Calvert (47° 03´N - 52° 55´W) is a small fishing settlement on the east coast of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located about 65 kilometres (42 miles) from the historic provincial capital of St. John's. The settlement is a leisurely one-hour drive from St. John's, south on Route 10, along the straight shore known locally as the Southern Shore. Calvert and the other settlements along Route 10, along with those of the inter-connecting Route 90 farther south, form the scenic "Irish Loop". A tour of the Irish Loop, starting at St. John's, will take you through a variety of centuries-old fishing settlements, regional museums, a historical archaeological site, ecological reserves and the habitat of a large caribou herd. As the name loop suggests, the northern end of Route 90 meets the Trans Canada Highway (Route 1) and a half-hour drive along Route 1 completes the loop to or from St. John's city.
The ethnic origins of the residents along the Irish Loop lie in the south east of Ireland and West Country, England. We are the descendants of the men and women who came here centuries ago to work in the fishing industry. Being predominately of Irish ancestry, the physical features and the strong brogue of the residents attest to the fact that you have entered the Irish heartland of eastern Newfoundland. Although the Irish Gaelic language, once common to this area, is now lost into the distant past, you can still hear a few Irish words used in everyday conversation. Irish wit and the Irish "turn of phrase" have survived here as well. A jovial "You're lost now, aren't ya?" from an Irish Newfoundlander, as he/she watches you fumble with your map, translates to " Do you need directions?" With an accent, very much akin to that of Co. Waterford, Ireland, this area could easily be dubbed as Ireland's thirty-third county. People are friendly and helpful, and although the directions you are given may be interlaced with local landmarks and idioms, rest assured they are given freely, with the best of intentions.
The nearest airport is at St. John's, Newfoundland. Regular air service is available between points in Newfoundland and Labrador, with connections to/from major centers in other parts of Canada and the United States. St. John's is also an international airport with connections to/from many countries around the world, mainly through Montreal, Toronto, and London, England. There are also regular scheduled flights to/from the island of St. Pierre, a French possession off the province's south coast.
Since the Newfoundland portion of our province is an island, it is necessary to use ferry services to reach here by vehicle, from the Canadian mainland. Marine Atlantic's modern car ferries provide year-round connections from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques in southwestern Newfoundland. The Trans Canada Highway (Route 1) continues at this point and crosses Newfoundland to St. John's, a distance of approximately 905 kilometres (562 miles). Throughout the summer, a second ferry sails from North Sydney to Argentia in southeastern Newfoundland, greatly reducing driving time by leaving you with only an hour and a half to two hour drive to St. John's.
This page was last updated: Friday 20th May, 2005