Miramichi, New Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Miramichi 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 River valley is the longest valley in New Brunswick.
The city of Miramichi was formed in 1995 through the forced amalgamation of two towns, Newcastle
and Chatham
, and several smaller communities, including Douglastown
, Loggieville, and Nelson.
, 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 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 a dozen French and more than 500 Indians. In 1691 Richard died at sea; the post declined.
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 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 St. John Valley and the Bay of Fundy
, by leading 900 French refugees up the northeast coast of New Brunswick to Miramichi, establishing a camp, "Camp de l’Espérance", on Beaubears Island
. Over 200 of the refugees died at the camp. During the war, the camp was protected by a battery of French cannons at French Fort Cove
. After the Siege of Louisbourg (1758), Boishebert led a group of Acadians from St. Peter's, Nova Scotia
to Miramichi.
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 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 (1758)
looking unsuccessfully for Acadians, but destroying anything he found. This included burning the first stone church built in New Brunswick (at the site of the present-day community of Burnt Church
). Murray didn't 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 the northern and eastern coasts of present-day New Brunswick.
(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 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 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.
In the beginning of the American Revolution the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet were supportive of the Americans against 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 the 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 the British Crown on 28 July 1779.
After the battle, Davidson temporarily found refuge along the St. 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 the 1840s, the Great Irish Famine led to the last large influx of settlers, mostly settling on the south side of the river in the former town of Chatham. By this time, the best lands were already occupied by earlier Scottish, Loyalist and Acadian immigrants.
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 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, the Great Miramichi Fire
of 1825, 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 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 the election in the streets of Newcastle
and Chatham
with sticks, stones, coal and other missiles.
. The following year it would link Halifax with Rivière-du-Loup and the Canadian railway network. One of the biggest geographic obstacles presented in 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 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 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 Railways (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 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.
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 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 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 airforce base had both closed by 1999 as the mine's ore body was depleted, and with the collapse of the cold war
. The forest industry is 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 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 to the strong identities that each of the communities possessed. The 1995 amalgamation of the communities served to limit this rivalry, giving the region a larger and more united voice in promoting the region.
Population trend
Mother tongue language (2006)
According to the Statistics Canada 2001 census, there were 18,508 people residing in Miramichi. 48.1% of residents were male and 51.9% were female.
Children under five accounted for approximately 5.0% of the resident population. This compares with 5.6% for Canada
overall. In mid-2001, 15.5% of the resident population of Miramichi were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2% in Canada. The median age was 39.9 years of age, comparing to 37.6 years of age nationally.
In 2001, 97.6% of the population were born in Canada; 89.4% claimed "English only" as the "language(s) first learned and still understood", whereas 8.8% indicated French, and 0.7% indicated "both English and French". The population was 61.8% Roman Catholic, and 33.3% Protestant. 3.8% reported no religious affiliation.
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 the quickest connection to major centres in Quebec
, Upper Canada
, and points west.
For years, the only bridge at Miramichi was a narrow, historic crossing, 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 the late 1990s.
Water
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 the ancient, meandering course of the drowned Miramichi River channel through the inner Bay.
Rail
The New Brunswick East Coast Railway
(NBECR), formerly part of the Canadian National (CN) Railway mainline, and the earlier Intercolonial Railway passes through Miramichi. Supplementing NBECR's freight capacity, Via Rail
offers passenger service on this line at the Miramichi railway station
via the Ocean train to Montreal and Halifax.
Air
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
.
, Miramichi culture is firmly grounded in the Mi'kmaq, Acadian
, 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
, the tales and folklore of Herb Curtis
, and the fiction and non-fiction of Chatham-born 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.
Other local festivals include:
, not readily understood by outsiders. A small part of this language has been captured in Herb Curtis
' 1991 book, Look What the Cat Drug In: A Miramichi Dictionary and Doug Underhill's 1996 City of Miramichi: An Interpretive Guide.
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 gently meandering, and challenging whitewater opportunities for canoe
and kayak
, and superb angling for Atlantic Salmon
and brook trout
. About one-half of 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.
of the
Maritime Junior Hockey League. The team plays out of the Miramichi Civic Centre. The other team, th Miramichi Phantoms who play out of the Lord Beaverbrook Arena. The city's baseball team, the Chatham Ironmen play in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League
at Ironmen Feild. They are the winners of the 1995 Canadian Senior Baseball Nationals.
, is offered primarily through the Miramichi campus of New Brunswick Community College
.
Public schools
New Brunswick School District 11
(French):
New Brunswick School District 16
(English):
Private schools
Post-secondary
is the centre of all activity. The communities that compose the city line its banks.
, located in the middle of the Miramichi River between Newcastle and Nelson-Miramichi, is home to two National Historic Sites, Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial. The island is recognized for its role in the Acadian Expulsion
, and as the former home of a major shipbuilding industry.
is a nature park located between Newcastle and Nordin. The park contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, and an ice-cream shop. The park holds many events and activities during the summer.
It is the former site of a gristmill, lumbermill and shipyard. It is also the former location of a rock quarry which was used to build many local buildings and the Langevin Block
of the Parliament Hill
, among others.
It is the setting for the local legend of the Headless Nun
.
Middle Island was used as a quarantine station when, in 1847, typhus
and scarlet fever
spread throughout the ship Looshtauk as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 462 passengers on board, at least 146 people died en route and 96 died while in quarantine. Initially those who died on the island were buried in caskets, but as the death toll continued to rise personal resting places could no longer be an option. This resulted in large mass graves being placed on the island. Some of these graves were discovered as recently as 1996.
