Conception Bay South

Conception Bay South is a town in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. People often call it CBS. It is on the Avalon Peninsula, which is part of the southern shore of Conception Bay on the island of Newfoundland. The town is about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southwest of St. John's, the provincial capital.

Conception Bay South is the second largest municipality in the province. It is part of the St. John's metropolitan area, the 20th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Many people who live there work in nearby St. John's or Mount Pearl.

The town sits on Cambrian bedrock. This bedrock is mostly made of shale and contains limestone concretions and manganese ores.

History

Conception Bay South was created in 1973 when eight small communities joined together. These were Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Foxtrap, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies, and Seal Cove. Later, in 1985, Lawrence Pond also joined.

The first people there came mostly from England and Ireland. They chose this place because the land was good for growing food, there was wood for fuel, and the weather was milder. Roads connected the town to St. John's in the 1830s, and a railway made travel easier in the 1880s. The people grew food and raised cattle to sell in St. John's. Many people from St. John's also built summer homes there.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population by Statistics Canada, Conception Bay South had 27,168 people. They lived in 10,711 of the town's 11,364 homes. This was a small increase from the 26,199 people living there in 2016. The town covers 59.72 km² (23.06 sq mi).

In 2016, most people in Conception Bay South were White, making up 92.3% of the population. About 6.6% were Aboriginal, and 1.1% were from other groups.

Economy

Conception Bay has been a good place for fishing for a long time. One of the biggest tuna fish ever caught was found near Long Pond. You can see it in a museum in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Many people also catch lobster in the area.

Tourism

The Kelligrews Soiree starts the town's tourist season in early July. It has many fun activities and events for families, like a folk festival and garden party.

The Admirals' Coast scenic route runs along Route 60 on the western and southern shore of Conception Bay, from Marysvale to Paradise. It offers great views of the bay. Conception Bay South is the largest town along this route and has many services for visitors.

The town has a special geological site with trilobite fossils along the Manuels River Linear Park. These fossils helped scientists learn about how continents move.

There is also a marina at Foxtrap and the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club at Long Pond, which uses the special Blue Ensign. Topsail Beach, on the town's east end, is a favorite seaside spot and marks the start of the East Coast Trail.

Education

Conception Bay South has nine schools. They are part of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District. There are five elementary schools, two junior high schools, and two high schools. Students can learn French from kindergarten through grade 12 at all these schools. There is also a campus of the College of the North Atlantic there.

Sports

Sports are very important in Conception Bay South. Many people enjoy playing rugby and soccer. The town has a rugby club called the Bayman Rugby Club. The soccer association has many members and plays at fields in several places. They have a modern clubhouse and a special turf field. They have hosted big soccer events.

Other popular sports include swimming, tennis, ice hockey, baseball, softball, and volleyball. There are many places to play these sports, including soccer fields, a rugby field, a swimming pool, hockey arenas, and ball fields. The town also has a large group for young hockey players, with teams for different ages and skill levels.

In 2021, the Newfoundland Growlers played some games at the CBS Arena after they could not use their usual stadium. They played against the Adirondack Thunder and the Worcester Railers, and many people came to watch.

Emergency services

Conception Bay South has a Fire Department that works all the time. It has firefighters and volunteers. There are two fire stations—one in Kelligrews and one in Topsail. The town also has a headquarters for the RNC and many ambulances ready for emergencies. For help far away, the town uses rescue teams from Gander International Airport and the Canadian Coast Guard in St. John's.

Transportation

Conception Bay South is about 30 kilometres from St. John's International Airport. The airport has flights to Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. In summer, many cruise ships visit the town's harbour in Long Pond. Parsons & Sons runs bus services for schools and tours. There are also taxis from nearby towns like St. John's, Mount Pearl, and Paradise. The town has two marinas, one in Foxtrap and one in Long Pond.

Local government

2021

• Mayor: Darrin Bent
• Deputy Mayor: Andrea Gosse
• Councillors: Josh Barrett, Christine Butler, Melissa Hardy, Rex Hillier, Shelley Moores, Gerard Tilley, Paul Connors.

Notable people

Conception Bay South has been home to many interesting people. Tom Dawe and Nicole Lundrigan are both well-known writers from the town. Marit Stiles grew up there. Nick Wall is also from Conception Bay South and became a famous jockey.