday shopping. |
|
Tides
|
| |
Since tide schedules change every day and vary with location, times for high or low tides should be obtained from a Visitor Information Centre or by calling1-800-561-0123. Tidal information is also available at:
www.TourismNewBrunswick.ca
|
|
Time Zone
|
| |
| New Brunswick observes Atlantic Daylight Time, which is four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time and one hour later than the Eastern Time Zone. Entering New Brunswick from Maine or Quebec, set your watch ahead one hour. |
|
Weather Forecasts
|
| |
www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca
New Brunswick’s weather forecasts are
produced from Environment Canada’s
New Brunswick Weather Services Office located in Fredericton.
Free Recorded Weather Forecasts:
Edmundston Area: 506-735-1636
Fredericton Area: 506-451-6001
Moncton Area: 506-851-6610
Saint John Area: 506-636-4991
Miramichi Area: 506-773-7045
Bathurst Area: 506-548-3220
Acadian Peninsula Area: 506-726-5288
|
|
Did You Know.....
|
| |
• The province is joined to Nova Scotia by the narrow Isthmus of Chignecto
• In 1604 the French attempted their first settlement in North America, on St.Croix Island
• New Brunswick entered the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867, as one of the four original provinces
• New Brunswick is called the Loyalist Province
• The province is named for the British royal family of Brunswick-Lüneburg
• The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world
• New Brunswick has the warmest saltwater beaches north of Virginia
• The Appalachian Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth
• Mount Carleton is the Maritime's highest peak
• New Brunswick has 6,000 kilometers of snowmobile trails and 900 kilometers of cross-country ski trails
• Kings County is the Covered bridge capital of Canada. The world's longest covered bridge is in Hartland. It's 390 metres (1,282 feet) long and spans the St. John River.
• Ganongs created the first candy bar by individually wrapping pieces of chocolate and selling them for a nickel
• King Street in Saint John is the steepest main street in Canada rising 80 feet in two city blocks
• Nackawic has the world’s biggest axe. It's 15 metres (50 feet) high and can be found on the River Valley Scenic Drive
• The world-famous Miramichi River boasts the best salmon fishing in the world
• New Brunswick is the second largest peat exporter in the world
• The world's biggest lobster is in Shediac. It's 10.5 metres (35 feet) long, 4.5 metres (15 feet) high and weighs 90 tons!
• The inventor of the ice cream cone was born in Sussex - the Dairy Capital of Canada, on the Fundy Coastal Drive. |
|
| Atlantic Canada > Prince Edward Island |
| |
Airports
|
| |
Prince Edward Island is served by airports in Charlottetown and Summerside. Private charters can also fly into Charlottetown and Summerside.
|
AIRPORT |
AIRLINES |
|
Charlottetown |
Air Canada Jazz
Northwest Airlines
WestJet
|
|
Summeside |
Charters Only | |
|
Area
|
| |
| 5,656 square km / 2,184 square miles |
|
Area Code
|
| |
| 902 - This area code must be dialed for long distance calls into or within Prince Edward Island. |
|
Capital City
|
| |
| Charlottetown |
|
Climate
|
| |
| Prince Edward Island has four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures range up to 30° Celsius (88°F), average daytime highs are closer to 22.5°C (73°F). Light constant breezes and low humidity are also characteristic. Winters are crisp and clean with temperatures ranging from –3 to – 11 (11 to 26°F).
|
|
Emergencies
|
| |
| In the event of an emergency, dial 911 for immediate police, fire, and medical assistance.
|
|
Environment and Recycling
|
| |
| Currently, non-returnable bottles for carbonated beverages are not sold in the Province. Deposits on returnable carbonated bottles are high to encourage recycling. Large billboards are not permitted along roadways. Instead, a Government sponsored signage program limits the number and size of commercial signs throughout the rural countryside. The annual Spring Roadside Clean Up Program brings out hundreds of volunteers annually to pick litter from roadside ditches.
|
|
Languages
|
| |
| Both of Canada’s official languages — English and French — are spoken on Prince Edward Island. Native Mi’kmaq can also be heard in some parts of the province.
