If the start of 2017 is any indication, it should be another strong year of growth in Tache. That is the early word from Mayor Robert Rivard.

Rivard says 2016 was a bounceback year for the municipality. There were 148 building permits pulled, worth a combined $19.5 million. Compare that to 2015, when 110 permits were taken out,

(Tache Mayor Robert Rivard)totaling $11 million. Rivard says this growth trend should continue in 2017.

"We're expecting it to be a very good year because just in the first month of 2017 we already had a jump in total number of permits compared to the same month last year and in the dollar value the same thing," notes Rivard.

Rivard says Tache is growing at a very comfortable rate. Census data released earlier this month points towards a growth rate of about 12 percent or 1,200 residents since 2011.

"Twelve to fifteen percent is a good manageable number for growth," states Rivard. "You always want to see growth but if it's coming too fast it's hard to keep up with the infrastructure."

Having said that, he notes they had expected an increase closer to 2,000 residents from 2011 to 2016. But he says that is based strictly on building permits.

According to Rivard, much of the growth continues to happen in and around Lorette, as well as the west end of the municipality. He notes until the water system upgrade is complete in Landmark, that community will not see any housing activity. However, he says there are developers waiting for that day.