New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County
, in the province of Nova Scotia
, Canada
. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait
.
New Glasgow is at the centre of the province's fourth largest urban area; the population of the New Glasgow census agglomeration in the 2006 census was 36,288, ranking 77th largest in the country. This includes the smaller adjacent towns of Stellarton
, Westville, and Trenton
as well as the western rural area of the county.
in 1773, settled the area of the East River of Pictou during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Deacon Thomas Fraser first settled the area at the head of navigation on the East River of Pictou in 1784. The settlement was officially named "New Glasgow", after Glasgow
in Scotland
, in 1809, the same year its first trading post was developed.
The discovery of large coal
deposits in the East River valley during the early 19th century saw New Glasgow, at the head of navigation, quickly develop into a manufacturing and port community.
In 1829, a horse-drawn tramway was built using standard gauge
rails from the settlement of Albion Mines (now Stellarton
) to a wharf near New Glasgow. This was the first use of standard gauge rails in what would become Canada. On September 19, 1839 the Albion Railway was opened from Albion Mines to New Glasgow, running along the west bank of the East River of Pictou. This was the second steam-powered railway in what would become Canada and the first to use iron
rails. The railway was extended north to a coal loading pier at Dunbar's Point on May 14, 1840.
In 1840, George MacKenzie started the town's first shipbuilding company, which eventually built or owned 34 vessels; hundreds of ships would later be built along the East River in New Glasgow.
In June 1867, the Nova Scotia Railway
opened its "Eastern Line" from Truro
through New Glasgow to its terminus at the passenger and cargo wharf in Pictou Landing
. In 1882 the "Eastern Extension" of the Intercolonial Railway was opened from New Glasgow to Mulgrave
on the Strait of Canso
, placing New Glasgow on the mainline between Cape Breton Island
and the North American rail network.
Economic development in New Glasgow was driven by the steel industry in neighbouring Trenton
(site of the first steel manufacturing in Canada), shipbuilding and shipping in Pictou
and Pictou Landing
, and coal mining in Stellarton
and Westville.
New Glasgow became a service centre for the county during the 20th century as shopping centres, retail and residential development was spurred by the construction of Highway 104
.
to Cape Breton and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of the Prince Edward Island
ferry at Caribou
. The town can be easily accessed from several exits off the Trans Canada Highway
. It is found in the Atlantic Standard Timezone, four hours behind UTC.
New Glasgow is divided by the East River (north - south), a tidal estuary with salt and fresh water. The three lane George Street bridge is the only vehicle crossing within town limits and is considered the main entrance into the downtown core on the east side of the river. The closest bridges out of town are the Trenton Connector to the north, the Trans-Canada Highway to the south and Bridge Avenue (Stellarton) also to the south.
Population trend
Mother tongue language (2006)
The southeastern part of the town is located on the east bank of the East River immediately north of the unincorporated community of Plymouth
and west of the unincorporated community of Priestville. It is largely commercial and centred upon East River Road (signed as Route 348
).
The Aberdeen Hospital
, New Glasgow business park, New Glasgow Police headquarters, North Nova Education Centre
and the Aberdeen Shopping Centre are situated here as well as a residential area.
Downtown
Located on the east bank of the East River and centred on the George Street Bridge, the downtown core has a central business district along Provost Street and Archimedes Street. Banks, insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms, engineering companies, restaurants and independent retailers are located in historic buildings along these streets.
Formerly industrial, the downtown area along the river has undergone a waterfront revitalization in recent decades as factories and foundries closed and were replaced by a performing arts centre, office buildings and a marina. Currently only one foundry and several warehouses and a cement plant remain along the rail corridor in this area.
East Side
The east end is the area east of downtown and is bordered on the east by the unincorporated communities of Frasers Mountain and Linacy. It is largely residential.
North End
The northeastern part of the town stretches along the east bank of the East River from the downtown to the border with Trenton
.
