New Brunswick: A Place To Call Home?

Does New Brunswick want me? Well, it depends on what you're looking for. New Brunswick is a province in Canada with a population of around 760,000-840,000 people. It's known for its natural beauty, with vast forests covering about 80% of the land and a stunning coastline along the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world. The province offers a high quality of life with a low cost of living, a strong sense of community, and a safe, small-town vibe.

If you're looking for a quiet, simple lifestyle surrounded by nature, New Brunswick could be a great fit. The real estate and cost of living are among the lowest in Canada, and the average income for families is around $65,910, which is also relatively low. The province has a strong economy centred on natural resources, manufacturing, and an emerging service sector, including finance, insurance, and information technology.

However, if you're looking for a fast-paced, cosmopolitan lifestyle with high-powered career opportunities and a vibrant nightlife, New Brunswick may not be the best place for you. The economy is not as dynamic as some other cities, and wages tend to be lower than the Canadian average. Additionally, knowing both English and French is an asset, as it is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, with about one-third of the population speaking French as their first language.

So, does New Brunswick want you? It depends on what you want and what you have to offer. If you're looking for a change of pace and a close-knit community surrounded by natural beauty, New Brunswick might be the perfect place to call home.

Immigration to New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a province in Canada with a population of around 770,000 people. It is one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces, alongside Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It is also the only constitutionally bilingual province in the country, with around 30% of the population speaking French as a first language.

New Brunswick is known for its natural beauty, with around 80% of the land covered in forests and woodland. It also has a low cost of living, with affordable housing and cheap essentials.

The province offers many job opportunities, particularly in healthcare, education, manufacturing, transportation, construction, information technology, agriculture, and aquaculture. The average income for families in New Brunswick is $65,910, which is among the lowest in Canada.

New Brunswick has several immigration streams for prospective immigrants, including the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). This program includes the following streams:

• Express Entry Stream: This stream is for candidates with profiles in the federal Express Entry Pool who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the province's economy.
• Skilled Worker Stream: This stream is for candidates who have received a full-time, permanent job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
• Business Immigration Stream: This stream is for individuals who plan to own and actively manage a business in New Brunswick and are expected to make a monetary investment.
• Strategic Initiative Stream: This stream is for French-speaking workers with the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the province's economy and who wish to live and work there permanently.
• Critical Worker Pilot: This stream allows designated employers in New Brunswick to recruit foreign talent to address workforce needs.
• Atlantic Immigration Program: This program is for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to work and live in New Brunswick.

To be eligible for immigration to New Brunswick, candidates typically need to meet certain requirements, including age limits, language proficiency, educational credentials, work experience, proof of funds, and a genuine intention to reside in the province.

Life in New Brunswick

New Brunswick offers a high quality of life with short commutes, friendly communities, affordable living, and a laid-back lifestyle. The province has three major cities: Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.

The climate in New Brunswick features distinct seasons, with snowy and cold winters and mild, pleasant summers. Spring flooding is common in the many rivers that cut through the province.

The population of New Brunswick is predominantly English-speaking, with Scottish, Irish, and English settlers making up a large portion of the province's descendants. The French-speaking minority, which makes up about one-third of the population, consists mostly of Acadian settlers and French Canadians from Quebec.

New Brunswick has a strong sense of community and is known for its warm and friendly atmosphere. The province also boasts excellent health and school services, with all citizens and permanent residents entitled to free education through the end of high school.

Cost of living in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has a low cost of living compared to other provinces in Canada. The average house price in the province was $192,000 in May 2020, and the average price of a house in the Fredericton area in mid-2020 was $216,000. In Saint John, the average house price was $187,000. In Moncton, a bachelor apartment is $607 per month, and a one-bedroom apartment is $698 per month. In Fredericton, a bachelor apartment is $637 per month, and a one-bedroom apartment is $747 per month. In Saint John, a bachelor apartment is $526 per month, and a one-bedroom apartment is $648 per month.

The average salary in Fredericton is $51,080, and the average household income is $91,500. The average yearly salary in Fredericton is $51,080, and a salary of $220,000 per year means that you would be taking home about $138,198 per year after taxes, or $11,516 per month. The average cost of living in Fredericton is $2,966 per month for a single person who rents. The average monthly net income of $220,000 per year is $138,198. The average monthly cost of rental housing in Fredericton is $1,100. The average monthly cost of owned housing in Fredericton is $1,553. The average monthly cost on public transit in Fredericton is $290. The average monthly cost for a driver in Fredericton is $638. The average person spends $460 on groceries per month in Fredericton. The average monthly cost of utilities in Fredericton is $145. The average person in Fredericton spends $159 on leisure and entertainment per month. The average person in Fredericton spends $34 on clothing per month. The average person in Fredericton spends $280 on restaurants per month. The average person in Fredericton spends $150 on miscellaneous goods and services per month.

