this week in New Brunswick history” centered on April 25 (and the surrounding days). These are real historical events recorded for the province:

📅 April 25 in New Brunswick History

• 1785 – Governor Thomas Carleton proposes making St. Ann’s Point (now Fredericton) the future capital of New Brunswick.

1845 – Queen Victoria officially declares Fredericton a city—even though it only had about 4,000 people at the time.

👉 These two events are closely connected: they reflect how Fredericton grew from a planned capital site into an official city.

🗓️ Around the Same Week (April 24–30)

April 24

• 1920 – Creation of the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission.
• 1920 – Incorporation of the Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick.

April 26

• 1850 – Founding of an early provincial agricultural and commerce society.

1909 – A Saint John court rules that electricity counts as a commodity in a theft case—an early legal precedent.

April 27

• 1884 – Birth of Ivan C. Rand, who later created the famous “Rand Formula” for unions.

1950 – Introduction of a controversial 4% provincial sales tax by Premier John B. McNair.

April 28

• 1783 – William Davidson elected to represent the region (then part of Nova Scotia).

1939 – A Soviet aircraft crash-lands on Miscou Island during a transatlantic flight attempt.

April 29

• 1916 – New Brunswick adopts Daylight Saving Time.

1952 – Incorporation of the city of Edmundston.

April 30

• 1765 – Establishment of Sunbury County, covering much of what is now New Brunswick.

🧭 Why April 25 matters

April 25 is a key date because it ties directly to the rise of Fredericton as the province’s political center—starting with the 1785 plan and leading to its official city status in 1845.

New Brunswick History Timeline (Apr 24–30)