Grand Bank

Grand Bank
Town
Official seal of Grand Bank
Grand Bank is located in Newfoundland
Grand Bank
Grand Bank
Location of Grand Bank in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°06′N 55°47′W / 47.100°N 55.783°W / 47.100; -55.783
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Settled1640
Incorporated1943
Government
 • TypeTown Council
 • MayorRex C. Matthews
 • MHAPaul Pike, (LIB),
Burin-Grand Bank
 • MPChurence Rogers (LIB),
Bonavista—Burin—Trinity
Area
 • Total
16.97 km2 (6.55 sq mi)
Elevation
7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
2,152
 • Density136.1/km2 (52.5/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code709
Highways Route 210
Route 220
The Heritage Run
WebsiteThe Town of Grand Bank
Grand Bank Lighthouse Edit this at Wikidata
Constructed1890 (first)
Constructionwooden tower (first)
concrete tower (current)
Height7 m (23 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapeoctagonal truncated tower with balcony and lantern (current)[1][2]
Markingswhite tower, red lantern (current)
OperatorCanadian Coast Guard Edit this on Wikidata
First lit1922 (current)
Focal height8 m (26 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Lenseighth-order dioptric lens
Range5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicQ G Edit this on Wikidata

Grand Bank or 'Grand Banc' as the first French settlers pronounced it, is a small rural town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with a population of 2,580. It is located on the southern tip or "toe" of the Burin Peninsula (also known as "the boot"), 360 km from the province's capital of St. John's.

Grand Bank was inhabited by French fisherman as early as 1640 and started as a fishing settlement with about seven families. It was given the name "Grand Banc" because of the high bank that extends from Admiral's Cove to the water's edge on the west side of the harbour.[3]

The Town of Grand Bank can attribute much of its past and present growth and prosperity to its proximity to the fishing grounds and its ice-free harbour. Original settlers thrived on trade with the French and a vigorous inshore fishing industry. Grand Bank became the nucleus of the bank fishing industry for Newfoundland and a service centre for Fortune Bay. With the decline of the salt fish industry, the town's emphasis quickly shifted to fresh fish production. Enterprising businessmen and town planners prepared the way for a fresh fish plant (present day Grand Bank Seafoods Inc.) and a fleet of trawlers.

  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Southeastern Newfoundland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  2. ^ List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2016.
  3. ^ Riggs Bert. "Grand Bank" In Joseph R. Smallwood, ed. Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. Vol. 2. St.John's:Newfoundland Book Publishers (1967) Ltd., 1984, p.677