The mayor of St. John’s says the population growth seen in metro last year is a positive sign of things for the area.

A recent report from the Atlantic Province’s Economic Council indicates that the population of the metro region, which includes St. John’s and 12 other communities, grew by 2.3 per cent in the year leading up to July 2022.

Danny Breen says that number equates to about 4,850 people. He notes, however, that while natural population growth decreased in that same time period, interprovincial and intraprovincial migration numbers were up.

Breen says retaining those numbers is key and is something they are focused on by building a community that is welcoming and has opportunities for people to build a life.

He says people wish to live in a place where they feel they belong.