Northern New Brunswick’s urban center is the City of Bathurst. The 150,000+ residents within a one-hour commute regard Bathurst as their primary center for services and retail.
Outstanding recreational amenities can be found in Bathurst, such as Youghal Beach Park’s marina for day boating. Unforgettable moments await you on fishing and whale-watching expeditions in the Bay of Chaleur.
You will be persuaded that choosing to reside in Bathurst is the finest choice you will ever make by its two outstanding golf courses, one offering unrivaled views of the harbor.
Bathurst is a popular destination for snowmobiling in Atlantic Canada when winter arrives. The region offers thousands of kilometers of well-maintained routes and excellent hotel accommodations for snowmobilers. Other wintertime hobbies may also be popular.
Let’s learn more about the city below!
1. Basic Information about Bathurst
1.1. The Language of Bathurst
The official languages of Bathurst are French and English, and its background includes Irish, Scottish, and English. Pabineau First Nations (Kekwapskuk), situated on the city’s outskirts, is home to a community of Mi’kmaq natives. The city also has its Mkmaq population.
1.2. Their Government and Politics
Bathurst is run by a mayor and a council of seven representing the whole city. Since 2004, elections for municipal governments in New Brunswick have been held every four years in May. In 2016, 21 people were running for office.
Mayor Paolo Fongemie won the election with 3,064 votes, beating the other three candidates, Richard Barbeau (1,831 votes), Hugh Comeau (525 votes), and Anne-Marie Gammon (254 votes).
In New Brunswick’s 2014 general election, 4,431 voters in Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore chose Denis Landry, and 4,367 in Bathurst West-Beresford chose Brian Kenny. Both are members of the New Brunswick Liberal Association.
1.3. Their Economy
Bathurst Mining Camp has significantly contributed to the local economy and provided many jobs. The Brunswick Mine building stopped being used in April 2013. Because of this, the unemployment rate in the northern part of New Brunswick went up to more than 20% in March 2013.
2. Attractions in Bathurst
There are many attractions to explore in Bathurst, a few of them are mentioned below:
2.1. La Promenade Waterfront
La Promenade Waterfront is a group of shops, art galleries, boutiques, a tourist information center, and an outdoor pavilion that hosts various events throughout the year. From the boardwalks there, you can see the Bay of Chaleur.
2.2. Youghal Beach Park
Some of the things you can do at Youghal Beach Park are swimming, playing volleyball, and windsurfing. The marina for Bathurst is close to the beach.
2.3. Golf
In Bathurst, there are two different places to play golf. One is Bathurst Golf Club and Stay & Play at the Mantra Bathurst.
2.4. Bathurst Chamber Music Festival
Classical music is played at the Bathurst Chamber Music Festival, which happens once a year and lasts for a week. It shows the work of more than thirty new artists and composers from Canada and other places.
It started getting more people in the community interested in classical music and making more people want to hear it.
3. Legend of the Phantom Ship
More than two hundred years have passed since the first time a ghost ship was said to have been seen in the Bay of Chaleur. The legend says that a sailing ship caught fire in the waters north of Bathurst during the Battle of the Restigouche.
It is said that the ghosts of the ship and its crew can still be seen on the water today, but only in particular weather and lighting conditions.
Some people think it’s just heat waves, reflections, or hallucinations, but others think it’s a ghost ship from the Battle of the Restigouche. Some people think it’s a ship from the Battle of the Restigouche that hasn’t died yet.
The city’s old welcome sign showed a ghost holding an anchor and threatening two sailors. On the movement was the piece of art.
4. Community Organizations and Churches
The following types of community-based organizations may be found in Bathurst:
- Synergies Chaleur
- New Brunswick Association for Community Living, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 18, New Brunswick
- Maison Doucet Hennessy House (an architectural heritage project)
- Church of St. George the Martyr Anglican
- The Catholic Church of the Holy Family
- First United Church, located within the Bathurst Pastoral Charge
- Evangel City of Bathurst Church
5. Places to Visit in Bathurst
5.1. Pabineau Falls
Pabineau Falls is a 5.6-km trail near Gloucester Junction, New Brunswick, that goes out and back. Most people consider it an easy route. This trail is excellent for hiking; you probably won’t see many other people while you’re out there.
This part of the Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail goes from Access C to D on the map. People hiking to the falls often use this part of the trail to get to and from the falls.
Along the river, the path is mostly flat. There’s a hanging bridge and a steep part where you must use a rope, but it’s not complicated. In any season, the Pabineau Falls are beautiful and offer amazing views.
5.2. Youghal Trail
This 4.5-km trail near Bathurst, New Brunswick, goes out and back. Most people consider it an easy route, and it takes an average of 55 minutes to finish. This trail is a great place to watch birds and go hiking, and you probably won’t run into many other people as you explore.
Beautiful trails through the woods! The trails are well-kept, and the scenery is gorgeous. At the front, there is even a small library and a place to park.
We took our dog for a walk, and it was lovely. Just make sure to clean up after your dog. Along the trail, there is a place to throw away the trash. There are maps and a place to put money for the food bank.
5.3. City Hall
The City Hall in Bathurst features movable rather than permanent seating used for performances, shows, and workshops. It can be arranged to accommodate several different kinds of gatherings. It has a maximum capacity of 1100 people.
This venue’s size is adaptable thanks to the detachable partition walls that can be moved around. Depending on the arrangement, its most compact configuration can house anywhere from one hundred to five hundred people. There may be a maximum of 550 people seated for supper.
5.4. Tetagouche Falls
Learn about this 0.6-kilometer trail that goes out and back near South Tetagouche, New Brunswick. It takes about 10 minutes to finish and is usually considered an accessible route.
This trail is excellent for running and walking; you probably won’t see many other people while exploring. The trails are wide and easy to walk, but the path down to the falls is very steep.
5.5. Daly Point Nature Reserve of the City of Bathurst
A naturalist’s paradise, Daly Point Nature Reserve is situated on Carron Drive northeast of Bathurst Harbor. It offers 100 acres of pristine salt marsh, woodland areas, and a vast network of paths.
The Point is teeming with wildlife, particularly birds, which draws hordes of birdwatchers. Visitors go across farms and pastureland on the field path. The many types of trees and bushes, characteristic of development on the vacant ground, create an area gradually transitioning into the forest via a process known as “succession.”
6. Conclusion
Play, relax, and reenergize in Bathurst and the North Shore. The city of Bathurst, located on the balmy waters of Chaleur Bay, is a vibrant center of urban exploration. This little city, bordered by Youghal Beach Park, Daly Point Nature Reserve, and the Nepisiguit River, is rich in natural wonders.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty
