Corner Brook

The Corner Brook area has been home to settlement for over a century and a half, but it has a fishery history going further back. It was surveyed by Captain Cook in 1767 before he went on to survey Australia and New Zealand. The Corner Brook area became a highly developed centre for pulp & paper with one of the largest operations in the world. The city of Corner Brook came into existence in the year 1956 with the amalgamation of four area communities, each still reflected in the areas of Humbermouth, Curling, Westside, and Townsite. In many ways, the city's vibe is best described by former Mayor Charles Pender: "As a regional centre, we have the small town atmosphere with a big city infrastructure where people can live in peace and security and raise a family."

By boat

• Marine Atlantic

  phone: +1-800-341-7981
  This ferry service runs from North Sydney to Port aux Basques (on the west coast of the island) throughout the year, and to Argentia (about 90 km from St. John's) during the summer. The duration of the ride depends on the weather and water conditions, so patience is of the essence. Reservations recommended. Ferries are well-stocked with food, alcohol, gift shops, cinemas and sleeping accommodations. There will be lots for you to do.

By car

The city is located on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, over 200 km north of Port aux Basques. Newfoundland numbers its exits instead of giving them numbers based on their distance from the highway's starting point, so this is only the fourth exit in 200 km!
This is nearly 700 km west of St. John's. From St. John's, stay on Highway 1 and you'll find the city approximately 50 km south of Deer Lake.
Driving from Stephenville, take Route 460 east for 40 km to the Trans-Canada, then head north on Highway 1 for 50 km to Corner Brook.

By plane

• Deer Lake Regional Airport

  phone: +1 709 635-3601
  address: 1 Airport Road, Suite 1 Deer Lake
  Flights from mainland Canada, usually via Halifax or Toronto, land here. This is the easiest way to access Corner Brook. However, you will still need to take either a shuttle, taxi or rental car from Deer Lake to Corner Brook.

By bus

• DRL Coachlines

  phone: +1 888 738-8091
  Daily scheduled passenger coach services between St. John's & Port Aux Basques. In Corner Brook, DRL stops at an Irving station at the intersection of West Valley Road and Confederation Drive.

• Newhook's Transportation

  phone: +1 709 726-4876
  Another bus service from Port Aux Basques to St. John's

• Stew's Bus Lines

  phone: +1 709 886-2955
  Serves Burgeo and Newfoundland's South Shore

• Norpen Bus Service

  phone: +1 709 457-2024
  A shuttle from Corner Brook and Deer Lake to St. Anthony Airport on Tuesdays & Fridays

• Thomas Bus Co.

  phone: +1 709 635-3056
  address: Deer Lake
  Transportation, charter buses, and bus tour services to and from the Deer Lake Airport.

Like any city or town, locals will speak of areas not listed on maps. In Corner Brook, they are: Humbermouth, Curling, Westside, and Townsite. These are the communities that were brought together to form Corner Brook, and locals still refer to these areas by name. Be sure to ask people to clarify where these places are when receiving directions.

By bus

• Corner Brook Transit

  phone: +1 709 639-7BUS (recorded information), +1 709 634-3345 (charter information)
  Two routes operate from 7AM to 10AM, and 3PM to 7PM, on a half hour cycle for routes 1 through 4, and from 10AM to 3PM on an hour cycle for routes 5 and 6. During June, July, and August, the buses run only on the hourly cycle of routes 5 and 6.

On foot

Corner Brook is a city on many large hills. What looks easy on a map will in fact feel like a true journey if you are not physically fit and mentally prepared for the landscape. Everything will be relative. Walking around the area is the best way to truly take in the surroundings, but it is not always advisable year-round.
Corner Brook is home to a few walking trails exclusively provided for the use of pedestrians. These trails take you around the Glynmill Inn Pond and connect with Margaret Bowater Park. The trails also provide a nice walk to City Hall, the Sir Richard Squires Building and the downtown, not to mention the beautiful gorge. Going through the Western Newfoundland Model Forest, much of the land has been provided for pedestrian usage by Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Ltd.

By car

If you want some convenience and don't want to constantly feel that you are on the Corner Brook One-Step Physical Fitness Walking Program, a car is a handy way to get around town. While the town looks small on a map, the hills complicate things quite a bit. In the winter, be sure to have snow tires. There is no such thing as all-season tires in Corner Brook. They will not get you very far.
A car will also help you reach the nearby sites just outside of Corner Brook, like Marble Mountain or Gros Morne National Park.

