This Week in Saint John History

June 1–8

A look back at notable events, milestones, and historical themes connected to Saint John and the surrounding region.

June 1

• As spring turned to summer, Saint John’s harbour was traditionally one of the busiest ports in Atlantic Canada, with lumber, shipbuilding supplies, and immigrants arriving from around the world during the 1800s.

June 2

• Throughout the 19th century, June marked the start of the peak shipping season on the Bay of Fundy. Saint John merchants prepared vessels for trade with Britain, the Caribbean, and New England.

June 3

• Saint John’s reputation as Canada’s first incorporated city continued to grow during the late 1800s as new industries, banks, and transportation links expanded throughout the region.

June 4

• Early June often saw the arrival of immigrant ships at historic Partridge Island, which served as Canada’s first quarantine station under Saint John’s 1785 charter.

June 5

• The city’s waterfront and shipyards were bustling places in June during the age of wooden shipbuilding, when Saint John became one of the world’s leading shipbuilding centres.

June 6

• Residents often gathered in public squares and parks as warmer weather arrived. Historic areas such as King Square have served as community gathering places since the city’s earliest years.

June 7

• As June progressed in 1877, Saint John was unknowingly approaching one of the most significant disasters in its history—the Great Fire, which would strike later that month and reshape the city forever.

June 8

• In the decades following the Great Fire of 1877, many of the brick and stone buildings that define Uptown Saint John today stood as symbols of the city’s determination and rebuilding effort.

Saint John Fact of the Week

Saint John was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1785, making it the first incorporated city in what is now Canada.

Looking Ahead: June 20–22 marks the anniversary of the devastating Great Fire of Saint John, which destroyed over 1,600 buildings and left approximately 13,000 people homeless.

This Week in Saint John History

May 23–May 30 | Saint John, New Brunswick

May 23 – Saint John grows as a Loyalist city
Following the major Loyalist arrivals of spring 1783, the settlements that became Saint John expanded quickly. The harbour became crowded with ships and temporary shelters as thousands of new residents arrived. Within only a few years, the city became an important Atlantic trade centre.

May 24 – Empire Day memories
For many decades, schoolchildren in Saint John and across Canada marked Empire Day in late May (often near Queen Victoria’s birthday). Parades, patriotic songs, and community gatherings were once common parts of local life. May 25 – Saint John’s harbour begins another shipping season
By the late 1800s, spring meant Saint John’s harbour was becoming busy again after winter conditions eased. Steamships, cargo vessels, and shipbuilding activity helped define the city’s economy and identity. May 26 – Remembering early shipbuilding
Saint John became one of the great shipbuilding centres in British North America. During the 1800s, local shipyards produced vessels known around the world for speed and craftsmanship. May 27 – Forts and early settlements
Long before Saint John became a city, French settlements and fortifications stood near the mouth of the river. Forts associated with early Acadian history helped establish the area’s strategic importance. May 28 – The river that gave Saint John its name
French explorer Samuel de Champlain named the river after St. John the Baptist in 1604 when he explored the area. The city later inherited the same name.

May 29 – Looking ahead to summer in Uptown Saint John
Historically, late May signaled preparations for summer markets, harbour trade, and tourism. Saint John’s role as a port city meant warmer months brought increased activity and visitors.

May 30 – A city shaped by resilience
Saint John repeatedly rebuilt and reinvented itself through fires, economic shifts, and changing industries. Events such as the Great Fire of Saint John left lasting marks but also helped shape the Uptown architecture people recognize today.

This Week in New Brunswick History

May 17 – May 23

Here are some notable moments from New Brunswick’s past during this week in history:

May 17

• 1686 – Bishop Saint-Vallier arrived at Grand Falls during a five-month journey through Acadia. His writings later became one of the earliest recorded descriptions of inland travel in the Maritimes.
• 1871 – The Town of St. Stephen was officially incorporated.
• 1871 – New Brunswick introduced the Common Schools Act, creating publicly funded, non-denominational schools. The move sparked major controversy because separate Catholic schools were abolished.

May 18

• 1783 – Thousands of Loyalists landed at Parrtown (now Saint John), beginning one of the largest migrations in early Canadian history.
• 1785 – Parrtown and Carleton were united and renamed Saint John, becoming Canada’s first incorporated city.
• 1885 – New Brunswick militia gathered at Camp Sussex before heading west during the North-West Rebellion.

May 19

• 1632 – Isaac de Razilly was appointed lieutenant-general of Acadia by the King of France, helping shape early French influence in the region.

May 20

• 1816 – New Brunswick’s first steamboat, the General Smyth, completed its maiden voyage from Saint John to Fredericton. Crowds gathered to welcome the vessel upon arrival.
• 1848 – New Brunswick formed its first government under the principle of Responsible Government, an important step toward democratic self-rule in Canada.

May 21

• While no major provincial milestone is widely recorded for this date, the week marked continued growth of Loyalist communities and early trade settlements throughout the province.

May 22

• 1867 – Queen Victoria issued the Royal Proclamation officially uniting New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada into the Dominion of Canada, effective July 1, 1867.

1958 – Joseph Leonard O’Brien of Miramichi became Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick.

May 23

• 1906 – Moncton mayor James Ryan was found guilty of assault after violent confrontations with newspaper publisher John Hawke in both a newspaper office and city council chambers. It became one of the province’s most talked-about political scandals of the era.

New Brunswick history during this week reflects Loyalist settlement, the growth of democracy, transportation breakthroughs, and the road toward Canadian Confederation.

📅 May 10

A time of renewal in Saint John. By early May in the 1800s, the harbour would be reopening fully after winter, with ships returning and trade picking up again—marking the unofficial start of the busy season.

📅 May 11

Shipbuilding season ramped up around this time each year. Saint John was once one of the busiest shipbuilding centres in the British Empire, producing wooden ships that traveled the world.

📅 May 12

The powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy shaped daily life. Workers and sailors planned their schedules around the Reversing Falls—something that still fascinates visitors today.

📅 May 13

Public squares like King Square were gathering places for announcements, markets, and social life. By mid-May, these spaces were bustling again after the long winter.

📅 May 14

📅 May 15

This week is often associated with the arrival of the Loyalists in 1783, who helped establish Saint John as a key colonial centre and shaped the future of New Brunswick.

📅 May 16

Saint John has always had a strong cultural side. From early theatre performances to today’s live shows, mid-May continues to be a lively time for arts and community events.

 Closing Thought

From shipyards and Loyalist landings to modern-day festivals, each day this week reflects how Saint John grew from a rugged port into a vibrant city full of history and culture.