Strategic Plan

Between September 2023 and March 2025, the Township of Bonfield worked on its new Strategic Plan. The plan was adopted by Council at its regular meeting on March 11, 2025; and was informed by a community-wide survey, plus in-depth discussions involving members of Council and Staff.

The plan is also supplemented by a Background Report, which provides further detailed analysis of the key issues, constraints, and opportunities affecting the Township of Bonfield at this time. The following provides a brief summary of community-related information contained within the Strategic Plan for reference:

The Top 3 Issues identified by residents requiring further analysis include: 

Infrastructure - including Roads, Sidewalks, and Landfill (68%)
Taxes (58%); and
Healthcare (47%)

Residents also identified the following as priorities: 

Property Standards (31%)
Economic Development (18%)
Fiscal Responsibility (17%)

The average length of time residents have lived in the Township of Bonfield is 15.6 years. However, the largest proportion of residents providing a response to the survey are either newcomers to the Township (27.4% having lived in the Township for less than 5 years); Or are long-time residents (22% having lived in the Township for between 20-39 years).

The recent influx of newcomers to the Township reflects broader shifts within the post-Covid economy, with households increasingly seeking space outside of the heavily populated urban centers. This increased demand for housing is accelerating land severances, and the transfer of private property, including smaller-scale attainable housing units. 

These more recent demands are reflected in the fact that 30% of the Township’s residents chose to live in the Township of Bonfield due to ‘Housing Affordability’. The majority also welcome the ‘Small Town Feel’ (37%); with a further 29% stating their desire ‘to be closer to family and friends.’ Another large proportion choose to live in the Township of Bonfield to access ‘recreational’ pursuits including Fishing and Hunting (29%). These factors are also reasons why people choose to stay. 

In regard to employee-based commuting, 29% of residents surveyed commute to the City of North Bay and surrounding communities for work purposes, driving approximately 30 Minutes either way. A further 21% indicate they travel less than 30 Minutes either way; and another 16% state they Work from Home. A further 30% indicate the question of their workplace location did not apply to them. These individuals are understood to comprise a mix of retired and/or unemployed persons.

The community survey also revealed residents have wide-ranging preferences when it comes to how they prefer to engage with Council and Staff including in-person, by telephone, by letter, email, and through self-guided use of the Township’s website or App. 

The results are mixed; but generally speaking, younger and newer populations tend to prefer more digital forms of communication, whereas longer-time residents tend to prefer more traditional approaches.   

For further information related to existing Businesses and Industries located in, or operating within, the Township of Bonfield refer to the separate Community Economic Development section of this website for reference.