By taxi

There are many taxi services in Corner Brook to choose from. Expect to pay a fare of roughly $15 from one side of town to another. Because there is no public transit running on weekends, a cab may be your only option outside of walking.

• Birchy Cabs

  phone: +1 709 785-2540

• Star Taxi

  phone: +1 709 634-4343

• City Cabs

  phone: +1 709 634-6565

• Corner Taxi :

  phone: +1 709 634-5662

• Grenfell CampusMemorial University of Newfoundland's western campus in Corner Brook.

• The Sir Richard Squires BuildingHome to the Corner Brook Public Library, the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial & Supreme Courts, the Provincial Cabinet on the West Coast and a fountain from Expo 67's Czech Pavilion, purchased by Premier Joseph Smallwood.

• The Glynmill PondHome to swans and other waterfowl.

• Humber Valley ResortA scenic golf course, 2 beautiful restaurants, 3-6 bedroom chalets complete with hot tubs and barbeques.

• Massey Drive Pond TrailA beautiful man-made walking trail through the woods of Massey Drive, built around an outdoor swimming pond.

• Marble Mountain

  phone: +1 709 637-7601
  Great skiing in the winter, and a nice hiking destination in summer. Chair lift rides year-round.

• Captain Cook's MonumentA memorial monument for Captain James Cook with a wonderful view of the city and the Atlantic ocean.

• The Man in the MountainA nature-made face of a First Nations man is chiselled into the rock. A great tourist attraction, and postcards are available with this image pictured on them.

In early summer, take a walk or go for a drive along the ocean. Look for whales and dolphins.

• Corner Brook Stream TrailHike or stroll along the trail. The trail system has two sections, one within the downtown area and another above Margaret Bowater Park that takes visitors into the Gorge, the deep valley through which the stream flows. Most of the trail is a wide gravel path, but portions of the Upper Trail along the Gorge become rough and narrow dirt paths. The main corridor's gravel path is 4 km.

• Margaret Bowater ParkEat at picnic areas, relax on the green, or swim in the stream (when lifeguards are on duty, of course).

• Blomidon Golf & Country Club

  phone: +1 709 634-2523
  18 holes.

• Corner Brook Winter CarnivalA yearly event celebrating the long snowy season.

• Blow-Me-Down

  phone: +1 709 639-2754
  address: 78 Shamrock Crescent
  Cross-country skiing.

• Marble Mountain Ski Resort

  phone: +1 709 637-7601
  A downhill ski area.

There are many Newfoundland-specific shops in Corner Brook, as there are all over the island, but a good concentration of them are on Broadway. You'll be able to find provincial flags, unofficial Newfoundland tricolour flags, traditional and contemporary music, books and art. Cheeky Newfoundland separatist t-shirts are popular. They usually read: "Free NFLD", or "Newfoundland Liberation Army". You'll also be able to pick up t-shirts and the usual items of the tourist variety at these shops.
If you're looking for non-Newfoundland shops, there are two downtowns (relics of the pre-amalgamation communities) centred on Broadway in the west part of Central Corner Brook, and West Street in east Central Corner Brook. These areas have the charm of small communities and give the visitor a more accurate feel for the Newfoundland culture.
As for the fare of generic malls, you can find those inside Corner Brook and on the outskirts of the city. Inside, there's the Valley Mall and Millbrook Mall, nestled right next to each other in the centre of the city where Main Street becomes Herald. On the outskirts, there's Murphy's Square, a collection of big box retailers, and Corner Brook Plaza, a typical city mall with a second floor in the works.

Groceries

• Dominion

  address: 5 Murphy Square

• Sobey's

  address: 2 Broadway St.

• Coleman's

  address: 137 O'Connell Drive

• More for Less

  address: 9 Herald Avenue
  A health food and bulk food store stocked with much of the ingredients for ethnic cuisine not found elsewhere.

Firstly, expect lots of opportunities to eat seafood. Secondly, like Cape Breton, Newfoundland offers plenty of Donairs. In Corner Brook, you'll find them at nearly every pizza joint in the city (for example, Greco at 93 West Street). You'll also have no trouble finding the usual fast food culprits in every conceivable nook and cranny.

