Judique, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Judique is a small community located in Inverness County
Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Inverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
on the Ceilidh Trail
Ceilidh Trail
The Ceilidh Trail is a scenic roadway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.This coastal route along the Gulf of St. Lawrence is located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Inverness County and runs from the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings to Margaree Harbor where it intersects with the...
(Trunk 19) on the western side of Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Judique is on the edge of St. George's Bay
St. George's Bay (Nova Scotia)
St. George's Bay is a bay in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located on the north shore of the province fronting both the Nova Scotia peninsula and Cape Breton Island, thus comprising a sub-basin of the Gulf of St. Lawrence....
in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
. Judique is situated between Grahams on the Shore Road in the north, Beatons on Hwy 19, and the boundary between Long Point and Craigmore to the South. St. George's Bay on the east and General Line Road to the west.
Early settlement
The first permanent European pioneers of Judique were mainly of Scots Highland descent and they moved to the west coast of Cape Breton Island from Prince Edward Island, Pictou, Guysborough, and some walked the distance from Parsborough. The ‘Judique Shores’ stretched from Long Point in the south to the Little Judique River just on the boundary of Port Hood, in the north.Tradition has it that in 1775, poet and sea captain Michael mor MacDonald of South Uist/PEI, who attended the Glenaladale emigration to PEI, spent the winter near the Grand Judique River. He encountered Mi'kmaq during his stay. The ice came in before he had a chance to leave and he spent the winter there. His Gaelic song about the event, "O, Is Àlainn an t-Àite "O, Fair is the Place", is thought by many to be the first Scots Gaelic song composed in North America.
Prior to 1787, Michael Mór MacDonald of South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
frequently landed on the coast and partially explored it. He eventually became the mason, of Blair-Athole in Indian Point, at the north end of Judique, which is now a protected archeological site. Among the early Scottish settlers were MacDonald, Robert Innes, Hugh MacEachern, wife and family of Moidart
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, and Allan Ban MacDonnell of Glengarry
Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry
Clan MacDonell of Glengarry is a branch of Clan Donald taking its name from Glen Garry where the river Garry runs eastwards through Loch Garry to join the Great Glen about 16 miles north of Fort William...
. Michael, Robert, and Allan Ban married, about the same time, daughters of Hugh MacEachern, and became among the first settlers of Judique in 1787.
Origins of the name
The origin of the name Judique is disputed. Many people in Judique believe it is a First NationsFirst Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
(Mi'kmaw) word meaning water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. However, the name is also said to mean a river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
or stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
where the water turns swiftly forming eddies
Eddy (fluid dynamics)
In fluid dynamics, an eddy is the swirling of a fluid and the reverse current created when the fluid flows past an obstacle. The moving fluid creates a space devoid of downstream-flowing fluid on the downstream side of the object...
, and is French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in origin.
Quebec visitors to Judique have apparently said that a “jou-jeu” is a spinning top and used for a game named jou. “Dique,” they said, “ is ‘dike’ and could relate to the dike system in the area.
Another possibility relates to Nicholas Denys, a local fisherman. One of Denys's sea captains, on a return trip to Arichat
Arichat, Nova Scotia
The village of Arichat is one of the oldest communities in Nova Scotia, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County on Isle Madame....
, was reading Scripture from the Book of Judith. He was passing along the coast of what is now Judique, and was overcome by the rolling hills and greenery of the area. It is said that it was recorded in his log with the name "Judic" which may have eventually became written "Judique."
The Community
Once an active farming-fishing community, Judique citizens also work in forestry, lumbering, and cultural industries or provide personal business services in the village. Many are employed in Port HawkesburyPort Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
-Historical residents:*Henry Nicholas Paint , member of Parliament for Richmond county, merchant and land owner. His family received land grants at Belle Vue on the Strait of Canso in 1817 and at Point Tupper in 1863, and did much to develop the local communities in the area.*Arthur John Langley ...
.
Villages near Judique include Long Point, Craigmore
Craigmore, Nova Scotia
Craigmore is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Inverness County on Cape Breton Island.-References:*...
and Creignish
Creignish, Nova Scotia
Creignish is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Inverness County on Cape Breton Island near the mouth of the Strait of Canso....
to the south, and northerly, Port Hood
Port Hood, Nova Scotia
Port Hood is a seaside community on the west coast of Cape Breton Island and the shire town of Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Local residents are predominantly English-speaking Roman Catholics, the population core having Highland Scottish ancestry; MacDonalds/MacDonnells mostly...
, Mabou
Mabou, Nova Scotia
Mabou -Mȧbu is a small Canadian rural community located in Inverness County on the west coast of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. The population in 2001 was 1,289 residents....
