Welcome to Baie Verte

Unlike many of the smaller surrounding communities, Baie Verte is not a fishery based community. Only 35 of its residents hold a fishing license-7 full-time and
28 part-time. Thirteen of these people are members of a fishing union. A total of 26 registered fishing vessels, ranging in size from below 19 feet up to 64 feet are owned by different people. There are no boat building facilities, processing plants, community stages, or marine service centers in Baie Verte. Any fishing activity carried on by the fisher people usually takes place in other communities. There are between 8-10 private wharves and stages scattered around the community.

Fisher people can obtain fishing supplies in Baie Verte, but as for a bait supplier, Marine Service Centre, etc. they travel to La Scie (52km by road). The only type of gear storage available is the fisher people’s own personal buildings.

Easterly and Northerly winds create harsh harbour conditions during storms. There are nine miles of usable shoreline around the long narrow harbour. The harbour is large enough for an icebreaker to maneuver. A leading light exists to guide ships/boats into the harbour.

Approximately six sawmills are in operation on the Baie Verte Peninsula during the months of June to November. Some of the mills are located in the town. There are also a number of logging contractors who cut wood for Kruger and Abitibi Price (pulp and paper companies).

Baie Verte’s economic base is not presently dependent upon mining. At present one mining company is operating on the Baie Verte Peninsula. Richmont is operating at Nugget Pond, which is located between Snook’s Arm and Nipper’s Harbour, and they are mining for gold.

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 1990'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 seventy businesses, from sales, services and industrial sectors operating from the town of Baie Verte.

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 appointed as Mayor.

In 1891, Baie Verte had a population of 13 people. By 1911, there were 68
residents. The large increase from 282 people in 1945 to 650 people in 1946 was attributed to a rash of land sales by Bowater. Statistics show a steady increase in population to 2692 residents in 1981. However, by 1986 it had begun to decline with 1900 in 1995.

In the late 1930's, 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 1850's, 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.

Town of Baie Verte

32 Highway 410 (P.O. Box 218)
Baie Verte, Newfoundland & Labrador A0K 1B0
Canada

Local: (709) 532-8222
Fax: (709) 532-4134
Email: info@townofbaieverte.ca

GPS Coordinates: 49.93927, -56.19073

The Town of Baie Verte is located on the northeast coast of Newfoundland & Labrador - on the Baie Verte Peninsula in White Bay. Baie Verte is one of 42 communities which comprise the Emerald Zone (north central portion of Newfoundland).

Specific directions from St. Anthony Airport, St. Barbe, Deer Lake Airport, Port aux Basques and St. John's are provided below for your convenience. Yet, please do not hesitate to call us for directions.

Directions From St. Anthony Airport:

Heading out of St. Anthony Airport, turn left toward NL-430 S. Go 1.5 km. Take the 1st right onto NL-430 S. Go approximately 362 km. Turn left to merge onto NL-1 E / Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 95 km. Turn left onto NL-410 N (signs for Newfoundland & Labrador 410). Go approximately 62 km. Take slight right onto Main Street. Travel approximately 450 meters. Turn left to stay on Main Street.

Directions From St. Barbe:

From St. Barbe, head southeast on NL-430 S. Go approximately 299 km. Turn left to merge onto NL-1 E / ​Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 95 km. Turn left onto NL-410 N (signs for Newfoundland & Labrador 410). Go approximately 62 km. Take slight right onto Main Street. Travel approximately 450 meters. Turn left to stay on Main Street.

Directions From Deer Lake Airport:

When leaving Deer Lake Airport, head southwest toward NL-1 E / Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 2.8 km. Turn left onto NL-1 E / Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 94 km. Turn left onto NL-410 N (signs for Newfoundland and Labrador 410). Go approximately 62 km. Take slight right onto Main Street. Travel approximately 450 meters. Turn left to stay on Main Street.

Directions From Port aux Basques:

When leaving Marine Atlantic Ferry in Port aux Basques, head north on NL-1 E / Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 361 km. Turn left onto NL-410 N (signs for Newfoundland and Labrador 410). Go approximately 62 km. Take slight right onto Main Street. Travel approximately 450 meters. Turn left to stay on Main Street.

Directions From St. John's:

When leaving St. John's Airport, head north. Go approximately 170 meters. Continue straight onto R.C.A.F. Rd for 1.3 km. Turn right onto Torbay Road. Go approximately 2 km. Take the Newfoundland & Labrador 1 W / Trans-Canada Highway ramp. Go approximately 350 meters. Merge onto Trans-Canada Highway. Go approximately 541 km. Turn right onto NL-410 N (signs for Newfoundland and Labrador 410). Go approximately 62 km. Take slight right onto Main Street. Travel approximately 450 m. Turn left to stay on Main Street.