Canada’s smallest town, Tilt Cove, sees its last four residents relocate, closing a chapter in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history.
A Town of Four Bids Farewell to a Way of Life
In the quiet stillness of Tilt Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador—Canada’s smallest town—life is about to change forever. The town’s entire population, just four residents, is relocating, marking the end of an era defined by seclusion, resilience, and memory.
Don Collins, the town’s long-serving mayor, reflected on his departure with a heavy heart. “I figured I was going to be here till the last of it — till the end,” he said. After living in the same home for 45 years and raising a family there, the decision to leave wasn’t made lightly.
A Lifetime in a Town Few Could Find on a Map
Tilt Cove has always been more than a dot on the map. Tucked between copper-tinted hills and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a place where time slowed and nature thrived. Two couples—siblings who married siblings—were the last full-time residents, living in homes they built and rebuilt with care.
Though only a dozen houses remain, each carries stories of Newfoundland’s past—saltbox homes dragged up from the ocean, modern bungalows overlooking the hills, and memories embedded in every creak of wood and gust of wind.
A Move Rooted in Health, Family, and Harsh Winters
Now, health concerns and unforgiving winters are forcing the move. Both families will settle in King’s Point, a nearby coastal town offering better access to healthcare and closer ties to extended family. The province has provided relocation compensation, though officials have kept the figures confidential.
“It torments after a while,” said Collins. “It’s not something you want to do, but you’re going to do it.”
Electricity Ends, But Emotional Ties Remain
Newfoundland and Labrador will disconnect power to the homes once the families are gone—a decision Collins opposes, citing summer residents who still return. But while electricity may go, the emotional current remains strong.
Collins is determined to return as long as the road is passable. “It’s out of the question not to be able to come back,” he said. “This is where I wants to die.”
Where Memories Linger Among the Hills
There are three graveyards in Tilt Cove, each resting place etched into the landscape. One sits atop the mountain behind the Collins home, high above the abandoned town.
“Every now and then, some memory will come along,” Collins said. “Memories is the hardest — that’s the hard part.”
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more stories preserving the soul of small-town Canada.