West Side
The west side of the town is located on the west bank of the East River consists of a residential area north of George Street through to the unincorporated community of Abercrombie
.
The area of the West Side southwest of George Street along Westville Road is a commercial area and includes the Highland Square Mall
as well as a district of big box stores. This part of the town borders the town of Stellarton
to the south and the Town of Westville to the southwest. Westville Road leads to the town of Westville, about 2.5 kilometers beyond Exit 23 at the Trans Canada Highway.
, which opened its doors in 2003, is made up of grades ten to twelve, and has students from four ‘feeder’ schools, East Pictou Middle School, Trenton Middle School, New Glasgow Junior High School and Thorburn Consolidated.
call centre in the Aberdeen Business Centre, the Aberdeen Hospital
, a Michelin
tire plant in nearby Granton
, the Northern Pulp Nova Scotia pulp mill in nearby Abercrombie
, and the headquarters of Sobeys
, a national grocery chain, in nearby Stellarton
.
New Glasgow's historic downtown core is home to over 150 shops and services, including restaurants, pubs, cabarets, clothing stores, gift shops, furniture department stores, a marina on the riverfront, government offices and banks. A major revitalization plan was recently announced for the downtown core. A large sum of the funds will be provided by the federal government. Among the projects are a walking bridge that will connect the riverfront marina with the Samson Trail on the west side, improvements to the historic town hall, an updated and possibly expanded library, and beautification of public spaces and store fronts.
New Glasgow is the commercial hub of northeastern Nova Scotia. Well known chain stores include Sobeys
(three locations), Atlantic Superstore
, Shoppers Drug Mart
, Wal-Mart
, Zellers
, Sears
, Staples Business Depot
, The Brick
, Canadian Tire
, Central
, and Home Hardware
.
The Westville Road/Highland Square Mall
area has seen significant commercial growth in recent years. A new Wal-Mart
opened next to Highland Square in early 2007, replacing the smaller location in the mall. Canadian Tire
relocated to Wal-Mart's old location in the spring of 2008, making it the second largest Canadian Tire store in Nova Scotia. Winners opened in Spring 2009, in Canadian Tire's former location. Future Shop
has built a new store next to the new Canadian Tire, which opened in Spring 2009 also. Sport Chek
opened a new store inside the mall in Fall 2009.
About a minute away from the Westville Road commercial district, on the opposite side of the Trans Canada Highway in Stellarton
, a new business park is currently being developed. The Holiday Inn Express
Hotel Stellarton - New Glasgow was the first confirmed business for the park. It officially opened on July 25, 2008. Proudfoot's Home Hardware Building Centre is scheduled to open in the park in 2012.
Glasgow Square Theatre, located on the downtown riverfront, is a 285 seat auditorium that hosts year-round concerts, plays, and other community functions. The theatre can be transformed into an outdoor amphitheatre, one of the few theatres in Canada (if not the only) that can do that. During the summer it hosts celebrations for Canada Day on June 30, the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee during the first weekend in August, and the Race on the River Dragon Boat Festival in mid-August.
The award winning New Glasgow Jubilee features popular local and national musical acts. It has become the town's most successful event since its inception in 1995.
The Race on the River features teams representing local companies and organizations paddling along the East River to raise money for local charities.
New Glasgow's oldest summer mainstay, The Festival of the Tartans, has been scaled back over the years. There is no longer a parade. The festival is a celebration of the town's Scottish roots.
of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League
and the Weeks Major Midgets of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.
The Crushers were based in Halifax and known as Team Pepsi until 2004 when the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club and moved it to New Glasgow. After struggling to attract fans in Halifax's crowded hockey market, the team soared up the attendance ladder in New Glasgow and is now one of the league's top draws.
Thanks to the arrival of the Crushers, New Glasgow was able to host the 2005 MJAHL All Star game and the 2006 MJAHL Entry Draft. It was announced on December 29, 2006, that New Glasgow and the Crushers would host the 2008 Fred Page Cup
. The Crushers did more than host. They won the championship game, an upset win over the defending FCP winners from Pembroke, Ontario
.
