IOC communities

The Iron Ore Company of Canada operates in the communities of Labrador City and Sept-Îles.

Labrador City

Labrador City grew out of a vast expanse of land, first into a small group of houses and basic services, and finally into a large town with a population of 9000 people, equipped with schools, medical facilities, shopping malls and recreational amenities.

In Labrador City alone, IOC employs about 1400 people. The city is comprised primarily of families, the majority of whom own their own homes and are significantly more educated than the provincial average. According to census 2001 data, only 2.6 per cent of the population is over 65 years old compared to 17 per cent in the rest of Canada.

More information about infrastructure and community facilities in Labrador City can be found at www.labradorwest.com.

Sept-Îles

The town of Sept-Îles sits on an immense circular bay with its entrances protected by the seven islands that gave the town its name.

Early economic activity in Sept-Îles was based on fishing and the fur trade, and later, forestry and eventually mining. The islands teem with resources and wildlife - waterfowl, seals and a whale route that has existed for some 10,000 years.

In the late 1940s, Sept-Îles was a fishing village with a population of about 1200 permanent  inhabitants and about  700 Aboriginal people. Modern Sept-Îles underwent a rapid growth phase during the construction by IOC of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway (QNS&L), a 575 kilometre railway link to the northern town of Schefferville. Iron ore mined near Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador was transported on this railway and shipped from the Port of Sept-Îles, one of Canada's deep-water seaports that is second only to Vancouver for yearly tonnage. The rail project led to a major population boom from 2,000 inhabitants in 1951 to over 30,000 today. The Port of Sept-Îles is one of the most important of its kind in Quebec and acts as a gateway to the world, providing access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes, the eastern seaboard of the United States and the entire North American continent. IOC continues to be a major employer in the area with over 450 employees. Sept-Îles is predominantly French speaking. It is the main urban centre in the region with a fairly diversified economy, radio and television stations affiliated with major French language networks, a regional hospital, and junior college.

First Nations

The regions of Schefferville and Sept-Îles, Quebec are home to Nation Innu Matimekush/Lac-John, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach and Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, First Nations peoples. IOC recognises that these First Nations communities are its partners, sharing the same vision of a sustainable future that includes a successful industry offering long-term employment and opportunities for generations to come.

2005 was a milestone for IOC and Quebec First Nations as IOC transferred its passenger rail service between Schefferville and Sept-Îles to Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. As part of this transaction, the northern portion of IOC's QNS&L railway line, running between Schefferville and Emeril Junction, was also transferred to Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. The handover created 40 new jobs and numerous business opportunities for the communities.

In light of this partnership, IOC has been involved in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of First Nations in order that both may benefit from future initiatives. IOC plans to implement a new recruitment programme for its installations to attract new employees, including First Nations peoples.