116-694: Miramichi ( / ˌ m ɛ r ə m ə ˈ ʃ iː / / ˌ m ɪr ə m ɪ ˈ ʃ iː / ) is the largest city in northern New Brunswick , Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay . The Miramichi Valley is the second longest valley in New Brunswick, after the Saint John River Valley . On 1 January 2023, Miramichi annexed parts of two local service districts on its northern border; revised census information has not been released. The city of Miramichi
232-636: A fur trade network along the Saint John River . With the onset of the Anglo-French War (1627–1629) , de la Tour was issued a charter to govern Acadia. In 1629, Acadia was officially returned to France. As such, a new wave of French settlers arrived in Port-Royal to revitalise the colony, including Isaac de Razilly , a new governor of Acadia , and Charles de Menou d'Aulnay , his cousin. de Razilly and de la Tour's charters conflicted with each others', but
348-474: A camp, "Camp de l’Espérance", on Beaubears Island . After the Siege of Louisbourg (1758), Boishebert led a group of Acadians from St. Peter's, Nova Scotia to Miramichi. Over 200 of the refugees died at the camp. On 13 August 1758 French officer Boishebert left Miramichi with 400 soldiers, including Acadians from Port Toulouse , for Fort St George ( Thomaston, Maine ). His detachment reached there on 9 September but
464-504: A distance education component from the University of New Brunswick , is offered primarily through the Miramichi campus of New Brunswick Community College . Public schools New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada . It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces . It is bordered by Quebec to
580-559: A dozen French and more than 500 indigenous inhabitants. In 1691 Richard died at sea; the post declined. The following account from the Dictionary of Miramichi Biography describes in greater detail the extent of the Denys' Miramichi base: "The domain of Nicholas Denys, governor of Acadia, extended along the southerly side of the Gulf of St Lawrence, from Miscou Island to Cape Breton. It may have included
696-460: A few able seamen available to man the ship and few other options, the captain headed to the nearest port - Miramichi. When news of the dire conditions on board became known she was forbidden by the port authorities to dock even at Middle Island. The captain could not get permission to land the sick and dying or to bury the dead for over six days in which further severe anguish and the loss of forty more lives occurred. The arrival of two more famine ships
812-450: A few days succumbed to the fever himself. By the 1870s the Irish were well established in Miramichi and by this decade less than 20% of them were recent immigrants. In total they represented forty percent of the population of the region spread fairly evenly over the entire Miramichi watershed. Eighty percent were Catholic and only the upriver parish of Ludlow had a Protestant Irish majority. By
928-718: A large forest fire, among the worst in recorded history of North America, devastated a number of communities in northern New Brunswick. The Irish began arriving in Miramichi in numbers after 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic War and with a few exceptions ceased coming to the area before the Great Irish Famine of 1847. They came to the area voluntarily to better their lives. Contrary to prevailing belief, not all of them were Catholic though very few Protestants among them identified openly as Irish and most of their descendants in Miramichi do not do so even to this day. Most arrived from
1044-454: A long history of rivalry, including a small "war" fought between the communities ("the fighting election of 1843"). The 1843 election was fought on a political level between John T. Williston of Chatham (supported by local entrepreneur Joseph Cunard of Chatham, brother of Samuel Cunard ) and John Ambrose Street of Newcastle (backed by the prominent lumber baron, Alexander Rankin of Douglastown). The Rankin and Cunard factions literally fought
1160-618: A part of the British colony of Nova Scotia , and later New Brunswick . Benjamin Marston, a surveyor and the first sheriff, reported in 1785 that "a considerable French Village" had existed on Wilson's Point (adjacent to Beaubear's Island, the present-day site of the Enclosure). Although they were clearly preceded by the Mi'kmaq and Acadian peoples, credit for the first permanent white settlement at Miramichi
1276-491: A plan for merging the communities. The amalgamation of the former towns and villages to form the City of Miramichi was controversial at the time, and remains so today, due in part to the strong identities that each of the communities possessed. The 1995 amalgamation of the communities served to limit local rivalries, giving the region a larger and more united voice in promoting the region. In addition to this, many smaller communities in
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#17330859267271392-632: A sawmill. Afterwards, the family continued to acquire businesses and substantial wealth, eventually becoming the richest family in the province. Today, Irving is considered by many to exert a monopoly over New Brunswick. Towards the early 20th century, the economy began to improve somewhat. The railways and tariffs fostered the growth of new industries in the province such as textile manufacturing, iron mills, pulp and paper mills , and sugar refineries. However, many of these eventually failed to compete with their competition in Central Canada. Unemployement
1508-646: A settlement on Saint Croix Island . It was quickly abandoned due to difficult living conditions and moved to Acadia's capital, Port-Royal . There, the Micmacs helped the French survive. In 1626, Port-Royal was destroyed by the British. The British conquered Acadia shortly after and held it until 1629. James VI and I , King of Scotland, renamed it "Nova Scotia" in English. The Micmacs helped all French survivors, including Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour . Together, they established
1624-707: A stronger desire to build up trade within British North America. A Fenian raid in 1866 also increased public support for a potential union. On 1 July 1867, New Brunswick joined with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec) to create the Dominion of Canada. Though Confederation brought into existence the Intercolonial Railway in 1872, new barriers undermined traditional trade relations. In 1879, John A. Macdonald 's Conservatives enacted
