What's the Discovery Zone?

The Discovery Zone is a geographic area that covers the Bonavista Peninsula to Port Blandford to Swift Current to Chapel Arm.  The Discovery Zone is also known as Economic Zone 15.  The 2006 Census has the population of this region at 28,355.  This is a decrease of 5.1% since the 2001 Census.  During the needs assessment, we will be looking at some of the economic and social issues around the area but in the meantime, here's some interesting tidbits:

Did you know?

The Town of Port Union is the only union-built town in North America and is a treasure of heritage.

The Town of Bonavista is where modern North America began, on June 24, 1497 when Italian explorer Giovani Cabota made landfall.

The province's only oil refinery is located at Come-By-Chance and was built in 1971-73.  Today it is one of the largest employers in the region.

Pat Murphy's Meadow, the beloved folksong by J.M. Devine, is in King's Cove!

Piper's Hole River in Swift Current is a popular place for whitewater kayaking.

Ray Guy, one of the province's most profilic writers, grew up in Arnold's Cove.

There are three Chambers of Commerce in the region:  Clarenville Area; Arnold's Cove Area and Bonavista Area.

The causeway to Random Island was built in 1952.

The Town of Clarenville is one of ten communities in Canada participating in an Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Initiative. 

The area around Musgravetown and Lethbridge is well-known for its fertile farm land.

What interesting facts about the area do you know about the Discovery Zone?