THIS WEEK IN SAINT JOHN HISTORY

October 17–24, 2026

BevNice.ca | Remembering the people, places and events that shaped the Port City

Saint John’s history is a story of courage, commerce, immigration, shipbuilding and resilience. This week, we look back at some of the important chapters that helped shape New Brunswick’s oldest incorporated city.

October 17 — The Loyalists Arrive

In the spring of 1783, thousands of Loyalists arrived at the mouth of the Saint John River after the American Revolutionary War. The Spring Fleet reached the area on May 10, carrying more than 2,000 people.

Many faced difficult living conditions, with inadequate shelter and limited supplies. Their arrival helped transform the settlement into a growing community that would soon become Saint John.

Did you know? The city was incorporated by royal charter in 1785, becoming the first incorporated city in what is now Canada.

Source: Parks Canada — Landing of the United Empire Loyalists

October 18 — A Harbour That Built a City

Saint John’s harbour has been central to the city’s development for centuries. Its sheltered waters and access to the Bay of Fundy helped establish the community as a major centre for shipping and trade.

During the nineteenth century, lumber from the Saint John River watershed fuelled a thriving shipbuilding industry. Wooden sailing vessels built locally travelled to ports around the world.

A lasting legacy: The harbour remains one of Saint John’s defining economic and cultural features.

Source: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 — History of the Port of Saint John

October 19 — Remembering Saint John’s Irish Heritage

The Irish famine of the 1840s brought waves of immigrants to Saint John. Many arrived after difficult Atlantic crossings, and the harbour became an important gateway for newcomers seeking a new life in British North America.

Partridge Island served as a quarantine station for immigrants arriving during periods of infectious disease. Its history reflects both the hardships of migration and the city’s role in welcoming people from overseas.

Remembering the past: Saint John’s Irish heritage remains an important part of the city’s identity, visible in its cultural traditions, institutions and historic neighbourhoods.

Source: Discover Saint John — Immigration History

October 20 — The Great Fire and a City Rebuilt

On June 20, 1877, a devastating fire swept through much of Saint John’s central commercial and residential district. Thousands of residents were left homeless, and businesses, churches, warehouses and homes were destroyed.

The rebuilding effort transformed the city. Brick and stone construction replaced much of the wooden streetscape, helping create the distinctive Victorian architecture that remains visible uptown today.

Look around uptown: Many of the historic commercial buildings in the Trinity Royal area reflect the rebuilding period following the fire.

Source: Visit Saint John — Loyalists, Incorporation and the Great Fire

October 21 — A City With a Long Civic Tradition

Saint John’s municipal story reaches back to its 1785 royal charter, which united the early settlements of Parrtown and Carleton.

Over the following decades, the city developed civic institutions and public services to meet the needs of a growing population. The Saint John Police Force was established in 1849, while earlier milestones included a fire service in 1786 and a municipal water supply associated with Lily Lake in 1837.

These developments helped turn a young settlement into an organized urban community.

Source: City of Saint John — Municipal Milestones

October 22 — The Old Burial Ground: An Open-Air History Book

Located uptown near King Street East and Sydney Street, the Old Burial Ground is one of Saint John’s most significant historic sites.

Its earliest gravestone dates to July 13, 1784, belonging to Connard Hendricks. The cemetery preserves the memory of some of the city’s earliest settlers and provides a tangible connection to the Loyalist period.

For anyone interested in local history, its old gravestones offer a glimpse into the lives, names and stories of an emerging city.

Source: Discover Saint John — Historic Sites and Museums

October 23 — From Shipbuilding to a Modern Port

By the mid-nineteenth century, Saint John had become one of British North America’s leading shipbuilding centres. The timber trade supported shipyards, merchants, dockworkers and a wide range of related businesses.

As transportation and technology changed, the city’s economy evolved. The port continued to connect New Brunswick with international markets, reinforcing Saint John’s long-standing role as a maritime gateway.

A reminder: The city’s industrial past is not simply history in books; it helped shape the streets, waterfront and communities that residents know today.

