Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Dalhousie is a Canadian
town located in Restigouche County
, New Brunswick
.
Dalhousie is the shire town of Restigouche County and dates European settlement to 1800. The Town of Dalhousie has been through some very distinct periods between its founding in 1825 and today. Prior to 1825, few showed much interest in the northern part of the province, but in that year the Great Miramichi Fire
raged through central New Brunswick and into Maine, destroying the forests that were the mainstay of the province's economy. Lumbermen looked north to the great pine stands of the Nipisiguit and the Restigouche.
Dalhousie, located at the mouth of the Restigouche, began to grow. Soon it was a booming town and became the Shiretown of the newly created Restigouche County. Lumber and fishing were the main interests, although agriculture was more important in the early days than it is today.
Dalhousie was the leading town of the area until the arrival of the railway following confederation. With steep hills at its back, the Intercolonial Railway (ICR) bypassed the town while its nearby rival, Campbellton, surged ahead. That would be the situation until the late 1920s, when Dalhousie was picked as the site of a giant paper mill. The International Paper Company built what was then one of the largest newsprint mills in the world and the town changed forever. From 1929 on, the mill would dominate life in Dalhousie.
Parents of some of our older citizens would tell their children that, in some ways, it was a better town before the mill. Certainly the mill is one of the town's most imposing features. It occupies much of one side of the main street, blocking access to and even views of the shore. Dalhousie has been called "a waterfront town without a waterfront." The mill also meant that the town had a high average income. It brought a new and different kind of prosperity. Still, Dalhousie was in the situation of many one-industry towns – dependent on the success of that one main sector of its economy. (For information concerning the 2008 mill closure, see Economy section)
The hilly town site was first laid out in 1826 with the first settlement established by Scottish settlers in 1827. It was named after the 9th Earl of Dalhousie
, who was then the governor of both Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Some Acadians displaced in the Great Upheaval
also settled in Dalhousie, and to this day there is a very close balance between anglophones
and francophones. Many of the present residents can trace ancestry back to the original European settlers in the region. The Eel River Bar First Nation, adjacent to Dalhousie, is home to many Micmac natives, who were the original residents of the region.
Dalhousie was officially incorporated in 1905.
valley at the tongue of the river where it discharges into Chaleur Bay
. The valley lies in a hilly region, part of the Appalachian mountain range, although the Dalhousie town site is situated on a hill side several decameters above sea level
with some development to its south on a low ridge of approximately 260 metres elevation. The town is surrounded by salt and fresh water bodies, which are home to many species of wildlife, unique birds, and fish. The area is rich in natural resources.
Dalhousie faces Miguasha, Quebec on the Gaspé Peninsula
to the north. The city of Campbellton
lies 20 km upriver to the west and the city of Bathurst
is approximately 80 km southeast along the shore of Chaleur Bay. There are no major centres south of Dalhousie as this is the undeveloped and heavily forested geographic centre of the province.
Mother tongue language (2006)
Until January 31, 2008, the economy was dominated by the forestry industry, namely a large pulp and paper
mill spanning the waterfront along the Restigouche River. This mill was built to produce newsprint
by the New Brunswick International Paper Co. in 1928 (a subsidiary of International Paper
).
The mill underwent ownership changes in 1980, when Oji Paper Co. Ltd. and Mitsui & Co. of Japan
purchased 33 per cent of the mill . They grouped it under the name Canadian International Paper and 1991, when it was purchased by Canadian Pacific Limited
(who grouped it under their Canadian Pacific Forest Products subsidiary), and again in 1994 (when CPFP changed to become Avenor Inc.. In 1998 Bowater
purchased the Dalhousie newsprint mill from Avenor who renamed the mill "Bowater Maritimes Inc.".
The 2007 merger of Bowater and Abitibi Consolidated resulted in the decision by the newly merged company to announce the closure of the Dalhousie newsprint mill on November 29, 2007. The mill, which produced 640 tonnes of newsprint per day for shipment by rail, truck and ship to domestic and international markets, was officially closed on January 31, 2008. Consequently the town of Dalhousie's economy is facing uncertainty during the post-industrial adjustment. Due to the closure of this mill, hundreds were left without jobs and were forced to move.