Many people are able to trace their family roots back to the journey taken by the Looshtauk.
The island now serves as a tourist location and memorial.
and James Gilmour
came to the area in 1812 to establish a lumber and shipbuilding enterprise (Gilmour, Rankin & Co.) at Douglastown (then known as Gretna Green). Rankin House was constructed in 1837 as the home of Alexander Rankin.
Rankin House is now a museum containing a collection of objects relating to early life in New Brunswick. It is located in Douglastown on the King George Highway.
Its boardwalk is lined with restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir shops, and it is also the location of a tourist information centre. In addition, there is a children's playground with a small water park.
The Marine Hospital was built in 1830-1831, and was used to provide care to members of the shipping community involved in the lumber trade. It is the oldest surviving marine hospital in Canada, and now serves as a hall for a local church and the general public. It last opened its door to patients in 1921, and was commemorated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in September 2000.
. The shopping district includes a large enclosed shopping mall, multiple strip malls and numerous other stores and businesses. It is anchored by; Walmart Canada, Zellers
, Canadian Tire
, Hart Stores
, Sobeys
, Shoppers Drug Mart
, Sport Chek
and Staples Business Depot
.
Other:
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...
, Canada
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...
. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
where it enters Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
. The Miramichi River valley is the longest valley in New Brunswick.
The city of Miramichi was formed in 1995 through the forced amalgamation of two towns, Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
and Chatham
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
, and several smaller communities, including Douglastown
Douglastown, New Brunswick
Douglastown is a Canadian suburban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation on January 1, 1995, Douglastown was an incorporated village in Northumberland County....
, Loggieville, and Nelson.
Mi'kmaq and French communities (before 1765)
Long prior to European settlement, the Miramichi region was home to members of the Mi'kmaq first nation. For the Mi'kmaq, Beaubears IslandBeaubears Island
Beaubears Island is an island at 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...
, at the junction of the Northwest and Main Southwest branches of the Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
was a natural meeting point.
Following the European discovery of the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, the Miramichi became part of the French colony of Acadia
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
. About 1648, Nicolas Denys
Nicolas Denys
.Nicolas Denys was a French aristocrat who became an explorer, colonizer, soldier and leader in New France. Today, he is perhaps best known for founding settlements at St. Pierre , Ste...
, Sieur de Fronsac, established a fort and trading post, Fort Fronsac, on 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
William Francis Ganong
William Francis Ganong, M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C., was a Canadian botanist, historian and cartographer. His botany career was spent mainly as a professor at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts...
, a Recollet Mission was established in 1686 on the Miramichi "in Nelson", "probably near Beaubear's Island".
Nicolas Denys
Nicolas Denys
.Nicolas Denys was a French aristocrat who became an explorer, colonizer, soldier and leader in New France. Today, he is perhaps best known for founding settlements at St. Pierre , Ste...
' 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 a dozen French and more than 500 Indians. In 1691 Richard died at sea; the post declined.
By about 1740 French villages were well established on Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
at Bay du Vin
Bay du Vin, New Brunswick
Bay du Vin is a small but picturesque unincorporated community located on the south shore of Miramichi Bay, 24 km east of the former town of Chatham , New Brunswick, Canada...
and Neguac
Neguac, New Brunswick
Neguac is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.Situated on the north shore of Miramichi Bay at the southern end of the Acadian Peninsula, the village is located 44 kilometres northeast of Miramichi...
. 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
Beaubears Island
Beaubears Island is an island at 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...
and at French Fort Cove
French Fort Cove
The French Fort Cove is a nature park located in Miramichi, New Brunswick, between Newcastle and Nordin-Miramichi, which contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, ice-cream shop and holds many events and activities during the summer...
.
French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
erupted in 1754. During 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
Charles Deschamps de Boishébert et de Raffetot
Charles Deschamps de Boishébert , was the leader of the Acadian resistance to the Expulsion of the Acadians. He settled and tried to protect Acadians refugees along the rivers of New Brunswick. Fort Boishebert is named after him...
attempted to evade British troops in the St. John Valley and the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, by leading 900 French refugees up the northeast coast of New Brunswick to Miramichi, establishing a camp, "Camp de l’Espérance", on Beaubears Island
Beaubears Island
Beaubears Island is an island at 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...
. Over 200 of the refugees died at the camp. During the war, the camp was protected by a battery of French cannons at French Fort Cove
French Fort Cove
The French Fort Cove is a nature park located in Miramichi, New Brunswick, between Newcastle and Nordin-Miramichi, which contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, ice-cream shop and holds many events and activities during the summer...
. After the Siege of Louisbourg (1758), Boishebert led a group of Acadians from St. Peter's, Nova Scotia
St. Peter's, Nova Scotia
St. Peter's is a small incorporated village located on Cape Breton Island in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada....
to Miramichi.
On 13 August 1758 French officer Boishebert left Miramichi with 400 soldiers, including Acadians from Port Toulouse
St. Peter's, Nova Scotia
St. Peter's is a small incorporated village located on Cape Breton Island in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada....
, for Fort St George (Thomaston, Maine
Thomaston, Maine
Thomaston, Maine is a town on the coast of Maine the United States. The name may also refer to:*Thomaston , Maine, a census-designated place comprising the center of the town*South Thomaston, Maine, an adjacent town...