Source: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 — History of the Port of Saint John

October 24 — Preserving Our Heritage for Future Generations

Saint John’s historic buildings, public spaces and waterfront tell the story of generations who lived and worked here. From early Loyalist settlement to the rebuilding after the Great Fire, the city’s heritage reflects both hardship and determination.

Historic preservation allows residents and visitors to appreciate how Saint John developed and why its architecture and maritime traditions remain distinctive.

Local history challenge: On your next trip uptown, look closely at the brick façades and historic details around Prince William Street. Many reflect the remarkable rebuilding that followed the fire of 1877.

A Final Thought

Saint John’s history is more than a collection of dates. It is the story of people who crossed oceans, built ships, raised families, developed businesses and rebuilt after disaster.

As we remember the past this October, we also celebrate the community that continues to shape the Port City today.

THIS WEEK IN SAINT JOHN HISTORY — Oct 3–10
Port City • Since 1604

Oct 2, 1958 — Muriel Corkey Ryan, First Woman QC: Saint John lawyer breaks barrier, appointed first woman Queen’s Counsel in New Brunswick.

Oct 4, 1783 — Loyalists Land: 20,000 Loyalists arrive in Nova Scotia; half settle the Saint John River Valley, founding the city.
Oct 4, 1871 — Cold-Water Soap Patented: Andrew J. Stewart patents his famous cold-water soap formula in Saint John.

Oct 5, 1869 — The Saxby Gale: Devastating hurricane surge obliterates wharves and ships across Bay of Fundy & Saint John Harbour.

Oct 6, 1784 — First Murder Reported: Dr. Samuel Moore records the young city’s first homicide in his ledger.

Oct 7, 1825 — Great Miramichi Fire Ends: North America’s largest wildfire leaves 15,000 homeless; skies dark for days over Saint John.

Sources: GNB This Week in NB History / NB Museum

🎵 Ken Tobias — The Saint John Singer-Songwriter Who Went Around the World

Before Ken Tobias became an internationally known singer-songwriter, he was a young boy performing in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Born Kenneth Wayne Paul Tobias on July 25, 1945, in Saint John, Tobias went on to build a remarkable career in Canadian music. He became a successful recording artist, songwriter, producer and, later in life, a painter.

His greatest songwriting success came with “Stay Awhile,” a song recorded by the Montreal group The Bells that became an international hit in 1971.

🎤 A Performer From a Young Age

Tobias later recalled that he had been performing since he was only four years old. One of his earliest performances was at the old Zellers store on King Street in Saint John, where he sang and modelled for a small payment of candy.

As a teenager and young adult, music became increasingly important to him.

In 1961, he joined the Saint John folk group The Ramblers, playing guitar. He later played drums with the rock group Badd Cedes.

He also worked as a draftsman before deciding that music was the career he wanted to pursue.

📺 From Saint John to Canadian Television

In 1965, Tobias moved to Halifax.

His career quickly expanded when he became a performer on CBC television’s Music Hop and then a cast member of the popular program Singalong Jubilee.

It was during Singalong Jubilee that he performed with another young Maritime musician who would become one of Canada’s biggest stars — Anne Murray.

Tobias and Murray performed duets together on the program, helping establish Tobias as a recognizable young Canadian performer.

🌴 The Hollywood Connection

One of the most remarkable chapters in Tobias’s career began in 1968, when he met Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers.

Medley heard Tobias perform and invited him to Los Angeles.

The opportunity took Tobias from the Maritimes to Hollywood, where he worked as a songwriter and recording artist.

Medley produced Tobias’s early single “You’re Not Even Going to the Fair.”

It was an extraordinary opportunity for a young musician from Saint John and opened the door to the American music industry.

⭐ “Stay Awhile”

Then came the song that would define Tobias’s career.

In 1970, he wrote “Stay Awhile.”

The song was recorded by The Bells, and in 1971 it became a major international hit.

The recording reached:

🇨🇦 No. 1 in Canada

🇺🇸 No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100

The song reportedly sold more than two million copies worldwide.

For Tobias, a songwriter from Saint John, it was an extraordinary international success.

🎶 His Own Recording Career

Tobias was much more than the songwriter behind “Stay Awhile.”

