The capital of New Brunswick is Fredericton, and it has a population of 751,527, with the majority (64%) speaking English and about 32% speaking French. New Brunswick is also one of the original four provinces to be accepted into the Canadian Confederation in 1867.
The economy
New Brunswick’s economy is based on its location and proximity to water, but from nearby river streams rather than the seacoasts. Most of the economy is service-based, with many booming career opportunities in healthcare, education, retail, finance, and insurance. Rural New Brunswick economy specialises in mining, forestry, mixed farming, and fishing. Other mining prominent in New Brunswick is zinc, lead and potash.
The climate
New Brunswick is different from the other maritime provinces in that it is mostly sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean, making the climate more continental than maritime, meaning earlier spring, shorter autumns and more snowfall. Moist air from the Atlantic can mean mild spells in winter and periods of cool weather in summer.
The culture
New Brunswick is rich in history. Most of its culture is derived from early settlers who inhibited the land including the French in the 17th Century and English in the 18th Century. In the 19th Century the culture began to be shaped by a new influx of more than 40,000 settlers who came from England, Scotland, Ireland and France.
A notable part of New Brunswick’s history is rooted in old French culture, and particularly in old Acadian culture. This re-emerged in the mid 20th Century when a Renaissance of Acadian art, poetry and music surfaced at the forefront of the college culture in New Brunswick’s many universities.