1740-468: A trading post at Miramichi in the 1640s, but the first extensive French establishment on the river was that of Denys's son Richard Denys. He began to cultivate land along the Miramichi in 1684. In 1688 he had a fort with gun emplacements, a house built of freestone, and a storehouse. There were three French families at the fort, and he had men employed catching fish. Nearby there were approximately eighty Micmac wigwams. "The site of Denys's establishment, which
1856-800: A written record, there is a lack of knowledge of the history of the area before the arrival of European explorers. At the time of European contact, inhabitants were the Micmac of New Brunswick's eastern coast, the Maliseet of the Wolastoq valley, and the Passamaquoddy of the St. Croix River valley. Many tribal placenames originate from their Eastern Algonquian languages , such as Aroostook , Bouctouche , Memramcook , Petitcodiac , Quispamsis , Richibucto and Shediac . The first documented European exploration of New Brunswick
1972-551: Is French speaking . New Brunswick is home to most of the cultural region of Acadia and most Acadians . New Brunswick's variety of French is called Acadian French . There are seven regional accents. New Brunswick was first inhabited by First Nations like the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet . In 1604, Acadia , the first New France colony , was founded with the creation of Port-Royal . For 150 years afterwards, Acadia changed hands multiple times due to numerous conflicts between France and
2088-458: Is believed to be the last vessel constructed at Beaubears, the barque La Plata. By the end of the 19th century, the island appears to have been deserted. It was acquired by the O'Brien family in 1920 and willed to the government of Canada in 1973 following the death of Joseph Leonard O'Brien , a former lieutenant governor of New Brunswick . Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, also known as J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial,
2204-559: Is considered to have been on the north side of the Miramichi opposite the Point - that is, near the former pulp mill site in Newcastle - was abandoned by 1691. In August of that year, when he was thirty-seven years old, Denys set sail for Quebec in the ship Saint-François-Xavier, which was never heard of again. His estate passed to his widow in 1694 and was still owned by members of the family in Quebec in
2320-472: Is firmly grounded in the Mi'kmaq , Acadian , English , Scottish , and Irish traditions of the region's founding population, particularly in the fishing, sailing and lumbering industries. Every bend in the rivers, from Push and Be Damned Rapids to the Turnip Patch has a distinctive name. These roots and the lives of their ancestors provided inspiration for the novels of local author David Adams Richards ,
2436-568: Is often granted to Scottish settlers, led by William Davidson . William Davidson (a.k.a. John Godsman) and John Cort had obtained a large grant encompassing much of the Miramichi region in 1765, and promoted the area in both Scotland and New England as a new home to potential settlers. At the beginning of the American Revolution the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet were supportive of the Americans against
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#17330859267272552-555: Is owned by the Irving Group of Companies . The province's 2019 output was CA$ 38.236 billion, which is 1.65% of Canada's GDP . Tourism accounts for 9% of the labour force either directly or indirectly. Popular destinations include the Hopewell Rocks , Fundy National Park , Magnetic Hill , Kouchibouguac National Park and Roosevelt Campobello International Park . On 1 January 2023, local government of New Brunswick restructured
2668-402: Is the third-least populous province. The census also recorded New Brunswick as being the fourth-most densely populated Canadian province, with 10.9 people per square kilometre, behind Ontario , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island . As of September 2024, the population is estimated to be 854,355. Beaubears Island Beaubears Island ( French : Île Boishébert ) is an island at
2784-660: The Ocean train to Montreal and Halifax. Miramichi is located within a 90-minute drive of two international airports ( Fredericton International Airport , Greater Moncton International Airport ) with scheduled domestic and international flights. In addition the Miramichi Airport Commission operates the Miramichi Airport (YCH) on the former site of CFB Chatham . As in other regions of the Maritimes , Miramichi culture
2900-408: The 1825 Miramichi fire , the advent of steel-hulled ships, and perhaps over-cutting of eastern white pine , would eventually contribute to a long-term decline in the area's economy. The Miramichi Fire burnt almost 1/4 of New Brunswick's forest, and consumed most of the buildings along the northern side of the river. Only 12 buildings remained in Newcastle. The towns of Newcastle and Chatham developed
3016-551: The Bay of Fundy 's tides, and by tightly knit independent communities, because they were often neglected by French authorities. During the 1690s, in King William's War , attacks were launched from the Saint John valley by Acadian militias onto New England colonists. This would create a deep English hostility against the French presence in the region. From the 1600s to mid-1700s, Acadia
3132-604: The Canada Eastern Railway from Newcastle to Fredericton. The ports and railways serving Newcastle and Chatham burgeoned with activity as the 19th century lumber industry gave way to the 20th century developments in pulp and paper, and mining. As the shipbuilding, masting and lumber industries waned, pulp and paper production eventually replaced lumber exports as the mainstay of the area's economy. A valuable sports fishery developed, attracting "sports" initially from adjacent New England , and subsequently from all parts of
3248-670: The Canadian Firearms Program , and the Phoenix pay system . The region has recently experienced the closure of several wood mills causing many residents to migrate west. Since the oilsands boom in Alberta, many Miramichi residents split their time between the oil fields and Miramichi. The Repap paper mill (between the Anderson and Miramichi Bridges) was purchased by UPM in 2000, and was later closed in 2007 because of economic pressures in
3364-587: The Isthmus of Chignecto . In an effort to limit British expansion into continental Acadia, the French built Fort Beauséjour at the isthmus in 1751. From 1749 to 1755, Father Le Loutre's War took place, where British soldiers fought against Acadians and Micmacs to consolidate their power over Acadia/Nova Scotia. In 1755, the British captured Fort Beauséjour , severing the Acadian supply lines to Nova Scotia, and Île-Royale. Continental Acadia thus came to be incorporated into
