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The town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is located on the northeast coast of North America in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's most easterly province.  More precisely, Happy Valley-Goose Bay is located at the extreme western end of Lake Melville, a long salt water lake that extends 210 km inland from the Labrador Sea, and ultimately empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The town is situated on a peninsula bounded in the south by the mighty Churchill River and in the north by both Terrington Basin and Goose Bay.

Relatively... Happy Valley-Goose Bay is:

• 852 km from St. John's by air and 1337 km by road

• 1304 km from Montreal by air and 1838 by road

• 970 km from Halifax by air and 1987 by road

• 4996 km from Vancouver by air and 6308 by road

Collage of Pictures from Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Infrastructure:

• Power: Nfld. & Labrador Hydro
  
  

• Water: Town provided filtered and treated water
  
  

• Fuel: Automotive gas and diesel and propane for Bar-b-q's only (no alternative fuels for automobiles, ie. natural gas.)

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Transportation: 

• Air: Happy Valley-Goose Bay is the air transportation hub for Labrador. As a home to one of the largest airports in Eastern Canada, Happy Valley-Goose Bay hosts a number of air carriers who operate regularly scheduled flights to and from the Island of Newfoundland, the provinces of Nova Scotia, Quebec and other Labrador communities. There are also a number of charter services that use Happy Valley-Goose Bay as a base to access the numerous charter camps in Labrador.
  

• Air Labrador 1 800 563 3042
  

• Air Nova 1 888 247 2262
  

• Canadian Helicopters 1 709 896 5259
  

• Provincial Airlines 1 800 563 2802
  

• Torngat Flight Centre 1 709 896 0198
  

• Universal Helicopters 1 709 896 2444
  

• Marine:  The communities along the coats of Labrador, including Happy Valley-Goose Bay are serviced by a regularly scheduled marine ferry and coastal supply boats. This is a seasonal service and generally runs from June to November. Travelers can travel from Happy Valley-Goose Bay down the coast to the town of Cartwright.  From there one travels by road to Lanse au Loup which borders Blance Sablon, Quebec where a ferry crosses the Straight of Belle Ilse to St. Barb on the Northern peninsula of NL.  This trip will expose the traveler to some of the most wonderful seascapes and landscapes imaginable. For further information on the schedules and reservations, contact the Provincial Department of Works, Service and Transportation at 1 709 896 7840.
  

• Land:  The Trans-Labrador Highway accesses the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay from western and southern Labrador.   The Highway is a high quality gravel road. For travelers along the western portion, route 500, there is full service stops in Labrador City.  In Churchill Falls there are limited services. There may not be 24 hour services available in these communities.  For travelers along the southern portion, route 501, there are full service stops in Lanse au Loup, Red Bay and Cartwright.  The traveler must then continue on to Happy Valley-Goose Bay via a ferry from Cartwright which only runs in summer months.  Once in Happy Valley-Goose Bay complete and full services to meet any travelers needs can be found. The distances between services and the wilderness setting means that travelers should plan accordingly. The distance between Labrador City and Churchill Falls is approximately 238 kilometers, and 288 kilometers between Churchill Falls and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. When planning to travel the Trans-Labrador Highway, contact the Provincial Department of Works, Service and Transportation at 1 709 896 7840 to check on road conditions.
  

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Media & Communication: 

• Telephone: Aliant Telecom - NewTel
  
  

• Radio/TV: Radio from CBC and CFCB / Cable TV and Bell View express satellite T.V.
  
  

• Internet Service: Cancom (Cable Labrador) & Sympatico (Aliant Telecom - NewTel)
  
  

• Mail:  Canada Post Corporation

  Base Station "A" AOP 1SO

  Spruce Park Station "C" AOP 1CO

  Valley Station "B" AOP 1EO

   

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Facilities & Services:

• Medical: Labrador Health Corporation

  Public Health
  
  

• Religion: Anglican Church, Jehovah's Witness

  Roman Catholic Church, Baha'i Faith

  Pentecostal Church, Salvation Army Church

  Moravian Church, Apostolic Church

  Baptist Church, United Church of Canada

  Calvary church of the Nazarene
  

• RCMP: Local Detachment
  

• Motor Vehicle Regulations: The Motor Vehicle Registration Office is located in Happy Valley and is open Mondays to Fridays.
  
