Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Paradise is a town
on the Avalon Peninsula
in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. The town is a part of the St. John's Metropolitan Area
. The town borders the City of St. John's
, the City of Mount Pearl, the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's
, and the town of Conception Bay South
. According to the 2006 census the population of Paradise was 12,584 and was the fastest growing community in Atlantic Canada
, and has grown at a rapid pace since. In the early 1990s, the Town of Paradise was amalgamated with the Town of St. Thomas. Other developed areas which had previously been administered by the St. John's Metropolitan Board, an agency of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
, were also amalgamated with Paradise. These areas are Three Island Pond, Topsail Pond, Elizabeth Park, and Evergreen Village. Recently, Paradise has been identified by Statistics Canada as the fastest-growing municipality in Atlantic Canada.
This information was collected from the official town website, see below.
, a former Liberal
cabinet minister under the Premier Roger Grimes
. Paradise is part of two provincial electoral districts; Conception Bay East and Bell Island
, represented by David Brazil
as of December 2010, and Topsail
, which is represented by Paul Davis. Dianne Whalen
was the mayor of Paradise for 18 years before entering provincial politics in 2003
.
The town's Members of Parliament are Ryan Cleary
, who was elected to the House of Commons
in the 2011 federal election in the riding of St. John's South—Mount Pearl
; and incumbent Jack Harris
, who represents St. John's East
.
in its municipalities. Paradise had two people running for mayor – incumbent Ralph Wiseman and 19-year-old Kurtis Coombs.
On September 30, it was announced that Coombs had won the election, making him the youngest mayor in Canada. He had beat Wiseman by three votes, having 1,821 votes compared to Wiseman's 1,818. However, a recount revealed that the two were tied. Under Newfoundland and Labrador's Municipal Elections Act, a draw is used to determine the winner if a recount results in a tie. Wiseman was announced the mayor when a piece of paper with his name was drawn out of a recycle bin that contained both his name and Coombs'. Coombs planned on requesting a judicial recount and recommended that another election be held.
On October 6, a judge ordered that the results be recounted again, which took place on October 13. The following day it was announced that the recount resulted in another tie. Joyce Moss, the town's chief returning officer, stated that the result from the random draw will stand, resulting in Wiseman remaining as the town's mayor.
2011
17, 326
According to the 2006 Statistics Canada
Census:
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
on the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The town is a part of the St. John's Metropolitan Area
St. John's Metropolitan Area
The St. John's Metropolitan Area is the most populous census metropolitan area in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. With a population of 181,113 in the 2006 Canadian Census, the CMA is the second largest in Atlantic Canada and the 20th largest CMA in Canada.The St. John’s CMA had...
. The town borders the City of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, the City of Mount Pearl, the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's
Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Portugal Cove – St. Philip's is a rural seashore community located on the eastern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. Portugal Cove – St. Philip’s was amalgamated in 1992, and is home to an estimated 6,000 people. Just 10 – 15 minutes from the...
, and the town of Conception Bay South
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
Conception Bay South is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is commonly called C.B.S..As of 2006 the population was 21,966 which makes the town the third largest population centre in the province behind the cities of Mount Pearl and St. John's...
. According to the 2006 census the population of Paradise was 12,584 and was the fastest growing community in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
History
While parts of Paradise have been inhabited since the late nineteenth-century, its growth only took off in the 1960s and 1970s as a "bedroom community" of nearby St. John'sSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, and has grown at a rapid pace since. In the early 1990s, the Town of Paradise was amalgamated with the Town of St. Thomas. Other developed areas which had previously been administered by the St. John's Metropolitan Board, an agency of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador refers to the provincial government of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
, were also amalgamated with Paradise. These areas are Three Island Pond, Topsail Pond, Elizabeth Park, and Evergreen Village. Recently, Paradise has been identified by Statistics Canada as the fastest-growing municipality in Atlantic Canada.
Sports
- Paradise is the starting point for the annual Tely 10Tely 10The Tely 10 Mile Road Race is a 10 mile road race held in the communities of Paradise, Mount Pearl and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada annually that draws in excess of 2500 runners both male and female. The race began in 1922 making it one of the oldest road races in all of Canada...
road race, one of the oldest races in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The race beings near Octagon Pond in Paradise beside heading towards Mount PearlMount PearlMount Pearl is the second largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The city is located southwest of St. John's, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. Mount Pearl is part of the St...
.
Town crest
The town crest of Paradise was created by a former town council member and one time mayor, "Black" Arch Janes in 1986. He also provided an explanation of what each element of the crest represented.- The animal in the top of the crest is a caribou, which is currently the Provincial animal of Newfoundland.