3480-609: The Italian campaign in 1943. After the Normandy landings they redeployed to northwestern Europe, along with The North Shore Regiment . The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , a training program for ally pilots, established bases in Moncton, Chatham , and Pennfield Ridge , as well as a military typing school in Saint John. While relatively unindustrialized before the war, New Brunswick became home to 34 plants on military contracts from which
3596-811: The Miramichi Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior Hockey League is the Miramichi Civic Centre . The city's baseball team, the Chatham Ironmen, winner of the 1995 Canadian Senior Baseball Nationals, plays in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League at Ironmen Field. Miramichi is served by 11 public schools operated by the New Brunswick Department of Education . Post-secondary education, including
Miramichi, New Brunswick - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-493: The Miramichi Valley felt that the name of the newly formed city was a threat to their tourism industry, and to their identity as "Miramichiers." The Miramichi area’s economy is primarily focused on mining, fishing and forestry. Other sectors include tourism, customer contact centres, manufacturing, and the provincial and federal government. The service sector is the city's largest employer. The two best known call centres are
3828-670: The National Policy , which called for high tariffs and opposed free trade , disrupting the trading relationship between the Maritimes and New England . The economic situation was worsened by the Great Fire of Saint John of 1877, the decline of the shipbuilding industry, and the US Panic of 1893 . Many experienced workers lost their jobs and had to move west or to the United States. In 1871,
3944-635: The Victoria Bridge in Montreal) and were the first bridges over the Miramichi River , revolutionizing transport in the region. The ICR bypassed Chatham by running through Newcastle and then on to the north and west. Within a decade, the Canada Eastern Railway was built to link Chatham with Fredericton , along the length of the Southwest Miramichi River valley. In 1904, the Canada Eastern
4060-661: The World Wide Fund for Nature lists the Acadian Forest as endangered. Following the frequent large scale disturbances caused by settlement and timber harvesting, the Acadian forest is not growing back as it was, but is subject to borealization. This means that exposure-resistant species that are well adapted to the frequent large-scale disturbances common in the boreal forest are increasingly abundant. These include jack pine , balsam fir , black spruce , white birch , and poplar . Forest ecosystems support large carnivores such as
4176-468: The bobcat , Canada lynx , and black bear , and the large herbivores moose and white-tailed deer . Fiddlehead greens are harvested from the Ostrich fern which grows on riverbanks. Furbish's lousewort , a perennial herb endemic to the shores of the upper Saint John River, is an endangered species threatened by habitat destruction, riverside development, forestry, littering and recreational use of
4292-412: 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 . In total, it is believed that around 14,000 loyalist refugees came to New Brunswick. However, 10% eventually returned to the United States. In 1785, Saint John became New Brunswick's first incorporated city. Economically, New Brunswick
4408-444: The 1750s." By about 1740 French villages were well established on Miramichi Bay at Bay du Vin and Neguac . In the current city of Miramichi, a larger village existed at Canadian Point, and a town comprising 200 houses, a chapel, and provision stores occupied "Beaubear's Point". The French maintained batteries of guns at the east end of Beaubears Island and at French Fort Cove . The French and Indian War erupted in 1754. During
4524-444: The 1780s and 1790s, some Acadians returned to Acadia, and discovered several thousand English immigrants, mostly from New England, on their former lands. In the late 1700s, the British began to make efforts to colonise the region, mostly by importing colonists from New England. Before the American Revolution, these colonists were called planters . After the revolution, the colonists were called loyalists , because only those loyal to
4640-588: The 1860s, the notion of unifying the maritime colonies of British North America was being increasingly discussed. This was due to multiple factors. For example, some felt that the American Civil War was the result of a weak central government and wished to avoid the same fate. Some also wanted to increase trade between the colonies, and be less economically tied to the US. In 1864, the Charlottetown Conference
4756-417: The 1880s they controlled 15% of businesses and professions in the town of Chatham and probably the same number in Newcastle. However the majority were still listed as skilled and unskilled workers. Although subsistence farming constituted one part of the new settlement's economy, the thin, acid soils of the Miramichi were not conducive to agriculture; thus, the lumber industry and Atlantic salmon fishery were
Miramichi, New Brunswick - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-529: The Acadians . Toward this end, to help Acadians evade capture, Boishébert set up an Acadian refugee camp on the Island. The Camp was named Camp de l' Esperance. The camp lasted between 1756 - 1759. After Louisbourg fell on 26 July 1758, French officer Boishébert withdrew, with the British in pursuit. Boishebert brought back a large number of Acadians from the region around Port-Toulouse ( St. Peter's, Nova Scotia ) to
4988-574: The Albert oil shales of southern New Brunswick. Eventually, sea water from the Panthalassic Ocean invaded the basin, forming the Windsor Sea. Once this receded, conglomerates , sandstones , and shales accumulated. The rust colour of these was caused by the oxidation of iron in the beds between wet and dry periods. Such late Carboniferous rock formed the Hopewell Rocks , which have been shaped by
5104-494: The Bay of Fundy, and on the west by the US state of Maine . The southeast corner of the province is connected to Nova Scotia at the isthmus of Chignecto. Glaciation has left much of New Brunswick's uplands with only shallow, acidic soils which have discouraged settlement but which are home to enormous forests. New Brunswick's climate is more severe than that of the other Maritime provinces, which are lower and have more shoreline along
