New Brunswick is one of Canada's three maritime provinces. Like most provinces in Canada, the languages spoken in New Brunswick are English and French, however it is the only province that is constitutionally bilingual. The capital of New Brunswick is Fredericton, and it has a population of 751,527, with the majority (64%) speaking English. About 32% speak French. New Brunswick is also one of the original four provinces to be accepted into the Canadian Confederation in 1867.
The economy
New Brunswick's economy is based on its location and proximity to water, but from nearby river streams rather than the seacoasts. Most of their economy is service-based, with many booming career opportunities in healthcare, education, retail, finance, and insurance. New Brunswick is home to several prominent public and private universities. One of the more popular universities is University of New Brunswick. Fredericton is home to Sir Howard Douglas Hall, which is the oldest university building in Canada.
Rural New Brunswick economy specialises in mining, forestry, mixed farming, and fishing. New Brunswick is developing a $1 billion mine in Sussex that will collect natural gas deposits. Other mining prominent in New Brunswick is zinc, lead, and potash. The most valuable and abundant crop in New Brunswick is the potato. The most popular fishing catches are scallops, lobsters, and king crabs.
The culture
New Brunswick is rich in history. Most of its culture is derived from early settlers who inhibited the land before French in the 17th Century and English in the 18th Century. In the 19th Century the culture began to be shaped by an influx of more than 40,000 settlers who came from England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. The majority of New Brunswick's history is rooted in old French culture, and particularly in old Acadian culture. This re-emerged in the mid 20th Century when a Renaissance of Acadian art, poetry and music surfaced at the forefront of the college culture in New Brunswick's many universities.