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Information Supplied by the Saint John Visitor & Convention Bureau
Saint John is Strategically Located Saint John, population 125,000, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, a 90-minute drive from the US border at Calais, Maine, a two-hour flight from Toronto, and 75 minutes from Montreal. Did you know? Saint John is Canada's first incorporated city and provides a rich cultural heritage and fine examples of historic architecture. Saint John is situated on Canada's Atlantic seaboard on the southern coast of New Brunswick, 110 km (68 miles) from the U. S. border at Calais, Maine.
A Brief History On June 24, 1604 Samuel de Champlain sailed off the Bay of Fundy and into the large natural harbour which is now the commercial Port of Saint John. In the seventeenth century the area was fought over by two powerful French settlers (Charles LaTour and Charles D Aulnay), both claiming rights as Governor. The area was ceded to the British government in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. In 1777, a British fort (Fort Howe) was constructed to protect the outpost from attacks by privateers. After the American Revolution, by the end of 1783, 14,000 Loyalists had arrived. These displaced American colonists faced untold hardships. In 1785 they founded the City of Saint John. The nineteenth century brought mass immigration, modernization, industrialization, and our economic heyday as wooden ship builders. Our most notable ship, the Marco Polo, broke records for sailing from England to Australia in 1852. In the 1840s, 30,000 Irish immigrants changed the City s demography; today Saint John is one of Canada s most Irish cities. Fire destroyed two-thirds of Saint John in 1877. Within five years the City was rebuilt. In consequence the City has spectacular blocks of period architecture, protected by law (Trinity Royal Preservation Area). Saint John - River & Harbour Saint John is home to the world-famous Reversing Falls. In Saint John Harbour, the Bay of Fundy water mingles with the St. John River. Because of the height of the tides and the geography of the River's mouth, this is no ordinary river flowing to the sea. Twice daily the mighty St. John River is pushed backwards (upstream) by the Fundy tide. This is known as the Reversing Falls. The reversal of the direction is no small feat considering the length of the River (750 km/450 miles) and the volume of water forced through the narrow gorge at the Falls (equivalent 24-hour flow of all the world's rivers). In Saint John we experience 8.6 m/28-foot tides; this is the difference from low to high tide. In addition to this amazing natural attraction, the lush river valleys offer beautiful scenery to the degree that the St. John River has been dubbed the Rhine of North America. The Kingston Peninsula, accessible by free river ferry from Saint John, showcases the Kennebecasis River and the Hampton Marshes. Free river ferries dot the landscape of both river systems and provide travellers with easy access to further exploration. |
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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO
Uptown has numerous museums, galleries and historic sites: the New Brunswick Museum at Market Square (new in 1996); Barbour's General Store; Loyalist House; Saint John Jewish Historical Museum; and the Saint John Firefighter's Museum. Each offers its own perspective on the heritage and culture of Saint John. Visit the Old County Courthouse, the newly restored Old Burial Grounds; and the Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre. The Old City Market, oldest of its kind in Canada, is a favourite of locals and visitors. Here you can sample dulse (New Brunswick's edible seaweed) and peruse the vendors wares. Stroll through the shops and galleries of nearby Trinity Royal, a heritage preservation area. Guided bus and walking tours are also available. One great way to visit Saint John and experience the Fundy Region is through the New Brunswick Day Adventure Program. From Saint John, visitors can take a harbour tour; sea kayak in Fundy's famous waters; explore the Fundy Isles and visit the summer home of President Roosevelt; whale watch from an historic schooner; or choose a mountain bike tour through the dramatic seascapes of the Fundy Region. All this and more within a ninety-minute drive of the City. Visit the hidden highways and byways of scenic, rural New Brunswick, only a stone's throw away from the City. Include the communities of Chance Harbour, Dipper Harbour, and Maces Bay; the historic village of St. Martins, once a busy nineteenth-century wooden shipbuilding community; and the seaside resort town, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. Not far off is Fundy National Park. Nearby Hopewell Cape is home to the "Flower Pot Rocks". At low tide you can walk amongst the rocks and feel the immense power of the tide which carved these stone monoliths; at high tide the space is completely filled with the deep Fundy waters. Each March Saint John celebrates its Irish heritage with a week long festival culminating on St. Patrick s Day. Three of the larger summer festivals are Franco-Frolic (June), Heritage Celebration (July), and Festival by the Sea (August), a ten-day national performing arts festival, which transforms the waterfront into a large open-air amphitheatre. City Market The Saint John City Market is the oldest continuing farmer's market in Canada and a national historic site. Open six days a week year-round, the market stocks a variety of delicious local specialties including fresh seafood, live and cooked lobsters, farm-fresh