Living in
Newfoundland and Labrador

Recent restaurant boom in NL

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of food culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. And not only in St. John's, all around Newfoundland & Labrador. New restaurants are popping up across the island. From traditional fish and game dishes to amazing Indian and Syrian cuisine, every palette will be satisfied.

Accessibility of International foods

Everyone gets homesick sometimes, and the best way to get over it is to get some food that tastes like it does back home. Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't offer just Canadian flavours either. You will be surprised by the variety of foods available. You will find the greatest variety in St. John's, where you can find many different restaurants offering food from Syria, Pakistan, India, Mexico, China, Japan and more. Other towns across the province offer a variety of international foods also, but if you can't go without your selection of tacos, St. John's is your best bet.

3.7 bars per 10,000 residents | 24 bars in St. John's |19 years minimum drinking age in NL

What to expect on a night out?

Live music is a very popular form of entertainment all across bars in Newfoundland and Labrador. Every night of the week, you will find bars across the province hosting one of many great musicians that call NL home.

As far as the provinces go, Newfoundland and Labrador have the highest concentrations of bars per capita in Canada. There are 3.87 bars for every 10,000 residents.

Though you will find some nightclubs scattered across the province, they aren't the most popular venue. If you go out, you will most likely end up in a pub or sit-down bar.

Festivals and Events

Music festivals

Every year there are so many music festivals happening across the province, and every year will find the right one for them. If you want to listen to some traditional folk music, go to the Folk Festival in St. John's, or if you are looking for something more alternative, there is the Lawnya Vawnya festival. Of course we cannot forget about the George Street Festival in St. John’s and the Salmon Festival in Grand Falls, Windsor. There are many to choose from.


Cultural Festivals

There are many cultural festivals in Newfoundland and Labrador. Whether you are a theater fan or prefer the cinema, you will find the right festival for you. Some of the most popular festivals around are the Nickel Film Festival in St. John's, Comedy at Woody Point in Woody Point, or the Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity.

Food and Drink Festivals

If you are a food lover, you will love Newfoundland and Labrador. Not only is the province going through a restaurant Renaissance, but there have always been many food festivals happening around the province. Some of them are Mary's Harbour Crab Festival happening in Mary's Harbour in Labrador, Brigus Blueberry Festival in Brigus, or the BrewSKI Craft Beer Festival in Clarenville.

Other Festivals and Events

There are many other festivals happening throughout the year. Some are very specific to Newfoundland, like the Mummer's Parade in St. John's, and you will find many others. A good place to find events and festivals is this link right here.

Craft Breweries

$7.50 Average price per pint of beer

Newfoundland and Labrador have seen a craft brewery renaissance in recent years. While craft brewing is no stranger to the province, there are a number of new breweries and brewpubs that capitalize on local ingredients and flavours. St. John's has seen the biggest rise in numbers in the brewing world; however, you will find amazing flavours all across the island. Some breweries to highlight outside of St. John's are Port Rexton Brewing in Port Rexton, Split Rock Brewing in Twillingate, or Iron Rock Brewing in Labrador City. Wherever you end up in Newfoundland and Labrador, it will not be far for a good pint of beer.

3 Ski Resorts in Newfoundland and Labrador

Winter in Newfoundland and Labrador offers many different opportunities for sports.

Hockey is an obvious answer; we are in Canada after all.

Skiing/snowboarding is a popular sport with 3 major destinations in the province. Corner Brook (Marble Mountain), Labrador City (Smokey Mountain), and Clarenville (White Hills).

Indoor football is another popular sport to play in the winter. There are many groups of international students and locals alike who play year-long in a number of amateur leagues.

Basketball has grown in popularity thanks to its availability all year long. A local sport played all year long is also curling.

Snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are all also popular sports in the winter months. The west coast of Newfoundland and in Labrador offers the best conditions for snowmobiling.

The summers in Newfoundland and Labrador are full of adventure and excitement. Some of the most popular sports are:

Mountain biking has seen a great increase in popularity in recent years. We were able to find 328 trails marked on TrailForks in Newfoundland and Labrador, so bring your bike if you are thinking about it.

Hiking & trail running are also very popular due to the amazing East Coast Trail and other trails all around the province.

Baseball and softball are also very popular. There are a large number of fields all around the province, so wherever you go, you will likely find a field to play on.

Even Cricket has a lot of fans in Newfoundland and Labrador. You can find the site of Cricket Newfoundland & Labrador here.

Basketball is a year-round sport in Newfoundland and Labrador, and during the summer you will find town courts filled with people playing a game every day.

Traveling in NL

Newfoundland and Labrador is vast, and many international students sometimes misunderstand just how large our province is. It is important to consider this while looking at your options and deciding where you want to study. Newfoundland and Labrador Geography

Airports

9 Airports in Newfoundland and Labrador

There are five airports on the island: St. John’s, Gander, Deer Lake, Stephenville, and St. Anthony. While St. John’s is the main international hub for Newfoundland and Labrador, major airlines fly from Toronto and Halifax to Deer Lake and Gander on a daily basis. It’s about 3.5 hours flying time from Toronto or New York to St. John’s, and just 1.5 hours from Halifax.Flying to Labrador can be done through the airports in Wabush and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. There are regular flights from Halifax, and smaller airlines fly to Labrador from airports in Québec and the island of Newfoundland many times throughout the day.

Taxi/Shuttle

61 Taxi Companies in Newfoundland and Labrador

There are many taxi services around Newfoundland and Labrador; some consider it the main way of transportation around. Not only will you get to your final destination fast, but you will likely hear a tale from one of the friendly taxi drivers.

Most towns will have their own local taxi services; however, if they don't, you can call one of the local companies nearby, and they will take you where you need to go.

Find all available taxi services - here!

Bus

DRL is the cross-Newfoundland bus service

There is a low public transit coverage in Newfoundland and Labrador. Unless your final destination is on the DRL line, you will not find public transit between towns. The only towns in Newfoundland and Labrador with bus service are St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise, and Corner Brook.

Medical Care Plan: Provincial healthcare

MCP is the healthcare coverage provided by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador at no charge to you, but you must apply to receive it and be eligible for it.

International students who received a study permit by Citizenship and Immigration Canada before entering the country and are attending a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Newfoundland and Labrador for a period of at least 12 months might be eligible for this coverage. Dependents of the student will also be covered under MCP, provided they are living in the province and have relevant documentation to support their application.

MCP covers:

  1. Doctor’s visits
  2. Surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
  3. Pre- and post-operative care
  4. Maternal care
  5. Radiology services
  6. Certain in-hospital dental surgeries

Other costs aren't covered, and additional coverage is recommended. More info: Here!

Insurance

Some educational institutions automatically enrol international students in an insurance; however, this varies from institution to institution. Therefore, you should check with your school about the details of your coverage.