Feb 10, 20173 min read

Bonavista area chamber chair says region moving towards “stabilization”

Updated: Jun 14, 2021

Census results show slowing decline in population: Norman

Although the Town of Bonavista saw a drop in population of almost four per cent in the 2016 census, the chairman of the local chamber of commerce is saying the results are a step in the right direction for the region.

John Norman, the chairman of the Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce and local entrepreneur, told TC Media, when the numbers are compared to past census results — populations seem to be “stabilizing”.

“We used to see losses in some of the larger communities like Bonavista and Trinity Bay North up around seven to nine per cent, the we were five to six per cent, then we were hovering around in the mid-fours and now we’re down to the threes,” said Norman. “A 140 person loss over a five year period is really not that bad.”

Norman says death rates over birth rates is a challenge everywhere in rural Newfoundland, but he credits Bonavista with being able to soften the blow of the aging population trend.

“In Bonavista, specifically in the last two years, I think we’ve done some good work that’s prevented that negative-140 from being a higher number,” he said. “It’s not uncommon, but it’s a manageable decrease we’re working to correct.”

As for Trinity Bay North, which has seen the loss of industry over the years with the closure of the NuTan seal processing plant and the Ocean Choice International fish plant, it was a pleasant surprise to see virtually no change in population — minus 0.4 per cent, says Norman.

He says both Bonavista and Trinity Bay North have seen a higher level of immigration and has made the businesses in the chamber for the region, “cautiously optimistic”.

Norman says they’re also encouraged by the trend that while some of the larger service areas have seen drops, like Gander and Marystown, often the surrounding communities are seeing some stabilization or even growth.

“What people are doing are radiating out to more and more affordable locations to live — where they have more land, real estate is lower value.”

He says he will be interested to see if the trend continues in the next census, in five years — 2021.

“Maybe we’ll be down only minus-two per cent.”

jonathan.parsons@thepacket.ca

Twitter: @jejparsons

Town of Bonavista

The results of the 2016 census for Bonavista:

2016 population: 3,448
2011 population: 3,589
Population percentage change from 2011-16: -3.9 per cent

Municipality of Trinity Bay North

The results of the 2016 census for Trinity Bay North:

2016 population: 1,819
2011 population: 1,827
Population percentage change from 2011-16: -0.4 per cent

Town of Clarenville

The results of the 2016 census for Clarenville:

2016 population: 6,291
2011 population: 6,036
Population percentage change from 2011-16: +4.2 per cent

Town of Port Blandford