Port Hope Simpson

Port Hope Simpson is a community with a population of 600. Located in the Southeastern part of Labrador at approximately 26 miles up Alexis River, 180 air miles from Goose Bay. Port Hope Simpson was named after John Hope Simpson, a man who established a logging operation there in 1933.

Until the cod moratorium in 1992, the main source of employment was the fishery, whereby residents moved from the bay (port Hope Simpson) to small coastal communities of 8-10 families. There they fished from May to mid October, moving back to Port Hope Simpson for the winter months.

Since the cod fishery closed, many of the older fishermen retired and a few of the younger generation moved away for training in other fields. Others remained in the fishery, fishing species such as crab, scallop, whelk and shrimp.

Port Hope Simpson has a nursing station with three nurses. The only doctor they see in the town is a traveling doctor who visits approximately every six weeks. Otherwise if there is an emergency and a patient need to see a doctor or a specialist they have to travel to St. Anthony by airplane for an appointment.

During the summer months the Labrador Coastal Marine Services bring passengers, freight and supplies to the town. Presently, Port Hope Simpson is not connected to any other town, but the Trans Labrador Highway is under construction to connect many of the coastal communities.