Edmundston, New Brunswick

Edmundston is a city in Madawaska County at the junction of the Saint John and Madawaska Rivers in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada only a few kilometres from the border with Quebec and on the border with the United States, opposite the town of Madawaska, Maine. Out of the eight cities in New Brunswick, Edmundston is the most francophone, with 98% of the city's population speaking French as a first language.

Edmundston is second to only Clarence-Rockland, Ontario, as the largest French speaking city in North America outside the province of Quebec. If the population of the adjacent town of Madawaska, Maine, were included, it would be the largest. There are higher numbers of francophones in other Canadian cities such as Ottawa (122,665), Sudbury (45,420), Toronto (34,900), Winnipeg (26,855), Moncton (20,425) and Timmins (17,390), but French speakers there are in the minority.

History

The area was at the centre of the Aroostook War over the boundary line between the U.S.A. and what was then British North America. It was because of the boundary disputes in this entire area that residents on both the Canadian and U.S. sides took to referring to the region as the Republic of Madawaska. The tradition is carried on to this day, with each mayor of Edmundston being automatically given title as the "President of the Republic of Madawaska".

Originally named Petit-Sault (Little Falls), the settlement was renamed Edmundston in 1850 after Sir Edmund Head, who was Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick from 1848 to 1854 and Governor-General of Canada from 1854 to 1861.

Economy

Forestry is one of the city's major industries, with several sawmills and paper plants in the vicinity, the largest being the Fraser pulp mill. The Edmundston pulp mill is paired with a Fraser paper mill directly across the Saint John River in Madawaska, Maine, through which liquified pulp slurry is piped - the only such installation anywhere along the Canada-United States border. Sign and plastics manufacturing are also important to the city's economy.

Media

Edmundston is served by four newspapers (Le Madawaska, La Republique, L'Acadie Nouvelle and Info Weekend), two radio stations (CJEM, CFAI,) and a regional bureau of the CBC.

Festivals and Tourism

Each June, Edmundston plays host to the Festival Jazz et Blues d'Edmundston (the Edmundston Jazz and Blues Festival).

Every year in August, there is a large cultural festival in Edmundston called the Foire Brayonne. The festival is one of the biggest French themed festivals held in Canada east of the province of Quebec.

Tourist attractions include Le Jardin de la Republique (Camping Ground), Fort du Petit-Sault (former British military fort during the mid-1800's) and Madawaska Historic Museum.

The New Brunswick Botanical Garden is located in suburban Saint-Jacques, on seven hectares with over 80,000 plants, making it the largest arboretum east of Montreal.

Notable Edmundston natives

Maurice Bolyer (born Beaulieu), banjo player who appeared on the Tommy Hunter Show.

Alpha Boucher, actor, mostly in Quebec.

Camille Dubé, sports broadcaster for Radio-Canada, especially during televised Montreal Expos games.

Paul Gallant, creator of the Puzz-3D 3-D puzzle and founder of Wrebbit.

Dave Hilton Sr, professional boxer who won a Canadian championship in three different weight divisions.

Ty LaForest, Major League Baseball Player who played with the Boston Red Sox.

Roland Rossignol, Former NHL player who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings in the mid-40's.

Natasha St-Pier, singer, better known in French Europe.

Shawn Sawyer, Figure Skater, finished 12th overall at the XXth Winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy.

Bernard Valcourt, former Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Roch Voisine, singer, actor (Born and raised in suburban St-Basile).

Demographics

External links

The Regional Multipurpose Center

Cities in New Brunswick

Edmundston | Edmundston