Following the closure of the pulp and paper mill, Pioneer Chemicals closed a processing plant on the western edge of the town. As a result of the closures of these industries, the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
and its subsequent owner CN Rail announced that it was declaring the railway spur into the town surplus. Should a buyer of the line not come forward, the tracks will be scrapped and the right of way sold.
The town's only remaining industry is the Dalhousie Generating Station
, a thermal power plant operated by NB Power
.
Dalhousie Mountain offers stunning panoramic views of the entire region and the Gaspé coast.
With four very well defined seasons, Dalhousie is the perfect home - or destination - for the sports enthusiast. Water sports such as sailing and power boating are increasingly popular in the summer, as are skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing in the winter.
The popular Bon Ami festival in the summer serves as a homecoming for the community, where residents celebrate the town and its heritage.
The town is commonly referred to as a Papertown.
It is also served by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
and is located on the Highway 11
arterial highway. Via Rail Canada provides passenger train service 6 days/week with stops at Charlo
immediately east of the town and in Campbellton to the west.
The Charlo Airport
is located several kilometres east of the town for private and charter service with scheduled air service available at the Bathurst Airport.
being the largest denomination. Protestant denominations include the Anglican Church of Canada
, United Church of Canada
, Presbyterian Church in Canada
and several evangelical groups.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
town located in Restigouche County
Restigouche County, New Brunswick
Restigouche County is located in north-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county is named for the Restigouche River which flows through the county and is famous for its salmon pools, which have attracted wealthy American and Canadian tourists to the region's summer colonies for decades...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
History
Miramichi Fire
The Great Miramichi Fire refers to a massive forest fire which devastated forests and communities throughout much of northern New Brunswick in October 1825. It ranks among the three largest forest fires ever recorded in North America. About 1/3 of the homes in Fredericton were destroyed, but the...
raged through central New Brunswick and into Maine, destroying the forests that were the mainstay of the province's economy. Lumbermen looked north to the great pine stands of the Nipisiguit and the Restigouche.
Dalhousie, located at the mouth of the Restigouche, began to grow. Soon it was a booming town and became the Shiretown of the newly created Restigouche County. Lumber and fishing were the main interests, although agriculture was more important in the early days than it is today.
Dalhousie was the leading town of the area until the arrival of the railway following confederation. With steep hills at its back, the Intercolonial Railway (ICR) bypassed the town while its nearby rival, Campbellton, surged ahead. That would be the situation until the late 1920s, when Dalhousie was picked as the site of a giant paper mill. The International Paper Company built what was then one of the largest newsprint mills in the world and the town changed forever. From 1929 on, the mill would dominate life in Dalhousie.
Parents of some of our older citizens would tell their children that, in some ways, it was a better town before the mill. Certainly the mill is one of the town's most imposing features. It occupies much of one side of the main street, blocking access to and even views of the shore. Dalhousie has been called "a waterfront town without a waterfront." The mill also meant that the town had a high average income. It brought a new and different kind of prosperity. Still, Dalhousie was in the situation of many one-industry towns – dependent on the success of that one main sector of its economy. (For information concerning the 2008 mill closure, see Economy section)
The hilly town site was first laid out in 1826 with the first settlement established by Scottish settlers in 1827. It was named after the 9th Earl of Dalhousie
George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie
General George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie GCB , styled Lord Ramsay until 1787, was a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator...
, who was then the governor of both Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Some Acadians displaced in the Great Upheaval
Great Upheaval
The Expulsion of the Acadians was the forced removal by the British of the Acadian people from present day Canadian Maritime provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island...
also settled in Dalhousie, and to this day there is a very close balance between anglophones
English Canadian
An English Canadian is a Canadian of English ancestry; it is used primarily in contrast with French Canadian. Canada is an officially bilingual state, with English and French official language communities. Immigrant cultural groups ostensibly integrate into one or both of these communities, but...
and francophones. Many of the present residents can trace ancestry back to the original European settlers in the region. The Eel River Bar First Nation, adjacent to Dalhousie, is home to many Micmac natives, who were the original residents of the region.