The town hosted the Telus Cup (then Air Canada Cup), in 1997 and the 2001 World Under 17 Hockey Championships (co-hosted with Truro
).
In 2007, the first ever Major Junior hockey game (St. John's Fog Devils
vs PEI Rocket) was played here.
On February 9, 2008, New Glasgow was one of six communities across Canada selected to be showcased on CBC Sports'
day-long Hockey Day in Canada The New Glasgow segments featured hometown NHL player Jon Sim and the town's annual Westside winter carnival.
New Glasgow is the home of the annual Johnny Miles
running event weekend, named after the two time Boston Marathon winner. It is the second largest running event in Atlantic Canada, behind only Halifax's Blue Nose Marathon. It began in 1975 as a full marathon. In 1997, it was forced to be scaled back to a 10 km event due to decreasing participation. However, the running event has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
New Glasgow boasts numerous soccer fields and clubs. New Glasgow Soccer Club offers a recreational program for U6-U10, and Pictou County United Soccer Club offers competitive soccer for age groups U12-U18.
Newspapers
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Pictou County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 46,513 people in 2006, which represents a decline of 6.3 percent from 1991. It is the sixth most populous county in Nova...
, in the province of 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...
. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait
Northumberland Strait
The Northumberland Strait is a strait in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in eastern Canada...
.
New Glasgow is at the centre of the province's fourth largest urban area; the population of the New Glasgow census agglomeration in the 2006 census was 36,288, ranking 77th largest in the country. This includes the smaller adjacent towns of Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
, Westville, and Trenton
Trenton, Nova Scotia
Trenton is a town located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Trenton is situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, adjacent to and immediately north of the larger town of New Glasgow.- Economy :...
as well as the western rural area of the county.
History
Sir Robert Kenney originally founded New Glasgow. Scottish immigrants, including those on the ship HectorHector (ship)
The Hector was a ship famous for having brought the first Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia in 1773.- Career :A full rigged Fluyt, the Hector was employed in local trade in waters of the British Isles as well as the immigrant trade to North America, having made at least one trip ca...
in 1773, settled the area of the East River of Pictou during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Deacon Thomas Fraser first settled the area at the head of navigation on the East River of Pictou in 1784. The settlement was officially named "New Glasgow", after Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1809, the same year its first trading post was developed.
The discovery of large coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
deposits in the East River valley during the early 19th century saw New Glasgow, at the head of navigation, quickly develop into a manufacturing and port community.
In 1829, a horse-drawn tramway was built using standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
rails from the settlement of Albion Mines (now Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
) to a wharf near New Glasgow. This was the first use of standard gauge rails in what would become Canada. On September 19, 1839 the Albion Railway was opened from Albion Mines to New Glasgow, running along the west bank of the East River of Pictou. This was the second steam-powered railway in what would become Canada and the first to use iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
rails. The railway was extended north to a coal loading pier at Dunbar's Point on May 14, 1840.
In 1840, George MacKenzie started the town's first shipbuilding company, which eventually built or owned 34 vessels; hundreds of ships would later be built along the East River in New Glasgow.
In June 1867, the Nova Scotia Railway
Nova Scotia Railway
The Nova Scotia Railway is a historic Canadian railway. It was composed of two lines, one connecting Richmond with Windsor, the other connecting Richmond with Pictou via Truro....
opened its "Eastern Line" from Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
through New Glasgow to its terminus at the passenger and cargo wharf in Pictou Landing
Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia
Pictou Landing is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County .-References:*...
. In 1882 the "Eastern Extension" of the Intercolonial Railway was opened from New Glasgow to Mulgrave
Mulgrave, Nova Scotia
Mulgrave is a small town on the Strait of Canso in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Canada; immediately across from the town of Port Hawkesbury. As of 2006 the population was 879....
on 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....