5220-556: The British Crown on 28 July 1779. After the battle, Davidson temporarily found refuge along the Saint John River . A subsequent treaty signed 22 September 1779 ensured a more peaceful coexistence. Following the American Revolution some loyalist families moved to Miramichi. Davidson's original grant was revoked, and competition for the best lands escalated tensions between the early Scottish and new loyalist settlers. In 1825,
5336-549: The British colony of Nova Scotia with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Following this, the British, unsatisfied with the Acadian's surrender because they refused to pledge allegiance, turned to capturing and exporting Acadians en masse, an ethnic cleansing event known as the Deportation of the Acadians which was ordered by Robert Monckton . From 1755 to 1763, 12,000 Acadians out of 18,000 were forcefully deported to various locations around
5452-558: The British crown settled in Nova Scotia. In 1766, planters from Pennsylvania founded Moncton , and English settlers from Yorkshire arrived in the Sackville area. In the 1770s, 10,000 loyalists settled along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy. In 1783, both Saint Andrews and Saint John were founded. Loyalists who received land allocations around the St. John River valley, the Bay of Fundy or
5568-754: The British. They participated in the Maugerville Rebellion and the Battle of Fort Cumberland in 1776. Three years later, in June 1779, Mi’kmaq in the Miramichi attacked and plundered some of the British in the area. The following month, British Captain Augustus Harvey, in command of HMS Viper , arrived in the area and battled with the Mi’kmaq. One Mi’kmaq was killed and 16 were taken prisoner to Quebec. The prisoners were eventually brought to Halifax, where they were later released upon signing an oath of allegiance to
5684-516: The Enclosure) together form Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada. The first shipyard was established by James Fraser and James Thom (1790). For the first half of the eighteenth century, the Fraser shipyard was considered the most important commercial establishment in New Brunswick. The 1850s were regarded as the golden age of Miramichi shipbuilding with yards in operation from Beaubears Island. Harley continued to build ships and in 1866 launched what
5800-414: The Friends of Beaubears Island. The sites retain 200-year-old Eastern White Pines ; thus the parks are significant from the perspectives of both human and natural history . Prior to Acadian settlement in the region, the Mi'kmaq people camped on the island. During the French and Indian War , Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot led the Acadian and Mi`kmaq resistance to the Expulsion of
5916-473: The Miramichi highlands south and east, leaving them as erratics when the ice receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation , along with deposits such as the eskers between Woodstock and St George, which are today sources of sand and gravel. At the 2021 Canadian census , New Brunswick had a population of 775,610, a 3.8% increase since the 2016 Canadian census . As one of the four Atlantic Provinces which are Canada's least populated provinces, New Brunswick
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#17330859267276032-438: The Miramichi region was home to members of the Mi'kmaq first nation. For the Mi'kmaq, Beaubears Island , at the junction of the Northwest and Main Southwest branches of the Miramichi River was a natural meeting point. Following the European discovery of the Americas , the Miramichi became part of the French colony of Acadia . About 1648, Nicolas Denys , Sieur de Fronsac, established a fort and trading post, Fort Fronsac, on
6148-479: The Miramichi. This establishment was apparently constructed "on the North side of the Miramichi, at the forks of the river". According to W.F.Ganong , a Recollet Mission was established in 1686 on the Miramichi "in Nelson", "probably near Beaubear's Island". Nicolas Denys' son, Richard Denys, was placed in charge of the fort and trading post, and in 1688 Richard states, "Miramichi is the principal place of my residence", and describes his establishment as including about
6264-522: The North American forest industry and subsequently demolished. A closed Weyerhauser OSB mill at Morrison Cove was subsequently purchased by Arbec, a Quebec-based company and the mill re-opened in 2013 producing OSB products. Miramichi has good highway connections to other major centres in New Brunswick offered via Highways 8 (west to Fredericton ; north to Bathurst and Campbellton ) and 11 (south to Moncton , Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia ). The Plaster Rock – Renous highway ( Route 108 ) offers
6380-441: The Northumberland Strait became dissatisfied with being governed from Halifax because it was so far away. Therefore, on 18 June 1784, the British government created a new province for them: New Brunswick. 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
6496-400: The Richard White and the Bolivar further exacerbated the problem. The authorities finally but reluctantly constructed temporary shelters on the island and allowed the sick passengers and crew to land. A further fifty or so people died in the makeshift facilities provided, including the young Chatham doctor John Vondy who volunteered to stay full-time to administer to the sick and dying and within
6612-427: The United Kingdom, which usually relied on the Baltic Sea for supplies, to import timber from its North American colonies. This stimulated the lumber trade in New Brunswick, as well as in Lower Canada . Between 1805 and 1812, New Brunswick annually exported 100,000 tons of squared timber. In 1819, the number exceeded 240,000 tons, and in 1825 exports reached their highest level at 417,000 tons. This also resulted in
6728-436: The United Kingdom. From 1755 to 1764, the British deported Acadians en masse, an event known as the Great Upheaval . This, along with the Treaty of Paris , solidified Acadia as British property . In 1784, following the arrival of many loyalists fleeing the American Revolution , the colony of New Brunswick was officially created, separating it from what is now Nova Scotia . In the early 1800s, New Brunswick prospered and