). His detachment reached there on 9 September but was caught in an ambush and had to withdraw. They then went on to raid Friendship, Maine
Friendship, Maine
Friendship is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, 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 (1758)
Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign (1758)
The Gulf of St. Lawrence Campaign occurred during the French and Indian War when British forces raided villages along present-day New Brunswick and the Gaspé Peninsula coast of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Sir Charles Hardy and Brigadier-General James Wolfe were in command of the naval and...
looking unsuccessfully for Acadians, but destroying anything he found. This included burning the first stone church built in New Brunswick (at the site of the present-day community of Burnt Church
Burnt Church First Nation
Burnt Church Band or Burnt Church First Nation is a Mi'kmaq First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada, centred south of the community of Lagacéville and southwest of the village of Neguac on Miramichi Bay...
). Murray didn't sail as far west as Beaubear's Island.
Most of the surviving Beaubear's Island refugees soon left the Miramichi, seeking refuge in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Some Acadians, however, remained and escaped British attempts at deportation. They eventually established (or re-established) a host of small Acadian communities along the northern and eastern coasts of present-day New Brunswick.
Scottish, Loyalist and Irish immigration (1765-1850)
The French were defeated at QuebecQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
(1759) and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(1760), and the remaining Miramichi settlement was subsequently burned to the ground by British Commodore John Byron
John Byron
Vice Admiral The Hon. John Byron, RN was a Royal Navy officer. He was known as Foul-weather Jack because of his frequent bad luck with weather.-Early career:...
(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
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
. The Miramichi thus became a part of the British colony of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and later 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...
. 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
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
peoples, credit for the first permanent white settlement at Miramichi is often granted to Scottish settlers, led by William Davidson
William Davidson (lumberman)
William Davidson was a Scottish-Canadian lumber merchant, shipbuilder and politician. He was the first permanent European settler on the Miramichi River in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick.- Arrival in the New World :...
. 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
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
as a new home to potential settlers.
Battle at Miramichi (1779)
In the beginning of the American Revolution the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet were supportive of the Americans against the British. They participated in the Maugerville Rebellion
Maugerville, New Brunswick
Maugerville is a community in Sunbury County in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. In 1759, members of the Perley Colony, land-seekers from present-day Maine, settled in the area...
and the Battle of Fort Cumberland
Battle of Fort Cumberland
The Battle of Fort Cumberland was an attempt by a small number of militia commanded by Jonathan Eddy to bring the American Revolutionary War to Nova Scotia in late 1776...
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 the 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 the British Crown on 28 July 1779.
After the battle, Davidson temporarily found refuge along the St. John River. A subsequent treaty signed 22 September 1779 ensured a more peaceful coexistence. Following the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
some loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
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 the 1840s, the Great Irish Famine led to the last large influx of settlers, mostly settling on the south side of the river in the former town of Chatham. By this time, the best lands were already occupied by earlier Scottish, Loyalist and Acadian immigrants.
Industry and politics (1765-1850)
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
fishery were the mainstays. A shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
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
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and American independence, as Britain became dependent on its remaining North American colonies, including New Brunswick, for lumber. However, the Great Miramichi Fire
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...
of 1825, the advent of steel-hulled ships, and perhaps over-cutting of eastern white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply 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 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
Joseph Cunard
Joseph Cunard was a merchant, shipbuilder and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1828 to 1833....
of Chatham, brother of Samuel Cunard
Samuel Cunard
Sir Samuel Cunard, 1st Baronet was a British shipping magnate, born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, who founded the Cunard Line...
) and John Ambrose Street
John Ambrose Street
John Ambrose Street was a lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1833 to 1842 and from 1843 to 1856....
of Newcastle (backed by the prominent lumber baron, Alexander Rankin
Alexander Rankin
Alexander Rankin was a Scottish-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1827 to 1852....
of Douglastown). The Rankin and Cunard factions literally fought the election in the streets of Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
and Chatham
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
with sticks, stones, coal and other missiles.
The age of rail (1875-1950)
In 1875 the region's largest construction project in history was completed when the federal government's Intercolonial Railway (ICR) opened between Moncton and CampbelltonCampbellton, 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...
. The following year it would link Halifax with Rivière-du-Loup and the Canadian railway network. One of the biggest geographic obstacles presented in the project was the crossing of the Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
. Surveyors deemed the ideal location for bridging to be at the upper reaches of tidewater between Nelson and Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
, crossing the Southwest Miramichi
Southwest Miramichi River
The Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
, then a short section of land at Derby, followed by the Northwest Miramichi
Northwest Miramichi River
The Northwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq referred to the river as Elmunokun, possibly meaning "a beaver hole" in reference to a deep pool in the river, just below the mouth of the Big Sevogle River, its largest tributary.The Northwest Miramichi River has its...
. The combined length of these bridges would be among the largest constructed to date in Canada (surpassed only by the Victoria Bridge in Montreal) and were the first bridges over the Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
, 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
Canada Eastern Railway
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
was built to link Chatham
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
with Fredericton, along the length of the Southwest Miramichi River
Southwest Miramichi River
The Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
valley. In 1904, the Canada Eastern was purchased by the ICR. In 1915, the ICR became part of Canadian Government Railways
Canadian Government Railways
Canadian Government Railways was the legal name used between 1915–1918 for all federal government-owned railways in Canada.The principal component companies were: the Intercolonial Railway of Canada , the National Transcontinental Railway , the Prince Edward Island Railway , and the Hudson...
and 3 years later in 1918 it became part of the Canadian National Railways (CNR).
Ocean (passenger train)
The Ocean is a Canadian passenger train operated by Via Rail between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is currently the oldest continuously-operated named passenger train in North America. The Oceans schedule takes approximately 21 hours, running overnight in both directions...