, placing New Glasgow on the mainline between 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....
and the North American rail network.
Economic development in New Glasgow was driven by the steel industry in neighbouring Trenton
Trenton, Nova Scotia
Trenton is a town located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Trenton is situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, adjacent to and immediately north of the larger town of New Glasgow.- Economy :...
(site of the first steel manufacturing in Canada), shipbuilding and shipping in Pictou
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
and Pictou Landing
Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia
Pictou Landing is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County .-References:*...
, and coal mining in Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
and Westville.
New Glasgow became a service centre for the county during the 20th century as shopping centres, retail and residential development was spurred by the construction of Highway 104
Nova Scotia Highway 104
Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from the New Brunswick border near Amherst to St. Peter's. Except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's, it is part of the Trans-Canada Highway....
.
Municipal amalgamation
Talk of amalgamating the 6 municipal units in Pictou County has increased in recent years. Among the reasons for this, small towns adjacent to New Glasgow are having a hard time coping financially on their own due to the declining economy. Also, Pictou County has the most politicians per capita in Canada. With the Government of Nova Scotia having already amalgamated Halifax County, Cape Breton County, and Queens County into regional municipalities, Pictou County residents feel it is only a matter of time before that concept is introduced in Pictou County. The two most often suggested scenarios involve amalgamating the entire county (six municipalities) into a single regional municipality, or amalgamating the upper East River towns (New Glasgow, Stellarton, Trenton, Westville) into a single larger town.Geography
New Glasgow is located on Nova Scotia's north shore, 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) northeast of Halifax, 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) west of the Canso CausewayCanso Causeway
The Canso Causeway is a rock-fill causeway in Nova Scotia, Canada.The causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to the Nova Scotia peninsula...
to Cape Breton and 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south of the Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
ferry at Caribou
Caribou, Nova Scotia
Caribou is a small Canadian rural community in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Located on the Northumberland Strait northwest of the town of Pictou, Caribou is named after the Woodland Caribou which used to live in Nova Scotia until European settlers hunted the herds to extinction in the 19th century...
. The town can be easily accessed from several exits off the Trans Canada Highway
Nova Scotia Highway 104
Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from the New Brunswick border near Amherst to St. Peter's. Except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's, it is part of the Trans-Canada Highway....
. It is found in the Atlantic Standard Timezone, four hours behind UTC.
New Glasgow is divided by the East River (north - south), a tidal estuary with salt and fresh water. The three lane George Street bridge is the only vehicle crossing within town limits and is considered the main entrance into the downtown core on the east side of the river. The closest bridges out of town are the Trenton Connector to the north, the Trans-Canada Highway to the south and Bridge Avenue (Stellarton) also to the south.
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 3,000 |
| 1881 | 2,595 |
| 1891 | 3,776 |
| 1901 | 4,447 |
| 1911 | 6,383 |
| 1921 | 8,974 |
| 1931 | 8,858 |
| 1941 | 9,118 |
| 1951 | 9,933 |
| 1961 | 9,782 |
| 1971 | 10,849 |
| 1981 | 10,464 |
| 1991 | 9,905 |
| 2001 | 9,432 |
| 2006 | 9,455 |
Population trend
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 9,455 | 0.2% |
| 2001 | 9,432 | 3.9% |
| 1996 | 9,812 | 0.9% |
| 1991 | 9,905 | 9.1 |
| 1981 | 10,464 | N/A |
Mother tongue language (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 8,980 | 97.66% |
| Other languages | 120 | 1.31% |
| French only | 95 | 1.03% |
| Both English and French | 0 | 0.00% |
Neighbourhoods
South EndThe southeastern part of the town is located on the east bank of the East River immediately north of the unincorporated community of Plymouth
Plymouth, Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Plymouth is a small Canadian rural community in Pictou County, Nova Scotia located approximately 3 km south of the town of New Glasgow. It stretches along Route 348 situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, opposite the town of Stellarton....
and west of the unincorporated community of Priestville. It is largely commercial and centred upon East River Road (signed as Route 348
Nova Scotia Route 348
Route 348 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the northeastern part of the province and connects Little Harbour at Route 289 with Melrose at Trunk 7....
