Marystown

"Marystown" redirects here. For the American town, see Marytown.

Marystown
—  Town  —
Winter Sunset Over the Harbour featuring Canning Bridge
Coat of arms
Motto: "Ubi Incrementum Est Via Vitae"  (Latin) "Where Growth Is A Way Of Life"
Marystown Location of Marystown in Newfoundland
Coordinates: 47°10′N 55°10′W / 47.167°N 55.167°W / 47.167; -55.167
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Census division	2
Government
– Type	Marystown Town Council
– Mayor	Sam Synard
Area
– Total	61.97 km2 (23.9 sq mi)
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	5,436
– Density	87.7/km2 (227.1/sq mi)
Time zone	Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30)
– Summer (DST)	Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30)
Postal code span	A0E
Area code(s)	709
Highways	Route 220
Website	Town of Marystown Website

Marystown is a Canadian town in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador with a population of 5,436 as of 2006^[update]. Situated 306 km from the province's capital, St. John's, it is on the Burin Peninsula. Up until the early 1990s, its economy was largely based on shipbuilding, and it is due in part to this that the town experienced a population increase of 295% in just over a decade.^[1] The town was also dependent on the fish plant for employment.

Though the shipyard still holds a presence in the town, residents have had to look elsewhere for economic subsistence in the last decade or so. The closure of the fish plants in Newfoundland has also had its hand in the decline in economic subsistence. Mortier Bay also served a strategic role during the war, and was the site selected to evacuate the Royal Family and regroup the British Navy in the event of German invasion of Britain.^[2]

Education

Marystown and surrounding area is home to four public schools, Marystown Central High School, Sacred Heart Academy, Pearce Junior High, and Donald C. Jamieson Academy. Post secondary institutions include three public trade-colleges, College of the North Atlantic, and Keyin College.

Marystown's public schools are serviced under the Eastern School District of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sports/community life

Despite being in a province reporting one of the highest obesity rates in Canada,^[3] Marystown has sport enthusiasts in disciplines including softball, soccer, swimming, track and field and hockey can find endless outlets to express support or participation in these active groups and clubs. Marystown has many attractions for both residents and visitors:

• Seasonal swimming pool
• Professional track and field complex (Home of the Mariners Athletics Club {MAC})
• Two softball diamonds: The Kinsmen Field and The Lions Field
• Soccer pitch (Home to the 2004 Challenge Cup Champions "Marystown United")
• Ice rink/live entertainment complex
• Several scenic walking trails

The urban centre is surrounded by rolling hills and densely wooded areas, as a result Marystown is frequented by hunting, fishing, camping and ATV enthusiasts.

Religion

While the town contains a diverse mixture of churches of varying denominations, the largest of the town is Christian. The information presented from a 2001 census from Statistics Canada indicates that 68% of the population is Roman Catholic.

• Roman Catholic; Sacred Heart Parish

• United; Calvary United Church

• Anglican; St. Michael's Church;St. Mary's Church

• Salvation Army; Faith and Hope Corps

• Pentecostal; Calvary Pentecostal Church

• Seventh-Day Adventist; Marystown Seventh-Day Adventist Church