Saint John, New Brunswick

Saint John is a historic seaport city in New Brunswick, Canada, located on the beautiful Bay of Fundy. It is known as Canada's oldest incorporated city, established on May 18, 1785, during the time of King George III. Today, the Port of Saint John is one of the busiest in Canada, handling many types of cargo including dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, containers, and cruise ships.

The city has a strong mix of industries, such as oil refining, manufacturing, finance, and tourism. Important places for learning and culture include the New Brunswick Museum and the University of New Brunswick. Although it was the most populous city in New Brunswick for over 230 years, Saint John is now the second-largest city in the province, with a population of 69,895 as of 2021.

French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived at Saint John Harbour in 1604 and named the Saint John River after Saint John the Baptist. The area was important for trade and defense during the French colonial time, and Fort La Tour played a key role in the Acadian Civil War. After years of disputes between French and English settlers, the British established the city by joining two towns and welcoming refugees from the United States after the American Revolution. Over time, many new people arrived through Partridge Island, especially during a big famine, shaping the city's culture and population.

History

Main article: History of Saint John, New Brunswick

For thousands of years, the Saint John area was home to the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Passamaquoddy Nation lived along the Bay of Fundy, while the Wolastoqiyik Nation lived along the Saint John River. The Mi'kmaq also visited the area often.

In 1604, Samuel de Champlain arrived at Saint John Harbour but did not settle there. Later, the British took control of the area after the Seven Years' War.

Many people moved to Saint John after the American Revolutionary War, including many United Empire Loyalists. The city was officially created on May 18, 1785, and was named "Saint John." It became an important shipbuilding place, creating famous ships like the Marco Polo.

As the city grew, some people faced unfair treatment. In 1849, the first labour union in Canada was formed by workers. Sadly, there were times when people fought because of poor living conditions. A big fire in 1877 destroyed much of the city, but people worked hard to rebuild.

Geography and climate

Saint John is a city in New Brunswick, Canada, located along the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. The city is split by the river, with Partridge Island in the harbour and many beaches nearby. Stonehammer UNESCO Geopark, centred around Saint John, contains very old rock formations.

The city has many different architectural styles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. After a big fire in 1877, buildings were made from brick and stone instead of wood. Saint John has many historic buildings and areas, such as Brunswick Square, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and Trinity Anglican Church.

Saint John has several parks, including King's Square and Queen Square in the city centre, and larger parks like Irving Nature Park and Rockwood Park. The city has many neighbourhoods grouped into four areas: North, East, South, and West.

Saint John has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold but moderated by the Bay of Fundy, while summers are warm. The city gets about 1,295 mm of precipitation each year, with snow and rain common in winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 34.5 °C on June 20, 2024, and the coldest was −36.7 °C on February 11, 1948.

Demographics

At the 2021 census led by Statistics Canada, Saint John had 69,895 people living in 31,825 homes out of 33,908 total. The city’s population density was 221.5 people per square kilometre, with the busiest area being Uptown Saint John. The median household income was $62,800. For people aged 25 to 64, 24% had a bachelor’s degree or higher, 58% had some college or other training, and 32% had a high school diploma. The median age was 44 years.

The wider Saint John area, called the census metropolitan area (CMA), had 130,613 people in 55,865 homes out of 59,272 total. This was a 3.5% increase from 2016. The area covers 3,505.66 km² and had a population density of 37.3 people per square kilometre in 2021.

Historically, Saint John has welcomed people from around the world. After the American Revolution, more than 3,300 Black Loyalist refugees and over 10,000 others arrived. Later, during a difficult time in Ireland from 1845 to 1849, many Irish refugees came to Saint John, especially in 1847, known as "Black 47". Today, about 86.4% of residents are white, 10.9% are from visible minority groups, and 2.8% are Indigenous. The largest minority groups are Black (2.7%), South Asian (2.4%), Arab (1.5%), Chinese (1.4%), and Filipino (0.9%).

In terms of language, 87.2% of people speak English at home. Other common first languages include French (3.7%), Arabic (1.5%), Chinese languages (1.0%), and Tagalog (0.5%).

Regarding religion, 58.5% of people identify as Christian, with 29.7% being Catholic and 20.6% Protestant. About 36.0% of people say they have no religious affiliation, and other religions make up 5.5% of the population, with Islam and Hinduism being the largest non-Christian groups.