).
The Aberdeen Hospital
Aberdeen Regional Hospital
The Aberdeen Hospital is a 24-hour emergency , inpatient, outpatient, and community based services hospital in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. The hospital has been in existence since 1895. It serves approximately 48,000 people in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. It located at 835 East River Road, New...
, New Glasgow business park, New Glasgow Police headquarters, North Nova Education Centre
North Nova Education Centre
North Nova Education Centre is a Canadian high school in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. It serves approximately 900 students from the eastern side of Pictou County. It is administratively part of the "Celtic Region" of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board. The school's official colours are blue...
and the Aberdeen Shopping Centre are situated here as well as a residential area.
Downtown
Located on the east bank of the East River and centred on the George Street Bridge, the downtown core has a central business district along Provost Street and Archimedes Street. Banks, insurance companies, law firms, accounting firms, engineering companies, restaurants and independent retailers are located in historic buildings along these streets.
Formerly industrial, the downtown area along the river has undergone a waterfront revitalization in recent decades as factories and foundries closed and were replaced by a performing arts centre, office buildings and a marina. Currently only one foundry and several warehouses and a cement plant remain along the rail corridor in this area.
East Side
The east end is the area east of downtown and is bordered on the east by the unincorporated communities of Frasers Mountain and Linacy. It is largely residential.
North End
The northeastern part of the town stretches along the east bank of the East River from the downtown to the border with Trenton
Trenton, Nova Scotia
Trenton is a town located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Trenton is situated on the east bank of the East River of Pictou, adjacent to and immediately north of the larger town of New Glasgow.- Economy :...
.
West Side
The west side of the town is located on the west bank of the East River consists of a residential area north of George Street through to the unincorporated community of Abercrombie
Abercrombie, Nova Scotia
Abercrombie is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.-References:*...
.
The area of the West Side southwest of George Street along Westville Road is a commercial area and includes the Highland Square Mall
Highland Square Mall
The Highland Square Mall is a Canadian shopping mall located in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The mall has the second largest Canadian Tire in Nova Scotia.The mall is owned by Crombie REIT, headquartered in nearby Stellarton, Nova Scotia.-Anchors:...
as well as a district of big box stores. This part of the town borders the town of Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
to the south and the Town of Westville to the southwest. Westville Road leads to the town of Westville, about 2.5 kilometers beyond Exit 23 at the Trans Canada Highway.
Education
There are five schools in New Glasgow; including three primary-to-six elementary schools, a junior high school and a high school. The junior high school is made up of grades seven to nine. North Nova Education CentreNorth Nova Education Centre
North Nova Education Centre is a Canadian high school in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. It serves approximately 900 students from the eastern side of Pictou County. It is administratively part of the "Celtic Region" of the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board. The school's official colours are blue...
, which opened its doors in 2003, is made up of grades ten to twelve, and has students from four ‘feeder’ schools, East Pictou Middle School, Trenton Middle School, New Glasgow Junior High School and Thorburn Consolidated.
Economy
Major employers in the area include Maritime Steel & Foundries Ltd. in downtown New Glasgow, a ConvergysConvergys
Convergys Corporation is a corporation based in Cincinnati, Ohio that provides solutions in customer management and information management. Customer management solutions include agent assisted, self-service and proactive care solutions tailored to the communications, financial services,...
call centre in the Aberdeen Business Centre, the Aberdeen Hospital
Aberdeen Regional Hospital
The Aberdeen Hospital is a 24-hour emergency , inpatient, outpatient, and community based services hospital in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. The hospital has been in existence since 1895. It serves approximately 48,000 people in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. It located at 835 East River Road, New...
