New Brunswick Day is a provincial holiday celebrated in New Brunswick, Canada. Like other Civic Holidays across Canada, New Brunswick Day is an opportunity for residents to celebrate their province's unique heritage, culture and achievements.

Table of Contents

1. When is New Brunswick Day?
2. The History of New Brunswick Day?
3. What Do People Do on This Day?
4. The History of New Brunswick

When is New Brunswick Day?

Terry Fox Day is celebrated on the first Monday in August each year, coinciding with the civic holiday in the province.

The following is the list of New Brunswick Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of New Brunswick Day?

New Brunswick Day has its origins in the broader Civic Holiday tradition observed across many Canadian provinces.

The idea of a mid-summer public holiday gained popularity in Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Different provinces adopted the first Monday in August as a general holiday, although each province tailored it to their local identity and history.

By the mid-20th century, provinces began renaming and dedicating the holiday to celebrate their distinct heritage.

New Brunswick Day was officially declared a provincial holiday in 1976 by the New Brunswick government. It was designed as a day to celebrate the province's culture, history and natural beauty. The holiday was part of a broader effort to strengthen local pride and provide a dedicated time for communities to come together during the summer.

In recent years, New Brunswick Day celebrations increasingly include acknowledgment of Indigenous peoples, their culture and contributions to the province.

What Do People Do on This Day?

On New Brunswick Day, people come together to celebrate the province's culture, heritage, and natural beauty. The holiday offers a chance to enjoy the summer and participate in various events and activities.

Towns and cities across New Brunswick organize local parades, live music, and festivals showcasing the province's culture.

Many events feature Acadian music, dance, and art, along with displays of Indigenous culture and history.

Residents and tourists enjoy the province's scenic beauty by visiting beaches, hiking trails or national and provincial parks like Fundy National Park. For those near waterways, boating, canoeing, and fishing are common activities.

Many communities end the day with a fireworks display, creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere.

People visit local museums and landmarks to learn about New Brunswick's history, including its Acadian and Indigenous roots. However, many may use the long weekend to relax at home, enjoy quiet time with family, or explore nearby attractions.

The History of New Brunswick

New Brunswick is one of Canada's eastern provinces, and it has a rich history shaped by Indigenous peoples, European settlers and its geographic location.

The region has been home to Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. They lived in harmony with the land, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering for sustenance and maintaining complex cultural traditions.

French explorers arrived in the early 17th century, and established settlements in the area, which became part of the French colony of Acadia.

French settlers, known as Acadians, established thriving agricultural communities along the fertile river valleys. They developed unique cultural practices that continue to influence the province today.

In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht ceded Acadia to Britain and the British deported many Acadians, but some returned or resettled in the region.

During and after the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, thousands of colonists loyal to Britain fled to New Brunswick, dramatically altering its demographic and cultural makeup.

In 1784, New Brunswick was separated from Nova Scotia and became its own colony.

The timber and shipbuilding industries flourished in the 19th century. The construction of railroads further boosted economic development and connected New Brunswick to other parts of Canada. Immigration from Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of Europe added to the province's cultural mosaic.

New Brunswick was one of the original four provinces to join Confederation, helping to form the Dominion of Canada.

In the 20th century, New Brunswick embraced its bilingual nature, being Canada's only officially bilingual province. The Acadian culture remains a vital part of the province's identity.