More seniors, fewer youth in province, census finds

The latest census shows Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest percentage of young people in the country, and among the highest rate of seniors. 

According to the 2011 census, just under 15 per cent of province's population was under the age of 14, that's down two per cent from 2006.

The same census pegs the population of those 65 or over at 16 per cent, that's up from 14 per cent in 2006.

Trepassey, on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, is one community where the numbers hold true.

At its height, Trepassey had 2000 people, now it's just a quarter of that.

Josephine Waddleton is a survivor of Newfoundland and Labrador's demographic collision.

All of her children grew up in Trepassey but only one remains. 

"I have four sons in Alberta and a daughter in British Columbia," said Waddleton. "One son lives next door — he's on the supply boats — and his wife and child remain here (but) they're soon to move. The young have moved away to seek employment and brought their families with them. All that remains is seniors. There's a few younger people, but not very many."

Enrolment at the K-12 school in the community fell from 83 students last year to 69 this year.

Three decades ago there were more than 700 students at the school.