Dalhousie was officially incorporated in 1905.
Geography
Dalhousie is the most northern point in New Brunswick, and thus is in the Maritime provinces. It is situated in the Restigouche RiverRestigouche River
The Restigouche River is a river that flows across the northwestern part of the province of New Brunswick and the southeastern part of Quebec....
valley at the tongue of the river where it discharges into Chaleur Bay
Chaleur Bay
frame| Satellite image of Chaleur Bay . Chaleur Bay is the large bay opening to the east;the [[Gaspé Peninsula]] appears to the north and the [[Gulf of St...
. The valley lies in a hilly region, part of the Appalachian mountain range, although the Dalhousie town site is situated on a hill side several decameters above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
with some development to its south on a low ridge of approximately 260 metres elevation. The town is surrounded by salt and fresh water bodies, which are home to many species of wildlife, unique birds, and fish. The area is rich in natural resources.
Dalhousie faces Miguasha, Quebec on the Gaspé Peninsula
Gaspé Peninsula
The Gaspésie , or Gaspé Peninsula or the Gaspé, is a peninsula along the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, extending into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
to the north. The city of Campbellton
Campbellton, New Brunswick
Campbellton is a Canadian city in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Situated on the south bank of the Restigouche River opposite Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Campbellton was officially incorporated in 1889 and achieved city status in 1958.Forestry and tourism are major industries in the regional...
lies 20 km upriver to the west and the city of Bathurst
Bathurst, New Brunswick
Bathurst is a Canadian city in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.Bathurst is situated on Bathurst Harbour, an estuary at the mouth of the Nepisiguit River at the southernmost part of Chaleur Bay....
is approximately 80 km southeast along the shore of Chaleur Bay. There are no major centres south of Dalhousie as this is the undeveloped and heavily forested geographic centre of the province.
Demographics
Population trend| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3,676 | 6.4% |
| Adjustment | 3,928 | 1.2% |
| 2001 | 3,975 | 11.7% |
| 1996 | 4,500 | 5.8% |
| 1991 | 4,775 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 1,760 | 49.58% |
| English only | 1,715 | 48.31% |
| Both English and French | 30 | 0.84% |
| Other languages | 45 | 1.26% |
Economy
Pulp and Paper
Pulp and Paper is the name of the largest United States-based trade magazine for the pulp and paper industry. See also: Paper engineering, Pulp and Paper Merit Badge...
mill spanning the waterfront along the Restigouche River. This mill was built to produce newsprint
Newsprint
Newsprint is a low-cost, non-archival paper most commonly used to print newspapers, and other publications and advertising material. It usually has an off-white cast and distinctive feel. It is designed for use in printing presses that employ a long web of paper rather than individual sheets of...
by the New Brunswick International Paper Co. in 1928 (a subsidiary of International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
).
The mill underwent ownership changes in 1980, when Oji Paper Co. Ltd. and Mitsui & Co. of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
purchased 33 per cent of the mill . They grouped it under the name Canadian International Paper and 1991, when it was purchased by Canadian Pacific Limited
Canadian Pacific Limited
Canadian Pacific Limited was created in 1971 to own properties formerly owned by Canadian Pacific Railway, a transportation and mining giant in Canada...
(who grouped it under their Canadian Pacific Forest Products subsidiary), and again in 1994 (when CPFP changed to become Avenor Inc.. In 1998 Bowater
Bowater
Bowater was an American pulp and paper company based in Greenville, South Carolina. Bowater had 12 pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea and 13 North American sawmills. It had approximately 10,000 employees...
purchased the Dalhousie newsprint mill from Avenor who renamed the mill "Bowater Maritimes Inc.".
