# Bonnyville

Bonnyville is a town situated in East Northern Alberta, Canada between Cold Lake and St. Paul. The Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville No. 87 surrounds the community.
The community derives its name from Father Bonnin, a Roman Catholic priest.

## Geography

Bonnyville is located on the north shore of Jessie Lake. The lake is an important staging area for thousands of migrating birds, and therefore attracts birdwatchers. Other nearby lakes include Moose Lake and Muriel Lake.

## Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville had a population of 6,404 living in 2,537 of its 2,986 total private dwellings, a change of 7.2% from its 2016 population of 5,975. With a land area of 14.17 km$^2$ (5.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 451.9/km$^2$ (1,170.5/sq mi) in 2021.
The population of the Town of Bonnyville according to its 2017 municipal census is 6,422, a change of -7.2% from its 2014 municipal census population of 6,921.
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville recorded a population of 5,975 living in 2,281 of its 2,706 total private dwellings, a -3.9% change from its 2011 population of 6,216. With a land area of 14.18 km$^2$ (5.47 sq mi), it had a population density of 421.4/km$^2$ (1,091.3/sq mi) in 2016.

### Population controversy

The determination of the Town of Bonnyville's population has been subject to controversy since 2006. Statistics Canada's February 2017 release of the population and dwelling counts from the 2016 census reported an overall population of 5,417, which was 1,504 residents fewer than 6,921 permanent residents the municipality counted in its own census conducted in 2014, and 799 less than the 6,216 counted in Statistics Canada's 2011 census. The population count as initially reported by Statistics Canada resulted in a change of -12.9%, which gave Bonnyville the distinction of being the municipality in Canada, among those with at least 5,000 inhabitants, that experienced the greatest percentage loss in population between 2011 and 2016. The Town of Bonnyville disputed the 2016 census results and conducted its own census in 2017 that counted a population of 6,422, which was 1,005 higher than the 2016 population published by Statistics Canada and 499 less than what the town had counted in 2014. Later in 2017, Statistics Canada issued a revised 2016 population count of 5,975 for Bonnyville, 558 higher than the originally reported population of 5,417.

### Language

Although English is the dominant language in Bonnyville, it is home to a notable Franco-Albertan minority. Its most common non-official mother tongues are Tagalog and Ukrainian.
| Mother tongue, 2016 census | Number of speakers | Percentage |
| English | 4,390 | 81.1% |
| French | 335 | 6.2% |
| Tagalog | 140 | 2.6% |
| Ukrainian | 60 | 1.1% |
| Other | 370 | 6.8% |
| Multiple responses | 120 | 2.2% |
| Total responses | 5,415 | 100.0% |

### Visible minorities and Aboriginals

Visible minority and Aboriginal population (Canada 2016 Census) :
| Population group | Population group | Population | % of total population |
| White | White | 4,155 | 76.8% |
| Visible minority group | South Asian | 35 | 0.6% |
| Visible minority group | Chinese | 2 | 0% |
| Visible minority group | Black | 30 | 0.6% |
| Visible minority group | Filipino | 255 | 4.7% |
| Visible minority group | Latin American | 25 | 0.5% |
| Visible minority group | Arab | 110 | 2% |
| Visible minority group | Southeast Asian | 0 | 0% |
| Visible minority group | West Asian | 0 | 0% |
| Visible minority group | Korean | 0 | 0% |
| Visible minority group | Japanese | 10 | 0.2% |
| Visible minority group | Visible minority, n.i.e. | 0 | 0% |
| Visible minority group | Multiple visible minority | 15 | 0.3% |
| Total visible minority population | Total visible minority population | 545 | 10.1% |
| Aboriginal group | First Nations | 270 | 5% |
| Aboriginal group | Métis | 440 | 8.1% |
| Aboriginal group | Inuit | 0 | 0% |
| Aboriginal group | Aboriginal, n.i.e. | 15 | 0.3% |
| Aboriginal group | Multiple Aboriginal identity | 0 | 0% |
| Total Aboriginal population | Total Aboriginal population | 710 | 13.1% |
| Total population | Total population | 5,410 | 100% |

## Economy

Bonnyville's economy is founded on its nearby petroleum reserves as well as its agricultural sector which consists mostly of grain farming and livestock.
As Bonnyville sits on the edge of the Athabasca Tar Sands, one of Canada's largest crude oil reserves, petrol companies like Imperial Oil and Canadian Natural Resources Limited have invested significantly to tap resources in the area.
Besides the aforementioned agricultural sectors, the municipality has seen increases in game farming, as well as specialty crop output. It is also home to one of the largest tree nurseries in Alberta, the Bonnyville Tree Nursery, with an area of around 52000 square feet dedicated to its operation.
Its strategic location between the markets of St. Paul and Cold Lake drives significant commercial activity, especially due to the latter's air force base.

