Population
Although the Jewish population in North Bay has always been small proportionate to the overall population, it has remained stable since the first Jewish families began to settle in the region at the beginning of the 20th century. It was estimated that about 20 Jewish families (about 70 individuals) lived in North Bay by the time of the incorporation of the congregation and the purchase of the shul in 1924. By 1931, Census returns indicate that 154 Jews lived in North Bay. Slight fluctuations in the total numbers continued through the 1940s, when the population numbered just over 120 persons, and 1950s, when the total fell to just over 100 Jewish residents. By 1961 there were 119 people who identified themselves as Jewish in North Bay. The pattern indicates a slightly declining population trend, consistent with the exodus of young people leaving for universities and professional careers in the cities. Nonetheless, this decline has been mitigated somewhat by the occasional influx of newcomers, many of whom have come to North Bay to work in the education and health care sectors.
