Fredericton Travel Guide

Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, has a long and interesting history.

For centuries, the fertile land and situation on the banks of the St. John’s River drew aboriginal peoples. White settlement began in the late 17th century, but it wasn’t until the exodus of Loyalist troops after the American Revolution that a larger population settled. The first winter for the new settlers was extremely harsh, and many died and are now buried in the Loyalist Cemetery. The city became an important military base, chosen for its proximity to the United States border but a safe distance from marine assault. Many well-preserved military buildings still dot the city. In the middle of the 19th century, it was decided by the British Crown that Fredericton would be an ideal capital for the province. It was also in this time that a beautiful Gothic cathedral, whose spire still dominates the city skyline, was built.
The 19th and 20th centuries were economically dominated by the lumber business, until this gave wave to government and education as the main employers.

Today Fredericton is the educational and administrative centre of New Brunswick.

It is home to two universities, including the oldest public university in North America. It has a thriving arts and cultural scene, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the York Sunbury Museum, and The Playhouse. The city has also been awarded for its visionary developments in Information Technology (IT).

The population of about 55,000 is 75% English speaking, and 23% bilingual English/French. It has many other cultural influences. These are reflected in a variety of cuisines in the city, including Caribbean, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Mexican, Pakistani and Vietnamese.

The climate is continental, with moist warm summers, and cold and snowy winters. Winter sports are popular and culminate with Winter-fest New Brunswick, in February. The city is usually spared the harshest of the East Coast blizzards.

Geographically, the city is defined by the St. John River, which divides it north and south. The city has lovely parks, forests, and most famously, streets lined with elm trees, giving it the name \"The City of Stately Elms.\"