, a Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tire plant in nearby Granton
Granton, Nova Scotia
Granton is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County. It is the birthplace of Leonard W. Murray.-References:*...
, the Northern Pulp Nova Scotia pulp mill in nearby Abercrombie
Abercrombie, Nova Scotia
Abercrombie is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Pictou County.-References:*...
, and the headquarters of Sobeys
Sobeys
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all ten provinces and accumulated sales of more than $14 billion CAD in 2009...
, a national grocery chain, in nearby Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
.
New Glasgow's historic downtown core is home to over 150 shops and services, including restaurants, pubs, cabarets, clothing stores, gift shops, furniture department stores, a marina on the riverfront, government offices and banks. A major revitalization plan was recently announced for the downtown core. A large sum of the funds will be provided by the federal government. Among the projects are a walking bridge that will connect the riverfront marina with the Samson Trail on the west side, improvements to the historic town hall, an updated and possibly expanded library, and beautification of public spaces and store fronts.
New Glasgow is the commercial hub of northeastern Nova Scotia. Well known chain stores include Sobeys
Sobeys
Sobeys is the second largest food retailer in Canada, with over 1,300 supermarkets operating under a variety of banners. Headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, it operates stores in all ten provinces and accumulated sales of more than $14 billion CAD in 2009...
(three locations), Atlantic Superstore
Atlantic Superstore
Atlantic Superstore is a Canadian supermarket chain of 54 stores in the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island...
, Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, Zellers
Zellers
Zellers Inc. is Canada's second-largest chain of mass merchandise discount stores, with locations in communities across Canada. A subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company , it has 273 locations across the country....
, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, Staples Business Depot
Staples Business Depot
Staples is a Canadian office supply retail chain, part of the United States-based office supply company Staples Inc...
, The Brick
The Brick
The Brick Ltd. opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta in 1971, and has grown to become one of Canada's largest volume retailers of furniture, mattresses, appliances and home electronics. The company was founded as The Brick Warehouse LP in Edmonton, Alberta with the first warehouse opening on...
, Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of Canada's 60 largest publicly traded companies. The firm operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing hardgoods, apparel and petroleum as well as financial and automotive services, employing more than 58,000 people across Canada...
, Central
Central (home improvement store)
Central, Your Partner In Home Improvement is a home improvement retailer that operates seven locations in Nova Scotia, Canada. The first store opened in Antigonish in 1976 under the name S&D Smith Central Supplies Limited. Since 1988, Central has opened a number of new stores in the big box format,...
, and Home Hardware
Home Hardware
Home Hardware is a privately held Canadian home improvement, construction materials, and furniture retailer. Co-founded in 1964 by Walter Hachborn and headquartered in St...
.
The Westville Road/Highland Square Mall
Highland Square Mall
The Highland Square Mall is a Canadian shopping mall located in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The mall has the second largest Canadian Tire in Nova Scotia.The mall is owned by Crombie REIT, headquartered in nearby Stellarton, Nova Scotia.-Anchors:...
area has seen significant commercial growth in recent years. A new Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
opened next to Highland Square in early 2007, replacing the smaller location in the mall. Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of Canada's 60 largest publicly traded companies. The firm operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing hardgoods, apparel and petroleum as well as financial and automotive services, employing more than 58,000 people across Canada...
relocated to Wal-Mart's old location in the spring of 2008, making it the second largest Canadian Tire store in Nova Scotia. Winners opened in Spring 2009, in Canadian Tire's former location. Future Shop
Future Shop
Future Shop is Canada's largest consumer electronics retailer. Future Shop currently operates a total of 146 stores across all of Canada's provinces as of December 2008....
has built a new store next to the new Canadian Tire, which opened in Spring 2009 also. Sport Chek
Sport Chek
Sport Chek is the largest Canadian retailers of sporting clothing, sports equipment and equipment destroy, with stores across Canada...
opened a new store inside the mall in Fall 2009.
About a minute away from the Westville Road commercial district, on the opposite side of the Trans Canada Highway in Stellarton
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
-External links:*...