|
|
Lobster Season
|
| |
| There are two lobster seasons. The first runs from approximately the 1st of May to the end of June on the north side of PEI from North Cape to East Point and along the east coast to Victoria. The second season runs from approximately mid-August to mid-October on the south side of PEI from west of Victoria to North Cape.
|
|
Major Cities
|
| |
Charlottetown
Summerside
|
|
Major Industries
|
| |
| Agriculture, tourism, fisheries, and manufacturing
|
|
Police
|
| |
| Officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) patrol Prince Edward Island’s highways and are responsible for other provincial police duties. There are also Municipal forces within two communities.
|
|
Population
|
| |
| 139,900 (2002). 56% of the population is rural.
|
|
Sales Tax & Rebates
|
| |
Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 10% is applied to most purchases. It is calculated after the GST (Goods and Services Tax) is added. The GST adds 6% to just about everything, with the exception of clothing, footwear, edible groceries and financial services. Foreign visitors may claim a rebate on purchases of at least $200 of eligible goods and accommodations. Each receipt must show a minimum purchase of $50 before taxes.
www.cra-arc.gc.ca
In Canada: 1-800-668-4748
Outside Canada: 902-432-5608
|
|
Sunday Shopping
|
| |
| Retail businesses are not open on Sunday;
however, many tourism-related businesses
may be open.
|
|
Symbols of PEI
|
| |
• The Latin words Parva Sub Ingenti on the Armorial Bearings (formerly the Coat of Arms) translates to "The small under the protection of the great".
• The provincial bird is a blue jay.
• The provincial Flag is modelled after the original Coat of Arms.
• The provincial flower is the Lady's Slipper.
• The PEI tartan was adopted in 1960.
• The provincial tree is the red oak.
• The Island Hymn was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in the spring of 1908.
|
|
Time Zone
|
| |
| Prince Edward Island is on Atlantic Daylight Time, which is four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time and one hour later than the Eastern Time Zone. Daylight Saving Time is in effect annually in Prince Edward Isalnd from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
|
|
Transportation
|
| |
| Ferry service from Wood Island, PEI to Caribou, Nova Scotia runs for 8 months of the year (May 01 to December 20) - weather and ice permitting. The 12.9 km (9 mile) Confederation Bridge joins Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick and is the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world. Opened on May 31, 1997, the bridge is 11 m wide and carries two lanes of traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The normal travelling speed is 80 km/h and it takes approximately 10 minutes to cross the Bridge. A round trip bridge toll is paid on exiting Prince Edward Island
|
|
Toll Roads
|
| |
| There are no toll roads on Prince Edward Island. |
|
Weather Forecasts
|
| |
| www.gov.pe.ca/weather
|
|
Facts & Stats
|
| |
• Prince Edward Island has two major cities (Charlottetown and Summerside) and seven towns.
• PEI is 224km (140 mi) long and from
6-64 km (4-40 mi) wide.
• First round of golf was played in 1902.
• It took 3.5 years to construct the Confederation Bridge which opened in in1997.
• The highest point above sea level is 496ft (152m).
• The Islands soil is red due to the high level of iron oxide.
• Almost 50% of the island is farmland.
• The closest distance between PEI and NB
is 13 km (8 mi).
• Prince Edward Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Canada's east coast.
• PEI is separated from mainland Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, by the Northumberland Strait.
• No place in the province is more than 16 km (10 mi) from the sea.
• The Island is formed from sedimentary bed rock of soft, red sandstone which produces the rich, red soil. The redness of the soil is due to the high iron-oxide (rust) content.
• Charlottetown was named after Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III.
• Lucy Maud Montgomery,one of Canada's most famous authors, was born in PEI.
• The musical Anne of Green Gables opened in 1965 at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908.
• The Island was discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1534.
• The Island's first residents were the Mi'kmaq.
• They called this beautiful Island Epekwitk,
meaning resting on the waves. Europeans later changed the pronunciation of the name to Abegweit.
• The Island renamed itself "Prince Edward", in honour of Edward, Duke of Kent (father of Queen Victoria) in 1799.
