History

This Week in New Brunswick History

This Week in New Brunswick History” for the current week (around april 5):
 
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Here’s “This Week in New Brunswick History” for the current week around April 5–11:

📜 April 5

  • 1842 – The first public museum in Canada opened in Saint John (the Gesner Museum), which later became today’s New Brunswick Museum.

1883 – The first speed skating competition in New Brunswick was held in Saint John.

📜 April 6

  • 1888 – The New Brunswick Telephone Company was incorporated, helping expand telephone service across the province.

1993 – Premier Frank McKenna declared April 6 as Tartan Day in New Brunswick to celebrate Scottish heritage.

📜 April 7

  • 1691 – Joseph Robineau de Villebon became Commandant of Acadia and later built a fort at the Nashwaak–Saint John River junction.

1866 – A major political clash in Fredericton over Confederation forced Premier Albert J. Smith to resign.

📜 April 8

  • 1874 – The Caraquet Railway Company was created to connect northeastern communities to the Intercolonial Railway.

📜 April 9

  • 1825 – The Saint John Agricultural and Emigrant Society was founded.

1931 – Richard Hatfield, one of New Brunswick’s longest-serving premiers, was born in Woodstock.

📜 April 10

  • 1866 – The Fenian Raids threat near Campobello increased fears of invasion and pushed support for Confederation.

1892 – Milton Fowler Gregg, a Victoria Cross recipient and later diplomat, was born.

📜 April 11

  • 1816 – The first river steamboat in New Brunswick, the “General Smyth,” was launched in Saint John.

1969 – New Brunswick passed a law making it the only officially bilingual province in Canada.

✅ Quick takeaway:
This week highlights major “firsts” (first museum, first steamboat), important political moments tied to Confederation, and influential leaders like Richard Hatfield—all shaping modern New Brunswick

Holidays

Easter Sunday in Canada

Easter Sunday in Canada is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s one of the most important days in Christianity.

🇨🇦 How it’s observed in Canada

  • Many people attend church services
  • Families gather for meals (often with ham, turkey, or lamb)
  • Kids enjoy Easter egg hunts 🥚
  • Chocolate eggs and bunnies are very popular

🗓️ Is it a holiday?

  • Easter Sunday itself is not a public holiday in most of Canada
  • But Good Friday (the Friday before) is a public holiday in many provinces, including Ontario
  • Some places also recognize Easter Monday (mainly for government workers and schools)

🐣 Fun fact

Easter doesn’t have a fixed date—it changes every year because it’s based on the moon cycle (the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring).

Cruise

🚢 First Cruise Ship of the Season Diverted to Saint John

🚢 First Cruise Ship of the Season Diverted to Saint John

Saint John is set to welcome its first cruise ship of the 2026 season under unexpected circumstances.

The Valiant Lady has been diverted from its original itinerary due to adverse weather conditions in Bermuda — a situation that isn’t uncommon during storm activity in the Atlantic, as cruise lines often reroute ships to ensure passenger safety.

Instead of Bermuda, the vessel will now make a stop in Saint John, bringing an early boost to the local tourism season.

🗓 Arrival: April 8 at 6:30 a.m.
🗓 Departure: April 9 at 4:00 a.m.
👥 Passengers: Approximately 2,000

While unplanned, these diversions can be a welcome surprise for the region, giving visitors a chance to explore Saint John and supporting local businesses early in the cruise season.

Holidays

Good Friday

Good Friday occurs two days before Easter Sunday. It is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which plays an important part in the Christian faith. It is also a statutory holiday in all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec, where it is partially observed.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday?

This is a federal holiday. It may not be observed in all Canadian provinces or territories, but it is a holiday for employees covered by the Canada Labour Code.

What To Do

Christians may attend special church services, even if they do not attend church regularly during the rest of the year. Good Friday is a day of mourning and quiet prayer among many Christians. The candles are often extinguished and statues, paintings and crosses may be draped in black, purple or gray cloth. Some Catholics observe a partial fast on Good Friday and do not eat any meat.

Hot cross buns are a traditional treat on Good Friday. These are small bread-like buns, made from dough that contains raisins, currants and other dried fruit. The top of a hot cross bun is marked with a cross and covered with a sugar glaze. The cross may be cut into the bun or marked with a special dough that remains pale even after it has been baked. Hot cross buns may be eaten as they are, split and spread with butter or toasted.

For Canadians who are not Christians Good Friday is the start of a three or four-day weekend. This is a welcome spring break, which some people use to visit family or friends. It is also a popular time to take a short vacation.

Public Life

Good Friday is a public holiday at a national level in Canada. Schools and many businesses and organizations are closed and many people have a day off work. Post offices are closed and in some areas, particularly in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, stores are closed or have restricted opening hours. Public transport services many run to their usual or restricted timetables. In rural areas, public transport may close down completely.

In Quebec, Good Friday or Easter Monday are a statutory general holidays at the option of the employer. Schools and post offices are closed. Public transport services many run to their usual or restricted timetables. In rural areas, public transport may close down completely.

Background

Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This is an important event in Christianity, as it represents the sacrifices and suffering in Jesus’ life. The crucifixion was the culmination of a number of events in Holy Week, including: the triumphal return of Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus; and the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

 

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