New Brunswick: A Nature Lover's Paradise

New Brunswick is a charming Maritime province located on Canada's Atlantic coast. It is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada and is the country's only officially bilingual province, with both English and French recognised as official languages. New Brunswick is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the US state of Maine to the west, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy to the south. The province is known for its natural beauty, including pristine rivers, coastal islands, and mountain forests. The Bay of Fundy, which features the world's highest tides, is a major attraction. New Brunswick has a rich history, dating back to its first inhabitants, the Indigenous Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy peoples. It was later explored by Europeans, including French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534 and settled by Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution in the late 18th century. Today, New Brunswick offers a mix of natural wonders, cultural experiences, and outdoor adventures, making it a popular destination for those seeking unspoiled wilderness and unique explorations.

New Brunswick's geography and climate

Geography and Climate of New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a Canadian province with a geography defined by its rivers and location within the Appalachian Mountain range. The province covers 73,440 square kilometres (or 72,908 square kilometres according to another source) in a roughly rectangular shape, with a northern boundary formed by Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula and Bay of Chaleur, an eastern boundary formed by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Northumberland Strait, and a western boundary formed by the US state of Maine. To the southeast, the Isthmus of Chignecto connects New Brunswick to Nova Scotia.

The province's principal geographic divisions are the watershed of the Bay of Fundy, centring on the Saint John River valley, and the north and east shores. The residents of the north and east shores live in coastal fishing villages and interior lumbering settlements along rivers, separated from the valley communities by uplands and belts of forest, as well as by language and religion.

The Saint John River, often called 'The Rhine of North America', is the second-longest river on the North American eastern seaboard. Other major river systems in the province include the Petitcodiac River, Miramichi River, St. Croix River, and Restigouche River.

The province's topography includes northern uplands, mountainous in appearance, that rise to 820 metres at Mt. Carleton, the province's highest point. There are gently rolling hills in the central and eastern parts of the province, and sharp hills on the southern coast that slope down to tidal marshes and a lowland plain in the southeast.

About 80% of the province is forested, with the other 20% consisting of agricultural land and urban areas. The forest cover is dominated by spruce and fir, followed by cedar, white pine, jack pine, red pine, hemlock, and larch. Important hardwoods include red and sugar maples, poplar, white and yellow birch, and beech.

New Brunswick has a blend of climates typical of a coastal area and of an inland province. Its climate tends to be continental, although it is tempered by its proximity to the ocean. The climate is also humid, with precipitation throughout the year, and slightly milder winters on the Gulf of St. Lawrence coastline. The far north of the province is just above subarctic, with very cold winters. The coldest month is January, with an average low of -0.8°C or -4°C in Fredericton, and the warmest month is July, with an average high of 24.6°C or 25°C in Fredericton. The best time for warm-weather activities is mid-July to late September.

The history of New Brunswick

New Brunswick is one of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories, and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only constitutionally bilingual province in Canada, with both English and French recognised as official languages.

The first inhabitants of New Brunswick were the Mi'kmaq, the largest tribe, who occupied the eastern and coastal regions of the province, and were responsible for the Augustine Mound, a burial site constructed around 800 BCE near Metepnákiaq (Red Bank First Nation). The western part of the province was home to the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people, while the smaller Passamaquoddy tribe resided in the province's southwest.

The first documented European exploration of the region was by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534, who discovered and named the Bay of Chaleur. The next French contact occurred in 1604 when a group led by Pierre du Gua de Monts and Samuel de Champlain established a winter camp on St. Croix Island, situated between present-day New Brunswick and Maine.

The whole maritime region (and parts of Maine) was at that time claimed by France and was designated as the colony of Acadia. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht saw the surrender of Acadia (or Nova Scotia as it was called by the British) to Queen Anne. The bulk of the Acadian population thus found themselves residing in the new British colony of Nova Scotia. The remainder of Acadia (including the New Brunswick region) was only lightly populated, and the two European powers contended over this ill-defined territory.

In 1784, Britain split the colony of Nova Scotia into three separate colonies: New Brunswick, Cape Breton Island, and present-day peninsular Nova Scotia, in addition to the adjacent colonies of St. John’s Island (renamed Prince Edward Island in 1798) and Newfoundland. The colony of New Brunswick was created in the summer of 1784; Sir Thomas Carleton was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor on 3 August 1784, and in 1785 a new legislative assembly was established with the first elections.

New Brunswick was formed from the partition of Sunbury County from the remainder of Nova Scotia. In that same year, New Brunswick formed its first elected assembly. The first governor was Thomas Carleton, and, in 1785, he chose the hamlet of Sainte-Anne as the provincial capital. Sainte-Anne was later renamed Frederick's Town (and then later Fredericton) after the third son of George III.

