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Aerial View of Fredericton
Photo Courtesy of the New
Brunswick Government
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Without its beauty, its rich resources and the realization of agricultural
potential from the first Acadian and Loyalist settlers, the area of Canada
now called Fredericton
would not have developed into a city with a vast myriad of culture, natural
wonders and rich history.
Located in the southwestern centre of New
Brunswick, it serves as the capital city, and therefore has become an
integral part of the history of Canada's Maritime
provinces. Fredericton is known as the only official bilingual province
in Canada, a tradition which started with the early Acadian settlers. The Acadian
and Loyalist culture continues on in Fredericton through language, festivals,
architecture and cuisine.
Fredericton has an abundance of lakes
and rivers,
including the majestic St.
John River, and its wealth of parks,
vegetation and wooded areas make Fredericton worthy of its title, the City of
Stately Elms.
HISTORY
Fredericton's origin is due to a plentiful river and fertile floodplain, which
enticed early settlers with the promise of prosperous crops. Today, St. John
River, known as the longest waterway on the Eastern Seaboard between the St.
Lawrence River and the Gulf of Mexico, runs directly through the city's
core. Fredericton, once known as Ste. Anne's Point, attracted many early Maliseet
and Mi'kmaq Indians to fish, hunt and grow crops along the fertile river plains.
Years later, in 1732, Ste. Anne's Point, was settled by French Acadians, a group
of people of French ancestry that came to this area to flee from British forces
that swept through Nova Scotia.
They prospered in this area, learning many skills and keeping peaceful relations
with the Mi'kmaq Indians. They were ceded from France to Britain and forced
to take a pledge of allegiance to the British Crown in 1754. When most Acadians
refused to swear the oath, they were deported from the area, but many were able
to return in the late 18th century to impart their legacy and culture which
remains today.
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Old
Government House
Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government |
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After the American Revolution, in the year 1783, approximately 2000 Loyalists,
a group of Americans loyal to the British Crown, settled at Ste. Anne's Point,
in a small area where the Old
Government House stands today. Many of the early Loyalists perished
due to the cold and snowy maritime conditions, but the Loyalists who did survive
that first long winter are celebrated as the establishers of the City of Fredericton.
These surviving Loyalists wasted no time in petitioning the government to make
the area north of the Bay
of Fundy a separate province from Nova Scotia and they were successful.
In 1784, the province of New Brunswick was born and Loyalist Thomas Carleton
became the first governor of New Brunswick. The year 1983 marked the 200th anniversary
of the first Loyalist landing in Fredericton and a monument stands in their
honour in the Old
Burial Ground on Brunswick Street.
In 1785, the settled area known as Ste. Anne's Point was crowned "Fredericstown",
named after Prince Frederick, the son of King George III. Shortly after, Fredericstown
was named the provincial capital because of its inland location on the St. John's
River and its name was shortened to Fredericton. Queen Victoria proclaimed Fredericton
a Cathedral City in the year 1845, and thus began the construction of the Christ
Church Cathedral. A few years later, the city was officially incorporated
by an act of the provincial legislature on March 30, 1848. The year 1973 marked
the 125th anniversary of its incorporation and Fredericton amalgamated many
of its surrounding communities, thereby doubling in area and population, which
has grown today to number nearly 50,000.
ECONOMY
Because Fredericton is located inland from the Atlantic Ocean, its early economy
consisted of fresh water fishing and agriculture. Dairy farming, poultry, fruit
and potato crops remain a mainstay for the economy of Fredericton today. More
recently, forestry has become one of the economic staples of Fredericton, with
pulp production and solid wood products being a major contributor to the local
economy. Mining has played a large part in New Brunswick as a whole, with Fredericton
playing a small role with its mining of minerals such as gold, potash and silver.
Tourism
continues to be a major economy source because of Fredericton's historical attractions,
and architectural and natural beauty.
CLIMATE
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|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Rainfall |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
-14°C
(7°F) |
-4°C
(25°F) |
86
mm |
| Feb |
-13°C
(9°F) |
-2°C
(28°C) |
74
mm |
| Mar
|
-7°C
(19°F) |
3°C
(37°F) |
80
mm |
| Apr |
0°C
(32°F) |
9°C
(48°F) |
79
mm |
| May
|
4°C
(39°F) |
17°C
(63°F) |
97
mm |
| Jun
|
10°C
(50°F) |
23°C
(73°F) |
87
mm |
| Jul |
13°C
(55°F) |
25°C
(77°F) |
84
mm |
|
Aug |
12°C
(54°F) |
24°C
(75°F) |
94
mm |
|
Sep |
8°C
(46°F) |
19°C
(66°F) |
93
mm |
|
Oct |
3°C
(37°F) |
13°C
(55°F) |
93
mm |
|
Nov |
-2°C
(28°F) |
6°C
(43°F) |
112
mm |
|
Dec |
-10°C
(14°F) |
-1°C
(30°F) |
114
mm |
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Average
Daily Temperatures and Climate Data for Fredericton |
Although Fredericton is situated in a maritime climate, its proximity inland
on the island of New Brunswick generates both continental and maritime climate
characteristics. In summer, hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico creates warm
air masses. However, when combined with moist Atlantic air, the result is mild
winters and periods of cool weather in the summer months. New Brunswick is typically
the snowiest of the three Maritime provinces with Fredericton receiving an average
of 200 cm to 300 cm (80 in to 120 in) of snow annually and an average of 34
hours of rain and freezing rain a year. The St. John River has a history of
flooding dating back to the early settlers. The worst flooding occurred in 1973
along the Fredericton area, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and
cleanup.
