Schefferville
title: "Schefferville" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-and-towns-in-quebec", "incorporated-places-in-côte-nord", "road-inaccessible-communities-of-quebec"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schefferville" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Schefferville |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | Schefferville Pierre Bouchard.JPG |
| flag_size | 120x100px |
| shield_size | 100x80px |
| pushpin_map | Côte-Nord Region Quebec |
| pushpin_label_position | bottom |
| pushpin_label | Schefferville |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Côte-Nord Region of Quebec |
| coordinates | |
| coordinates_footnotes | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Canada |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Quebec |
| subdivision_type2 | Region |
| subdivision_name2 | Côte-Nord |
| subdivision_type3 | RCM |
| subdivision_name3 | Caniapiscau |
| established_title | Settled |
| established_date | 1953 |
| established_title1 | Constituted |
| established_date1 | August 1, 1955 |
| established_title2 | Incorporated |
| established_date2 | 1990 |
| named_for | Lionel Scheffer |
| government_footnotes | |
| leader_title | Administrator |
| leader_name | Jean Dionne |
| leader_title1 | Federal riding |
| leader_name1 | Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan |
| leader_title2 | Prov. riding |
| leader_name2 | Duplessis |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 39.53 |
| area_land_km2 | 24.76 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 244 |
| population_as_of | 2021 |
| population_density_km2 | 9.9 |
| population_blank1_title | Pop (2016–2021) |
| population_blank1 | 87.7% |
| population_blank2_title | Dwellings |
| population_blank2 | 209 |
| timezone | EST |
| utc_offset | −5 |
| timezone_DST | EDT |
| utc_offset_DST | −4 |
| postal_code_type | Postal code(s) |
| postal_code | G0G 2T0 |
| area_codes | 418 and 581 |
| blank_name | Highways |
| blank_info | No major routes |
| blank2_name | NTS map |
| blank2_info | |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Schefferville | native_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Schefferville Pierre Bouchard.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = 120x100px | image_shield = | shield_size = 100x80px | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | mapsize = | pushpin_map = Côte-Nord Region Quebec | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_label = Schefferville | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Côte-Nord Region of Quebec | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes= | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Canada | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Quebec | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Côte-Nord | subdivision_type3 = RCM | subdivision_name3 = Caniapiscau | established_title = Settled | established_date = 1953 | established_title1 = Constituted | established_date1 = August 1, 1955 | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = 1990 | named_for = Lionel Scheffer | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Administrator | leader_name = Jean Dionne | leader_title1 = Federal riding | leader_name1 = Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan | leader_title2 = Prov. riding | leader_name2 = Duplessis | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 39.53 | area_land_km2 = 24.76 | area_water_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 244 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_density_km2= 9.9 | population_blank1_title= Pop (2016–2021) | population_blank1 = 87.7% | population_blank2_title= Dwellings | population_blank2 = 209 | population_note = | timezone = EST | utc_offset = −5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = −4 | postal_code_type = Postal code(s) | postal_code = G0G 2T0 | area_codes = 418 and 581 | blank_name = Highways | blank_info = No major routes | blank2_name = NTS map | blank2_info = | website = | footnotes = Schefferville () is a town in the Canadian province of Quebec. Schefferville is in the heart of the Naskapi and Innu territory in northern Quebec, less than 2 km (1¼ miles) from the border with Labrador on the north shore of Knob Lake. It is located within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality and has an area of 24.76 km2. Schefferville completely surrounds the autonomous Innu community of Matimekosh, and it abuts the small community of Lac-John Reserve. Both of the latter communities are First Nations Innu reserves. Schefferville is also close to the Naskapi reserved land of Kawawachikamach.
The isolated town is not connected to the provincial road network but is accessible by airplane via the Schefferville Airport or by train. Schefferville is the northern terminus of Tshiuetin Rail Transportation (formerly operated by the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway) with service to Sept-Îles.
McGill University operates the McGill Subarctic Research Station in Schefferville.
History
Schefferville was established as a company town in 1954 by the Iron Ore Company Of Canada to support the mining of rich iron ore deposits in the area. The original settlement was called "Burnt Creek" and was located some miles to the north of the current location of the town of Schefferville. When the plans were drawn up for the town, it was originally called "Knob Lake", after a prominent iron ore outcrop visible on a prominent hill south of the town site. The name Schefferville was adopted in honour of (Roman Catholic) Bishop Lionel Scheffer, who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Labrador from 14 March 1946, until his death on 3 October 1966.