Economy

Saint John's location along the Bay of Fundy has helped the city grow. The bay's strong tides keep the harbour free of ice, so ships can visit all year. In the past, shipbuilding, shipping, and lumber were big industries. By 1840, Saint John sent much of New Brunswick's timber and wood products to other places. But these industries faced problems from new technology and a big fire in 1877. Shipbuilding stopped for good in 2003 when a major shipyard closed.

Today, Saint John has many jobs in tourism, oil refining, and other industries. The Port of Saint John welcomes many cruise ships and moves lots of cargo each year.

Arts and culture

Arts and culture are important to Saint John. The Imperial Theatre hosts many plays and concerts. The TD Station is where the Saint John Sea Dogs play hockey.

The city has many art galleries, especially in the uptown area. Artists have made Saint John their home, and their galleries can be visited there.

Industry

Saint John has big industries on its East side, including Canada's largest oil refinery. The Irving family built many factories and businesses there, and they still play a big role today. Saint John also has breweries, like Moosehead Brewery, which has been around since 1867. Hospitals in the area are run by the Horizon Health Network.

Maritime industries

Main article: Port of Saint John

Saint John is an important port city. It used to have a big shipyard, but it closed in 2003. Today, the port still moves lots of cargo, and there is research on marine life in the area. Fishing and fish farming, like raising Atlantic Salmon, provide jobs for many people.

Before a big waterway opened in 1959, Saint John's port was used as a winter port for Montreal and Quebec. The port changed after that, but it remains one of the busiest in Eastern Canada.

Exports

Saint John sends most of its exports to the United States. In fact, about 96% of what the city exports goes there. This makes Saint John very affected by trade rules between the two countries. The Irving Oil Refinery sends most of its oil to the United States.

Culture

Saint John has been home to many famous artists, actors, and musicians, including Walter Pidgeon, Donald Sutherland, and Stompin' Tom Connors. From 1940 to 1970, the city was very active in the arts, producing well-known painters, writers, and singers.

The city has many arts groups, such as the InterAction School of Performing Arts and Symphony New Brunswick. It also has important places for culture, like the Imperial Theatre and the Saint John Free Public Library.

Saint John has been a place where movies and TV shows are made. In 1924, the city’s first film was made, and later, many other films were shot there, including Children of a Lesser God, for which an actress won an award. Television shows like Hotel Impossible have also featured the city.

The New Brunswick Museum, Canada’s oldest continuing museum, is in Saint John. It is being updated with a new building. There are also other smaller museums in the city, like the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum and the Saint John Firefighters Museum.

Saint John has many important historic sites, such as old forts and the Imperial Theatre. The city is also known for its many pubs and restaurants.

Music has always been important in Saint John. Early settlers brought folk songs, and later, the city had concerts and operas. Today, music festivals like Area 506 attract big names and local musicians.

Government and politics

See also: List of mayors of Saint John, New Brunswick and Saint John City Council

Government and court

Saint John uses a mayor–council system for its local government, called the Saint John Common Council. The council includes the mayor and ten councillors. Two councillors are elected by the whole city, and eight represent the city's four wards, serving four-year terms. Saint John is one of five special cities in Canada, which gives it extra powers to make laws. For national matters, the city is part of the Saint John—Kennebecasis and Saint John—St. Croix areas, represented in the country's parliament by two members from different political groups.

The city has its own court, which is part of the Provincial Court of New Brunswick. It also includes a special court to help people with mental health needs. The city is part of the Saint John Judicial District for larger court cases.

Politics

Donna Reardon has been the mayor of Saint John since 2021. She was elected during the city's most recent election and is the 79th person to hold this position. The Saint John City Council includes the mayor and ten councillors. Eight of these councillors represent different parts of the city, and two are chosen by everyone in the city.

Public safety

Police and law enforcement

Saint John's law enforcement agency is the Saint John Police Force. It was established in 1849, and police forces in the city date back to 1809. As of December 31, 2023, the police force had 126 sworn officers and 55 civilian staff members. The Saint John Police Force is governed by the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners.