, a new business park is currently being developed. The Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express is a mid-priced hotel chain within the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands. As an "express" hotel, their focus is on offering limited services and a reasonable price. Standard amenities lean toward the convenient and practical which cater to business travelers and...
Hotel Stellarton - New Glasgow was the first confirmed business for the park. It officially opened on July 25, 2008. Proudfoot's Home Hardware Building Centre is scheduled to open in the park in 2012.
Culture
Museums in New Glasgow include the Carmichael Stewart House Heritage Museum, local Military Museum, and local Sports Hall of Fame.Glasgow Square Theatre, located on the downtown riverfront, is a 285 seat auditorium that hosts year-round concerts, plays, and other community functions. The theatre can be transformed into an outdoor amphitheatre, one of the few theatres in Canada (if not the only) that can do that. During the summer it hosts celebrations for Canada Day on June 30, the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee during the first weekend in August, and the Race on the River Dragon Boat Festival in mid-August.
The award winning New Glasgow Jubilee features popular local and national musical acts. It has become the town's most successful event since its inception in 1995.
The Race on the River features teams representing local companies and organizations paddling along the East River to raise money for local charities.
New Glasgow's oldest summer mainstay, The Festival of the Tartans, has been scaled back over the years. There is no longer a parade. The festival is a celebration of the town's Scottish roots.
Sports
New Glasgow's John Brother MacDonald Stadium (formerly New Glasgow Stadium) is home to the Weeks CrushersWeeks Crushers
The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are a Junior "A" hockey team based in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. They are in the Maritime Junior Hockey League's Bent Division along with five other Nova Scotia clubs. The Crushers play their home games at John Brother MacDonald Stadium.-History:The Crushers...
of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League
Maritime Junior A Hockey League
The Maritime Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of four teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the Roger Meek Division, and six teams from Nova Scotia which make...
and the Weeks Major Midgets of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.
The Crushers were based in Halifax and known as Team Pepsi until 2004 when the Weeks Hockey Organization bought the club and moved it to New Glasgow. After struggling to attract fans in Halifax's crowded hockey market, the team soared up the attendance ladder in New Glasgow and is now one of the league's top draws.
Thanks to the arrival of the Crushers, New Glasgow was able to host the 2005 MJAHL All Star game and the 2006 MJAHL Entry Draft. It was announced on December 29, 2006, that New Glasgow and the Crushers would host the 2008 Fred Page Cup
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime...
. The Crushers did more than host. They won the championship game, an upset win over the defending FCP winners from Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
.
The town hosted the Telus Cup (then Air Canada Cup), in 1997 and the 2001 World Under 17 Hockey Championships (co-hosted with Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
).
In 2007, the first ever Major Junior hockey game (St. John's Fog Devils
St. John's Fog Devils
The St. John's Fog Devils were a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They were based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and played out of Mile One Centre. The QMJHL expanded to St. John's to fill the void created by the departure of the...
vs PEI Rocket) was played here.
On February 9, 2008, New Glasgow was one of six communities across Canada selected to be showcased on CBC Sports'
CBC Sports
CBC Sports is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for English-language sports broadcasting. The CBC's sports programming primarily airs on CBC Television, with some additional broadcasts on bold, CBC.ca, and occasionally CBC Radio One...
day-long Hockey Day in Canada The New Glasgow segments featured hometown NHL player Jon Sim and the town's annual Westside winter carnival.
New Glasgow is the home of the annual Johnny Miles
Johnny Miles
John "Johnny" C. Miles, CM was a Canadian marathon runner. He won the Boston Marathon in 1926 and 1929....
running event weekend, named after the two time Boston Marathon winner. It is the second largest running event in Atlantic Canada, behind only Halifax's Blue Nose Marathon. It began in 1975 as a full marathon. In 1997, it was forced to be scaled back to a 10 km event due to decreasing participation. However, the running event has experienced a resurgence in recent years.
