Bonnyville is a town situated in East Northern Alberta, Canada between Cold Lake and St. Paul. The surrounding Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville No. 87's municipal office is located in Bonnyville. The community derives its name from Father Bonnin, a Roman Catholic priest. Geography Bonnyville is located on the north shore of Jessie Lake. The lake is an important staging area for thousands of migrating birds, and therefore attracts birdwatchers. Other nearby lakes include Moose Lake and Muriel Lake. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville had a population of 6,404 living in 2,537 of its 2,986 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 5,975. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. The population of the Town of Bonnyville according to its 2017 municipal census is 6,422, a change of from its 2014 municipal census population of 6,921. In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Bonnyville recorded a population of 5,975 living in 2,281 of its 2,706 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 6,216. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016. Population controversy The determination of the Town of Bonnyville's population has been subject to controversy since 2006. Most recently, Statistics Canada's February 2017 release of the population and dwelling counts from the 2016 census reported an overall population of 5,417, which was residents fewer than 6,921 permanent residents the municipality counted in its own census conducted in 2014, and less than the 6,216 counted in Statistics Canada's 2011 census. The population count as initially reported by Statistics Canada resulted in a change of -12.9%, which gave Bonnyville the distinction of being the municipality in Canada, among those with at least 5,000 inhabitants, that experienced the greatest percentage loss in population between 2011 and 2016. The Town of Bonnyville disputed the 2016 census results and conducted its own census in 2017 that counted a population of 6,422, which was higher than the 2016 population published by Statistics Canada and less than what the town had counted in 2014. Later in 2017, Statistics Canada issued a revised 2016 population count of 5,975 for Bonnyville, higher than the originally reported population of 5,417. Language Although English is the dominant language in Bonnyville, it is home to