The average income for New Brunswick families is $65,910, among the lowest in Canada. The mandatory minimum wage is currently $10.30/hr. Provincial personal income taxes are slightly above the Canadian average.

The cost of heating, power and food are substantially lower than almost anywhere in North America. Canadian essentials are much cheaper in New Brunswick. Water, gas and electricity bills tend to be much lower than the rest of Canada.

According to Numbeo, the average monthly costs in New Brunswick are as follows:

• Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax): $2414
• Mortgage Interest Rate: 4.14%
• Apartment (one bedroom) in City Centre: $917.509
• Apartment (one bedroom) outside of Centre: $746.88
• Childcare - Preschool (or Kindergarten), full day, private, monthly for one child: $800
• International Primary School, Yearly for One Child: $8000
• Basic utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment: $150

Job opportunities in New Brunswick

New Brunswick offers a wide range of job opportunities across various sectors. The province is known for its business-friendly environment, attracting companies of all sizes, from industry leaders to startups. This diverse business landscape provides a wealth of career options for both new graduates and experienced professionals.

Some of the prominent sectors in New Brunswick include:

• Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries: The province has a strong focus on primary industries, offering jobs in areas like agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture.
• Healthcare: Horizon Health Network and Vitalité Health Network are significant employers in the region, with a constant demand for professionals in various healthcare roles.
• Education: New Brunswick offers career opportunities in education, including roles in early childhood development, post-secondary education, and school districts.
• Government: The Government of New Brunswick is one of the largest employers in the province, providing meaningful and rewarding career opportunities in various departments, such as finance, justice, natural resources, and tourism.
• Technology and Business: New Brunswick is experiencing rapid growth in tech and business sectors, creating numerous job openings in fields like information technology, management, operations, and marketing.
• Other sectors: The province also offers jobs in areas such as environment and local government, transportation, tourism, culture, and natural resources development.

Online job portals like NBjobs.ca, Government of New Brunswick – Employment, and the Government of Canada Job Bank are excellent resources for exploring current job opportunities in the province. Additionally, networking through community resources, immigrant-settlement agencies, and educational institutions can also help individuals find their desired career path in New Brunswick.

Education in New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick, with campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, is the oldest English-language university in Canada and the province's largest. Other universities in the province include St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University, and the Université de Moncton.

The province also has a community college system, with the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) providing post-secondary education in English across six campuses. The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) is a primarily francophone post-secondary institution with five campuses. The New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) is the only college in Canada that focuses entirely on fine crafts and design.

The University of New Brunswick is recognised for its top-rated programs in engineering and computer science. Mount Allison University is consistently ranked among the top small universities for its education and has produced a high number of Rhodes Scholars.

New Brunswick has the highest high school graduation rate in Canada, at over 86%. The province is also a leader in the use of technology in education, with 100% of its public schools having internet access.

Culture in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a Canadian province with a rich cultural heritage, drawing from its Francophone and Anglophone communities, as well as the contributions of generations of immigrants from all over the world. The province is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with French and English having equal status.

Art and Theatre

New Brunswick is home to many galleries, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, which was designated as the province's provincial art gallery in 1994, and the Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen at the Université de Moncton. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery houses an excellent small collection of British, Canadian, and other paintings of the past three centuries, including notable works by J.M.W. Turner, Salvador Dalí, and Canadian artist Cornelius Krieghoff. The Owens Art Gallery at Mount Allison University is the oldest university-operated art gallery in Canada.

The province is also home to Theatre New Brunswick, one of Canada's leading English-language regional theatre companies, and Théâtre l’Escaouette, a renowned Francophone professional theatre company based in Moncton.

Music

Music has always been an important part of New Brunswick's history and culture. The province hosts several well-known music festivals, including the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, FrancoFête en Acadie, and the Miramichi Folksong Festival. Music lovers can also enjoy performances by local musicians playing folk, classical, country, and rock and roll music.

Food

New Brunswick is known for its world-class productions and historic theatres, as well as its vibrant live-music scene and arts communities. The province offers restaurants that satisfy the most demanding taste buds, with culinary delights ranging from fresh seafood to wild blueberries and maple syrup.

Festivals

New Brunswick's small towns celebrate their multicultural population with Irish, Scottish, and Chinese festivals. The Canada Irish Festival on the Miramichi is an annual highlight, with Irish dancing, music, and cultural workshops.

Sports and Recreation

Recreational activities in New Brunswick fall into two groups: winter and summer. Skiing, hockey, and curling dominate the winter months, while summer recreation focuses on water sports and activities such as boating, swimming, and fishing. Whale watching near the western islands of the Bay of Fundy is also a popular attraction. Golf, tennis, and hunting are other common outdoor pursuits, and the province offers several national and provincial parks for camping, bird watching, and hiking.

Frequently asked questions