Fredericton: City With a Classic Canadian History

	Aerial View of Fredericton Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government

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.

	Old Government House Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government

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

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 .

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

	New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government

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.

	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.

	Canoeing on the St. John River Photo Courtesy of the New Brunswick Government

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.