, Inverness
Inverness, Nova Scotia
Inverness is a Canadian rural community in Inverness County, Nova Scotia. In 2001 its population was 2,496.Located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island fronting the Gulf of St...
, Margaree and Cheticamp
Chéticamp, Nova Scotia
Chéticamp is a fishing community on the Cabot Trail on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia at the western entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The downtown area overlooks a large bay, into which the Chéticamp River flows, that is protected from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
Judique is credited with spectacular sunsets. Christy's Look-off is half-way between the Canso Causeway and Judique where there is a view of the waterway to the Strait of Canso
Strait of Canso
The Strait of Canso , is a strait located in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It divides the Nova Scotia peninsula from Cape Breton Island....
. Waters are warm for swimming in July and August. In spring, lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
boats depart from three harbours in the area.
Places of Worship
- St. Andrew's Catholic Church, a large stone structure, was built in 1924 and the parish is the oldest Catholic parish developed by Highland Scots on Cape Breton Island.
Schools
- Bayview, Port Hood (grade primary - 8)
- Dalbrae, Mabou (grades 9–12)
- Judique-Creignish High School (now closed)
Entertainment and recreation
- Judique Recreation Grounds
- Judique Flyer Trails Association
- Judique Community Centre Development Association
- Celtic Music Interpretive Centre Society
- Storyteller's Gallery
- Suidaig air an Ular Society
- 3 indoor, 2 outdoor stages
Industry
Judique has wharves located at Baxter's Cove, Pig Cove, and Little Judique Harbour.
Services
- Judique and Area Development Association
- Judique & District Volunteer Fire Department
- Judique Men's Club
Annual festivals and events
- Judique on the Floor Days
- Kintyre Farm Family Concert
- Fall Fair
- Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddling
- Celtic Colours International Festival
- Celtic Classic Golf Tournament
- St.Andrew's Parish Bazaar
Communications
- iLand Television Community Cable Channel 3 out of Port Hood, partial coverage
- Judique DOTCOM Society C@P Site
Main routes and backroads
Highway 19, Shore Rd, Baxter's Cove Rd, Wlaker's Cove Rd, Centennial Road, River Denys Rd, Campbell's Rd, Hillsdale Rd, Gussieville Rd, MacLean's Road, Chisholm Rd, Mabou Rd, Judique Intervale Rd, Beaton Rd, St. Ninian
Distances
Port Hawkesbury: 40 kilometers (25 mi) , Antigonish, 90 km ( 60 mi), Halifax, 300 km (180 mi); Sydney 200 km, (120 mi); Inverness 80 km (40 mi)
Notable people from Judique
- Buddy MacMasterBuddy MacMasterHugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster, is one of the most renowned artists in the tradition of Cape Breton fiddle music.-Early life:...
, Cape Breton Fiddler, member of the Order of Nova ScotiaOrder of Nova ScotiaThe Order of Nova Scotia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Instituted on 2 August 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman granted Royal Assent to the Order of Nova Scotia Act, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour... - Dan R. MacDonaldDan R. MacDonaldDan Rory MacDonald was born February 2, 1911 in southwest Port Hood, at the home of Angus MacDonald . Raised in Judique, Inverness County on Cape Breton Island, he was a composer of fiddle tunes....
, Cape Breton Fiddler/Composer - Little Jack MacDonald, Cape Breton fiddler
- John G. Gibson, writer-historian, author
- Andrea Beaton, fiddler
- Glenn GrahamGlenn Graham (fiddler)Glenn Graham is a Canadian musician from Judique, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.-Music career:Graham has received music industry recognition for his solo recordings. His second solo release, "Step Outside", garnered nominations for "Male Artist of the Year" and "Roots/Traditional Solo Recording of the...
, fiddler
- Michael Mór MacDonald, settler, songwriter
- Amy CottonAmy CottonAmy Cotton is a female judoka from Canada, who won the bronze medal in the women's half heavyweight division at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She represented her native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.-References:...
– Olympian 2004 Athens – JudoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an... - Andrew MacDonaldAndrew MacDonald (ice hockey)Andrew MacDonald is a professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with the New York Islanders organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
– NHL defenseman, New York Islanders
See also
- Cape Breton fiddlingCape Breton fiddlingCape Breton fiddling is a regional violin style which falls within the Celtic music idiom. Cape Breton Island's fiddle music was brought to North America by Scottish immigrants during the Highland Clearances. These Scottish immigrants were primarily from Gaelic-speaking regions in the Scottish...
- List of Cape Breton fiddlers
- List of communities in Inverness County, Nova Scotia