Community Profile
Grand Falls was established as a “company town” in 1905 by the Anglo Newfoundland Development Company (ANDCo) as the site for the Province’s first paper mill. In 1938, the neighbouring community of Windsor was founded on the perimeter of the ANDCo owned townsite. Grand Falls remained a “company town” until 1960 when Price Brothers and Company Limited acquired the newsprint mill. Today, the paper mill is owned and operated by Abitibi-Consolidated. In 1991, Grand Falls and Windsor amalgamated to form the current Grand Falls-Windsor municipality. Grand Falls-Windsor serves as the local service centre for over 29,000 people in the central region of the Province.
A Growing Industrial Base
Although newsprint remains the dominant industry and employer in the town, the economy is becoming increasingly diversified. For example, through its
Gateway to the New Millennium economic development strategy, the town is pursuing new diversification opportunities in information technology (IT) and tourism.
Construction of the town’s $1.8 million EXCITE Centre (Exploits Centre for Information Technology Excellence) began in Fall 2000. This 24,000 sq. ft. facility is designed to assist new and expanding IT firms by providing technical requirements and infrastructure needed to facilitate a clustering of IT companies in the region.
The Centre is expected to generate 80 jobs and $3 million in wages by the end of 2001.
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| Community Indicators |
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Town |
Province |
| Population (1996) |
14,295 |
551,795 |
| Population Components¹ (1996) |
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| School Age Children |
20% |
21% |
| Prime Labour Force (ages 20-54) |
52% |
53% |
| Seniors |
12% |
11% |
| Education Attainment² (1996) |
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| Completed post secondary |
45% |
40% |
| High school/some post secondary |
12% |
15% |
| Less than high school |
43% |
45% |
| Income (1998) |
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| Median personal income |
$16,100 |
$14,700 |
| Average family income |
$39,100 |
$36,500 |
1. Selected population components only.
2. Educational attainment of the population age 15+.
Source: Community Accounts database |
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DP Solutions Inc., a North Carolina-based software company, will be the anchor tenant in the EXCITE Centre. The Company is developing its latest generation of an Internet-based asset management software at Grand Fall-Windsor and employs 50 people at this location.
The theme of the tourism industry in the area is Exploit’s Wild and
Free. The annual flagship event is the highly successful Exploit’s Valley Salmon Festival, ranked among the top 100 annual events in North America by the American Bus Association. Other attractions include the Grand Falls Fishway and Salmonid Interpretation Center and the Corduroy Brook Walking Trail. Historical exhibits include the Beothuck Village, the Loggers’ Museum at Beothuck Park, and the Mary March Museum. The area provides excellent salmon fishing opportunities, and many recreational opportunities including a challenging 9-hole golf course. |
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Photo: Town of Grand Falls-Windsor
Salmonid Interpretation Centre |
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