Avalon

Avalon is a federal electoral district covering much of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, excluding the city of St. John's itself. With a 2021 census population of approximately 81,780, the riding stretches from the fast-growing suburban communities of Conception Bay South (population 27,168) and Paradise southward along the Southern Shore through Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, Ferryland, and Trepassey, and westward to Placentia and the isthmus connecting the Avalon to the rest of the island.

Candidates

Ken McDonald (Liberal) served as mayor of Conception Bay South, the second-largest municipality in Newfoundland and Labrador, before winning the Avalon seat in 2015. Prior to politics, McDonald ran a home appliance repair business and had lived in Conception Bay South his entire life. As mayor, he gained attention for confronting Nalcor Energy over the use of municipal roads during Muskrat Falls construction, negotiating road repair commitments from the Crown corporation.

Matthew Chapman (Conservative) is a teacher with 15 years of classroom experience, beginning his career in Placentia before moving to another part of the riding. He holds two bachelor's degrees and a Master of Education in Leadership from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Chapman won the Conservative nomination in December 2020, defeating former provincial Progressive Conservative leader Paul Davis by 18 votes.

Carolyn Davis (NDP) was born and raised in St. John's and spent eight years working in the insurance industry before running for office. A breast cancer survivor, she entered the 2021 campaign as a first-time candidate focused on public health care and affordability issues facing families on the Avalon Peninsula.

Lainie Stewart (PPC) is a small business owner who has operated a bakery called Sugar Mamas on Elizabeth Avenue in St. John's for over a decade. Her daughter, Georgia Faith Stewart, ran simultaneously as the PPC candidate in St. John's South--Mount Pearl.

About the Riding

Avalon encompasses a diverse mix of fast-growing suburbs, rural outports, and historic coastal communities. Conception Bay South, the riding's population anchor, has experienced steady growth as a bedroom community for St. John's workers, with its population rising 3.7% between 2016 and 2021. In contrast, many Southern Shore communities such as Ferryland (population 371 in 2021, down from 414 in 2016) and Trepassey have seen persistent population decline as younger residents leave for employment elsewhere.

The riding's economy is closely tied to the offshore oil and gas sector, with many residents commuting to jobs supporting Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose, and Hebron production platforms. The fishery remains vital to coastal communities, particularly the crab and shrimp harvests along the Southern Shore. Placentia, the former French capital of Newfoundland, serves as a supply base for the offshore industry and hosts the emerging Long Harbour nickel processing facility operated by Vale.

Housing affordability and suburban infrastructure were significant local issues heading into 2021, as rapid growth in Conception Bay South and Paradise strained roads, water systems, and school capacity. The 1992 cod moratorium continues to shape the economic fabric of smaller communities, many of which have transitioned from groundfish to shellfish harvesting or seasonal tourism. Ferryland's Colony of Avalon archaeological site and the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, home to one of the largest Atlantic puffin colonies in North America, support a growing tourism economy. Federal investment in coastal infrastructure, broadband connectivity for rural areas, and support for the offshore petroleum industry were prominent campaign themes across the riding.