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This Week in Saint John History September 19–26, 2026

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 — Municipal Milestones

This Week in New Brunswick History

New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project

actor, History

Donald Sutherland — From Saint John to Hollywood

🎬 Donald Sutherland — From Saint John to Hollywood

Donald Sutherland was one of Canada’s most internationally recognized actors, but long before he became a Hollywood star, he was a New Brunswick boy growing up in and around Saint John.

Born Donald McNichol Sutherland on July 17, 1935, at Saint John General Hospital, he spent his early childhood in the Saint John and Hampton area. He died on June 20, 2024, at the age of 88.

Today, his name is remembered around the world, but his story began right here in New Brunswick.

🏡 Growing Up in New Brunswick

Sutherland’s early years were divided between Saint John and the nearby Hampton area.

When he was an infant, his family moved from Saint John to a farmhouse in Lakeside, near present-day Hampton. He attended a one-room schoolhouse during his early years before the family returned to Saint John when Donald was about six.

He later attended Victoria School in Saint John, where he played hockey and developed an interest in puppetry.

Those early New Brunswick years helped shape a boy who would eventually become one of Canada’s most accomplished actors.

Sutherland later recalled his New Brunswick childhood in a 2017 letter to the Saint John Free Public Library, describing his family’s time living in the Lakeside area.

📻 His First Taste of Show Business

At the age of 14, Sutherland got his first part-time job in broadcasting, working as a news correspondent for CKBW, a radio station in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

The family had moved to Bridgewater when Donald was about 12, and Nova Scotia became the setting for much of his teenage life.

But the entertainment business was already beginning to attract him.

Sutherland initially believed he would become an engineer. He attended the University of Toronto and studied engineering while also becoming involved in drama.

His direction changed.

The stage captured his imagination.

🎭 Engineering to Acting

While studying at the University of Toronto, Sutherland became involved in student theatre. He eventually graduated with a dual background in engineering and drama.

He then travelled to England to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

His early years as an actor were not easy. His unusual appearance, very tall frame and distinctive voice did not fit the conventional image of a leading man.

But those qualities would eventually become part of what made Donald Sutherland so recognizable.

His screen career began with small roles before his breakthrough arrived in the 1960s.

⭐ The Breakthrough

In 1967, Sutherland appeared in The Dirty Dozen, playing Vernon Pinkley.

Three years later came the role that changed his career forever.

In Robert Altman’s MAS*H, Sutherland played Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce.

The movie became a major success and established Sutherland as an international star.

From there, his career expanded dramatically.

He appeared in such films as:

  • Klute
  • Don’t Look Now
  • The Day of the Locust
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • Animal House
  • Ordinary People
  • JFK
  • A Time to Kill
  • The Italian Job
  • Cold Mountain

And for a younger generation, he became especially well known as President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games films.

🏆 A Career Spanning Seven Decades

Sutherland eventually appeared in nearly 200 films and television productions during a career that lasted for decades.

His awards included an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and an Honorary Academy Award.

He was also inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2019, the Government of Canada promoted him to Companion of the Order of Canada, recognizing his extraordinary contribution to Canadian culture and his international career.

🇨🇦 Saint John Never Forgot Its Famous Son

Despite becoming an international star, Sutherland continued to be identified with his Canadian roots.

In 2023, Canada Post issued a stamp honouring Donald Sutherland, and the stamp was officially cancelled in his birthplace of Saint John.

The occasion was particularly fitting: the actor who had left the Maritimes to pursue his dream had become one of the most respected Canadian performers in the world.

After his death in 2024, the City of Saint John opened a book of condolences so residents could remember and honour their famous hometown son.

🌟 A Saint John Legacy

Donald Sutherland’s story is more than a Hollywood success story.

It is the story of a boy born in Saint John who grew up in the Maritimes, discovered acting, left Canada to pursue his dream and eventually became an actor known throughout the world.

His career crossed generations and genres. He could play a soldier, doctor, teacher, politician, father, villain or eccentric character — and make each role his own.

