West Coast – Best Coast! Life in Deer Lake
The Town of Deer Lake is the hub of Western Newfoundland and the Gateway to the Northern Peninsula! With places to stay, dine, shop, play, and relax, Deer Lake is the ideal location for a getaway, a rejuvenating stop along the way, raise a family or retire in style! With the best of Newfoundland’s outdoors on our front porch, residents and visitors have access to world-class salmon angling, snowmobiling, ATV-ing, skiing, and our beautiful freshwater sandy beach, to name but a few assets.
The Deer Lake Regional Airport is located on the eastern edge of Deer Lake and accessible via the Trans Canada Highway. The Deer Lake airport is the 4th busiest airport in Atlantic Canada. Both passenger and aircraft statistics have continued to grow, adding new international routes and increasing the number of Canadian Destinations all the time, making commuting and travelling a snap. Visit The Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority’s Website.
To the north of the community is Gros Morne National Park, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance to the park sits just a 25 minute drive from Deer Lake, welcoming over 180,000 visitors each year! Click here to plan your visit.
Listen to our Podcast- The Spark!
Kicking off in summer of 2024, Deer Lake now hosts and produces our own podcast called, The Spark, where you’ll find economic insight and community highlights. Join us as we ignite conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who are shaping the future of the Deer Lake and Humber Valley region. The Spark – where Deer Lake’s brightest ideas come to life!
Statistics
Population
According to the 2016 Census of Canada, Deer Lake has a population of 5,250 people, a 5% increase in population since the 2011 Census of Canada. The Town of Deer Lake is one of the few communities in western Newfoundland that enjoyed population growth from the last Census.
Driving Distances
| Driving Distance | Population |
|---|---|
| Within 20 KM | Approx. 6,200 |
| Within 50 KM | Approx. 30,000 |
| WIthin 100 KM | Approx. 40,000 |
| Within 350 KM | Approx. 130,000 |
| Within 450 KM | Approx. 204,000 |
*204,000 individuals represents 41.8 percent of the island portion of the province’s population and 90 percent of the island portion of the province’s population excluding the Avalon Peninsula.
Economic Region
Deer Lake is located in Economic Zone 8. Zone 8 covers the western portion of the province and is at the base of the Northern Peninsula. There are 26 communities in the zone with a population of approximately 40,000 that covers the following areas:
- White Bay South
- Humber Valley
- Corner Brook
- Bay of Islands North Shore
- Bay of Islands South Shore
Occupations
Deer Lake is home to many occupational sectors which have been highlighted in the following table:
| Occupations | # of Residents |
|---|---|
| Management Occupations | 130 |
| Business, Finance and Administrations Occupations | 265 |
| Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations | 55 |
| Health Occupations | 130 |
| Occupations in Social Science, Education, Government Services and Religions |
155 |
| Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport | 10 |
| Sales and Service Occupations | 830 |
| Trades, Transportation and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations |
510 |
| Occupations Unique to Primary Industry | 125 |
| Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing Utilities |
62 |
(2006 Census)
Housing Starts 2006 – 2012
The Town of Deer Lake has seen an average of 33 housing starts since 2006.
| Year | # of Housing Starts |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 30 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2009 | 32 |
| 2010 | 47 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 46 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 25 |
The national average is 31.5 housing starts for every 5,000 residents (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada).
Contact Information
Town of Deer Lake
34 Reid’s Lane, A8A 2A2
Phone: (709) 635-2451
Fax: (709) 635-5857
To reach Economic Development Officer, Gloria Field, you can email: gfield@deerlake.ca