, along with various local trains to Fredericton, Moncton and Campbellton. The Dungarvon Whooper
Dungarvon Whooper
The Dungarvon Whooper is a ghost story, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan , about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River in central New Brunswick, Canada....
provided passenger service along the Canada Eastern Railway
Canada Eastern Railway
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
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.
20th century industry and politics
As the shipbuilding, masting and lumber industries waned, pulp and paperPulp 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...
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
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and subsequently from all parts of the world. In the mid 20th century, an air force base, CFB Chatham
CFB Chatham
Canadian Forces Base Chatham or CFB Chatham was a Canadian Forces Base located immediately south of the town of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada. Parts are now operating as Miramichi Municipal Airport since 1974 with a partial runway available .From 1970 until 1985 Chatham had a Base Rescue Flight...
, became the cornerstone of Chatham's economy. The discovery of base metal deposits 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 airforce base had both closed by 1999 as the mine's ore body was depleted, and with the collapse of the cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The forest industry is 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
Frank McKenna
Francis Joseph "Frank" McKenna, PC, OC, ONB, QC is a Canadian businessman and former politician and diplomat. He is currently Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank. He served as Canadian Ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2006...
(the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
for Chatham) developed and implemented 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 to the strong identities that each of the communities possessed. The 1995 amalgamation of the communities served to limit this rivalry, giving the region a larger and more united voice in promoting the region.
Demographics
| Census | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham | Newcastle | |
| 1871 | 3,000 | 1,500 |
| 1901 | 4,868 | 2,507 |
| 1911 | 4,666 | 2,945 |
| 1921 | 4,506 | 3,507 |
| 1931 | 4,017 | 3,383 |
| 1941 | 4,082 | 3,781 |
| 1951 | 5,223 | 4,248 |
| 1961 | 7,109 | 5,236 |
| 1971 | 7,833 | 6,460 |
| 1981 | 6,779 | 6,284 |
| 1991 | 6,544 | 5,711 |
| Miramichi | ||
| 2001 | 18,508 | |
| 2006 | 18,129 | |
Population trend
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 18,129 | 2.0% |
| 2001 | 18,508 | 3.8% |
| 1996 | 19,241 | 9.1% |
| 1991 | 21,165 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 15,935 | 89.25% |
| French only | 1,470 | 8.23% |
| Other languages | 330 | 1.85% |
| Both English and French | 120 | 0.67% |
According to the Statistics Canada 2001 census, there were 18,508 people residing in Miramichi. 48.1% of residents were male and 51.9% were female.
Children under five accounted for approximately 5.0% of the resident population. This compares with 5.6% for Canada
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...
overall. In mid-2001, 15.5% of the resident population of Miramichi were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females) compared with 13.2% in Canada. The median age was 39.9 years of age, comparing to 37.6 years of age nationally.
In 2001, 97.6% of the population were born in Canada; 89.4% claimed "English only" as the "language(s) first learned and still understood", whereas 8.8% indicated French, and 0.7% indicated "both English and French". The population was 61.8% Roman Catholic, and 33.3% Protestant. 3.8% reported no religious affiliation.
- Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census
Climate
Miramichi enjoys a cool, moist climate with a mean annual temperature of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F). The January mean temperature is -10.7 C, and the mean July temperature is 19.2 °C (66.6 °F). Proximity to the Gulf of St. Lawrence tends to moderate the winter climate, but Arctic air sometimes penetrates into the area during winter. The coldest recorded temperature is -35 C (2 February 1962). Summers are warm and sunny; the warmest recorded temperature is 37.8 °C (100 °F) (August 12, 1944). The city averages about 1115 mm (43.9 in) of precipitation per year, with about 310.1 cm (122.1 in) falling as snow. Miramichi winters are sunnier than almost anywhere else in Canada, averaging 120 hours of bright sunshine in January. Miramichi averages 250.5 hours of bright sunshine in July.Economy
The Miramichi area’s economy is primarily focused on forests, mining and fishing. Other sectors include: tourism, customer contact centres, manufacturing and provincial and federal government. The service sector is the largest employer. The region has recently experienced the closure of several wood mills causing many residents to migrate west.Transportation
RoadsNew Brunswick Route 8
Route 8 is an important highway link between northern and southern New Brunswick, Canada. 255 kilometres long, it runs from Fredericton to Bathurst via Miramichi.-Route description:...
(west to Fredericton; north to 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....
and 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...
) and 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....
(south to Moncton, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
). The Plaster Rock – Renous highway (Route 108
New Brunswick Route 108
Route 108 is a highway in New Brunswick, Canada; running from Trans-Canada Highway exit 75 near Grand Falls to Route 8 exit 163 at Derby Junction ; a distance of 202.9 kilometres.- Routing :...
) offers the quickest connection to major centres in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, and points west.
For years, the only bridge at Miramichi was a narrow, historic crossing, the Morrissy Bridge
Morrissy Bridge
The Morrissy Bridge is a steel truss bridge crossing the Miramichi River at Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.Although construction of the bridge began in 1913, the bridge was completed and opened in November 1914. Named after Hon...
, at Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
. Ferry service facilitated crossings at Chatham and Loggieville. In the late 1960s the Centennial Bridge
Centennial Bridge (New Brunswick)
Centennial Bridge is an arch truss bridge crossing the Miramichi River in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. The bridge is 1.1 km long, and carries New Brunswick Route 11 over the river, connecting Douglastown on the north bank with Chatham on the south bank; both communities were...
was completed at Chatham, greatly improving north-south transit across the river. The Miramichi Bridge
Miramichi Bridge
The Miramichi Bridge is a bridge crossing the Miramichi River at Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada.It opened to traffic in 1995 as part of the Route 117 Chatham bypass project...
at Newcastle opened in the late 1990s.