For Saint John and New Brunswick, however, perhaps the most important fact is a simple one:

Before Donald Sutherland became a Hollywood legend, he was a New Brunswick boy.

His journey from Saint John and Hampton to the stages of London and the movie screens of the world remains one of the great Canadian success stories.

🎥 Donald Sutherland

Born: July 17, 1935 — Saint John, New Brunswick
Died: June 20, 2024 — age 88
Career: Actor and producer
Known for: MASH*, The Dirty Dozen, Ordinary People, JFK, The Hunger Games and many more
Canadian honour: Companion of the Order of Canada
Academy Award: Honorary Oscar, 2017

Sources

Canada’s Walk of Fame — Donald Sutherland

Governor General of Canada — Donald Sutherland

Canada Post — Donald Sutherland commemorative stamp

City of Saint John — Book of Condolences for Donald Sutherland

History, saint john

This Week in Saint John History September 14–21, 2026

This Week in Saint John History

September 14–21, 2026

Saint John has always been a city connected to the harbour, the river and the wider world. This week in history brings us back to the city’s role in Confederation, early newspapers, street lighting and the political life of New Brunswick.

Here are some of the important events connected to Saint John and the surrounding region from September 14 to September 21.

September 14, 1864 — Confederation Comes to Saint John

In September 1864, the discussions that would eventually lead to Canadian Confederation were gathering momentum.

On September 14, 1864, delegates from the Canadas and New Brunswick who had attended the Charlottetown Conference arrived in Saint John from Halifax.

A banquet was held at Stubb’s Hotel, where the Canadian delegates were toasted with the singing of For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.

The visit was part of the remarkable series of meetings that eventually led to the Quebec Conference of 1864 and, ultimately, Confederation in 1867.

Saint John’s position as a major port made it an important stopping point for political leaders travelling between the Maritime colonies and the Canadas.

September 15, 1849 — The Gold Rush and Saint John’s Harbour

On September 15, 1849, the ship Teal left Saint John Harbour bound for California and the great Gold Rush.

The departure was another reminder that Saint John was not simply a local port. During the 19th century, ships leaving the harbour connected the city with destinations throughout North America and around the world.

Saint John’s economy and identity were closely tied to shipping, shipbuilding, trade and immigration.

The city’s official history notes that Saint John became a major industrial centre during the 19th century, largely because of its strong shipbuilding and harbour connections.

September 16, 1839 — A Penny Newspaper Arrives

On September 16, 1839, George Fenety launched The Commercial News and General Advertiser in Saint John.

The newspaper was sold for a penny and was later known as the Morning News.

This was an important development in local communications. Newspapers gave Saint John residents a regular source of information about politics, business, shipping, crime, community events and happenings beyond the city.

The arrival of inexpensive newspapers also helped make news available to a much broader audience.

For a city whose fortunes depended heavily on ships and commerce, timely information was particularly valuable.

September 18, 1845 — Saint John Gets Gas Lighting

Imagine walking through Saint John at night before modern street lighting.

On September 18, 1845, gas lighting was introduced on the city’s streets.

It was a major change for Saint John. Street lighting improved visibility after dark and was another sign that the growing city was entering a more modern industrial age.

The City of Saint John’s historical milestones also records 1845 as the year Saint John’s first street lights were lit.

Today, electric lights, illuminated buildings and traffic signals are such a normal part of city life that it is easy to forget how revolutionary public street lighting once was.

September 21, 1893 — A Saint John Man Becomes Lieutenant-Governor

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

Boyd’s appointment reflected the important role Saint John played in the political, commercial and civic life of the province.

The city’s influence extended well beyond its harbour and business community. Saint John residents have played significant roles in provincial and national politics throughout New Brunswick’s history.

A City Built on Connections

The events of this week tell a larger story about Saint John.

In 1864, political delegates passed through the city as the idea of Confederation was taking shape.

In 1849, a ship left the harbour for California and the Gold Rush.

