The history of Caraquet is closely intertwined with the sea, as is the history of New Brunswick’s Acadia, of which it proudly calls itself the capital. After the arrival of the first inhabitants from Europe in 1730, Caraquet really began to develop in 1758 when 34 Acadian families—fleeing the Deportation of 1755—led by Alexis Landry settled in the Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage area.
The Caraquet Heritage Route completes the project produced as part of the designation Cultural Capital of Canada in 2009, as well as to participate in the New Brunswick Local Historic Places program. This tour briefly comments on 21 of the most important heritage sites in Caraquet, designated locally and listed on the New Brunswick Register of Historic Places.
These places can be either stately or modest buildings, they can be vestiges, the memorial site of important events or even places of industrial activities. Sometimes they are personalities who have contributed to the advancement of our society. In all cases, these are important places that tell us who we are and where we come from. They express our heritage and our cultural diversity.
The goal of this project is to preserve and tell the story of people who, through hard work, build this community. It’s about promoting and celebrating these heritage places and educating people about heritage conservation.
Several other places could have been chosen because of the great abundance of Caraquet’s architectural legacy. The selection was justified according to certain criteria including the originality, the architectural characteristics of the buildings, their value of historical testimony, the importance of their occupants and sometimes the availability of information.
We hope that these stories will be of interest to visitors who want to know us better and to cultivate the pride of the citizens of Caraquet because these buildings and characters bear witness to our roots and tell the story of people determined to preserve their Acadian culture.
In order to improve the commercial prosperity of the city center and make it an attractive place, the town of Caraquet began in the early 1990s a process of public consultations aimed at creating a long-term development plan. In the light of this public debate, it became clear that valuing the historic, community, Acadian, and maritime character would create the specificity and attractiveness of the city.
Therefore, it became essential for the municipality to develop this unique style, this image that would become over the years its trademark. But, to preserve one’s image and authenticity required tools and resources. It is in this perspective that the municipality of Caraquet then adopted legal tools that would enable it to achieve the objectives set in their action plan. Through its Heritage Preservation bylaw, the management committee is devoted to preserve the heritage sites and to guide the establishment of signs to pre-defined criteria in order to ensure integration into the community.
Caraquet is now distinguished by its uniqueness and authenticity. Its heritage and its Acadian and maritime character are highlighted and strengthen the sense of belonging of residents.
The 19th century was a time of Acadian cultural and economic development coupled with significant events. Notable achievements included the construction of the town church in 1857, a convent for young girls in 1874 (of which only vestiges remain today) and a classical college in 1899. The latter would have been the biggest building in Caraquet had it not been destroyed by fire. At the time, the maritime sector was already flourishing. People were building boats, manufacturing fishing gear and processing fish for local consumption and sale. The Robin family, originally from Jersey, set up fish processing plants in the town in 1837. creating a significant economic boom that led to the establishment of sawmills and other industries, including cooperages, a tannery and a tinsmith’s. Then, with the arrival of the railroad in 1887, Caraquet became truly connected with the outside world.
Caraquet is also tremendously proud of its Acadian heritage, and that pride has been the focus of numerous struggles to assert its rights. 19th century, people wanted to own land. In the 20th century, residents demanded the right to instruction in French and religion in the schools. Furthermore, École polyvalente Louis-Mailloux is named after the 19-year-old young man who, in 1875, was killed during a riot as the Acadians defended their French Catholic school. Caraquet has also hosted major gatherings. The most significant events were the National Convention of Acadians in 1905 and the Eucharistic Convention in 1950, which drew more than 20,000 people.
The second half of the 20th century was marked by Caraquet’s cultural and tourism growth. The exceptional renown of the Festival Acadien, the opening of the Acadian Historical Village (which would quickly become one of New Brunswick’s top tourist draws), the Théâtre populaire d’Acadie, the massive celebrations surrounding Acadian National Day on August 15, the Musée acadien, the Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage Sanctuary and many other attractions draw tourists from all over North America to Caraquet. According to the last census in 2016, the Town of Caraquet had a population of 4,248.
The word “Caraquet” comes from the Micmac and means “the meeting of two rivers.”
An opportunity for encounters, exchanges, and discussions among local history enthusiasts. Courtesy of the City of Caraquet; its contribution to showcasing its cultural, architectural, and natural heritage, and its mission to pass on its history to future generations to shape the future.
With the invaluable collaboration of our historians, we’ve planned to create a few historical vignettes that we’ll publish from time to time to keep you interested in our fascinating stories.
Thank you to our historians for their voluntary contribution in sharing their research, which leads to the development of our History Rendezvous and historical capsules.
Here is the documentation about the guide to physical interventions on buildings.