6844-411: The ancient, meandering course of the drowned Miramichi River channel through the inner Bay. HTI / High Tech Industries owns and operates the marine terminal situated close below the Morrisey Bridge in Miramichi West (the former town of Newcastle). The site contains approximately 21,625 m (5.34 acres) of property, with a berthage length of 313 m and a depth of 9 m. Two unheated storage sheds are located on
6960-513: The bedrock in the west and north derives from ocean deposits in the Ordovician that were subject to folding and igneous intrusion and that were eventually covered with lava during the Paleozoic , peaking during the Acadian orogeny . During the Carboniferous period, about 340 million years ago, New Brunswick was in the Maritimes Basin , a sedimentary basin near the equator. Sediments, brought by rivers from surrounding highlands, accumulated there; after being compressed, they produced
7076-405: The coat of arms was assigned. In 2005, the Court of Queen's Bench approved a ruling allowing for the legalization of same-sex marriage . At the beginning of 2023, the provincial government implemented a local governance reform , reducing the number of entities from 340 to 89. Roughly square, New Brunswick is bordered on the north by Quebec, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by
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#17330859267277192-443: The confluence of the Northwest Miramichi and Southwest Miramichi Rivers near Miramichi, New Brunswick . The island is most famous for being the site of an Acadian refugee camp during the French and Indian War . The camp was under the command of leader of the Acadian resistance to the expulsion , Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot . The island is home to two National Historic Sites : The shipbuilding site occupies
7308-448: The east or the Bay of Fundy to the south. These watersheds include lands in Quebec and Maine. The highest point in New Brunswick is Mount Carleton , 817 m (2,680 ft). New Brunswick and the rest of the Maritime Peninsula was covered by thick layers of ice during the last glacial period (the Wisconsinian glaciation ). It cut U-shaped valleys in the Saint John and Nepisiguit River valleys and pushed granite boulders from
7424-418: The eastern end of the island, while the Boishébert site comprises the rest of the island and adjacent Wilson's Point. The Wilson's Point portion is a New Brunswick provincial historic site, owned by the province and, while not national park land, Wilson's Point is part of the designated National Historic Site. With the exception of Wilson's Point, both sites are administered by Parks Canada in collaboration with
7540-437: The election in the streets of Newcastle and Chatham with sticks, stones, coal and other missiles. In 1875, the region's largest construction project in history was completed when the federal government's Intercolonial Railway (ICR) opened between Moncton and Campbellton . The following year it would link Halifax with Rivière-du-Loup and the Canadian railway network. One of the biggest geographic obstacles presented in
7656-480: The emergence of a shipbuilding market. These industries were then bolstered by the Canadian–American Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, and demand from the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865. St. Martins became the third most productive shipbuilding town in the Maritimes and produced over 500 vessels. From 1800 to 1851, New Brunswick's population grew from 25,000 to 200,000, and it saw large-scale immigration from Ireland and Scotland. In 1848, responsible home government
7772-416: The entities (admin level 4) throughout the province. The previous 340 entities were replaced by 77 local governments and 12 rural districts. New Brunswick was named in 1784 in honour of George III , King of Great Britain , King of Ireland , and prince-elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (until 1806) in what is now Germany. Upon its split from Nova Scotia , it
7888-403: The extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy. In the early Triassic , as Pangea drifted north it was rent apart, forming the rift valley that is the Bay of Fundy. Magma pushed up through the cracks, forming basalt columns on Grand Manan . New Brunswick lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range . The rivers of New Brunswick drain into either the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to
8004-433: The first stone church built in New Brunswick (at the site of the present-day community of Burnt Church ). Murray did not sail as far west as Beaubear's Island. Most of the surviving Beaubear's Island refugees soon left the Miramichi, seeking refuge in Quebec . Some Acadians, however, remained and escaped British attempts at deportation. They eventually established (or re-established) a host of small Acadian communities along
8120-432: The government introduced free education, banning catechism , the cassock and French in public schools in the process. Though contested by the Acadians and the Irish, the law was deemed constitutional. Following a riot in Caraquet in 1875, and political pressure, the bans were lifted in 1877. The Irving Group of Companies , founded by the Irving family , officially began in 1881 in Bouctouche when James Irving bought
8236-427: The late 1990s. Miramichi Transit also operates local bus service within the city. The towns of Chatham and Newcastle were formerly important ports for northeastern New Brunswick. Dredging, however, was necessary to maintain a deep enough channel for most ships to cross between the barrier dune islands at the mouth of Miramichi Bay . Ocean-going ships entering the port must have a shallow draft, and must navigate
8352-595: The mainstays. A shipbuilding industry was established by Davidson in 1773, largely to facilitate overseas lumber exports, including masts for the British navy, and to provide winter employment for the men. Davidson's first ship, "Miramichi", was lost with her cargo off the Spanish coast. Miramichi benefited greatly from the Napoleonic wars and American independence , as Britain became dependent on its remaining North American colonies, including New Brunswick, for lumber. However,
8468-613: The mine's ore body was depleted, and with the collapse of the Cold War . The forest industry reemerged as the dominant player in the city's economy today. In the 20th century the rivalry between Newcastle and Chatham continued, expressed chiefly through sports, politics, and in competition for businesses and government largesse. In 1994 then Premier Frank McKenna (the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Chatham) developed and implemented
