Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador, also known as Agvituk in the Inuit language, is a charming town nestled in the northern part of Labrador, the mainland portion of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. As the legislative capital of the Inuit Land Claims Area Nunatsiavut, Hopedale is a significant hub of Inuit culture and history. According to the 2021 census, this quaint town is home to 596 residents.
Hopedale was originally an Inuit settlement named Agvituk, which translates to "place of the whales". In 1782, Moravian missionaries from Germany arrived and renamed the settlement Hopedale, or Hoffental in German. The Hopedale Mission, the oldest wooden-frame building standing east of Quebec, is a testament to the town's rich history. Today, it is a National Historic Site of Canada and is managed by the Agvituk Historical Society as part of a museum dedicated to the history of missionaries in the area.
From 1953 to 1968, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force jointly operated the Hopedale Air Station, located on the hills above Hopedale. Since 1968, the area has remained abandoned, except for the maintenance of non-military communication towers nearby.
On December 1, 2005, Hopedale became the legislative capital of Nunatsiavut, an autonomous region named by the Labrador Inuit following the successful ratification of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act by the Canadian Government and the Inuit of Labrador. The land claim grants limited self-rule for the Nunatsiavut government in Northern Labrador and North-Eastern Quebec, granting title and aboriginal rights. The Nunatsiavut Assembly Building, located in Hopedale, is the heart of this legislative activity.
The 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada reported a population of 596 living in 193 of its 208 total private dwellings in Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador. The majority of the population (79%) speak English as a first language, with a significant minority (21%) speaking Inuktitut. About 83% of the population identify themselves as Inuit, 16% are of mainly European descent, and 1% are of Punjabi origin.
Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador is accessible via the Hopedale Airport, a small public airport that connects the area with small communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The airport was built in the mid-1960s to provide air support to the former USAF Hopedale Air Station. Since 1968, the airport has been used by civilians. The airport is connected to Hopedale via Airstrip Road.
Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador is served by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which has a Hopedale Detachment staffed by four officers. The town also has a community clinic operated by Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, staffed by three nurses/nurse practitioners. The Hopedale Volunteer Fire Department provides fire and rescue services.
Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador boasts several local attractions, including the Moravian Mission Complex and Museum, the Mid-Canada Line Site 200, and the Amaguk Inn, which offers local accommodation for visitors and also sells local arts and crafts.
Hopedale, Newfoundland Labrador experiences a subarctic climate, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The town's unique climate adds to its charm and appeal as a destination for those seeking a unique travel experience.