- There are two bulldogs holding up the crest. These are the representation of Britain's Royal Navy. Newfoundland was a protectorate of Great Britain before becoming a province of Canada in 1949.
- The cross located on the center of the crest is a representation of the Christian religion on which the laws of Newfoundland are founded.
- The gear and electric bolt located in the top two portions of the crest represent industry in the community.
- The lower left corner of the crest bears a tree. This symbol is a representation of the town's name. Paradise in Greek means a park.
- The final symbol, located in the lower right corner is a sled filled with wood. This symbol represents Paradise's past industry, which was primarily in the wood industry.
This information was collected from the official town website, see below.
War memorial
The War memorial located at the town hall was also designed by Arch Janes before his death in 1987.Government
The Paradise town council is made up of a mayor, deputy mayor, and five councillors. The current mayor of the town is Ralph WisemanRalph Wiseman
Ralph Wiseman is a Canadian politician. He was a Liberal Party member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2003, representing the electoral district of Topsail....
, a former Liberal
Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the provincial wing of the Liberal Party of Canada. It is the Official Opposition and currently holds six seats in the provincial legislature.-Origins:The party originated in...
cabinet minister under the Premier Roger Grimes
Roger Grimes
Roger D. Grimes is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Grimes was born and raised in the central Newfoundland town of Grand Falls-Windsor....
. Paradise is part of two provincial electoral districts; Conception Bay East and Bell Island
Conception Bay East and Bell Island
Conception Bay East - Bell Island is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011 there are 11,011 eligible voters living within the district....
, represented by David Brazil
David Brazil (politician)
David Brazil is a Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He has represented the district of Conception Bay East - Bell Island in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly since 2010.-Political career:...
as of December 2010, and Topsail
Topsail (electoral district)
Topsail is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 11,080 eligible voters living in the district....
, which is represented by Paul Davis. Dianne Whalen
Dianne Whalen
Dianne Whalen was a Canadian politician and provincial Cabinet Minister in Newfoundland and Labrador.-Early life:...
was the mayor of Paradise for 18 years before entering provincial politics in 2003
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2003
The 46th Newfoundland and Labrador general election was held on October 21, 2003, to elect the 48 members of the 45th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 17th general election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
.
The town's Members of Parliament are Ryan Cleary
Ryan Cleary
Ryan Cleary is a Canadian politician and journalist from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for St. John's South—Mount Pearl....
, who was elected to the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 2011 federal election in the riding of St. John's South—Mount Pearl
St. John's South—Mount Pearl
St. John's South redirects here. For the provincial electoral district please see St. John's South St. John's South—Mount Pearl is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Demographics:Ethnic groups:...
; and incumbent Jack Harris
Jack Harris
Jack Harris may refer to:* Jack Harris , Scottish professional football player and manager* Jack Harris , Canadian MP* Jack Harris , American radio personality based in Tampa, Florida...
, who represents St. John's East
St. John's East
St. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
.
2009 mayoral election controversy
On September 29, 2009, Newfoundland and Labrador held municipal electionsNewfoundland and Labrador municipal elections, 2009
The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador held municipal elections in its municipalities on September 29, 2009.Listed are the results of selected municipal mayoral races in the province.-Bay Roberts:-Clarenville:-Mayoral:-City council:...
in its municipalities. Paradise had two people running for mayor – incumbent Ralph Wiseman and 19-year-old Kurtis Coombs.
On September 30, it was announced that Coombs had won the election, making him the youngest mayor in Canada. He had beat Wiseman by three votes, having 1,821 votes compared to Wiseman's 1,818. However, a recount revealed that the two were tied. Under Newfoundland and Labrador's Municipal Elections Act, a draw is used to determine the winner if a recount results in a tie. Wiseman was announced the mayor when a piece of paper with his name was drawn out of a recycle bin that contained both his name and Coombs'. Coombs planned on requesting a judicial recount and recommended that another election be held.
On October 6, a judge ordered that the results be recounted again, which took place on October 13. The following day it was announced that the recount resulted in another tie. Joyce Moss, the town's chief returning officer, stated that the result from the random draw will stand, resulting in Wiseman remaining as the town's mayor.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,861 |
| 1991 | 7,358 |
| 2001 | 9,598 |
| 2006 | 12,584 |
17, 326
According to the 2006 Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
Census:
- Population: 12,584
- % Change (2001–2006): 31.1
- Dwellings: 4,734
- Area (km².): 29.24
- Density (persons per km².): 430.0