At the time of the town's founding, Innu from Maliotenam and Naskapi from Fort Chimo were resettled to Schefferville to assist with geological exploration work and the railway construction. Following many years of neglect, in which they suffered destitute poverty, in 1968 parts of the town were set aside for them as a reserve. By 1972, housing units had been built. Most of the Naskapi and Innu moved to this new site, known today as Matimekosh Reserve.
For some years in the late 1950s, NORAD operated a radar station near Schefferville as part of the Mid-Canada Line, part of North America's defences against possible Soviet attack across the arctic. At its peak in the late 1960s, Schefferville counted some 5,000 residents.
With a mean annual air temperature of -5.3 C, Schefferville belongs to a zone with widespread permafrost occurrence and permafrost exists with a considerable thickness in the area. This resulted in difficulties when blasting in the open pit mine.
Iron ore mining ceased in Schefferville in 1982 on orders from Brian Mulroney, president of the Iron Ore Company. He later became Prime Minister of Canada. When mine operations ceased, most of the 4,000 or so non-aboriginal occupants left. The remainder were mostly aboriginal people who had settled there in the preceding 30 years.
In 1986, the town ceased to exist and dissolved as an incorporated legal entity; the town was incorporated again in 1990. Some houses and public facilities were demolished, while other parts of the infrastructure were added to the Matimekosh Reserve. Many of the remaining houses in the town are used as company housing by businesses active in the iron industry.
Geography
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Schefferville,_QC.jpg" caption="Schefferville"] ::
One of the two only municipalities (with Fermont) on the territory of the Caniapiscau RCM, Schefferville owes its existence to mining. Located in the heart of the Labrador Peninsula, between Knob and Dauriat lakes, 200 km (125 miles) from Labrador City and 533 km (331 miles) north of Sept-Îles, to which it is still connected by the railway.
Climate
Schefferville has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). Schefferville has cool summers relative to its latitude and inland location.
The cold winters are caused in part by elevation, and in part the ice cover of Hudson Bay eliminating maritime moderation in winter. Although Schefferville is nearer the Atlantic, the cold Labrador Current brings cold air also from the east. In summer, the Hudson Bay water is cold after just thawing, and the Labrador waters remains cool and prone to low-pressure systems under the Icelandic Low. As a result, even the vast landmass seldom builds up heat and remains extremely chilly for the latitude. Areas on similar or higher latitudes in western Canada are much warmer also in this time of the year as a result. The low mean annual air temperature of -5.3 °C (22.5 °F) indicates widespread occurrences of permafrost.
|location = Schefferville Airport (1981−2010 normals); elevation 522m |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 5.1 |Feb record high C = 5.1 |Mar record high C = 9.4 |Apr record high C = 16.7 |May record high C = 28.3 |Jun record high C = 34.3 |Jul record high C = 31.9 |Aug record high C = 28.7 |Sep record high C = 26.7 |Oct record high C = 20.6 |Nov record high C = 9.8 |Dec record high C = 5.0 |year record high C = 34.3 |Jan high C = −19.2 |Feb high C = -17.0 |Mar high C = -9.7 |Apr high C = -1.0 |May high C = 5.9 |Jun high C = 13.4 |Jul high C = 17.1 |Aug high C = 16.1 |Sep high C = 9.6 |Oct high C = 1.6 |Nov high C = -6.0 |Dec high C = -15.7 |year high C = -0.4 |Jan mean C = -24.5 |Feb mean C = -22.8 |Mar mean C = -15.9 |Apr mean C = -7.2 |May mean C = 1.0 |Jun mean C = 8.2 |Jul mean C = 12.2 |Aug mean C = 11.4 |Sep