Gander exists because of an airport, and that history still shapes the town today. The site was chosen in the 1930s for its flat, open terrain, good for long runways and clear approaches, and Gander International Airport became a critical stop for transatlantic air traffic through the Second World War and for decades after, most widely remembered now for taking in dozens of diverted flights on September 11, 2001. The same open terrain that made Gander valuable to aviation also means the town runs consistently windy, with average wind speeds through the winter months among the higher readings recorded on the island. That combination of exposed, open ground and a town built to support critical infrastructure is worth understanding before starting any electrical project here.
Wind changes what "outdoor electrical" means
Sustained wind in the 40 kilometre per hour range through the winter is routine in Gander, not an occasional event. That matters for anything mounted outdoors: service masts, exterior panels, outdoor lighting and any equipment on a rooftop or an open lot. Installations need to account for wind loading beyond the bare code minimum, and outdoor work itself needs to be scheduled with an eye on forecast wind, not just temperature. Newfoundland Power maintains an area office in Gander and serves the town as part of its island-wide system, and the same freezing rain and snow risk that affects the rest of the island applies here too, layered on top of the wind exposure that is specific to this stretch of terrain.
A town built around continuity of service
Gander's identity as an aviation and, historically, a military hub means the town has long had higher expectations for uninterrupted power than a comparable town of its size might otherwise carry. The original town itself inherited its electrical system, schools and hospital from the air force base that built the community up during the Second World War. That legacy of critical infrastructure sensibility is still relevant for the airport, its surrounding businesses and any commercial or institutional building that cannot tolerate an unplanned outage.
A retail draw far beyond the town itself
Gander functions as a service centre for well over a hundred smaller communities within about a hundred kilometres, including Appleton, Gambo, Glenwood and Benton, and the town's retail base, from its shopping malls to its hundreds of storefront businesses, reflects that reach. A power interruption at a Gander retail plaza or big box store does not just inconvenience the town, it affects a customer base that has driven in from well outside it. That is one more reason commercial backup power and reliable service planning carry more weight here than the town's own population would suggest on its own.
What this means for owners in Gander
Commercial and institutional property managers near the airport and along the town's commercial strip should treat backup power as a baseline requirement rather than an upgrade, given the town's role as a transportation hub and the routine wind exposure that puts pressure on the overhead grid. Our emergency service work covers automatic transfer switches and generator sizing for exactly this kind of continuity need.
Businesses running underground or civil work, whether for a new commercial lot or an equipment pad, should plan that scope with Gander's terrain and wind exposure in mind from the start. Our underground infrastructure work coordinates the civil and electrical sides of that kind of project.
Homeowners in Gander should have any exterior electrical work, from a new service mast to outdoor lighting, installed with the town's wind conditions accounted for, not a generic specification pulled from a milder part of the province. Watch, too, for the usual warning signs of an aging interior panel: warm switch plates, breakers tripping without cause, or an inspection that flags outdated wiring.
Any project combining several trades under one roof, a commercial fit-up or a full renovation, benefits from a turnkey electrical scope that keeps the outdoor and indoor electrical work coordinated on one schedule.
Talk to Puffin Power
Puffin Power serves Gander and the surrounding central Newfoundland communities from its base in Conception Bay South. If you are planning a project here, get in touch or call (709) 769-9713.
Published 2026-09-23 · About 3 minute read