Water
The towns of Chatham
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
and Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
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
Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
. Ocean-going ships entering the port must have a shallow draft, and must navigate the ancient, meandering course of the drowned Miramichi River channel through the inner Bay.
Rail
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...
(NBECR), formerly part of the Canadian National (CN) Railway mainline, and the earlier Intercolonial Railway passes through Miramichi. Supplementing NBECR's freight capacity, Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
offers passenger service on this line at the Miramichi railway station
Miramichi railway station
The Miramichi railway station is located at 251 Station Street in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. Miramichi is served by Via Rail's Montreal-Halifax train, the Ocean...
via the Ocean train to Montreal and Halifax.
Air
Miramichi is located within a 90 minute drive of two international airports (Fredericton International Airport, Greater Moncton International Airport
Greater Moncton International Airport
Greater Moncton International Airport or Moncton/Greater Moncton International Airport is located in the city of Dieppe east northeast of downtown Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada...
) with scheduled domestic and international flights. In addition the Miramichi Airport Commission operates the Miramichi Airport
Miramichi Airport
----Miramichi Airport is located south of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.The runway is and is maintained year-round. It has a pavement overlay , new approach lights and a new taxiway. The airport is the home base of the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Air Tanker Operations, and...
(YCH) on the former site of CFB Chatham
CFB Chatham
Canadian Forces Base Chatham or CFB Chatham was a Canadian Forces Base located immediately south of the town of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada. Parts are now operating as Miramichi Municipal Airport since 1974 with a partial runway available .From 1970 until 1985 Chatham had a Base Rescue Flight...
.
Roots
As in other regions of the MaritimesMaritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
, Miramichi culture is firmly grounded in the Mi'kmaq, Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
, Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
, and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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
Push and Be Damned Rapids
"Push and Be Damned Rapids" is the evocative name for rapids on the Southwest Miramichi River, one of the many tributaries of the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada, near the village of Juniper....
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
David Adams Richards
David Adams Richards, CM, ONB is a Canadian novelist, essayist, screenwriter and poet.Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Richards left St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, three credits shy of completing a B.A.. Richards has been a writer-in-residence at various universities and...
, the tales and folklore of Herb Curtis
Herb Curtis
Herb Curtis is a Canadian novelist and humourist who writes about and has long lived in New Brunswick. He is best known for writing the Brennen Siding Trilogy, three connected novels set in the fictional community of Brennen Siding, New Brunswick...
, and the fiction and non-fiction of Chatham-born writer Raymond Fraser
Raymond Fraser
Raymond Fraser is a Canadian author.Born in Chatham, New Brunswick, Fraser attended St Thomas University where in his freshman year he played on the varsity hockey and football teams, and in his junior year was co-editor with John Brebner of the student literary magazine Tom-Tom...
. Local young adult author Valerie Sherrard
Valerie Sherrard
Valerie Sherrard is a Canadian author of books for children and young adults including the multi award winning novel The Glory Wind, Kate, Speechless, and the Shelby Belgarden mystery series....
's first historical novel, Three Million Acres of Flame, deals with the 1825 Miramichi Fire
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...
, one of the largest recorded land fires in North American history.
Festivals
Local festivals which celebrate Miramichi culture, and the ancestral roots of the original settlers include:- Miramichi Folk Song Festival
- Annual Pow-wows hosted on the nearby Eel Ground First NationEel Ground First NationThe Eel Ground Band or Eel Ground First Nation is a Mi'kmaq First Nations community of about 800 people located on the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick, Canada...
and Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation - La Fête nationale des Acadiens—Acadian Day
- Miramichi Scottish Festival
- Canada's Irish Festival on the Miramichi
- Miramichi Fiddle Festival
Other local festivals include:
- Canada Days Festival
- Miramichi Rock 'n Roll Festival
- Miramichi Salmon Classic
- Miramichi Exhibition
- Miramichi Valley High School Hockey Fall Classic
Proper diction
Miramichiers speak English, though some residents exhibit a vernacular, seemingly a derivative of Maritime EnglishMaritimer English
Canadian Maritime English or Maritimer English is a dialect of English spoken in the Maritime provinces of Canada. Quirks include the removal of pre-consonantal sounds, and a faster speech tempo...
, not readily understood by outsiders. A small part of this language has been captured in Herb Curtis
Herb Curtis
Herb Curtis is a Canadian novelist and humourist who writes about and has long lived in New Brunswick. He is best known for writing the Brennen Siding Trilogy, three connected novels set in the fictional community of Brennen Siding, New Brunswick...
' 1991 book, Look What the Cat Drug In: A Miramichi Dictionary and Doug Underhill's 1996 City of Miramichi: An Interpretive Guide.
Recreation
The city offers a full range of summer and winter sports programs and facilities, including recreation centres, swimming pools, a golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course, and rinks for skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
, curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
. The city, however, is best known as a haven for outdoor sport enthusiasts. The river offers gently meandering, and challenging whitewater opportunities for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
and kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
, and superb angling for Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
and brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
. About one-half of the sport catch of Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
are landed on the Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
and its tributaries. The warm waters of Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay
Miramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
offer an ideal setting for sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
enthusiasts during summer. The snowy winters are welcomed by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. An extensive network of trails is available for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, birding, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, and snowmobiling.