During the 1970s and early 1980s, he released a series of albums and singles of his own.

Among his best-known songs were:

• Dream No. 2
• I Just Want to Make Music
• Every Bit of Love
• Give a Little Love
• Fly Me High
• Lady Luck

His recordings received extensive Canadian radio airplay, and he earned numerous awards from Canadian music-rights organizations.

🏆 Recognition for His Songwriting

Tobias became one of Canada’s most successful songwriters of his generation.

He received numerous BMI awards and a PROCAN Crystal Award.

He also received several SOCAN Classics Awards, recognizing songs that had achieved 100,000 domestic radio performances.

Among the songs recognized were “Stay Awhile,” “I Just Want to Make Music,” “Every Bit of Love,” “Give a Little Love” and “Dream No. 2.”

His songs were also recorded by other performers, including Anne Murray and Susan Jacks.

🎬 Music Beyond the Record Charts

Tobias’s creativity extended beyond traditional songwriting.

He became involved in film and television scoring, and in 1989 worked with Ballet Jörgen on Dreams of a Subtle World.

He also composed the score for the CBC documentary The Greenpeace Years, which aired nationally and was distributed internationally.

🎨 The Painter

Music wasn’t Tobias’s only artistic passion.

He had also been painting for decades.

Eventually, painting became an increasingly important part of his creative life. His artwork included landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, fantasy works and figure studies.

His official art biography says that hundreds of his works found homes across North America and Europe.

🏠 Coming Home to Saint John

After spending many years in Toronto and travelling extensively for his music career, Tobias returned to his hometown.

He moved back to Saint John in 2004, where he continued to make music, paint and encourage younger musicians.

He remained involved with the local music community and collaborated with artists including Jessica Rhaye.

His 2008 album From a Distance was his first new album in many years and was recorded in Saint John.

💙 A Saint John Original

Ken Tobias died in Saint John on October 2, 2024, at the age of 79.

His passing brought tributes from across New Brunswick and Canada. Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long paid tribute to Tobias in the House of Commons, recognizing his contribution to Canadian music.

But perhaps the best way to remember Ken Tobias is through his journey.

He started as a young performer in Saint John.

He became a television performer in Halifax.

He travelled to Hollywood.

He wrote an international hit.

He recorded his own music.

He composed for television, film and dance.

He became a painter.

And eventually, he came home to Saint John.

🎵 Ken Tobias — A Saint John Musical Legacy

Born: July 25, 1945 — Saint John, New Brunswick
Died: October 2, 2024 — Saint John, New Brunswick
Occupation: Singer-songwriter, musician, producer and painter
Best-known song: “Stay Awhile”
The Bells’ recording: No. 1 in Canada; No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Television: Music Hop, Singalong Jubilee
Major Canadian recognition: Multiple BMI, PROCAN and SOCAN awards
Saint John connection: Born, raised and later returned to live in Saint John

Ken Tobias wasn’t just a famous Canadian musician — he was one of Saint John’s own.

His music travelled around the world, but his roots were always in New Brunswick.

Sources

National Music Centre — Ken Tobias and the story behind “Stay Awhile”

Museum of Canadian Music — Ken Tobias biography

Billboard Canada — Ken Tobias

Ken Tobias Music — Official site

Ken Tobias Art — Official art biography

This Week in Saint John History

September 19–26, 2026

Saint John’s history is closely tied to the harbour, shipping, politics, immigration, industry and the people who helped build the Port City. This week includes several events that connect Saint John with major chapters in New Brunswick and Canadian history.

September 19, 1825 — The Great Miramichi Fire

On September 19, 1825, the Great Miramichi Fire began in northern New Brunswick.

The fire became one of the largest forest fires ever recorded in the Maritimes. An enormous area of the province burned, affecting communities, forests, wildlife and the timber industry.

For Saint John, the disaster had particular significance because the city’s economy was deeply connected to New Brunswick’s forests, lumber trade and shipping industry. Timber from the province helped make Saint John one of British North America’s important commercial ports.

The fire remains one of the defining natural disasters in New Brunswick history.

