The Landscape Of New Brunswick

New Brunswick is a Canadian province located on the eastern seaboard of the North American continent. It is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with French and English sharing equal status. It is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy to the northeast and southeast, and the US state of Maine to the west. The province has a roughly rectangular shape and is characterised by its diverse landscapes, including coastal areas, river valleys, rolling hills, and mountainous regions in the north. New Brunswick is known for its natural beauty, with forests covering about 83% of the province, and it has a rich cultural history, being home to various ethnic groups and communities.

Geography and Climate

New Brunswick is one of Canada's Maritime Provinces and is the country's only officially bilingual province, with French and English sharing equal status. It is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west. The province has a roughly rectangular shape, measuring about 210 miles (340 km) from north to south and 185 miles (300 km) from east to west.

The geography of New Brunswick is characterised by its northern uplands, which rise to 820 metres and are mountainous in appearance. There are gently rolling hills in the central and eastern parts of the province, while sharp hills on the southern coast slope down to tidal marshes and lowland plains in the southeast. The land rises abruptly out of the Bay of Fundy in the south, with an extensive river system cutting through the province in every direction. The largest of these is the 418-mile- (673-km-) long St. John River, which has numerous tributaries and empties into the Bay of Fundy at the city of Saint John. The high tides of the Bay of Fundy reverse the rapids at the river's mouth. Other significant rivers include the St. Croix River, which forms the southwestern boundary, and the Restigouche, Miramichi, and Petitcodiac rivers in the east.

The soils of New Brunswick tend to be thin and acidic, especially over the uplands. In the centre and west, soils are deeper but frequently poorly drained and acidic, while in the south, they are rocky. About 5% of the province is used for farming, with the majority (around 83%) covered by forest. The climate is continental, with clearly distinguishable seasons. Winters are snowy and cold, while summers are temperate. The fall is particularly spectacular, with colourful foliage.

New Brunswick has three distinct coastlines spanning a total of 2,250 km (1,398 mi.). Its southern coast features tidal marshes, while its northern and eastern shores are home to coastal fishing villages and interior lumbering settlements. The Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides on earth, is a pristine sanctuary for rare marine life, including up to 15 species of whales. The province also boasts the warmest saltwater beaches in Canada.

History

The history of New Brunswick dates back thousands of years, with the arrival of the Paleo-Indians, and later, the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, and Passamaquoddy First Nations groups. In the 16th century, French explorers arrived, settling the region as part of the colony of Acadia.

In the 17th century, what would become metropolitan New Brunswick was a Native American village in a dense cedar forest with some swampland along the Raritan River. The first European inhabitant was a man named Daniel Cooper, who resided near the present site of the Albany Street bridge approach. In 1681, John Inian purchased two lots from the Leni-Lenape, containing one mile of riverfront and two miles deep, or 1280 acres. This was the first purchase of land in what is now the City of New Brunswick.

In the 18th century, the region experienced an influx of Acadian refugees after the French surrendered their claim to Nova Scotia in 1713. Many of these Acadians were later forcibly expelled from the region by the British during the Seven Years' War, with the remaining French claims to continental North America ceded to the British. In 1784, the western portions were severed from Nova Scotia to form the new colony of New Brunswick, partly in response to the influx of Loyalists that settled British North America after the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, New Brunswick saw an influx of settlers, including formerly deported Acadians, Welsh migrants, and a large number of Irish migrants escaping the hardships of the Potato Famine. The population grew from 25,000 in 1800 to 200,000 by 1851, with large-scale immigration from Ireland and Scotland. The early 19th century also saw New Brunswick prosper economically.

In 1867, New Brunswick joined with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario) to form the Dominion of Canada. This union brought about an economic downturn, with new trade barriers disrupting the historic trading relationship between the Maritime Provinces and New England. Shipbuilding and lumbering declined, and protectionist policies further impacted the economy.

In the 20th century, New Brunswick experienced mixed economic fortunes. While the early part of the century saw a continued decline in traditional industries, the interwar period saw some economic growth, particularly in the pulp and paper industry. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s hit the province hard, and by the end of that decade, the standard of living in New Brunswick was much lower than the Canadian average.

In the latter half of the century, New Brunswick's economy began to expand again, with manufacturing gaining strength and the pulp and paper industry becoming increasingly important. The province also saw efforts to establish equal opportunity and bilingual programs, recognising the rights of the significant French-speaking minority.

In more recent years, New Brunswick has experienced the highest eastward migration in 45 years, with people from Ontario and other parts of Canada moving to the area. The province has also seen population growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with interprovincial migration contributing to this rise.

Demographics

New Brunswick is a Canadian province located on the eastern seaboard of the North American continent. It is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with French and English sharing equal status. It is one of the four original provinces that formed the national confederation in 1867. New Brunswick has a population of about 775,610 as of 2021, with an estimated increase to 842,725 in 2023.

The province's population is predominantly urban, with around 63.2% living in urban areas, mainly in the three major urban centres of Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton. The population is ethnically diverse, with the most commonly reported ethnic origins in 2021 being Canadian, Irish, and English. Visible minorities make up about 5.8% of the population, while Indigenous people, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, account for 4.4%.