Sports Teams
Miramichi is home to numerous sports teams The city has 2 hockey teams, the Miramichi TimberwolvesMiramichi Timberwolves
The Miramichi Timberwolves are a Junior "A" hockey team based out of Miramichi, New Brunswick. They play in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. The team was founded in 2000 and plays their home games at the Miramichi Civic Centre.- History :...
of the
Maritime Junior Hockey League. The team plays out of the Miramichi Civic Centre. The other team, th Miramichi Phantoms who play out of the Lord Beaverbrook Arena. The city's baseball team, the Chatham Ironmen play in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League
New Brunswick Senior Baseball League
The New Brunswick Senior Baseball League is the highest level of amateur baseball play in New Brunswick, Canada. The Fredericton Royals are the reigning league champions, and will represent New Brunswick at the 2009 Canadian Senior Baseball Championship in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
at Ironmen Feild. They are the winners of the 1995 Canadian Senior Baseball Nationals.
Education
Miramichi is served by 11 public schools operated by the New Brunswick Department of Education. Post-secondary education, including a distance education component from the University of New BrunswickUniversity of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, is offered primarily through the Miramichi campus of New Brunswick Community College
New Brunswick Community College
The New Brunswick Community College is a community college. The enabling legislation is the New Brunswick Community Colleges Act ..-Campus:There are campuses in:#Miramichi,#Moncton,#Saint John,#St...
.
Public schools
New Brunswick School District 11
New Brunswick School District 11
District scolaire 11 is a Canadian school district in New Brunswick.District 11 is a Francophone district operating 21 public schools in Northumberland, Kent and Westmorland counties....
(French):
- École Carrefour Beausoleil (K-12)
New Brunswick School District 16
New Brunswick School District 16
School District 16 is a Canadian school district in New Brunswick.District 16 is an Anglophone district operating 21 public schools in Northumberland and Kent Counties.Current enrollment is approximately 6,500 students and 440 teachers...
(English):
- High Schools:
- James M. Hill Memorial High SchoolJames M. Hill Memorial High SchoolJames M. Hill Memorial High School is one of two public, English language high schools in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. It serves principally students from the south side of the Miramichi River, from the smaller communities of Chatham, Loggieville, Taintville, Chatham Head, Nelson,...
- Miramichi Valley High SchoolMiramichi Valley High SchoolMiramichi Valley High School is one of two public, English language high schools in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. It serves principally residents from the north side of the Miramichi River, both from the city of Miramichi, and smaller communities distributed from Tabusintac in the...
- James M. Hill Memorial High School
- Middle Schools:
- Dr. Losier Middle School
- Harkins Middle School
- Millerton Elementary & Junior High School
- Elementary Schools:
- Croft Elementary School
- Gretna Green Elementary School
- Harkins Elementary School
- Ian Baillie Primary School
- Nelson Rural School
- St. Andrew’s Elementary School
- Napan Elementary School
- Millerton Elementary & Junior High School
Private schools
- Karasek School Of Dance
- L.F.M. Memorial AcademyL.F.M. Memorial AcademyL.F.M. Memorial Academy was a private Christian academy located in Miramichi, New Brunswick. It began in September 1999, under the name Ridgeway North Private Christian School....
- Miramichi Taekwondo Academy
Post-secondary
- Public:
- New Brunswick Community CollegeNew Brunswick Community CollegeThe New Brunswick Community College is a community college. The enabling legislation is the New Brunswick Community Colleges Act ..-Campus:There are campuses in:#Miramichi,#Moncton,#Saint John,#St...
, Miramichi Campus
- New Brunswick Community College
- Private:
- Academy of Learning Career and Business College
Prominent citizens, past and present
- Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Business tycoon, politician, writer and philanthropist
- Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, 11th Prime Minister of Canada
- Matilda Murdoch, O.N.B, C.M., legendary fiddle player, composer, teacher - Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and Order of New BrunswickOrder of New BrunswickThe Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended... - Susan Butler, Folk singer and recipient of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
- Martin CranneyMartin CranneyMartin Cranney was an Irish-born New Brunswick politician. He was a resident of Chatham, New Brunswick and represented Northumberland County in the 14th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly from 1847 to 1850....
Pioneer Irish leader on the Miramichi - Joseph CunardJoseph CunardJoseph Cunard was a merchant, shipbuilder and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1828 to 1833....
, Politician, shipbuilder and businessman. Former MLA. Brother of Samuel CunardSamuel CunardSir Samuel Cunard, 1st Baronet was a British shipping magnate, born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, who founded the Cunard Line... - William DavidsonWilliam Davidson (lumberman)William Davidson was a Scottish-Canadian lumber merchant, shipbuilder and politician. He was the first permanent European settler on the Miramichi River in the Canadian Province of New Brunswick.- Arrival in the New World :...
, Pioneer, businessman, shipbuilder, politician. MLA. - Richard Denys, Pioneer fur-trader, son of Nicolas DenysNicolas Denys.Nicolas Denys was a French aristocrat who became an explorer, colonizer, soldier and leader in New France. Today, he is perhaps best known for founding settlements at St. Pierre , Ste...
(fur-trader) - Yvon DurelleYvon DurelleYvon Durelle , born in Baie-Ste-Anne, New Brunswick, Canada, was a French Canadian champion boxer.-Early life and career:...
, British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
champion boxer - Frances FishFrances FishFrances Lilian Fish, Q.C. , the daughter of Charles Elijah Fish, was the first female law school graduate and lawyer in Nova Scotia, the first woman to run for office in the New Brunswick legislature, and a prominent lawyer in Newcastle, New Brunswick.Fish, a B.A. graduate of University of New...
