Antigonish, Historic university town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Antigonish is a town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada, stretching along the coast of Northumberland Strait. The center consists of low brick buildings, small shops, and church steeples, while residential neighborhoods spread over gentle hills.
Settlement began in 1784 when Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Hierlihy received land around Antigonish Harbour and founded the Dorchester settlement. Immigrants from Scotland arrived in the following decades and shaped the cultural character of the place.
The name comes from the Mi'kmaq language and means "place where branches fork," referring to the five rivers that meet near the harbor. Locals still gather at the town's waterfront, where fishing boats return with catches from Northumberland Strait.
The town can be explored easily on foot, with most shops and restaurants located in the center. Drivers find parking along the main street and near the campus.
The Highland Games, held annually since 1863, draw competitors from across North America and are the oldest continuously running festival of this kind outside Scotland. The Coady International Institute on the university grounds continues the legacy of the Antigonish Movement and now offers programs for community leaders from around the world.
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