  

• Retail Outlets:

  -Family Restaurants (Canadian, Italian, Greek & Chinese cuisine)

  - Fast Food Restaurants (Pizza Delight, KFC, A&W, Burger King, Subway, Mary Browns, Pizza Hut, Mr. Sub)

  - Video Rentals (Just New Releases, Uptown Audio/Video. Down Audio/Video)

  - Grocery Stores (Superior, CO-OP, Northmart)

  - Clothing Stores (Reitmans, Northmart, Northern Lights, Riffs, Bargain Shop, Cottage Casuals)

  - Hardware Stores (Motherwood, Goose Sales & Services, Notre Dame

  - Furniture (Northern, Notre Dame, Fitzes, Cohens)
  

• Public Accommodation:
  

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Sports, Recreation & Leisure

From skiing to hiking and camping the great outdoors is at its greatest in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Explore the forests, mountains and lakes of one of Canada's last remaining untapped storehouses of natural wealth and beauty by hiking, biking, or skiing on one of the many trails in the area. Whether you rent a canoe or kayak and scout the surrounding lakes and rivers or play a relaxing round of golf in the pleasing environment found at the local golf club, outdoor activities to suit all tastes can be found here!

• Labrador Training Centre (indoor pool, gymnasium, exercise room)
  
  

• Ice Skating Rink
  
  

• Amuruk Golf and Sports Club is a 6300 yard, nine hole 18 tee, par 71 course located just minutes away from the town's major hotels. The clubhouse has a bar, washroom facilities, electronic lottery games and a canteen.
  

• Snowmobiling: Labrador's winter offers the snowmobile enthusiast one of the greatest possible experiences. For people that are in this northern environment, snowmobiles are like cars and trucks are in the south. As a result there is an increasing number of high quality groomed trails in Labrador. In the Upper Lake Melville region (of which Happy Valley-Goose Bay sits in the middle), there are plans to develop groomed trails that will link up the coastal areas and Labrador West.
  
  

• Ski Mount Shana This ski facility has five trails with varying degrees of difficulty ranging from the beginners slope, with a 305 metre lift to the most difficult and longest trail of 670 metres with a vertical elevation of 162 metres. The club is equipped with a T-Bar lift that can accommodate 44 skiers at a time, a chalet and apres ski.
  
  

• Biking and Walking Trail This beautiful walking/bike trail is a wonderful way to see the town on foot or by bicycle. The trail starts on the lower end of Hamilton River Road in Happy Valley and extends to the Industrial Park on the Canadian Side, with part of the trail leading to 5 Wing goose Bay. One segment of the trail passes through a lovely forest where nature can be viewed at its best. Benches along the trail provide rest areas.
  
  

• Muskrat Falls Is a 15-m waterfall on the Lower Churchill River and is accessible mainly by vehicle, with a short hike over rugged terrain to the actual Falls. View the Falls in its beautiful natural surroundings, explore the forests, mountains and lakes and enjoy the area's flora and fauna. Insect repellant, a camera, a lunch and hiking boots are a must. As a historic note, there are claims that in 1944 a German submarine was beached near the base of Muskrat Falls, after the crew decided to withdraw from the war! A tour can be arranged through Labrador Scenic Ltd. 709 8497 8326, Churchill River Boat tours 709 896 0936 or Break Away Adventures 709 896 9343.
  
  

• Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club and Hiking Trails maintain 20 km of unexcavated true cross-country trails, providing access to a variety of wilderness areas with undisturbed flora and fauna. Many of these trails are chipped with wood for hiking in the summer. In the winter, they are used as cross-country ski trails. Markers are erected at sites of particular interest. A chalet, which is equipped with picnic tables, a wood stove, barbeques and a sauna, is available to trail users. This chalet is unattended, but is always unlocked to welcome adventurers.
  
  

• Break Away Adventures Explore Labrador's winters the safe, environmentally friendly and fun way by kayaking on lake Melville and its tributaries or canoeing the mighty Churchill River. Break Away Adventures offers instructional kayaking lessons, tours, equipment rental and guide services.
  
  

• Labrador Scenic Limited Offers guided tours, canoeing, hiking and rental cottages in the North West River area. In March and April, winter wilderness snowmobile tours are offered with guides, meals, accommodations, and outfitting.
  
  

• Minipi Wilderness Resort Have an adventure anytime of the year in the luxurious cedar lodge and experience some of the best cuisine in Labrador. Activities that are available at the resort include canoeing, winter camping, and cross country skiing.
  