mean C = 5.9 |Oct mean C = -1.4 |Nov mean C = -9.8 |Dec mean C = -20.5 |year mean C = -5.3 |Jan low C = −29.8 |Feb low C = −28.5 |Mar low C = −22.2 |Apr low C = -13.3 |May low C = -4.0 |Jun low C = 3.0 |Jul low C = 7.3 |Aug low C = 6.6 |Sep low C = 2.3 |Oct low C = -4.3 |Nov low C = −13.5 |Dec low C = −25.3 |year low C = -10.2 |Jan record low C = −48.3 |Feb record low C = −50.6 |Mar record low C = -45.0 |Apr record low C = −36.1 |May record low C = −23.3 |Jun record low C = −7.8 |Jul record low C = 0.0 |Aug record low C = -3.3 |Sep record low C = −9.4 |Oct record low C = −19.4 |Nov record low C = −35.6 |Dec record low C = −47.2 |year record low C = −50.6 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 49.7 |Feb precipitation mm = 29.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 49.8 |Apr precipitation mm = 56.4 |May precipitation mm = 50.3 |Jun precipitation mm = 76.6 |Jul precipitation mm = 96.2 |Aug precipitation mm = 82.5 |Sep precipitation mm = 114.6 |Oct precipitation mm = 74.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 63.5 |Dec precipitation mm = 48.1 |year precipitation mm = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 0.26 |Feb rain mm = 0.29 |Mar rain mm = 1.4 |Apr rain mm = 9.0 |May rain mm = 26.1 |Jun rain mm = 69.2 |Jul rain mm = 96.1 |Aug rain mm = 81.9 |Sep rain mm = 103.0 |Oct rain mm = 24.5 |Nov rain mm = 4.5 |Dec rain mm = 0.73 |year rain mm = |snow colour = green |Jan snow cm = 70.6 |Feb snow cm = 60.6 |Mar snow cm = 66.6 |Apr snow cm = 50.5 |May snow cm = 22.4 |Jun snow cm = 6.0 |Jul snow cm = 0.1 |Aug snow cm = 0.3 |Sep snow cm = 11.1 |Oct snow cm = 55.2 |Nov snow cm = 66.6 |Dec snow cm = 76.6 |year snow cm = |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |unit rain days = 0.2 mm |unit snow days = 0.2 cm |Jan precipitation days = 16.5 |Feb precipitation days = 13.8 |Mar precipitation days = 16.5 |Apr precipitation days = 15.7 |May precipitation days = 16.0 |Jun precipitation days = 17.1 |Jul precipitation days = 18.9 |Aug precipitation days = 17.8 |Sep precipitation days = 21.4 |Oct precipitation days = 21.7 |Nov precipitation days = 20.8 |Dec precipitation days = 19.1 |year precipitation days = 215.2 |Jan rain days = 0.15 |Feb rain days = 0.54 |Mar rain days = 0.85 |Apr rain days = 3.3 |May rain days = 8.8 |Jun rain days = 15.4 |Jul rain days = 18.9 |Aug rain days = 17.8 |Sep rain days = 19.0 |Oct rain days = 7.6 |Nov rain days = 2.3 |Dec rain days = 0.58 |year rain days = 95.1 |Jan snow days = 16.6 |Feb snow days = 13.6 |Mar snow days = 17.0 |Apr snow days = 13.9 |May snow days = 10.6 |Jun snow days = 4.2 |Jul snow days = 0.23 |Aug snow days = 0.25 |Sep snow days = 5.9 |Oct snow days = 18.4 |Nov snow days = 20.8 |Dec snow days = 19.1 |year snow days = 140.7 |Jan sun = 86.2 |Feb sun = 122.3 |Mar sun = 153.2 |Apr sun = 185.2 |May sun = 199.8 |Jun sun = 185.4 |Jul sun = 196.9 |Aug sun = 177.4 |Sep sun = 90.5 |Oct sun = 61.3 |Nov sun = 49.6 |Dec sun = 58.9 |year sun = 1566.6 |Jan percentsun = 35.3 |Feb percentsun = 44.8 |Mar percentsun = 41.8 |Apr percentsun = 43.9 |May percentsun = 40.1 |Jun percentsun = 35.9 |Jul percentsun = 38.0 |Aug percentsun = 38.3 |Sep percentsun = 23.6 |Oct percentsun = 18.8 |Nov percentsun = 19.5 |Dec percentsun = 25.9 |year percentsun = 33.8 |source 1 = Environment Canada{{cite web | publisher = Environment Canada | url = ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ | title = Schefferville Airport | work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200714071822/ftp://ftp.tor.ec.gc.ca/Pub/Normals/English/ | archive-date = 2020-07-14 | url-status = dead | access-date = November 25, 2013}} |date=August 2010
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Schefferville had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 24.76 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.
