Our vibrant and global St. John’s community is growing

Our vibrant and global St. John’s community is growing

As the site where the first transatlantic wireless transmission was received in 1901, Signal Hill has played a pivotal role in connecting people from across the globe.

An iconic signpost at the site is covered with directional arrows pointing to various cities from around the world. The original signpost, installed in the 1970s, highlighted our connections with Europe and the rest of Canada.

But last year, an international student at Memorial University sent Parks Canada a tweet, pointing out the sign’s lack of diversity. Newfoundland and Labrador has become much more multicultural since the installation of the original sign, and Parks Canada agreed that it was time for a change.

Over the past year, Parks Canada, the Association for New Canadians (ANC) and Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Internationalization Office worked together to select countries and cities that are more representative of our vibrant and global community. As a result of their efforts, the signpost now boasts 11 new cities from countries around the world including: Sudan, Nigeria, Syria, Eritrea, Iraq, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, India, Brazil, and the Philippines.

With the unveiling of the new signpost, Signal Hill is proud to continue its tradition of connecting people from around the world.


Zarin Tasnim, Dhaka, Bangladesh.


Kalad Ghanam, Damascus, Syria.


Regina Maddigan, Uyo, Nigeria.


Kusal Bandara Tennakoon, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka.


Abdallah Shana Maktof, Baghdad, Iraq.

Photos of the St. John’s residents who participated in the project courtesy of Parks Canada.