New Brunswick's population and demographics

New Brunswick is a province located along Canada's east coast and is one of the three Maritime provinces in the country. It is the 11th largest province in the nation by area, with a total area of 28,150 square miles.

Estimates from 2018 show that the population of New Brunswick is 761,214, making it the 8th most populous province in Canada. The population has been steadily growing since the 1850s and stood at 834,691 in 2023. The population in 2006 was 729,997, while the 2011 census recorded a population of 751,171.

Over 65% of the population resides in New Brunswick's 107 municipalities, with three major urban areas—Greater Saint John, Greater Moncton, and Greater Fredericton—home to over 300,000 people. The province has a relatively even split of French and English speakers, with approximately 34% speaking both languages. The majority of the population is English-speaking, with a significant French-speaking minority, mostly of Acadian origin. Other ethnicities in the province include First Nations, Asian Canadian, Irish, and other European groups.

In terms of religion, 84% of the population of New Brunswick identifies as Christian, with over 50% of those being Roman Catholic. The population's median age is 43.7 years, compared to the Canadian median of 40.6 years.

The economy of New Brunswick

New Brunswick's economy has traditionally been driven by its natural resources, including its vast forests, rivers, and coastline. The province's lush forests and agricultural lands were key to its early economy, with timber exports and shipbuilding playing a significant role. Today, the province relies mainly on food production, paper, and wood products, but it also manufactures metal goods, mineral products, and machinery.

Tourism is also a significant contributor to the economy, with popular destinations including the Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park, and the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the highest tides in the world. The province's bilingualism is another draw, with many companies choosing to do business in New Brunswick due to the abundance of bilingual residents.

New Brunswick's GDP in 2019 was CA$38.236 billion, which accounted for 1.65% of Canada's GDP. The province's largest export market is the United States, which accounts for 92% of its foreign trade. Refined petroleum is the top export, followed by seafood, pulp and paper, and non-metallic minerals.

The province has seen a recent influx of migrants from Ontario and other parts of Canada, and its economy was projected to fully rebound and grow beyond pre-pandemic levels by 2021, outperforming most other provinces. However, New Brunswick has historically been one of the poorest regions of Canada, and it has struggled with budget deficits and high public debt. The handling of the economy has been a central issue in provincial elections, with debates around the level of spending required to support recovery.

The Irving Group of Companies is a powerful corporate concentration in the province, with significant holdings in various industries, including agriculture, forestry, food processing, freight transport, media, oil, and shipbuilding. The group has a strong influence on the province's politics and media, and there have been concerns about a lack of transparency in its forest management practices.

Things to do in New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a province in Canada with plenty of things to do and see. Here is a list of some of the top attractions:

Bay of Fundy and Fundy National Park

The Bay of Fundy is famous for having the highest tides in the world, which occur twice daily and can measure up to 19 metres deep. Fundy National Park offers miles of hiking trails along rugged shores and bubbling forest streams. The park also features a magnificent 27-acre horticultural garden with over 50,000 perennials in themed gardens, engaging animals, ponds, streams, old-growth Acadian forest, and activities for children.

The Hopewell Rocks

The Hopewell Rocks, located along the Bay of Fundy, offer a unique natural experience of both high and low tides. Visitors can explore scenic walking trails and lookouts, a multi-media exhibit in the Interpretive Centre, and enjoy a warm meal.

The Fundy Trail Parkway

The Fundy Trail Parkway is a scenic coastal drive that starts near St. Martins and continues along the coast. It offers picturesque lookouts, picnic areas, coastal cliffs, isolated beaches, marine wildlife, and a Flowerpot Rock. There is also a 10-kilometre pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs parallel to the drive, as well as trails leading to secluded coves.

Roosevelt Campobello International Park

Roosevelt Campobello International Park is home to the summer home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 34-room cottage has been preserved as a museum, telling the story of his early life before becoming President of the United States. The park offers beautiful vistas, scenic rocky beaches, and historic buildings.

Saint John

Saint John, the largest city in New Brunswick, offers a variety of attractions. These include the Reversing Falls Rapids, where the river reverses direction twice daily; the Saint John City Market, a traditional "farmers market" with a wide range of goods and local crafts; and the Bay of Fundy Tour by Bus, which offers a close-up look at the city.

Fredericton

Fredericton, the provincial capital, is home to the Garrison District, a former British garrison site that now hosts summer festivals, walking tours, and historical reenactments. The city also boasts the Boyce Farmers Market, one of Canada's top community markets, featuring local produce, crafts, and food.

These are just a few of the many things to do and see in New Brunswick, Canada. Whether you're interested in natural wonders, historical sites, or cultural experiences, New Brunswick has something for everyone.

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