Edmundston

Canada

Edmundston is a city in northern New Brunswick with about 16,000 residents.

The city of Edmundston is roughly 95% francophone, the highest proportion in New Brunswick. Unlike the rest of the Maritimes, the majority of Francophones in Edmundston aren't descended from the Acadians but rather from French-Canadians that came up from Lower Canada (modern day Quebec), and are commonly known as Brayons. Some of the Brayons think of themselves as neither Acadian nor Québécois and their accent (l'accent brayon) is fairly distinct from the Québécois and Acadian accents. However others embrace Acadian roots, and it is not uncommon to see the Acadian flag flown.

Edmundston's economy is focused on the Saint John River paper industry. The river has provided water power for the mills and was the route of log drives bringing pulpwood from upstream forests. Forestry is one of the city's major industries, with several sawmills and paper plants in the vicinity, the largest being the Twin Rivers pulp mill. The town's economy is highly dependent upon cross-border trade. Edmundston and the smaller American city of Madawaska are considered by residents to be one community. An illuminated sign and plastics manufacture owned by Pattison Sign is also important to the city's economy. IPL, a company that manufactures plastic eating utensils, has a facility in Edmundston. The city is the site of the regional hospital for the area. There is a campus of the French-language University of Moncton in Edmundston. The New Brunswick Community college system has a campus in Edmundston.

  • Madawaska Historical Museum, 195 boulevard Hébert, +1 506-737-5282. M-F 10AM-3PM, W Th evenings 7PM-10PM, Su 1PM-5PM. The museum presents themed exhibitions and the Colline Art Gallery. The museum consists of two exhibition rooms; the Heritage room presents theme exhibitions all year round. The Galerie Colline is a center for contemporary art. The museum also has a permanent antique collection. Adult $5; teenager $3; children free.
  • New Brunswick Botanical Garden, 15 Main St, +1 506 737-4444. May-Jun and Sep: 9AM-5PM daily; Jul-Aug: 9AM-8PM daily. A number of themed gardens including annuals, perennials, rhododendrons, an alpine garden and a rose garden. Adults $14, seniors 65+ and students $12, children 5-17 $7, children under 5 free, families (2 adults plus 2 children) $30..
  • Petit-Sault Blockhouse, 14 avenue Saint-Jean, +1 506-735-5282. End of June to Labour Day: Tu-Su 11AM-7PM. Reconstruction of a blockhouse that was built during the Aroostook Bloodless War. Built in 1841 at the height of the boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain, this small fort was part of a defensive line that extended as far as Quebec. Destroyed by lightning in 1855, it was rebuilt in 2000, in accordance with the original specifications Students and seniors $2, adults $3.50, family $7.
  • Railroad Interpretation Center, 1091 Victoria Street, +1 506-739-9644. June-Sep 11AM-7PM; Oct-May 4PM-6PM or by appointment. The museum is a 1900s train shed replica. The exhibit changes every year and relates the life of railway-men. A HO 1/87 scale lay-out constantly changes. You see a great deal of different modeling aspect like cars, structures, engines, scenery and many scale kilometers of tracks. Replicas and of boardwalk will lead you to a covered railway bridge and to the hall of fame. $9 each; family (4-6 pers./ 2 adults + children under 18) $34.

Madawaska Historical Museum, 195 boulevard Hébert, +1 506-737-5282. M-F 10AM-3PM, W Th evenings 7PM-10PM, Su 1PM-5PM. The museum presents themed exhibitions and the Colline Art Gallery. The museum consists of two exhibition rooms; the Heritage room presents theme exhibitions all year round. The Galerie Colline is a center for contemporary art. The museum also has a permanent antique collection. Adult $5; teenager $3; children free.

New Brunswick Botanical Garden, 15 Main St, +1 506 737-4444. May-Jun and Sep: 9AM-5PM daily; Jul-Aug: 9AM-8PM daily. A number of themed gardens including annuals, perennials, rhododendrons, an alpine garden and a rose garden. Adults $14, seniors 65+ and students $12, children 5-17 $7, children under 5 free, families (2 adults plus 2 children) $30..

