| Torbay | |
| Official Name: | Town of Torbay |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Motto: | "Salus et Felicitas"(Latin) "Health and Happiness" |
| Seal Size: | 120x90px |
| Pushpin Map: | Newfoundland#Canada Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Torbay |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Canada |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Craig Scott |
| Leader Title1: | MHA |
| Leader Name1: | Joedy Wall (PC) |
| Leader Title2: | MP |
| Leader Name2: | Joanne Thompson (LIB) |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Land Km2: | 34.89 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 7,852 |
| Population Density Km2: | 212.1 |
| Utc Offset: | −03:30 |
| Timezone Dst: | NDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −02:30 |
| Coordinates: | 47.6592°N -52.7531°W |
| Blank Info: | |
| Website: | torbay.ca |
Torbay is a town located on the eastern side of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
The town is located 12km (07miles) north of the capital city of St. John's and is part of the St. John's metropolitan area. Due to Torbay's close proximity to St. John's, the town's population is quickly growing. According to the 2021 census the population was 7,852, up from 7,397 in 2011.[2]
The name Torbay comes from Torbay, Devon, England and was first mapped in 1615 by John Mason. It comes from the old Anglo-Saxon "Tor" which means "a rocky hill".[3] Both places are geographically similar with wide-open bays that face in a northeasterly direction. An extract from Bishop Feild's journal states, "indeed there seems to be a little colony of Devon folk in Torbay." John Nutt, the pirate, settled here with his family from Devon.The community of Torbay experienced three French campaigns, the first of which occurred in December 1696. These invasions contributed to the eventual construction of the Torbay Battery in 1781, which was manned by 25 troops from the 71st Regiment and Royal Artillery. The ordnance was eventually withdrawn in 1795.
The census of 1677 indicated the Cole and Corum families as residing in "Tarr-Bay" Newfoundland. The following year the Field Family joined them. By 1794 the population of Torbay included many of the surnames now associated with Torbay and totalled 108 English settlers and 99 Irish settlers. The Way Office, a mail handling facility used where there was not enough business to warrant a full post office,[4] was established in 1891.
The early history of the community was further highlighted by the landing of Colonel William Amherst and his troops in 1762 on their way to re-capturing the capital city of St. John's from the French. This event was officially recognized in 1978 when the first mayor of Torbay, William Manning, unveiled a stone monument and plaque at the present day Veterans Memorial Park.[5]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Torbay had a population of living in of its total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of . With a land area of 34.89km2, it had a population density of in 2021.[6]
| Year | Population | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4,707 | N/A | |
| 1996 | 5,230 | 11.1 | |
| 2001 | 5,474 | 4.7 | |
| 2006 | 6,281 | 14.7 | |
| 2011 | 7,397 | 17.8% | |
| 2016 | 7,899 | 6.8% |
Climate is from St. John's International Airport (approximately south southwest of Torbay).
The town of Torbay is a bedroom community, with most of the workforce commuting to the nearby cities of St. John's and Mount Pearl. No public transport links St. John's to its northern suburbs and exurbs, and all such commutes are done by car only. The town's economy is driven mostly by service industries that serve the residents such as a grocery store, convenience stores, doctors offices, hair salons, real-estate offices and restaurants among others.
With population growth in the town in recent years the housing market has become a significant part of the local economy. Torbay has become the most expensive housing market in the province with average home prices surpassing $375,000. Between 2009 and 2010 the town also saw the largest appreciation in housing prices in the St. John's CMA, with housing prices rising 32%.[7]
The town is serviced by St. John's International Airport, which was formally the Torbay Airport. Airlines include Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Labrador, Air Saint-Pierre, Air Transat, Porter Airlines, Provincial Airlines, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet and WestJet Encore. The airport offers services across Canada and the United Kingdom and Ireland, to the United States, Saint-Pierre and the Caribbean.[8]
Prior to 2011, the only major route into Torbay was Torbay Road (route 20). 2011 saw the opening of the Torbay Bypass, a $22.7 million project that required three years to complete. The south end of the bypass begins at a traffic light-controlled T-intersection with Torbay Road, North of the Stavanger Drive shopping area, and runs 7.7 km north with access via traffic lights to Indian Meal Line, and Bauline Line, before it meets Torbay Road at its northern terminus. This project also saw upgrades to portions of Torbay Road, and includes multiple grade-separated crossings.[9]
The town council of Torbay is composed of a mayor, deputy mayor and five councillors (at large). The mayor and councillors are elected during the municipal election, which is held every four years on the last Tuesday in September. Traditionally the councillor with the highest numbers of votes is selected and confirmed as deputy mayor during the first official meeting of the new council, the mayor is elected by separate ballot.[10] In Newfoundland and Labrador, municipal elections are nonpartisan. Current Torbay Town Council of the 2021–2025 term is represented by acclaimed Mayor Craig Scott, Deputy Mayor Mary Thorne-Gosse and five Councillors Ralph Tapper, Rhonda Manning, Trina Appleby, Ward Gosse, Tony Pollard.[10]
Torbay is a part of the provincial electoral district of Cape St. Francis, the district is a tory stronghold and is currently represented by Progressive Conservative (PC) MHA Joedy Wall.[11]
The town is represented in the House of Commons by the federal riding of St. John's East, formally St. John's North. The seat was another tory stronghold and was represented by Conservatives MPs for the majority of time since 1949. The federal riding is now represented by Liberal Party MP Joanne Thompson.[12]
The town is home to the Northeast Eagles, which offers novice, atom, peewee and bantam hockey for youths. The town also has a senior hockey team for adults, both teams play at the Jack Byrne Arena. The arena is Torbay's first hockey arena which opened in October 2008, under the name North East Avalon Arena. In March 2009 the arena was officially opened by Premier Danny Williams and was renamed the Jack Byrne Arena after the former MHA who had died in early 2008.
The Torbay soccer association runs soccer games throughout the summer for youths.[13]
The town offers three adult softball leagues along with a minor softball house league. There is a ladies recreational league, an over 18 men's league and the long running Avalon East Slo-Pitch over 35 gentlemen's league.
The town is home to Holy Trinity Elementary which offers kindergarten to grade 4 education, Juniper Ridge Intermediate which offers grades 5 to 8 and Holy Trinity High which offers education from grades 9 to 12.[14] [15] English and French immersion education is offered at both schools. A new elementary school was constructed to replace the former Holy Trinity Elementary; the school opened in September 2010. The School is still called Holy Trinity Elementary School. Juniper Ridge Intermediate was opened in September 2018 with attending students from the surrounding area.