In 1839, a local newspaper helped connect citizens with events in Saint John and beyond.

In 1845, new technology transformed the city’s streets after dark.

And in 1893, a Saint Johner was appointed to one of New Brunswick’s highest offices.

These stories are reminders that Saint John has always been more than a city beside the water. It has been a port of departure, a centre of business, a source of news, a political centre and a gateway to the world.

The City of Saint John describes the community as the “Port City”, and its history shows how generations of immigrants, merchants, shipbuilders, workers and families helped shape the community.

Did You Know?

Saint John was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1785, making it Canada’s first incorporated city. The city was formed through the amalgamation of Parrtown and Carleton.

That long history means that almost every street, harbourfront building and neighbourhood in Saint John has a story behind it.

What Saint John history do you remember from your childhood or from stories told by your family?

Share your memories — they are part of Saint John’s history too.

Sources

History, saint john

This Week in Saint John History September 7–12, 2026

This Week in Saint John History

September 7–12, 2026

 

Saint John has always been a city shaped by its harbour, transportation, communications and connection to the wider world. This week in history includes a royal visit, Confederation discussions, the arrival of the telephone and Canada’s entry into the Second World War.

September 7, 1869 — Prince Arthur Arrives in New Brunswick

Prince Arthur, son of Queen Victoria, began his Royal Tour of New Brunswick on September 7, 1869.

He arrived at Shediac aboard HMS Dart and travelled by train toward Saint John, stopping at Petitcodiac and Sussex. Upon reaching Saint John, he attended a Paris Crew sculling match, an event that reflected the city’s strong sporting and maritime traditions.

 

September 8, 1869 — A Royal Torchlight Procession

The royal visit continued in Saint John on September 8.

A levee and Firemen’s Torchlight Procession was held at Old Government House in honour of Prince Arthur. The following day, the Prince departed by horse and carriage for Woodstock.

Saint John’s volunteer firefighters were already an important part of civic life, particularly in a city where fire had historically posed a serious threat.

 

September 10, 1864 — Confederation Takes Another Step

On September 10, 1864, representatives from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada met at Province House in Halifax to discuss the details of union.

By September 12, the delegates had agreed to hold another conference in Quebec to consider a union of British North America.

These discussions eventually led to Confederation in 1867, with New Brunswick becoming one of Canada’s four original provinces.

 

 September 10, 1939 — Canada Declares War

On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, formally entering the Second World War.

For Saint John, the war would have a particularly important connection because of the city’s port, shipbuilding, railways and maritime industries. The harbour became an important part of Canada’s wartime transportation network.

The City of Saint John notes that the harbour and shipbuilding industry have played a central role in the city’s development since the nineteenth century.

September 11, 1884 — Saint John Gets Connected

Here’s a fascinating piece of Saint John technological history.

On September 11, 1884, the telephone company in Saint John reported a total of 291 telephones in service.

Imagine Saint John in the 1880s: telephones were still a relatively new technology, yet hundreds were already connecting businesses and residents across the city.

 

 September 12, 1900 — A Major Maritime Storm

On September 12, 1900, the Galveston Hurricane, which had originated off the coast of Texas, reached New Brunswick.

The storm had devastating consequences for the region. Ten fishing schooners from Gloucester County were lost in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The event is a reminder of the dangers faced by Atlantic Canada’s fishing and maritime communities more than a century ago.

 

⚓ Saint John: A City Shaped by the Sea

The events of this week show how many different aspects of Saint John’s history come back to the harbour and the city’s connections with the outside world.

Royal visitors arrived by ship.
Rowers competed on the harbour.
Telephones transformed communications.
Ships and railways became vital during wartime.
And maritime communities faced the power of Atlantic storms.

The City of Saint John describes the community as the “Port City” and notes that its harbour has continued to welcome people from around the world, helping shape the city’s culture and identity.

 Sources

— Historical Saint John newspapers, including the St. John Daily Telegraph and Morning Journal for 1869.