Many Naskapi first nation people live mostly in the village of Kawawachikamach, northwest of Schefferville. They are mostly Anglican and United Protestant and speak English as their second language. The Innu people reside mainly in Schefferville and Matimekosh. They are largely Roman Catholic and speak French as their second language. |2021_population=244 | 2021_pop_delta=+87.7 | 2021_land_area=24.76 | 2021_pop_density=9.9 |2021_median_age=37.6 | 2021_median_age_m=43.2 | 2021_median_age_f=29.6 |2021_total_pvt_dwell=209 |2021_occ_pvt_dwell=127 | 2021_mean_hh_income=.n/a | 2021_access_date=2024-04-30 |2016_population=130 | 2016_pop_delta=-39.0 | 2016_land_area=27.33 | 2016_pop_density=5.7 |2016_median_age=33.5 | 2016_median_age_m=44.0 | 2016_median_age_f=29.2 |2016_total_pvt_dwell=230 |2016_occ_pvt_dwell=76 | 2016_mean_hh_income=.n/a | 2016_access_date=2024-04-30 |2011_population=213 | 2011_pop_delta=+5.4 | 2011_land_area=25.11 | 2011_pop_density=8.5 |2011_median_age=32.5 | 2011_median_age_m=43.0 | 2011_median_age_f=28.2 |2011_total_pvt_dwell=178 |2011_occ_pvt_dwell=110 | 2011_mean_hh_income=.n/a | 2011_access_date=2025-04-29 |notes=2016 Population figure based on revised count.
|title = Historical census populations – Schefferville |align = none |cols = 2 |percentages = |footnote = Population figures based on revised counts. Population counts are not adjusted for boundary changes. |source = Statistics Canada | 1956 |1632 | 1961 |3178 | 1966 |3086 | 1971 |3271 | 1976 |3429 | 1981 |1997 | 1986 |322 | 1991 |303 | 1996 |578 | 2001 |240 | 2006 |202 | 2011 |213 | 2016 |130 | 2021 |244
Languages
The Naskapi and Montagnais/Innu languages are, generally, mutually intelligible. Most local inhabitants are able to speak varying amounts of all the local languages, and code-switching is common in conversation.
The breakdown of mother tongues is (2021):
- English as first language: 12.2%
- French as first language: 42.9%
- English and French as first language: 0%
- Other as first language: 36.7%
Economy
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Schefferville_open_pit_mining_for_iron_ore.jpg" caption="Schefferville open pit mining at Burnt Creek Pit in February 1976"] ::
As a result of increased demand for steel and iron ore, two official projects are underway in the early 21st century to re-establish mining operations out of Schefferville.
LabMag mine
The first is the LabMag Iron Ore Project, 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Schefferville. The objective is to develop mining and concentrating near Schefferville that will mine 33 million tonnes of crude iron ore per year, in order to produce 10 million tonnes per year of concentrate and pellets for a minimum of 20 years. Mining production began in 2011. The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach owns 20% of the LabMag Iron Ore Project.
Anglesey Mining
In addition, Anglesey Mining had applied for final operational permits on its former Iron Ore Company of Canada deposits. Production was scheduled to start during late summer 2010, with output rising to two or three million tons of ore a year by 2012 before further deposits are developed. Innu protesters blocked access to Schefferville in July 2010. They delayed the start of mining with demands for increased compensation for the commercial exploitation of their traditional homelands.
Notable people
- Michèle Audette, of Innu and French-Canadian ancestry, grew up near here. She became an activist for First Nations rights, serving as president of Femmes autochtones du Québec (Quebec Native Women) and the Native Women's Association of Canada. She also served as an Associate Deputy Minister in the Quebec provincial government from 2004 through 2008.
- Richard Geren (1917–2002), American geologist
- Claude McKenzie (born 1967), Canadian singer-songwriter
References
References
- {{mamh. {{#property:P3856
- (2021)
- "Schefferville (ville)". Commission de toponymie du Québec.
- "Our Nation - History". Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach.
- [[Canada 1996 Census. 1996]], [[Canada 2001 Census. 2001]], [[Canada 2006 Census. 2006]], [[Canada 2011 Census. 2011]], [[Canada 2016 Census. 2016]], [[Canada 2021 Census. 2021]] census
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::