No place on Earth is perfect. But for the best possible mix of rural and urban living, Conception Bay South comes pretty close.

Located just 20 kilometers from bustling St. John’s, NL, this community of 27,000 features modern recreational facilities—pristine walking and hiking trails, parks, playgrounds, beaches, marinas—and spectacular ocean views alongside excellent schools, health care facilities, a commercial port, an industrial park, and a thriving business sector.

It’s little wonder, then, that the community’s mayor, Terry French, insists: “I like to think that we are in the ideal middle. I can be in my office in St. John’s in about 18 minutes, and I can be at my cottage in 40. We are that perfect balance.”

What’s more, he says, there’s nothing accidental about Conception Bay South’s development. “For a long time, the strategy here was to bring in business. Well, we’ve tweaked that a bit; now we look to bring in people. It’s simple: If you bring in people, you bring in business.”

The bottom line, he says, is clear. “This is all about being who we really are. We’re not trying to be a city, because we’re not one. We’re not trying to be a totally rural town, because we’re not one. We believe we’re completely positioned for any resident or business to move in. We will always offer the best of both worlds.”

Increasingly, both worlds agree. The town has established itself as the community of choice for families wanting to establish long-term roots. Its favourable climate, rural feel, close proximity to urban amenities, offshore servicing projects, and natural resource processing create an ideal location to live and work on the Avalon Peninsula.

Working in partnership with businesses, community organizations—such as the Downtown Business Improvement Association and the Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce—and government departments to promote new economic development opportunities, the town maintains an open-handed approach with a firm commitment to long-term fiscal responsibility, sustainability and, above all, livability.

If that’s not just about perfect, then it’s hard to know what is.