Saint John

Saint John sits on the northern shore of the Bay of Fundy where the Saint John River enters the Atlantic, making it the largest city in New Brunswick with roughly 70,000 residents. The old town climbs hills above the harbor, with streets arranged in terraces and narrow lanes running between Victorian buildings.

Samuel de Champlain first stepped ashore at this harbor on June 24, 1604, naming the river after Saint John the Baptist, whose feast day falls on that date. Loyalists from the American colonies established the present settlement in 1783, bringing British administrative structures that remained until the province joined confederation in 1867.

The waterfront shows preserved Victorian warehouses built from red brick, now home to shops and restaurants. Old signs and wrought-iron details in the streets near the harbor recall the era when timber export and shipbuilding shaped the local economy.

The harbor sits at the eastern edge of town and can be reached on foot from the historic center. Fog from the Atlantic may reduce visibility in spring and autumn, while weather along the coast often stays cooler than inland.

Bay of Fundy tides push the river backward twice each day, creating upstream currents at the mouth. At low tide, river water flows outward over rock ledges, while at high tide seawater follows the same path back in.

Location: Saint John County

Inception: 1604

Founders: Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour

Part of: Bay of Fundy

Shares border with: Grand Bay–Westfield

Website: https://saintjohn.ca/fr

GPS coordinates: 45.27960,-66.06280

Latest update: December 15, 2025 04:54