St. Alban's, Newfoundland and Labrador

St. Alban's
Town
St. Alban's overlooking St. Ignatius Parish
St. Alban's overlooking St. Ignatius Parish
Map
Coordinates: 47°52′31″N 55°50′29″W / 47.87528°N 55.84139°W / 47.87528; -55.84139
Country Canada
Province Newfoundland and Labrador
Government
 • MHAElvis Loveless (LIB)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
1,189
Time zoneUTC-3:30 (Newfoundland Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2:30 (Newfoundland Daylight)
Area code709
Highways Route 361
Websitewww.stalbans.ca

St. Alban's is a town of approximately 1,200 located in the Bay d'Espoir estuary on the south coast of Newfoundland, Canada.[2] St. Alban's is the largest community in Bay d'Espoir.[1] The town is 180 kilometres (110 mi) south of Grand Falls-Windsor.[3][4]

St. Alban's is regarded as a hub for the aquaculture industry and the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) maintains an office in the town.[5]

History

The economy of the town and surrounding area has historically been rooted in trading and logging, dating back to its founding in the mid-1800s By the English explorer Barnabus John Lambert. Originally known as Ship Cove, The name was changed to Saint Alban's in 1915, and in 1964, Saint Alban's was incorporated as a town. Today, the major industries in the town and area include hydro generation and aquaculture.[6] The town consists of 1,189 residents and is the largest in Bay d'Espoir area.[3][7]

St. Alban's and area has emerged as the centre for the growing aquaculture industry and hydro generation remains an integral part of the area's economy.[8] The town is home to an Aquaculture Development Centre and Aquatic Fish Health Laboratory, a 58,000 square foot fish hatchery, aquaculture manufacturing and service firms, processing plant, and many offices associated with the foregoing.[9] The aquaculture industry in the town and area in 2013 exceeded a production value of $200 million (nearly 20% of the total value of the seafood industry of Newfoundland and Labrador).[10]

The Hydro Generation Site in the area is the largest on the island of Newfoundland and provides 2,650 GWh annually. The seven generating units produce a rated output of 604 MW.[11] Both industries are very predominate to the local economy.

Hurricane Matthew

St. Alban's, along with much of the island of Newfoundland, was gravely affected by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.[12][13][14] Road access to the town was temporarily cut off by flooding washing away the main bridge. The nearby town of Conne River provided boat rides into the community while the road was being repaired.[15]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, St. Alban's had a population of 1,189 living in 560 of its 650 total private dwellings, a change of 0.3% from its 2016 population of 1,186. With a land area of 20.48 km2 (7.91 sq mi), it had a population density of 58.1/km2 (150.4/sq mi) in 2021.[7]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 9, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census - St. Alban's, Town [Census subdivision], Newfoundland and Labrador and Division No. 3, Census division [Census division], Newfoundland and Labrador". Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "The road to Bay d'Espoir". Cape Breton Post. 4 Aug 2016. Retrieved 14 Aug 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Town of St. Alban's, NL". Town of St. Alban's, NL. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Thousands of people in a huge stretch of southern Newfoundland are losing their last doctor". CBC News. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Contact NAIA". Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "Aquaculture in the Coast of Bays region, Newfoundland and Labrador". Fisheries And Oceans Canada. 16 February 2011. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Newfoundland and Labrador". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Aquaculture in the Coast of Bays region, Newfoundland and Labrador". Fisheries And Oceans Canada. 2016-07-06. Retrieved Oct 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "Premier Opens New Aquaculture Centre in St. Alban's". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - Fisheries and Agriculture. July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Roberts, Terry (September 25, 2019). "Aquaculture conference overshadowed by fish die-off, bickering". CBC News. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bay d'Espoir generating station is 50 years old". Saltwire News. September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Barry, Garrett (October 10, 2016). "Multiple states of emergency declared as heavy rains batter central Newfoundland". CBC News. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "St. Alban's bridge replacement set to be ready by fall". CBC News. July 14, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Barry, Garrett (August 21, 2018). "Roadwork still an 'itch' for St. Alban's, almost two years after damage". CBC News. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "Miawpukek First Nation Offers Support to Bay d'Espoir". VOCM Local News Now. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016.