produce, fine cheeses, fresh flowers, meat, baked goods and dulse (dried seaweed), a true Maritime favourite! Market Square Market Square, located in the heart of uptown Saint John, offers facilities for dining, shopping and entertainment. Other features include a boardwalk which runs along the harbour, exclusive shops, on-site parking, an historic park including Barbour s General Store, a light house, a landscaped mini-plaza and beach volleyball courts. This development was awarded the 1983 International Award for Innovation, Design and Construction by the International Council of Shopping Centres. In April 1996, the New Brunswick Museum relocates to Market Square. The Museum will contain interactive exhibits, public galleries, exciting displays, a science centre and a multi-purpose theatre. New Brunswick Museum There is so much to see and do at the New Brunswick Museum (NBM), Canada's oldest continuing museum. Featured are new galleries devoted to New Brunswick industries, marine history, natural sciences, decorative and fine art, and a family discovery gallery. See "Delilah," a 45 foot long Northern Right Whale, experience shipbuilding, visit the art galleries or challenge yourself on the discovery gallery computers. The NBM is a family museum with exhibits and displays appealing to all ages. Open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 9 am - 9 pm, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, and Sunday noon to 5 pm. The NBM is connected by a pedway system to major hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, the aquatic centre and many other attractions. Admission applies. For information call (506) 643-2300. Imperial Theatre Imperial Theatre is Atlantic Canada's busiest and most beautiful venue for live performance. The theatre has been restored to its original 1913 glory as a Victorian proscenium-arch vaudeville road-house, incorporating state-of-the-art theatrical equipment and an enlarged stage. It seats 900 in comfort, affording excellent acoustics and sightlines. Imperial Theatre is fully accessible to the disabled, and features a listening assistance system for the hearing impaired. HarbourStation Venue for various sporting, trade shows and concerts. Events/Ticket Information (505) 657-1234 or 1-800-267-1234. Dining Rooms/Restaurants There are many fine restaurants, fast food takeouts and eateries to suit any palate. Some of the residents' favourites include Suwanna, serving traditional Tai foods, Vivaldi's, serving Italian food and gourmet pizza, Church Street Steakhouse, steak and seafood restaurant, and The Falls, varied menu - window seating allows you to watch the harbour seals during dinner. Beaches/Parks Area beaches are typically open for the summer season from June 1 to Labour Day. Supervised beaches have lifeguards on duty from mid-June to mid-August.
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PARKS
King's Square At the top of King Street (City Centre). Its central location overlooking the city makes King's Square the perfect spot for a summertime stroll or an afternoon picnic. Rich in Loyalist historical significance, you will find King's Square and its colourful gardens an excellent meeting place. Rockwood Park
Main Entrance is located off Mount Pleasant Avenue (City Centre) The Interpretation Centre, with exhibits and information on the natural history of the Park, is open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily, May to September. Open year-round, 10 a.m. to dusk daily. Camping Information: (506) 652-4050. General Information: (506) 658-2883.
Seaside Park Fundy Drive (West Side) Irving Nature Park Off Sand Cove Road (West Side) Irving Nature Park is a 6.3 km naturalists' paradise on the Bay of Fundy. A winding coastal road and nature walking trails allow the public to experience directly the various Southern New Brunswick ecosystems. Harbour seals and porpoise can be seen offshore, and more than 240 species of migratory birds are regularly sighted. Free of charge. Open dawn-to-dusk daily, year-round for visitors on foot; vehicles, June to November. Wheelchair accessible. Information: (506) 653-7367 |
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Canada Games Aquatic Centre
50 Union Street (City Centre) Canada Games Stadium (UNBSJ) One of the finest track and field facilities in Canada, the stadium has a 400 meter, eight-lane all weather running track and a natural grass interior. There is fixed seating for 2,500 plus 6,000 bleacher seats and a press box. Golf Challenging golf courses are located throughout the Saint John area and offer enough diversity to please everyone from the accomplished pro to the novice player.
Skiing Wax up your skis because Saint John has great slopes just a short distance outside the city.
Tennis During the winter, tennis programs are offered at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus. Its Athletics Centre has four indoor tennis courts with complete changing and showering facilities. The spring and summer programs are conducted outdoors at several popular city courts.
YMCA-YWCA Hazen Avenue (City Centre) The Saint John YMCA-YWCA features a 6,000 square foot weight training area, racquetball courts and a pool. Admission: Adults $8.00 Students: $6.00 Information: (506) 634-7720 |
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY OF SAINT JOHN AND SURROUNDING AREAS:
About the Province of New Brunswick
Saint John
Bay of Fundy, with the World’s Highest Tides
University of New Brunswick – Saint John Campus
The Fundy Trail
The Irving Nature Park
Rockwood Park
Canada Games Aquatic Centre
The Imperial Theatre |
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