• The Charlottetown Conference of September 1, 1864, one of Canada's most historical events, was held to discuss a Canadian union.
• PEI joined Confederation in 1873 and is the smallest province in Canada.
|
|
| Atlantic Canada > Nova Scotia |
| |
Airports
|
| |
Nova Scotia is served by airports in Halifax, Sydney and Yarmouth, with the bulk of air traffic coming through our gateway at Halifax International Airport. Smaller airports and airfields are also dotted throughout the province, many of them served by private charters.
|
AIRPORT |
AIRLINES |
|
Halifax |
Air Canada
Air Canada Jazz
Air Saint Pierre
American Eagle
CanJet
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Prince Edward Air
Provincial Air
United Airlines
WestJet
Skyservice
|
|
Sydney |
Air Canada Jazz | |
|
Area
|
| |
| 52,841 square km/20,402 square mi
|
|
Area Code
|
| |
| 902 — This area code must be dialed for long
distance calls into or within Nova Scotia
|
|
Capital City
|
| |
| Halifax Regional Municipality |
|
Climate
|
| |
| Nova Scotia is known as a place where the four seasons are refreshingly distinct. Average daily temperatures are 10 to 16 °C (50 to 61°F) in the Spring; 20 to 25°C (68 to 77F) in the Summer; 12 to 15°C (54 to 59°F) in the Autumn; and -2 to 1°C (28 to 34°F) in the Winter. Rainfall on an annual basis averages 1,178.1 mm/46.38 inches. |
|
Emergencies
|
| |
| In the event of an emergency, dial 911
for immediate police, fire, and medical
assistance.
|
|
Environment
|
| |
| Nova Scotia works to protect the province's clean and beautiful environment. Nova Scotia has become a world leader in recycling and composting. There is a progressive waste-management program, and in 2000 became the first province in Canada to recycle 50% of their waste. Blue bins for recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, metal) and green carts for organics (food waste, soiled napkins, etc.) are used in most locations around the province. Please help us preserve our natural beauty by tossing your waste into these receptacles.
|
|
Languages
|
| |
| Both of Canada’s official languages - English and French - are spoken throughout Nova Scotia. Other languages, such as native Mi’kmaq and Scottish Gaelic, can also be heard in certain regions.
|
|
Major Industries
|
| |
| Manufacturing, Tourism, Forestry, Fishery
|
|
Police
|
| |
| Officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) patrol Nova Scotia’s highways and are responsible for other provincial police duties. There are also Municipal forces within most communities.
|
|
Population
|
| |
| 944,800 (Est. 2002)
|
|
Sales Tax & Rebates
|
| |
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applied at a single rate of 14 % to a base of goods and services. Visitors to Nova Scotia may be able to receive a 14 % tax rebate on eligible sales receipts submitted for accommodations and most tangible goods exported from Canada. Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada booklets are available at all Provincial Visitor Information Centres.
www.cra-arc.gc.ca
In Canada: 1-800-668-4748
Outside Canada: 902-432-5608
|
|
Sunday Shopping
|
| |
| Large stores such as department stores and supermarkets are closed on Sundays, but convenience stores and drug stores are generally open. Smaller stores and many tourism-related facilities may also be open.
|
|
Tides
|
| |
| For information on tides and marine weather call 902-426-5494 or visit the Environment Canada web site online at www.ns.ec.ca
|
|
Time Zone
|
| |
| Nova Scotia is on Atlantic Daylight Time, which is four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time and one hour later than the Eastern Time Zone. Daylight Saving Time is in effect annually in Nova Scotia from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
|
|
Toll Roads
|
| |
The Cobequid Pass on Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) 104, which begins at the Nova Scotia / New Brunswick border is a toll road. The toll fee is $3.00 per axel. An alternative non-toll route is Highway 4 through the Wentworth Valley, restrictions apply to commercial vehicles/motorcoaches/trucks.