Petit-Sault Blockhouse, 14 avenue Saint-Jean, +1 506-735-5282. End of June to Labour Day: Tu-Su 11AM-7PM. Reconstruction of a blockhouse that was built during the Aroostook Bloodless War. Built in 1841 at the height of the boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain, this small fort was part of a defensive line that extended as far as Quebec. Destroyed by lightning in 1855, it was rebuilt in 2000, in accordance with the original specifications Students and seniors $2, adults $3.50, family $7.

Railroad Interpretation Center, 1091 Victoria Street, +1 506-739-9644. June-Sep 11AM-7PM; Oct-May 4PM-6PM or by appointment. The museum is a 1900s train shed replica. The exhibit changes every year and relates the life of railway-men. A HO 1/87 scale lay-out constantly changes. You see a great deal of different modeling aspect like cars, structures, engines, scenery and many scale kilometers of tracks. Replicas and of boardwalk will lead you to a covered railway bridge and to the hall of fame. $9 each; family (4-6 pers./ 2 adults + children under 18) $34.

  • Mont Farlagne, 360 Ch Mont Farlagne, +1 506 739-7669. Skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, fat biking. Lift tickets $16-35.
  • De La Republique Provincial Park, 31 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., Saint-Jacques (accessible from Route 2, +1 506 735-2525. The park features scenic hiking and cycling trails, 2 volleyball courts, a fully equipped outdoor playground, 2 tennis courts, horseshoe pits, boat ramp, picnic sites and shelter, a playroom for indoor activities and a heated swimming pool. Enjoy an evening of local talent as you tap your feet to the sounds of l'Acadie des Terres et Forêts en Fête, a lively show celebrating Acadian history though song, dance and theatre. The show is presented in a roofed outdoor amphitheatre on park grounds. Also on site are a boutique, poolside terrace and convenience store.

Mont Farlagne, 360 Ch Mont Farlagne, +1 506 739-7669. Skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, fat biking. Lift tickets $16-35.

De La Republique Provincial Park, 31 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., Saint-Jacques (accessible from Route 2, +1 506 735-2525. The park features scenic hiking and cycling trails, 2 volleyball courts, a fully equipped outdoor playground, 2 tennis courts, horseshoe pits, boat ramp, picnic sites and shelter, a playroom for indoor activities and a heated swimming pool. Enjoy an evening of local talent as you tap your feet to the sounds of l'Acadie des Terres et Forêts en Fête, a lively show celebrating Acadian history though song, dance and theatre. The show is presented in a roofed outdoor amphitheatre on park grounds. Also on site are a boutique, poolside terrace and convenience store.

There are the usual big box stores in this town.

  • Le Deck, 192 Rue Victoria (near the bridge that connects the two sides of the town along the de l'Église, +1 506-353-3325. W-Sa 2PM-2AM. Sports bar/pub. Burgers $12-18, pasta $17, steak or ribs $27.
  • Kinh Do Restaurant, 53 Chemin Canada, +1 506 739-7541. Tu 11AM–2PM; W Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM; Su 2PM-8PM. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese. Main dishes $10-17.

Le Deck, 192 Rue Victoria (near the bridge that connects the two sides of the town along the de l'Église, +1 506-353-3325. W-Sa 2PM-2AM. Sports bar/pub. Burgers $12-18, pasta $17, steak or ribs $27.

Kinh Do Restaurant, 53 Chemin Canada, +1 506 739-7541. Tu 11AM–2PM; W Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM; Su 2PM-8PM. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese. Main dishes $10-17.

  • Office of tourism Edmundston Madawaska, 121 rue Victoria, +1 506-737-1850. July-Aug: daily 9AM-8PM; Sep-June: M-F 9AM-10PM, 1PM-5PM.

Office of tourism Edmundston Madawaska, 121 rue Victoria, +1 506-737-1850. July-Aug: daily 9AM-8PM; Sep-June: M-F 9AM-10PM, 1PM-5PM.