8584-402: The moderating sea. New Brunswick has a humid continental climate , with slightly milder winters on the Gulf of St. Lawrence coastline. Elevated parts of the far north of the province have a subarctic climate . Evidence of climate change in New Brunswick can be seen in its more intense precipitation events, more frequent winter thaws , and one quarter to half the amount of snowpack . Today,
8700-600: The more numerous English speakers to the south. The population of French origin grew dramatically after Confederation, from about 16 per cent in 1871 to 34 per cent in 1931. Government services were often not available in French, and the infrastructure in Francophone areas was less developed than elsewhere. In 1960 Premier Louis Robichaud embarked on the New Brunswick Equal Opportunity program , in which education, rural road maintenance, and healthcare fell under
8816-601: 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. New Brunswick is about 83% forested and its northern half is occupied by the Appalachians . The province's climate is continental with snowy winters and temperate summers. New Brunswick has a surface area of 72,908 km (28,150 sq mi) and 775,610 inhabitants (2021 census). Atypically for Canada, only about half of
8932-429: The northern and eastern coasts of present-day New Brunswick. The French were defeated at Quebec (1759) and Montreal (1760), and the remaining Miramichi settlement was subsequently burned to the ground by British Commodore John Byron (Foul-Weather Jack) in 1760. The French North American colonies (apart from Saint Pierre and Miquelon ) were ceded to the British in the 1763 Treaty of Paris . The Miramichi thus became
9048-511: The only means of getting established. Most of them were able to get at least temporary employment upon arrival, but it was short lived. In 1819, a sharp decline in timber prices resulted in massive layoffs in Miramichi including most of the "Two Boat" Irish of the Chatham area. Following their grueling experience in St. John's and now unemployed, they became disenchanted by their newfound misery so many miles from home. They began to create disturbances in
9164-478: The original settlers include: Other local festivals include: The city offers a full range of summer and winter sports programs and facilities, including recreation centres, swimming pools, a golf course, and rinks for skating , curling and ice hockey . The city, however, is best known as a haven for outdoor sport enthusiasts. The river offers whitewater opportunities for canoe and kayak , and angling for Atlantic salmon and brook trout . About one-half of
9280-421: The population grew rapidly. In 1867, New Brunswick decided to join with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario ) to form Canada. After Confederation , shipbuilding and lumbering declined, and protectionism disrupted trade with New England . From the mid-1900s onwards, New Brunswick was one of the poorest regions of Canada, a fact eventually mitigated by transfer payments . However,
9396-539: The population lives in urban areas - predominantly in Moncton , Saint John and Fredericton . In 1969, New Brunswick passed the Official Languages Act which began recognizing French as an official language , along with English. New Brunswickers have the right to receive provincial government services in the official language of their choice. About two thirds of the population are English speaking and one third
9512-486: The port during the spring and summer months. These idle sailors whooped it up at Miramichi particularly on Sundays when the taverns were closed but often the Irish got the blame. In 1822, a detachment of the 78th regiment stationed in Fredericton was temporarily sent to Chatham to keep the peace. But it was not the soldiers of 78th regiment who quieted the Irish. It took an improved economy, jobs and newfound opportunity to do
9628-637: The ports of Belfast and Cork each of which had strong commercial ties with Miramichi. Like the Scots, they came on timber ships as individuals or, in small family groups. The average age upon arrival was twenty-four. There was some chain emigration whereby additional family members joined the emigrant later but this was minimal. The Miramichi River valley was not settled by large transplantations of Scottish clans or large scale movements of starving and evicted Irish. Though there are one or two interesting exceptions. In 1815 after trade had developed with Newfoundland, Miramichi
9744-575: The project was the crossing of the Miramichi River . Surveyors deemed the ideal location for bridging to be at the upper reaches of tidewater between Nelson and Newcastle , crossing the Southwest Miramichi , then a short section of land at Derby, followed by the Northwest Miramichi . The combined length of these bridges would be among the largest constructed to date in Canada (surpassed only by
9860-555: The property containing 10,300 m and 2325 m of enclosed storage area. There is an open storage area of 9000 square metres. The Canadian National Railway (CN) northern line between Moncton and Campbellton passes through Miramichi. Miramichi was served by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway (NBECR) until it was purchased by CN in 2008. Via Rail offers passenger service on this line at the Miramichi railway station via
9976-584: The province has seen the highest eastward migration in 45 years in both rural and urban areas, as people from Ontario and other parts of Canada migrate to the area. As of 2002, the provincial GDP was derived as follows: services (about half being government services and public administration) 43%; construction, manufacturing, and utilities 24%; real estate rental 12%; wholesale and retail 11%; agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, oil and gas extraction 5%; transportation and warehousing 5%. A powerful corporate concentration of large companies in New Brunswick
10092-484: The province received over $ 78 million. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King , who had promised no conscription, asked the provinces if they would release the government of said promise. New Brunswick voted 69.1% yes. The policy was not implemented until 1944, too late for many of the conscripts to be deployed. There were 1808 NB fatalities among the armed forces. The Acadians in northern New Brunswick had long been geographically and linguistically isolated from