There is also a toll of $2.50 per motorcoach on both bridges between the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth.
|
|
Tourism Associations
|
| |
Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia
www.tians.org
Central Nova Tourist Association
www.centralnovascotia.com
Destination Southwest Nova Scotia
www.destinationsouthwestnova.com
Destination Halifax
www.destinationhalifax.com
Pictou County Tourist Association
www.tourismpictoucounty.com
Antigonish - Eastern Shore Tourism Association
www.aesta.org
Tourism Cape Breton
www.cbisland.com |
|
Weather Forecasts
|
| |
Weather forecasts in Nova Scotia are given in Celsius measurements. For approximate temperature conversion, use this easy calculation: Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 30 and divide by 2. Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply by 2 and add 30. Nova Scotia’s weather forecasts are produced from Environment Canada’s Weather Services Office located in Halifax. www.ns.ec.gc.ca
Free Recorded Forecasts
902-426-9090 (English)
902-426-9095 (French)
|
|
Important Numbers
|
| |
Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS)
1099 Marginal Road, Suite 210
Halifax, NS B3H 4P7
Tel: 902-423-4480
Fax: 902-422-0184
Toll Free: 1-800-94-TIANS
www.tians.org
Parks Canada Visitor Information
1-888-773-8888
www.parkscanada.gc.ca
Canada Customs
For answers to all customs inquiries, please call the information line: 1-800-461-9999 in Canada or 204-983-3500 outside Canada.
Canada Border Services Agency
Ottawa, ON, K1A 1J5
Or visit the website at:
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca |
|
Visitor Information Centres
|
| |
Amherst Year Round - Gift shop on premises
90 Cumberland Loop
Highway #104, Exit 1
Fort Lawrence, NS B4H 3Y5
Digby Open: Apr - Nov
237 Shore Road
Digby, NS B0A 1A0
Halifax International Airport
Open: Year Round
1 Bell Blvd.
Elmsdale, NS B2T 1K2
Halifax Waterfront Open: Year Round
1655 LowerWater Street
Halifax Waterfront, Sackville Wharf
Halifax, NS B3J 1S2
Peggy's Cove Open: May - Oct
109 Peggy's Point Rd
Peggy's Cove, NS B0J 2N0
Pictou Open: May - Dec
350 West River Road
Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
Port Hastings
Open: Mar - Jan - Gift shop on premises
96 Highway #4
Port Hastings, NS B0E 2T0
Yarmouth
Open: May - Oct - Currency Exchange Services - Gift shop on premises
228 Main Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 1C8
Bar Harbor, ME Open: May - Oct
4 Cottage Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 |
|
| Atlantic Canada > Newfoundland & Labrador |
| |
Airports
|
| |
Newfoundland & Labrador are served by airports in Blanc Sablon, Quebec (accessing Labrador Straits), Churchill Falls, Deer Lake, Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. Anthony, Stephenville, St. John’s, and Wabush, Labrador; with the majority of air traffic coming through St. John’s International Airport. Many of the smaller airports are served by private charters.
| Airport |
Airlines |
| St. John's |
Air Canada & Air Canada Jazz |
| |
Air Labrador |
| |
Air Saint Pierre |
| |
Air Transat |
| |
CanJet |
| |
Continental Airlines |
| |
Provincial Airlines |
| |
Skyservice
Sunwing Airlines |
| |
WestJet |
| Stephenville |
Skyservice, Sunwing Airlines |
|
|
| Goose Bay |
Air Canada Jazz |
| |
Air Labrador |
| |
Provincial Airlines |
| Deer Lake |
Air Canada Jazz |
| |
Air Labrador |
| |
CanJet |
| |
Provincial Airlines |
| Wabush |
Air Canada Jazz
Air Labrardor |
| |
Provincial Airlines |
| Gander |
Air Canada Jazz |
| |
Sunwing Airlines |
| St. Anthony & Blanc Sablon |
Air Labrador |
|
Provincial Airlines | |
|
Area
|
| |
Total Province: 405, 720 square km/243,432 square mi
Island of Newfoundland: 111,390 square km/ 66,834 square mi
Labrador: 294,330 square km/approx.
