USEFUL INFORMATION
ST. JOHN'S
St. John's is the capital of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which joined Canada in 1949. This city of 250,000 people is located on the eastern edge of the island of Newfoundland. The island is 111,000 square kilometers.
St. John's is a very popular summer destination for North Americans and Europeans especially. Nestled in St. John's Harbour, the downtown area is bustling with activity. The city and its environs are as well known for their local music-making scenes as for their support of the visual, literary and stage arts. In addition to popular downtown pubs, there are lots of art galleries, gift shops selling local artisans' works, theatres, and plenty of good food and drink.
Located at the easternmost edge of the continent, astounding physical beauty is at your doorstep. Early risers may wish to greet the sun rising on North America by walking up Signal Hill, the place of Marconi's first cross-Atlantic transmission.
We have excursions planned for ICTM's "day off" (Saturday, 16 July), but here are more links that might help you think about things to do while you're visiting Newfoundl:
http://www.canadasfareast.com/
http://www.stjohns.ca/visitors/index.jsp
http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/
LANGUAGE
Although Canada is a bilingual country (English and French), English is the main language spoken in St. John's.
CURRENCY
The currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CDN$). There are no exchange bureaus in the city, so we recommend that you arrive in Canada with some Canadian currency in hand. Some banks, as listed below, will exchange only Euros (€), Pounds Sterling (£) or American Dollars for Canadian Dollars. Credit cards are widely accepted and vendors will probably require you to use your pin number. However, you will need cash for most transactions that take place on the university campus (e.g., to purchase lunch in the lunch tent). ATMs (see below) typically provide cash in Canadian Dollars only; an exception is the RBC ATM located at 226 Water St., which also provides cash in American Dollars.
Banks and ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines/Cash Points)
For exchanging Euros (€), Pounds Sterling (£) or American Dollars to Canadian Dollars, we recommend going to the following two banks: CIBC or ScotiaBank. Both are located in Churchill Square, a 7-minute walk east of campus. Here is a list of the two banks in all their locations, with hours of operation:Scotia Bank |
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| Churchill Square | Monday – Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Water Street | Monday – Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Avalon Mall | Monday – Wednesday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 – 20:00 | |
| Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 | |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 14:00 |
CIBC |
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| Churchill Square | Monday – Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Atlantic Place, Water Street | Monday – Friday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Avalon Mall | Monday – Wednesday | 10:00 – 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 – 20:00 | |
| Friday | 10:00 – 18:00 | |
| Saturday | 10:00 – 15:00 |
TIME ZONE
St. John's is in the Newfoundland Time Zone, 3.5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-3:30). Newfoundland Standard Time is 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic Standard Time (e.g., Halifax, Nova Scotia) and 1.5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (e.g., New York and Toronto). Newfoundland observes Daylight Saving Time.
ELECTRICITY
Electrical sockets (outlets) in Canada are the "Type B" North American NEMA 5-15 standard, 110-120 volts.
TELEPHONE
When dialing from abroad, the country code for Canada is 00+1; and the area/city code is 709. The code for international outgoing calls is 011. Pay phones are located in several spots around campus; you may make local calls for 25-cents or long-distance calls by credit card. Long distance calling cards are also available for purchase at local supermarkets and drugstores.
INTERNET ACCESS
Internet and wireless internet access will be available to you on campus in university residence rooms, the music library and QEII (main) library. However, if you like coffee and cake with your computer, there are several downtown internet café locations, listed on our website.
HEALTH
Health insurance and medications:
All visitors to Canada are strongly urged to obtain health insurance before leaving their home country. Canadian hospital and medical services are excellent, but a hospital stay can cost in excess of $500 a day, and the cost of an extended stay can be prohibitive. Be sure you are covered. If you are a resident of Canada, you should carry your provincial health card just in case you need medical attention. Please bring all medications with you, and if you are taking medicine prescribed by your doctor, it is a good idea to make a list of what you are taking in case of emergency. Bring along a copy of your prescription in the event that you need to have it renewed by a doctor in Newfoundland and Labrador.Emergencies:
To report an emergency on campus, call 864-4100. In case of an emergency off-campus, call 911.Food and drink:
Canada enjoys a high standard of food safety. You can drink tap water without risk. Milk and dairy products are pasteurized, and all meats, seafood, fruits and vegetables are generally safe to eat. A grocery store is located at Churchill Square, one long block east of the university campus. Two pubs as well as a few restaurants in the vicinity of the university will be ready to welcome ICTM delegates. Late night food and drink consumers often head to George Street in the downtown area where bars and live music abound.Shop Hours:
Most shops open between 08:00 and 10:00, Monday to Saturday; closing times vary from 17:00 to 22:00. The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador will operate a small boutique in the Arts and Culture Centre, near the ICTM lunch tents. Wine and spirits can only be purchased at Liquor Stores; beer can be purchased at convenience stores or gas stations.CLIMATE
By virtue of being in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, St. John's weather is highly variable, so please come prepared for changes. While mid-July can be quite lovely and warm, you should anticipate daytime temperatures to be anywhere between 15C and 30C; it is often humid. In terms of clothing, consider items that will allow you to adjust to quickly warming and cooling temperatures. We strongly recommend bringing a sweater and rain jacket; an umbrella may be very useful. Extra clothing may be required if you are planning an excursion that takes you on or near the ocean. Yes, even in summer, Atlantic winds can be chilly!
SECURITY
br /> St. John's is a very safe city; personal security is normally unproblematic, but as a common precaution, we encourage you to walk in groups after dark.OTHER TIPS
Public Transportation
Public Metrobus route #10 provides service from the downtown area (serving both the Delta Hotel and Quality Hotel) to the Memorial University campus. Bus tickets are $2.25 per ride; a 10-ride pass is $20.For schedules, pick-up and drop-off points, see http://www.metrobus.com/.
Taxi
Taxis are relatively inexpensive in St. John's and there are a number of companies available for service within the city, each charging the same rate. Here are some easy-to-remember phone numbers:Jiffy Cabs 722-2222
Bugden's Taxi 722-4400
NewFound Cabs 744-4444