, lawyer, politician - George P. BurchillGeorge Percival BurchillGeorge Percival Burchill was a lumber merchant and political figure. He sat for Northumberland-Miramichi division in the Senate of Canada from 1945 to 1977 as a Liberal....
, Shipbuilding and lumber operations, Senator of Canada 1945-1977 - Raymond FraserRaymond FraserRaymond Fraser is a Canadian author.Born in Chatham, New Brunswick, Fraser attended St Thomas University where in his freshman year he played on the varsity hockey and football teams, and in his junior year was co-editor with John Brebner of the student literary magazine Tom-Tom...
, Author and poet - James Gilmour (Miramichi lumber baron)James Gilmour (Miramichi lumber baron)James Gilmour was a prominent Scottish-born entrepreneur, farmer, school trustee, justice of the peace, militia officer, and co-founder of both Douglastown, New Brunswick, and Gilmour, Rankin & Co....
- Richard HutchisonRichard HutchisonRichard Hutchison was a New Brunswick businessman and political figure. He represented Northumberland in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1868 to 1872....
, Politician and businessman. Former MLA, MP. - W.S. LoggieW.S. LoggieWilliam Stewart Loggie was a merchant and politician of the town of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada.Born in Burnt Church, New Brunswick, Loggie, a dynamic man, built a small empire throughout the Miramichi River area. He bought fish directly from the fishermen, and packed and exported it...
, Politician and businessman. Former MLA, MP. - Louise MannyLouise MannyLouise Elizabeth Manny was a New Brunswick folklorist and historian. She was born in Gilead, Maine but her family moved to New Brunswick when she was three...
, Folklorist and historian - Frank McKennaFrank McKennaFrancis Joseph "Frank" McKenna, PC, OC, ONB, QC is a Canadian businessman and former politician and diplomat. He is currently Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank. He served as Canadian Ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2006...
, Businessman and politician. 27th Premier of NB, former Ambassador to the US - George Roy McWilliamGeorge Roy McWilliamGeorge Roy McWilliam was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Northumberland—Miramichi in New Brunswick from 1949 until 1968...
longtime Member of Parliament. - Peter MitchellPeter Mitchell (politician)Peter Mitchell, PC was a Canadian politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation.Mitchell ran again in 1856 as an opponent of prohibition, which had been proposed by the government. He carried a pistol for protection during the campaign and rum for his supporters. He was successful in this...
, Politician, Father of Confederation. Former Premier of NB (as a British Province) and MP. - Joseph Leonard O'BrienJoseph Leonard O'BrienJoseph Leonard O'Brien was a Canadian politician. Born in South Nelson, New Brunswick, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1925 to 1930 and was Speaker of the Assembly...
, Politician and businessman. Former Lieutenant-Governor, MLA, MP of NB. - Alexander RankinAlexander RankinAlexander Rankin was a Scottish-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1827 to 1852....
, Politician and businessman. Former MLA. - David Adams RichardsDavid Adams RichardsDavid Adams Richards, CM, ONB is a Canadian novelist, essayist, screenwriter and poet.Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Richards left St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, three credits shy of completing a B.A.. Richards has been a writer-in-residence at various universities and...
, Award winning writer - James Rogers (bishop)James Rogers (bishop)James Rogers was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and the 1st Bishop of Chatham, New Brunswick from 1860 to 1902.Rogers was born in Mount Charles, Ireland and emigrated with his family to Canada in 1831...
- Joseph Russell (shipbuilder)Joseph Russell (shipbuilder)Joseph Russell was a Scottish-born businessman and shipbuilder in New Brunswick.He was born in Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, the son of Thomas Russell. He joined the Royal Navy at a young age. In 1819, he married Ann Agnes Hunter at Chatham, New Brunswick. Russell owned a number of buildings in...
- Brent Sherrard, author
- Valerie SherrardValerie SherrardValerie Sherrard is a Canadian author of books for children and young adults including the multi award winning novel The Glory Wind, Kate, Speechless, and the Shelby Belgarden mystery series....
, Award winning author - Jabez Bunting SnowballJabez Bunting SnowballJabez Bunting Snowball was a businessman, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Canada, and politician from the Town of Chatham, New Brunswick...
, Politician and businessman. Former Lieutenant-Governor, MP of NB. - John Ambrose StreetJohn Ambrose StreetJohn Ambrose Street was a lawyer and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1833 to 1842 and from 1843 to 1856....
, Lawyer and politician. MLA, Attorney General. - Lemuel John TweedieLemuel John TweedieLemuel John Tweedie was a politician from Chatham, New Brunswick.His law partner in Chatham for a time was Richard Bedford Bennett, later Prime Minister of Canada and Max Aitken for a time was his office boy....
, Politician and Lawyer, Former Premier and Lieutenant-Governor of NB. - Michael WhelanMichael Whelan (poet)Michael Whelan, "the Poet of Renous", was born in 1858 in Renous, New Brunswick. He worked as a school teacher, and as a book-keeper for a local mill. He is, however, best known for his poetry celebrating the Miramichi, including the famous Dungarvon Whooper. He died at Chatham, New Brunswick in...
, Poet
Miramichi River
The Miramichi RiverMiramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
is the centre of all activity. The communities that compose the city line its banks.
Beaubears Island
Beaubears IslandBeaubears Island
Beaubears Island is an island at 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...
, located in the middle of the Miramichi River between Newcastle and Nelson-Miramichi, is home to two National Historic Sites, Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial. The island is recognized for its role in the Acadian Expulsion
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...