The 2007 merger of Bowater and Abitibi Consolidated resulted in the decision by the newly merged company to announce the closure of the Dalhousie newsprint mill on November 29, 2007. The mill, which produced 640 tonnes of newsprint per day for shipment by rail, truck and ship to domestic and international markets, was officially closed on January 31, 2008. Consequently the town of Dalhousie's economy is facing uncertainty during the post-industrial adjustment. Due to the closure of this mill, hundreds were left without jobs and were forced to move.
Following the closure of the pulp and paper mill, Pioneer Chemicals closed a processing plant on the western edge of the town. As a result of the closures of these industries, the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
New Brunswick East Coast Railway
The New Brunswick East Coast Railway was an historic Canadian railway that operated in the province of New Brunswick.It included of track of which were mainline between Campbellton and Pacific Junction near Moncton...
and its subsequent owner CN Rail announced that it was declaring the railway spur into the town surplus. Should a buyer of the line not come forward, the tracks will be scrapped and the right of way sold.
The town's only remaining industry is the Dalhousie Generating Station
Dalhousie Generating Station
The Dalhousie Generating Station is a 315 MW Canadian electrical generating station located in the community of Darlington in Restigouche County, New Brunswick....
, a thermal power plant operated by NB Power
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
.
Tourism
Dalhousie is home to the Inch Arran Park , one of New Brunswick's highest-rated campgrounds.Dalhousie Mountain offers stunning panoramic views of the entire region and the Gaspé coast.
With four very well defined seasons, Dalhousie is the perfect home - or destination - for the sports enthusiast. Water sports such as sailing and power boating are increasingly popular in the summer, as are skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing in the winter.
The popular Bon Ami festival in the summer serves as a homecoming for the community, where residents celebrate the town and its heritage.
The town is commonly referred to as a Papertown.
Transportation
The town benefits from its geography by having a deep sea port located adjacent to the pulp and paper mill.It is also served by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
New Brunswick East Coast Railway
The New Brunswick East Coast Railway was an historic Canadian railway that operated in the province of New Brunswick.It included of track of which were mainline between Campbellton and Pacific Junction near Moncton...
and is located on the Highway 11
New Brunswick Route 11
Route 11 is a provincial highway in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada. The 430-kilometre long road runs from Shediac to the Quebec border near Campbellton at the Interprovinciale Bridge, following the province's eastern and northern coastlines....
arterial highway. Via Rail Canada provides passenger train service 6 days/week with stops at Charlo
Charlo, New Brunswick
Charlo is a Canadian village in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Situated on the south shore of Chaleur Bay, the community was first settled by Acadians in 1799 and incorporated in 1966....
immediately east of the town and in Campbellton to the west.
The Charlo Airport
Charlo Airport
Charlo Airport is located south-southeast of Charlo, New Brunswick, Canada.The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15...
is located several kilometres east of the town for private and charter service with scheduled air service available at the Bathurst Airport.
Education
Dalhousie has two elementary schools (Académie Notre Dame and L.E.Reinsborough), one middle school (Dalhousie Middle School), and two high schools (Dalhousie Regional High School and École Aux Quatre Vents).Religion
Christianity is the dominant religion, with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
being the largest denomination. Protestant denominations include the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
and several evangelical groups.
People
Some notable people that are from Dalhousie include:- Guy ArseneaultGuy ArseneaultGuy H. Arseneault was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997. He was a teacher by career....
, teacher and politician - Joseph Cunard BarberieJoseph Cunard BarberieJoseph Cunard Barberie was a political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Restigouche County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as a Liberal member from 1879 to 1885....
, politician - Joel BernardJoel BernardJoel Bernard is a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, representing Nepisiguit, in the general election of 1999 and became deputy speaker of the Legislature. He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the 2003 election by former Member of the...
, politician - Gordie DwyerGordie DwyerGordie Dwyer is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens. He is currently the head coach of the P.E.I...
, National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Charles H. LaBilloisCharles H. LaBilloisCharles H. LaBillois was a merchant and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Restigouche County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1883 to 1899 as a Conservative member....
, politician and merchant
External links
- The DRHS school website
- The AQV school website
- The Town of Dalhousie website
- Downtown Dalhousie
- National 3 on 3 Hockey Championship
- zoomvillage.com