Saint John is situated at the mouth of the mighty Wolastoq (Saint John) River, where its powerful waters empty into the churning tides of the Bay of Fundy. This location has made it a focal point of human habitation and commerce for thousands of years, serving as traditional territory for the Wolastoqey, Mi’kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) peoples, who relied on its abundant waterways for travel and sustenance. In the early 1600s, French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived at the harbour on the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, giving the river its European name, and a trading fort was soon established by Charles de la Tour. Following the American Revolution, thousands of United Empire Loyalists landed at the harbour’s market slip in 1783, establishing a permanent settlement that was incorporated in 1785 as Canada's very first city. Blessed with timber and deep-water access, Saint John quickly transformed into an imperial maritime hub, boasting world-renowned shipyards and bustling transatlantic trade routes. The city’s history was permanently altered on June 20, 1877, when the Great Fire tore through the city center, destroying more than 1,600 buildings and leaving two-thirds of the population homeless in under nine hours. Out of the ashes, Saint John rebuilt with immense determination—mandating brick and stone construction that produced one of North America's finest and most complete collections of Victorian-era streetscapes, centered around historic King’s Square and the iconic City Market. Today, Saint John is a vibrant port city that blends its rugged industrial character with charming uptown heritage, vibrant arts, and the world-famous natural phenomenon of the Reversing Falls rapids.

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 Saint John