10208-606: The quickest connection to major centres in Quebec , Ontario , and points west. For many years, the only bridge at Miramichi was a narrow, historic crossing called the Morrissy Bridge , at Newcastle . Ferry service facilitated crossings at Chatham and Loggieville . In the late 1960s the Centennial Bridge was completed at Chatham, greatly improving north–south transit across the river. The Miramichi Bridge at Newcastle opened in
10324-512: The request of the government of Richard Hatfield , this right became part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and therefore part of the Constitution of Canada . The flag of New Brunswick , based on the coat of arms, was adopted in 1965. The conventional heraldic representations of a lion and a ship represent colonial ties with Europe, and the importance of shipping at the time
10440-425: The revenue gathering powers, the provinces had many expenditure responsibilities such as healthcare, education, and welfare, which were becoming increasingly expensive. The Commission recommended the creation of equalization payments , which were eventually implemented in 1957. After Canada joined World War II , 14 NB army units were organized, in addition to The Royal New Brunswick Regiment , and first deployed in
10556-531: The river to the site of present-day Fredericton . Other settlements in the southeast extended from Beaubassin , near the present-day border with Nova Scotia, to Baie Verte , and up the Petitcodiac , Memramcook , and Shepody Rivers. The descendants of Acadia's French colonists became the Acadians . Acadians developed a unique society characterised by dyking technology, which allowed them to cultivate marshes left by
10672-463: The riverbank. Many wetlands are being disrupted by the highly invasive Introduced species purple loosestrife . The deer population in the province has dropped by 70% since 1985. The widespread use of glyphosate may have contributed to this. Since 2014, the New Brunswick government has allowed forestry companies to harvest 20 percent more wood there than before. Bedrock types range from 1 billion to 200 million years old. Much of
10788-444: The sea level is about 30 cm (1 ft) higher than it was 100 years ago, and it is expected to rise twice that much again by the year 2100. Most of New Brunswick is forested with secondary forest or tertiary forest. At the start of European settlement, the Maritimes were covered from coast to coast by a forest of mature trees, giants by today's standards. Today less than one per cent of old-growth Acadian forest remains, and
10904-598: The security of his post at Beaubears Island on the Miramichi River. During the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign and the St. John River Campaign the number of Acadian refugees increased dramatically. The camp had eventually 900 French refugees. Over 200 of the refugees died at the camp. During the war, the camp was protected by a battery of 16 French cannons at French Fort Cove . During the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign , on September 15, 1758, Brigadier James Murray
11020-516: The sole jurisdiction of a provincial government that insisted on equal coverage throughout the province, rather than the former county-based system. In 1969 the Robichaud government adopted the Official Languages Act making the province officially bilingual and establishing the right of New Brunswickers to obtain provincial government services in the official language of their choice. In 1982 at
11136-534: The sport catch of Atlantic salmon in North America are landed on the Miramichi River and its tributaries. The warm waters of Miramichi Bay offer an ideal setting for sailing enthusiasts during summer. The snowy winters are welcomed by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. An extensive network of trails is available for hiking , cycling , birding , skiing , and snowmobiling . Miramichi has several sports teams, including two ice hockey teams. The home rink of
11252-457: The tales and folklore of Herb Curtis , and the fiction and non-fiction books of Chatham writer Raymond Fraser . Local young adult author Valerie Sherrard 's first historical novel, Three Million Acres of Flame , deals with the 1825 Miramichi Fire , one of the largest recorded land fires in North American history. Local festivals which celebrate Miramichi culture, and the ancestral roots of
11368-766: The trick. Immigration from Ireland influences the Miramichi region's accent. It differs from other Atlantic Canadian English dialects and with terminology. Unlike the ports of Quebec, Saint John, St Andrews, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Charleston and New Orleans, Miramichi did not receive large numbers of destitute and starving Irish during the famine years. Fewer than four so-called coffin ships made it to Miramichi between 1844 and 1849 with less than three hundred people on board. They were ships plying to Quebec with sick and dying passengers, stricken with cholera and other diseases. They diverted to 'Miramichi in desperation and on arrival were quarantined at Middle Island where they were treated in appalling conditions. There
11484-516: The two maintained an amicable relationship. In 1635, de Razilly died, triggering tensions between de la Tour, who governed from the Saint John valley, and d'Aulnay, who governed from Port-Royal. In the 1630s, this erupted into the Acadian Civil War . d'Aulnay managed to expel de la Tour in 1644. But, following d'Aulnay's death in 1650, de la Tour married his widow in 1653, essentially overturning his success. Over time, French settlement extended up
11600-472: The village of Chatham. Violent outrages were committed in broad daylight, property was stolen and in the worst cases houses and barns were burned to the ground. The people of the area soon dubbed them "those uncivilized immigrants from Ireland", whom local magistrates were powerless to control. But the Irish were not the only troublemakers along the river at that time. They were often mistakenly blamed for outrageous disturbances caused by unruly sailors idling about
11716-515: The war many Acadian homes were destroyed by the British, and their residents were deported (see the Expulsion of the Acadians ). In 1757, the French general, Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot attempted to evade British troops in the Saint John River Valley and the Bay of Fundy , by leading 900 French refugees up the northeast coast of New Brunswick to Miramichi, establishing
11832-518: The world, though 8000 died before arrival. The remaining 6000 Acadians escaped the British by fleeing North to the present Acadia , or to Canada . From 1755 to 1757, most Acadians were deported to the Thirteen Colonies . From 1758 to 1762, most were sent to France. Between 1763 and 1785, many deported Acadians relocated to join their compatriots in Louisiana . Their descendants became Cajuns . In
