Moving to a new country can be hard. The Conception Bay South Newcomers’ Guide will help you settle into our beautiful town quickly and easily. 

Climate, Location, Geography, Population

Our community combines a rural landscape and relaxed pace of life with the modern features of an urban town. Located at the base of Conception Bay, the town contains both coastal and inland wooded areas that make it a top choice for those looking to relocate to Newfoundland and its Northeast Avalon Peninsula.

Conception Bay South enjoys a milder climate compared to the rest of the region, with less precipitation and higher temperatures throughout the year. There are many opportunities for setting down roots and finding a home, starting your own business, or finding work. There is a strong community spirit that is evident in community organizations, sports teams, and the citizenry.

Conception Bay South is located north of the province’s capital, St. John’s. Other neighbouring towns include Paradise and Mount Pearl. From both St. John’s International Airport and the Downtown St. John’s area, the drive time is approximately 25 minutes. 

Conception Bay South is a linear community that follows the coastline of Conception Bay. The main road through the town, Provincial Highway Route 60, spans approximately 23 kilometres from east to west. This span includes numerous wooded areas, the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, former agricultural lands, numerous neighbourhoods, and multiple green spaces, parks and playgrounds. The total land area of the town is 59.1 km²

Per the 2021 Canadian Census of Population, Conception Bay South has 27,168 residents. This represents an increase of 3.7 % over the last census. The town’s population has been growing steadily for thirty years.

Transportation

The main highway routes connecting Conception Bay South to the Northeast Avalon include:

• Provincial Route 60 (Topsail Road – Conception Bay Highway)
• Provincial Route 2 (Pitts Memorial Drive – Peacekeepers Way)
• Provincial Route 1 (Trans-Canada Highway via Foxtrap Access Road)

For public transportation options such as buses, there are no options currently available in Conception Bay South. However, taxi services are available from private operator CBS Taxi.

The T’Railway, which follows an unused former railway bed, is an active transportation route for walkers and cyclists. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the T’Railway in Conception Bay South.

Business and Industry

Conception Bay South is home to over 500 businesses in many sectors including retail sales and wholesale distribution, construction, tourism and hospitality, health and wellness, and oil and gas.

Contact information for registered businesses throughout the town are listed in the online Business Directory. The directory can be sorted by business type in case you are looking for businesses in food and beverage, retail, finance and banking, or professional services.

Housing

Rental housing in Conception Bay South is available from private property owners. The Town Office does not maintain a listing of available rental homes.

For those looking to buy a home, there are a number of real estate agents throughout the region, however you may want to start your search by contacting a local real estate agency, Remax Infinity, at 709-834-2066.

To search for local listings, click here.

Healthcare and Wellness

Residents in Conception Bay South have access to quality healthcare. Home to numerous medical clinics, residents can avail of a variety of services to meet their healthcare needs. The Health Science Centre, Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and Janeway Children’s Hospital, the province’s highest quality medical facilities are located on Clinch Crescent in the capital city of St. John’s, a short drive from Conception Bay South. St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital is also located in St. John’s on St. Clare Avenue For a list of health and wellness providers including medical clinics, click here. 

Elementary, Secondary Schools and Childcare

Schools in Conception Bay South are under the jurisdiction of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District. The schools within the town range from Kindergarten to Grade 12, and all children from ages 6-16 are required by law to attend school. Most students graduate from grade 12 at the age of 17 or 18.

To register your child for school in Conception Bay South, please call or visit the school nearest to you.

To find out which school your children should attend, and for more information, click here or call 709-758-2372.

For a list of registered childcare providers, pre-schools, and after school programs, click here. 

Post Secondary Education

Memorial University
Memorial University is the largest university in Atlantic Canada, offering more than 100 degree programs to a student population of 19,000.  Students can expand their horizons at one of two campuses in St. John’s, including the Marine Institute, one in Corner Brook and one in Harlow, England.

The Marine Institute (MI) is Canada’s leading centre of fisheries and marine training.  It is part of Memorial University of Newfoundland, and offers bachelors and masters degrees, one-year advanced diplomas, two-year and three-year diplomas and certificate programs.  MI is divided into three schools: the School of Fisheries; the School of Maritime Studies; and the School of Ocean Technology. 

College of the North Atlantic
College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is one of the largest post-secondary educational and skills training centres in Atlantic Canada, with a history dating back more than 40 years.  They have 17 campus locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including one in the Seal Cove Area of Conception Bay South.

Private Training Institutions
There are private training institutions through Newfoundland and Labrador that offer many different programs of study. In Conception Bay South is the BAC Masonry College, which provides specialized training and education to masons, brick layers, and concrete finishers. It is  located at 631 Conception Bay Highway. The number is 709-834-4085.

Adult Basic Education
For newcomers seeking to achieve a diploma for secondary school in our province, Academy Canada offers an adult basic education course in Conception Bay South in the Henrietta Building located at 444 Conception Bay Highway.

Recreation, Playgrounds and Things To Do

The Town is home to a number of facilities for sports and recreation. The Town trail systems include the T’Railway that span the community, as well as trails that follow Manuels River, the hills of Kelligrews via the Gateway Trail, as well as the renowned regional East Coast Trail that begins in Topsail and provides access to Topsail Bluff. All of these trails are free to use and are non-motorized. Cyclists are welcome on these trails as well. Please be courteous are you share trails with others. To learn more about our trail systems, click here. You can also check out our trail playlist on YouTube.

The Town features a number of recreation facilities including the Conception Bay South Arena, a full-size ice-surface that seats nearly 1000, with an indoor walking track; the Robert French Memorial Stadium, a second ice surface; the Topsail Soccer Facility, with an all-weather surface; the Sgt. Ned Nugent’s Recreation Complex featuring soccer, rugby and softball fields.

The Town of Conception Bay South is a developing destination for visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as residents of the surrounding region. Fore information on things to do and places to visit, please view Conception Bay South’s Tourism Map.

There are over 30 playgrounds found in numerous neighbourhoods across Conception bay South. Locate the one nearest you using the interactive map service on our website. Click here for the playgrounds map.

Community Organizations, Sports, Art and Culture

Conception Bay South is home to a wide range of organizations that offer arts and culture programs, socializing, youth and adult sports, and community service. For a categorized listings of community groups, see the below document.

Community Groups Listing

Employment

Conception Bay South is home to over 500 businesses in a wide range of industries and sectors. If you are looking for employment and would like to search for local jobs openings, click here.

The Association for New Canadians also maintains a employment page that outlines the processes for obtaining employment in Newfoundland and Labrador. To learn more, click here.

For those interested in starting their own business, the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC), maintains a network of consultants and professionals throughout Atlantic Canada who help entrepreneurs realize their goals with their own small business. The CBDC office for Conception Bay South is known as CBDC Cabot and they are located in the neighbouring community of Paradise. They can be contacted by phone at 834-1000 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Questions? Looking for More Information?

The Association for New Canadians has a Guide for Newcomers on their website that can help you navigate life on the Northeast Avalon and your new home.

More information on the Town of Conception Bay South can be found on our YouTube channel. Our videos give a glimpse of what it is like to live in our Bright Town, and showcase the best we have to offer.

We are here to support our newcomers. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

Contact the Economic Development and Tourism Department 

Call: 709-834-6500 ext. 701
E-mail: [email protected]