## Attractions

In celebration of Bonnyville's centennial year (2007), the town constructed the Centennial Centre, an educational and recreational centre, as an extension of the R. J. Lalonde Arena and the Bonnyville & District Agriplex. Its construction was somewhat controversial as its cost exceeded the original estimate and required a tax hike for both residents of the town and the municipal district.

## Sports

Bonnyville is home to the Bonnyville Pontiacs, a junior hockey team playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and also a senior hockey team, The Bonnyville Senior Pontiacs. The teams plays out of the R. J. Lalonde Arena, which is part of the Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre.

## Government

MLAs representing Bonnyville :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| Part of St. Paul |||||
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Laudas Joly | United Farmers |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Joseph Dechene | Liberal |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| Part of Bonnyville |||||
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Laudas Joly | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Jake Josvanger | Liberal |
| 14th | 1959–1961 | Karl Nordstrom | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1961 | Vacant | Vacant |
| 14th | 1961–1963 | Romeo Lamothe | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Romeo Lamothe | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | Romeo Lamothe | Social Credit |
| 17th | 1971–1975 | Donald Hansen | Progressive Conservative |
| 18th | 1975–1979 | Donald Hansen | Progressive Conservative |
| 19th | 1979–1982 | Ernie Isley | Progressive Conservative |
| 20th | 1982–1986 | Ernie Isley | Progressive Conservative |
| 21st | 1986–1989 | Ernie Isley | Progressive Conservative |
| 22nd | 1989–1993 | Ernie Isley | Progressive Conservative |
| 23rd | 1993–1997 | Leo Vasseur | Liberal |
| Part of Bonnyville-Cold Lake |||||
| 24th | 1997–2001 | Denis Ducharme | Progressive Conservative |
| 25th | 2001–2004 | Denis Ducharme | Progressive Conservative |
| 26th | 2004–2008 | Denis Ducharme | Progressive Conservative |
| 27th | 2008–2012 | Genia Leskiw | Progressive Conservative |
| 28th | 2012–2015 | Genia Leskiw | Progressive Conservative |
| 29th | 2015–2017 | Scott Cyr | Wildrose |
| 29th | 2017–2019 | Scott Cyr | United Conservative |
| Part of Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul |||||
| 30th | 2019– | TBD | TBD |
Bonnyville Town Council is composed of a mayor and six councilors, all directly elected at large. The current mayor, as of the 2021 election, is Elisa Brosseau. The offices of the Municipal District of Bonnyville are located within the town.
Bonnyville is located within the Bonnyville-Cold Lake provincial electoral district. The current MLA is Scott Cyr, the United Conservative Party, elected in 2023. Previous MLAs include Genia Leskiw and Denis Ducharme.
Federally, Bonnyville falls within the electoral district of Lakeland, a newly re-created riding which is currently held by Shannon Stubbs of the Conservative Party, also first elected in 2015.

## Education

Lakeland Catholic School District No. 150 and Northern Lights School Division No. 69 operate public schools within Bonnyville.

### Lakeland Catholic School District No. 150

* École Notre Dame Elementary School (offering kindergarten through grade 4 English and French programming)
* École Dr. Bernard Brosseau School (offering grade 5 through grade 8 English and French programming)
* École Notre Dame High School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming and a great handball team)

### Northern Lights School Division No. 69

* Duclos School (offering kindergarten through grade 4 programming)
* H.E. Bourgoin School (offering grade 5 through grade 8 programming)
* Bonnyville Centralized High School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming)
* Bonnyville Outreach School (offering grade 9 through grade 12 programming)
Conseil scolaire Centre-Est
* École des Beaux-Lacs (French school offering kindergarten through grade 12 programming)

## Media

* Bonnyville is served by CKSA-TV-2 (VHF channel 9), a rebroadcaster of Citytv affiliate CKSA-DT in Lloydminster.
* Bonnyville is home to 2 FM radio stations, Hot 101.3 FM (CJEG-FM), owned by Stingray Digital with a CHR/Top 40 format, and Country 99 (CFNA-FM) at 99.7 with a Country format, owned by Vista Radio.
* Bonnyville is served by two local newspapers: the Bonnyville Nouvelle, which recently became a regional paper under the name of Lakeland This Week, features news from Bonnyville, St. Paul, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, and Elk Point. Respect, launched in 2018, is a locally-owned regional newspaper "for seniors (and seniors-to-be)."

## Notable people

* Théodore Arcand, diplomat
* Tanner Boser, mixed martial artist
* Denis Ducharme, former provincial politician
* Tyler Ennis, former professional hockey player
* Justin Fontaine, professional hockey player
* Ernie Isley, former provincial politician and mayor
* Jon Kalinski, professional hockey player
* Eugenia "Genia" Leskiw, Canadian politician, Progressive Conservative (MLA 2008-2015)
* Mike Plume, country music singer and songwriter