How a small Newfoundland town is handling a huge population boom

You probably know Bonavista best from the Canadian lyrics to “This land is your land”. It’s a town of a few thousand people on the far east coast of the country. And it’s growing—especially during the pandemic. But it’s not alone. Towns,  villages and even cities across Newfoundland and all of Atlantic Canada have seen a population boom during the pandemic as newly-freed remote workers relocate to places with space and affordable housing.

But are these towns equipped to handle a sudden influx of citizens? Are citizens prepared for life in a small town and everything that comes with it? How do you walk the fine line of needing new residents with the reality of welcoming them all to town without spoiling what you’ve got?

GUEST: John Norman, Mayor of Bonavista, Newfoundland

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