TRANSPORTATION
Fredericton is located on the Trans
Canada Highway, a major roadway which connects all 10 Canadian provinces.
Fredericton is approximately a one-hour drive from coastal city Saint
John, which has direct sea access to Europe and the United
States as well as a three-hour ferry
service, which runs daily from Saint John to Digby,
Nova Scotia. Fredericton is within a day's drive from such major cities as Toronto
(1,373 km or 858 mi), New York
(1,009 km or 631 mi) and Halifax
(415 km or 259 mi). The newly constructed Fredericton-Moncton
highway, opened in 2001, was one of the largest highway construction endeavors
in New Brunswick history stretching 195 km (122 mi) city-to-city. In addition,
Fredericton is located within a one-hour drive from Interstate 95, a major north-south
highway in the United States.
For those who prefer to fly, New Brunswick's business airport
is located minutes from downtown Fredericton and serves more business travellers
than any other airport in New Brunswick with daily direct flights to Boston,
Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa
and Montreal.
There are a variety of long-distance motorcoach
travel options, connecting Fredericton with Canada and the United States. While
in Fredericton, visitors may choose from the public
transit service, which runs six days a week or numerous taxi
companies, which operate on a zone system. Both are affordable ways to journey
to accommodation
destinations or explore Fredericton's many attractions
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FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
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New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame
Photo Courtesy of
the New Brunswick Government
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Historic Garrison District
Designated as a National and Provincial Historic Site, the Historic
Garrison District consists of a two-block area in downtown Fredericton
directly alongside the St. John River. Once the stationed site for British troops
and colonial civilization, it is now known as the heart of Fredericton with
a mix of historic buildings and modern culture. It is formed by several attractions
such as The
Justice Building, the New
Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the Soldiers'
Barracks and Artisan Studios, The
Guard House, the Militia
Arms Store, Fredericton
Public Library, New
Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, York-Sunbury
Historical Society Museum and Officer's
Square. The Historic Garrison District, set behind a wrought iron and
stone fence, hosts many of Fredericton's festivals, events and ceremonies such
as the popular Changing
of the Guard and A
Day in a Soldier's Life Tour.
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery
The
Beaverbrook Art Gallery is designated as the Provincial Art Gallery
of New Brunswick. Opened in 1959, it houses the works of British paintings from
the Elizabethan to Modern era, as well as art, furniture and tapestries from
the Renaissance period. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is home to a multitude of
Canadian paintings and sculpture from artists such as Emily Carr and Group of
Seven, and boasts one of the largest collections from Atlantic Canadian and
Acadian artists. One of the galleries most notable pieces is Salvador Dalí's
"Santiago el Grande," which is on permanent display and is enjoyed by international
crowds.
Old Government House
Old
Government House is a designated National and Provincial Historic Site
and was constructed between the years of 1826 and 1828. Originally, the Georgian-style
mansion served as the official residence for 14 of New Brunswick's lieutenant
governors and served as a breeding ground for Confederation discussion and controversy
and was thus an arena where some of the most important historical decisions
were made. This 4.5 hectare (11 acre) site was also once the location of Ste.
Anne's Point, the spot where the first Acadian settlers landed. Nearby lies
an early burial ground where Maliseet and Acadian people are memorialized in
addition to the larger Old
Public Burial Ground where most of the first Loyalist families rest.
Old Government House is host to many events and festivals such as the famous
New
Brunswick Highland Games & Scottish Festival.
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Kings
Landing Historical Settlement
Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government |
Kings Landing Historical Settlement
Located a short drive from Fredericton, Kings
Landing Historical Settlement is a 121 hectare (300 acre) outdoor museum
situated in the St. John River Valley. It was originally created in order to
move numerous historic buildings that resided in Fredericton to make way for
the Mactaquac Hydro-Electric Dam in the 1960s. The history of 19th-century rural
New Brunswick is recreated through its buildings and staff who, dressed in reproduced
period costumes, recreate daily life. Watch as the local blacksmith forges his
iron for farming, carpenters use authentic tools to create building materials
and furniture, and the wheelwright repairs buggies and wheels. All meals are
prepared in open hearths, weavers make clothing and linens, and the sawmill
workers slice logs for production.
Enjoy numerous events such as live theatre in the Ingraham
Barn, take part in the Pauper's
Auction and listen to a recreation of the Confederation Debate. Shopping
and dining are not to be missed at King's Landing. Enjoy traditional 19th-century
cuisine, fresh baked bread and ice-cream. King's Landing boasts the largest
museum
store in Atlantic Canada and was named winner of Attractions Canada
Top International Attraction Award in 1999.
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Canoeing
on the St. John River
Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government |
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TOURS & ACTIVITIES
In addition to these featured attractions, there is an abundance of things
to do and see in and around Fredericton. Take a short drive to the Atlantic
coast for sightseeing, whale watching and other tours. For the golf enthusiast,
choose from numerous golf
courses in and around Fredericton, notably Carman
Creek Golf Course and The
Lynx at Kingswood Park. Participate in canoeing,
boating and kayaking
by visiting the Small
Craft Aquatic Centre in downtown Fredericton.
For the land lover, trail
rides through the scenic St. John River Valley are available and lush
parks such as Carleton
Park offer picnic, swimming and beach areas. The
Haunted Hike tour through historic downtown Fredericton is sure to satisfy
any thrill-seeker. For a one-stop entertainment experience, visit Kingwood
Entertainment Centre and enjoy bowling, an indoor playground and climbing
wall, fitness centre and 27-hole golf facility. For the culture buffs, an array
of art
galleries, theatres
and shopping spots are available which are sure to please any visitor of Fredericton.