112,000 square mi
|
|
Area Code
|
| |
| 709 — This area code must be dialed for long distance calls into or within Newfoundland & Labrador.
|
|
Capital City
|
| |
| St. John's |
|
Cell Phone Use While Driving
|
| |
| As of April 1, 2003 it is illegal in this province to use a hand-held cellular phone while driving on any public road. Cell phones are permitted to be used when fitted with authorized hands-free adapters.
|
|
Climate
|
| |
| The province of Newfoundland & Labrador has two distinct ranges of climate: the island of Newfoundland enjoys a temperate marine
climate with no extremes of temperature. Labrador’s climate is continental, and therefore colder and drier. January, February and March are considered to be winter months, with snow present in all areas. The coastal regions will have average temperatures of -1 Celsius (29F) to -8 Celsius (18F). Inland and northern areas will be much colder. April and May are still quite cool and precipitation is abundant but snow is by now disappearing in most regions. Temperatures can range from 23 Celsius (73F) to -6C (21F). By June, temperatures can range from 29 Celsius (84F) to 1 Celsius (34F). July and August daytime temperatures range from 25 Celsius (77F) to 32 Celsius (90F). Labrador daytime temperatures can also be very warm. Evenings, however, are refeshingly cool. September and October feature variable
temperatures ranging from 26 Celsius (78F)
to -3 Celsius (26F). November and December are generally cold.
|
|
Emergencies
|
| |
| In the event of an emergency, dial 911
for immediate police, fire, and medical
assistance.
|
|
Languages
|
| |
| Visitors to Newfoundland & Labrador will hear both of Canada’s official languages - English and French - depending on the region. Native Innu and Inuit and colourful Irish/English dialects can also be heard in certain regions.
|
|
Major Industries
|
| |
| Mining, forestry, fishing |
|
Police
|
| |
| Officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) patrol Newfoundland & Labrador’s highways and are responsible for other provincial police duties. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary provide police services for metro St. John’s, Corner Brook and Labrador City-Wabush, while there are also some larger communities which have Municipal forces.
|
|
Population
|
| |
| 515,591 (including 27,105 in Labrador) |
|
Principle Centres & Populations
|
| |
| St. John's and Area |
182,485 |
| Mount Pearl |
24,964 |
| Gander |
9,651 |
| Grand Falls - Windsor |
13,340 |
| Corner Brook |
20,103 |
| Stephenville |
7,109 |
| Labrador City |
7,744 |
| Happy Valley - Goose Bay |
7,969 | |
|
Sales Tax & Rebates
|
| |
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applied at a single rate of 14 % to a base of goods and services. Visitors to Newfoundland & Labrador may be able to receive a 14 % tax rebate on eligible sales receipts submitted for accommodations and most tangible goods exported from Canada. Tax Refund for Visitors to Canada booklets are available at all Provincial Visitor Information Centres and at:
www.ccra.gc.ca/forms
In Canada: 1-800-959-2221
Outside Canada: 613-952-3741 |
|
Sunday Shopping
|
| |
| Stores, including malls and large grocery chains are permitted to open on Sunday. Business hours on Sunday are generally from Noon to 6 p.m. except on designated holidays. Most major shopping malls are open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm.
|
|
Time Zone
|
| |
| The island of Newfoundland is located in its own unique time zone - half an hour earlier than Atlantic Time. The Labrador portion of the province operates on Atlantic Standard Time, except for the area on the coast from L’ Anse au Clair to Cartwright, which operates on Newfoundland Standard Time.
|
|
Weather Forecasts
|
| |
| www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/maps/nf
|
|
Winter Travel
|
| |
During the winter all primary highways are kept open except for short periods during or immediately after a severe snowstorm. Conditions for all roads across the province are provided around the clock, seven days a week by dispatchers at the five main Transportation Depots. To check road conditions:
http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/roadreport-information.stm
Telephone Numbers: The following numbers are available to speak directly to staff at the dispatch office. Long distance charges may apply if applicable.
Avalon Region 1-709-729-7669
Eastern Region 1-709-466-4160
Central Region 1-709-292-4444
Western Region 1-709-635-4144
Labrador Region 1-709-896-7888 |
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| Atlantic Headlines |
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July, 2008
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