11948-406: The world. In the mid 20th century, an air force base, CFB Chatham , became the cornerstone of Chatham's economy. The discovery of base metal deposits (lead, zinc, copper, silver, and traces of gold).) and the development of Heath Steele Mines , 60 km to the northwest, allowed Newcastle's economy to diversify and strengthen through the 1960s. The mine and air force base had both closed by 1999 as
12064-579: Was a poor environment for agriculture and mining. Its fishery was also far inferior to that of Nova Scotia's. New Brunswick's forests were rich in wood, but as wood is a bulky and low-value commodity, accessible markets were limited. Essentially, in the late 1700s, New Brunswick was a peripheral corner of the British Empire and North American world. Geopolitical events in Europe would change this situation. In 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte 's continental blockade forced
12180-416: Was at Miramichi and discovered that there were many Acadian refugees at a settlement about ten leagues up the Miramichi River which had fled during the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign . According to Murray, all of the Acadians were starving. They had sent most of their effects on to Canada and expected so to go there themselves. Beaubears (Boishébert) Island and nearby Wilson's Point (a.k.a. Beaubears Point or
12296-579: Was caught in an ambush and had to withdraw. They then went on to raid Friendship, Maine , where British settlers were killed and others taken prisoner. This was Boishébert’s last Acadian expedition. From there, Boishebert and the Acadians went to Quebec and fought in the Battle of Quebec (1759) . In September 1758 Colonel James Murray reported spending two days in Miramichi Bay during the Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign looking unsuccessfully for Acadians, but destroying anything he found. This included burning
12412-535: Was formed in 1995 through the forced amalgamation of two towns, Newcastle and Chatham , and several smaller communities, including Douglastown , Loggieville , and Nelson . Also the local service districts of Nordin , Moorefield , Chatham Head , and Douglasfield . The amalgamation also included portions of the former local service district of Ferry Road-Russellville (the remnant later renamed Lower Newcastle-Russellville ), Chatham Parish , Glenelg Parish and Nelson Parish . Long prior to European settlement,
12528-436: Was granted. The 1850s saw the emergence of political parties largely organised along religious and ethnic lines. From the late 1700s to mid 1800s, Acadians became a minority, and they lived largely on the fringes of society, fearful of the English. They were mostly illiterate due to laws preventing them from opening schools. They were also not part of the economic boom, and had troubles asserting their land rights. During
12644-453: Was great fear of them and some Miramichers including the Irish referred to them as yellow mealers believing all they had had to eat was corn. The arrival of the famine ship Looshtauk on June 2, 1847, was a major tragedy at Miramichi. She left Liverpool for Quebec with 462 passengers on board. During the first two weeks at sea more than 100 died of sickness and the majority of the crew contracted severe fever and were unfit for duty. With only
12760-467: Was held to discuss a possible Maritime Union between Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island . However, the Province of Canada , caught wind of the conference and decided to send representatives to attend. They asked that the agenda be expanded to discuss a union that would also include them. In 1866, the United States cancelled the Reciprocity Treaty, leading to a loss of trade and
12876-654: Was high for a long time and increased during the Great Depression of the 1930s. By the end of the Great Depression, the New Brunswick standard of living was much lower than the Canadian average. In 1937, New Brunswick had the highest infant mortality and illiteracy rates in Canada. In 1940, the Rowell–Sirois Commission reported grave flaws in the Canadian constitution. While the federal government had most of
12992-456: Was initially named New Ireland; it was not long until the name was then changed to New Brunswick. The original Brunswick is known as Braunschweig , but also Brunswiek (in Low German ), and also Bronswiek (in the local dialect). Paleo-Indians are believed to have been the first humans on the land of New Brunswick, settling there roughly 10,000 years ago. Because their descendants did not leave
13108-454: Was made by Jacques Cartier in 1534, when his party set foot in Miscou and explored the coasts of Chaleur Bay . They made contact with aboriginals, who from this point on began to trade with Europeans. This also exposed them to Old World diseases. Acadia , a colonial division of New France covering the Maritimes , was founded in 1604 by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua de Mons with
13224-604: Was purchased by the ICR. In 1915, the ICR became part of Canadian Government Railways and 3 years later in 1918 it became part of the Canadian National Railway (CNR). CNR operated express passenger trains along the main line from Halifax to Montreal via Newcastle, most notably the Ocean Limited , along with various local trains to Fredericton, Moncton and Campbellton. The Dungarvon Whooper provided passenger service along
13340-515: Was routinely a war zone between the French and the English and would often change hands. However, Acadia would definitively fall into British hands following Queen Anne's War , a conquest of most of the Acadian peninsula, formalized by the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 . After the war, Acadia was reduced to Île Saint-Jean ( Prince Edward Island ) and Île-Royale ( Cape Breton Island ), with the ownership of continental Acadia (New Brunswick) being disputed between France and Britain, with an informal border on
13456-473: Was surprised and shaken by the arrival of the so-called "Two Boaters", perhaps as many as 2000. These were the Irish who had taken advantage of cheap fares to St. John's in the spring and summer of 1815. They were mostly poor laborers and farmers and it seems that initially they settled mainly in the Chatham/Douglastown area. With no prospect of obtaining a land grant, jobs in the woods or in the mills were
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