The population of New Brunswick is largely English-speaking, with approximately two-thirds of the population being Anglophone, while the remaining one-third is Francophone. The Anglophone population is concentrated in the southern and western parts of the province, while the Francophone minority, consisting of Acadian settlers and French Canadians from Quebec, is mainly found in the northern and eastern counties.

In terms of religion, Christianity is the dominant faith in New Brunswick, with about 67.5% of the population identifying as Christian in 2021. Irreligion is the second-largest group, with around 29.7% of the population reporting no religious affiliation. Other religious groups include Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Indigenous Spirituality, and Judaism, each making up less than 1.5% of the population.

Historically, New Brunswick was inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy. The first European settlement occurred in 1604 when the French attempted to settle at the mouth of the St. Croix River and later at Port-Royal. The Mi'kmaq played a crucial role in helping the French survive and establish trade. After the French shifted their focus to Quebec, the Mi'kmaq continued to assist young Frenchmen, like Charles de Saint-Étienne de La Tour, in establishing the fur trade along the Saint John River.

The population dynamics of New Brunswick changed significantly after the American Revolution, with approximately 14,000 Loyalist refugees settling in the province. This influx of Loyalists led to the creation of the city of Saint John and the establishment of the Saint John and St. Croix River valleys. The population of French origin also grew significantly after Confederation, increasing from about 16% in 1871 to 34% in 1931.

New Brunswick has a higher unemployment rate compared to the national average, with a rate of 10.3% in 2021, matching the national average at the time. The sectors employing the most people in the province are healthcare and social assistance, retail, and public administration.

Economy

New Brunswick has a modern service-based economy, with the finance, insurance, healthcare, and educational sectors dominating. The province's largest urban centre, Moncton, has an economy based on transportation, distribution, commercial, and retail sectors. Moncton is officially bilingual, with a sizeable French-speaking Acadian minority (35%). The city of Saint John is one of the largest shipping ports in Canada and is home to the country's largest oil refinery. Fredericton, the capital, is dominated by government services, universities, and the military.

New Brunswick's economy is heavily influenced by its natural resources, including its rich agricultural land and forests. Forestry, mining, mixed farming, and fishing are all significant contributors to the rural economy. The most valuable crop is potatoes, while lobster and scallops are the most valuable fish catches.

The province has a diverse range of industries, including heavy industry in Saint John, sawmills and pulp and paper mills, and large multinational forest companies. The Irving and McCain groups of companies are among the largest employers in the province.

New Brunswick's economy was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the "New Brunswick First" procurement strategy being implemented to support local businesses and reduce barriers to obtaining government contracts. The province's recovery has been projected to outperform most other Canadian provinces, with a projected growth of 1.2% beyond pre-pandemic levels by 2021. This is largely credited to the successful handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

The population of New Brunswick is growing, with a 1.41% increase between October 2020 and October 2021, the highest growth rate since July 1976. This growth is seen as integral to the province's economic sustainability.

Wildlife

New Brunswick is a nature lover's paradise, with a diverse array of wildlife species calling this Canadian province home. The region falls within the Atlantic Maritime "Ecozone", known for its mixed forests, or Acadian Forest, and coastal sand dunes. This unique habitat provides a haven for a variety of creatures, from majestic mammals to colourful birds and fascinating amphibians.

The forests of New Brunswick are a sight to behold, with approximately 85% of the province covered in lush trees, including white pine, red spruce, eastern hemlock, and beech. These forests provide the perfect habitat for mammals such as black bears, Canada lynx, bobcats, moose, white-tail deer, raccoons, and red foxes. The province is also home to a variety of squirrel species, including the eastern grey squirrel, the northern flying squirrel, and the red squirrel.

When it comes to birds, New Brunswick doesn't disappoint. The province is a bird-watcher's dream, with a vast array of species taking residence in its forests and coastal areas. From the colourful American goldfinch and indigo bunting to the majestic bald eagle and great horned owl, the skies and treetops of New Brunswick are always lively. The province is also home to a variety of water birds, such as the great blue heron and the double-crested cormorant, which can be spotted near its many coastal habitats.

Speaking of coastal areas, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy offer a unique and vibrant ecosystem for marine life. The famous Bay of Fundy, known for having the highest tides in the world, is a haven for marine mammals such as Atlantic white-sided dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and even whales, including the beluga and humpback species. The coastal habitats are also crucial for protection against storm surges, flooding, and erosion, although they remain vulnerable to human development.

New Brunswick also boasts a variety of amphibians and reptiles, including several species of frogs, salamanders, and snakes. The American bullfrog, the northern green frog, and the red-spotted newt are just a few of the fascinating creatures that can be found in the province's wetlands and waterways.

In conclusion, New Brunswick offers a diverse and vibrant array of wildlife, from the forests to the coast. Its unique "Ecozone" and varied habitats provide a haven for many species, making it a nature enthusiast's dream and a province committed to the conservation and protection of its natural treasures.

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