Saint John is a port city in southwestern New Brunswick, located on the Bay of Fundy. It is the oldest incorporated city in Canada and known for its industrial heritage, Loyalist history, and the natural phenomenon of the Reversing Falls.
Quick Facts
- Province: New Brunswick
- Population: Around 70,000 (metro area: ~130,000)
- Official Languages: English and French
- Time Zone: Atlantic Time Zone (AT)
- Demonym: Saint Johner
History
Saint John was incorporated in 1785, making it the first officially incorporated city in Canada. It became a key landing point for Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution.
The city was an early shipbuilding and manufacturing centre and has maintained a strong industrial identity into the 21st century.
Economy
Saint John has a diverse economy, with strengths in:
- Shipping and logistics (deep-water port)
- Oil refining and energy (home to Canada's largest oil refinery – Irving Oil)
- Manufacturing
- Health and education
- IT and communications
- Tourism and cruise industry
Major Attractions
- Reversing Falls Rapids – where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy
- Saint John City Market – oldest continuing farmers' market in Canada
- New Brunswick Museum
- Irving Nature Park
- Rockwood Park – one of the largest urban parks in Canada
- Loyalist House – preserved 19th-century home
Education
- University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNB SJ)
- New Brunswick Community College (NBCC)
- Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (satellite medical school)
Neighborhoods
- Uptown Saint John – historic and cultural core
- West Side
- East Side
- Millidgeville
- South End
Culture and Events
Saint John is home to many annual events and artistic communities:
- Area 506 Festival – music and cultural celebration
- Fundy Fringe Festival
- Buskers on the Bay Festival
- Loyalist Days
Transportation
Saint John Transit provides bus services. Saint John Airport (YSJ) offers regional flights. The city’s port welcomes cruise ships and bulk shipping traffic year-round.
Did You Know?
- Saint John is *not* the same as St. John’s, Newfoundland — they are often confused.
- The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world, which directly impact Saint John’s harbour and rivers.
- It was Canada’s third-largest city in the 1800s, before urbanization shifted inland.