  

• T&R Marina home to Labrador Aquatic rentals Inc., has a wise variety of equipment available to rent. Items include ZODIAC inflatable boats, aluminum boats, wave runners, sea-doos, canoes and mountain bikes.
  
  

• Whale Watching Tours Happy Valley-Goose Bay can be your departure point for fabulous whale watching tours to Rigolet, Cartwright or Red Bay. See magnificent icebergs, a multitude of seabirds, spectacular coastline scenery and, of course, awe-inspiring whales. More information can be obtained by contacting the Dept. of Tourism in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, 709 896 3209.
  
  
  

• Historical Sites:
  
  

• Labrador Heritage Society Museum Learn the history of Labrador, the land and its people through the many photographs, book collections and historic manuscripts held at this museum. Trapping displays consist of a "tilt" (a rudimentary form of shelter used in the wilderness), tools of the trade and many beautiful native furs including beaver, red fox and silver fox. Other interesting holdings include a collection of artifacts from the ill fated Wallace-Hubbard Expedition into the Labrador interior and indexed sampling of Labrador miners. Visitation is by appointment only.
  
  

• "Them Days" Inc publishes a quarterly magazine dedicated to documenting and preserving Labrador history and also maintains an archive dealing exclusively with Labrador material. Holdings include public records, private letters, manuscripts, taped interviews, photographs and negatives.
  
  

• Labrador Institute of Northern Studies View artifacts on loan from the Dillon Wallace Collection and the Labrador Heritage Society Museum, photographs of Labrador in the 1800s and the Moravian Mission and exhibits featuring Labrador art work.
  
  

• Northern Lights Building Nature scenes and life-like displays of Labrador wild life can be viewed at the Northern Lights Building. Animals included in the displays are the black bear, wolf, fox, lynx, otter, beaver, bald eagle, loon, duck and the Canada Goose. Visit the trapper's brook complete with running water and sound effects and catch a view of the Aurora Borealis. Also on display (on the lower section of the building) is one of the largest collections of O Gauge Lionel boy trains on the east coast of Canada. Several of the toy trains were built in the 1940s and 1950s and are still in working condition. Many of the steam locomotives measure over two feet long and puff real smoke. This building also houses the Northern Lights Military Museum.
  
  

• The Moravian Church This enchanting little church was built in 1954 and is the only church in Labrador that was not built as a Mission Church.
  
  

• Birch Island a former settlement, a very private and quiet area.
  
  

• Labrador Interpretation Center This newly constructed building holds some of Labrador's finest artwork. It is the first Provincial Museum in the area, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth Ii on Thursday, June 26, 1997.
  
  

• Mini Museum This museum contains a display of artifacts from the early days of Labrador. Upon request, entertaining stories of early Labrador will be recounted. Open during the summer months only and by appointment.
  

Educational Institutions:

Labrador School Board

• Queen of Peace Middle School (Gr. 4-7 English/French Immersion/Francophone)
  
  

• Peacock Primary School (Gr. K-3 English/French Immersion/Francophone)
  
  

• Mealy Mountain Collegiate (Gr. 8-12)
  
  

• College of the North Atlantic
  
  

• Memorial University has a campus here which can put you in touch with the campus in St. John's or Sir Wilfred Grenfell College regarding admissions, tuition etc. It also offers a number of degree credit courses at night, taken directly by the teleconference or videotape. Correspondence courses are also offered. Special interest courses are also very popular and are given live; these include German language, French language, Video Production and many more.
  
  

• Banking: 
  
  

• Scotia Bank
  
  

• Royal Bank
  
  

• Labrador Credit Union
  
  

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Suggested items to bring:  These items can be purchased locally; however, you will need appropriate winter clothing [Warm winter hat, mitts, boots, jacket, snowpants, scarf or face mask].

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Contact: 

• Labrador School Board,  709 896 - 2431/ 2432
  
  

• Henry Windler, Principal at Queen of Peace Middle School (Gr. 4-7 English/French Immersion/Francophone), phone # 709 896 - 5315.
  
  

• Douglas Abbass, Principal at Peacock Primary School (Gr. K-3 English/French Immersion/Francophone), phone # 709 896 - 3896.
  
  

• Bruce Vey, Principal at Mealy Mountain Collegiate (8-12) English/French Immersion), phone # 709 896 - 3366
  

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