New Glasgow boasts numerous soccer fields and clubs. New Glasgow Soccer Club offers a recreational program for U6-U10, and Pictou County United Soccer Club offers competitive soccer for age groups U12-U18.
Notable residents
See also: List of people from Pictou County, Nova Scotia- Peter MacKayPeter MacKayPeter Gordon MacKay, PC, QC, MP is a lawyer and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for Central Nova and currently serves as Minister of National Defence in the Cabinet of Canada....
, federal Conservative politician, currently serves as Minister of National Defence. - Bill McEwanBill McEwanWilliam G. "Bill" McEwan is President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Sobeys Inc., the second largest Canadian grocery retailer and food distributor....
, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Sobeys Inc. - Donald William CameronDonald William CameronDonald William Cameron was the 22nd Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada, from February 1991 to June 1993.His administration was known for a smaller cabinet, supporting anti-discrimination measures, and amending the human rights act to extend protection to gays and lesbians...
, 22nd Premier of Nova Scotia from February 1991 to June 1993. - John HammJohn HammJohn Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
, 25th Premier Nova Scotia from August 1999 to February 2006. - Jon SimJon SimJonathan Sim is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga...
, NHL player with the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas StarsDallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. - Colin White, NHL player with the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Won the Stanley Cup in 2000 (defeated Sim and the Stars) and in 2003. - Mike SmithMike Smith (actor)Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys.-Personal life:...
, actor known primarily for his role as "Bubbles" in Trailer Park BoysTrailer Park BoysTrailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
. - Derrick WalserDerrick WalserDerrick Walser is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss National League A.-Career:...
, NHL player with the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and AHL player with the Toronto MarliesToronto MarliesThe Toronto Marlies is a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League . The top affiliate of the National Hockey League 's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario...
. - Kris MacFarlaneKris MacFarlaneKris MacFarlane is a Canadian freelance drummer. He is best known for his work as the touring and recording drummer for Canadian folk band Great Big Sea. In addition to playing the drums, MacFarlane is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He currently lives in Westville, Nova Scotia...
, the drummer for Canadian folk-rock band Great Big SeaGreat Big SeaGreat Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...
. - Lyn-Sue Wice, Canadian artist
- George CanyonGeorge CanyonGeorge Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
, country singer who was the runner-up in the USA Network's Nashville StarNashville StarNashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
2 in 2004. - JD Fortune, current lead singer of world renown Australian rock band INXSINXSINXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
. He was chosen as their new singer after winning CBS's Rock Star: INXSRock Star: INXSRock Star: INXS is the first season of the reality television show Rock Star where 15 contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for the Australian rock band INXS....
in 2005. - Nigel BennettNigel BennettNigel Bennett is an English actor/director/writer who has been based in Canada since 1986. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.-Life and...
, an English actor/director/writer known for roles in such TV shows as La Femme Nakita, LexxLexxLexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
, and Coronation StreetCoronation StreetCoronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, as well as roles in major films such as The Skulls and Legends of the FallLegends of the FallLegends of the Fall is a 1994 epic drama film based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison. It was directed by Edward Zwick and stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Aidan Quinn. The film was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction , and Best...
. - Christopher Flett, an author that wrote What Men Don't Tell Women About Business - Wiley & Sons 2007, and commentator on NBC's The Today ShowThe Today ShowToday is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
.
Media
Radio- FM 88.7: CBAF-10CBAF-FM-5CBAF-FM-5 is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , it broadcasts on 92.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 91,000 watts using an omnidirectional antenna.The station has an ad-free news/talk...
(Première Chaîne) - FM 89.5: CBHNCBHA-FM-External links:** at Canadian Communications Foundation...
(CBC Radio OneCBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
) - FM 94.1: CKEC East Coast FM (adult contemporary)
Newspapers
- The NewsThe News (New Glasgow)The News is a daily newspaper serving Pictou County, Nova Scotia...