• Aroma's PlusA charming Newfoundland-style cafeteria.

• Jennifer's Upper Level Restaurant

  phone: +1 709 632-7979
  address: 48-50 Broadway
  Specializes in steak and seafood. Come for the food, stay for the atmosphere.

• Jungle Jim'sAn Atlantic Canadian chain of restaurants. Similar to East Side Mario's and the like.

• Lucky Star

  address: 4 Humber
  A Chinese-Canadian take-out place.

• Mamateek Restaurant and Pub

  address: Confederation Drive
  Serves a wide variety of Canadian cuisine. The specialty is seafood: fresh cod, salmon, scallop, shrimp, mussels is a delight for locals and tourists alike. They also offer delicious baby back ribs (the best in Corner Brook), steak, pasta dishes, and a wide variety of sandwiches.

• Newfound Sushi

  address: 117 Broadway
  Corner Brook got a sushi place. We can hardly believe it either. Nicer interior and food preparation than you would expect in a small mill town.

• Shez West

  address: 13 West Street
  Fine dining with a cozy sidewalk patio in warmer weather.

• Somethin' Fishy

  address: 43 Main Street
  Fish & chips place with a few tables. It gets quite busy on Friday night as it's the only takeout fish & chips in town.

• Sorrento

  address: 18 Park St.
  An elegant restaurant, screened patio overlooking the park, and cozy lounge. Vast variety of organic foods, vegan, vegetarian, seafood, lamb, steaks. Perfect portobello sun-dried tomato gourmet pizza, pear & blue cheese, rustica, stuffed crust baby spinach & organic feta. Reservations recommended.

• Thistle's PlaceAn internet cafe with coffee and the works. Part of a florist on the lower level of the Millbrook Mall downtown.

• The Wine Cellar & The Carriage RoomTwo fine restaurants with a large selection of fine wines.

• Z'S Fast Pizza

  phone: +1 709 632-FAST
  address: 117 Broadway
  The fastest pizza in town: 7-10 min for orders, pick-ups, take out & delivery. Oven-roasted wings, home fries & donairs.

There are several bars on Union Street and several more on Broadway.

• Crown & Moose Pub

  phone: +1 709 634-5381
  address: 48 West Street
  A typical rural Canadian interpretation of a 'pub' (in essence, no different than any other bar but in name).

• King Henry's Pub & the Cellar

  phone: +1 709 634-5181
  address: 1B Cobb Lane
  Unlike other spots in town, these two bars have Smithwick's ale.

• On the RocksA fairly cosmopolitan lounge. It often features live music on the weekends along with 2-for-1 all day & night. They offer organic espresso, latte, cappuccino. Jazz piano bar with trendy desserts and cocktails.

• The Glynmill Inn

  phone: +1 709 634-5181
  address: 1B Cobb Lane
  Once an administration building for the Pulp & Paper Mill, this Inn offers an Old World feel.

• The Greenwood Inn

  phone: +1 709 634-5381
  address: 48 West Street
  Typical tourist accommodations.

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 709 639-1980
  address: 41 Maple Valley Road

• Grenfell CampusIn the summertime, affordable accommodations can be found on the campus. Chalet-style apartments with four furnished bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room can be rented, or hostel-style single rooms with semi-private washrooms can be rented. All rooms are available daily, weekly, or monthly.

• Drive down the south and north shores of the Humber Arm to take in all of the small Bay of Islands communities. Taking you along the Blow-me-down Mountain Range in the midst of the Long Range Mountains, you will be able to see the Bay of Islands as the ocean opens up in front of you. On both shores, you'll have about 50 km of road to explore, not to mention countless communities to explore on foot. Take the Captain Cook's Trail via Route 450 on the South Shore, or take Admiral Palliser's Trail via Route 440 on the North Shore.
• Drive the Trans-Canada Highway East and take in the Humber Valley. You'll see Marble Mountain, Atlantic Canada's best downhill skiing resort, and take in roughly 50 km of breathtaking views all the way to Deer Lake. Other attractions along the way: Breakfast Mountain's Old Man in the Mountain, a rock formation resembling a man's face, Steady Brook Falls, a lovely waterfall accessible by trail that leads to a small swimming hole, and Pasadena Beach, an excellent summer swimming destination.