, and as the former home of a major shipbuilding industry.
Enclosure Campground
Also known as Wilson's point, this location marks the area of Miramichi that was first developed by settlers. It, along with Beaubear's Island, was involved in the Acadian Expulsion. It now serves as a campground and contains kilometres of walking trails.French Fort Cove
French Fort CoveFrench Fort Cove
The French Fort Cove is a nature park located in Miramichi, New Brunswick, between Newcastle and Nordin-Miramichi, which contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, ice-cream shop and holds many events and activities during the summer...
is a nature park located between Newcastle and Nordin. The park contains regular and advanced walking trails, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, and an ice-cream shop. The park holds many events and activities during the summer.
It is the former site of a gristmill, lumbermill and shipyard. It is also the former location of a rock quarry which was used to build many local buildings and the Langevin Block
Langevin Block
The Langevin Block is an office building facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. As the home of the Privy Council Office and Office of the Prime Minister, it is the working headquarters of the executive branch of the Canadian government...
of the Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
, among others.
It is the setting for the local legend of the Headless Nun
Headless Nun
The Headless Nun is a legendary ghost story related to French Fort Cove in Nordin, now the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick.-Legend:According to the tale that dates back to the mid 1700s, the Headless Nun was an 18th century resident of the area named Sister Marie Inconnue who was subsequently...
.
Middle Island
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
and scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
spread throughout the ship Looshtauk as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 462 passengers on board, at least 146 people died en route and 96 died while in quarantine. Initially those who died on the island were buried in caskets, but as the death toll continued to rise personal resting places could no longer be an option. This resulted in large mass graves being placed on the island. Some of these graves were discovered as recently as 1996.
Many people are able to trace their family roots back to the journey taken by the Looshtauk.
The island now serves as a tourist location and memorial.
Rankin House
Alexander RankinAlexander Rankin
Alexander Rankin was a Scottish-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1827 to 1852....
and James Gilmour
James Gilmour (Miramichi lumber baron)
James Gilmour was a prominent Scottish-born entrepreneur, farmer, school trustee, justice of the peace, militia officer, and co-founder of both Douglastown, New Brunswick, and Gilmour, Rankin & Co....
came to the area in 1812 to establish a lumber and shipbuilding enterprise (Gilmour, Rankin & Co.) at Douglastown (then known as Gretna Green). Rankin House was constructed in 1837 as the home of Alexander Rankin.
Rankin House is now a museum containing a collection of objects relating to early life in New Brunswick. It is located in Douglastown on the King George Highway.
Miramichi Natural History Museum
The Miramichi Natural History Museum (c. 1908 to 1909) is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.Ritchie Wharf
Ritchie Wharf is a park located on the waterfront of Newcastle-Miramichi. It is the location of many events that take place on the river, and is often the location of choice for local musicians.Its boardwalk is lined with restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir shops, and it is also the location of a tourist information centre. In addition, there is a children's playground with a small water park.
Marine (Seamen's) Hospital
Shopping
Miramichi is home to 2 downtown shopping districts; The Historic Downtown Chatham and Downtown Newcastle shopping districts each have numerous boutiques. The main shopping district is in the former town of DouglastownDouglastown, New Brunswick
Douglastown is a Canadian suburban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation on January 1, 1995, Douglastown was an incorporated village in Northumberland County....
. The shopping district includes a large enclosed shopping mall, multiple strip malls and numerous other stores and businesses. It is anchored by; Walmart Canada, Zellers
Zellers
Zellers Inc. is Canada's second-largest chain of mass merchandise discount stores, with locations in communities across Canada. A subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company , it has 273 locations across the country....
, Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of Canada's 60 largest publicly traded companies. The firm operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing hardgoods, apparel and petroleum as well as financial and automotive services, employing more than 58,000 people across Canada...
, Hart Stores
Hart Stores
Hart Stores Inc. is a junior mid-sized discount department store dominant in the region of Eastern Canada. It was founded in 1960 by Harry Hart, in Rosemère, Quebec. Hart stores are based in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario...
, Sobeys
Sobeys
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all ten provinces and accumulated sales of more than $14 billion CAD in 2009...
, Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
, Sport Chek
Sport Chek
Sport Chek is the largest Canadian retailers of sporting clothing, sports equipment and equipment destroy, with stores across Canada...
and Staples Business Depot
Staples Business Depot
Staples is a Canadian office supply retail chain, part of the United States-based office supply company Staples Inc...
.
Twin city
- Monaghan
MonaghanMonaghan is the county town of County Monaghan in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 . The town is located on the main road, the N2 road, from Dublin north to both Derry and Letterkenny.-Toponym:...
, Ireland. In 1999 Miramichi was twinned with the County MonaghanCounty MonaghanCounty Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
in IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Monaghan, a county of some 55,000 people, is located in the north-east of the Republic of Ireland on the border with Northern Ireland. This link denotes the strong ancestral bonds between Ireland and New Brunswick and Canada generally. Each year delegations from Monaghan and Miramichi exchange visits.
See also
Founding communities:- Nelson
- ChathamChatham, New BrunswickChatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
- DouglastownDouglastown, New BrunswickDouglastown is a Canadian suburban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation on January 1, 1995, Douglastown was an incorporated village in Northumberland County....
- Loggieville
- NewcastleNewcastle, New BrunswickNewcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
Other:
- Maritime historyMaritimesThe Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
- List of communities in New Brunswick
External links
- The City of Miramichi's Official Website
- Beaubear's Island
- French Fort Cove
- Historic Middle Island
- Miramichi Landings