DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographic information pertaining to Avignon and Bonaventure MRCs only. More information to be included soon.
Socio-Economic Profile of Anglophone Communities
The area served by the CSSS Baie des Chaleurs (Matapedia to Shigawake) includes 5,670 English speakers, which gives a percentage of 17.2% of the overall population.
| Avignon | Bonaventure | Total ESP | |
| Males | 1,450 | 1,315 | 2,765 |
| Females | 1,550 | 1,350 | 2,900 |
| Total | 3,000 | 2,665 | 5,670 |
| Total Population | 14,965 | 17,990 | 32,995 |
| Percentage of Total Population |
20% | 14.8% | 17.2% |
The English-speaking population (ESP) can be divided into two main groups: nonnatives, which make up 57% of the ESP and Mi’kmaq people, mostly located in Avignon MRC, who make up 43% of the ESP. The table below gives an overview of the ESP in the two MRCs, and its relative weight in the overall population.
As can be seen in the tables, the native population of Avignon MRC is significant, and makes up 7.4% of the overall population in the area served by the CSSS.
Moreover, if it is assumed that the native population prefers English as their language of service Mi’kmaq people make up 43% of the English-speaking population of the CSSS territory.
Anglophones are not evenly distributed throughout the territory. The villages with significant concentrations of Anglophones are highlighted in the table below.
Anglophone distribution in the villages
| Municipality | Number of ESP's |
Percentage of ESP's |
Percentage of Region's ESP's |
| L’Ascension de Patapedia | 10 | 0.43% | 0.2% |
| St Alexis de Matapedia | 10 | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| St François d’Assise | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| St André de Restigouche | 25 | 11.6% | 0.4% |
| Matapedia | 314 | 46% | 5% |
| Ristigouche Sud-est | 35 | 21% | 0.5% |
| Listuguj | 1,370 | 100% | 23% |
| Pointe à la Croix | 215 | 14.4% | 3.6% |
| Escuminac | 370 | 61% | 6.2% |
| Nouvelle | 160 | 8.2% | 2.7% |
| Carleton – St Omer | 80 | 2% | 1.3% |
| Maria | 30 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Gesgapegiag | 465 | 100% | 8% |
| Cascapedia – St Jules | 480 | 68.6% | 8.1% |
| New Richmond | 510 | 13.7% | 8.6% |
| Caplan | 30 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| St – Alphonse | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| St – Siméon | 10 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Bonaventure | 235 | 8.7% | 3.9% |
| New Carlisle | 875 | 64.8% | 14.8% |
| Paspébiac | 95 | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| Hope | 75 | 10.2% | 1.2% |
| Hopetown | 150 | 48% | 2.5% |
| St – Godefroi | 95 | 25% | 1.6% |
| Shigawake | 245 | 66.2% | 4.2% |
Source: StatsCan Community Profiles
Note: Figures include those who gave both English and French as Mother Tongue
Population forecasts:
In the five years between the census of 1996 and that of 2001 the population of Region 11 declined by 7.8%, the largest decline in the province. During the same period, the decline in the ESP for the entire Region 11 was a similar 7.9%.
The institutional infrastructure of the community has deteriorated considerably over the last 25 years, and the average age of members of groups like the Women’s Institutes and the Royal Canadian Legions is so advanced it does not bode well, even for the immediate future. As such social groups fold, more and more members of the ESP are vulnerable to social isolation, stress, loneliness and other quality of life issues having a negative impact on health.
It is difficult to forecast the future of the ESP. After a long period of sustained decline, recently, there has been a trend of young families and retirees returning to the Gaspé Coast, although youth outmigration continues, particularly amongst those in pursuit of higher education. A statistical look at 2004 indicated that more
people aged 25 to 34 moved into the region than left.5 Quality of life issues, the high cost of urban living, and the employment opportunities now available through use of the Internet have made the Gaspé an increasingly attractive place for young families. Through their initiative, Youth-Turn, CASA has been applauded
for its attempt to bring Gaspesian youth home.
While birth rates are low in both the English and French communities, such is not the case for Gesgapegiag and Listuguj. According to Health Canada’s first Nations and Inuit Health Programs website the average birthrate for First Nations
in Canada is 3.4%. Crowded housing conditions are a problem in both native communities, indicating significant population growth. It is probable that the population of both communities will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
