Conception Bay South

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

Conception Bay South is the second largest municipality in the province and is part of the St. John's metropolitan area, the 20th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Most of the residents work in the nearby cities of St. John's or Mount Pearl.

The town lies on Cambrian bedrock, primarily made of shale that contains limestone concretions and manganese ores.

History

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

The first people to live there were mostly from England, with some from Ireland. They chose this place because the land was good for growing food, there was plenty of wood for fuel, and the weather was milder than in other parts of the area. Roads connected the town to St. John's in the 1830s, and a railway made travel even easier in the 1880s. The people of Conception Bay South grew food and raised cattle to sell in St. John's, and many people from St. John's built summer homes in the area.

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population done by Statistics Canada, Conception Bay South had a population of 27,168 people. They lived in 10,711 of the town's 11,364 homes. This was a 3.7% increase from the 26,199 people who lived there in 2016. The town covers an area of 59.72 km² (23.06 sq mi), giving it a population density of 454.9 people per square kilometer (1,178.2 people per square mile) in 2021.

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 great place for fishing for a long time. One of the biggest tuna fish ever caught was found near Long Pond and is now shown in a museum in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. You can also see many people catching lobster in the area.

Tourism

The Kelligrews Soiree begins the town's tourist season in early July. It offers many fun activities and events for families, including a famous 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, giving 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 understand 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 that are part of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District. These include five elementary schools, two junior high schools, and two high schools. Students can also learn French from kindergarten through grade 12 in all these schools. There is also a campus of the College of the North Atlantic located 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 over 1,000 members and plays at fields in several places. They have a modern clubhouse and a special turf field. They have hosted big soccer events, including national championships.

Other popular sports include swimming, tennis, ice hockey, baseball, softball, and volleyball. There are many places to play these sports, including five soccer fields, a rugby field, a swimming pool, two hockey arenas, and several 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 day, every day. It has 28 full-time firefighters and 25 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 that are ready when needed. For help in emergencies far away, the town relies on 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, which flies to Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. The town's harbour in Long Pond welcomes many cruise ships during the summer. Parsons & Sons offers bus services for schools and tours in the town and beyond. There is also a taxi service, with companies from nearby St. John's, Mount Pearl, and Paradise. Two marinas can be found in C.B.S., 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, born in 1969, is a politician who grew up there. Nick Wall is also from Conception Bay South and became a famous jockey.