The Saint John Police Force was originally based in the City Hall building from 1971 until 2012, when a new police headquarters was built at Peel Plaza.

Fire department

Saint John is served by the firefighters of the Saint John Fire Department, which was established in 1786. As of 2024, the department operates from six fire stations.

Military

Saint John is the location of a number of reserve units of the Canadian Forces. These include:

• Naval Reserve
  • HMCS Brunswicker
• 37 Canadian Brigade Group
  • 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, RCA: Regimental headquarters and 115th Field Battery (The Loyal Company)
  • Royal New Brunswick Regiment (Carleton & York): B Company
  • 37 Signal Regiment: Det Saint John, and 2 Squadron
  • 37 Service Battalion: Battalion headquarters and a composite logistics company

Education

Primary and secondary

Saint John has two school boards. One is the Anglophone board, called the Anglophone South School District, and the other is the Francophone board, called the Francophone Sud School District. There are 25 public schools in Saint John, including Saint John High School, which is Canada's oldest publicly funded high school.

Post-secondary

Saint John has several places for higher learning, including a campus of the University of New Brunswick and a campus for the New Brunswick Community College. These schools offer many different programs for students.

Public library system

Main article: Saint John Free Public Library

The Saint John Free Public Library opened in 1883 and was one of Canada's first free libraries. It has moved a few times over the years and now has three branches.

Labour

Saint John is an important place in the history of workers' rights in Canada. The city is known for creating the first trade union in Canada, called the Labourers' Benevolent Association. This group started in 1849 when workers wanted better pay and shorter workdays. They even tried to put up a bell to signal the start and end of the workday, but faced some challenges before finally getting it up.

The city also saw important events where workers stood up for their rights. In 1914, workers on the street railway went on strike for a few days, which showed the growing tensions between workers and business owners. Later, in 1976, many workers went on strike against a government rule that limited wage increases. This led to big protests and shutdowns in the city. In the 1990s, workers at the Irving Oil Refinery went on strike for over two years over disagreements about pay and work conditions. These events helped shape the story of workers' rights in Canada.

Media

Main article: Media in Saint John, New Brunswick

Saint John has a daily newspaper called the Telegraph-Journal. It was created in 1923 when two older newspapers joined together. The University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus also has a student newspaper called The Baron.

The city has several television stations, including CHNB-DT and CKLT-DT. There are many radio stations in Saint John, offering different kinds of music and news for both English and French speakers. These include music stations like CHWV-FM, CIOK-FM, and CJYC-FM, as well as news and talk stations like CBD-FM. The University of New Brunswick’s Saint John campus also has its own campus radio station, CFMH-FM.

Transportation

Saint John has many ways to get around and travel. You can fly using the Saint John Airport, which is close to the city. Airlines like Sunwing Airlines, Air Canada, and Porter Airlines offer flights from there.

The city has major highways, such as the Saint John Throughway (Route 1), which connects to the United States, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Another important road, Route 7, links Saint John to Fredericton. There are two big bridges, the Harbour Bridge and the Reversing Falls Bridge, that cross the Saint John River.

For trains, the Reversing Falls Railway Bridge is used for freight trains going to Maine. There used to be passenger train service, but it stopped in 1994.

The Port of Saint John is a big place where ships load and unload goods. There is also a ferry called the MV Fundy Rose that travels across the Bay of Fundy to Digby, Nova Scotia. Another ferry, the Peninsula Princess, goes between Millidgeville and Summerville across the Kennebecasis River.

Public buses in Saint John are run by Saint John Transit, which is the biggest bus system in New Brunswick. There are also inter-city bus services provided by Maritime Bus.

Sports

Saint John has many sports teams, including the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and the upcoming Port City Power in The Basketball League.

Big sporting events held in Saint John include the 2022 Memorial Cup, where the Saint John Sea Dogs won the championship, and the 1999 World Curling Championships. The city is also home to the UNB Saint John Seawolves, which has teams in basketball, soccer, and volleyball for both men and women.

Twin/sister cities

Saint John has several cities around the world that are considered its friends and partners. These include:

• Bangor, Maine in the United States, since 1987.
• Shantou in China, since 1997.
• Donghae in South Korea, since 2008.
• Koper in Slovenia, since 2009.
• Newport, Rhode Island in the United States.