September 20 — Saint John and the Wider Province

September 20 does not have a major Saint John-specific anniversary listed in the provincial historical record, but it is worth remembering how closely the city’s fortunes were tied to events elsewhere in New Brunswick.

During the 19th century, Saint John’s harbour served as a gateway for agricultural products, timber, manufactured goods and immigrants moving throughout the region.

The City of Saint John notes that the city became a leading industrial centre during the 19th century, largely because of its shipbuilding and harbour connections.

September 21, 1893 — A Saint Johner Becomes Lieutenant-Governor

On September 21, 1893, John Boyd of Saint John was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.

Boyd’s appointment illustrates the influence Saint John residents had in provincial public life during the late 19th century.

Saint John was not simply New Brunswick’s commercial centre. Its merchants, lawyers, politicians and community leaders played important roles in the development of the province.

September 22, 1866 — Confederation Politics

On September 22, 1866, Samuel Leonard Tilley of New Brunswick and Charles Tupper of Nova Scotia initiated discussions involving Prince Edward Island and the proposed union of the British North American colonies.

This was part of the political activity surrounding Canadian Confederation.

Saint John had already been an important stop during the Confederation discussions. In September 1864, Canadian and New Brunswick delegates who had attended the Charlottetown Conference arrived in Saint John before continuing to Fredericton.

The city’s newspapers also played an important role in the Confederation debate. The Saint John Evening Globe became a prominent voice in the political discussion surrounding union.

September 23, 1897 — Walter Pidgeon Is Born in Saint John

September 23, 1897, marked the birth of Walter Pidgeon in Saint John.

Pidgeon was born at 23 Cedar Street and grew up in the city. He later became a major Hollywood actor, appearing in numerous films during a career that lasted for decades.

His story is a reminder that Saint John’s influence has reached far beyond New Brunswick. One of the city’s sons went from the streets of Saint John to an international entertainment career.

September 24, 1918 — The Patriotic Potato Scandal

On September 24, 1918, an inquiry into the “Patriotic Potato Scandal” opened at the Saint John County Court House.

The investigation eventually became a major political controversy in New Brunswick. According to the provincial historical record, the inquiry continued for almost three years and involved allegations concerning patronage, perjury, cover-ups and political corruption.

The episode is an interesting reminder that political controversies involving government spending and public accountability are hardly new.

September 25 — A City of Newspapers

By the late 19th century, Saint John had developed a remarkably active newspaper culture.

The city’s newspapers reported everything from shipping movements and harbour activity to politics, business, crime and social events.

The Saint John Globe, whose publication history dates from September 26, 1866, continued for more than six decades. Its surviving issues are now part of the New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project, which preserves thousands of pages of the province’s newspaper history.

For today’s readers, these old newspapers provide a fascinating window into what people in Saint John were reading and discussing generations ago.

September 26, 1866 — The Saint John Globe

September 26 is especially significant in Saint John’s newspaper history.

The Saint John Globe began publication on this date in 1866 and eventually became one of the city’s important newspapers. It continued publication until 1927.

Newspapers were particularly important to a port city such as Saint John. Residents wanted to know when ships arrived, what cargoes were being loaded, what was happening in markets overseas and what politicians were saying about Confederation and other issues.

Saint John: A City Connected to the World

The stories from this week show several sides of Saint John’s history.

There is the natural history of the Great Miramichi Fire and its connection to the province’s forest economy.

There is the political history represented by John Boyd and the Confederation debates.

There is the cultural history represented by Walter Pidgeon.

And there is the communications history represented by the newspapers that recorded the city’s daily life.

Saint John was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1785, making it Canada’s first incorporated city. The city’s development was strongly influenced by Loyalist settlement, immigration, shipbuilding, trade and its strategic harbour.

Did You Know?

The old newspaper archives allow us to read the actual newspapers that Saint John residents once read. The New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project provides access to hundreds of thousands of digitized pages from historic New Brunswick newspapers.

Saint John’s history isn’t just found in museums and monuments — much of it is still waiting to be read in the newspapers of the past.

Sources

• City of Saint John — History

City of Saint John — Municipal Milestones

This Week in New Brunswick History

New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project